Unwanted
Chapter 21 - Mystic Moonlighters

Springfield, Illinois

Teegan’s P.O.V.

I watch Petra’s face as we drive toward the first pack, which is thankfully not far. Kiana and I had seen how unsure she was around everyone. It makes me think she’s been trying to hide her whole life, afraid of the unknown. That’s why we did the little pillow fight to ease her nervousness.

When Jelena had taken us out of the room so Anton could comfort her in peace. She told us that Petra hadn’t left the house much, and sometimes, new things could be overwhelming for her. That was another reason I wanted to help her pack her things. I wanted to let her know that we’re all her friends and she’s not alone. I’m happy that she agreed to come with us. I think it will do her good, and Anton would have gone mad if she had stayed behind.

“Have you ever been to any of the packs around here?” I ask Petra. I already can guess the answer, but I want to give her a chance to open up. I know how much Anton wants to look into what happened to her pack. She turns slightly to look at me and smiles.

“No. The last pack I was at was the one that kidnapped me when I was a pup. Jelena and Garrett tried to take me home to my pack, but it was gone.” Petra answers.

“Does anyone know what happened to it?” I ask her gently. Anton looks at me in the mirror, but I ignore him.

“No. It looked like everyone was killed, and the houses were all torn down. Jelena and Garrett think it happened at the same time I was taken.” She replies. I glance at Anton and then look back to Petra. If she gets mad at me, so be it, but I’m not the type to sit back and wait. What’s the worst that could happen?

“Would it be alright if we had Joel’s investigator look into what happened to your pack? He was able to replace my family within a few hours. I’m not saying he’ll have the same luck again, but I don’t think it would hurt to have him see what he can replace.” I look over at Joel, and he’s nodding in agreement.

“You can do that? I thought I would never know what happened. Yes, please see what he can replace as long as it’s not too much trouble. I don’t want to be a burden.” Petra says. I lean forward and put my hand on her shoulder.

“I promise it’s no trouble. Right, Joel?” I ask, looking over at him. He shakes his head as he pulls out his phone.

“No trouble at all. Marcus likes a challenge. He got a little too cocky with how quickly he connected the dots for Teegan. What was the name of your pack?” Joel asks Petra. She looks at him in shock.

“I didn’t think you were going to start so quickly. It was the Mystic Moonlighters.” She replies. I smile at her and look out the window. We’re already arriving at the pack that will hopefully have one of the pups.

“That’s a beautiful name for a pack. It sounds mysterious.” I say. Petra smiles shyly.

“I wish I could remember what it was like. I can’t remember anything; I was taken when I was three.” She and I are alike in many ways. However, even though she hasn’t told me what that pack did to her, I can tell it was torture. She’s stronger than she gives herself credit for, but I think we’ll all make her see how strong she really is. As I prepare to get out of the vehicle, Joel stops me. I look at him in confusion, but he shakes his head and waits until Anton and Petra have shut their doors.

“What’s going on?” I ask. Joel keeps looking from me to Petra.

“Spit it out,” Kiana says from behind us. She and Damon can’t get out until we do.

“I’ve heard of the Mystic Moonlighters. Their pack was said to have magic abilities. If that’s the pack she’s from, the pups were most likely taken so they could use them for their magic. If I remember correctly, Petra may not even know how powerful she is.” We all look at Petra, standing next to Anton. What secrets does she have hidden inside her?

Petra’s P.O.V.

I listen to Teegan and Joel explain to the Alpha and Luna why we’re there, and I feel proud to be helping them. Not that I’ve done anything so far, but just being here and knowing we’re trying to reconnect families means a lot to me. After talking to Teegan on the ride here, I can’t stop thinking about my family. Why was my pack killed?

“It’s good to know there are people like you out there trying to help these pups who’ve been taken from their families. Lindsey is still here. She’s fifteen now. Jelena and Garett found her when she was still a little pup. We don’t know what her birth name was, but when she was found, she went by Lindsey. They thought she might thrive better in a pack environment, so Jelena reached out to us for help. We’ll take you to her.” The luna smiles at us. I wasn’t paying attention, so I can’t remember what she said her or the alpha’s names were. The pack is nice and cozy, not too big or small. We follow her and the alpha into the packhouse and down a hallway. They knock on a door, and the person inside says come in.

