12/23&26/2017

Kristin waited up for Ryder, wishing she could find out what was going on out there.

She decided to lay in bed when it got to be two in the morning. He had been gone for four hours.

She was still angry with him but couldn't help but worry.

She knew he was probably fine, but she found it hard to fall asleep. It didn't help that the new bed didn't smell like Ryder yet.

She seriously debated going into his closet and stealing something that smelled like him but she didn't want him to catch her either.

It'd show weakness, she thought jokingly.

And she still had to make her point to Ryder. Plus she wanted to keep doing things to help the pack.

She knew she'd have to be at the fighter's at eight tomorrow, although she didn't think Ryder would make it easy for her to go.

The next morning Kristin woke up and tiptoed towards the guest bedrooms. There was a chance that Ryder would already be up but it was still pretty early for him, especially since he didn't come back until who knows what time.

She found him in the first guest room fast asleep.

She smiled to herself, thinking he looked so peaceful.

It's a shame he'd wake up to an empty house.

Kristin grabbed some fruit from the counter, wondering who stocked their cupboards and fridges.

She hopped into Ryder's fancy black car, his scent engulfing her. She never really saw him driving the same car, however this one seemed to be one of his favorites since he'd been using it all week.

Kristin made it to the fighter's in record time, seeing Adam already outside.

After an hour of running and strength training, Kristin was beat.

"You did good today," Adam nodded at her.

"Thanks," she groaned, laying down on the floor. Her muscles were already becoming sore but she felt good. Even if she couldn't be as strong as a wolf she'd try her best.

"Hey, you're a fighter," Kristin sat up raising her brow.

"I am," he replied curiously.

"What exactly happened last night?"

"Oh, I see," Adam said nodding.

"Yeah, I was locked inside a house so I never found out if you guys found anything?"

"The Alpha had us do a sweep of the territory but we didn't find anything."

"Really?" she asked surprised.

"It was a thorough check, so I know we didn't miss anything. He told us what happened with you when you saw the rogue. It still seems suspicious though."

"Maybe it was nothing?" Kristin asked, wanting to know what he thought about the situation.

He shook his head, "Even if it was, better safe than sorry."

"Thanks for today," she said, slowly getting up.

He laughed at her wincing.

"Humans get sore from lifting weights you know," she rolled her eyes at him, causing him to laugh again.

"Alright, see you tomorrow Luna," he waved as she left.

She headed back to the house, surprised that Ryder wasn't there anymore. She quickly showered and got ready, grabbing some lunch before leaving.

She then drove over to the pack building, wanting to talk to Ethan about going to meet more of the pack today.

She knocked on the door, hearing Ethan's "Come in."

She opened the door, seeing Ethan behind his desk but also Ryder standing on one side of the room.

"Oh, hey," she looked at Ryder, getting caught off guard.

"Hey," he muttered, turning towards Ethan, "Make sure you get that done by tomorrow."

Ethan nodded and Ryder walked towards her.

She thought he was going to say something but he walked right passed her and left.

"What's his problem?" she mumbled once the door was shut.

Ethan shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable to be caught in their confrontation.

"Uh..." he hesitated, "He asked me where you went this morning."

"And?" she pressed.

Ethan grimaced, "He didn't exactly like my suggestion that you go train."

"Why not?" she scoffed, "It's a great idea!"

"He didn't do anything did he?" she questioned.

He shook his head, "He just thought you might get hurt in training since..."

"I'm a human," she finished and Ethan nodded.

"I'm sorry Luna," he said, bowing his head.

"What? Why?"

"This was my fault. I suggested you do trainings. I just thought it'd be a good idea."

"It a good idea Ethan and I'm glad you suggested it," Kristin sat down in front of his desk.

"If Ryder gives you a hard time about me training, please tell me," she said, although she knew Ethan wouldn't.

He just gave her a small smile, "The Alpha doesn't give me a hard time. He just really cares about you."

"He has a great way of showing it, doesn't he?" she said sarcastically.

