Chapter 4

As the helicopter touches down at the Blood Eclipse Packhouse, Lucas's mother rushes forward, her heart pounding in her chest. The wind from the blades whips through her hair, but she doesn't care. She's been waiting anxiously ever since they informed her of Tara's condition. Her son has finally found his mate, but not in the way any mother would have dreamed. Covered in blood, unconscious, her future daughter-in-law's introduction to the pack is nothing short of tragic.

The Luna stands at a distance, watching the commotion unfold. Earlier, she had called Allison's mother, her sister, to inform them on the attack on the Lotus pack and that's when she learned that Tara had been visiting and left for her pack house mid-morning which was after the attack. When she called Lucas he informed her that they had found Tara but in a terrible state.

Luna has known Tara since she was a little girl, a bright-eyed child with fiery red hair who always seemed to stand out, even among the children of their pack. Tara's late mother, Allison's mother, and Lucas's mother, the Luna had all been inseparable friends, growing up together in the same pack, bound by deep sisterhood. Their bond had been forged through shared dreams and challenges, and they had watched each other's children grow with pride.

Tara has always been a reminder of her mother's strength and grace, and as Luna reflects on the young woman she has become, her heart aches for the tragic loss she has endured. Though Allison remains in their home pack, Tara's path has always been intertwined with theirs, a thread of connection that now feels frayed, but not broken.

Lucas jumps out of the helicopter, cradling Tara in his arms as though she might break at any moment. His face is set in a mixture of determination and fear, the bond between them barely formed yet already overwhelming. He strides past his mother, who steps aside, and straight into the packhouse. Inside, the omegas are already prepared.

"Prepare my room," Lucas commands them, his voice low but firm. "She's my mate, and she'll be staying with me."

The omegas exchange glances, surprised by the sudden declaration but quick to act. No one dares question an Alpha, especially not one whose mate has been through such trauma.

"My goodness I am glad you found her." The Luna says.

"I only hope she is okay." Lucas responds to his mother.

"Luna Laurel mentioned Tara left their pack mid-morning so she should be okay. So I am confused."

"The doctor and nurse mentioned she have no injuries on her body so I am equally confused on what is going on." Lucas responds very disappointed.

Lucas places Tara carefully on the bed, his eyes tracing her every feature. The blood has been cleaned from her face, revealing her delicate, heart-shaped features. Her fiery red hair spills over the pillow like flames, a stark contrast to her pale skin. He sits beside her, his hand brushing against her cheek, hoping for any sign of life.

"She'll come around," Joel says from the doorway, his voice calm. "She's strong."

Lucas doesn't respond, his focus entirely on Tara. He needs her to wake up. He needs to see her eyes, to feel the connection that his wolf craves so desperately. Derek is restless inside him, pacing, anxious. It's a cruel twist of fate to find his mate, only to fear losing her so soon.

Suddenly, Tara stirs, a soft groan escaping her lips. Her eyelids flutter, and for a moment, Lucas feels relief wash over him.

"Tara," he whispers, leaning closer.

But as her eyes open, confusion clouds her gaze. She blinks rapidly, disoriented, her mind scrambling to piece together where she is. The last thing she remembers is the scent of blood and the cold bodies of her family. Now, she's in a strange place, with unfamiliar faces surrounding her.

She jerks back, her body stiffening, panic rising in her chest. "Where am I?" she demands, her voice hoarse from a day of grief and crying.

"You're safe," Lucas says softly, trying to reassure her. "You're in my pack, the Blood Eclipse Packhouse."

Tara's eyes narrow as she slowly pushes herself up, her body protesting the movement. Every muscle aches, as if the weight of the world has pressed her down for days. Her limbs are stiff from lying still for too long, and her head feels foggy, disconnected from reality. Inside her, Ruby stirs, unsettled but silent uncharacteristically so. Normally, her wolf would be a fierce presence, but now she feels distant, almost as if she's retreating from the world in grief.

Then, it hits her. The memories of the attack rush back with brutal force. The scent of blood, the lifeless bodies of her family, the overwhelming sense of helplessness. It all crashes into her, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her chest tightens painfully, her heart constricting under the weight of it all. Panic claws at her, and her pulse quickens as her gaze darts wildly around the room. She doesn't recognize this place, these walls, these faces until her eyes land on the figure standing at her bedside.

"I... I don't understand," she whispers, her voice small and cracked from hours of grief and crying. She glances around again, searching for any clue as to where she is. When her gaze

returns to Lucas, his presence feels overwhelming, unfamiliar yet somehow tethered to her in a way she can't comprehend. "Why am I here?"

