The Unwanted Luna

-POV

Zelena-

Okay. To say the last two weeks have been a whirlwind is an understatement. I didn't know how much I could do in such a short amount of time, but after the last week at least, I know I am crazy. Now I have to present to the elders about the possible move of our entire coven. We've been here for a little over three hundred years, so coaxing them out of their sanctuary will be quite the feat. "Zelena, are you sure that they would form a treaty with us?" One elder said.

"Just because you mated with one shifter from the Tri-Shifter Pack, doesn't mean they will all accept us." Another added.

I felt my head pounding and glanced at my phone. Please...hurry up. As if on queue, I could sense my mate approaching and my spirit lifted. "Sorry, we are late!" Charlie bellowed, running in with the four people I needed to see right now. They needed to see right now. I sighed in relief while everyone else gasped in shock. "The Triplet Alphas?! See! I knew this was a bad idea!" The worry increased before Ayame ran up to me and wrapped me in a hug.

"Oh, I'm so glad you are alright." She said happily. "I'm sorry we couldn't say our goodbyes before you left, but we didn't think it would take too long to bring you home." The two of us laughed together at her double meaning. Charlie and I were supposed to leave a week ago, but moving a coven does take time. We aren't nomads after all.

"Dear, who is this young lady?" My mother asked with a smile on her face.

"Oh, this is the Luna of the Tri-Shifter Pack. Ayame Radavier."

"Radavier?!" My mother's mouth dropped.

"Luna?!" The others shouted.

Ayame raised her hand and backed away a bit. "Luna is a bit formal but um...hi?" She whispered and I realized she was as shy as me! Oh goddess, we are going to have to have Emily on the microphone at all times. We are not set up for this.

My mother chuckled softly and got out of her chair to give Ayame a hug. She froze for a moment and the alphas growled possessively. "Oh posh." My mother said with a chuckle. "I would never hurt a friend of my daughter and son-in-law." "Son-in-law?" One of the triplets asked. He was the one with the long hair. I'm really going to have to remember who's who.

"Yes, of course! Charlie is Zelena's mate after all."

"Dude, you finally marked her then! Awesome!" The one with the shoulder-length hair said, patting Charlie on the shoulder while my mate rubbed the back of his head.

"No, I did not. Agatha...." Charlie said, trying to get my mother to stop, but I thought he would have figured it out by now. That's not possible.

"Edon, seriously, you guys stop messing with him." Ayame grumbled. Oh right, that's Edon. So, the long haired one is.... "And Conri, your dad called me his daughter before you three marked me, so it's totally normal." Right. Conri. She gave me a wink and I realized she called them by name on purpose. Thank you for her overall awareness.

I'm going to need her help with this...probably forever, so it's perfectly fine to start now.

My mother started laughing again before she turned back to the confused looks on the remaining elders' faces. "Now...why would you be so concerned about the Triplet Alphas when their Luna is still around?" She asked innocently. "She seems to have a good hold on them." She added with a light chuckle.

"Hey!" The last triplet shouted and I'm assuming that's Vil.

Ayame turned toward the group and smiled, ignoring Vil's grumbling. "Sorry about them....um...Charlie said you all were deciding if you would like to move to Bodhi Cora along with Zelena?" She asked and I could see her hand shaking. I know she is nervous, but there was something else about her aura that just didn't sit well with me. Nothing of malice, but the turmoil was evident. What was our Luna so worried about?

"Even though you are all here, it isn't possible to just up and move an entire coven. We have been here for centuries. I know we discussed the possibilities before, but it's...now it's just so immediate." An elder grumbled.

"If I may, this will not be done overnight and we will have to find space for you all and clear this with the Fae council, but I'm sure we can accommodate you during the process. If we get the clearance from your coven, then we will start the process. However, it may take years to complete." Conri said with a sigh.

"The alpha is right. I won't be gone forever. I'll come to visit. We aren't expecting everyone to leave tomorrow, but I would like to start my life there as soon as I can." I coaxed.

"But you are to take your mother's place at the table and we cannot risk losing another witch from our coven." And there's the reason why I'm still here.

"I know...I know. If we get the clearances we can move the whole coven north. This will also protect the coven. We will have an allied partnership with the biggest pack in the region and we will be protected by them just like we will assist where we can." I called back. "Are you sure this is the right path, Zelena?" My mother said. "Absolutely sure?"

"Yes, I am. I never want to be apart from you all for too long, but I do want to live with my mate and he cannot leave Bodhi Cora. So, I will take that leap of faith. Will you all take it with me?" I added.

"Okay then." My mother said, shocking the rest of them. "Alpha, you may go and meet with your Fae and tell them that we would like to seek refuge.

Conri nodded and bowed, while my mother curtsyed. "Now, that that's taken care of, let's head back to Zelena's house." Charlie called, clapping his hands before turning on his heels and cutting off the rising grumbles throughout the room.

