Chapter 73


    73. BOGO 73. BOGO


    *** Natalia***


    “What the f**k do you want?” I snarl, Jordan stammering on the other end.


    “Luna, 1-”


    Crest are not my responsibility anymore. You chose Vanessa, so ask her.”


    “Would you just listen to me!” he blurts out.


    I count down my breaths to control my anger before speaking.


    pain I was feeling… I confided in you my worst fears and self doubts… And you made believe that it was


    all in my head and I just had to try a little harder. You let me believe I was going crazy and that I was not


    enough.” My voice cracks a little from the memory of it all but my feelings quickly shift toplete rage.


    “But I have found someone who


    Someone who actually listens to me and I will not let youe into my life again to ruin my happiness.


    I’m done listening to you,” I snarl. “I don’t trust you or anything you have to say anymore.”


    “But Christian ising!” he pleads, but only I burst intoughter.


    “He cane,” I sigh in annoyance. “He won’t find us.”


    I hang up the phone before he can say another word, turning to look at my pup as he snores lightly in his


    sleep.


    I think to myself, crawling back into bed to hold Kota in my arms.


    He will


    Christian is never going to find him, never get him.


    I find it hard to fall back asleep and just watch Kota as the sun rises, hoping Zane is safe wherever he is.


    The morning is rtively mundane when Kota wakes up. We brush our teeth,b our hair and dress


    like any other day but even as we go through these motions, I feel Zane’s absence.


    “Mommy, you forgot this!” Kota cries, reaching for Zane’s small bottle of cologne. He stands on the tips of


    his toes and leans over the sink, grunting as he tries his best to reach it.


    “Now I’m ready,” he grins, stomping away down the hall.


    I follow him into the kitchen where we find Agnes already preparing breakfast. Kota stomps his feet on


    the wood floor to make his presence known and Agnes looks up from the stove to greet him, forcing a


    smile on her face.


    It appears she did not get much sleepst night either, dark circles clinging to her under eyes. Her


    usually glowing skin is quite pale and she looks as defeated as I feel.


    “I – help – you,” Kota signs to Agnes, Agnes’s face lighting up as she hands Kota some tes.


    We set up breakfast together on the patio and as we settle down to eat, Zane’s absence bes


    tantly obvious when I have to pull out a little pen and paper to speak with Agnes. I have been


    practicing ASL with the girls at the clinic but I am still not proficient in thenguage to carry a full


    conversation on my own. Luckily for me, Rionna


    arrives and joins us, and she is able to trante for Kota and I.


    Butterflies dance in my belly when I notice kota mimicking Rionna and signing the words he does know


    as he speaks so Agnes doesn’t feel left out of the conversation. While they are few and far and between,


    I am sure Agnes appreciates his efforts. Zane has only been part of our lives for a few weeks and he’s


    already impacting our son in


    such a beautiful way. Devina purrs happily while watching our baby trying to be like his Dad.


    “Nona, how do I say Eggness with my hands?” Kota asks, opening and closing his hands.


    “Her name is this,” Rionna exins, spelling out the name AGNES.


    Her spelling reminds me that I have never seen Agnes use a name sign before when referring to herself


    but Zane


    appears to have a name sign.


    “Does Agnes have a name sign?” I ask Rionna who trantes for me. “I know Zane does. She makes


    the letter Z


    over her heart every time she addresses him.”


    Agnes gives a response.


    “Name signs are usually only given by members of the Deaf Community,” Rionna exins. “It’s like an


    initiation of sorts and it’s a huge honor to be given one if you are not Deaf. Since Agnes does not know


    anyone in themunity, she has never been given a name sign but she has given one to Zane.”


    “Can I have a name?” Kota asks, smiling his toothy grin.


    “That is for Agnes to decide,” Rionna exins, tranting for Agnes who gives a short response. “She


    says she wants to give you a good name sign so she will think about it a little longer.”


    “Yay!” Kota squeals between mouthfuls of chocte chip pancakes.


    “Kota, chew with your mouth closed, please,” I scold him gently, Kota sitting up a little straighter in his


    seat and chewing more quietly.


    As we finish up breakfast, Rosalie and Celina arrive along with Rio who wags his tail happily by Celina’s


    side. Kota is up in a sh and is nearly knocked over by the oversized puppy who showers him in sloppy


    kisses.


    “Good morning,dies and gentleman,” Rosalie winks at Kota. “How are you all doing?” she asks with a


    gentle look in her eyes.


    “We’re doing our best,” I shrug with a forced smile.


    They join us at the table, Celina sitting beside me.


    “I’m sure your minds are all over the ce right now so you may have forgotten but…” Celina sighs


    tiredly. “The Night of Melodies where we initiate the newly shifted wolves into our packs ising up


    soon and we have to start setting things up for the event. Ro and I are heading into town to get supplies


    in a little bit. Would youdies like to apany us on our quest? Take your mind off things?”


