The Unwanted Luna
Their Mate, My Saviors Chapter 4

-POV

Conri-

I sat on the side of my bed as my lycan growled angrily at me. He's yelled at my...choices before, but this was new kind of irritation. "Some days...I swear!" He shouted, making my ears ring. It was still dark as night in here, but I could see clearly and so could he. Unfortunately, all that was visible was yet another night of...mistakes.

"Alpha Conri?" I heard from the other side of my door, then a knock as if I didn't hear him the first time. I rubbed my eyes and pulled the stray hair away from my cheek before standing to my feet. Pulling on a pair of jeans left on the floor, I walked up to the door. Normally I would just ignore someone who thought it wise to disturb me at two in the morning, but it shut my lycan up. So, I won't complain...for now. I pulled it open and looked down at one of my boarder warriors.

The hell? I guess suppressing my anger was short-lived. I growled when I looked at him and he flinched, presenting his neck in submission. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be boarder shift lead at this moment?" I may not know them by name, but I do know them by color. The gold band on his arm was clear as day and it stated he had better give a good reason for leaving his guards and his post behind.

As I looked him over, expecting blood or a missing limb, all I'd found was he seemed to be out of breath. Is there an intruder? No...if that was the case, he would have just mind linked me. Actually... he would have mindlinked my brother. "Alpha, the train stopped yesterday as scheduled but...um...."

I growled again and he stepped away this time. "And what?"

"And it dropped off a human, sir." The guard whimpered.

I froze in my tracks. "Vilkas, Edon, we need to visit the Southern boarder's, human town."

"The hell for? There isn't anything left of it after that stupid mayor died off." Edon called through our mind link.

"Apparently, as of yesterday afternoon, it's housing a human now." I responded.

"In this storm? The human is already a goner. Just let it die." Vilkas added. Now I have a feeling why he came to me instead.

I looked down at the soldier again, ignoring my brothers' whining. "What kind of human?" I asked.

"I scoped her out for a while and -"

"It's a female?" I asked, confused. Usually we will see humans every now and again because of the lure they have towards abandoned buildings. They go to excavate that town, but never a lone female and they sure as hell don't arrive by train. Something isn't right here. "Yes Alpha. She was huddled up in the old tavern on the second floor before I left to get you, sir."

"Who is watching her now?" I asked.

"I left my partner there to keep tabs on her. So far, she hasn't left."

Maybe this isn't a coincidence. Maybe it's a lure for us. According to my grandfather, the previous mayor of that town did a lot of dirty tricks to gain access to our territory. I wouldn't put it past any of the new generations to try and do the same. If, of course, they know we are here. "Does she have anyone else with her?"

"No." He confirmed. "She didn't even have a coat with her."

I sighed. "Fine. Take a couple of guards and watch her. My brothers and I will join you shortly."

I shut the door irritably as my interest overruled my exhaustion. Assessing my room once again, letting my eye twitch at the remaining clothes left on the floor, I walked over to grab my boots and a pullover sweater. Then, I heard a moan from my bed. "And...where are you going?" Adolpha asked.

"There is an issue at the boarder. Get out." I added shortly, and tied up my laces while the fleece fabric rested on my leg.

She slid out of the bed and walked up to me, no modesty whatsoever, as she draped her naked body over my bare back. "Oh, come on...can't you get your soldiers to take care of it? Come back to bed Conri." She wined while tracing the lines of my large wolf tattoo on my back with her long fake nails.

I growled and pushed her off of me. Conri?! This girl must have a death wish. "Alpha." I corrected her, doing my best not to allow her to anger me. It would be a waste. She flinched and backed up, shaking now. "The next time I have to remind you what I am to you, you will not appreciate the consequences, but Vilkas will." I promised and her face turned pale at the name of the warrior Alpha. "Now get dressed and get out." I added curtly. I grabbed my sweater, yanking it over my body before I walked out of my room and slammed the door after me. I have no problem throwing her in the dungeons myself tonight after yet another slip up, but I have done my best not to overstep. I do political, Vilkas focuses on...judgement, and Edon, plays it fair, happily in between. Gives the pack someone to focus on depending on the situation. "We are at the front door, Conri. Are we really going to check this out?" Vilkas asked irritably.

"Yes, Vilkas. It's faster if we do this now instead of watching for fireworks." I said, jogging down the stairs.

