Twenty-six

The warrior sent another life-crushing punch to my face, immediately sending blood out of my mouth. My stomach was squeezing in pain from the previous hits. Right about now I'm really regretting killing that guy.

I didn't mean to. Well, I did mean to but, it wasn't me it was my anger. This wasn't me. Joseph wouldn't want me to be like this, tears pooled in my eyes as I let my head hang down.

The warrior lifted up my head and looked down at me with annoyance. "So now you want to cry, Princess?" He laughed before sending a kick to my stomach area. I definitely felt some ribs crack.

"Please.. just leave me alone." I whispered while trying my hardest to not pass out. If I passed out, who knew when I'd be able to open my eyes next. Or at all.

Did I care though? What was left for me in this world? I've lost my mate and my brother. Maybe this is the moon goddess's destiny for me. I'd be okay with that.

"Leave you alone?" He chuckled, "you didn't leave my friend alone when you slashed his neck!" He angrily growled.

I coughed up some blood and spoke, "let's be honest, that guy was a sexist asshole, I did you a favor."

Two words.

Bad. Idea.

One last blow was sent to my face and I was officially knocked out for good.

_ 2 weeks later _

A soft voice was heard speaking to me. Reading something to me. I used all my strength to open my eyes and look around. A woman sat in a chair next to me. There was beeping heard on the other side of me.

I was definitely in Asher's territory, I know these color patterns anywhere. My eyes trailed up until i finally reached the woman's face. It was Isabella.

I sat up immediately which startled her, making her jump up in her seat. "Madison!" She yelled out, standing up. I shushed her quickly.

"What're you doing here? Do you want to die?" I asked her as my scanned her body for bruises.

She sighed sadly, "Madison, calm down, Asher isn't what you think he is.."

"I know, I know. He killed my brother, he isn't a peaceful alpha he's a murderer." I explained to her, we had already had this conversation before, why were we having it again?

"No. Listen, Maddie, you've been in a coma for two weeks. In these past few days we've discovered that Joseph isn't dead. He's just missing. Therefore, Asher didn't kill him."

My world stopped.

"No…"

She opened her mouth to speak but I wasn't listening to her. I had two thoughts circling my mind.

Jospeh could be alive and Asher wasn't a murderer.

Joseph could be alive and Asher wasn't a murderer.

"No… not true. Asher he- Carter said Asher killed Joseph!" I gripped onto the sides of my bed and attempted to sit up correctly and failed not to long after, my arms feel like noodles.

Isabel set down the book on the desk next to her and walked over to me, holding my hand. "It's true, Madison, the Shadow Crescent pack came across his scent and found his foot prints in California."

"Shadow Crescent.." I mumbled to myself, the name sounded familiar. The alpha's name was on the tip of my tongue. Eli? Levy? Something like that…

Isabel started up again, "the bad news is that, that pack is all the way in Cali."

My eyes widened and I lightly squeezed her hand, "California?! How did he get so far?! How-how could he be so cowardly to leave his pack and his mate!" I shout.

How could he be so cowardly to leave me?

"Calm down, okay? There's still hope in finding him. But, I need to get the nurse. You got beat pretty badly and you're still recovering," she let go of my hand and walked to the door before stopping and turning back toward me. "Please just stay still, Madison."

I nodded at her and she left the room.

She must be crazy if she thinks I'm staying in this bed, knowing that my brother is alive and my mate isn't guilty of killing him.

I looked down at my arm to see one needle jammed into my vein. I slowly pulled it out and winced in pain, doing the same with my other arm. I took three deep breaths and used all my strength to slide off the bed. I used the walk to balance myself as my legs felt like jelly.

I continued walking as tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't tell if it were because of the emotional pain, or the physical pain.

Probably both.

I made it to the door after a minute of walking and gripping onto everything I could. I twisted the handle to the door and exited the room.

Surprisingly, voices could be heard throughout the pack house. Laughter, kids playing and conversations erupted through the pack house. It brought a smile to my face.

This is what a pack house is supposed to look like.

I shook my head and tried to get on track. I had one goal and that goal is to find him. I eventually made it down the hallway only to find a flight of stairs to get to the first floor. I bit my lip and gulped.

"Moon goddess, please, don't have it be today that I die by falling down the steps." I whispered to myself and began to work my way down the stairs.

Stairs have never been so scary to me in my life.

I was half way down when three kids appeared at the bottom of the steps. My cheeks grew red.

Do they hate me? Do they know I broke their alpha's heart and attempted to kill him 2 weeks ago?

"Luna!" One of them yelled and dashed up the steps to get to me, she had ebony skin and beautiful black braids in her hair, along with some navy blue jeans and a pink shirt that said 'love'.

She wrapped her arms around my legs and hugged me which urged the other two identical boys to come up and hug my thighs as well. Don't cry Madison, don't cry.

I gripped the railing tightly with my left arm and hugged them back with my other arm, even though pain still rushed through my body, they seemed to numb it. I've always sorta had a soft spot children.

"I'm Roxy!" She shouted from below me and smirked before saying, "these are my mates, Aaron and Angelo!" Aaron nodded kissed her cheek while Angelo shook his head and made a disgusted face, "am not!" He yelled and I giggled at them.

Before they decided to get into an argument I stepped in, "you guys make a very cute couple. Now, do you mind telling me where your alpha is?"

"We can help you find him! We were just talking with him." Aaron stated proudly and let go of my legs, running down the steps. Oh, how I wish I had his energy.

Angelo and Roxy stayed and held my hands, helping me down the steps. Asher truly has the best pack members. With their help, I successfully made it down the steps with no further injuries.

Aaron and Roxy ran off together, occasionally coming back to make sure I didn't lose them while Angelo continued to grip onto my hand and walk at my slow pace.

"Are you sure you don't want to go join your friends? You don't have to stay with me." I politely told him. He looked up at me with his beautiful brown eyes and shook his head, "It's fine Luna. I want to be with you."

I felt extremely guilty just letting him call me Luna. Since Asher and I aren't mates, that means I'm not Luna.

"Okay." Is all I replied with. We continued to take twists and turns before we approached a closed door. Roxy and Aaron's voices were heard from inside the room. Along with Asher's deep, husky voice.

"Here we are, Luna. I really had fun walking with you. Can we hang out some time?" Angelo stared up at me with admiration in his eyes. I could cry.

"Yes, of course, Angelo. I leaned down and placed a kiss on his head and he blushed, making me giggle.

I returned my focus to the door and placed my hand on the knob before opening the door. Asher had Roxy and Aaron in both of his arms and they were all laughing.

Their eyes turnt to me and I made eye contact with Asher.

"Madison…" he spoke. My name slipped off his tongue perfectly, I missed him.

"Asher."