The Elvish Luna

Chapter Two

[Nessa P.O.V.]

Everything I have ever known has come crashing down around me with the revelation that I am not a werewolf. The mate that I had the biggest hopes and dreams of finding was crushed by the single sentence uttered by my mom and dad. It was clear my shock wouldn’t die down anytime soon as my mind tried to wrap around the information.

I barely registered that my father got up from the table, and the thud on the table is what jolted me out of my own shock as he put a book in front of me.

“Nessa, beloved daughter of mine. You are adopted, a fact which you have always known, but we didn’t tell you what you truly are because we wanted you to have a normal upbringing here in the pack. We never could have anticipated that you would have taken so well to the werewolf ways, but we should have known as it is what we teach even werewolf pups.” My father told me as he brushed a strand of my red hair behind my ear. “You are an elf, and one of the last of your kind.”

“We kept it a secret to protect you, dearest.” My mother appealed to me, knowing that this would shatter my hopes and dreams. "It doesn't mean that you cannot have a mate though, dearest, but it is unlikely that you will find him. He will have to find you." Her wise nature appealed to me, knowing that it was what I wanted.

My father placed his hands on the book in front of me, the title which I hadn’t looked at until now, ‘The Elven Heritage and Magics’. This meant that I had Elven magic and knowing that they wouldn't have bothered to give this to me until my magic became relevant, it meant that it must have been last night on my eighteenth birthday. Why are the coming-of-age powers always at eighteen? I wondered. I didn’t want to read the book, so I moved dad’s hand and pushed the book away from me. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I don’t think it worked as my parents both had looks of hurt on their expressions.

“I’m sorry. I will read it later, I promise. I am just having a really difficult time processing that I am not a werewolf like I believed all this time. I am honored to have the heritage I have; I cannot change it even if I wanted to, nor would I change my upbringing or you as parents. I just… cannot read this now, so please don’t ask me to. I just want to live as normal a life as possible in the pack. Okay?” My tone started soft but grew stronger as I spoke. I loved my mom and dad, and I meant every word I had said. I just need time to process everything that happened in the last twelve hours.

The look of pride that crossed their features for the briefest of moments was all I needed to see to know that I had made the right decision.

My mother’s smile widened as she looked at the clock. “Alright, Nessa. We must go to work!” She exclaimed excitedly. “It is your first day!”

My jaw dropped in surprise as I had completely forgotten that today was my first day in the kitchen with my mother, a fact that the Luna was very excited about.

My jaw dropped in surprise as I had completely forgotten that today was my first day in the kitchen with my mother, a fact that the Luna was very excited about. My mother disappeared into the laundry room of our small cottage on the outer edges of the pack territory. I heard her humming with excitement while she was inside, likely pulling out my apron and uniform for work as kitchen staff in the packhouse.

While mom was looking for my uniform, dad took the moment to remind me about the next pack function. “Nessa, beloved. Remember that Alpha and Luna Nayeli are hosting the Rose Canyon, Bull Mountain, and Violet Forest alpha’s and luna’s if they have their mates. You will all likely be preparing the dinner for the alpha’s. Remember to be respectful to the visiting alpha’s, beloved.”

“Yes father, I understand.” It was true that I did, I understood pack hierarchy and understood that visiting alpha’s were to be treated with the utmost respect. She would do her best while making the kind of food that her Luna would expect of her, her cooking having been revered especially with who her mother was.

Her mother raced back in with a simple white apron and a nametag sporting her name on it in the beautiful handwriting of Luna Nayeli. I couldn’t help squealing in excitement. This day was an exciting day not only because I had been wanting to find my mate, but because I was eager to serve my Alpha and Luna.

“Mom! Stop fussing.” I exclaimed as mom fretted about, making sure the apron was tied appropriately around my neck and waist.

A tsk came from her, making me think that she would do no such thing. “Never, I must make sure you are presentable for Luna Nayeli. The Luna has been eager for you to start working in the kitchen. You know how much she enjoys your cooking and pastries." She replied to me, the tone in her voice telling me that she was smiling even if she was standing behind me adjusting the apron to sit just right along her body.

"Come now." Mother calls as she stops fussing over my appearance and she begins to head towards the door with a slight yawn coming from her, showing exactly how long she has been awake.

I hurried after her, scrambling to keep up. "Bye dad!" I called over my shoulder, and his chuckling felt like music to my ears. I was putting up a front for my parents. It was a fact that I knew they probably also knew, they wouldn't push me as they loved me, and they knew I loved them. I just hoped that I would be able to bury myself into my work at the packhouse and with the visiting packs rather than worry about the information.

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The packhouse was filled to the brim with people, hurrying to get everything ready for the dinner at the packhouse with the visiting alphas. Luna Nayeli arrived in the kitchens, making her way around the kitchen to check on all the progress, and she smiled widely at me once she noticed me working to make the pastries that the Luna had ordered for the guests.

"Nessa!" The Luna exclaims, hurrying over to me and launching her small, but lean and powerful frame at me clearly not caring that she got covered in the flour and powdered sugar that Nessa had been working with. "You are here, oh I am so grateful that you accepted the job in the packhouse."

I laughed and returned her embrace, feeling small even against Luna's own small frame. "You are going to be covered in flour and sugar, Luna." I scolded lightly, my tone joking, as I knew she didn't care about the powdered substances.

Luna Nayeli pulled back to look me in the eyes, though she did not release her grip on me. "I do not care, I am just grateful you are here, and.." She paused as she reached over to dip her finger into the filling I was making for the macarons. A moan came from her mouth as she licked the delicious matcha green tea filling off of her finger. "You are making my favorite!" Her delight was obvious.

A grin spread across my features as I nodded, I turned to pull the cookies out of the oven. "Of course, Luna. It is what you requested for our guests, and I cannot give them anything other than the best."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the Luna reaching for the freshly baked macarons. I lightly smacked her hand, and tsked. "Wait for them to cool, Luna!" My outbursts were overcrowded with my amusement over her love for sweets.

She frowned and shrugged, moving on to the next station. "They better be ready for me to have at least one before dinner, Nessa." Her answer came a few moments later from further down the line.

"Of course, Luna." The cookies were left to rest while I started to move the filling into a piping bag with a soft hum under my breath of the song I sang the other night, not knowing where I learned the song from. As I worked, I grew uneasy and knew I was being watched, but I was unsure by whom, as I was simply a non-wolf omega. Quite literally the bottom of the hierarchy in a pack. I looked up to see Luna Nayeli's son, Elijah, watching me as his eyes boring into my skin, causing me to shiver.

He never said a word as he quickly turned on his heel and left, leaving me to continue preparing dinner for the guests.

That was strange...