The Luna Before Me

Chapter Five

Beau -

I woke up to a text from Oakley explaining she had already left so she could go get dressed and make it to class on time and that she’d text me when she was ready for our date tonight. I quickly got dressed in some casual clothes and called Jackson asking him to meet me in my room.

“Good morning Alpha Beau” Jackson said, stepping into my room. I was busy collecting things for the day.

“Are we going somewhere today?” he asked, clearly taken back by my rummaging.

“Yes” I said.

“Well can I ask where?” he asked.

“We are going to pay a visit to Oakley's mother today,” I said, giving him a sharp look. “I need to know exactly what she has taught Oakley about being a wolf and I need to know if Oakley knows who she descended from” I said now looking at Jack. He was only giving a quizzical look, nobody but my mother and I knew who Oakley truly was and how much power her small body held.

-

I found their house fairly easily, it was surrounded by her scent. I could have found it with my eyes closed. I walked up to the front door and loudly knocked, to address myself as Alpha. Only a second later her mother came to open the door. She was large like a regular she-wolf, she was raised in a pack though and taught to nurture her wolf. She looked like an older version of Oakley, which made getting words out of my mouth much harder.

“Hi, I’m Alpha Beau of the Night Walker Pack. Your daughter has recently joined.” I said in my Alpha tone.

“Yes I know who you are, Alpha Beau, my name is Rose. You are already aware I am Oakley’s mother I assume” she said slightly bowing her head. Even as an outcast she still remained polite and respectful to the pack traditions. I nodded my head as she stepped to the side offering to me to come inside. I slowly walked in followed by Beta Jackson, I followed her into the kitchen and took a seat at the breakfast nook.

“Tea?” she asked, walking towards the stove.

“That would be nice” I said with a smile.

After she made our tea, she came and sat across from me at the breakfast nook.

“What brings you here Alpha? It’s not in your duties to come check on outcasts” she said, drumming her fingers on the table.

“I want to know more about your daughter,” I said. She tensed up some with the mention of her daughter.

“Why?” she shot at me, darting her eyes between me and Jackson.

“Nothing bad I assure you, but I offered her into my pack and she accepted, as you know. As Alpha it is my responsibility to care for the pack and your daughter doesn’t seem to know much about being a wolf,” I said. I was trying to ease her into conversation so I didn’t demand too much and upset her. This was my only way to learn more about Oakley.

“She knows enough,” she said, tilting her head down in shame.

“It’s okay, I understand the struggles of living in a human town,” I said.

“You understand the struggles of watching your mate die and then being outcast to a human town to raise your daughter?” she said with a chuckle. She looked up at me with angry eyes.

“You never had to leave the pack, you wanted to leave, Rose,” I reminded her.

“That pack was never my home” she said, once again sad, shaking her head. She sighed. “My daughter knows the basics of being a wolf, she has only shifted once and her wolf has receded. She knows nothing more than that she isn’t a normal wolf.”

“So nothing about mates?” I asked. Her eyes quickly met mine in terror.

“Don’t tell me,” she said in horror.

“Does she know she is of Alpha bloodline, that she is the true Alpha of Moon Shine pack,” I asked more demandingly. How could this mother not have the courtesy to even teach her daughter the basics of who she is and where she comes from.

“How did you-” she started.

“Does she know or not?” I said using my Alpha tone.

“NO!” she shouted, tears were brimming her eyes. I shook my head at her, fuming that this mother took a pup out of a nurturing environment and forced her wolf into receding, how a mother has never taught her of her true nature and how she has been keeping her true pack hidden from her. I stood up and stared down at her.

“Does she know her true father?” I asked, trying to keep the rage from escaping my mouth. I could feel Ryan growing angry at the thought of someone neglecting his wolf mate. She shook her head.

“I will be asking her to join the pack house, she doesn’t know she is my mate and I’m trying to save her from the trauma you experienced. If you know what is right for her you won’t stop her,” I said.

Before she responded I left the house and started driving back towards the pack. My wolf was hurting from the pain of knowing his mate may never come back out after never receiving the nurturing she needed.

