Finally Finding My Luna

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

{Zader POV}

After Brett left the dining hall, I just shook my head. I probably wouldn’t see him for at least a week. Thank the moon goddess that my dad decided to soundproof every single bedroom in this packhouse when he had it built. Rylan and Analia both waited for my command on how to proceed. 

“Well I guess we will officially make her a member of the pack and have her Gamma ceremony in due time. For now, is there any other new business that needs to be brought to attention?”

I waited a good few moments, but the room stayed silent. 

“Well alright. Beta Rylan, is there anything else that needs to be addressed?”

“Actually yes there is Alpha. The Beta Female and I have something to announce.” I was surprised, but I stepped back and let him and Analia come forward. 

“Good evening pack members. It’s a pleasure to be your Beta, and I am even more excited to have Analia by my side as your Gamma Female. We have exciting news, and I will let Analia tell you.”

Analia stepped up and held Rylan’s hand. “We are happy to announce that we are pregnant with the future Beta!”

My mouth dropped. The room went insane with cheers and clapping. I was so happy for my buddy and his girl. He was finally getting what he always wanted. He dreamed of having a family. 

Then he did something that no one expected. He got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. The room immediately fell silent once more.

“Analia, you have made me the happiest man on earth for two years. I am more than excited to start a family with you. Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife and partner for life?”

She was already crying tears of joy, and she nodded her head vigorously. Rylan stood up and picked her up in a giant hug. He placed the ring on her finger and kissed her deeply as the pack erupted in more cheers and clapping. 

I was purely astounded at what a night this was turning out to be. One of my best friends was going to be a dad and a husband. Another best friend found his mate, and the third found his mate because of that. My pack was getting that much stronger. 

When high ranking members find their mates and start to produce pups, it makes the pack strong. The only way our pack could be even stronger is if I could have my Luna. She was out there, but finding her was wearing me out. 

After the excitement of a new high ranking pup, new mates and engagements was finally out of everyone’s system, I calmed the crowd. 

“Okay everyone, I need to make one final announcement. Every year the Elder Council decides when and where the Christmas Ball will be. This year it will be on December 20th at the Red Moon Pack. Rylan, Analia and myself will be attending the ball. We will only be gone for three days, but Gamma Brett will be in charge of pack operations during our absence.”

Everyone nodded in understanding, and I decided to adjourn the meeting and dismiss everyone. I knew I would be working on things by myself this weekend. I already gave Rylan the weekend off for his anniversary, and I knew Brett would be wrapped up in his new mate. 

I was very tired from the long day at work and the long day I knew that was coming tomorrow. I needed to start planning for the trip to Red Moon, which I was dreading. When I was 13 the pack went through a really terrible time. 

The Alpha died suddenly, and the Luna was about to take the Beta as her chosen mate. The story was that the Luna’s daughter was upset at the fact that her mother was taking a new mate, and the daughter apparently killed the Luna. 

The Beta imprisoned the daughter as punishment and claimed the Alpha title for himself. He took a new chosen mate, and they ruled their pack with death and cruelty. It was a ruthless pack that no one particularly liked. 

As much as I didn’t want to go to this Christmas Ball, I knew that it was one of the best chances of finding my mate. Usually, high ranking wolves will be mated with other high ranking wolves. A lot of Alphas and Betas would bring their unmated daughters to this ball in hopes of seeing them paired with an Alpha or Beta. 

I just hoped one of those would be my mate. 

---

2 weeks later

We were leaving for the Christmas Ball tomorrow, and I was trying to get everything wrapped up before then. I looked at the clock. 3:49 pm. I had my last meeting of the day in 11 minutes, and then I could go home to handle pack business. 

I hit the intercom button. “Nancy, could you please let everyone know that I will be gone for the next three days? They can email me if they need anything.”

“Yes, Mr. Hale. I will send out a company wide email instantly.”

I nodded and went to the conference room on the other end of the floor. After thirty minutes of discussing the pitch for the potential new client, I decided to end the meeting. 

