Page 27 of A Luna's Revenge (Stone Mountain Shifters)
Charlie
I am the pack tech specialist as well as the Luna. It’s my job to ensure we are all safe from cyberattacks. Internet, hologram devices, security, cameras, intel, hacking, and anything related all fall under my expertise.
Utilizing this, I am able to monitor the status of Tracy Vincent. Prior to Jenson being incapacitated, he had issued statements and warrants for Ms. Vincent’s arrest. She is currently in pack jail, sobbing her eyes out. I want to feel bad about this, but sorry, not sorry; I had to call Jenson’s bluff. She deserves it for poaching a married man, and he deserves what he has coming.
Rather than risk being actually caught cheating, Jenson committed perjury by swearing out false statements and warrants. I wonder what else he has done illegally. He is just digging himself deeper and deeper.
Since I need to go see how serious Jenson’s injuries are, I decide to go down to med bay. When I get there, it’s busy with various shifters racing back and forth. I finally find the hub of all the activity; it’s the Alpha’s presence in one of the procedure rooms.
Dr. Shannon is attempting to address his injuries while a couple of burly males are trying to hold him down. He is on his back, folded up, with his arms clenched around his knees. Tears stream down his face while a nurse holds a barf bag to his mouth. Geez, he looks bad.
It was a pretty hot couple of kisses; I fanned myself just thinking about it. I don’t know if he is weaker than I, or I just don’t remember my first CMS episode well because I had actual wounds when he was being intimate with someone.
I turn my head away for a minute and feel a touch of guilt. I am not a cheater. I am loyal, loving and kind. I feel a small amount of shame. Not because he didn’t deserve it, he certainly did. But that’s not my character; it’s not who I am. I have let him and the skank drag me to their level, and I am ashamed. Until this mate mark has been removed, no more kissing sexy shifters.
Dr. Bridgit walks up beside me. “This looks suspiciously like a CMS event.” She says quietly. The noise of the room is so loud I know no one can overhear.
“Um. It sure does.” I say noncommittally.
She starts giggling and it becomes infectious to the point that others are starting to notice. We both straighten up our faces, wiping the tears from our eyes.
“It’s not as bad as it looks.” She volunteers. “When they first brought him in, I was able to take a quick look at his stomach. There is one small superficial lesion that she needs to seal up with dermabond surgical glue. But that’s pretty much the worst of it.”
“In case you’re wondering, I didn't cheat. I just wanted him to see what it feels like. I didn’t have $ex; it was just a couple of sizzling hot kisses.” I touch my mouth dreamily, reliving it. Dr. Bridgit grins, noticing my gesture. “Just a little revenge. But don’t worry, I checked to make sure the shifter I kissed was unmated before I kissed him.”
“No judgment here, girlie, and I am not asking who.” Dr. Bridgit promises as she walks into the room.
“Dr. Shannon, prepare an injection to ease his nausea and sedate him. I will perform some tests to see what’s causing this andwhat is in his system from that tea.” She turns to me. “I am going to need you to sign some permission forms for the tests. I don’t think he is in any condition to sign.”
A nurse approaches Dr. Bridgit with a clipboard in her hand. Dr. Bridgit rattles off the tests she plans to perform. The nurse scribbles on the form and hands the clipboard and pen over to me. I glance at it, knowing Dr. Bridgit won’t do anything to harm Jenson; I sign the document and return it to the nurse.
Another nurse prepared and administered the injection while we took care of the paperwork. She is just finishing up as Jenson starts to relax. His vomiting has ceased, and his legs are slowly stretching out on the table. His head lolls to the side, his mouth drooping open.
A phlebotomist comes in with her blood collection kit and begins preparing Jenson’s arm as Dr. Shannon and another nurse begin cleaning Jenson’s torso so they can seal a couple of scratch-like wounds. By this time, however, the wounds have nearly healed. Dr. Bridgit closes the door to the exam room and begins pulling down Jenson’s basketball shorts and underwear.
After putting on gloves, she carefully lifts one of his testicles, feels around, and injects a syringe. As she begins to withdraw fluid, she says, “This is called a TESA or Testicular Fine Needle Aspiration. I am taking a sample of his semen to test his sperm count and for any residual poisons.” I nod.
Next, she inserts a clear hollow tube in his urethra. I wince at that. “I am collecting a urine sample now. This will help us check for various things. We really need to know the damage that tea he has been drinking has done to his body. We can also test for STDs, but as wolves, we are not susceptible to normal human diseases, but viruses and bacteria are growing stronger and morphing into superbugs all the time. Better safe than sorry.”
"Right."I agree.
Then she takes a swab to the inside of Jenson’s cheek and throat and places it in a pouch. “That will help us trace any residual from the tea and we can test for STDs. Again, just overkill, but we really need to get those results. After putting all that into various tubes, bottles, and vials, she hands them to the phlebotomist.
“I did take a sample of his DNA. It’s a requirement now with all medical procedures and examinations. With everything we have collected, we should know whether Jenson is the father of Tracy’s pup. We did most of these tests on her as well as some pregnancy screenings.
“That’s all I can think of right now. I’ll go get these tests run.” She walks out the door with the phlebotomist.
