Chapter 404
Chapter 404
61 – Ben
Hours had slipped by without any word from Damon or Owen. By now, they should have finished whatever they were doing or at least sent a message to update me. Sebastian and Richard were also expected to check in. The silence gnawed at me— was it a good sign, or should I be worried? I wanted to hold onto hope, but the uncertainty was suffocating. I needed to know what was happening.
Sleep eluded me completely. I lay staring up at the ceiling of Luna Sam’s room, my eyes tracing the restless shadows cast by the moonlight filtering through the trees outside. My mind wandered uncontrollably to Elara. What was she doing at this moment? Was she awake too, wrestling with her own thoughts? Was her wolf pacing anxiously inside her mind, just as mine was? The distance between us felt unbearable. I hated that I’d become so attached to someone who might not want me once all this was over. The thought stung-how had I let myself care so deeply? Rationally, I knew this was different from what I’d felt with Kennedy, but the ache felt painfully familiar. My wolf’s longing for Elara was growing stronger every day we spent here at Black Claw, and I couldn’t deny it. I wished this endless back-and-forth would finally end, but the Moon Goddess seemed determined to make things difficult for me.
Damn it, I needed a distraction. I rose and began pacing the room, restless and unable to find a comfortable spot. Luna Sam hadn’t wanted to be alone, and I didn’t fully trust her not to sneak downstairs to interfere with whatever the witches were doing to break Junior’s spell. Maybe she didn’t trust herself either.
It was too early to reach out to Jason, to see if he was on his way. But I wanted him here. I’d made friends and worked well with the Black Claw pack and even some of the Coven witches, but having someone from home—a familiar face-felt like a lifeline. Someone who understood me, who knew my past. I didn’t know when I’d become so sentimental; it was both comforting and frustrating. Part of me just needed the reassurance that I wasn’t losing my mind, from someone who truly knew me.
Luna Sam’s window offered a wide view of the packhouse grounds, the moonlight illuminating the front property. I stood still for a moment, taking in the quiet night, but soon the urge to move overwhelmed me again, and I resumed pacing. At least Luna Sam seemed to be resting. I couldn’t imagine the weight of worry she carried- caring for a child caught in this mess, not knowing how to fix it, not knowing who else might be affected. Isolation was her only option. She’d been afraid to involve anyone else, probably terrified of spreading whatever this was. I understood that— she wanted to keep it contained within the pack.
We had to get a handle on this situation quickly. No more pups could be hurt. I desperately hoped the others would reach out soon, but if they were busy dealing with Junior, I didn’t want to distract or derail their efforts.
“You’re going to wear a hole in my floor if you keep stomping like that,” Luna Sam’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see her lying on her side, watching me with tired eyes. She looked younger than I’d ever seen her-her hair tousled, blankets pulled up to her chin like a child seeking comfort.
“Sorry if I woke you. I haven’t heard anything, and I’m terrible at sitting still,” I admitted, moving back toward the window as if the view might suddenly offer some
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“Control freaks usually aren’t good at sitting still. I should know,” she said dryly.
“How are you feeling this morning, Luna?” I asked, settling onto the couch. This was something I could handle—something I could help fix. Making sure the Luna was safe and able to lead her pack was part of my responsibility.
“I feel better. The rest was exactly what I needed. But I should go see my son, and you need to check on your team. Give me a few minutes to freshen up, and then we’ll head downstairs and get some food ready for everyone.” She didn’t leave room for argument or alternative plans. She’d rested as I asked and allowed the witches I trusted to care for her son. Now, she was ready to take charge again—to be the Luna her pack needed.
I stepped into the hallway and immediately noticed three guards posted at intervals along the walls leading to the main living area. I recognized them from training- they were some of Junior’s closest friends. “When did you guys get here?” I asked.
“We arrived a few hours ago. Jason told us to stand guard while the Luna rested. Can you tell us what’s going on with Malcolm? We haven’t been allowed in the house for a month, and no one’s heard a thing. The pack’s scared,” the boy in the middle, Bryce, said. Hearing Junior referred to by his proper name felt strange— Malcolm Junior, the name always sounded so formal. I wondered when his friends had started using it.
“We’re trying to get you answers. I’m not sure what I can say or what I need to keep confidential because I don’t have all the information yet. Once the Luna is ready, we’ll check on Malcolm and hopefully be able to answer some questions,” I explained.
About twenty minutes later, Luna Sam joined us in the hallway. We walked silently down to the kitchen, Luna Sam leading the way. She didn’t acknowledge the time the warriors had spent standing guard, nor did she seem surprised to see them there. She must have communicated with them last night and kept it from me. I wasn’t sure whether to feel impressed or irritated by that—but this wasn’t my pack.