    Shopping is thest thing on my mind right now but I need the distraction, especially after that call with


    Jordan and it would be nice to take Kota out for a little while even if it’s just to the mall.


    “Who is Jordan?” Celina asks, my body freezing at the mention of that coward.


    “How do you-”


    “Sorry,” Celinaughs sheepishly. “Your thoughts are just really loud,” she says, gesturing to her head.


    “But this Jordan guy… he’s your Gamma, right?”


    “WAS,” I mutter under my breath. “Past tense.”


    “IS,” Celina corrects. “Gamma’s are for life. That’s why picking the right one is so important and why I


    have yet to choose mine.”


    “I didn’t get to pick mine,” I shrug. “He was already Gamma of Silver Crest when I became Luna. I justN?velDrama.Org content.


    epted the bond.”


    “Hmm,” Celina hums. “Were you close?”


    “I thought we were,” I reply. “I thought he was my best friend. Turns out, he was just another wolf not


    worth a damn.”


    “And he called you?” Rosalie asks. “When? What did he want?”


    “He called this morning to warn me that my ex ising to find me,” I reply tiredly. “But he’s been looking


    for me


    for the past four years and he hasn’t done it yet.”


    “And you’re not the least bit concerned?” Celina pries.


    “Christian doesn’t even know I’m in California, nor does he know about this Kingdom. I am not in any


    danger and even if by some miracle, Christian did find me, I’m in one of the safest packs in the state,


    right?” I question them, both Celina and Rosalie nodding with pride. “Besides, Kota has Aurora’s


    medallion and I am not human anymore,” |


    add. “I’m done letting Christian control my life. My only concern right now is my mate.”


    Rosalie squeals with excitement. “It makes me so happy to see you finally ept him as your mate!” she


    cries.“ And holy s**t, you have his mark!”


    My hand goes instinctively to my neck and I stroke the groves of Zane’s mark imprinted on my flesh.


    ept it.”


    A small smile stretches on my face but Celina still seems concerned about Jordan’s call.


    “Are you sure there’s no danger for you or Kota?” Celina asks. “Because I promise, we can help.”


    “No,” I shake my head confidently. “There’s no way Christian would find me here. There’s no need to be


    concerned.”


    Celina seems hesitant but doesn’t press any further, rising from her chair and calling Rio to her feet.


    pack Kota some snacks for the trip and give him my usual sermon regarding strangers.


    “Remember, Kota,” I murmur as I tie his shoes. “Friends don’t make you follow them to ces where


    mommy


    can’t see you, okay?”


    “Okay, mommy,” he nods. “And we don’t take candy from strangers, right?” He shakes his head. “No.”


    “Good, now let’s go get Daddy a present for when hees home” I smile, pecking Kota on the cheek.


    “Yeah!” he cries excitedly, hopping off the bed and all the way downstairs.


    We meet Celina, Rosalie and Rionna at the pack house as nned but as we walk out to the drive away,


    Kota


    holds onto my hand and squeezes it tightly.


    “You okay, Kota?” I murmur, pulling him closer to me.


    “Mommy, can I please sit with you?” he pleads, his beautiful eyes zing over with tears.


    He’s afraid to drive again, Devina whines, wanting to step forward tofort him herself.


    “Of course you can,” I reply, lifting him into my arms and carrying him inside the SUV.


    “We’re going to be okay,” I murmur, pushing his hair away from his forehead. “Mommy will always take


    care of you. You don’t have to be scared,” I whisper with a soft smile and lean into his ear. “Let’s y a


    game. Help me name


    the colors of the cars that we drive past.”


    The game seems to help take his mind off his own fears, and we arrive at the mall before we know it.


    Our first stop is a visit to the florist for Rosalie to finalize the design she had in mind for the event. Next,


    we go to


    the jewelers. As the godmother of the event, Aurora must hand pick a gift to present to each new pack


    member. She


    had already selected each gift for the recipients weeks ago and it was up to Rosalie to make sure each


    gift wasplete and up to par for presentation. She is meticulous in her work, going through each


    ne, chain, and bracelet carefully.


    “I’m going to die of boredom,” Celina mutters as Rosalie requests changes for some of the gifts. “Do you


    have dresses for the party?” she asks. I shake my head, a cool smirk spreading across her lips. “I


    presume Agnes and Rionna don’t either?”


    When it appears none of us are ready for a party, Celina drags us to a nearby boutique while Rosalie


    finishes up


    “I’m sure you’ve managed your own Night of Melodies before as Luna but everyone always does theirs


    differently, “Celina shrugs. “We stick to tradition. We wear brown linen dresses for the pack run and then


    dress in pack colors for the party. For River Moon, that’s midnight blue and gold.”