Oakley -

I had been battling this odd feeling all day, a sadness almost. My heart was sad, as if it were missing something. I spent my whole day distracted by unknown pain. The movement of everyone scurrying off from class is what woke me from my daydreams in my last class. I was finally done with school and briefly the excitement of seeing Beau covered the existing sadness. I text him to let him know I was out of class for the day.

Oakley: I just finished my last class and man was it hard, lol.

Beau: Oh yeah? What subject I’m sure I could help.

I blushed at the thought of Beau tutoring me.

Oakley: Just social studies, not even major related. Where are we going tonight?

Beau: A little Italian restaurant a town away, very authentic food.

Oakley: Sounds wonderful! I can meet you there.

Beau: No, come to the pack house early. I have something to discuss with you.

Oakley: Oh ok.

I became nervous from what he said. We had been texting off and on all day and he's never left a conversation like that. I know Alphas can be serious, but I hope I didn’t make him mad.

Before I knew it I was home, after zoning out the entire time I was driving I was surprised I made it there alive. I walked into my mom's cinnamon tea scent filling the air, I could also faintly smell something else. It reminded me of Alpha Beau, a fresh forest scent.

“Mom? Did you get a new air freshener?” I called out to her.

“Oh, yes my dear!” she shouted back in surprise. She popped out from around the corner and came in for a hug.

“What is your plan tonight?” she asked.

“My friend Willow and I are going on a double date with her mate Jackson and Beau,” I said casually. I looked up to see my mom eyeing me.

“You know it’s rude to call your Alpha by only his first name,” she said.

“He asked me too,” I said, now blushing.

“I see, and do you like this Alpha?” she asked prying for answers.

“I don’t know Ma, I get calm and happy around him, I think it may be a crush” I said looking to my mom for validation. She only nodded her head with a sad look on her face. I didn’t know why though, she taught me about crushes and how easily you get over them. “Don’t worry mom, I’ll get over this crush in no time.” She gave me a smile and came towards me with open arms. I extended mine and hugged her. Something was different though, her hugs could always comfort me, like a nighttime lullaby.. This hug didn’t comfort me like before. I withdrew and gave her a tight smile.

“I’ll call you later” I said to her and gave a smile and wave. I headed for the door and into the crisp night air.

-

I met Beau at the pack house just like he asked. I was waiting in the living room feeling nervous from all the eyes on me when suddenly my phone pinged with a message from him. He asked me to come up to his room so we could discuss something in private. I felt a ball of fear grow in my throat as I made my way to the stairs. With every step up them I could feel my heart sink lower and lower into my stomach. My thoughts ran wild with ideas of what it could be. When I finally reached his room I stopped at the door and took a slow breath before quietly knocking. His door opened wide allowing me to see into his modern bachelor pad, I waited for an approving nod before taking a step in.

Once inside I noticed how lavish this apartment was, unlike the room with the attached bathroom I stayed in. It had a rather large kitchen and huge living room with beautiful windows. I was so starstruck that I forgot I was here for a serious matter.

“Take a seat” his deep voice boomed at me. I went over to a nice brown leather loveseat and sat down, he sat across from me on a matching loveseat. I set my handbag on the coffee table separating us, not able to lift my eyes.

“Why do you look so sullen? It’s a good conversation” he said. I looked up and could see him staring at me with one eyebrow raised.

“Oh,oh I didn’t know” I said shyly. He let out a soft chuckle that warmed my heart.

“I brought you here to ask if you would like to take advantage of our pack scholarship, for school,” he looked at me with longing eyes. A goofy grin grew on my face as he talked.

“A scholarship! Are you serious?” I asked in disbelief. He smiled back and nodded my head. My heart started fluttering, I could almost kiss him.

“Now it does come with a requirement,” he said, in a serious tone. My joy faded. “You must live within the pack territory to use the scholarship.”

“Oh, I see” my hands shifted in my lap, I knew I could never afford rent on the pack territory and my mom would never move.

“A perk from the scholarship is that you can live in the pack house while attending school” he said with a hint of nervousness. He darted his eyes around before they finally landed back on me. “So will you accept?”

“Of course!” I nearly shouted. I jumped up and almost broke the coffee table jumping over it, I wrapped Beau in a hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I continued to hug him and felt his arms wrap around me also.