Midnight Luna
Chapter Twenty Three

Hailey’s POV

“Alright everyone, this is new for me as well as you. So let’s help each other out and train well.” I said loudly as I stood in front of all the warriors of blue sky pack. I knew most of them so it was not awkward. I would lie if I said that this wasn’t scaring the living daylights out of me but swallowing it, I put on a brave face and acted like a pack warrior.

As ordered by Liam, I rounded up all the 700+ warriors at daybreak. The huge courtyard was crowded with so many strong males and females. Now training them would have been a great task but I solved it by dividing them into groups. The experienced warriors will follow the lead of Nate, Tyler and Ethan and help the others in combat fighting, while the newbies will be with me and Kevin.

I haven’t seen Liam since last night, but I pushed it behind and put my focus on training them. Few males were agitated that they were been given orders from a girl, but that was sorted as soon as Kyle, a stubborn guy stepped forward and challenged me. He was huge with disgustingly huge muscles. I just shook my head, clenched my fist and used my wolf and witch power to punch him in his gut. He fell back, with a scrunched up face and collided with a tree. My hand stung but the joy was way beyond.

I glared at everyone, silently challenging then to step up against me. But none reacted and just bowed their heads in submission. Since then a satisfied smirk was permanently fixed on my face.

“Okay so all the groups will carry out basic exercises. Jogging and stretching first which will be followed by combat fighting and defense. But I want you to pair up in a specific form. The experienced fighters will fight with a new warrior. Don’t fight to hurt but to teach.” I said sternly.

“You’ll train them all the fighting skills with patience. No blood should be spilled.” I looked at them and watch them nod in understanding. Kevin came up and stood near me.

“And also I want you’ll to fight in your human form. It may be tough to do at first, but it is the best way to attack in a war. You can move faster and the enemy won’t have a big target.” I said lastly and then gestured Kevin and Ethan to form the groups.

After they were divided I started training them. Many were young and trying to be brave. I felt sorry but knew that this was inevitable. I just hoped everyone does their best and are ready for Logan. My group was fit and hard working. They were doing well without any complaints.

We then paired them for fighting and watched from the side, how the warriors guided the young in various fighting stances with patience yet firmly. Everyone was serious in their task and a smile broke on my face. Kevin, Ethan and Nate were busy helping the young with extreme care telling them the best way to attack an opponent. I watched every one of them, giving them some pointers in their technique, but encouraged them to use the technique they were comfortable with. Most of them didn’t like being in their human form, but I just wanted them to be able to do both if the circumstance arrives.

As afternoon arrived I gave them a small break and watched them fool around and have fun. I envied them that in this time of war they can still enjoy the company of friends. The old and young were mingling and talking about random stuff. They reminded me of the days when I used to fool around with the five of them all day, just acting silly and enjoying each other’s company. We continued till late afternoon. All the time I had no idea where Liam was. I sensed him sometimes but never saw him.

I called it a wrap and giggled as everyone fell on their faces in tiredness, which reminded me of myself. I could see the joy in what they achieved today. If we keep up this pace we’d be ready in no time. My heart filled with pride and my wolf also shared it with me.

“Hailey, it’s time for your training.” Esme said from behind me. I nodded and followed her to the pond. She knew what took place at the cottage but told me to forget it and let things fall into its rightful place. Her exact words were, “Hailey if you waste your time in wondering what will happen next you won’t experience the wonders of now. Fate knows its job, just let it do that.” This advice helped me a lot to concentrate.

I put my mind and soul and practiced my magic to my full potential. I had full control on my elements and also had the power to achieve any extent of my imagination. I could create stuff from an impenetrable wall of fire to fierce tornados with just the flick of my finger. Esme had a permanent smile on her face as she watched me carry out my magic. Night had fallen on us and only the moon illuminated our vision. I wanted to practice some more but she stopped me.

“Don’t push it; you may end up harming yourself.” She said, taking my hand and guiding me back.

“You did so well Hails. The whole time it felt as if I was watching Elijah. Both of you’ll do magic in a very similar method.” She praised causing me to roll in happiness and pride. My dad was all I thought of while doing magic; it felt as if he was in me making me do all these great things.