    She leads us to the racks at the back of the boutique with several elegant dresses and scans me up and


    down.“ With your delicate figure, I would try something form fitting so you don’t look like you’re swimming


    in fabric.”She hands me several dresses and shoves me into a changing room. “Try the blue one first,”


    she shouts at me.


    I step out in a dark blue dress that has a high neckline and long puffy sleeves, Kota shaking his head in


    disapproval. Celina puts Agnes in a one shoulder floor length dress with a cape, making her look like an


    elegant empress as she steps out onto the floor.


    “That’s your dress,” Celina squeals. “We don’t even need to look anymore.”


    even ne


    We are all in agreement, Agnes blushing as we shower her with praise. Rionna and I keep looking and


    as time drags on, Kota grows very restless. I hand him his snacks in hopes of keeping him entertained


    but as I am trying on a


    new gown, I hear the words that make my heart rate race. I


    “Uh oh,” Kota whispers.


    I rush out to find Kota standing over a pile of banana chips all over the floor and I do my breathing


    exercises to keep calm and cool.


    “Uh oh, mommy,” Kota sighs, dusting off his little hands. “I couldn’t open it,” he exins, showing me the


    now empty tub of banana chips.


    “And what do we do when we can’t do things on our own?” I ask, Kota smiling sheepishly.


    “Ask for help?”


    “Yes, we ask for help,” I nod. “Now what do we do?”


    “Clean up!” Kota squeals, bending over to pick up his chips and cing them all in the tub.


    His hands are all sticky when he’s finished.


    “I’ll take him to the washroom,” Rionna offers. “I saw a kids y center near the food court. I could take


    him there while youdies finish up?”


    “Thank you,” I smile, bending over to give Kota instructions. “Be good for Nona, okay? When we’re done,


    we can go to the art store to get stuff to make Daddy a card.”


    He nods excitedly and skips away with Rionna.


    ***Rionna***


    Kota is very chatty as I take him to the washroom and very independent, wanting to wash and dry his


    own hands. As we step out of the washroom, I can’t help but feel as though I am being watched, the


    hairs on the back of


    my neck standing on end.


    It’s an unsettling feeling but I brush it off, thinking perhaps my nerves are just shot from all the events


    transpiring over thest few hours.


    I did not sleep a winkst night thinking about my husband and my sons off in battle. We have spent the


    past 20


    years at war and while I am no stranger to Tylen and Toran leaving for extended periods of time to fight, I


    still fear


    getting a call one day that they would not being home. Now with Zane with them, I’m even more


    nervous than


    usual.


    Pushing away my intrusive thoughts, I lead Kota to the nearby y center and he immediately takes off


    to the tunnels. There’s a secluded seating area for adults and I grab a seat, flicking through a magazine


    to pass the time. Kota’s excited screams make my heart happy and for a brief moment, I allow myself to


    wonder what it would have been like to take Zane to the yground as a child.


    My thoughts are interrupted when a man walks into the seating area, sitting beside me despite there


    being plenty of seats across the room. I avoid eye contact and focus on my magazine but the man’s


    presence makes me


    nervous.


    Hoping he’ll leave me alone if I just answer, 1 point in Kota’s general direction.


    “That one,” I mutter, looking back at my magazine.


    “Hmmm,” the man hums. “Mine too.”


    “What?” | ask, looking up at him in confusion,


    As I raise my head, the man puts a cloth to my face, my body thrashing instinctively against his. I try to


    scream but as I take a breath to do so, I feel myself getting light headed.


    “Tell Natalia she knows where to find me,” the man whispers, his voice being thest thing I hear before


    it all goes dark.


    I wake up feeling as though someone beat me over the head with a hammer, my temples throbbing in


    agony. Looking around, I realize I’m still at the y center, the memory of the man racing back to me.


    I frantically look around the sitting area but the man is nowhere to be found. Dread settles into the pit of


    my stomach as I call out to Kota, but the little boy never answers me. I search the ball pit, the climbing


    walls, the slides and tubes, but no matter how hard I look, Kota is nowhere to be found.


    “Excuse me, have you seen a little boy, about this high?” I ask a young woman by the slides and


    gesturing to my legs. “H-he’s wearing overalls and blue shoes. And his eyes. His eyes, they’re blue and


    brown.They’re very different.”


    The woman shakes her head apologetically and I suddenly find it hard to breathe, tears springing to my


    eyes. Where is he?


    Seeing me in such a panicked state, the woman offers to help.


    “I’ll help you look. He’s probably just hiding,” She offers, looking around the y area. “What’s his


    name?” “D-Dakota,” I whimper, looking around frantically. “He’s only four. He’s just a baby- I-I don’t know


    where he


    could.”


    “Hey Rionna, we’re all done!” I hear Talia’s voice call out to me from the entrance of the center. She,


    Celina, and Agnes carry several shopping bags in their hands with wide grins. Their smiles falter when


    they look at me. “What’s wrong?” Talia asks, looking around the center for her pup. “Where’s Kota?”