The Luna Before Me

The Tour

Oakley - 

I woke up excited and ready to start my day. I quickly put together and outfit of jeans, a flowy top and my vans for my tour of the territory today. I met my mom in the kitchen and gave her a small peck on the cheek. 

“What's gotten into you young lady?” she asked, sipping her coffee.

“Alpha Beau told me he would give me a tour of the territory today.” I beamed at mom. I could see her expressions change from happiness to worry. My smile quickly faded.

“You be careful with that Alpha, they have a tendency to entice young wolves, use them up and spit them out” she said, shooting me a warning look. I nodded my head.

“I’ll be good, I promise” I said. I quickly sent Beau a message letting him know I was ready for my tour.

“I’m going to head out ma!” I shouted as I went to grab my keys. I went back into the kitchen and blew my mom a kiss. She rolled her eyes and laughed while I was leaving the house.

Driving to the territory I let my thoughts wander. I wasn’t sure what she meant by use me up and spit me out. I just knew I had become increasingly more worried about this time I was going to be spending with Alpha Beau. I tried once again to talk to Marie last night, but she still didn’t respond. I felt like a fraud joining this pack without a wolf. I was sure after Alpha Beau figured out I had only a receded wolf he would once again cast me, I’ll try to keep it a secret as long as I could manage.

Driving up to the guard shack I noticed the two armed wolves standing outside of it. As I approached they came to either side of the car and peered in the windows. I could feel my hands shake as I gripped the steering wheel so hard my knuckles were turning white.

“ID please” one guard said. I quickly rummaged in my purse and produced my license for the guard.

“What is your business here?” the other guard asked. My head quickly snapped to the other side of the car as I began feeling more surrounded.

“I-I’m h-here to s-see Alpha Beau” I sputtered out. The guards gave each other condescending looks bust out in laughter.

“Yeah right! Like Alpha Beau would waste time with you! I’ll call him and see what he wants to do with this trespasser.” he said, still chuckling. He brought his phone to his face, typed a message and put it back in his pocket. He then threw the license back into my car, I scrambled to put it away. The two guards stepped to the front of my car and began talking in a low tone. I couldn’t hear them but with their frequent eye shifts in my direction I knew they were talking about me. I felt ridiculous sitting in my car like that, this must have been what my mother was talking about. He asked me here to set up a trap to humiliate me on pack territory. I could feel the tears starting to sting my eyes. 

A black SUV approached the shack and came to a sudden halt. Alpha Beau stepped out and looked at us, assessing the situation. The two guards began laughing and looking in my direction while walking over to Alpha Beau, as if they were mocking me. I couldn’t hear what Alpha Beau was saying, but soon a guard raised his hand and waved me over. I slowly got out of my car and crept my way over. 

“Is this true they weren’t letting you in?” Alpha Beau asked. I nodded.

“Did you tell them I was giving you a tour?” Alpha Beau asked again, I could hear a sweet tone in his voice and felt his eyes staring at me while I stared at the ground.

“Yes, they laughed at me and told me you wouldn’t waste time with me,” I said. I could feel the sting of tears brimming again. I heard Alpha Beau start to growl.

“You said what to my guest!” he shouted to the guards in his Alpha tone. They were shocked by his response and said nothing in return. 

“Go! Watch the entrance for actual threats! I will think of a punishment for you by the end of the day!” he shouted again, I could see his fists balling up. The two guards hastily made their way back to the shack.

“Are you okay?” Alpha Beau asked, his sweet voice returning. I nodded.

“If you're okay will you look at me?” I shook my head. I tried to repress my emotions as I struggled to lift my head. I let a small tear escape and I held back all the others. I looked into Alpha Beaus honey brown eyes and let another roll down my face. Before I could even process his movement, he was wrapping his arms around me. I could feel something within myself telling me to lean into him. He was warm and comforting, I felt my whole body lose tension. My nose was instantly drawn to his scent, he smelt fresh and clean. His scent reminded me of fresh rain in a redwood forest. I looked up and him, I never noticed how handsome he was. He had dark, almost black, wavy hair that slicked back to the best of his ability, the small curls building at the nape of his neck, his jaw was perfectly chiseled and remained strong. His honey brown eyes were now looking down at me and I began to melt in them as I tried to count the layers of brown I found. Just as I realized the embrace we were in I quickly pulled myself away, flustered and now blushing.

“Sorry Alpha” I sheepishly said.

“No need for the Alpha title, we are friends, just call me Beau” he said. I looked up and flashed him a smile. 

“Come get in the car, I’ll show you around” he chuckled. I turned to point towards my car, but while in the embrace with Beau the guards had moved it. It was now sitting behind the guard shack parked neatly in a corner. I looked back to see a smiling Beau standing near the open passenger door. I hopped in and Beau began driving towards the pack house.

“Can I ask you something?” his voice rang out in the car.

“Sure” I shrugged.

“Why were you crying? No one here will hurt an innocent person or wolf without my say” she said while taking his eyes off the road and planting them square on me. I felt the nerves rush to my face.

