Watercolor Girl

22

Lev

I felt nothing for Ciaran, my apathy bothered me. Maybe it was a form of shock but I felt I should feel something, anything, nothing came. I hoped Dargan would find her second chance mate, a wolf worthy of what she was. She deserved better then Ciaran, but that thought didn’t stay with me long. I needed Evie right now. I needed her warmth and her comfort. She gave that to me freely, sending waves of calm through me with each thrust, her hands clasped around my neck, her body arching with my movements. My mate, my heart, my soul. She brought me to my release, as she so easily did, the silence of her pleasure deafening.

When we emerged from the shower Rea was cooking again. She had turned on some music, dancing about as she cooked. I saw her influence in Evie. The mom that Evie deserved that the great Goddess had given her.

“Rea. I’d like you to stay with us. When all of this is over, I’d like you to stay.” Rea turned, her wide sparkly eyed infectious smile.

“Oh, Cowboy, I couldn’t leave my pups. I’ll stay as long as you’ll both tolerate me around.” I felt myself smiling, I felt Evie’s happiness radiating through me. Her pups.

“Rea I don’t mean to be a pest at all, but would you be able to reach out to Alpha Rose and request a meeting?”

“Of course, Cowboy. He’ll be thrilled to meet with the new alpha of his neighboring pack. But before business, we eat!” Rea placed massive, bleeding burgers before us, mine complimented by an equally massive salad. Evie mauled hers. Her fangs elongated and her small nose crinkling as she growled at it. Evie and I were done before Rea had finished even half of hers.

“Thank you, Rea. That was delish.” Evie chirped, picking up my plate and bowl and stacking them on hers to load in the dishwasher.

“What’s on the agenda for a new Alpha and his Luna today?”

“We need to find a beta, I have an idea but the pack’s going to hate it. I need to call a meeting requiring all members of the pack be present. We still have my brother and his mess to deal with. Before any of that, I need to speak with Alpha Rose and Luna Lyssa. Evie, we need to get you a phone, babe, the service arrangements for Ciaran need to be organized and there’s about 9 years of paperwork that needs to be pushed in a few days. Dargan needs to be monitored.”

“I don’t envy you, Lev, not a single bit.” Rea sat back, Evie picked up her plate, bringing it to the dishwasher before she started cleaning up and loading the things Rea had used to cook. I sighed, running my hands through my hair mulling over all of the imperative things that needed to be done. “Who is your thought for beta?”

“The prisoner from your shop.”

“Oh how scandalous.”

“He has a better knowledge of the situation out there then anyone else. In addition, he’ll be loyal, especially if we can get to his family before any harm can come of them. I’ve checked in on him periodically, he said he hasn’t felt a painful severing so he believes them to still be alive. Possibly in an effort to keep him from speaking to us or giving away any of their information. But that doesn’t matter any until I talk to Alpha Rose. That’s my first step in sorting anything out.”

“What’s so important about them?”

“I’d like to ask him if he’d be willing to absorb Soltice in to Snow Claw.” Rea’s jaw dropped.

“That’s a pretty bold move. To win an alpha challenge and then immediately give up the pack.”

“Rea, Evie and I are not going to be well received as Alpha and Luna. I don’t want the title, I never did, I never wanted any title. I challenged Ciaran because if I didn’t, Evie would have never been safe. She was a loose end, evidence of crimes committed against the pack. Snow Claw is massive, absorbing a small pack like Storm Solstice would make sense, we sit in the middle of their territory anyway. The pack already respects the alpha and Luna and would fall under the umbrella of their safety, which is much broader in terms of fighting whatever it is that’s out there threatening us. We’re well trained but too small of a pack to have the army we may need to fight them. In addition, Evie and I will never have pups. There’s no need to hold on to a title I’ll have nothing to relinquish it to.” Rea stared at me for a minute.

“You don’t even understand how phenomenal of an alpha you are, Cowboy. This pack doesn’t deserve you, and they don’t deserve Jelly either.” She sat for just a moment with her hand resting on my arm, there was no pain in her touch, no prickly burning sensation. I hadn’t noticed she’d placed it there until she removed it. “Let me get you Alpha’s number, you can give him a call.”

