12/20/2017

*MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Kristin didn't sleep much that night. After waking up at two in the morning, she felt wide awake.

Her mind was going into overdrive, thoughts racing through her head.

She spent the night on the floor, curled up in the comforter that smelled like Ryder.

She was very angry with him, but she knew most of the things he had said were true. She needed to change the way things were. He didn't like it, but she didn't care. Most importantly, she didn't like it.

She told herself she was only doing this for herself, and as of right now, she'd start changing for the better.

Although the clock read five am, Kristin went to shower and get ready for the day. She dried and straightened her long hair and applied makeup afterwords, making sure to focus on her dark under eye circles.

After changing into different clothes, she felt a confidence coming back to her that she didn't know she had lost in the first place.

It was seven by the time she finished eating breakfast downstairs. She decided she didn't care if she had to face Ryder. Her mind was already set on doing her own thing.

"Going somewhere?" she turned to see Ryder leaning in the doorway.

He actually looked tired which wasn't his usual look. There was also a darker color under his eyes and his hair was disheveled— although she liked that part.

Kristin tightened her hold on her purse, "Yes."

Ryder looked her up and down before speaking again.

"Where?"

She made sure to make eye contact with him, "It doesn't matter. I'm going no matter what you say."

His jaw tightened, "You need to stay in Nightfall. It's too dangerous to go outside borders right now."

She nodded before opening the door. She was surprised that he was letting her go, even if he set boundaries.

"Why can't you tell me where you're going?" he asked one last time before she shut the door.

"I'm being independent. Isn't that what you wanted?" she shut the door before he could reply, not wanting to talk about last night.

She drove away in one of the cars that was parked outside, knowing exactly where her first stop would be.

Arriving at the pack building, she walked inside heading straight for the stairs.

Kristin walked down a couple of hallways with offices before knocking on a door.

She didn't think anyone would be in yet, but she thought she'd try anyway.

She was surprised when the door opened, revealing an also surprised Ethan.

"Luna?" he questioned, not expecting to see anyone this early— let alone the Luna.

"Hey Ethan," she smiled, "I was wondering if I could talk with you for a bit. I know it's early but I need your help."

"Is everything okay?"

She nodded, finding his concern to be strange since he was so young. She guessed that was what made him a good Beta, he was already so responsible.

He opened the door wider, letting her walk in.

Sitting in a chair across from his desk, she waited for him to take a seat before speaking.

"How have you been?"

Ethan looked at her for a moment before replying, "I'm good. How about you?"

Kristin could tell he was nervous talking with her. She wished he would be more comfortable around her but she figured it was because they'd only ever talked once or twice before.

She sighed, "I'll be okay. I just need you to help me with some things."

He raised a brow, "Like what?"

"Well," Kristin smiled, "You seem to know what you're doing around here, despite having a title at such a young age."

"I'm not that young, you know," he smiled at her, shaking his head.

"Aren't you sixteen?" she asked.

"Actually I'm seventeen now," he nodded, "My birthday was a couple weeks ago."

"Oh, happy belated birthday!" she grinned at him, noticing his low key excitement that he was one year older.

"Thanks! Yeah so I'm really not that young. You're eighteen right? I'm just one year younger than you," he shrugged, eyes lighting up.

Kristin laughed, deciding not to bring up that she'd be turning nineteen in two months.

"So what do you need help with Luna?"

"That's just it," she shook her head, "I haven't been a good Luna lately."

Ethan scrunched his brows, "What do you mean? Everyone loves you."

"Even if they do, I've hardly met everyone. Plus I haven't done anything for them, I feel bad."

"Don't feel bad. They know you're new to becoming the Luna. They're just glad they finally have one after being without for over three years."

Kristin nodded, trying to think of what to ask of him.

"What I'm trying to say is I need you to help me become a better Luna. I know a lot of the things I'm supposed to do because of my mom, but things are a little different here."

"I would be happy to help you Luna, but I feel like Ryder would be a better person to ask?" he questioned.

Kristin let out a breath, "Yeah... about that."

"If you don't mind my asking, is everything okay with you two?"

She smiled at him, "Nothing to worry about. I just thought I'd take initiative on my own. With the help of you of course."

"Okay," he agreed, although he still looked curious about her and Ryder.

"So what's first?" Kristin tried her best at hiding the current pain in her chest from the mate bond.

Great, not this again.

"Well, there's a meeting at eight about the celebration we are planning with your parents' pack. The one when we form an official alliance. I'm sure everyone would love for you to join."

Kristin hesitated, "Will Ryder be there?"

