Mae POV
I am standing on the front porch of the pack house, watching Kieran pack up the car. Butterflies are swirling in my stomach. I am worried for Kieran. None of us have any idea what he is walking into. He decided to only take his dad, Bryce, and Leo with him. It doesn't feel like enough, but they assured me that they will be fine.
Leo steps onto the porch and dramatically takes Raven into his arms. He dips her low and places a deep kiss on her lips before setting her upright. Raven's face is flushed, and she smacks him playfully on the shoulder.
"Come home safe," she whispers before placing a tiny kiss on the tip of his nose.
"Nothing could keep me from coming home to you," Leo tells her.
As I watch them, I can't help but think that it is the most romantic thing I have ever seen. Leo pulls Oliver in for a hug and tells him to watch over their mate. Oliver silently agrees, and Leo jumps into the back of the car.
Bryce is having his own intimate moment with Erica, and I quickly avert my eyes.
My eyes are glued to the ground when I see Kieran's feet standing before me. I look up into his eyes, and he looks concerned.
"I am sorry I have to leave you," he tells me.
"I will be okay," I whisper.
"My Father might be a hard ass, but he will protect you with his life," he tells me. "So will Papa."
"And so will your mother," Erica chimes in.
Kieran rolls his eyes at his mother before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. He quickly turns and heads to the car, and I am left standing with his sister on one side and his mother on the other.
We stand in silence as we watch the car drive away. As soon as the car is out of view, Erica claps her hands together and looks at me.
"Are you ready?" She asks.
I wrinkle my forehead in confusion. "Ready for what?"
"Luna training," Erica says with a smile on her face.
"What is that?" I ask nervously.
"Luna training," Raven chimes in cheerfully. "You have to learn how to be a proper Luna at some point."
I swallow the lump in the back of my throat. "I didn't know there would be training."
"It's just like any other job," Erica says as she guides me into the pack house. "What did you do in the human world?"
"I am a nurse," I tell them. "That is how Kieran and I met."
"Oh!" Raven exclaims from behind me. "I love a good story. Tell us how it happened!"
"It's not that exciting of a story," I answer shyly.
"If it involves Kieran, I am sure it is very exciting," Raven laughs. "Now tell us."
Erica leads us into the large living area and gestures for us to sit down. She and Raven curl up on the couch together, and I take the seat across from them. Raven sits next to her mother like she is still a little girl. She kicks off her shoes, tucks her feet under her, and leans into her mother. Erica strokes her hair gently, and it makes me miss my mother.
I can't remember the last time I saw my mother. It has been at least a couple of years. She walked out on my dad and me when I was little. Dad always said that she wasn't mentally stable enough to be a mother, so she did the only thing she could, and that was to run.
Dad eventually remarried a nice woman. She is the person that I call my mother. Eventually, I was able to push the memories of my birth mother to the back of my mind and pretend like she didn't exist.
The last time I saw my birth mother was from afar. I didn't have the strength to approach her and ask her how she was doing. She came into the hospital looking for me. She was covered in dirt and grime. Hospital security had no choice but to escort her out because she was ranting and raving about needing to be under the light of the full moon. She was demanding that I come with her.
Instead of confronting her, I hid from her. I was too embarrassed for people to know that I was related to her. But everyday I feel regret about not talking to her.
I know that is what Raven saw in my mind that made her so upset. She must think I am a horrible person.
My cheeks feel wet, and I realize that I have been crying. Erica and Raven are looking at me with worry.
"Are you okay," Erica asks.
"I am," I lie. "I am just worried about the boys."
"I promise you they will be fine," Raven smiles. "It isn't the first time Kieran has charged into rogue territory, and I am sure it won't be the last. Now, tell me how you met my brother."
"Oh," I begin. "He was accidentally brought into a human hospital after he had been shot. I was the nurse on the case. Apparently, two of our doctors in the ER are werewolves. They swore me to secrecy once I realized he wasn't healing normally. As soon as he woke up, he claimed me as his mate."
Raven darts up from her mother's side and glares at her. "He was shot!"
Erica sucks a breath in between her teeth. "We thought it best not to tell you."
Raven turns to me. "Who shot him?"
"I don't know," I answer honestly. "But I do know that my ex-boyfriend is a rogue."
"What!?" Raven shouts. "Did you know while you were dating him?"
I shake my head and shrink down in my seat slightly.
"I need names," Raven growls. "Let's start with the two doctors."
"They are Dr. Franklin and Dr. Bolder," I whisper.
Raven growls again. "They are known recusants. Why would they save him?"
"Raven, dear," Erica tries to get her daughter's attention. "You are getting worked up."
"Of course, I am getting worked up!" She shrieks. "You all have been lying to me. Who shot Kieran?"
"It was Francesca," Erica says quietly.
"That bitch," Raven snarls before turning her anger back at me. "What was your exes name?"
"Jameson Burch," I spit out, not wanting to feel any more of her wrath.
Raven flops down on the couch and throws an arm over her head. Oliver is by her side in an instant. I have no idea where he came from.
"We need to get word to Kieran and the others," Raven tells Oliver. "They are walking into a trap."