Recap:

Lucaya talked to Elora about why he rejected Celeste and also asked for some advice. But, their sweet moment of friendship was cut short due to hearing a strange howl and the party going in absolute chaos.

Elora found Duke hiding and brought him into the house where she later learned from Duke that Maverick was the one to start the chaos and commotion at the party.

**A/N** Hey! So I apologize for later updates on this...I'm currently in a writing/graphic competition where we are partnered up with someone (I'm partnered up with a graphic designer) and have to come up with short story/one-shots each week. So, my extra free-time has been spent on that at the moment...but...good news with that... my partner and I made it to the third round and are currently holding first out of twelve groups (we started out with 20) so yay!

Alright....onto the story!! ;)

...

I'm running as if it is the last time I'd be running.

I ignore the yelling and orders to go back inside the packhouse. I ignore Chelsea and Liz tugging me to stay, and Duke's cries for me.

I need to go to him.

Maverick needs me.

Wiping the sweat trickling down my forehead and temples, I pump my arms and legs harder as I near the woods. I don't let up my speed as I dodge around trees, plants and roots. I have to duck from some low hanging branches as well.

As I near the spot, I slow my pace to a cautious walk. I'm not completely sure what state Maverick is in, but I know it isn't his best.

Scanning the area, I see him, or his black wolf, laying down by the creek. I could approach him in my human form, but I decide to switch to my wolf.

Letting her take most control—I strip prior before she came forth—she begins pawing through the forest floor to our mate. He know we are present due to the slight wagging of his tail, but he makes no notion of turning his head towards us.

My wolf, once she is next to him, nudges her snout on his shoulder, attempting to get his attention.

"Come on, Maverick," I say in my mind, more to myself.

"Just leave, Elora," Maverick says back to me through the mind-link which startles me, considering it's the first time I have used my mind link to converse with our human forms.

I keep forgetting that once we marked each other, we could use the mind-link to actually talk in human form while we were in wolf form.

My wolf lays beside him, leaning her head slightly on his. "No. Tell me what I can do."

There's no response for several minutes, just the whistling of the wind through the trees and the occasional hawking of the birds above us.

"When we get back, lock me up. That's what you can do." His voice holds such sadness that my wolf whines as she snuggles closer to her mate.

"What? No. I can't do that."

"I don't know when it will come out again, Elora. I need to keep the pack safe. I need to keep you safe. Please." His wolf finally looks at me. "Do you know my wolf used to have such a beautiful tanned golden coat? Now, it's dark. Look closely, you can still see the shimmer of gold underneath."

My wolf inspects her mate closely, seeing he is, in fact, right. There is a small glimmer of the golden fur from before. Regardless that the demon has taken over his wolf, the darker coat is still beautiful.

"Okay. I will have you contained, but you have to promise me one thing." I study his eyes as his wolf nods subtly. "If we can't find a way to unleash you after a month...you have to step down." 

I'm worried he will disagree since he is the rightful Alpha of the pack, considering the family history I have gathered from Joy and the pack's origins story. It would look like an act of weakness for him to step down, but I hope he would understand that it would be an act of strength in my eyes.

Strong of him to let go of a position so powerful within the pack while facing possible backlash from others who are cruel.

After a few minutes of silence, he finally speaks.

"Yes, my Luna." His wolf nuzzles his snout into my wolf's fur. We sit like this for a moment before the voices of his warriors can be heard in the distance. They are most likely scanning the woods for us.

My wolf gets up as does Maverick's wolf, and we both switch back to our human form. Placing my clothes on, I turn around to see Maverick standing there in all his glory. My cheeks flush at the sight even though I've already seen him like this before.

"Where's your clothes?" I ask, feeling quite hot and bothered. He only shrugs before going behind a bush. Within seconds he comes out wearing a pair of shorts, his muscular, tanned chest still can be seen...thankfully.

"They ripped and were discarded when my demon unleashed its beast at the party. I always place extra clothes here." I nod to his brief explanation before taking his large, warm hand in mine and walking to the edge of the forest.

As we near the edge, a mixed group of warrior wolves step forward. Some are in their wolf form while others appear to just have shifted back to their human form, showcasing their bodies freely.

I would look away myself, but before I can do so myself Maverick places a hand over my eyes, clearly not wanting me to see the other men's privates.

Once you've seen one, you've practically seen them all. Right?

"Alpha...is everything alright?" I hear one of the pack warriors ask hesitantly. I can't tell you who since my eyes are still being covered by Maverick's hand.

"First, go put on some clothes. I don't need my Luna seeing your miniatures. Second, please escort me to the first cell of our holding cells. I'm to be kept there for now." I have to let out a snort at Maverick calling out his warriors for having small penises. I'll pretend he's joking, but I'm sure he's being partly serious.

As I'm going to go along with them, Maverick stops and crushes me against his front, hugging me while still shielding me from his naked warriors.

He kisses the top of my head and lets out a sigh.

"Please help Vander and Ian calm everyone down and assure that everything is taken care of. Also, please tell Elizabeth I am so sorry." His voice is strained, brimming with shame: Shame of something he has no control over.

"Of course, babe."

With that he pulls back, a small smirk forming on his mouth. "I like that...babe."

He kisses my lips lightly, enough for me to taste a hint of frosting he must of had before. He squeezes my arms lightly before completely pulling away and walking with one of his, now clothed, warriors to the holding cells. I make my way back to the packhouse to smooth over everything.

I hope Liz is able to continue her party if she wishes to...

I also hope that we can help Maverick and kill this demon once and for all.

*Edited: 12/6/21