Ethan shook his head, "It's just a small meeting between some of the planners so the Alpha wasn't planning on going."

"Okay, great," she said, chuckling at his confused expression.

Ethan showed her the room where the meeting would be and then went back to his office to do some work.

Kristin knocked before entering, everyone turning to see her.

"Hey guys, mind if I join you?"

There were four people sitting around the table; two women and two men. One of the guys she recognized from her first meeting.

"Luna!" he said, surprised, "Please come in."

"Thanks," she shut the door behind her and joined them at the table, "I thought I would get involved with this celebration. It's with my old pack after all."

"We would love for you to help," the women to her left smiled at her, "I'm Iris by the way."

Kristin returned her smile.

"I don't know if you remember me," the guy from the first meeting said, "I'm Colton."

"The event planner, right?" she nodded.

"He's the official one," the other women said, "But we all volunteered to help organize the celebration. I'm Kayla, by the way," she grinned.

"And this is Harry," Colton added, motioning to the other guy who nodded his head, "Luna."

"It's nice to meet all of you," Kristin said, "and thank you for volunteering to do this."

They all nodded and smiled.

"It's nothing dear," Iris waved her hand, "I love event planning anyways."

"Yes," Kayla agreed, "Planning parties are so fun!"

"Alright, lets get to the planning then, huh?" Harry chuckled, pulling out a folder of papers.

The next hour went by with Kristin and the other four going over what they had planned for the date, location, the decorations, the food, and more.

"Great," Colton nodded, "Well if the Luna approves of everything we can go ahead and start preparing."

"Yes, everything sounds great," Kristin smiled, "I'm excited."

"Me too," Kayla added.

"Alright then that's a wrap, next meeting will be same time and place next week?"

"Works for me," Iris nodded.

"Sounds good," Harry got up and nodded again at Kristin, "Luna."

Kristin smiled, watching him leave.

After Colton left Kayla spoke up, "So Luna, where are you going now?"

Iris chuckled, "Kayla," she warned.

"Sorry," she smiled sheepishly, "I'm just really interested in what you do. It's been so long since we had a Luna."

"Maybe you two could help me?" Kristin suggested.

"Really? How?" Kayla asked excitedly.

"Well, I'm not quite sure what the previous Luna did, but I know everyone loved her."

They both nodded.

"Luna Rose was the kindest person I knew," Iris whispered.

Kristin leaned in, curious to hear more about Ryder's mother.

"Sorry," Iris chuckled sadly, "I'm so used to whispering her name. We weren't allowed to talk about her when Alpha Rickard was here."

"I hated him," Kayla muttered, "After Luna Rose died, he turned into a monster."

"Kayla!" Iris warned, "You can't say these things in front of the Luna!"

"It's okay," Kristin said sadly, "I know it's true.

They were all silent for a while before Kayla spoke again, "Is it true Alpha Rickard kidnapped you?"

"Kayla!" Iris gasped, "You cannot ask these things!"

"No it's okay," Kristin chuckled sadly, "I think everyone should know the truth about what happened that day."

Even Iris looked curious in response.

"What did they tell you happened that day?" Kristin asked first.

Iris looked around, seeming scared of getting caught talking about this.

Kristin took her hand, "It's okay to talk about this. I know everyone must be curious as to what happened. You won't get in trouble for talking about Rickard or Rose anymore. I promise."

Iris nodded, "Thank you Luna. I've just gotten used to keeping quiet about everything regarding Alpha Rickard. We would get into big trouble if anyone caught us saying anything."

"I understand," Kristin squeezed her hand, "But I want you to know that you don't have to be afraid anymore. You are safe here and Ryder and I along with all of the pack in Nightfall will protect everyone here."

Iris smiled at her, "If Nightfall could go back to how it was before we lost Luna Rose, that would be everything."

Kristin nodded, "I promise to do everything I can to make this pack a place everyone feels safe and happy in."

She knew saying this would be a huge promise and responsibility, but she wanted to make people like Iris feel safe and happy being in Nightfall again.

She finally felt like she could actually make a difference as a Luna.

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter Fifty Three

I didn't update last Monday because I was too busy to write with finals and then moving back home for a month.

However now I'm on my Christmas break so I've been writing a lot more and you might get some extra uploads.

I'm excited bc although I'm sure there will be a lot more chapters (since I wrote slow) this story is nearing an end. This will be my first official finished book!

[writing is like reading a book but everything that happens, happens really slow bc you're the one who is writing it in the first place]

Thanks for reading! Vote for a bonus chap.

Chica_2016