The Alpha's Unwanted Luna (by Miss L) novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280

29 – Finn

I gently squeeze her fingers, feeling the warmth of her small hand wrapped around my pinky as we rise to follow Landon and Gabriel toward the nearby stream for water. The number of trips we make escapes me, but luckily Landon had the foresight to set up camp close to the flowing water, so the effort isn’t as exhausting as it could have been. Meanwhile, Seth and Samuel engage the kids, patiently explaining each step of how they process the deer, emphasizing that nothing is wasted—every part has a purpose. The deer skin, for example, will be used as containers for the meat we don’t eat immediately. Throughout it all, Trinity stays glued to my side, only breaking our contact briefly when she eats. Her tiny hand clings to my finger, and her warm little body presses gently against me, offering a comforting weight.

The children watch the food preparation with wide eyes, firing off question after question to Seth as he cooks and hands out portions of the freshly prepared meat. Their curiosity is contagious, filling the air with a sense of wonder. Once the meal is done, we all wade into the cool stream to wash off the grime of the day. The water is refreshing, and the sound of the flowing current mingles with our quiet conversations as we return to the fire pit. We settle around the flames, the flickering light casting dancing shadows on our faces as we relax and share stories.

“You know,” I say to Trinity, breaking the comfortable silence, “you remind me of someone I know.”

She looks up at me, her voice soft but gaining confidence. “Really? Who?”

“Her name is Greta,” I explain, twirling a loose strand of her fiery hair around my finger, “and your hair is almost just like hers—brown with streaks of red, like it’s burning.” She giggles at the comparison, the sound light and genuine. “Greta is a fierce warrior in Luna Kennedy’s pack. In fact, she’s the one guarding the Luna right now.”

Samuel turns to address the group of kids. “Speaking of the Luna, it’s getting late. We have a car coming to pick us up since we’ve been out here for quite some time. I know you’ve set up a great little camp here, and you’re doing an amazing job, but we have plenty of space if you want to come with us. Our Luna is really excited to meet you. She couldn’t come with us today, but she loves meeting new pups.”

The four children exchange glances, their expressions unreadable to me. I can’t quite tell what they think of the offer.

“Will she be in the car that picks you up?” Gabriel asks eagerly.

“No,” Samuel replies, “she has some things she needs to take care of. That’s why she has a team of warriors like us. It’s our job to make sure everything is safe for her and the rest of the pack.”

“What do we have to do?” Landon inquires, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

“What do you mean?” Seth asks, looking puzzled from across the fire.

“Well,” Peyton cuts in, “the last people who said they were going to help us told us we had to work to pay for our meals. They said if we don’t work, we don’t eat or have a place to sleep. Nothing is free.”

Samuel stands tall, his tone honest and reassuring. “Our Luna and Alpha don’t operate like that. They want to help anyone they can without strings attached.”

Landon mirrors Samuel’s posture, his expression serious. “What about bad people? Some folks are just bad.”

“You’re right,” Samuel nods, “and Alpha Ryker is very good at dealing with bad guys. You’re more than welcome to join us. If you decide it’s not for you, you’re free to leave at any time.”

“Promise?” Peyton asks, her voice hopeful.

“We promise,” Samuel says firmly, raising an eyebrow at Landon, silently passing the responsibility of making the decision for the group to him.

I step inside, and the chatter stops abruptly. “She’s so little!” Kennedy exclaims, covering her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears. Ryker is at her side instantly, wrapping her in a quick hug, though she only lets him hold her for a moment. Her attention is fixed entirely on the tiny girl clinging to my neck.

“Is she alright? Does she need anything?” Kennedy asks softly.

“She’s okay, from what we can tell,” I whisper. “Just very shy. It took a long time to get her to even talk to us. Right, Trinity?” I poke her ribs gently, and she giggles before snuggling deeper into my neck.

“Hey! Remember when I told you about my Luna and how excited she’d be to meet you?” I ask. She nods against my shoulder. I glance at Seth and Samuel, who give me a knowing look.

“Can I introduce you, or are you going to hide forever?” I tease.

That gets her to look up at me, and she nods. “This is Luna Kennedy,” I say, “and behind her is Alpha Ryker. This is their pack, so if you need anything, they’re in charge, got it?”

She nods but her gaze drifts past Kennedy and Ryker. “Is that Greta?” she whispers.

For the first time since we returned, I meet my mate’s eyes, and she looks shocked.

“You told her about me?”