“I know,” Nate sighs. “I feel the same as you.”
“… Before that, I need to talk to the White Moon clan.”
Nate’s surprised, but there are a few things I need to settle before this all goes down.
“If we have to fight, I don’t want it to be like last time’s mess. We lost lives because our Alpha didn’t make the right choices. I need to be sure things are as they should be over there. I need to talk to Clark and Chris.”
“Okay.”
I frown.
“I’m going alone, Nate.”
“Yeah,” he chuckles. “I’d expect so. I’ll watch the baby meanwhile.”
“And Nathaniel, I need to ask you something.”
He frowns at my serious tone, especially as I rarely use his full name, but there’s one thing I need to be sure of before I go back to face my pack once and for all.
“Who killed Diego, Nate?”
Chapter 32
I decided to walk to the White Moon clan’s turf. I need some fresh air to clear my mind before I do this. Truth is, I’m not ecstatic about going back there, but some things need to be done and some things need to be said. I managed to avoid them when I buried Reagan, but it can’t go on like this forever.
After all, that pack adopted me and raised me. There have been a lot of mistakes, and trust was lost along the way, but they are still my people. At least, in my mind. I know I was officially banned for birthing a child from a different clan, but that was four years ago. Nora and Damian got rid of any borders. Now, I can walk into my former territory without anyone stopping me. I knew it wouldn’t be a nice return, but I did not expect to feel so… sad.
I spent my whole childhood in these streets, and until now, I hadn’t realized how much I missed all of this. The familiar smells, the simple shops, the music streaming through the open windows. Especially in the summer, the Hispanic neighborhood is one of the liveliest ones in Silver City. Some people seem to recognize me, surprised, and greet me with a bit of hesitation. Not everyone is a werewolf around here; it’s a rather mixed area, almost 50-50 split between humans and us. Hence, those whodidn’t know why I disappeared are surprised to see me back, and awkward.
After a while, the first wolves come to greet me. I was prepared to have to struggle a bit, maybe defend myself, but to my surprise they are happy to see me.
“Elena! Welcome back girl!!”
“Missed ya, baby!”
“Guys, look, it’s really Elena!”
“Jace! Bianca! And…”
In a few minutes, not a few but a whole crowd of werewolves run to me! The ones that were probably on patrol right before are still in their wolf form, but they bicker to run to me, like a wave of fur around my knees. They all try to hug me, ruffle my hair, or grab my hand. I don’t even know who to look at anymore!
“Elena!”
I can barely recognize them before the Lewis twins jump at me. Bonnie and Ben have grown up so much! They are freaking adults now! I hug them back, chuckling. I missed the Lewis family so damn much!
After a few seconds of hugging them, I recognize the young man behind them.
“Moon Goddess… Micah?”
He smiles and hugs me. How did he get so big too!
“It was high time you came home, Elena,” he whispers with a smile.
I realize he’s right. I was away for so long, and the White Moon clan is still a part of me, even if I tried hard to deny it and move on.
For a few minutes, I laugh and tear up a bit, catching up with my old friends, holding Micah’s arm and walking with the little crowd to my godfather’s house. Most people leave me before we reach it, making me promise to come by the pub orother places before I go back. I feel like this is going to take all day.
When I finally stop at the front door, I’m left with the twins and Micah. Their presence makes me feel a bit better, especially since Danny is busy at work and couldn’t be here. I take a deep breath and knock.