Will Rejection Hold? novel Chapter 23

John headed over to me. "Hey my favorite girl, how are you?"

"Not great, but I guess I'm doing fine." I shrugged not sure how to answer. I'm not doing fine at all, but I don't want to burden John with my mess.

"It'll all be alright Lex." He reaches out and hugged me. "He'll come back to us soon." He whispered in my ear. I just nodded my head, and pulled back from him.

"Thanks John."

"No problem Luna." He bowed making a show of it, "Please do not hesitate to call me if you need anything, okay?" I nodded again, smiling as he walked away waving.

I watch from a distance as Tucker spoke to a few pack members. They wrapped up their conversation and he headed my way, shooting me a sympathetic look. Tucker leaned over and pulled me into a hug. "They are just worried and sad. Some don't even know you yet." He soothed. But his words didn't really mean that much. I hadn't even known him a full week, he doesn't really know anything about me.

"You don't know me either. None of you do. What was I thinking? I can't run this pack. They don't want me to. I'm just going to screw it all up." I leaned into his embrace, feeling the brotherly comfort. I had always wanted this.

"Chase would want you too." That was all it took. I had to do it. I had to do it for Chase. I nodded my head, sucking up my tears. I pulled away from Tucker with a renewed sense of confidence.

"Okay."

"Okay what?" Tucker asked lost at my sudden change in attitude. He let go of me though as I stepped away from him.

"I'm Luna. I have to do it. If that's what Chase would want, I won't let him down." I shrugged.

"Good!" He squeezed my shoulders, catching up to me, before letting go. "Come on let's go back to see how Chase is." He followed me down the path back to the sidewalk in silence. I'm sure we were both just praying that Chase would somehow magically be awake when we returned.

"LUNA! LUNA!!!!!" Tucker yelled running down the stairs. I opened my eyes to see it was still pretty dark outside. "The hunters are back! Command all of the women and children to come to the home immediately! I'll handle the battle!" I watched helplessly as he sprinted out the door. I sprung right up, running to turn on the house lights.

THE HUNTERS ARE BACK! RETURN TO THE PACK HOUSE RIGHT NOW! I commanded through mind link.

Within minutes people appeared. "Calm down. It'll be okay." I called out to everyone catching their attention. "Tucker is in charge of the fight, and everyone will be safe."

Some people nodded, some just ignored me too caught up in their own worry, but it doesn't matter. At least I'm trying to help.

"They will all come around doll, they are still grieving their Alpha." Tucker's mother came and sat next to me on the sofa.

"Thanks." I smiled. "I'm sorry I never caught your name to other day."