Chap 14: Letting go is such sweet sorrow

Alisha's POV

As they were entering Moongazer territory, the group noticed that they were flanked on the left and the right by a group of wolves. Alisha tried to smile at some of the wolves, who she knew, but they kept their eyes focus in front, not smiling at her at all. Alisha realised that the subtle difference was due to her being the mate of the Alphas from Starfall. She was no longer Alisha from Moongazer pack but Luna Alisha from Starfall. She stiffened her spine and walked regally beside her two mates who realised the sudden difference and turned to look at her.

"Are you alright Alisha? Markian and I are with you from now on. Every step of the way, my darling" said Mitchell while Markian squeezed her shoulders gently. Touched by their reassurance, Alisha's eyes teared a little. She quickly wiped the tear off so as not to show any weakness in front of their escort.

It initially surprised her of how quickly things had changed for her but she understood that it was a necessary change and didn't blame the wolves who were bringing her in. This was the escort that Alpha Wayland had told them about when Markian had called before. The wolves quietly herded the small group forward towards the packhouse where the twins supposed that Alpha Wayland would be waiting for them. The cubs didn't notice the strained atmosphere as they were too busy joking and laughing with each other.

Walking into the Moongazers territory reminded Alisha of her first time five years ago. She had dragged herself through the forest, hoping for someone to help her and the Moongazer pack had been wonderful. They gave her a new life, a home and they gave her a sense of purpose. She would forever be grateful to this tribe as they had saved her from near death and had helped her onto her feet again. She looked towards the packhouse and tried to see her room. The room that had housed her from the time she had arrived until this very morning. She had left her window open today before taking the cubs to the lake and now she could see her curtain billowing out of the windows.

Her breathed hitched to see the Gamma's wife at the door of the packhouse. Alex and Alia whooped as they saw their mother waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs of the packhouse. As Alia and Alex approached her, she stepped forward towards the group, smiling hesitantly at them

"Mum! Mum! Alisha found her mates while we were picnicking at a lake we found in the forest. There are two of them and we played with them till they brought us home... Can the three of us go to Markian's and Mitchell's pack tomorrow? It was so much fun. Can we mum, please?!" begged the two little cubs trying to race each other to see who could give the most information, the quickest.

"Whoa!! Wait a minute, you two! I am so glad you had fun today...Oh, Alisha!! Congratulations my dear!! I am so happy for you" she said while hugging the cubs and looking towards the two male wolves who were standing quite close to Alisha waiting for their turn to be introduced. She could feel the power radiating from their presence so she lowered her eyes and glanced to Alisha for a proper introduction.

Alisha grinned at Alia's and Alex's antics."Thank you Mrs.Lockwood.May I introduce you to my mates...On the right, is Markian and on my left, is Mitchell. They are twins and they are the Alphas of our neighbouring pack ...the Starfall pack"

Mrs Lockwood took a step back in horror as her eyes flickered from Alisha to her mates and gasped as the meaning of what Alisha said sank into her brain. She pulled the two cubs closer and whispered"The Alphas of Starfall!! No!!" Her voice resonating with fright. She reached out to pull Alisha towards her as well. It looked like Markian's and Mitchell's reputation had preceded them here as well.

Alisha was caught in the little tug of war between Mrs.Lockwood and the Alphas. They were not about to let her go nor, were they going to pull her roughly away from the death grip of the Gamma's wife."Now, look here.

You let this little girl go! She is innocent and can NOT be your mate...I will report both of you to Alpha Wayland. She cannot be your mate! You cannot take Alisha away. I will not allow it! Do you hear me?? I WILL NOT ALLOW IT" She cried while pulling Alisha closer to her. Marissa grew angry in her panic for Alisha. Surely these two vile Alphas, could not be the mate of her sweet Alisha!