“Thank you, Rea.” She texted me the number, I went to our bedroom to call, followed quietly by Evie who sat on our bed watching me pace as I dialed the number.

“Rose Blanchet speaking.”

“Good evening Alpha Rose, this is Lev Lyons, Alpha of the Storm Solstice pack.”

“Ahh, congratulations Alpha. Xandrea informed us you represented yourself well in the arena today. It’s a pleasure to be speaking to you.” The easiness of his tone surprised me.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

“Call me Ro, there isn’t any need for such formalities between alphas.”

“Thank you. I actually had a proposal that I wanted to run by you before addressing the pack.”

“I’m always willing to listen.” I explained to him as I’d explained to Rea. Leaving out the fact that neither Evie nor I wanted to be titled. He listened, acknowledging appropriately and asking questions occasionally for clarification of things regarding Evie and me and our standing within the pack and the size of the pack. Inquiring about what we knew of the uprising of Stev’s military against us. I could hear him shuffling papers, there were pauses, moments of thought.”

“And what remunerations would yourself and your Luna require in the event you were to vacate your titles to assimilate the packs?”

“We aren’t asking for anything, Sir, simply the safety of our pack and it’s ability to remain cohesive.”

“Young Alpha, there must always be remunerations to the titles who step down for the best interest of the pack they’ve sworn to protect, and I imagine with Luna Xandrea as a mentor, you won’t come cheap.” He chuckled and I imagine Rea had done well in her negotiations of her pension from the Snow Claw Pack. “Despite their lack of knowledge of your care and commitment, you’re asking to take from yourself, and give to them, something only the greatest leaders are willing to do. Why don’t you speak to your mother hen regarding the negotiations of a stipend, we will gladly accept the Storm Solstice pack into Snow Claw. Allow me a day to make arrangements and prepare for travel. This should give you enough time to brief your pack. If it’s amenable to them to make such a move we’ll proceed with the initiations while we are there. Does this sound good to you, Alpha Lev?” He spoke so formally, it was almost akin to the way you would expect royalty of old to speak.

“Of course, Sir, I appreciate your willingness to offer assistance prior to your visit, we’ll have your room ready, will Luna be traveling with you?”

“Of course! She wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to meet the pups she’s heard so much about! And it would only be right for Storm Solstice to meet both of their leaders should they agree an assimilation to be in their best interests.”

“Well thank you, Alpha, I look forward to meeting you both, but I won’t take up any more of your time.”

“Very well, we’ll see you in two days time. If you would, please keep me informed of your pack’s decisions regarding a potential future as Snow Claws.”

“Of course, Alpha, thank you again.” I hung up, Evie sat smiling at me, a wide smile that showed her teeth.

“I’m so proud of you. I agree with Rea. This pack doesn’t deserve you.” Evie and I both started when Rea knocked on the door.

“I want the deets!!!!” Laughter followed. Yes, in just 5 days, I’d grown accustomed to having Rea around.

Evie

The day after the alpha challenge, Lev called a meeting to be attended by all within the pack who were not tasked out as essential. There was so much tension. The massive crowd of wolves made my stomach queasy but I stayed with my mate, the focus of all the tension.

“I really hate microphones.”

“You could just yell really loud then.” He rolled his eyes at me.

“I really don’t like to raise my voice either.”

“You’re so difficult.”

“I know.” I had done very little to prepare for this meeting. Dargan could have had an entire brunch whipped up with a welcoming committee, but I didn’t. I didn’t care. I hated all of them. We had two chairs at the front of the massive crowd of Wolves, several tables were set up with 4 little boxes on each, blank papers and pens were available on each table, each little box had a member of the Storm Solstice patrol guarding it. Here in the spot we did everything. Where Lev was standing when I first saw him. “I guess let’s get this show on the road.” He said standing up, a pensive silence falling over the pack.

