The Black Alder Series (Books 1-3)

Elena Pov It’s been a month since everything took place. Like Luna, I still perform my responsibilities. Taking care of my responsibilities. At least the ones that don’t concern Roland. When we have visitors, I put on a brave face, smiling, just so our allies will think we are still strong. Roland doesn’t even come after me anymore. He spends all of his time with her. He doesn’t even pay me any attention anymore, and I can feel our mate bond growing weak. At least his pack still supports me. They don’t talk to him anymore. But that’s not what I want, though. I train every day with the pack to take my mind off stuff. Hank and Will are now leading all the training. I bought myself a car. I kind of hated having to go everywhere by limo. Hank bought a vampire named Shawn to come and help me with my vampire abilities. Shawn is around my age, at least in looks, and he is amazing, teaching me how to unlock other abilities I have. He taught me how to compel people and use echolocation, and I even unlocked a teleportation power I didn’t even know I had. According to him, no one has been able to do so for a millennium. He wears a ring that allows him to walk in daylight. At night, Snow howls for her mate. She misses him. I miss him too, but I have to remind her that he doesn’t love us anymore. I feel my whole body light up with fire each time he makes love to the raven. Serene and Maggie made a potion to dull the pain, and even though I still feel it, it’s tolerable. Serene spends more time with me and is now avoiding Nate. I tell her to go to Nate, but she says he supports his alpha, and she can’t. I hate that my issues are causing them to come apart. Mia spends a lot of time with me as well, but I can tell it’s because Roland told her too. He is way too predictable.

I know it’s time to step aside. I link Nate to ask where Roland is, and he tells me he has gone to the mall with a raven. I mindlink all of the members to come to the training grounds. I wait until everyone is settled, waiting for me to start. “I know things have been crazy lately with what’s been going on, and I’ve been doing my best to deal with it. To be your Luna. However, I’ve decided that I will be stepping down as your Luna. I hear a lot of angry growls and see a lot of sad faces in my pack. They don’t want me to go. I wait for them to settle down. “I know. I don’t want to leave either. However, I called you all here to say goodbye. I don’t want any of you to be hostile to your alpha anymore. He is still your alpha, and you will treat him with respect. Raven is now his new Luna, and you will respect her the same way you respect me. I’m very happy with all the things we have accomplished together. You have all become another family to me. This is why I hope you all understand why I can no longer stay. They all nod and kneel. “For the Luna,” someone yells. “For the Luna.” The rest of the pack yells. and they all howled with respect. I tear up, grateful for this time I’ve been able to have with my family and Shift. One last pack run. I mindlink to them. And they all shift. We raced through the woods, all around the barrier, and came back to the house. I went upstairs and linked up with a few members to help me pack. I decided to leave a note for Roland, so he wouldn’t come looking for me when the time came. While coming downstairs with the rest of the staff, I see Mia, Nate, Serene, Cole, Will, Maggie, Hank, and Shawn waiting for me. “Let me come with you,” Serene cried. Nate holds her tight. I put my stuff down and hugged her. Also in tears. “You know I can’t let that happen, my love. Nate needs you here.” I told her, wiping her face. “You take care of my girl, Nate, or I’ll come back, and it won’t be pretty,” I told him while reaching for a hug. “Yes, Luna,” he says, hugging me back. I hug Hank and will at the same time. “At least tell us where you’re going, Luna,” Hank says.

“I’m going to reign in my old packhouse as alpha, but do not tell anyone else here,” I link. They nod in understanding. “Please, Luna, don’t go,” Cole says, reaching for a hug. “You know why I have to,” I told him. I hugged Mia, who was pouring her eyes out.

I hug Maggie too. She gave me some potions and a list of herbs on how to make the potions for the pain of the bond. Shawn approached me. “I have trained with you for these last few months, and I feel as if I let you go without saying what I need to say, I will regret it.” he says I nodded for him to continue. Long ago, there was a prophecy of a girl who would possess mystical gifts and powers no one had ever seen before. It was told that she would decide the fate of many. She will be sought out by those who want her powers for evil, and we must protect her at all costs. I believe that girl to be you, Elena. If you have me, allow me to follow you on your journey. I will protect you with my life if you have me.

I ponder what he says and decide it would be good if I at least had someone with me that I knew. I nod. I take one last look at everyone. My friends. My family. I smiled and walked out to my car. As I’m driving away, I see all the pack members waving. I will miss them all.

“So where are you now, princess?” Shawn asks. “We’re going to the Black Suns Territory,” I told him.

He turned on my radio and started singing along to a song. He has a nice voice, and I decide to join him, and we sing together in the Black Sun’s territory.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.