The Alpha's Stolen Luna - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

: Sutton
“Well, I wouldn’t really say the details are juicy,” I said.
“But I would definitely say they are heroic,” Tarrah interjected.
The girls gasped. “Go on…” Simone pressed.
“Okay, as you well know, I’m not an Ironpaw Pack member,” I began. “I was near the border of your territory when I was attacked.” Tarrah hushed the other’s reactions, allowing me to keep going without a hundred more questions. “I wasn’t in great shape but I managed to walked far enough to make it to Lucas’s uncle’s farmstead. He found me right before I collapsed. He saved my life.”
They all burst out in a simultaneous “aww.”
“So that’s where he was those two weeks he was away?” Lorelei commented.
I shook my head. “No, he actually moved me to the manor house here outside the city. He thought it would be the most private place to nurse me back to health and give us some time to get to know each other.”
“Our Alpha is certainly known for protecting his privacy,” Simone said.
“So, what pack did you come from? Is it hard knowing you’ll be joining a new pack soon and leaving it behind?” Narya asked as she poured another glass of champagne.
“Um…” I cleared my throat. “No, it hasn’t been hard to leave. I came from the Dawn Stalker Pack.” They all tried to hide the looks that were exchanged. Not very well. “But I never really felt like I was part of the pack. I grew up in human territory so I was always the outsider.”
Simone nearly choked on her drink. Everyone but Tarrah looked confused. Narya was about to start to speak but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“That would be Motty,” Tarrah said, sliding off her stool.
She went to open the door and ushered the young woman inside. She had a gift bag in her hand and she was tugging awkwardly at her long brown hair. We all greeted her and she smiled through her flush before she presented the gift to me.
“I didn’t know what the party was about,” she said. “Tarrah just said we were celebrating something. I thought it was a welcome thing. So… um… it probably doesn’t make any sense but I hope you like it anyway.”
“Motty, it was kind of you to bring anything,” I said. “You really didn’t have to do that.”
I pulled out the tissue paper and reached in to remove the present. Taking it out, it was a gorgeous flower vase with an array of patchwork colors and patterns. It was beautifully chaotic. Everything on it somehow managed to coordinate surprisingly well making the piece intriguingly cohesive.
“You said you liked flowers…” Motty said.
“It’s stunning, Motty,” I said, putting it down gingerly so I could give her a hug. “Thank you. I love it.”
“I agree, it is very pretty, Motty,” Narya voiced. “You have to tell me where you got it.”
“Oh, I made it,” she said, a hint of pride breaking through her shyness.
“That’s amazing,” I said. “You are a very talented young woman.”
“Indeed,” Lorelei concurred. “It appears our future Luna isn’t the only one with secrets.”
“What…?” Motty replied.
“You got here just as we found out Sutton grew up in human territory,” Narya told her. “I know she was going to elaborate on that for us.” She looked at me. “Right?”
“Come on, guys,” Tarrah stepped in, handing me another drink. “She doesn’t have to tell us if she doesn’t want to. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“No, no, it’s fine. I brought it up, after all,” I assured her. “It’s a bit complicated and a long story, I guess. I was born in human territory and my mom married my stepdad, so we just stayed there, I guess.”
“That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Simone said. “Why were you born there?”
“My parents were mates — fated mates, apparently — but something happened to him while my mother was pregnant with me. I guess losing him was too much, so she left the pack lands.”
“That’s terrible, Sutton. I’m so sorry,” Narya said.
“That definitely makes more sense,” Lorelei agreed. “I can imagine what I’d do if I lost my mate.”
“But you don’t know what happened to him?” Simone pressed. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you?”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t even know my stepfather wasn’t my dad until I was a teenager. My mother passed before she could tell me anything about my biological father. I… I don’t even know his name.”
“You lost both your parents?” Motty asked sadly.
She had a haunted look in her eyes. I wondered if she may have experienced a similar loss herself. That would explain her need to come here to live with her aunt.
“That’s terrible,” Narya stated. “I’m so sorry you lost your mother but she could have told you his name. He was her fated mate. Your father.”
I shrugged. “I think she would have,” I defended. “Dad said she was pretty traumatized by losing him. So, it may have just been easier to forget about it all when I was a kid. Either way, I’ve made peace with not knowing. My stepdad was good to us. He was always my dad. Even after Mom died. I’m grateful for that.”
“Of course you are,” Tarrah said. “And why wouldn’t he be there for you? You’re wonderful. I have no doubt that he loves you just as much as he loved your mother.”
I forced a smile. I wouldn’t have gone that far. Not after what had transpired over the last five years. But I still believed he was a good man who did the best he could. That’s more than some people can say about their real parents. It was nicer to remember him as the supportive and kind man I knew him as before.
“So, how did you end up with the Dawn Stalkers?” Narya asked.
I took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. “That’s definitely a long, complicated story,” I said. “I think I’ll have to save that one for another time.”