“Good morning, thank you all for freeing your schedules on such short notice. I wanted to take this time to thank you all for your support over the last few years. Your patience and understanding has been instrumental in my success as a titled member of this pack. I’ve asked for as close to 100% attendance today as possible because I want to discuss with you all the possibility of an assimilation with The Snow Claw Pack.” There were gasps. “As you all know, there has been a threat made to our pack by what seems to be a militarized group of rogues who are controlling their members by separating families and threatening harm to loved ones if their commands are not abided by. Although we are strong, Storm Solstice is not many. Should we accept an offer to merge the packs, we will have the protection of the many, as Snow Claw is one of the largest most well organized packs on this planet, the territory will expand vastly and open up for those who wish to relocate within the territory. I am also aware that many of you expected my failure yesterday. I am aware that many of you hoped for my failure. For those of you who doubt my ability to lead this pack, my mate and I would defer our titles of alpha and Luna, so that Alpha Rose and Luna Lyssa would assume control of the pack. Despite the many benefits and my feeling that this is the best thing for the safety of my pack and the families that reside within it, it is not a decision I can make in good faith without the support of the pack it will effect. I’ve called you all here today to take a vote. Your opinions will decide how we move forward. As I have to come realize recently, there have been several major instances of deception within Storm Solstice, terrible acts committed and decision made my previous titles of the pack. In an attempt to show transparency in this process, I request that you all cast your votes, In Favor to merge or Against, I request you all standby throughout the entirety of the process. I also request 16 volunteers to sit and audit the count of the patrols while they tally the votes.” Hands raised tentatively, Lev pointed and each that were chose filtered to the front of the crowd standing a line in front of us. “Thank you.” Lev said gazing across the group of 16 that stood in front of him. “Will you all please go inspect the receptacles that they are empty, and cast your own votes. In Favor or against, please.” They moved as they were asked, the pack watching them as they one by one inspected wrote down their votes and cast them into their receptacles. The rest of the pack began to filter up, slowly at first. It took roughly 2 hours for the last vote to be cast. The pack remained patiently. No one leaving. Pups playing with other pups as their parents watched on, only mildly interested.

“Has everyone cast their votes to be counted?” Lev inquired. Nods and quiet confirmations. “Alright guys tally ‘em up.”

“Excuse me, Alpha.” A small voice rose up.

“Yes?”

“What deceptions occurred with our previous titles?” Evie’s eyes shot to me, she immediately began to fidget nervously pulling at the piece of her hair covering half of her face.

“We uncovered evidence of my father and the former alpha Thomas purchasing bloodlines from wolves in this pack.” There was silence. Heavy, dense silence. “Alpha Ciaran was aware of what had been done, and made efforts to keep it secret. These acts and efforts go against the covenants and bylaws of every civilized pack. They’re not acts I’m willing to tolerate nor am I willing to be a part of a leadership who looks the other way when these acts are committed.”

Another voice permeated the silence, “Alpha, do you have any information on the pack that’s threatening us?”

“We do. Although unconfirmed, we have reason to believe that the heir to the beta bloodline before me is connected to this in some facet.”

“That’s impossible!” Shouts and other disagreements regarding the information they had just been given roared through, I put my hands up asking for quiet.

“Five days ago I would have said the same. But in a meeting with Thomas and Ciaran we learned otherwise. We learned a lot at that meeting.”

“Alpha, is your mate going to accept the Luna title?” Evie’s eyes found mine, guarded.

“As of right now, Evangeline is your Luna. However, who assumes the title on a more permanent footing will be determined today by how you’ve all voted for the future of the pack. Obviously, neither of us will maintain titles in the event you’ve chosen to merge with Snow Pack.” Rea sat tall, smiling to the side of the pack. She hasn’t taken her eyes off of us once.

“Who is the human?” So many questions, Ciaran had told them nothing. What was he doing as alpha?

“Ahh, Rea.” I waved her over, she waddled up in her Rea way, standing between Evie and me. “This is former Luna Xandrea Carter, of the Snow Claw Pack. She’s your current Luna’s adoptive mom, my soon to be mother in law, and a consultant on the events threatening the pack, as well as a high leveled representative of the Snow Claw Pack. She does some phenomenal tattoo work if that’s something you’ve ever been interested in.” Evie and Rea laughed. Rea curtsied in a somewhat exaggerated way before waddling back to her seat, that wide smile plastered to her face. The questions kept coming, and I answered them as honestly as I could. They deserved the information. This was their pack and their home. When the questioned moved in the direction of Evie, I did my best to deflect them away while still answering, somewhat vaguely. It took a little over an hour for the votes to be counted. When they were finished, Patrick, my current Delta brought the final tally to me, shaking me hand vigorously and mumbling something I couldn’t make out before moving back to his post behind his receptacle. I looked at the paper in my hand, then I looked at Evie, and then Rea, and then out for a moment into the eyes of the Storm Solstice Pack.