Tomorrow was yet another day of tiring workout and training. I wanted to make sure everyone was strong and capable because losing even one member of the pack made me really sad. This pack was mine, it was there when no was and I won’t let anything happen to it as long as I’m alive.

We entered the house which looked isolated. Everyone must have already slept. We crept into the kitchen ate a quick snack and went to bed. The moment I hit the bed I was out into a world filled with Zach.

A week later.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the van, with Kevin Ethan and Tyler following me close. My eyes wandered on the huge house in front of me. It felt as if it was expecting me, waiting for me to come back. The house I grew up, the place where my mom kissed me and hugged me million times, where my dad helped me walk, played with me, gave me piggyback rides. This was where I had always belonged. This was home. I let the tears fall as a wide smile formed on my lips. The smell, the air, the grass, everything was the same.

“It’s impressive.” Kevin commented from behind. I turned and glowed at them. There was admiration in their eyes that made my smile grow wider. Ethan came up behind me and rested his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. I leaned into him and signed, “Welcome home, sweetie.” He whispered with a sad smile. I looked at him with sadness but he just shook his head and wiped my tears away.

I missed Nate and Liam right now. I felt a part was missing without them. But I didn’t argue, Liam decided it was best if we went first while he stayed back to prepare the pack. I knew this was an excuse, in reality he didn’t want to be near me because it hurt him too much and Nate didn’t want to leave him alone thinking he’d do something he’ll regret.

Liam didn’t even look at me for the past week. It was as if I was invisible to him. I wanted to cry and beg him to talk to me, but that wouldn’t help us. All that we had gone through, those days he gave me his sweet kisses and soft hugs, it felt that was all a dream as if it had never happened. Every second of the day he was irritated and angry, he snapped at everyone a lot and many were hurt that their alpha had changed. I blamed myself for hurting him; I should never have stayed there. It’s true; I was the cause of everyone’s unhappiness. It was never possible for me to be happy and make others happy.

“Hey Hailey, you alright?” Tyler asked me, I shook my head to clear it and sent him a small nod. Criag and Levi walked towards us with huge smiles on their faces.

“Welcome to the pack house guys. Lily it lovely to see you again.” Craig smiled at me. I was surprised Zach didn’t tell them I was Hailey. Was it all an act for him? Did he not want anyone to know I exist, Was he ashamed of me?

I was wrong then, he really didn’t want me. Fine if he wants it to be like that, then I’ll just finish what I had come to do and then leave and go away from everyone’s life.

“Nice to see you too, Craig. This is Ethan,” I said as Craig and Ethan shook hands. “Liam and his beta will come later, as the pack is busy getting ready for the fight.” He nodded and asked us to enter the house. I paused at the door, as images of me three years back played in my mind. Fifteen year old Hailey, shy and scared ran away from this place, vowing never to return and now here I was back again. I blinked and willed the tears not to fall. Steeping over the threshold, a sweet smell of old wood hit me. Everything was just the same. The living room was filled with young wolves laughing at something on the TV. I looked to my right and saw the kitchen where I used to sit and watch my mom make my favorite pancakes. The grey island in the middle was where I would sit and swing my legs just to annoy her. To the left was the huge stairway where I used to slide down and dad would catch me and turn me around.

“Well I’ll show you to your rooms.” Levi spoke. I turned to him and smiled.

“Hey Levi, do you mind if I just wander around and see the place?” I asked, he just shrugged and led the others to their rooms.

I smiled and turned towards the back door that was wide open. As soon as I stepped out, I saw the small swing my dad had built for me when I was two. I remember when he pushed me; it felt as if I was flying. His laughter was still fresh in my mind when he would watch me spread my arms out like a bird. Walking further I saw the tree were I used to climb when I didn’t want to have a bath and mom would come and stand below, cooing me to come down. And when I didn’t, she’d call dad and Hayden to climb up and bring me down.

I searched for the little bench, where mom, dad, Hayden and me would go and sit on to watch the sunset. It looked old and worn out, but to me it was as good as it was back then. I sat on it and signed feeling a sense of tranquility fill me. I thought of the days when Hayden loved me and was kind to me, he was protective about me and hated when I was teased. He’d scold the boys who would pull my pigtails and call me ‘little piglet’.