When the luna opens the door a teenage girl is sitting on her bed reading a book. She looks up at us in surprise and then smiles. She’s beautiful with long, curly auburn hair and dark blue eyes.

“Lindsey, sweetheart, we have some exciting news for you.” The luna says, sitting on the side of the bed. She looks from the luna to us in confusion.

“What news? Did you sell me to a cult?” She asks. We all look at each other and laugh.

“Is that what we look like?” Teegan asks her. Lindsey smiles and shakes her head.

“No, but I was reading a book about cults in America, and I couldn’t help myself.” She replies with a smile. I like her already. She’s sassy.

“These nice people have come from the palace and the Silver Moon pack. They’ve found your family.” Lindsey’s face freezes, and she stares at us with widened eyes.

“You found my family? They didn’t abandon me?” She asks as a tear runs down her cheek. I have an overwhelming desire to hug her, but I don’t feel it’s my place.

“My dad is the alpha of Silver Moon, and pups from the pack have been taken for years. We’re trying to replace the pups that were kidnapped so we can return them to their families. My parents had humans raise me because they were scared I would be taken, and I just found them two days ago.” Teegan explains to her. Lindsey puts her hands over her face and begins crying.

“I thought they didn’t want me. I thought I wasn’t good enough, so they threw me away.” I can’t take it anymore. I run over to Lindsey and wrap my arms around her. I’ve comforted pups and cubs of all ages, but this feels different. I feel different. It’s as though I’m absorbing her sadness. When I hear the others gasp, I see them staring at me in shock. Did I do something wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t have hugged Lindsey because I’m a complete stranger. I start to move, but Lindsey holds onto me.

“Uh, Petra, does this always happen when you comfort people?” Anton asks. I turn to him in confusion.

“What do you mean?” I ask. Lindsey is holding me so tight I can barely move.

“You’re glowing,” Teegan says. I look in the mirror above the dresser in disbelief. A soft, glimmering gold light surrounds Lindsey and me. What the hell is this?

Near Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Ryker’s P.O.V.

“Have you had any luck?” I ask my beta, Gino.

“Not yet, but they have a lead on some pups that may have been taken from the pack right before our pack attacked.” He replies.

“Good. Let me know if you replace anything.” Gino leaves as I turn to look out my office window. Being the alpha of the Savage Moon pack definitely has its perks, but trying to correct everything my father did has been challenging. He was a brutal alpha, and he thought I was going to be the same way. As soon as he let me take over, I had him put to death. He was responsible for the deaths and destruction of so many packs that it was sickening. The one that hurt the most was the pack of the Mystic Moonlighters. They were of a rare breed of wolves that had magical abilities. Wolves like that should be protected, not killed, because of a ruthless alpha’s jealousy.

I have been alpha for five years, and in that time, I’ve tried to replace any survivors from the packs that my father destroyed. I want to make amends as much as possible for what he did. Unfortunately, most packs had no survivors. If we’re lucky, Gino will be right, and the Mystic Moonlighters have pups out there somewhere. They would be fully grown now, but if there’s anything I can do to help them, I will.

I sit back down at my desk and sigh. I’m twenty-six and have yet to replace my mate. There are plenty of she-wolves willing to be my chosen mate, but I’m already taken by a woman I have never met. I’m confident that one day I’ll replace her, and it will be worth the loneliness I’ve felt these past years.

Looking at the picture of my mom on my desk makes me smile. She was a good woman, but my dad broke her so far down that she died at the age of forty. I’m thankful I took after her in both looks and character with my dark brown eyes and blonde hair.

After we're done with Mystic, we have several more packs to look for survivors. Maybe when we’re finished, I can take a break and get away for a while. It may be the only way I’ll ever replace my mate.