Sold To The Alpha
The Cursed Luna Chapter 40

Lifting out the object, Charity stared at in incredulously, 'It's a necklace' she said, her confusion deepening, Aaron carefully lifted it from her hands, scrutinizing the delicate chain, replaceing a mark that he knew meant it was 24 carat gold. He was sure that the bright green gem fitted within the solid gold setting was a real emerald.

Turning the emerald over in his hand, five words engraved into the back caught his eye, 'Seek and thou shalt replace' he read aloud looking up at the others and seeing their equally blank faces. Sighing he muttered, 'every answer we replace just seems to lead to a hundred more questions, just once can we get a 'it's over there' he grumbled handing the necklace back to his wife who nestled it carefully within the silk shroud before closing the lid.

Justin growled in a low tone, before words burst out of him like a tirade, 'seriously! For the love of the Goddess! This damn Sorceress, if she even really bloody exists, is yanking our chains' Charity shook her head slowly, 'I don't think she is, its this difficult to make sure only the White Wolf replaces her, i'm sure of it' she said determinedly

'OK and how is a poxy necklace going to replace her?' Justin asked, kicking the table support grumpily.

'Not a clue, but if the Sorceress left it for me, then it must have something to do with replaceing her' replied Charity, though she struggled to keep the wisp of dejection out of her voice. Aaron pulled her into his arms, 'we will replace her my love' he murmured as he softly kissed her hair, 'we will figure this out, you know we will.

Nodding her head, Charity gave a small smile, 'well until we can figure out what the heck i'm supposed to do with this other than go to a grand ball, i'd better keep it safe' and she swept it from the table taking it up to her room to hide it within her belongings. 'One thing I know for sure' Justin grumbled, 'i'm changing the code for that damn safe and pushing on every single panel in this place, I don't trust those bastard Committee members any further than I could drop kick them!

*******

A few days later, no closer to understanding the necklace or its mysterious message, it was finally time for the visitors to leave, Charity had already helped the group through the barrier leaving just herself and Aaron to pass through. She hugged Justin and Hazel tightly before heading over to Doctor Nat and the other villagers to say her goodbyes.

'I'll be seeing you dude' Justin said as he threw his arm round his best mate's neck, pulling him in for a hug.

'Yeah, next month, don't forget or Bella might just climb this mountain on her own to replace you' replied Aaron with a sad smile.

Chuckling Justin said 'give my Izzy Wizz a kiss from her Uncle Justin, tell her I promise to to be at her party, no excuses'

Aaron nodded before turning toward his wife who was now waiting for him by the barrier, 'Oh one other thing' called Justin getting Aaron's attention again, 'That Merrick, he's a good guy, I always thought he would make excellent Beta material' he said with a wink before waving as Aaron took Charity's hand and the pair stepped through the barrier, into the midst of their pack members who were waiting patiently for them on the other side. 'All set?' asked Merrick jovially, his eagerness to return to Silver Cross Pack tangible.

Charity wiped her face with the back of her hand smiling sadly 'Yes we are ready, lets go home' she said with a last backwards glance at the space where the barrier should be, before setting her sights forward and following the warriors through the brush back down to the woods and through to the town where there cars remained hidden.

The trip home was uneventful, something that Charity was thankful for after having so much to deal with over the last twelve months. Aaron squeezed her hand gently as they drove back to the pack house, which caused her to give him a small smile in return. Pulling into the driveway, Merrick jumped from the vehicle before Darius had a chance to roll to a stop, rushing up the steps and pulling Avery into his arms from where she stood awaiting his return, crashing his lips into hers, he swept her up bridal style and marched into the Pack House without a backwards glance.

Turning off the vehicle, Darius stepped out grinning, 'Awww My boy Merrick, he's all grown up' he said pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.

Charity and Aaron stepped from their own vehicle smiling, 'I think we have a new member' murmured Charity to Aaron who nodded with a grin. 'I had better ring Chloe and tell her everything has happened, including the fact we just stole one of their best fighters' she grinned. 'But first, where is my daughter'

Aaron laughed, his eyes clouding slightly as he mind linked his parents before grabbing the bags from the back of the Jeep and throwing his arm around his wife leading the way into the building calling over his shoulder, 'You know where your rooms are boys, you'll be staying here tonight and can set off tomorrow back to Red Moon.