"You think she is a diversion?" Edon asked.

"Possibly." I added shortly. "It's happened before." What's to say it won't happen again? -POV Ayame-

I clutched my knees to my chest and buried myself behind some crates. I had a feeling my luck would run out sooner or later as the temperature continued to plummet. Thankfully, I found an old tarp covering the crates last night and that allowed me to make it through. However, I had been sitting here for so long, I'm not sure when the sun rose again, but my body was frigid and the crisp light was peeking through the waning wood above me.

The only thing I could do was continue to be grateful to the conductor who gave me the scarf and gloves. That is the only thing keeping my fingers attached and my core warm as the thick fabric unraveled enough to give me some relief. "I guess this is it, Ayame. At least I can die in peace." I said softly through chattering teeth. My mom flashed through my mind and the tears started to fall. Even with all the pain I ran away from, I guess I...I really don't want to die alone like this.

Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.

As I closed my eyes for the last time, I heard a door slam open, jolting me out of my freezing stupor. The first thing that came to mind was that I should have pushed for the tree line. He...how did he replace me? There is no way he found me. I pressed myself further into the wall and tried to push the closest crate in front of me, but my arms were so weak and my body was in so much pain, it was no use. I had to bite my tongue to force the scream back down my throat as the noises grew louder and my body flinched at every crash from below. Glancing at the crate, attempting the thought of trying my luck again, I decided against it. Instead, I made every effort to stay silent. "Where is it?!" A man shouted and I froze. Maybe he sent his guards after me. Maybe they gave me a head start just for the fun of it, because that wasn't his voice.

"I smell her." Another voice? S-Smell?

"Need to replace her!" A third voice?!

"Alphas, I think she is upstairs." This new voice seemed terrified of the others. Wait, Alphas??!

The feet barreling up the rickety staircase made my face pale. How did they...? No...I can't get caught...I have to run. I tried so hard to get to my feet, but nothing was working. I don't know why I cannot move. I was glued to where I sat, eyes bulging as I stared at the door in front of me. In seconds, it burst open and I hid my face from the impact as my body shook all over.

"Mate." All three voices said at once in a harmonious baritone. The beautiful sound immediately warmed my frozen body, but why? Why wasn't I terrified of these large burly men? All of my need to run has been decimated. I looked up at the men in front of me and calling them men would be putting it lightly. They were definitely giants...wait. They were identical giants. Triplets?

I stared at them in shock and drank in the picture. All three of them had rich chestnut brown hair. The one in the middle kept his long and a few strands fell over his sun-kissed tanned face while the rest of it was slicked back into a low ponytail. The one next to him had the same olive skin tone and his hair was a bit shorter. Maybe shoulder length, but it was curly and over half of it fell to one side. The third had his cut short, but it was still long enough to have a bit of a wave to it on the top while it was faded on the sides.

I took in a breath, seeing that they weren't quite identical. It was their eyes. One was light blue, another was hazel and the one in the middle was bright green. They turned to each other and the grin spreading from their lips made my heart leap. I was infatuated with everything they did. I stared at them while it looked like the three men were having a conversation with their eyes.

"Oh, you found her Alphas." A smaller man came into the room - well, at least smaller than them - and looked between them and me before his eyes finally fell on me. I guess he was the fourth voice I'd heard earlier. "Should I take her in for questioning?" He asked and the fear that left me immediately returned to a whole new level as his dark brown eyes bored into my soul. I could tell by his eyes that he wanted to torture me, but I knew these men were not employed by Richard.

"Touch her and I'll kill you." The middle triplet spat back.

I pulled away and pressed my legs closer to my chest as if that would help me get away from them. The smaller man bowed and hurried away while the three men turned their attention back to me. "Hello." The one with the shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes said. He smiled happily and took a step my way. I pushed myself further into the wall and felt a tear fall from my eyes.

He raised his hands and kneeled down to my level, but he didn't try to move towards me anymore. "My name is Edon Oden, and these are my brothers." He raised his hand and pointed to the one in the center first. "Conri." Then, he pointed to the other who's light blue eyes looked like he wanted to eat me. "And...Vilkas."

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I was freezing and these three were standing in front of me in nothing more than a long sleeve shirt or a sweater with some jeans and boots. How were they not cold? "Aren't you cold?" I asked as my teeth continued to chatter. It was the first thing that came to mind.

