Moonlight Run

Eight

“Wake up!” I felt a thud against my shoulder, and stirred to find Carina had leapt onto my bed.

I grunted. “Carina… it’s Sunday. We sleep in on Sundays.”

“Not today, we don’t!” She straightened up to her knees.

I sat up and leaned against my headboard. “What’s going on?”

“Something about a breakfast in the gardens.”

“No one said anything to me about that?”

“Mom said she only just received the invitation from Ms. Kane,”

“Ms. Kane? Dimitri’s mom?”

“That’s the only Ms. Kane I know,” she quipped.

Victoria Kane, Dimitri’s mother, had been wife to the Beta when the Allegheny Pack was still around. She had lost her husband in the rogue attack that had wiped out most of their pack. Although my step-father, Leon, took over as Alpha Blackburn’s new Beta, Phineas Blackburn took care to make sure Victoria and her son were still treated well after they came to live here. For as long as I can remember, Victoria had taken on the role of planning our events and overseeing holidays here in the packhouse.

“Must be about Nikolai’s ascension,” I said.

Carina gasped with excitement. “Nikolai’s finally going to ascend to Alpha?”

I thought back to my conversation with him at the mall, when we’d had lunch. “Yeah, that’s what I’ve heard anyways.”

She squealed. “If she invited mom and us to talk about it, that means we’ll probably get to help out with the party!” Carina clapped her hands together.

She lived for that sort of thing. And she was probably right. Neither Ms. Kane or Alpha Blackburn had no daughters, and since our families had been so close, particularly when I had been dating Dimitri, the task of helping her often fell to my mother, and her three daughters; Pipa, Carina, and myself.

Since Dimitri and I had split upon Phoebe’s arrival to the pack, I had tried my best to avoid Victoria’s party-planning endeavors, as they often came to include Phoebe these days, too. But ascension was the biggest of big deals, and I didn’t see any way I could excuse myself from this one.

I quickly showered and threw on a pair of leggings and a loose-fitting mustard-yellow chiffon blouse. Then I slipped into a pair of wedge sandals, with bows on my feet, the same yellow as my blouse. When I came downstairs to find my mother in a maxi dress, she rolled her eyes. “You couldn’t be bothered to put a skirt on? Honestly, Isa…”

“I think she looks cute?” Carina offered.

“Thank you, Carina.”

Pipa came down the stairs after me, in a navy blue linen romper and a pair of sandals. I raised a brow to my mother, who then threw her hands in the air, “Why do I ever get my hopes up?”

Leon chuckled and put his arm around my mother. Together with Carina, they slipped down the hallway to our right that led to the back door, out to the garden area.

I waited for Pipa, who had her purse open and was applying lipstick in her hand mirror. “Ugh.” She groaned. “A lifetime of concealer couldn’t hide those raccoon eyes.” She snapped her mirror shut and as she put it away she asked. “Exactly how much did I drink last night?”

“I’m not sure…” I admitted. “We didn’t see a whole lot of each other.”

“Oh, I remember that much. You ditched me.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you seriously walk all the way back here?”

“No,” I blushed. “I got a ride.”

“Oh? Nikolai found you then?” She grinned as we made our way down the hall. “Good! When I told him you’d taken off he said they’d go track you down.”

“Um… No, actually. I kind of hitched a ride with a stranger.”

She stopped dead in her tracks. “You what?”

I chuckled. “I mean, we kind of met at the party, but I didn’t get his name. And then, when I was walking back, I stopped to have a drink at Jonesy’s—”

She made a sound of disgust. “You actually went into that roach pit?” Pipa shuddered.

I rolled my eyes. Pipa had previously dated the bar owner’s son and he had admitted to her that one time a roach got into one of the grease fryers. She wouldn’t step foot in the place since.

“I was having a drink, Pipa… not eating my weight in fries, okay?” I stifled a laugh. “Anyways, his name is Jay, and he kind of fought off those douchey twins that are in training with us… Joey and Mike maybe?”

I went on to describe the series of events that had unfolded throughout the night.

“Jonah and Micah Handler? Ugh. I’d sooner take the roaches.” She flared her lips in disgust as we stepped out the backdoor into the courtyard. “Well, you’ll have to point out this knight in shining armor to me soon. I can’t think of a Jay that I know.”

“Yeah, he said he was here visiting a friend. He didn’t say where he was from.” I pushed open the garden gate and held it open for her as she passed through. I could smell the scents of breakfast foods as we drew closer.