Dr. Shannon has finished with the scratches that are almost healed. She and the nurse pull his shirt down and his ball shorts up. After throwing a blanket over him, she says. “We will let him sleep this off.”
“Thanks, Dr. Shannon. If he wakes before I return, just tell him I had some errands to run in town.”
“Sure will, Luna.”
I head out the door and to the garage. I pull my SUV out to depart for town. I called ahead and made an appointment at a divorce attorney’s office. After talking with my attorney over the phone, he reassured me that things would go smoothly.
First, we live in a no-fault territory and have no children. Second, there are no common assets; Jenson and I have always kept our bank accounts separate. We live at the pack house and own no property together. Our plans had been to build a house, but those plans had stalled when we failed to get pregnant. I was told that the divorce would be final thirty days from the day Jenson is served, and they promised they would serve him tomorrow evening to give me time to leave town. That would take care of the legal aspect.
As far as the mate bond severing, I asked Mom about what I saw in my vision, and she not only gave me the grimoire with the talisman, but we practiced it together for about half an hour.
Therefore, I plan to complete the bond severing the way I was shown in the vision at the same time he is served divorce papers.
Since I was shown in the vision that I would need to be hospitalized afterward, I will take more precautions and go to Sunlight Shimmer Pack, where Amaris and Alpha Blake reside, to remove the mate bond. If I have to spend time in the hospital, as I did in the dream, I want to be there under Amaris’ care.
The attorney’s appointment doesn't take long, and as I am returning to the pack house. I make a short stop at the local tech store on the way.
As I contemplate my next steps, I wonder what is happening with Jenson now. Since the minute I woke up from the vision yesterday, I threw up the walls in my mind between myself and the entire pack.
Being of the Alpha line myself, I’ve always been able to control my outward appearance, be it emotions, thoughts, or feelings. It’s one of the things that has made me a great Luna. That and my compassion.
Apparently, compassion is totally lacking from most of the shifters here because I’ve not received much, if any, myself. My emotions or feelings were never considered in this situation. Especially not from Jenson; he never thought of me once or he would not have done these vile acts repeatedly.
Therefore, I am going to look out for myself, however I have to do it. No one else matters but me and Lana right now. Not even an innocent baby.
Speaking of Lana, she is in much better spirits, and I think she is coming to terms with the reality of our situation. You teach others how to treat you by whether you tolerate their abuse or not. And, yes, this is emotional abuse.
If you love someone, you don't cheat. It’s common human decency not to cheat. If you want to be with someone else or even multiple people, let your spouse or committed relationship go; there are plenty of available sources for sex, as Jenson has proven. It doesn't have to involve an innocent party who cares very deeply for you. Don't be selfish.
Besides, if someone gets away with cheating once, what's to stop them from doing it again and again?
I am worth so much more than being someone's plaything to toss away at will. And, honestly, Tracy Vincent should have more self-worth. If she stoops to the level of cheating with a married man, she is just as bad as he. We females could fix the world if we would only be girl’s girls and have each other’s backs. I sigh at the sadness of it all.
I make it to the office without meeting anyone. Once inside, I consider my next step. I have to put things in place, so there is no way Jenson can track me down. I want to be left alone until I am ready to return, if I ever am.
I open the package with my purchases from town and retrieve my new cell phone and hologram device.
Even though I created the program that drives the hologram devices, a different manufacturer produces and sells the product. I believe it’s Jenson behind that, as he always tries to repress my independence. He’s never been successful in quelling that part of me; it merely causes me to conceal it.
The cell is untraceable as it’s on a different plan and has no ties to Jenson or this address. Turning it on, I install the anti-tracking software I developed. I turn on the hologram device and do the same.
While those are loading, I open my old hologram device for the final time. I want the pack to remain safe, so I update and strengthen all pack network systems. I push an email out to everyone with the latest software to upload to various devices that will protect them. I upload all important files, emails, and anything else they will need in the immediate future for the systems while creating a back door for me in case I need it.
Next, I email our lead tech under me and advise him of where the emergency information folder is located on the server and ask if he has any questions for me. I set a timer on my new phone to remind me to schedule the mailbox deletion tomorrow. I then wipe clean my old device so that nothing can ever be retrieved from it. I close the lid and place it in the desk drawer. I am keeping my cell phone until after I leave.
The rest of my day is spent packing and sending boxes over to my parents’ house for storage. With that chore completed, I load my SUV with the items I will take with me. I am not taking all my clothesanddidn’t even thin my closet down; I don’t want to give Jenson any prior warnings about my leaving.
My ultimate plan is to return once I remove the mate bondso I can help Jenson get back to his rightful role of leading to try to save the pack. But I won’t be returning as his mate.
Once the mate bond is removed, I will be free to help Jenson without pain or ties. Jenson is running the pack into the ground with his diversions right now; and while I am a little hurt that no one told me what Jenson was so obviously up to, they don’t deserve being destroyed.
Besides, my Mom and Dad live here, and so are other people I’ve grown up with and love; those who I know would have told me what Jenson was doing had they known. Once the pack is safe, I will move on and find my own happiness; and Jenson can be a happy playboy Alpha without repercussions on the pack.