"Mrs Lockwood! Calm down, please! The rumours we heard about the Starfall's Alphas were all made up. They are not true! I promise you, Mrs Lockwood...Please believe me! Markian and Mitchell are not like that at all" laughed Alisha while peeling her arm away from Mrs Lockwood's death grip and trying to reach the Alphas again

Mitchell smiled at Alisha's fervent admission and her attempt to defend their honour, from the horrible rumours he knew, his pack had circulated about the twins to prevent anyone attempting to attack Starfall. It had all been in innocent fun previously but now, as he watched Mrs.Lockwood trying to pull his mate away from him, with the look of disgust and panic in her eyes, he wondered if it may have been somewhat too convincing for some people. He turned to look at Markian who also looked troubled but was not allowing Alisha to be pulled away either.

Suddenly the door of the packhouse opened and a tall handsome older gentleman walked out. He was followed closely by a few men and women who looked like they had been coerced into coming out with their Alpha. On seeing his wife trying to hold his kids in one hand and drag Alisha away from the two wolves, who were trying to hold her closer, with her other hand, the Gamma of Moongazer hastened to help her.

"Now look here! What is going on? Marissa! You're strangling the cubs! Are these the visitors you were talking about, Alpha Wayland?" he said trying to pull Alex and Alia away from the stranglehold that their mother had put them in while turning and asking the older man who was quietly observing the happenings

"Nicholas...get Alisha away! These two are the Alphas of Starfall. They will kill Alisha if we let them take her away. Quickly! Save her" she choked out still trying to pull Alisha away from the 'big bad wolves' who had trapped Alisha and were now claiming her as their mate. She struggled to pull the unwilling Alisha away from her mates.

Marissa's eyes never leaving the two young Alphas of Starfall as they kept their hands tightly gripped over either side of Alisha's arms. She tried to get Nicholas to hold the cubs so that she could get Alisha away from those "cannibalistic" wolves. A tug of war ensued with Marissa Lockwood on one side and Markian and Mitchell on the other. You could see that they were not using their full might to stand their ground, but neither were they willing to allow Marissa to take their mate away from them

Nicholas, the Gamma of Moongazer smiled at his wife to reassure her."It's alright darling! Alpha Wayland just told us that the Alphas of Starfall are visiting our packhouse. It seems our young Alisha is their mate. They have come to ask Wayland for his blessing and take Alisha back to their home. We have to let Alisha go, Marissa!"

"What did you say, daddy? Are they are taking Alisha away. Noooooo!!That cannot be! Don't take her!! She is ours !! Who will take care of the Moongazer cubs? No Mitchell!... You cant do that !! Markian, you're not taking Alisha away from us, are you? You can't take her away from us!" cried Alex and Alia when they realized what Markian and Mitchell had come to do. The cubs ran up towards the young Alphas and started kicking them in their shins and punching them wherever their fists could reach. Both the cubs crying vehemently as they knew that Markian and Mitchell has purposely come to take their beloved Alisha away

Alisha's heart broke at the sight of the crying cubs. She rushed towards them and pulled them off her mates legs. Her aquamarine eyes welled up with unshed tears as she held on to them tightly"It's okay....Shhh!! My darling little pups.Don't cry!Please don't hit them, It's not their faults....I have to go with them.I WANT to go back with them.You know that doesn't you?" she cried as she hugged the two little cubs. Alia and Alex stopped kicking the Alphas and turned to hug Alisha like, they would never let her go. Alisha carried both of them into the packhouse and sat down on the sofa in the common living room. The young cubs shifted their position so that they were now sitting on her lap with their heads lying on either shoulder. She patted their backs till their sobbing eventually stopped. Alisha could feel their occasional sniffles which tore at her heart as she knew that she was going to leave before the cubs wake up again. She couldn't have them wailing again for her....she didn't think that her heart could survive another bout of their crying.

All this time, the two Alphas who had followed her into the Moongazer packhouse stood behind the sofa whispering with Alpha Wayland. Gamma Nicholas stood close by, listening to all the Alpha of Starfall had to say, and not saying a word, to either agree or disagree with them. Marissa, his wife sat across from Alisha crying silently as she had come to love Alisha, like her own daughter and she was going to miss her terribly.