Lucas opens his mouth, his heart pounding, his mind racing. He's desperate to explain, to tell her that she's safe, that she's his mate, his Tara. The words are already forming in his mind, ready to spill out. I am your mate... Lucas Conri, Soon to be Alpha of the Blood Eclipse pack. His chest tightens with a mixture of excitement and fear, but before he can speak, a voice cuts in, soft yet firm.

"Sweetheart, you're safe," the Luna, says gently, stepping forward before Lucas can overwhelm her with the truth.

Tara's breath hitches, her attention shifting away from Lucas and toward the Luna. Recognition flickers in her eyes, and for the first time since waking, something familiar settles in her chest.

"Aunty Kay...?" Tara's voice trembles, her gaze locking onto the Luna's face. Memories of childhood rush back, days spent running through fields, laughing with Camila, Allison, with the Luna, Luna Laurel Allison's mother and her mother close by, always watching, always protective.

"Yes, honey," the Luna murmurs, her voice filled with tenderness. She crosses the room in a few quick strides and pulls Tara into her arms, embracing her as if she were her own. In that moment, Tara's walls crumble. The weight of her loss crashes down on her, and she lets out a choked sob, burying her face into the Luna's chest.

For the first time since the attack, Tara allows herself to feel the full force of her grief. The Luna holds her tight, gently rocking her, giving her the space to release the flood of tears that she's been holding back. It's the kind of embrace only someone who has known her all her life could give, the embrace of a second mother, a reminder that despite everything, there is still someone here who cares deeply for her. For just a few moments, Tara feels like that little girl again, surrounded by the people who loved her, before the world turned cruel.

The Luna sits beside Tara, her arms still gently wrapped around the trembling young woman. She can feel the weight of Tara's sobs, the depth of her pain, and it stirs something deep within her. Tara is not just another wolf, she is the daughter of her dear, lost friend. She runs a comforting hand down Tara's back, waiting until the sobs quiet before she begins to speak.

"Tara, you're safe now," the Luna says softly, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "You're in the Blood Eclipse pack, my pack." She pulls back slightly, just enough to meet Tara's confused gaze, her heart breaking at the sight of the girl who had once been so full of life, now so broken. "We brought you here after the attack."

Tara's brows furrow as she struggles to make sense of it. "How did I......?"

The Luna takes a deep breath, preparing herself to explain. "Scott is here, he told us your pack had been attacked. His in bad shape and very critical. My son, Lucas, along with Joel and the warriors, went to your pack to see if they can find survivors or the phone who attacked your pack. That's where they found you, sweetheart. You were the only one left..." Her voice falters for a moment, the grief in her eyes matching Tara's.

Tara blinks, trying to piece together what she's hearing. "I wa...I wasn't home. I was visiting Allison. I stayed back after her birthday to spend some time with her, but as I returned home...." her voice a mix of confusion and quiet disbelief.

The Luna places her hands on Tara's shoulders, her gaze soft but filled with purpose. "I want to see Scott, his the only family I have left." Tears roll down Tara's face.

"You rest up and I will surely take you to see him." She promises.

Tara's gaze shifts to Lucas for a moment, and then back to the Luna. She can't quite understand why she is feeling a certain strange way every time she looks at him. Why is he staring at her so attentively.

"Why......." she looks at Lucas whose now tired of holding back.

"You're my mate, Tara. I found you at the Lotus pack house. You were the only one left alive..."

At the word "mate," Tara's expression hardens. Her eyes, which had been filled with confusion, now blaze with anger and pain. She feels nothing, no pull, no warmth, no connection. How could this man claim her as his mate after everything she's lost? It feels like another cruel twist of fate, like being trapped in a nightmare she can't escape.

"No!" she says, her voice firm. "I don't want this!"

Lucas recoils as if he's been struck, the rejection like ice in his veins. Derek growls in protest, but Lucas remains frozen, trying to make sense of her words. "NO??????..."

She shakes her head, tears filling her eyes. "I've lost everything. My family... my pack... everyone I love is dead. And you tell me I am your mate? I don't want to be your mate!"

Her words cut deep, the anger in her voice sharp enough to wound. Lucas swallows hard, his chest tight with frustration and grief. And he won't accept it.

"The moon goddess have mated you to me and you shall be my mate regardless of your feelings!" Lucas says and then walks out of his room.

"Aunty K......."

"Just give him a minute. You rest, I will send someone up here to bring you something to drink and eat. You can also freshen up." The Luna says and then excuses herself to check on Lucas.