The Luna’s Choice

Chapter 22

=

O

<

Chapter 22: Theo

“Did everyone make it out?” I asked her.

“As far as we know,” Mom said. “It seems like mostly minor injuries, primarily smoke inhalation.”

“And Mrs. Walport?” I asked. “Have you heard anything about her?”

Mom shook her head. “No, not yet.”

I looked around again. “Where’s Kylee?” © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She should have been here. As the future Luna, she should have been helping control the situation and helping the wounded. Just like my mother had.

Mom’s lips pursed for a second before she hid her reaction. “She opted to go ahead to the hospital.”

I nodded. We would be heading straight there ourselves, so I didn’t bother contacting her to tell her we were okay. We took Mom’s car, so I didn’t have to walk back to the restaurant. I was already starting to crash from all the adrenaline, but ! wasn’t even close to being done. We had to check in at the hospital, speak to everyone and ensure their safety, ensure all medical needs were met, then get with the fire marshal and insurance companies.

It was a long road ahead, and I would need to be a part of it all. Especially since Briggs hadn’t returned yet.

“Harry is on his way. He was visiting his daughter, so he’s still a

Chapter 22: Theo

couple hours away,” Mom said.

Harry was Dad’s Beta. He was an uncle to me, and it would be a big help to have his support. And it would be easier to keep Dad from over–stressing himself. I knew he was probably already going crazy that he wasn’t there to help. But he had already offered to meet the officials at the packhouse when they have more to report.

I pulled into the hospital, and we headed into the emergency department. The waiting area was full of families and those with minor injuries just waiting to get checked out for the all- clear. Mom and I started making our rounds, talking to anyone we came across, allowing them to get out whatever emotions they needed to.

A nurse came out and said I could come back where others were already being treated. As I entered the area, I saw Sarah sitting in a chair down the hall. I headed straight in her direction, sitting next to her quietly. I could tell she had been crying.

“How is your mother?”

She immediately burst into a fresh round of tears, leaning over and burying her face in my shirt. I gently wrapped my arms around her, rubbing my hand along her back.

She didn’t need to tell me. I could feel her grief and devastation.

Her mother didn’t make it.

I couldn’t let my emotions take over yet. I needed to be there for Sarah first. I would deal with my own guilt and grief and

sadness later. So I just held her until her sobs slowed and her

O

Chapter 22: Theo

tears stopped.

“Thank you for trying to save her, Theo,” Sarah said when she finally pulled away, sniffling as she wiped at her face. “It was a huge risk that you took.”

“It was exactly what I should have done. I’m just sorry I didn’t make it in time,” I said.

She shook her head. “There was nothing more you could do.”

“Does your dad know yet?”

“Yeah, he’s on his way. He’s out in the truck making a run. He’ll be back tomorrow morning,” Sarah said.

“Why don’t you stay at the packhouse tonight, then,” I said. “I don’t want you at home alone.”

“John is coming to get me.”

“Your both welcome. I’ll tell him to grab some clothes for you so you can go straight there.”

She nodded, giving me a weak smile. “Thank you, Alpha.”

I stopped into a few more rooms. Luckily most were already recovering quickly. Only a handful of humans were there today, and only one was in severe enough condition to be admitted. But even she was doing well and would likely be released by the morning.

I was just leaving a patient room when I heard my name.

“Theo,” Kylee yelled, running down the hall and throwing herself at me. “Thank goodness you’re okay. I’ve been worried sick.”

<

I set her back down. “Where the hell have you been?” I snapped.

Her eyes widened. “I… I was comforting some of the wolves back at the packhouse. They were worried about their friends in the fire.”

“You should have been there. We needed you at the library,” I said, not bothering to hide my anger. “We needed you here.”

“What was I supposed to do? I would just be in the way,” Kylee whined.

I opened my mouth to yell but stopped myself, not wanting to make a scene in front of everyone who had already been through enough. My hands clenched into fists, and I pushed past her.

“Theo,” she called after me. “Theo, wait.”

I turned on her. “You better start figuring out what you’re supposed to do if you expect to be Luna, Kylee. Because so far, I’m not impressed with your behavior.”

I didn’t even give her an opportunity to respond, storming off without another word. I did not have the patience to teach her what to do. Even if she didn’t know what she would do, it should have been obvious that she should be there. We could have guided her.

If she couldn’t figure out that she needed to be there for her pack members in need, then maybe she wasn’t much better than her sister.

Kieran growled at that thought, and it wasn’t because I was insulting Kylee. My chest tightened as the pain spiked. It

|||

=

Chapter 22: Theo

288 Wourhei

hadn’t been getting any better despite the distance between us. And right now, it was hard to handle. I didn’t just need Kylee to be there for the pack. I needed her to be there for me. I missed having a companion, having a mate. Or rather what a mate should be.

Kylee hadn’t been that for me lately.

I found my mother waiting near the entrance.

“Come on,” I said. “I’ve got to go back to the library to speak with the fire captain and pick up my car.”

Mom followed me out. “Did you find Kylee?”

“Yeah.”

“Is she on her way out?” She asked, looking around.

“She can find her own way back.”

<