“Oh no,” Pipa said in mock terror. “Better not let Nikolai find out… we mustn’t concern ourselves with strange men lest we fornicate with them and find ourselves exiled as rogues.”

“What shouldn’t Nikolai find out?” Just around a corner hedge stood Nikolai, dressed in a suit again, just as he had been nearly a week before when we found ourselves in his office. This one was charcoal gray, with a navy button-up underneath. This time he wore no tie, and his top few buttons were left undone, exposing a bit of his chest. I was aware that I was immediately flustered by his presence, and simultaneously I found myself annoyed with my body’s betrayal, but dammit, the man was a looker.

Pipa was quick to respond, “Just that Isa here was cornered by some brutes last night…”

“Which he knows,” I pointed out to her. “Because he was there.”

“Wait, you were there, too?”

“Yeah, he kind of broke it up,” I said with a nod.

“Kind of?” He laughed.

“But I thought you said—” I shot a quick glance at Pipa as she began to speak and was relieved that she had stopped talking before bringing up Jay. “Oh.” She turned back to Nikolai and nodded her head. “Yes, thank you for coming to save the day. I’ve heard horror stories about those brothers, and wouldn’t leave my worst enemy alone with them.”

“I’ve heard the same,” Nikolai cleared his throat and met my eyes. “I hope next time you won’t go wandering off like that, Isadora.”

I contemplated him for a minute before I replied, “Of course. I’m sure you had much better intentions than they did for me last night.”

I echoed his words from the previous night, and for a brief moment he looked stung by them, almost even ashamed, but then he straightened up and exhaled.

“I apologize, but breakfast does smell great… and I happen to have an appetite,” he dismissed himself with emphasis on the last bit.

“Dear goddess,” Pipa said after he walked out of earshot. “You could cut through that tension with a knife.”

“What tension?” I asked.

“You know damn well.”

Moments later, we were seated around a long iron garden table in the midst of the courtyard gardens. I was relieved to see that neither Dimitri or Phoebe had apparently been invited to breakfast. I knew the seat at the end of the table was for Alpha Phineas, and was annoyed when Pipa was quick to grab one of the only two other open chairs before I had a chance… leaving me to sit to Nikolai’s right, across from her.

Victoria Kane was dressed to the nines, particularly for 9am on a Sunday morning. Her blonde hair was pinned in victory rolls reminiscent of the pin-up era. She was in many ways the ultimate Stepford wife. Sometimes I was relieved that Dimitri and I hadn’t worked out, as I often assumed she would expect as much from me. That could be Phoebe’s cross to bear instead.

She nodded to the empty seat beside her and spoke, “Alpha will be along shortly, but in the meantime I'd love to bring everyone up to speed.” She clasped her hands together excitedly as I took a drink of my orange juice. “It would mean the world to me if I could count on each of you to help me in planning Dimitri & Phoebe’s engagement party for this weekend.”

My juice caught in my throat and I tried to contain my cough, grasping for napkins next to me, feeling the juice fizz in my nose. Everyone else seemed to be staring at me, but thankfully, Victoria didn’t seem to take notice as she continued her speech.

Well, I thought, that’s certainly not what I thought I had been called here for.

I looked at Nikolai and we exchanged confused glances. He was the one who had told me about his father’s plans for his upcoming Ascension, afterall. But he seemed as puzzled as I did about this announcement.

Victoria Kane made her way around the table, assigning each of us a special task to contribute towards the event. I was relieved that my only obligation would be to place calls to price caterers, a florist, and live music. It seemed that none of those would require me to be present for the event, thankfully. I had to wonder if this was done intentionally, but decided I was grateful for it either way.

As Victoria was walking Pipa through her tasks, Alpha Phineas emerged from the gap in the hedges. Victoria paused to stand and acknowledge him, and he waved dismissively. “Carry on,” he said.

The Alpha came around the table and eyed Pipa for a moment. I remembered the line of questioning she had delivered to him at the announcement before training just a few days earlier. I’d been waiting for the repercussions, but he had seemed surprisingly mild-tempered since then. I wondered now if it would last.

When Ms. Kane was finished, Alpha Phineas cleared his throat. “So glad to have you all here,” he began. “I would like to discuss my son’s upcoming Ascension.”

Victoria Kane looked at Alpha Phineas curiously as he continued. “I’ve decided to move forward with the festivities and ritual ceremony this coming Saturday, with the full moon.”

