The Young Luna novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27

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When we got home, I took a shower as Seth made me something to eat. Once I had cleaned myself completely, I stepped out and grabbed a towel. But I didn't instantly wrap the towel around myself, I simply stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. My brand new reflection.

"Fuck" Seth hissed from behind me. I glanced up and saw him through the mirror. He stood in the doorway, plate of toast in his hand, as his bright blue eyes looked over my naked body. "You look beautiful".

"I feel it" I admitted, smiling softly as I wrapped my towel around myself.

"I don't mean that you didn't look beautiful before" he commented worriedly. "I loved how you were before and I love how you are now. You're my mate, I love you no matter how you look".

I offered him a small smile through the mirror, "I love you too".

I got dressed in some old pyjama's and ate the toast quietly. Seth watched me the entire time, the dark bags under his eyes informing me that he was just as I tired as I was. When I finished eating, I suggested we both go to bed – despite the fact it was seven am.

"No, the doctor is waiting downstairs for you" Seth replied to me.

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have eaten after".

"He can wait. You take as long as you need". Seth reached up and cupped my cheek, his bright eyes full of fear. I never expected Seth to be scared of anything, but I looked into his eyes and saw that fear he felt. "When they told me you'd gone..." he trailed off, gulping deeply.

"When I was lying there...in the forest...all I wanted was you. I love you Seth and I'm sorry about the fight before". My eyes watered as I tried not to cry.

"No I am sorry". He kissed me deeply and I melted into him, kissing him back eagerly as I wrapped my arms around him tightly. I pulled away from the kiss and rested my forehead against him.

"You smell fucking amazing" I blurted out. Seth laughed brightly, kissing me again before smiling at me. "Sorry, but I can smell everything now and you smell amazing. I could just sniff you all day long".

Seth laughed and it was such a nice, warm, sound that I almost sighed blissfully. "Come on, freckles, the doctor is waiting for you".

"Not so much freckles anymore" I commented. Seth smiled softly, almost sadly, and ran a finger over the bridge of my nose.

"I still know they're there. You will always me by Freckles". He pressed a playful kiss to the tip of my nose, before taking my hand and walking me downstairs. Doctor Ballore was waiting patiently in the lounge for me, not looking bothered by the fact I had kept him waiting.

"Luna, how are you feeling?" he asked me, smiling softly at me.

"Tired" I admitted honestly. The doctor sat me down on the couch and gave me a check-up quickly, not finding anything to note.

"It's because of your age, Luna" the doctor explained. "Your body was blocking your puberty because you had not Shifted. In Wolves that Shift in their early teens, as their body prepares for the first Shift then they slowly begin to change. But in little amounts, nothing that is not unusual for teenagers going through puberty. So, by the time they Shift they have almost completed the full puberty change. However, your puberty changes hadn't started because your body was not ready to Shift yet".

"And the forced Shift made all those changes happen at once" I summarised, nodding in understanding.

Seth and I left, with the doctor instructing us to call him if the infection or fever began making me ill at all. We first checked in with Josh, Dean and the searching parties – but no one had found any trace of Yemi or Rafa. I was both thankful and disappointed, I wanted them punished but I was scared to see them again.

"You should go home and rest. I'll have Shawna and Javier come keep you company, as I can't spare Dean right now" Seth explained and I nodded softly. He seemed to notice my lack of snarky commentary and instantly began to worry. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry that happened to you. To think one of my Pack members could do that".

"I'm scared to see them again" I admitted, blushing softly. "I know I shouldn't be scared. I'm a Luna and I should be--". My words were cut off as Seth grabbed me and pulled me to him, almost aggressively.

"You have every right to be scared, Mabel. These men lured you, hurt you, left you for dead in the middle of a forest and then forced you to Shift. You would be insane if you weren't scared of them. If that had happened to me, I would be scared of them".

I nodded softly, still feeling slightly pathetic. But I didn't tell Seth that, just kissed him quickly and walked home. The entire time I walked home, I kept checking over my shoulder – worried that Yemi was going to be there, ready to attack me again. It was ridiculous and naïve as I was in the middle of the Pack territory, with people all around me.

But the attack had affected me a lot more that I wanted to admit.

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