There was a spot at the entrance of the forest where a thick root was poking out of the ground. Right there was one of the most cherished and last sweet memory I had of Hayden. I was nine and was a naughty child who used to run around a lot without a care. That day I was running away with a jar of jam in my hand towards the tree I used to sit on, but I had not seen that root and fell face first into the ground. The jam was all over the place and I was bloodied and muddy.

No one came to help me, but Hayden, he saw me when he was roaming around with his friends and came up to help me. He picked me and steadied me on my feet. Taking his napkin he wiped my face, elbows and knees, all the time cooing me that I was a strong girl and it was not good for a strong girl to cry. Then he took me home on his back cracking silly jokes trying to cheer me up.

That was the most recent memory with him and it holds a very special place in my heart. After that day he had started growing distant from me and when mom and dad died he just turned and never looked back. It hurt to an extent but I knew deep down he was the same boy who wiped my tears away.

Getting up, I unconsciously walked into the house and up the stairs, as if my feet knew where to go. I stopped at a dusty small door with a rusted handle. Fresh set of tears spilled from my eyes and with shaking hands I held the handle and opened the door. It squeaked loudly as it opened, and a gasp escaped my lips. The light blue walls with a few cracks here and there, the small bed with lavender spreads covering it, the small cabinets filled with my favorite fairytale stories and Jiffy, my soft dark brown teddy sat on the bed.

Nothing had changed; it felt as if I had never left. The drapes and covers were the same since I left, but it looked newly washed and smelled of roses. I walked and stood in the center, slowly turning around drinking in everything of what was once my room, the small cute attic. I picked up Jiffy and hugged him, giggling like a small kid who just got her Christmas present. He was the only gift I had that Hayden had given me. And no matter what, I never had the heart to get rid of it.

“Jiffy was the one thing you could never sleep without.” came a shaky, gruff voice from behind. I slowly turned and saw the sad expression on his handsome face and the tears in his brown eyes. He entered the room and looked around with a small smile.

“I’d come here every day and sit for few hours, and thinking about you and what would be different if I was never a jerk to you.” He said as he locked eyes with me.

“I blame myself because I couldn’t be the one to protect you, the one you’d come running to with your problems. I miss the times you’d look at me as if I was the only person great in your small eyes.” He wept, I saw the huge drops fall onto his cheeks, my hand was itching to go and wipe them away but I stood my ground.

Putting on a blank face, “Well I think it’s too late for that.” I replied. He nodded and walked towards me. I stepped back and saw hurt flash through his eyes.

“Hailey, I know you hate me, and I deserve it, but please don’t ignore me. For the past three years I have searched everywhere but you hid yourself so well that if I knew you were so near, I would have come to take you back. I have lived every second regretting my actions. It has been hell without. Nothing feels right; everything here makes me think of you. Every one of those fairytales you keep in there, I have read all of them.” My eye widened. I remember he used to crib and hate my choice of books but I insisted that I loved the happy ever after stories.

“They wanted to use this room as storage but I couldn’t let them do that. Changing anything in this room felt like a step away from you, the hope of finding you someday. This has and always will be my safe haven, goofy.” I smiled at the nickname he gave me when I was five because I reminding him of a dog who had big hairy ears like my pigtails.

“Will you give me a second chance to be the brother I always wanted to be?” He whispered in desperation as he held his head down as if waiting for my rejection. I couldn’t hold it up longer and my wall broke as a smile spread on my lips. I raced across the small room and crashed into his body wrapping my arms around his neck. He stumbled back but quickly steadied both of us. I pulled back and kissed his cheeks.

“I forgive you haydy.” I said calling him the name I did when I was little. A smile broke on his handsome face and tears fell onto his cheeks. Shaking my head I wiped those tears away. He laughed and hugged me tightly. I held him and buried my face into his shoulder. His shoulders shook as if he was crying, I just held him tightly reminding him I was still here.

“I love you, my sweet goofy.” He whispered.

“And I love you haydy.” I said as I closed my eyes and laid my head on his strong shoulder wishing I was forever in his arms, safe and sound.

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