Victoria gasped, and everyone else wore a confused expression. Pipa just grinned, aware of the sudden awkwardness, the likes of which she always enjoyed.

“Respectfully, sir… we were just discussing the tentative plans for Dimitri & Phoebe’s engagement party, with this weekend in mind.”

Phineas raised a brow. “Aren’t we jumping the gun? The boy hasn’t even proposed properly.”

She looked very flustered as she explained, “He’s proposing on Thursday… on her 22nd birthday, sir. We thought the weekend would be a wonderful time for the formal announcement and party… I asked Lena to put the matter on your desk this morning. I thought that’s why you were here?”

The Alpha chuckled. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Victoria. Lena’s note only said that you had asked me to join you for breakfast to discuss event plans. I had assumed you meant to offer to help with Ascension. If you had told Lena it was to discuss hosting another event this weekend, I’m confident she would have told you that’s just not possible... I’ve had this in the works for several weeks now.”

Victoria shifted uncomfortably, but forced a smile, “Sir, I always handle the party-planning around here… may I ask why this wasn’t brought to my attention earlier? You know I’m always happy to be of service in these matters.”

“This is not just another pack party, Victoria. This will be the single biggest occasion since our two packs merged. You can’t expect to handle an event of that magnitude.” His expression was that of amusement, but his tone hinted at condescension, and she appeared momentarily wounded by his words.

He went on to explain to us what his plans for Ascension consisted of. Only my mother and step-father would be tasked with obligations in getting things ready. The rest of us, it seemed, were only there to hear him talk about it… including Ms. Kane.

About halfway through breakfast, as Alpha Phineas and my step-father spoke excitedly about the ceremony, Victoria spoke again. “So what would the ceremony look like for Nikolai without a potential Luna to ascend alongside him? I don’t think I’ve ever attended one like that.” There was something in her voice that felt like the question was a jab. But if anyone in the room noticed, no one addressed it.

Alpha Phineas said simply, “All efforts to find a suitable mate for Nikolai are in the works as we speak. In fact, I’m inviting several many eligible daughters of Alpha’s and Beta’s from across the region to the event to make his introduction. True mate or not, I’m sure we’ll have our future Luna soon.”

“Do you think there’s a reverse version of a moonlight run you could do, Nikolai?” Pipa raised a brow as she shoved a piece of french toast in her mouth. “Maybe we will gather a bunch of females in heat and have them chase you through the woods? Honestly, I’d pay to watch that.”

Alpha Phineas threw his napkin on his plate abruptly. ‘Good job, Pipa,’ I thought. The Alpha opened his mouth to speak, and then it abruptly fell shut again. To my left, I noticed that Nikolai had a tight grip on his father’s left arm, and I watched as Nikolai’s eyes glazed over, and then his father’s in return. The two were conversing over mindlink.

A moment later, the Alpha spoke. “I understand your distaste for these practices, Miss Fournier. And as I stated previously… you may schedule an appointment to come by my office anytime and we can discuss them at length. For now, let’s not spoil our breakfast with such topics, hmm?”

Pipa chewed on the inside of her lips and nodded. I swore I could see a sigh of relief leave my mother’s chest.

“That said, I do believe I am more than filled up. I will have to tell Maeve it was delicious, as always,” Alpha Phineas said. As he stood, he turned his attention to Ms. Kane, “Now, Victoria, please have Dimitiri looped in. He may, of course, go along with his proposal at this point, but we’ll arrange for an engagement party next month, instead.”

“Yes, Alpha… of course.”

After he had taken a few steps, he looked over his shoulder. “Nikolai, come join me in the parlor room? I’d like to have a word.”

Nikolai winced, but stood to his feet as he cleared his throat. “Yes, father.”

He looked across the table to Pipa and nodded, and then to his side where I sat. He seemed to hesitate when we met eyes, as if there was something he wanted to say. Instead he sighed.

“Enjoy your Sunday, ladies.”

***

Nikolai's POV

The parlor was better described as an unused library that happened to contain a large u-shaped sofa and a fireplace. This is where my father comes most often to do his drinking. It was on the second floor at the top of the stairs, and divided the two wings between the Alpha and Beta living quarters.

As I made my way up the stairs, I heard my father slam the door as he entered, and I knew I would not enjoy this exchange. When I entered the room, he had already thrown off his jacket, and rolled his shirt sleeves to his elbows. He was pouring an amber liquid out of a decanter and into a tumbler glass by the sofa.

“Father?” I stood behind the sofa, waiting to be addressed.