I could have asked them who they were, why they were here, and how they found me, but the first thing I asked them was if they were cold. Only I would be able to embarrass myself that seamlessly, but...I was worried about them. I don't know why, but I was.

The one named Edon chuckled and sat on the floor now with his legs crossed in front of him. The room seemed so much smaller with the three of them in here. The floor moaned under his weight and I didn't miss his eyes glancing at the wood beneath him before turning back to me. "Nope. That's one of the perks of living up north our whole life."

"You...you live here?" I asked, looking around as if that would help me figure out the validity of his response. This entire town was abandoned. Wait, maybe they lived underground then?

"No, we live in the forest. About ten miles away from the tree line is the start of our territory." He said calmly. Territory? The other two were still looking at me but they seemed to be holding themselves back from something. The one named Vilkas made my face pale. His icy blue eyes held no emotion and he was completely void of compassion. Everything told me he didn't want to be here and everything screamed at me that he didn't like what he saw. The sad part was, neither did I. I winced and forced my attention back to Edon. His calm demeanor was soothing. It made me feel better.

"So...are you nomads or something?" I whispered.

Edon chuckled. "Not quite. We have a city in the trees and everything. Running water, heat, and roofs that won't collapse on top of you." He said, looking up at the waning roof creaking under the pressure of the wind and snow that had been piling up all night. "Oh." I said shortly. This is the longest conversation I have had with anyone in years, including Richard. It feels strange.

"So...now that you know our names. Will you tell us yours?" He asked with the same calm voice and I was starting to realize that he was the more level-headed out of the three of them. Probably the mediator of some kind.

I gulped and held my legs tighter. They...they want to know my name? "Ayame. Ayame Pierce." I whispered, and all three pairs of eyes lit up.

"Ayame...that's a beautiful name. Now, I have one more question for you." He asked sweetly. I nodded for him to continue. "What happened to you?" He asked, but it wasn't a nice undertone this time. It was rage, like he wanted to put Richard's head on a pike even though the volume of his voice didn't even raise a decibel.

I shook my head. "I...um...well...." I couldn't say it. Even thinking of his name made my heart rate increase.

"Can I come closer?" He asked and I looked up at him and then my eyes darted to the other two with tears in my eyes. Every fiber of my being wanted them to be closer to me. I was so scared. Even just by the memory of his name....that man's name.... I was terrified, but these three, well Edon, made me feel safe. They have nothing to do with him.

"W-why?" I asked anyway.

"Because you are hurting and I want to comfort you. Nothing more." Edon said softly.

I bit my lip and waited for something...anything to tell me I shouldn't trust them, but I wasn't cursed with anything of the sort. I raised my hands slowly and winced at the pain. Edon took that as a yes and swept me off of the floor in seconds. I don't even know when he got off the floor, but I was buried in his arms before I could even think and the warmth was immediately thawing out my freezing limbs.

My small legs hung over one of his arms while his hand held up my bum. Edon's other arm was around my torso, supporting my body upright. The tarp was long gone and surprisingly his hands didn't hurt my wounds. Maybe it's because I was numb all over at this point. The chill really did a number on me. "We got you.... Everything is going to be okay."

I buried my head in his chest and the warmth was greatly appreciated. Slipping my hands out of the oversized gloves, I rested my hands on his chest. Like I thought, it was much warmer than the synthetic material I'd desperately clinged to before. I held onto his shirt and played with the two buttons holding the collar together. Edon walked out of the small room and his brothers followed behind us silently. Just listening to Edon's heartbeat was keeping me calm and...I could feel the exhaustion hitting me. I was so...so tired, but I will need to get answers soon. Why am I not scared of the word mate? What does that even mean? Why am I not scared of them? They are strangers. I should be more alert.

"Bring the car around." Either Vilkas or Conri said. I wasn't too sure which. I was too busy playing with Edon's shirt button.

I heard an engine before Edon jogged up to the back of the car and hopped in. Vilkas sat next to him and Conri sat on the front passenger side. This wasn't a car, this was an SUV, but by the size of these three, that's the only thing that can fit them all. I yawned again, closing my eyes and snuggling into Edon's chest while something warm fell on top of me. Like a blanket or a jacket?

"Get some sleep. It's going to be a long ride." Edon said softly, noticing I was fighting my drowsiness. I nodded and sighed off into dreamland. The first wink of comfortable sleep in years.