Ethan chuckled, "I do understand where he's coming from though. And now with the whole rogue situation he's worrying more."

Kristin sighed, "I wish he'd let me help him. He's too afraid of losing me and becoming like his father but he's pushing me away trying to protect me."

"He'll come around," Ethan said encouragingly.

"I don't know," Kristin shook her head, "I just wish I could help. I want to protect the pack too."

"Well..." he murmured, stopping himself before continuing.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing," he said, shaking his head, "I just— it's nothing."

"You thought of a way I could help the pack?"

He grimaced, looking away, "I mean it would definitely help."

"Help protect the pack?" she pressed him to continue.

"Yeah," he replied, shifting in his seat again, "It would make the pack stronger."

"Please tell me what I can do Ethan," she scooted closer to his desk.

He chuckled nervously, adverting his eyes.

"Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?" she suddenly asked, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he spoke shyly, "I shouldn't have said anything. It's none of my business."

"No it's okay," she laughed, "But do you think it'd really help? Like it genuinely makes the pack stronger?"

She knew this wouldn't be happening any time soon but she was still curious.

Ethan shrugged, "Yeah."

"Hmmm," she hummed, sitting back in her chair, "Well as interesting as that sounds I don't think that'll happen any time soon."

"I mean," she continued, chuckling, "You saw him walk out earlier. We're hardly talking to each other right now."

"There are other things you can do. Things you are already doing," he said, changing the subject.

"Great, because I don't think this whole mating thing would work out with us," Kristin teased, watching Ethan's face redden.

Kristin laughed at his reaction and he quickly changed the subject once again.

"Iris and Kayla stopped by about fifteen minutes ago. You can go with them if you want."

An hour later, Kristin had followed Kayla and Iris around the pack, meeting a few other people.

They all told her how excited they were for the celebration coming up.

One of the younger girls, Elaina, was especially excited and asked Kristin what dress she was going to wear to the event.

"I don't know," she responded, "Maybe I should go get one for the celebration."

Elaina gasped, "We could go right now and help you!"

Kristin was going to kindly decline but the other women all looked thrilled at this idea as well.

"Okay," Kristin agreed, thinking this could actually be fun and enjoyable.

"We should stay in pack territory though," she added, not wanting to take a chance of their safety. If it was just her she would have thought about going to the city just to spite Ryder.

In the end, she probably would have stayed in Nightfall anyway. She knew it wasn't worth it to put herself in danger and make Ryder worry, even if she was still in a weird fight with him.

"We can go to Allie's," Kayla suggested, "She always has such beautiful dresses."

"I agree!" Elaina exclaimed, "Can we go there, Luna?"

"That sounds good to me," Kristin grinned at her enthusiasm.

Twenty minutes later they were all inside Allie's Pack Boutique. Iris, Kayla, Elaina, Jane, who Kristin had also met, and even Allie herself were helping Kristin pick out possible dresses.

"I brought some of these out from the back," Allie carefully laid the dresses down for Kristin to see, "I save them for really special occasions. I'm so glad you came here, Luna. It's so great to see you."

"Thank you Allie, they are all so beautiful."

Kristin walked out a couple times with different dresses on, getting the opinions from the women.

Although they all agreed that every dress was perfect for her, they had there favorites.

"So Luna, how are you and the Alpha doing?" Jane asked cheerfully.

"Uh," Kristin found herself uttering. She shook her head and grimaced, "We're not exactly on the same page with most things."

She didn't want to alarm them or make them worry so she kept her voice light.

"Are you going to let him mark you soon?" Elaina wondered, oblivious to Iris' warning look.

Kristin instinctively reached up to touch her neck, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"Maybe someday."

"It's just that we don't exactly understand each other yet..." she added, only confusing herself even more of what was really going on between them.

"It's difficult," Iris nodded, "Alphas and Lunas are very different from each other."

Kristin nodded, dryly chuckling, "You're telling me."

Three dresses later, Kristin walked out of the room, finding it empty besides Iris.

