The Handicapped Luna

Chapter 11 Sour

Jalens POV

"Hello. Alpha Malcolm, this is Gerald Costely of Sunrise Pack. I understand there is a plan you have in mind. So, I wanted to call you back."

"Yes. How do you feel about doubling your pack?"

"Well, I have no problem. But, how is this?" I explained to him who it involved and how it would work. He agreed.

"Ok. So, this isn't so much about the fact that Fotzy has no heir. Or about what to do with the pack. But, I need you to take strength in your numbers. I'm giving you lemons, so I need you to make lemonade. Make sure the two packs come together and train. You need to be strong."

"Yes, sir. Luckily, most of our packs are already familiar with each other. But, I already have a plan in mind. I'm going to move my second born out there to help run that side. I'll build a recreation center by the borders and encourage mingling."

"Great. I'll check up in a week." And I hung up.

"Tavie, come here, please. Love?"

"A second, please. I'm finishing up paperwork."

I had something important to discuss about High-Moon Pack. And I linked

Locklan to come back as well. By the time Octavia was sitting down, Locklan had returned.

"Octavia, I need you and Locklan to go High-Moon tomorrow. You need to verify that your old Alpha is making changes. Maxwell doesn't take over for a few more years. And since Maxwell suspects his father's involvement with Pete, we don't know what will happen. Also, I don't want to send Preston with Octavia and the Alpha somehow try to take the meeting lightly. I hope your presence, Locklan, affirms my seriousness."

We had a discussion on what she was to observe. He needed to show an attempt to put his members first. Updates should be underway on the Citadel, and changes in the training schedule should be updated, too. I told her she could do this.

Octavias POV

Locklan and I decided to go right after training. We'd taken our breakfast to go. I let Samantha sit up front with Locklan. They were holding hands through most of the drive.

I sat in the back, preparing myself for what I had to do. I had to present myself as the queen I was. I chose to wear black pants and a blue shirt and black blazer. My shoes were basic flats. My prosthetic allowed me to wear both shoes hiding my handicapped leg. Selenes blade was in my blazer.

When we got to the gate of my old pack. I got nervous but tried to stay focused. Alpha Valex, Maxwells father, was waiting for me. When I stepped out, I could see the obvious surprise on his face. I walked to him, staying as serious as I could. I shook his hand, and we walked to his office. My father was in there and smiled at me.

"Okay, Octavia. Where would you like to start."

Locklan growled. "That's your own Luna Queen. Address her as you would be expecting others to address yourself."

I linked him and told him thanks.

"I see you replaced all the golden decorations and all the curtains. What has become of them?"

He said he sold all the gold and replaced them with simple decorations. The curtains are in storage and are going into the citadel for the windows when the restoration is through. The restoration had only just begun but should be completed on a few weeks to a month.

"What about any new training?"

He said kids now do self deffense training twice a week all the way to high school aged, too. High schoolers are also required to participate in every weekly pack run in human form. And they are required two days of the week to work out in the Citadel at night. The restoration is being done slowly to accommodate those needs. Young adults with wolves participate in pack runs as wolves. But, they are now required to log five miles of running in seven days. Adults out of school work out five days a week. Three days are workouts for their bodies and two for their wolves, on top of the pack run.

I told him that sounds better. Locklan and I discussed if this was enough. He said he thought so. But, I told him we'd drive by the Citadel just to see the outside. I shook Alpha Valex's hand and said goodbye.

We made our way to the Citadel. When we got there, I could see work crews were going in and out. Jasmine Baxley was walking in as well. I don't know why, but I had an urge to show her what I was really made of.

"Locklan. Samantha, do me a favor. Go ahead and pull over. Follow me in."

"Yes, ma'am."

They pulled over, and we all got out. Walking into the Citadel, I noticed some heads turn in my direction. I simply kept my head up. Secretly praying I wouldn't find this moment to fall, I walked to the most dilapidated room I remembered. I never worked out myself, but my mom used to take me to watch her. I remember paint coming off of the walls and ceiling tiles coming down.

I reached the main workout room. It's a large room with workout equipment at the bottom and an open track at the top. And the room was transformed completely. Old equipment was still here. But, there was a bulletin board with a note that explained new equipment would be ordered as soon as all remodeling was done. Walls were freshly painted. The wooden floors were sanded and repolished.

Jasmine, on the other hand... Had her eyes locked on me. Angry... "Jasmine, may I help you?" I smiled.

"No, noodle. But what happened to your hot wheels? They roll away screaming?"

Locklan growled. "Excuse me. She is your queen. Show respect."

