Don’t Poke the Luna Chapter 253

Xena’s POV

"Good. Can you help me get these to the car?" Ama answered for us. They immediately complied, grabbing a box and heading out of the room.

"How's the baby?" I asked once they'd left.

"Good. Growing like a weed." Ama sat down with a long sigh, her hand automatically moving to her rounded belly.

"Boy or girl?" I asked as I shut down the computer.

"We want it to be a surprise." Ama rubbed her stomach with a small smile.

"Where's William?"

"Probably doing something that will eventually land him in the hospital." Ama grumbled.

I couldn't help but laugh at that. William's stubbornness had become legendary. Even serious injuries couldn't stop him from living life on his own terms.

"Speaking of hospitals..." Penelope walked into the room.

"Oh?" I looked at her, knowing where this was going.

"I want to meet them."

My heart sank. I knew this moment would come, but I'd hoped we could wait a little longer. Penelope needed to meet her parents, but the timing worried me. Her emotional state, their physical condition—this could get very complicated.

Just then, Ryder and Logan walked back in. "Meet who?" Ryder asked as he sat beside Ama.

"Tansy and Jericho."

Logan looked at me. "Penelope, they're in rough shape..." I tried to say.

"I know, but we need them to reject the title so we can move forward with our plans, and... I just want to meet them."

I could see the determination in Penelope's eyes.

"Honey, you understand they didn't abandon you?" Logan wasn't opposing, but he was hesitant like I was.

"I know. We talked about this last night." She glared at him.

"Penelope..." I began.

"If you were in my position, would you let anyone stop you?" Penelope turned to me.

Her words hit home. She was right—if it were me, nothing would stop me, even if it meant facing painful truths.

"Fine. You want to meet them? Then we go to the hospital, but you need to understand the trauma Tansy has endured. Not to mention Jericho. They look rough, and everything they've done for the past nineteen years has been to ensure you were safe and loved. Whatever you think or feel, remember that." I gave Logan a look that said she's your problem.

"Come on." Logan sighed.

I wanted to follow them because I was the only person Tansy really knew. But I also knew this was Penelope's moment, and she needed space to process this reunion, whatever the outcome.

"Are you okay?" I asked Penelope. "I mean, you seemed a little stressed earlier today."

"I'm stressed and can't focus because I know they're here. I can't get them out of my head, so if it means I need to meet them in order to focus, then I will."

It made sense, but I was more afraid of how she would handle this. Penelope was such a gentle soul that meeting her parents after all these years might be too much.

As we approached the hospital, there was one guard standing in front. Like the rest of the area, it looked gloomy. The white paint had faded and needed a good pressure wash. What was once green vines had overgrown one side, but now it was all dead and crumbling. Even the windows were void of any life.

"Alpha, Luna." The guard said as we each passed. He held the door open for us but quickly closed it after. Only emergency lights were on, making the hallway dark. I half expected someone to pop out of one of the rooms with a knife. Maybe I'd watched too many horror movies.

I was lost in thought, so when Ryder stopped right in front of me, I walked straight into him. "Oh, sorry!" I mumbled as I took a step back. "Penelope, let me go first and tell them what's happening, okay?"

"O-okay." She looked like she was reconsidering her decision.

Logan pulled her into his arms, and she immediately buried her face in his chest. He looked at me and nodded, and I opened the door and walked in. Ryder slipped in right behind me but quickly closed the door. He stood to the side with his arms crossed, looking like a damn bodyguard.

Tansy was covered in bandages everywhere. Her neck was completely wrapped, and there were yellow patches on her face. The blanket was pulled up to her chest, so I couldn't see what the rest of her body looked like. An IV line extended from her hand.

Jericho must have had a shower. His hair was combed and tied in a bun at the back of his neck. They'd obviously given him a razor too, because his beard had been trimmed. There were some bruises, but overall, he looked good. He sat in a chair beside Tansy, gently holding her hand. When I entered, they both looked at me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"They gave me something to restore my wolf. I'm still very weak, so she's struggling right now. I want to thank you for saving me." Tansy's voice was weak, but she tried to smile.

Looking at them like this, my emotions were too complex to describe. This should have been a heartwarming reunion moment, but I knew what I had to say next would make the atmosphere heavy. I had to be realistic, even if it was cruel.

"You understand that since Wiley was killed, the Alpha title transferred to you."

"I realized that. I'm guessing you want us to reject it." Tansy spoke without showing any emotion.

Damn, she was stronger than I'd imagined. Nineteen years of torture hadn't destroyed her sanity, but I could see the guardedness in her. She was assessing me, just like I was assessing her.

"It's the right thing to do. Neither of you is capable of managing a pack, let alone making decisions for innocent lives. You've been locked in cells, abused and starved for nineteen years. The world has changed, and you've both been traumatized in different ways. Psychologically, you both need time to heal and adjust to life."

"Child, we won't argue. We don't want it, but we also don't want to hand it over to just anyone." Tansy tried to smile.

Her words surprised me. No anger, no protest, just an almost numb acceptance.

"Actually, Penelope is here." I said. They both suddenly looked at me.

"What?"

"Your daughter wants to meet you. I believe passing the title to her would be in your best interest. She's right outside the door."

"She wants to meet us?" Tansy looked scared.

"She does. She has no expectations of you. Penelope was well cared for and wanted for nothing. She just wants to meet her parents. I've already told her the basic situation of your story. She knows she wasn't abandoned because you didn't love her, but to protect her. Penelope doesn't need a mother or father. I shouldn't need to tell you, she just wants to meet you and eventually build a relationship."

Tansy looked at Jericho for a second, then back at me. "Please bring her in."

In that moment, I saw the real Tansy. Not the tortured prisoner, but a mother longing to see her daughter.

I nodded and looked at Ryder. He went to open the door. A trembling Penelope and Logan walked in. Tansy and Jericho both gasped when they saw her.

"This is Penelope and her mate Logan. Logan is my twin brother, Alpha of Nightcedar Pack. If you haven't guessed, this is Ryder, Alpha of Boneash Pack, my mate." I made the introductions carefully, watching everyone's reactions.

"She looks just like you." Tansy said to Jericho, tears forming in her eyes.

The room fell into silence as parents and daughter saw each other for the first time in nineteen years. Penelope stood frozen in the doorway, her hands shaking as she took in the sight of her biological parents. Jericho's eyes never left her face, as if he was memorizing every detail.