“Pipa Fournier,” he seethed. “That girl has not an ounce of respect… She needs to be made an example of. And yet twice now, you’ve asked me— no, pleaded — to let the girl off the hook.”

I cringed.

“Now tell me honestly, Nikolai…” He closed the gap between us in three short strides. “Are you fūcking that girl?”

“What?” I breathed half a laugh.

“You heard me.” He remained steadfast in his angry expression.

“What on earth— Why would you think—” I chuckled. “You think because I asked you to consider extending patience and kindness to a pack member, instead of making an example of them, that I must be sleeping with them? Really?”

He slammed the drink down on the side table. “Well I can’t imagine why else my son, who I raised to be a leader, would ask me to ignore blatant insubordination in my pack?”

“Because it’s not a crime to have a different opinion than you, father!” I realized immediately I shouted that more than I said it.

I lifted and dropped my arms in resignation. “She’s progressive, yes, but she’s a strong she-wolf, a born leader, and a friend to…” my mind went to Isadora “many others in this pack who look up to her.”

My father eyed me suspiciously.

“She’s a valued member of this pack and—”

“And you want me to spare her because she’s close to Isadora Petrova?”

I froze in place. “I didn’t say—”

“You didn’t have to.” A curious smile played on his lips. “I could see her in your mind, when you were busy rattling off Pipa’s ‘positive attributes’. You can’t shield what’s in your head from me, boy.”

“Then why ask if I was sleeping with Pipa?”

“Because I knew for you to behave as you have been lately, you must have gotten in between one of those girls' legs. Only women make good men act like fools, and good sons dare to speak out of turn to their parents.” My father sat on the sofa, nodding across from him.

“Sit down, tell me about her.”

“There’s nothing to tell,” I began. “She’s not yet twenty… let alone twenty-one. I’ve just spent a bit of time with her lately and she’s stirred up an interest I can’t explain.”

“How so?”

I described to him some of the odd sensations I’d been experiencing, like how loud her heartbeat sounded when she was close by… and how, inexplicably, I swear my heart rate would slow down or speed up to match hers. “It’s almost maddening. And the dreams…”

My father put his palm up for me to stop. “I don’t need to hear about your dreams,”

He sighed. “Everything you’ve described is in line with the textbook definition of the mate pull, Nikolai. There’s no doubt about it.”

“How is that possible? She’s not even of mating age yet? I’ve heard of older mates being able to sense the younger ones when their birthday is approaching… but a whole year in advance?”

He seemed to consider this and inhaled slowly. “I agree, it isn’t typical of anything I’ve ever heard. I will look into the subject more and find out if this has ever happened to another… Perhaps it’s because you’ll ascend soon? Maybe the moon goddess has decided to provide for you an early match so that you don’t have to go it alone, afterall. Or, if you lean into the romantic notion, perhaps your bond will be an extraordinarily strong one.”

He paused, and he stared into his tumbler as he swished the cubes around in his glass. “In either case, this could prove to be the best mate outcome we could hope for you.”

It piqued my curiosity. “How so?”

“When Ivan Petrova was unseated as the Alpha of this pack, the transition happened so easily because many were receptive to Leon Fournier taking over. When Leon and I negotiated the deal that I would help him to usurp Ivan in return for having myself named Alpha and merge the two packs, there were many people here that did not throw their support my way like they had offered it to Leon.”

He smiled at me. “Isadora is the only living heir of her late father. A pairing between the two of you may finally win over the last of any doubters that may remain in the pack... It could be a real symbol of unity, one the people need right now.”

I nodded. “There’s just one problem… she can’t feel the pull that I’m feeling yet. What are we supposed to do, wait a year?”

His lips drew into a thoughtful line. “Perhaps if you spent more time with her, the draw you feel towards her will begin to run both ways.”

I sighed. “Okay, there are two problems…”

My father glared at me, “Go on.”

“I’m pretty sure she isn’t my biggest fan. I can’t begin to imagine that she’d want to spend any more time with me than she has to… like seeing each other at training. That’s about it.”

“You let me worry about that. For now, turn on the charm and let this run its course.”

I nodded, standing to my feet. “Can I be excused then?”

“Very well,” he said, sipping the last of his drink. I turned to walk away.

“And Nikolai?”

I looked over my shoulder at him.

“Perhaps let Miss Petrova know, I will not excuse her friend’s behavior again. I have very little grace to extend, and there will not be a third time.”

“Yes, sir.”