Pulling myself out of my musings, I completely clean out any personal items in my office and put them in the trash. Taking the bag out of the can, I toss it into the big cans in the office service room.
Taking the back exit out of the office, I head to Mom and Dad's for one last goodbye.
After a short visit, I hug and kiss my parents, I make my way back to the pack house. Not sure when I ate last, I stop by the fridge and make myself a sandwich. Grabbing a bottle of water and an apple too, I go up to my room.
While eating, I note the one outfit and one old silky short PJ set I’ve inconspicuously laid out.
I concluded all the tech business I needed to keep the pack safe and with all evidence of my day's activities destroyed, I think everything is set in motion.
I change into my short, silky PJs, pull back the blanket on the bed, and crawl in for the last time.
Reaching over to the nightstand, I take two sleep aids and fall into apeaceful sleep, where I can simply forget.
The morning dawns quietly. Ironically, Jenson is in bed beside me. I look at his tired, sleeping face, sadly. Being faithless is hard, honey. I think sarcastically. I’ve known this man for my entire twenty-three years. One selfish act on his part has destroyed everything we ever had.
My thoughts drift to every tender moment we have ever shared, and then, like fragile glass, each sweet memory is shattered by the painful image of his indiscretions—skank.
I have to face it and push through to the end of this. This wasn't my doing; it was his. I softly caress his cheek and gently kiss his lips for the last time. I am not kissing the lothario he has become, but the sweet, honorable male he was once. Swallowing the knot in my throat. I whisper. "Goodbye, my love. Enjoy your new playboy life and your new heir. It has cost you me." I whisper. He didn't even stir; he is beyond exhausted.
I rise from bed and dress. Today, my last day here, I want to leave a good impression. And as in my dream, I make my way around the packhouse and visit a short while with each wolf as I can.
I go up and chat with Lou for a few minutes. Trying to reach out to as many as I can today before I leave. They don't know it's goodbye, but I do. I want no regrets.
I go into the main room of the pack house and visit. Then the gym. Several of the Enforcers are there. A good caliber of shifters. I see Reggie’s dark head, and my tongue darts out, moistening my dry lips as I remember those delicious kisses. “That male is a snack.” Lana smiles wolfishly. His dark wavy hair hangs in gentle waves past his shoulders. He usually keeps it in a man bun or a ponytail, but I personally think he is more attractive with it just hanging loose. Across the room, he smiles charmingly at me. His amber eyes mischievously twinkle as I give him a smile.
I then make my way back to the kitchen and sit down at the bar. Mary passes me a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast. I indulge, as this will be my last meal with my pack.
After eating, I take my dishes and load them in the dishwasher. “Mary, when you see Jenson, please tell him that I am going into town to run some errands.”
“Sure will, Luna.” She replies.
I grab my device bag and my purse and walk through the crowded pack house to get into my SUV. As I pull out of the garage, Reggie is standing there. I ease to a stop, rolling my window down, I look at him questioningly. He coughs, “Charlie, with everything you shared with me, and by the looks of your SUV,” He gestures to the boxes and suitcases in the back of my vehicle. “I believe you are leaving.”
I nod. “But that is a secret. He’ll find out later today. Okay?”
“It didn’t even occur to me to tell him.” We speak quietly; you never know when the forest will have ears.
“Are you coming back?”
“To him? No.” I admit. “To the pack? Possibly. I don’t know yet. I hope so.”
“Is there a chance for us someday?”
I reach my hand out the window and slip it under his jawline, caressing. “Reggie, you are the most beautiful male I have ever seen. You are so sweet and tempting.” I close my eyes and shake my head in regret.
“Let me get through this right now. I don’t know what the future holds.” My heart aches at the look on his face. “I don’t want you to become a rebound fling. I make no promises, and I ask for none, either. But I want you to know this isn’t a rejection.”
He is leaning into my hand with his eyes closed tightly.
“You told me your mate left you for a Beta because she wanted someone more powerful.” I draw close and whisper in his ear. “She was wrong. I feel your Alpha aura strumming through you. You are a powerful Alpha in your own right.” I place a gentle, closed-mouth kiss on his lips. “Open yourself up to that possibility and accept it.” I withdraw my hand and pull the vehicle forward, sadly leaving Reggie in my rear-view mirror.
Charlie
It’s nearly 1:00 p.m., when I stop at a local truck stop to grab a bite to eat. A burger, fries, and shake for the road is exactly what I need right now. After collecting my dinner, I walk around the parking lot, looking at the tags of the various vehicles. While our territory is hard to find for humans, there is an abundance of them around. Whether they have been brought here as mates or companions to shifters or just having stumbled onto us, humans are attracted to our physical appearance. Our bodies are stronger and more muscular, especially the males who can get up to almost seven feet tall and broader than a linebacker.
I finally find what I am looking for: a pick-up with Canadian tags. Canada is far north of our territory. The truck’s occupants must be inside the building, so I toss my old cell phone in the back. I’ve already turned it off and smashed it, so hopefully, it leads Jenson on a wild goose chase far away to where he cannot track me.