Not that he got far. The two wolf warriors Elias had left to protect me blocked the doorway and cut off his escape.
As they closed in on Frank, he let out a piercing scream.
"Stop!" I called out to halt them. "Don't hurt him. Let him go!"
"But Luna, he just insulted you! We can't pretend we didn't hear that!" The younger of the two warriors responded angrily.
Insulted?The word almost made me laugh. Four years ago, when I was still with the Vernal pack, when had any of them ever respected me, an Omega who happened to be their Luna?
"I said don't hurt him! Let him leave. Now!" I raised my voice. Even without an Alpha's authority, my intensity was enough to make them understand my resolve.
The warriors backed down. They stepped aside and bowed their heads. "Yes, Luna."
Frank stared in confusion as I spoke with the warriors. I looked at his face, so similar to the Goldens', and swallowed the bitterness rising inside me. "You can go now. Leave this place. We won't meet again."
I closed my eyes.
Then I heard the sound of running footsteps fading into the distance. Without a moment's hesitation, he really left.
I stumbled backward weakly and leaned against the only intact wall of the café. When I opened my eyes, the scene before me was a nightmare. My carefully maintained café looked like a war zone. Broken tables, shattered glass everywhere. Claw marks and bloodstains covered the floor and walls from the fight…
My sanctuary. My home. Its destruction mirrored the state of my heart.
"Luna," one warrior asked cautiously from the doorway, "are you all right? If you're not feeling well, we can help clean up."
"Don't bother." I shook my head weakly. "I won't be coming back anyway."
I didn't know if Frank would tell people what he'd seen tonight. Maybe soon the whole town of Tara would know what I was. Even if Frank kept my secret for old times' sake, Liv had already sold me out to the hunters. I had nowhere left to go.
"Where will you stay tonight?" the other warrior asked. "The hunters could show up anytime. If there's somewhere you want to go, you should leave soon."
I considered their words.
In this situation, I realized there was only one place I wanted to go, one person I wanted to see?—
"Arian," I said quietly to the two warriors. "I want to see my child one last time."
"So you'll come back to Vernal with us?"
"No, I won't go back!" My reaction was fierce. "Bring Arian out to meet me! Anywhere—the border is fine—but I won't set foot in Vernal territory!"
"Well…" The two warriors exchanged uncertain looks. One of them pulled out his phone. "We need to check with the Alpha."
I nodded without stopping them.
The warrior stepped aside to make the call, his voice too low for me to hear. A few minutes later, he returned. "The Alpha agreed. He's arranged a completely safe location for you to meet with the young master."
The location Elias provided was in a small town near Tara, an unremarkable house on the outskirts.
Wolf warriors surrounded and guarded the property. I followed them there by car. About an hour later, I finally saw Arian's small figure.
"Mommy!"
Arian burst into the room and threw himself into my arms. I quickly picked him up, feeling his warm body and familiar scent. My nose stung, and I nearly burst into tears.
"I missed you so much!" Arian looked up at me, his blue eyes sparkling. "Are you finally done with work?"
"Work?"