After it seemed like a few hours, while in reality, an hour had passed, Nicholas came up to Alisha and asked her if he could take the pups away. Alisha morosely nodded yes and he pulled the tired cubs off Alisha. Nicholas then whispered something to his wife as he walked away carrying both the cubs who had tired themselves out by crying and had fallen asleep.

It occurred again to Alisha that if she left now, she wouldn't be seeing Alia and Alex anytime soon. She had to give them time to come to terms about her leaving. It had slipped her mind that she would not take care of the Moongazer wolf cubs from now on, and Alex and Alia would no longer be her charges anymore. The cubs would eventually forget her as little children do when they outgrow their memory of someone. This made her want to cry even more.

Alisha would not be here to see Alia and Alex grow up and start school. She would not be able to wake up to their joyful shouts in the early morning. She would now be staying at the Starfall pack rather than here at Moongazer packhouse.

She turned towards Markian and he saw her tears rolling down her  caramel coloured cheeks as great sobs racked through her body

He pulled Alisha into a tight hug and kissed her on the top of her head. Markian knew that his mate's heart was breaking at the thought of not seeing the little ones again. He realised that Alisha and the cubs were closer than they had originally thought. Damon whined at the thought of his mate's heartbreaking. He held her close as he rubbed her back in soothing strokes." Its okay Alisha! Don't cry, darling. We can't stand it when you cry"Markian whispered into her ear as Alisha's tears continued to flow.

Mitchell stepped forward and patted Alisha awkwardly on her back."Don't cry, Alisha! Please don't babe! It will be alright! I promise you! We will talk to Wayland and ask him permission to allow Nicholas and Marissa to bring the cubs for a visit as soon as possible"Mitchell said looking towards the Wayland, the Alpha of Moongazer pack hoping that the old Alpha would grant their unusual request.

Alpha Wayland looked at the trio and solemnly nodded his head." I will let Nicholas and Marissa bring the cubs to see you as soon as you have settled down in your new home Alisha....Dont worry my dear." he assured her in a fatherly manner.

Alisha jumped up from her seat on the sofa and ran to hug Alpha Wayland tightly."Thank you!Thank you Alpha!That would be so lovely.Thank you so much for your kindness" cried Alisha. She turned to Markian and Mitchell with watery eyes and smiled. They glanced at the old Alpha and nodded gratefully.

So many things had changed for Alisha in just 6 short hours....she had left this morning, a young child but now had come back as the Luna of Starfall and with not one but two mates. She was an insignificant member of her pack who was giving the responsibility of taking care of their young cubs.....and now. How was she going to be a LUNA!!

Marissa could see that Alisha was starting to worry herself unnecessarily. She walked over to where Alisha was standing and caught hold of her shoulder." I know what your thinking Alisha.Stop doubting yourself.You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.Stop your worrying this instant" she scolded Alisha while hugging her tightly.

"What am I doing? I can't be the Starfall Luna. I can't even take care of myself. How am I going to care for a whole pack? And how am I going to handle having mates? Not one but two" she pushed away from Marissa looking for her mates to ease her distress as she felt like she was unsuccessfully battling the gushing waves of responsibility and drowning.

Markian and Mitchell came forward to hold her "You have been chosen by the Moon Goddess, Alisha. She wouldn't have chosen you if she had thought that you are incapable of becoming the Luna. We will be there for you my darling, to help you and to ensure that nothing bad happens to you, Alisha. Please don't worry... We will be there by your side for always" promised the twin Alphas softly as they held her in their warm embrace

Marissa smiled as she realised that the two alpha really did care for Alisha and that they were not going to eat her the first chance they get. Marissa took a calming breath in and looked at the trio that was hugging each other in the middle of the Moongazer's living room. She could now rest easy and tell Nicholas that is was going to be alright as he had whispered into her ear before he left with the cubs."Test them, Marissa! Make sure they are really her mates.Find out if it's her that they really love, Marissa. If you don't believe them, we won't let them leave the pack's territory with Alisha. I don't care what Wayland says...We need to make sure Alisha is safe before they take her from us"