“In a majority vote of roughly 90%, the majority votes to maintain the standing of our pack, and refuse the prospect of a merge with the Snow Claw Pack.” Evie shrunk a little, Rea jumped out of her chair cheering, the overwhelming and deafening roar of the pack humbled me. “To the 10% who believe a merger to be in your best interest, Alpha Rose and Luna Lyssa will be here tomorrow, and I’m certain that they will have no qualms accepting you as transfers into Snow Claw for whatever your reasons may be.”

Evie

My stomach dropped when Lev made his final announcement. The pack that hated me and seemed to dislike him just as much. I had been certain they would approve the merge. I knew nothing of being a Luna, I knew nothing of functioning appropriately within the pack. Lev had gone through years of training to hold a title. Goddess help me and my years of poor preparation. I stepped back as the area Lev and I had been sitting was mobbed by the pack. Shaking his hand, congratulating him, and comments of approval, of thanks, it was a pup who seemed to first notice me at all.

“Mama!!! Our lunaaaa.” His mom scooped him up and she turned to me, nodding her respect,

“Congratulations, Luna, we’re proud to call you ours.” And with that single acknowledgment, an onslaught of pack members began to filter towards me and my first instinct was to run, Lev’s hand found mine, and he stood beside me, planting a kiss in my hair. My mate, the chosen Alpha of the Storm Solstice Werewolf Pack. Of all the courses that my life could have taken, this is not ever where I saw it. Maybe selfishly I had been relieved to not have to be a player in dealing with Stev’s pack. Also selfishly, I had hoped maybe we could leave here, and live away from a pack in general. That would not be possible now. Lev was going to make a phenomenal alpha. I knew that, but I wasn’t so confident that I would be able to meet him there as his Luna.

“Smile, Jelly, it’s gonna be fine. They chose you.”

“They chose Lev, Rea. I’m the just the baggage he comes with.”

“Evangeline Vesper! You’re the reason he’s here at all! Smile! We’ll talk about it later.” The connection closed, her smile never faltered, her pride evident as she stood tall rearranging the dreadlocks that fell over her shoulder. She nodded and shook hands, laughing and conversing in her charismatic way.

“Does this count as an acceptance ceremony?! Or do you folks want a formal one?” Lev yelled out, the word formal erupted from the masses. Lev - please just SHUTUP. You’re killing me here. He must have felt my discomfort, because his arm came around my shoulder and his face pressed into my hair. All of this felt so overwhelming.

We sat in his office, Rea had gone to continue her home making expedition. Which I didn’t understand. We would have to move into the Alpha wing, which was considerably bigger and much more formal from what Lev said. I’d never seen it, he described it as house inside of a building more then the apartment his felt like. I helped him record the minutes of his community meeting, the results the numbers the tallies. He recorded and signed documents, rolling around on his chair placing papers in files along the many rows of filing cabinets that lined the wall behind him. He occasionally pushed papers in front of me and asked me to sign them, which I did without even considering what I was signing. He found his phone and called Alpha Rose.

“Rose Blanchet.”

“Good afternoon, Alpha, it’s Lev of the Storm Solstice pack.”

“Oh so pleased to hear from you. Lyssa and I are just getting our last items packed up for our visit. Have you spoken with your pack??”

“We did, Sir, the majority of the pack voted to remain as we are. Roughly 10% of the pack voted to merge, so I wondered if maybe you would be willing to accept them as transfers should they decide it in their best interest to not remain in Storm Solstice.” Alpha Rose‘s laugh erupted out from the speaker of Lev’s phone.

“Young Alpha, I can’t say I’m surprised by their choice. In the very short time you’ve been charged as their alpha you’ve represented yourself and your pack stunningly well. I’m sure they recognize the outstanding leadership you bring to the table. Xandrea has kept us updated as well. She said you won the hearts of the pack with your blunt honesty and willingness to be transparent about the previous problems regarding pack leadership. And to answer your question, we would love to accept any member of Solstice who think a change would do them good.”

