The Rejected Luna's Awakening

Chapter 4

LIORA

"Liora, I am vacuum sealing all the bedding," Miss Maya calls, popping her head in. Shock flickers in her eyes at my empty room before softening with sympathy. She understands—she left behind her ancestral home, too.

"My bedding is on the bed. I wasn’t sure how to pack it," I say, my voice hollow. The calm from earlier holds me together, pushing pain into a mental dam. Time will tell when it breaks, but for now, I manage.

"I'll pack it while you handle your parents' room," she offers, pulling me into a hug. Her rose perfume—like my mother’s—stirs memories of Rune, but I push them down.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Don't thank me. It’s what family does," she smiles, poking my nose. "I promised your mother I'd protect you, and I will. You’re my goddaughter, Liora."

Miss Maya leaves with my bedding, telling me to wait for Dan and the pups to pack the rest. I linger for a moment, sadness pressing down, then flick off the light and walk out, forcing the pain back.

My parents’ scent still lingers in their room, bringing comfort. Miss Maya confirms she packed their bedding, and relief washes over me—I’ll have that piece of them. I pack their remaining things, finding solace in their presence.

The clock chimes six. Standing in the empty room, I want to scream at the unfairness but stop myself.

"Remain strong until I am no longer on Stormclaw land," I mutter, wiping stray tears.

"Dan said we have room in the trailer for a bed. Do you want us to take yours apart?" Miss Maya startles me as I finish taping the last box, making me drop the tape gun. She apologizes, rushing to pick it up.

"No. I don’t want my bed. It’s too small for me now," I mumble. She nods, eyes landing on my parents’ bed. I haven’t laid on it since their death, afraid to lose their scent.

“How about we bring theirs then? Another piece of them for your new life," she suggests with a wink. I grin back, agreeing.

Walking through the house one last time, we end up in the garage. My mother’s gardening supplies—her many seeds—are packed away. Wherever I go, I’ll plant a garden with them. I silently thank Miss Asteria for packing the garage for me.

"I loaded her potted plants into your truck bed," Miss Maya announces. "And Dan has to dig up her lilac bush before we leave. I refuse to leave it for these goddess-forsaken wolves."

I laugh, doubling over at her grumbling. I’ve never seen her so ruffled, but I suspect she’s had enough of her younger brother’s bullshit. She stares at me, wondering if I’ve lost my mind. Honestly, I think I have.

The last twenty-four hours have taken their toll. But laughing is better than crying.

"We won’t let them have your parents’ hard work," Dan says from the garage doorway. Two of his pups, Lace and Henry, peek out from behind him. I smile, opening my arms. They rush in for a hug.

"Daddy told us what happened. You deserve better," eight-year-old Lace says. I thank her as Henry tells me he’s excited for this new adventure. Adam, the oldest, stands beside his father, giving me a nod.

"So, are we all packed?" Dan asks, hugging his wife.

"We are. Liora and I did a final count," Miss Maya confirms.

With that, we get to work packing the last of my things into the trailer hooked to my truck. Dan had already secured my father’s trailer and packed the garage while I rested.

Warmth spreads through my pain-filled heart. This family truly cares for me. I hug them all in turn, grateful I won’t be leaving alone.

It takes us another three hours to pack away my belongings, the last item being my mother's wedding dress that I packed into the cabin of my truck. With time to spare, I think of my best friend and sworn brother, Luke

Luke and I grew up together with Sethaniel. He will be next in line as Beta when I leave. Deciding I need to leave him an explanation, I write a letter for Luke to find, knowing that my best friend will understand why I left when I did and telling him the house is his if he wants it, leaving the deed inside the letter. I know he is looking for his own place for himself and will appreciate this gesture. I also know he will take good care of my childhood home as he spent many nights here as a pup due to his situation with his own parents.

"We have three hours left before the deadline. Do you want to say goodbye to anyone?" Dan asks as I close the door to my childhood house.

"No. As far as I am concerned, the pack turned their back on me. I left a letter for Luke and told him I will contact him when I get a new phone number."

I turn to Dan and his family. The pack abandoned me when I became an orphan last year. Only the five wolves leaving with me and Luke stood by me during my darkest times. Even Seth was too busy with Caroline to care. I’d begged him to stay with me, as I had for him when his mother passed, but he always had excuses. Knowing now he’s betrothed to Caroline, his actions last year finally make sense.

"Good. Let's go then," Dan declares as we climb into our vehicles.

Lace asks to ride with me, and I instantly agree before her parents can object. I need the company and distraction. I tell Dan and Miss Maya as much.

After making sure Lace is buckled in, I climb into the driver seat and turn on the pickup truck - a 2018 Ford F150.

"Any music request?" I ask Lace as I pull up my Spotify.

She thinks for a moment before asking for pop music to sing to, and I oblige.

With music picked and both of us settled, I honk to Dan, signaling we are ready. He honks back before his own truck begins to move, his trailer being pulled behind him.

The drive through the pack is bittersweet. With my house being placed near the back, farthest away from the exit, I am forced to see the places I spent my days growing up.

Lace is great at keeping me from breaking down and crying, the eight-year-old babbling on about the new adventure, finding a new pack to live in, and making new friends. She isn't sad to be leaving; instead, she seems excited at the prospect of starting at a new school, and this makes me smile.

After forty minutes of driving, we cross the pack line and officially become Rogues.

I know one day we will find a pack to call home, but for now, we focus on surviving until that day comes.