The Dark Alpha: True Luna

Chapter 30: Away

Alpha Giles responds as quickly as we had hoped he would to Theo's request for a visit. In his message, Giles agrees that a meeting could benefit both our packs. He is looking forward to our arrival whenever we deem fit to do so. That same day, Theo asks to come this week, leaving two days for me to finalize things for the babies. The next day, amid my milk bottling, Theo enters the kitchen with a message in his hand. "We leave the day after tomorrow," he says.

I breathe in and survey my current store of bottles—enough food for the boys if everything goes to plan, which means I need to prepare more.

"Will that work?" Theo asks.

"Uh, yeah. I can make it work. You need to tell Alexa."

"I stopped by her and my mother's on my way home." Theo saunters to the counter next to me and leans against it. "For some reason, she's eager to go."

"For some reason? Is it that surprising that Alexa wants to be mated again?"

He shrugs. "Usually she doesn't want to do the things our mother tells her to do. She does things her own way, at least she's always tried to."

"Okay, but she doesn't need you reminding her to be defiant. Be happy for her."

"Trust me, I would love to see my sister happily mated again, just not to a coward. If I'm going to have another brother-by-bond, Goddess at least let him have some self-respect."

Theo compiles a small party of three guards to accompany us to the Giles pack. The next morning, the three men are waiting outside as I'm running around the house getting stray bits and pieces in order at the last minute. Corrine follows me from the living room to the kitchen and waits at the base of the stairs whenever I remember something and need to race up to my bedroom or the nursery.

As I'm coming down with the extra bras I forgot to pack—in case of leaking—she says, "Alexa should be here any minute. She was awake when I left the house."

I crouch to stuff the bras into my bag. Both Theo's bag and my bag sit together in the foyer, ready to be strapped to our guards once they shift. Theo walks in with Reid in his arms.

I look up from my things and stand. "He was asleep a minute ago."

"Perhaps he can sense you're leaving," Corrine says and straightens Reid's scrunched sleeve. The boys are supposed to be sleeping in their bassinets in the living room behind us. I nursed them an hour ago.

Theo adjusts his hold on our baby. "Daniel's asleep."

"Well, I've sensed that Reid is a touch more dependent than his brother," Corrine explains. "He always loves being held."

"Really? He's told you?" Theo asks.

His mother's expression turns unimpressed. "I've raised two babies of my own, you know. You get a sense for these things after years of dedication and hard work."

"And we're very grateful to have you watching them while we're gone," I say before Theo can tease her anymore.

A knock on the front door ends our conversation. "That'll be your sister," Corrine says and slips past us to let Alexa in.

Alexa's long dark hair is thrown up in a ponytail, strips of hair left loose around her face and against her neck. She leaves her bag on the doorstep outside and goes right to Reid.

"Good morning, you," she coos. "Where's your brother?"

"Sleeping," Theo says, "like this one's going to be in a minute."

"Let me hold him first."

Theo hands over our son and proceeds to take our bags outside.

"You write to me if anything happens," Corrine orders. "Don't think I want to be surprised because I don't. A messenger can get here from Giles by tomorrow."