“Alright everyone, that’s enough for today. We can pick this back up on the 22nd when I come back to work. The company will have the 23rd-1st off to celebrate the holidays. This pitch is in mid-January, so we need to have as much wrapped up before the holidays set in.”

Everyone nodded and packed up their things to leave. I waited until everyone else was out of the conference room and walked out last. I swung by my office to grab my briefcase, and most of the employees had already left for the day. 

I went to the elevator and rode down to the parking garage level. After I left the garage, I sped home to get everything there tied up. When I stepped into the door, Rylan greeted me with a stack of papers. 

“Alpha, these documents need your attention before we leave. The Elders also want to speak with you tonight on a conference call. They have scheduled it for 7 pm. It sounded really important.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and rolled my eyes. 

“Great. I love how they just decide when I will be available for a call. Rylan, please have and Omega bring my dinner to my office. I will be working for the rest of the night.”

“Yes Alpha.”

I took the papers from him and headed to my office. After two hours of filling out papers and singing off orders for supplies for the pack, I finally got the call from the Elder Council.

“Good evening Alpha Zader. It is a pleasure to speak with you again. We apologize for having to schedule this call so suddenly, but the circumstances of your pack have dramatically shifted in the past few weeks.”

Rylan had joined me just as the elder finished talking. It’s normal for Rylan, and sometimes Brett, to be in on conference calls, especially when it’s the Elder Council. 

“That’s fine, but I was wondering what this call was about. What do you mean the circumstances of my pack have changed dramatically?”

I furrowed my brow, and Rylan had his head c****d in confusion. 

“It has been brought to our attention that your Beta and his mate are going to give birth, and your Gamma also recently found his mate. Is this correct?”

Now I was really confused. I had no idea why this would pique the Elders’ interest. 

“Yes, this is correct. It isn’t a secret that my pack has been growing and having great news recently. Why is this concern to the Elder Council?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and I could tell whatever he had to say wasn’t going to be pleasant.

“Well, you remain unmated. Our pack laws state that if an Alpha is unmated, yet his Beta and Gamma are mated, that the Alpha will be forced to step down and the Beta will take over. Since your Beta now has an unborn pup on the way, it would make his claim to the Alpha title even stronger. The Elder Council would be forced to support him if he’d like to take the title.”

I was floored. I had never heard that law in my whole life. I guess it had never been a problem. Alphas usually found their mates within 2 years or turning 18. I looked at Rylan who had wide eyes. He immediately started shaking his head no.

“Well that is an interesting law that I personally have never heard of. But, since you mention my Beta, he is standing right here and heard everything you said. So, he can make his claim right now if he wants to.”

I slid the phone across the desk to Rylan, and he caught it immediately. 

“Good evening Elders. This is Beta Rylan, and I will decline the claim. Zader is the Alpha of this pack, and it should stay that way regardless of if he finds his mate.” he said with a stern voice. I knew Rylan wouldn’t claim the title. We grew up together, and he was my best friend. He was also a very loyal Beta. 

“Well, as that may be, there is still another restriction on this. If the Beta refuses to claim the title, then the Alpha has six months to find his mate and complete the mating process to keep his title. If he doesn’t complete the process, then the pack will be dismantled.”

I was in complete shock. Rylan burst out in anger.

“That is not fair! Mating should NOT determine whether an Alpha can keep his title. This is bullshit! You cannot dismantle our pack! We will fight you!!!” I immediately muted the phone to save us from definite punishment. 

“RYLAN...SHUT THE F*** UP! You are going to get us in even bigger trouble! I understand that you are angry, but we cannot let our anger be the reason that the pack suffers. Now stay quiet and let me speak.”

I unmuted the phone, and the Elders were quietly waiting. I was sure that they knew I was getting Rylan back in line. 

“My apologies. We have everything under control now, and it won’t happen again. I do have to agree with my Beta. I don’t understand why the law says that I can’t lead my pack if I am mateless.”

“Alpha Zader, this is one of the oldest laws in our civilization. In the earliest days of our kind, there were many Alphas that didn’t have a mate or rejected their mates. Each of those packs were dismantled by their own doing in a matter of years or shorter. It’s proven that a Luna gives the pack stability and guidance that can’t come from an Alpha.”