I held up my hand. "That's OK, Locklan. She's not worth it. Never was. And I'm not bothered by it."

Xandra suddenly told me to watch out. And before I knew it, she'd had taken control. She swung around on my prosthetic and kicked her about four feet away. Then, in a blink, I was on all fours. Zandra jumped her. She was towering over her. Jasmine was whimpering underneath Zandra. Zandra was snarling. She got off of her and gave me control, and I picked up my clothes. I hopped to a seat, snapped the leg in place, and walked out.

We all walked back to the car, got in, and drove away. I was satisfied. Locklan looked back at me, "Why do I feel like that was intentional?"

"Because it was. And leave it at that."

Locklans phone rang. He answered it and went white. "You're kidding! We will be there as soon as possible." And he sped up.

"Babe, what's going on?"

"Benjamin's wife and pup just showed up at the pack gate."

"What," Samantha and I said in unison.

"Ladies, you know as much as I do."

The rest of the drive was quiet and fast. When we got to the gate, we were ushered in. Jalen apparently made the decision to lock the pack down. We got out of the car and ran to the kitchen. Jalen was sitting at a table with a wildly beautiful blond haired and super tall woman. Jalen had a one month old baby in his arms and was trying to feed him. The beautiful lady was eating like she had never had a meal.

"Hi Mrs. Malcolm." Locklan looked worried. The lady just sort of nodded to him and continued to eat.

"Oh, Amanda, this is my mate, Octavia."

I smiled, "Hello."

She swallowed down her water. "Sorry. Look at me being so un-Luna like. Haven't showered in months. Hi everyone. And nice to meet you, Octavia."

I sat next to her. "Is there anything I can do for you? How about we take this party to the master suite and give the sweet little boy a bath and get you cleaned up too."

She looked so happy, "Oh please? Wait, you know how to bathe a baby?"

Samantha piped up and smiled. "I do. I had a baby brother once." Suddenly, her smile disappeared. "I used to bathe him with my mother. Let's go upstairs, like she said. We will both take this little prince and let you rest."

We all headed upstairs. Samantha asked for a fresh bottle of formula to be brought up in thirty minutes and carried a gallon sized container of ice water up with us. We set up Amanda to take a shower. Jalen and Locklan went to find Amanda clothes. Samantha and I bathed baby Malcolm in the kitchen sink. He cried. But Samantha said from the looks of it he'd never had a real bath so we did our best to calm him. I called the pack doctor to come and check both of them. By the time we had sat down to feed the baby, the doctor knocked on our door.

"Oh goodness. He's so young." He started to check out and record the babies' vitals and size. "Ok, where is mom?"

"Hold on." Samantha got up and went to check on Amanda. She knocked and disappeared into the bathroom. She came out leading Amanda wrapped up in a towel. You could see all her bones. I didn't notice it before cause she was also covered in dirt. "Let the doctor check you out."

The doctor got to work. "You're quite underweight. But, your child, thank Goddess is well. You must have been able to breastfeed him."

"Yes. They barely feed me. But I gave him everything I could. However, we were released just in time as I was drying up "

Samantha started to rub her back. The baby was falling asleep in my arms. Amanda looked at me and smiled. "You're good at that."

"Thanks."

"Ok," the doctor said, finishing up her exam. "I'm guessing you had your baby while being held captive. And, you probably didn't have much medical attention?"

"No, sir."

"Ok. I want you to take these medicines for me. Don't breastfeed while taking these. But it will help clear you of any illnesses. Once you're done, feel free to resume feeding him. Get as much rest as you can."

I disappeared into my closet, bringing out an oversized night gown. She put it on and we took her to the extra bedroom and let her rest. Carrying the baby, we went to find a crib and brought it back to the master. Both of Samantha and I sat out on the balcony and left the door open so we could hear him if he woke.

My heart ached for her and the baby a little. "I couldn't imagine what she had gone through. Much less how she is dealing now." I told her I needed to go to the office, but she needed to stay. "Link me when ether of them wakes up or if you need me."

The office was abuzz. Jalen was in his office with Locklan and Preston. There was an elder on the phone.

"It was an elder named Dolton Craig. He was inducted very young because he lost all of his family. Another elder family took him in. But they were both killed later on."

"But how was he mixed in with Pete."

"We don't know yet, and we haven't confronted him yet. We saw him look at the Queen, and when she pulled the blade out, he tried to inconspicuously walk off. That being said, he is just low enough in rank to not be privy to the more secret information we have."

"Ok. Well, do what you need to. But, we have Amanda and her son here for now. Thank you."

Jalen asked about High-Moon and Locklan, and I told him everything.