“I was worried you’d humiliate me” I said once again, scared.

“Humiliate you?” he asked in a firm voice. I began twirling the loose threads on my jeans trying to not think about what my mother had told me, I couldn’t let it roll off of me though.

“My mom told me you use people and spit them out” I blurted out. I quickly put my hand over my mouth at the shock of what I said.

Beau -

I was surprised at what Oakley just said to me, I glanced her direction and saw her small hand covering her mouth. I slowed the car down and pulled off the road coming to a complete stop. I shifted in my seat so I was facing her. Her scent was overwhelming me in the car, it was hard to control my emotions.

“What do you mean?” I calmly asked. She slowly lowered her hand and the sound of my voice.

“My mom, she told me to be careful of you because she heard you used people up and spit them out. I thought you tricked me here and were going to humiliate me for being an outcast” she said looking at her shoes. I sighed, I knew my past antics would get in the way later in life. 

“She’s kind of right, when I was younger I did ‘flirt’ with many girls. That was never my intention with you. I would never humiliate you, I invited you with me today so I could get to know my new pack member” I told her never breaking my eyes on her. She raised her head and looked at me with her sparkling blue eyes.

“I’m sorry” she said as a sorrowful look came over her. I reached my hand out and touched her arm. I was filled with pleasure as my skin made contact with hers. I hope my touch was comforting to her as a mates touch should be. She put her tiny hand over mine and gave me a small smile.

“I’m glad you told me so I could clear the air. Did you ever really think I would?” I asked. 

“No” her answer was short and stern. I c****d my head in confusion. “I was worried, yes, but when I was crying and you held me I could feel you comforting me and knew that you weren’t the big bad wolf everyone thought you were. You are a friend” she said, giving me a big grin. I could feel my heart skipping a beat as she smiled. I smiled back, holding myself back was getting harder and harder as she kept getting sweeter and sweeter. I turned back to the wheel, we started driving again and I opened a window to try to get her scent out of the car.

-

We came to a stop outside the packhouse, I got out and proceeded to walk to open Oakleys door, but before I could get there I she was already out and admiring the large house. 

“Wow!” she said looking up.

“I know pretty big” I said, chuckling. I forget that houses like these don’t exist in the human world, except possibly dorms for college. 

“ Do you all live here?” she asked, still in shock.

“No, mostly people who are directly connected to the Alpha, even those people could choose to live in a house on the territory if they please though” I said.

I outstretched my arm allowing her to grab onto it. We walked into the house arm in arm. Comfort knowing she was close was enough for me at the moment, and I enjoyed watching her amazement while she was slowly learning about who she was. As we entered everyone stopped and stared at who their Alpha was with.

I cleared my throat “Everyone! This is Oakley, she is newly welcomed into the pack. She will be treated with nothing but kindness” I said in a protective voice. My mate instincts were starting to come through.

“Hi Oakley!” a she-wolf voice said. Out of the crowd came Willow bouncing over.

“Willow!” Oakley said as joy erupted from her, she let go of my arm and hugged Willow.

“Do you mind if Willow tags along, I could use another friend” she said looking up at me with wide eyes. I was upset that I couldn’t be alone with her, but also I couldn’t refuse the request of the future Luna.

“Okay” I sighed.

Once we finished the history of the pack and tour of the packhouse it was already time for dinner. 

“Oakley, stay for dinner” I told her. She was taken back by my offer.

“I don’t know, it’s already so late” she said in a barely audible voice.

“I’ll ask Willow to fix you up a spare bed in an empty room to sleep in tonight, I can make it near her room if you’d like” I said to her. I was trying not to command her, but I don’t think I could take watching her drive off the territory, not after spending a day wrapped in her scent.

“Okay” she said with a nervous smile. I nodded and pulled my phone out. I quickly shot Willow a text message letting her know what would be happening. Just as I was about to put it away I received a message from Beta Jackson. 

“Will you excuse me Oakley, I have pack matters to attend to” I asked as if I were asking for forgiveness. She only smiled and turned to find Willow. I took one last look at my mate and went to find Jack.

-

“This better be good” I shot at him as I entered his office. He was sitting at his desk looking at me with a concerned face.

“A private tour of the pack house?” he asked.

“Yes” I coldly replied.

“If you tell me what's going on I may be able to help” he said, still concerned. I sighed. I knew I’d have to tell someone soon, Jack is the most trustworthy friend I have, plus he's a loyal Beta.

“Oakley is my mate, I found out at the ceremony” I sternly said. Jack was taking this better than I thought he would. He rose from the table and walked towards me.

“I found my mate also” he said. I looked at him in shock. “We have been keeping it a secret, but we can help you”

“Who is it?” I questioned.

“Willow” he said with love in his voice. My betas mate is my mates only friend within the pack. With his help we could spend a lot of time together.

“Mate!” Ryan cried at me.

“What?” I questioned.

“She’s hurting! Find her” He begged.