=== Simon’s POV ==

Enna’s eyes grew wide and I could hear her heart miss a beat then quicken, her beats as fast as mine. Then her eyes softened and she leaned forward, kissing me softly on the lips. “Of course, yes.” She answered with a light giggle. I kissed her back, pulling her impossibly closer to my body, one of my arms around her waist, the other lost in her long hair. She said yes, she was going to be mine, forever. She pulled back, smiling.

“Why were you so nervous to ask?” she finally asked, resting her body on top of mine, her legs tangled with mine. “You could have said no…” I answered with a sigh, happy that she had said yes.

She rolled her eyes and laughed at my answer. She raised her eyebrows at me, looking like she couldn’t believe it. “Simon, I didn’t take a bullet for you, but I did kill someone for you” she answered with a sigh, biting her bottom lip.

“I hope you don’t feel guilty for that. He did terrible things to you, and he would have killed me…” I explained, brushing her cheek with my fingers. “I know” she answered, “I don’t regret what I did, I just wish I hadn’t have to do it”. She sighed and then sat up. “This is ridiculous. You just asked me to marry you, and we’re talking about sad things. We should celebrate our engagement, when we get back to our pack.”

“Our pack?” I asked, a smile growing on my face as I sat up too.

“If I’m to be your wife, it will be home for me too” she said with a smile, her fingers softly grazing my forearms in a very soothing manner. I pulled her to me, she was sitting in between my legs now, her body facing me, her legs spread around my own body. It was very intimate but I didn’t want to push my luck. She kept going with the caresses and I gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

“You will also be the Luna” I murmured to her, nuzzling her neck. Her strange smell now was associate with love and comfort, with happiness and pleasure. She smelled homely. “My mate” I whispered in her neck. I felt her shiver, her arms moving up to my neck, pulling herself closer to my body. “My mate” she replied, kissing my shoulder.

== Enna’s POV ==

Morning came with goodbyes. It wasn’t going to be for long. Simon and I would have to be back to discuss the new alliance and deal with the other shifters and whatever they choose to become. A few had decided to join my pack and would come home with us. Others were still pondering. One of them was Gerard.

“We’ll see each other soon” said Gerard, pulling me in for a hug. Simon was nearby and despite his usual protectiveness and jealousy, he didn’t say anything. Mostly because he knew I thought of him as my father.

“I’ll be back here in less than a week. But don’t forget to swing by…for the wedding” I said with a smile, sliding my hand in Simon’s.

“I wouldn’t miss it. I’m happy you found happiness little girl” he said, patting my shoulder with a fatherly smile.

“We should go” whispered Simon. I nodded to him and waived to Gerard, Collins and Cassandra.

Nathalie was doing much better. Liza decided to accompany us until her twin was better. We took the road to go home, pilling all of the warriors, our new members and a few other wolves we’d drop along the way to other packs, in big black SUV’s. Ours consisted of James who was driving, with Liza sitting shotgun. Nathalie was taking all of the third row of seat, still laying down. Simon and I shared the second row, but as soon as we were on the freeway, I fell asleep in his arms, sleeping most of the way home.

I emerged from my sleep when we started to drive on the little roads to reach the pack. I had never been on them. Honestly, I didn’t remember much from my childhood, and I had spent the rest of it in a cell, then lost in the woods, then in Simon’s pack. I stayed cuddled in his arms, as he gently stroked my hair, and I caressed his forearm, looking at the small cities we drove by, and the forests.

“Welcome home” whispered Simon as we entered his pack. A lot of people were in the streets, everyone walked to the pack house to greet us and collect the bodies of the fallen we repatriated back. Some of our members would still have to mourn. The funeral would be held tomorrow morning.

*Next Day*

It was hard to see people cry the ones they lost. I gripped Simon’s hand during the whole time, he didn’t leave my side, even when we went to present our condolences to the families. Packs were just like really big families. We talked to the wives and children of the fallen, sometimes, their parents, but everyone was grieving. I couldn’t share their mind link, but I guess loosing someone who can be in your mind can be like losing a limb. Grief was also clinging onto Simon’s face, his eyes swollen and underlined by blue circles. He told me that as the Alpha, he could feel his pack’s mood, that’s why he was so affected by it. I also held his hand to share my strength with him. We supported each other.

After the funeral, everyone was invited to the pack house’s backyard. It was fall but none of the wolves were cold, even in this weather. The pale sunlight could not warm anything and I was the only one, aside from the few new members of our pack, which was wearing a big sweater and a light jacket.

Large tables had been set, displaying a huge array of food and drinks. Everyone was mingling and talking. I hadn’t met even 1% of Simon’s pack. The whole time I had been there, I had been locked away in the house. They scarified so much for someone they didn’t even know.

“Are you feeling all right?” asked Lara, joining me with a smile.

I nodded, smiling back at her. “I was only thinking that the pack scarified already so much, they don’t even know me.” I accepted the tea cup she was handing to me with a grateful smile, the warmth directly spreading in my hands.