"Wait, I have to go get Raven." I called at the men's retreating figures while my mother dealt with the onslaught of questions that inevitably came once the men left. I shook my head, not wanting to get dragged into another conversation to delay the inevitable. I gently took Ayame's shaking hand and she flinched before she realized it was just me.

I furrowed my brow but she smiled back and my concern faded. But not completely. We both walked out and Charlie's hand rested on my head. I looked up at him and he grinned down at me. "Did you hear what I said before you all stepped out?" I huffed. "Yes, and it's okay, kitten. You can go pick her up with Ayame." Charlie said.

Ayame seems awfully young...does she even like kids? I turned to her slowly and she was clapping her hands excitedly. "I finally get to meet the little pup who stole the wolf's heart?! Yay!!" She squealed happily. Right...I stand corrected.

We headed for the quick drive into the city and Ayame was looking around as if she was expecting a ghost to jump out. The worry resonating off of her increased exponentially once we left the boarders. She was so excited when she knew she was coming with me, but now...she seems terrified. "Hey...are you okay?" I asked curiously.

She jumped a little and turned to me, just like she did in the elder's tent. "Y-Yes, I'm fine. I wasn't expecting we would have to leave your territory."

I winced and continued to drive along. Thankfully, we were almost there. "Sorry, maybe I should have said something"

She shook her head. "No...it's just the last time I was here...I was running away from a man that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and now...it just seems so surreal, like...everything is going to come crashing down on me." She added breathlessly.

I nodded slowly as we drove up into the pick-up circle for the daycare. I didn't push further as it seemed to not be my place to pry. Maybe another time. Raven ran out with her teacher close behind and I hurried to get the door for the little wiccan. Once my little one was secure, I turned to the teacher and made sure she didn't forget anything before heading back to our sanctuary. After Ayame told me about her fear, she didn't say another word about it. I guess I was right to leave it be, but the shift in her aura was still something I could notice as... problematic to her internal psyche. She immediately started talking to Raven though, and I think I'll be losing my daughter to yet another person.

I'm not mad about that though. All I can see now is Raven's world finally expanding. She will finally get to have the life I always dreamed for her and I cannot wait to start this adventure.

-POV Rollo-

"Again!" I shouted to the new recruits. Some of them literally jumped. Oh goddess. I rubbed my eyes as they tried to produce another joint shield. The golden glow filled the room, but it made it nowhere near me. "How are you supposed to guard the king or any offensive knights if you can't even push the shield ten feet?! Go again!" I growled irritably.

"Wow...working them hard I see." I tilted my head to my partner in crime.

"Braya. Fancy seeing you here. What do I owe the pleasure?" I asked curtly. Maybe 'partner in crime' is too close for comfort. Let's just say we tolerate each other.

He feigned shock and rested his hand on his chest. Dramatic much? I swear I'm surrounded by children. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Rumor has it, it was quite the touching story.... You finally met your niece again. Lifting her curse. Such a touching...memory." He smirked. I turned on my heels, completely losing my patience.

"Class dismissed!" I bellowed and walked away from that meathead of a soldier.

"Come on Rollo! I thought you would have gone back to your old self, but your still as angry as ever. I thought little Ayame would -"

"Her name does not fall from your lips! Do you hear me?!" I shouted, using enough of my training to detain the idiot on the spot.

He went rigid and tried his best to respond. "Now, now. You two can't always be at each other's throats. It wouldn't make for good morale amongst the troops."

I released the Head of the Offensive Militia and turned to bow to our king. "Your highness." I said.

He patted my shoulder, and I raised my head. "Braya is right, you know. Breathe a little." Zyair squeezed my shoulder before letting go and I assumed that was a subtle reminder of our previous chat a week ago.

I pursed my lips and nodded to the both of them, not wanting to relive his...request to tell Ayame the truth. I'm going to do it. I just need time to get my thoughts together. I walked back to my room, thinking to myself that wasn't the real problem. Waiting until she comes to me, thinking of the right words...pushing my soldiers..... It's all just excuses to hide my indecisiveness.

Once the door closed behind me, I was met with the silence of my apartment. I glanced at the living room and a beautiful young fairy with long brown hair glowed as she giggled and ran around the room to be caught by an elderly man that looked somewhat like an older version of me before they both disappeared into the darkness.

Memories will be the death of me. The irony of my power is not lost on me.

I walked past the small little sanctuary made of hydrangeas, rhododendrons and speckles of azaleas with a simple black urn standing next to an overly embellished gold and onyx version of the same morbid object. For a moment, I stared at them both as they brought a shadow to the once lively room as a tear fell. I shook my head, forcing the pain away, and walked to my room.

They can't come back. I need to focus on the living. I need to focus on bringing light to the daughter she left behind. There is no use mourning the dead.