Dead Luna
Chapter 13

Jackson's

POV

In all my time as Beta of the Winter Moon pack I have never seen so many crazy things happen in just 24 hours. First we run into Leo's vindictive ex, then try to save her from a group of rogues, she dies and then comes back to life again (and I'm still trying to wrap my head around that), then there was that crazy alpha meeting with "Ambrosia" which was just straight up bizarre, and then I witness Leo have a complete breakdown in the arms of his vindictive came-back-to-life ex, and I might have heard the moon goddess speak. And the day wasn't even half over yet! I was very uncomfortable watching those two together by the lake, but Derrick had asked me to keep an eye on her, since he thinks Amelia might be his mate. Technically they aren't doing anything wrong, but if she were my mate, I wouldn't be thrilled to see her hugging her ex, even if I felt sorry for the prick. And I did. Nobody could watch that and be unmoved. I kinda wanted to give him a hug too, but felt that would be weird. A small part of me even feels a little jealous. I will never admit this to anyone, but I long to have someone in my life who would hold and comfort me like that. But I just stand there watching, uncomfortable and shifting from one foot to the other.

Oh goddess, I think to myself, how much longer is this going to take?

Please be patient, Leonard really needs this if he is going to assist Amelia in the months ahead.

Umm, ok! Thanks for the update!

And I spend the rest of the day trying hard not to think too loudly. You just never know when some god or goddess is going to be listening in!

Later, Leo and I are helping Amelia with cleaning out her apartment, since she believes she doesn't need it anymore. Once I see the place, I can't believe she's lived in this little dump for 3 years. She hardly owns anything at all. Her furniture consists of a twin size day bed, a small nightstand, a clock radio, a lamp and 2 barstools. The walls have a few posters and a framed photo of her and her mom. Thankfully it's not much, since we need to figure out how to haul everything out of here.

While Amelia gets things organized, Leo and I make a run to the local rent a truck place to purchase some boxes for Amelia to pack things in that she wants to send to her mom for safe keeping.

"You ok, man?" I venture to ask on the drive back. "Do you need someone to talk to about what happened earlier?"

"Honestly? I'm not ok." He says. "But I now have hope that someday I might be." Leo's POV

At first I wasn't exactly thrilled to be used as a work horse, cleaning out Amelia's apartment. But it wasn't so bad, actually. And then she made it kinda fun by putting on the radio and singing along as we all worked. Then she was breaking out the dance moves, and we all start laughing out loud and join in.

It certainly helped the time fly. Soon we were all digging into some fantastic chicken tacos with homemade guacamole.

I'm surprised at myself, honestly. I was able to engage with people, without being a jerk. I was helping by scrubbing the toilet and the bathroom mirror, and vacuuming without complaining even once that this was "omega" work. I was even laughing and enjoying myself a bit. Yes, I still hurt inside. Yes, I knew those feelings of despair and loneliness were bubbling away just below the surface and could overwhelm me again if I let it. But I had hope that things would get better. And I was determined to let that hope grow. And I wanted to be a better version of myself, if that makes any sense.

After dinner we dropped off a load of goods at the local thrift shop. We were all just enjoying each other's company as we sang along to the radio at the top of our lungs. Being young and care free for a little while, before we had to return to the more rigid lives we lead in the pack. Don't get me wrong, pack life has certain perks. But everyone has their specific roles and responsibilities within the pack, and any deviation from that is usually frowned upon. It makes it hard to just be what you want to be.

As we walk from the car back to Amelia's apartment, I notice Amelia tense up slightly. Then she mind links that we have a problem, but to act normal until we get inside.

"There is a rogue wolf nearby. I think he was one of the men from last night," She tells us once we get inside. Jackson looks about ready run out there and rip the rogues head clean off his shoulders, angry with himself for not having caught the guy last night. I don't blame him a bit for feeling that way, but I agree with Amelia that the situation must be handled differently than that.

She suggests using herself as bait to distract the rogue, while Jackson and I sneak up and grab him from behind. Then we can tie him up, toss him in the back of the Land Rover, and dump him off in the Green Mountain dungeon, to join his friend. Jackson and I are both wary of such a plan and don't agree at first, but lack of a better plan, plus Amelia's assurance that she is being protected by moon goddess, and we reluctantly decide that we'd do it her way.

We all grab the stuff she wants to keep and toss in all the cargo area of the vehicle. Then we are all hugging, and acting as if Jackson and I are leaving.

"See you both tomorrow!" Amelia says loudly enough that anyone within 50 feet would have heard her, then she heads back to her apartment.

Jackson and I drive around the block and park out of sight. We knew that Amelia planned to spend some time cleaning and filling garbage bags in order for us to have enough time to get into position, and Amelia told us she suspected the perp was waiting behind the dumpster enclosure, which would be smart since that would mask his scent for the most part. But also pretty dumb since he probably wouldn't be able to scent us at all.

We quietly snuck up to the dumpster from behind the bushes planted around the building in our wolf form, since we preferred not to be spotted by the humans either.

There he is! Jackson informed me the the mind link. He's looking towards Amelia's place.

Then I see Amelia heading towards the dumpster with a couple bags of trash, which distracts the rogue enough that we can sneak in closer. We see the guy step backwards to better hide himself as we hear Amelia toss the bags, then walk back to her apartment. The rogue moves forward again to better watch the apartment. Meanwhile, we keep moving closer, slowly and quietly, knowing at some point the a*****e will probably decide to act, and we want to be well positioned when that happens.

A few minutes later we see Amelia heading back out of her apartment with another load of trash, and the a*****e again hides himself just like the previous time, and again Amelia heads back to her apartment, but this time she mutters to herself just loud enough for werewolf hearing "Thank goddess I've just got one more bag to toss!"

She emerges a minute later with the "last bag", and this time when our rogue friend steps back, he walks straight into Jackson's arms. I slap some duct tape over his mouth to muffle any sounds he might make, then we've got him on the ground and trussed up like a thanksgiving turkey in no time at all, and then stuffed into garbage bags. I can't hardly believe how quick and easy it was to get that a*****e subdued.

We all high five each other, then I go grab my shorts that I had hidden in the bushes and go bring the car around while Amelia finishes a few things and Jackson stands guard. He took it very personally that the rogue had gotten away in the first place, and wasn't taking any chances now.

We are mostly quiet on the way back to Green Mountain pack, everyone seems lost in their own thoughts. The last 24 hours having been rather emotional for everyone.