"The other girls decided to go pick out some more dresses for you to try on," she laughed.

Kristin joined in laughing, glad she had friends to hang out with again. She really misses Allison and Logan, not having seen them in a while.

"You know Luna," Iris elaborated on earlier, "The Alpha is built to be strong and physically protect the pack. The Luna, however, is built to provide the emotional support to the pack and help them that way. They're like the healers of the pack."

"Healers?" Kristin questioned, interested in this term she hadn't heard of before.

"Lunas tend to be healers," Iris explained, "They're more sensitive and emotional than the Alpha so they can provide support and comfort to the pack. This is why it's easier for people to open up to you and you are more in tune with the pain of others, empathizing with them."

"That makes sense," Kristin said slowly, "But it must not work for Ryder. He doesn't really open up or trust me."

"It does work, sweetie," she smiled, "The Luna also provides support, comfort, and safety to her mate."

"He doesn't exactly trust my judgement," she sighed, smoothing out the dress she currently had on, "When I want to help out with the pack he won't listen and makes me stay locked in the house."

"I disagree with him having you locked up, but I know he is just trying to protect you," Iris smiled.

Kristin nodded at her, offering her a smile.

"So how did you hear of the healer?" she asked.

"We've always used the healer to describe the role of the Luna for as long as I can remember."

"Hmm, I've never heard of that in Spirit Moon, but it is a great comparison."

Iris nodded, "I feel you are more in tune with your healing side."

"Really?" she wondered, not knowing how Iris decided that.

Iris nodded, "Have you experienced some sort of trauma that has changed your life?" she gently asked.

"Yes," Kristin replied softly, trying to keep herself from thinking back to those events.

"And do you have vivid dreams often?"

"You could say that," she slightly shook her head.

"I see a strong healer in you Luna. I have no doubt that you'll make our pack stronger."

"Iris," Kristin shook her head, "Thank you."

She was extremely grateful to have met this woman and have her in her life.

"That is also why you feel the mate bond stronger than anyone else," she knowingly added.

Kristin brought her hand to her chest, feeling the constant pain from being away from Ryder for so long. She had seen him this morning for about thirty seconds, but that had made it worse.

"I don't understand why it's so strong," she said, referring to her pain from the bond.

"You don't only feel your pain, but Alpha Ryder's too," Iris explained.

Kristin groaned, "So he's hardly in pain and I have it doubled?"

"No," she gave Kristin's hand a squeeze, "He'll experience pain too, but males respond to it in different ways. He could be angrier and maybe more stressed when you two are apart and fighting."

"But what if that's because of other things going on?" Kristin tried making an excuse even though she knew it was all related.

"Even if it is, when you two are together and everything is good between you, it makes leading and protecting the pack a lot easier."

"I wish it was easier to fix things between us."

"I know this is the last thing you want to think about right now, but if he marks you it'll help keep you two together. And mating is the best way to create a strong bond between you two. It brings you closer to each other."

"What if I want us to have a stronger bond before we mate?" Kristin asked nervously.

"That's what the mark will do for you," Iris reassured, "The mark will bring you one step closer to one another."

As soon as Iris was finished talking, the girls came back with their dresses. After another hour, Kristin had finally found the one everyone agreed was their all time favorite on her and they rode back to the pack building.

Before saying goodbye to everyone, Kristin pulled Iris aside.

"I was thinking about what you said about being a healer," Kristin said.

"Yes?"

She hesitated, "So I'm not crazy for feeling the urge to help certain people in the pack? Like when they're in need?"

"You aren't crazy," Iris grinned, "That is your instincts telling you those certain people are in need of support."

"Okay, thanks," she replied, saying goodbye.

Now she could explain her need to help Evelyn a couple of days ago. Although she had no idea what was going on between Evelyn, her brother, and Jackson, she knew she needed to go with her.

She felt really bad about Ryder kicking her out of the fighter's and decided she would start pulling some strings, helping Evelyn get back in.

•. •. •. •. •.

Chapter Fifty Six.

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