“They trust their Alpha, and you’re their Luna. Most of us would die for you. That’s how we work, because without you, this pack would be lost” she answered. “When my mate died, Simon was really young, he had to take over. No one challenged him, they could have, he was young. Instead, the old beta stood by Simon until he was sure he knew everything there was to know to run this pack. Then, he stepped back, and James took over. No one panicked because they knew. Alphas and Lunas are born to do this. Some say, it’s in our genes, some say, it’s the Moon Goddess. I think it’s both, as well as the absolute resolve to sacrifice everything, even your own life, to save the pack. You might not feel up to the challenge yet, or that it is not your place, but I know it is. I can hear what is whispered in the mind link, people talk of you, and how you killed an Alpha to save Simon. They don’t think about the people who died helping you, other shifters, Collin’s pack and Simon. They think about how you, a shifter with only healing powers, was courageous enough to stand and fight. To save my son. You are our Luna, Enna.”

Lara gave me a peaceful and trustful smile, and I was unable to answer back. A lump stuck in my throat, I looked at her, trying to process what she was just telling me. Hearing my name being called snapped me out of it. “ENNA!” called Liza again. “You’re deaf or what?! Simon’s looking for you.” She said, pushing me towards the house.

“I’m going, I’m going” I answered, trying not to spill tea all over myself. Liza stayed back with Lara, as I walked through the crowd. Nathalie was sitting on a chair nearby the makeshift stage that was built overnight in the garden. “How are you feeling?” I asked her.

“Much better. Still a little out of it but the doctor said I’ll be fine in a week or something”. Her pretty face was still marked, she looked like she hadn’t slept in ages, but she managed to give me a warm enough smile to reassure me. “Simon’s over there” she pointed out.

I looked at my mate. He looked handsome in a pair of black jeans and a gray shirt, tight enough to show the shape of his arms. Of course, he wasn’t wearing anything else (besides shoes) because he was as warm as summer. His gaze crossed mine and he smiled at me, turning to pay attention at the person he was talking to. “Thanks, I’ll see you later, all right?” I told Nathalie before starting towards Simon.

I slid next to him, the boy he was talking to throwing me a quick glance before he blushed. “Enna, this is Elias. He’s a young shifter” explained Simon.

“I was freed during the attack. I chose you pack…” said the boy, blushing widely. He looked about fifteen or sixteen. He had dark brown hair and green eyes, the color of pine needles. His skin was pale, making him look even redder.

“I’m certain we won’t regret having you with us. Why our pack though?” I asked, trying to make him feel more comfortable by doing small talk.

“I was abducted from the orphanage about a year ago. In the prison, the inmates told each other the story of the bird girl who escaped. Gerard kept on telling me before I fell asleep, your story kept me sane during all this time. When Simon offered to take some of us in, I wanted….I wanted to come near you…” he said, getting even more red.

“I’m about to get jealous” joked Simon. A look of panic crossed the boy’s face. “Oh no, no, it’s not like that…I just meant….”

“Simon was joking” I cut him off. “I’m happy you chose to come to this pack. I hope I can live up to your expectations though” I answered with a light laugh. “Where is he staying?” I asked Simon.

“In the pack house, for now. I hope a family will want to foster him, and he need to go to school” said Simon, smiling to the boy.

“I will see you around then” I told him with a smile. He was crimson.

“It’s time for the announcements, that’s why I called you” Simon told me, his arms circling my waist to pull me close.

“I’ll leave you to it” said Elias, scattering away.

Simon led me to the stage. His Alpha power radiated, he didn’t even have to demand attention or silence. People just naturally turned towards him, discussion shutting down quickly to leave us in a quiet ambiance, only the wind running through the trees made noise.

“Good afternoon, everyone” he started. I was standing a few paces behind him, looking at his back as he spoke. “Today, we mourned those who died to protect my mate and I, as well as, Alpha Collins’ pack. Their loss was hard on all of us, especially their families. But today is also a day to celebrate. We’re back home, stronger than ever. The packs are reforming alliances, and we’re welcoming our long lost cousins in our ranks. Please, welcome them as if they were wolves” asked Simon to his pack. The crowd roared, accepting those new members as if they had only been a foot or a hand they had forgotten for some time.

“I also wish to formally introduce you to my mate, and soon to be Luna” he said after they had quieted down. He turned towards me, extending his hand to invite me to take it. I did, in a few steps, I was next to him, his arm around my waist, mine around his.

“Pack, this is my mate, Enna!” The crowd roared again, even louder this time. “We plan on getting married, and you’re all invited.” The crowd went wild, Simon pressing me even closer to kiss the top of my head. I smiled at all of these people.

I was home.

______

It's not the end.

The truth is, I'm running a little too fast to stop now.

I'll take next week to figure out where this is going and what to do with it. There is still too much to say, I thought I was done but these characters keep on wanting to live in my brain (I don't understand why, it's a mess in there).

I have to figure out where to stop this story, and where to start the next one. I kinda know, BUT.

Have a good week everyone.

(As I said, I'll be a little out of touch, I know there is WiFi around where I will be but I'm unsure about being able to post. )