A Ridge Mountain Pack 4: The Fate of the Moon
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Lora De La Cruz
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600K
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50
Worthy
Book 4: The Fate of the Moon
JAYDON
I find myself gazing into the void as my mate disappears into the forest. I’m at a loss, unsure whether to follow her, given what she’s been through. Yet, I’m also scared not to, fearing she might be putting herself in harm’s way.
She’s my destined partner, a blessing from the Moon Goddess. She shouldn’t be running from me, but she is. Her soul is shattered, her pain visible in her eyes when they lock with mine.
She doesn’t want me, but not for the reasons one might assume. What am I even talking about? Barely anyone would understand why she fled.
Only those who are aware of her battles, her suffering, the torment she faced years ago, can start to comprehend. My wolf is clawing at my consciousness, pleading with me to chase her. But I don’t.
I know it as surely as I know my own name—the moment my sister Melanie glances at me and then dashes after Charity, I realize all I can do is wait.
“Jaydon?” My mother’s hand rests on my shoulder. “Let’s sit down, son.”
She guides me to the nearest chair. As my vision clears, I see Amara standing before us, her hands nervously twisting together.
Amara, Charity’s mother, appears more devastated than I feel. I’m sure I just look stunned, but Amara is weeping—truly sobbing.
“I’m so very sorry, Jaydon. She’s in pain, you know,” Amara manages to say.
I feel my mother move between Amara and me, whispering reassurances that it’s not her fault and urging patience.
Before I know it, the only people left in our yard are my family and Amara. I have no memory of the party guests quietly leaving our yard and heading home.
I only know it must have happened because the silence is sudden. I exhale, almost in relief. I’ve always been a person who appreciates tranquility and solitude.
I’m not like my brother Max, who thrives on social interaction. I prefer more intimate settings, and having just my family here is more than enough for me.
“Do you think Melanie will be able to bring her back?” I finally ask.
“I’m sure of it, Jaydon, just give her time. Your sister is very good at this type of thing; besides being a doctor, she suffered her own trauma. She can help Charity—just give it time,” my mother reassures me.
“Do you want to go talk to her in the woods?” my father suggests. “Maybe without the crowd, she would be okay.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I would think she’s afraid of most men. Am I wrong?” I turn to Amara for the answer.
“It’s hard to say. She’s okay in our pack, but she’s never left alone with any male aside from her brother or father. I could send one of them to fetch her, but I think your mother is right. It’s best to let Melanie try and manage the situation.”
Amara seems certain of this, and no one argues. “We still need to get ready to go to Italy,” Max reminds us. “Is Jaydon staying here now? To deal with his mate?”
“No. I can’t abandon my sister! I am going,” I blurt out. I can’t bear the thought of my own selfish needs causing me to leave my sister to die in a country that is not even her own.
She’s my twin, my best friend. I can’t let her down. “Jaydon, don’t be ridiculous. She isn’t going to die!” my mother insists.
“You would not be abandoning her, and she would understand about Charity. We must think all of this through and make plans accordingly.”
I look at everyone, one at a time, determined to make the right choice. This is a test of my ability to prioritize others over myself, my pack over myself.
Isn’t that what the alpha is supposed to do? “What would you do, Max?” I finally ask.
Max looks uncomfortable, and I’m suddenly reminded that he sent our sister to look for his mate, even though he didn’t know at the time that Ginger was his true mate.
“I can’t make that choice for you, Jaydon. You know you have a mate, and yet you also have a twin with whom you have been through so much. I think that perhaps you need to talk to Charity when they return. See where her head is at.”
“IF they return,” I say.
“I’ve arranged for a private jet to Italy. We’re going to find Selene. Jaydon, it’s up to you if you want to stay behind. I won’t hold it against you,” my father says.
“Maybe you could persuade Charity to join you. Use this time to sort out whatever’s going on between you two while we’re in Italy. But remember, it could be a distraction, and I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to any of you. So, think about where your priorities lie.”
He pauses, then adds, “Let me know your decision within the hour.” He then walks away, heading into the pack house, leaving us all standing there.
Dirk breaks the silence. “I think you should stay,” he suggests. He raises his hands as if to show he means no harm.
“I’m only saying this because it could be a distraction. And distractions can be deadly. You can always join us later if we haven’t found her yet.”
“Wait, you’re going too?” my mother asks Dirk, her voice filled with surprise.
“Yes, Luna. If Melanie is okay with it—and I can’t imagine she wouldn’t be, considering it’s her little sister we’re talking about—I’m well trained in survival tactics, and I’m a skilled warrior. It’s a Viking thing,” Dirk replies.
“I know,” she says, shaking her head. “But if anything were to happen to you, Melanie would be devastated.”
Dirk glances around before turning back to me. “Jaydon, I’m stepping in for you. Melanie will understand. Stay here and take care of your mate.”
With that, Dirk turns and heads back to the house. “He seems pretty set on this,” Amara comments.
“But it’s okay if you want to go,” she adds, turning to me. “I can’t guarantee that Charity will be ready to talk yet. Maybe she needs some time to process everything.”
“As I said, we should wait until Melanie and Charity return,” my mom interjects, grabbing my arm. “Let’s go inside.”
She tugs at my arm, leading me into the house. Max, Ginger, and Luna—Amara follow behind.
Max and Ginger are whispering to each other, but I’m so lost in my thoughts that I can’t make out what they’re saying. I could try to focus and then I would hear them, but right now, I’m trying to make a decision.
I decide to try and mind-link with Melanie. Maybe she’s with Charity now and can fill me in on what’s happening.
”Melanie, did you find her? How is she? We really need you both to come back. It’s urgent.”
She doesn’t respond, but I know her mind-link is open. I don’t feel like she’s shutting anyone out. Ten minutes pass before she finally mind-links me back.
By then, I’m in my room, staring at an open suitcase on my bed, trying to decide whether to pack or not.
”Jaydon, we’re on our way back. Max also messaged me about an emergency but wouldn’t tell me what it was. Can you fill me in?”
”It’s about Selene. Please, come back as soon as you can.”
I wait, hoping she’ll say something about Charity. But she doesn’t. So I ask again.
”Will Charity talk to me? Can you give me some sort of clue, please?”
I can almost hear Melanie sigh in my mind before she replies.
”She’ll talk to you, but be gentle with her. She’s scared and doesn’t think she deserves a mate. You’ll have to convince her otherwise. Unless you don’t want her, but she won’t be upset if you reject her. That’s what she said.”
I can’t help but scoff. Reject her? I would never do that. What happened to her was terrible. Any wolf who could blame her for it and reject her because of it doesn’t deserve a mate chosen by the Goddess.
I can’t help but think that the Goddess chose me for her because of the kind of man I am, which is the kind who will love her unconditionally. She’s not broken; she’s strong. She walked away and still walks through this life; many she-wolves have ended their lives in times like what she went through. I will show her that she is worthy.
“I would never reject her, Melanie, you know that.”
“Yes. I know. You’re a good man, little brother. See you soon; we’re taking the scenic route, walking slow to give her time to catch her breath and wrap her head around this.”
That settles it. I put my still-empty suitcase back in my closet and then head to the alpha’s office, where I’m sure to find my father and brother making plans.