“Thank you, Sir, your confidence and kind words are greatly appreciated right now.”

“Would it still be pertinent to talk business when we arrive. You know, young Alpha, there has never been an official alliance documented between our packs, and I’d like to make that our first order. It makes it easier to allocate you the wolves you’ll need in your struggles with the rogues. It also makes it our fight as recognized allies of a pack under siege.”

“That surprises me, somewhat, but of course, that should be of highest priority on your arrival.”

“As I’m sure you’re realizing, previous leaderships preferred to keep things, in house.”

“Realizing it more and more every day, Alpha.” Again Alpha Rose’s laughter bellowed.

“Well, we’ll plan to see you and Luna… please pardon my ignorance, but is your Luna’s name actually Jelly?” This time Lev erupted in laughter.

“Her name is Evangeline, however, she has about 100 names she’ll answer to, Jelly being one of them, the preferred name of Rea. I’m partial to Evie, and I’m sure once you meet her, you’ll figure out which of them fits your relationship best.” I narrowed my eyes at Lev, who smiled at me teasingly.

“Very good! We look forward to finally meeting you and Luna Evangeline. We’ve also planned for a few of our strategists to accompany so we can look over a plan of action regarding your rogue presence. May the day find you well! And we’ll speak soon.”

Lev hung up, pressing the corner of his phone to his forehead.

“I feel like a 5 year old speaking to a massively authoritative figure whenever he talks to me. He speaks like the king of an entire world. Ok, phone Evie. We need to go get you a phone.

“What about the beta situation. Rea and I can go deal with the phone issue.” I rolled my eyes sarcastically.

“Actually I want to add Rea’s phone to our pack plan. It’s one less expense for her, so despite your attempt to shake me, I have to go too. Rea’s been linking me about our lack of cigarettes on this compound too. We can talk to Taylor tomorrow about the beta title. We’ll have to go and formally charge Thomas anyway, we can’t just keep him in there.” He stood up and reached for my hand, we walked up the stairs, And just inside the door of the wing were about 8 boxes.

“What’s this?” Lev grinned a sheepish little tight lipped smile.

“I told you when I find clothes that fit the way I like them I order a bunch. So I have pants, hoodies, shirts, and boots.”

“Are you for real right now? That’s what all of this is?”

“Except this one!” Rea bounced up pulling a smaller box off the top and handing it to me.

“This is yours, Jel.” I tore the tape and opened the box, inside was an orange shoebox, I looked up at Rea, who was smiling.

“But I didn’t tell you they didn’t fit.” I sniffled a bit, I’d apparently become grossly emotional since finding my mate.

“Jels, you don’t have to tell me things, I just notice. It’s my job. Besides the other ones are 3 years old, it was time for a new pair.” She pulled a little plastic capsule out of her pocket, which contained the laces I preferred, they were a wide shiny ribbon type, they held the knots I put in my laces better then regular boot laces. They were a deep forest green color instead of black.

“Thank you, Rea.” She hugged me.

“You’re so welcome. Once Cowboy turns over the pack credit card to you, I’ll show you where I get most of your clothes. You can do your own shopping. You can’t live in the same three tops and 2 pairs of pants.” She cackled. I’d never asked Rea for anything, she’d always just given me things. I’d treasured them because they were from her and they were so well thought out. The few times I’d tried to decline she did her Rea thing and forced me to take them. Now I felt like a 5 year old, I’d never shopped for myself in 20+ years of being alive. “So when are we planning on moving wings?”

“Hadn’t thought about it!” Lev yelled from the room where he was moving his boxes to.

“You’re both terrible. How am I supposed to nest if we have no plan to move? It’s just a floor up it won’t be that hard.”

“I’ll ask for volunteers to pack it and clean it. We can move Dargan’s belongings to storage the rest we can burn in the ceremony bonfire for all I care.” Rea squealed

“I forgot about that, we gotta find you something cute, Jels!!!!”

“Oh, goddess.” I said rolling my eyes, but smiling. I really did love my little family. My mate and Rea mom. My perfect little family.