Sweeping up the stairs, the leaders entered Aaron's office, where he unceremoniously dumped the bags on the floor, pulling his wife into his arms he pressed his lips to her firmly causing her to smile as she melted into his touch.

Seconds later the door burst open with a bang and a hurricane of blonde curls ran into the room throwing herself at her parents as she hugged their legs tightly followed closely by Mary and Alistair.

Aaron swept his daughter up into his arms, planting a soft kiss on her forehead as she pouted at him, 'You have been gone ages!' her small voice scolded causing her parents to chuckle.

'Sorry princess' he said softly, hugging her to him, 'we had lots of things to sort out at our new sister pack'

Isabella beamed 'We have a new pack?' she asked clapping her hands 'Where is Uncle Justin! I need to tell him daddy' she squealed happily.

Aaron looked into his excited girls face for a moment before replying, 'Uncle Justin is at the other pack princess, he found his mate, he's going to live there now and he's going to be their Alpha'

Isabella's cute little face clouded, tears brimming in her eyes, 'but I want Uncle Justin to live here with me' she said sadly 'did I make him mad?' she asked, her worried eyes darting between her mother and father.

Taking her daughter from her husbands arms, Charity held her close, brushing the tears that laced her child's eye lashes with her finger. 'Of course not Bella Boo' she said smiling, 'Uncle Justin was very sad to not live here any more but his mate lives at Oakridge, her name is Hazel and she is very nice. They also needed a big strong warrior to lead them and there is no-one bigger or stronger than Uncle Justin is there?' she asked as the small child nodded sadly.

'Umm, what am I? an Omega?' came a rough growl beside them.

'Don't be silly daddy' admonished Isabella looking at him, 'you are not a m. m. Momega, you is a daddy!' causing Aaron to smile despite his annoyance.

'He's the biggest, Strongest warrior who didn't already have a pack to run' replied Charity rolling her eyes whilst his parents laughed behind them.

Taking a seat in one of the chairs, Mary looked toward the family smiling, 'So would anyone like to explain to these two old folk how the Justin who left here heartbroken with a dead mate is now the Alpha of a pack with a new mate?' she asked, her eyes penetrating the couple. Taking a seat at his desk, pulling his wife and child into his lap, Aaron waited for his father to take the remaining seat before launching into everything that had happened at Oakridge.

'So' Aaron finished looking at his speechless parents 'Hazel is alive, Justin is an Alpha and married, the Committee has been dispelled and we are now without a Beta'

'riiiiiiight' Alistair said after a few minutes, trying to collect his thoughts.

'Well I think its wonderful' squealed Mary 'My boy Justin got his mate, I always told you Alistair, that boy had Alpha material in him! You need to tell Jared! oh my god, he is going to flip out' she giggled.

Charity grinned happily, 'He was upset that you both and Jared couldn't be there for his coronation and wedding but it was a bit too urgent and they don't have any phone's up there yet' she giggled, "though Justin said he's getting some lines put up there because, in his words, he isn't a cave man!'

'So who is the contender for Beta now that we have lost Justin?' asked Alistair gravely.

Aaron pondered for a moment before looking his father in the eyes, 'I think it should be Merrick' he replied, 'It's who Justin suggested and he's right, he's a good man, a strong warrior and fiercely loyal, with Avery by his side to rub his edges off I think he could really be a strength to our pack'

Alistair nodded his head slowly 'That is not a bad choice son' he agreed as Mary beamed happily.

Turning her face to Charity, Mary turned serious, 'OK young lady, lets see this necklace, it's one month to our grand daughters fourth birthday, we need to figure this riddle out.'

'We're still no further forward though are we' Aaron moaned as Charity rose from his lap, placing his daughter on his knees before walking over to their bags.

'Yes we are' argued Mary, glaring at her son angrily, 'we know there really is a Sorceress, she really did have something to do with Charity's heritage and she left a trail for Charity to replace her' she growled, 'Now we need to work out how to replace her, we are getting closer cub a chub so don't you dare start giving up' she huffed.

Charity handed the ornate box to her mother in law who opened it carefully, pulling back the silk and lifting the necklace from its housing. Looking all over it, she carefully read the inscription, her husband scooting his chair closer to look over her shoulder. Running her fingers carefully over the stone, her touch inspected every millimetre of the Emerald and its casing. Suddenly she stopped, running her finger backwards and forwards before pushing her nail against the metal with a gasp.