I rubbed my chin trying to think a way around this, but it seemed inevitable. I shook my head and sighed heavily. 

“I understand that this is hard to take in Alpha, but we are sworn to uphold and execute all werewolf laws. We are confident that the moon goddess has blessed you with the perfect mate, so all you need to do is find her and mate with her. We will await your report. You have six months from today to find your mate and make her your Luna.”

The Elders ended the phone call, and I just put my head in my hands. I am frustrated, but I don’t have time to dwell on it tonight. I needed to rest for the flight tomorrow. 

“Rylan, thank you for being a good friend. I don’t know how, but I have to find my mate and bring her home. I hope and pray that she’s at this Christmas Ball. Now, I am sure you have a pregnant mate that wants to go to sleep, so you should go to bed. I will see you both in the morning for the flight.”

“Of course Zader. I will always follow you as Alpha. And thank you, I am sure Analia is ready for some rest. She has been having morning sickness, and it’s been pretty rough.”

He slipped out of my office door, and I wasn’t far behind him. I made my way up to my floor and stripped once I got into the bedroom. I face planted on the bed. I set my alarm and instantly fell asleep. 

---

The next morning I was the first one downstairs for breakfast, and the kitchen staff served me a plate. I made my way back to my room, since I didn’t want to be alone at the head table. After I got through eating I grabbed a quick shower and got dressed. I took my suitcase to the elevator and went down to the great room to meet up with Rylan and Analia. 

We got in the car, and I drove us to the nearby airport. It was about a thirty minute drive, and we had to stop three times for Analia to puke. I felt really sorry for her, and I was really glad to not be a female. 

We finally made it to the airport and got loaded onto my private jet. The flight was 7 hours total, and there was a layover in Detroit. While the plane fueled up, Rylan, Analia and I went to grab lunch in the airport. 

We went to Chic-Fil-A, and Analia was super excited to eat at her favorite place. She got us a table while Rylan and I went to wait in line to order.

“Hey man, are you doing okay? You said like three words to me on the way over today. Analia thinks you might be mad at her too.”

I laughed and shook my head. “No, I am not mad at Analia or you. I am just thinking about this ultimatum that the Elders have given me. Did you tell Analia about it?”

“Yeah. I told her last night before we went to bed. Don’t worry, she knows not to tell anyone anything until you say so.”

“I trust you and her. I don’t want to tell the pack yet, because I don’t want to worry them. We should get a plan together soon though. We will need to start finding new homes for families before we are all kicked out on the street.”

“Alpha, you sound like you are already giving up hope. You could very well find your mate tomorrow! You can’t give up so quickly.”

I rolled my eyes and moved forward in the line. 

“I am not necessarily giving up, but I am planning for the worst. I don’t want my pack members to be homeless.” 

We walked up to the counter and placed our orders. After we got our food, we headed back to the table and ate with Analia. After about an hour we headed back to our private gate and loaded back up on the jet. 

A few hours later we landed in Portland, Maine. I was really tired from the flight, and we went straight to the hotel. A lot of the Alphas and Betas were staying in the pack territory, but I hated that pack too much. I didn’t trust them. I said goodnight to my Betas and went into my room. I laid down on my bed and thought about what Rylan said. 

Yes, we could find our mate tomorrow. I have a feeling about the ball. She’s going to be there.

Arlo, how can you know that for sure?

You know the wolves have a direct link with the moon goddess. She has told me that we will find our mate very soon. I have a feeling that it’ll be tomorrow. 

Why is the moon goddess telling you this? She doesn’t reveal when we will find our mates. 

She doesn’t say why, but she says that our mate is a gifted wolf. She’s special, but she is going to need us to help her realize that. 

Well, she’s already special to me. If you’re right, then I can’t wait to meet her. 

The moon goddess warned me that it would be a fight to keep our mate. Gifted wolves often have unique challenges, but our mate will be especially unique. 

Whatever challenges she has to face, I am ready. Just as long as I get to help her face them.