The Alpha's Runaway Luna

Chapter Three

Alexandru's POV

"Cutting, shaping, and installing building materials are the main tasks carried out by carpenters when constructing structures such as buildings, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters used to work with raw wood and perform harder tasks like framing, but today a variety of other materials are also utilized, and the more refined trades of cabinetmaking and furniture construction are occasionally included in the definition of carpentry. Carpenters make up 98.5% of the workforce in the United States, making them the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the nation in 1999." I say, teaching.

New Orleans might have opened itself to the world but we are careful, we are a self-sufficient Pack, we have a hospital, filled with top-class doctors, and we have a school, where I help out. When Adaline left, the pack was there for me, I was lost and they found me.

"Depending on whether a carpenter works in rough carpentry or finish carpentry, their specific job duties change. Additionally, there are other areas in which carpenters might specialize, such as using certain woodworking techniques or producing a particular range of wood goods." I added, staring at the faces of the eager students.

"On Saturday, we'll finally practicalize all our theoretical knowledge." I nod, ending the class.

"Uncle Alex" Desire, one of my students, stops me on my way out "Saturday is Grandma Cammle's party, so maybe Monday." She grins, and I nod my head smiling.

"Mom packed this for you" Fabien, Elena's son hands me a cooler, and I take it from him.

"Heads up, it's really spicy." He whispers and I laugh, ruffling his hair.

"Tell us a story, pleaseeee." They chorus like they always do every time I want to leave.

I roll my eyes, sitting down, setting the cooler back down "You know the drill, get plates and spoon, we split the meal, you keep quiet, and I tell you a tale of our heritage."

The little children erupt in joy, and I laugh because it is contagious "But we have to be fast, I have a meeting."

They do as I say, I share the meal, and they begin to eat, quietly, as I tell them a story.

"The werewolf is a legendary creature that has been the topic of numerous legends and numerous nightmares throughout history. According to certain myths, werewolves are people who can transform into ferocious, strong wolves. Others think we are a mutant hybrid of human and wolf. Nonetheless, they are all ferocious beasts with an insatiable appetite for human and animal blood. We are werewolves, and some of us, Witches, like Grandma Camille. The exact beginnings of the werewolf mythology are unknown. According to some academics, the werewolf first appeared in The Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest piece of Western literature, when Gilgamesh rejected a potential suitor because she had transformed her former partner into a wolf."

I smile at the intrigue on their faces, and I continue "Legend also, has it that when Zeus was offered a banquet prepared from the remains of a sacrificial kid, Lycaon, the son of Pelasgus, enraged the god. Zeus, who was furious, punished Lycaon by turning him and his sons into wolves. Early Norse folklore also introduced werewolves. A father and son found wolf pelts that could transform people into wolves for ten days, according to the Saga of the Volsungs. The father and son team put on the pelts, changed into wolves, and then went on a murderous rampage in the woods. When the father struck his son and fatally wounded him, their rampage came to a stop. Only because a friendly crow offered the father a leaf with healing properties did the son live."

"There are various myths and legends surrounding us, our heritage and ancestors but we do not dwell too much on the past, because we are the future."

______

"I found you a mate." Rick, the Alpha says, clapping me on the shoulder, and I try not to stiffen.

I ignore him, taking a seat, and he laughs. Pack hierarchy is by power, strength and bravery, but I am the strongest member of the pack, well one of the strongest, but being a leader is not something I crave, I'll rather follow, but I was made the Beta. Despite being stronger, I am pretty docile when it comes to matters of command, even on the one Rick and I contrast, he's the Alpha.

"Trouble is coming," Rick says, with his wife, Faye, on his right.

"I felt it too," I say, my voice hoarse.

"We all did." Zach, the Omega, nods.

"We've got to be ready, for whoever it is," Faye says.

"Camille, can you gather the witches and make another protection spell, no one gets into New Orleans without our knowledge, and no one gets out," Rick says, and Camille nods.

"It won't be enough. Guards should be situated everywhere. We all know who is coming." I say

"Romania?" Petro.

"We've not heard from the Buckland Pack in fifteen years, why strike now?" Rick frowns.

"I don't know, but they are our greatest enemies, they want to end us, they said so," I say.

"We have a lot of enemies, the Blue Moon Pack is the biggest pack in America, it could be anyone." Catalina, Zach's wife says..

I nod, gritting my teeth "I don't like not knowing, but we wait, ready for anything, we don't let them know that we suspect, we stay on guard."

"You could extend the protection charm to the whole of Louisiana, don't make it obvious, they could have a spy," Rick says, and Camille nods.

"By the way," Faye grins, and I know the meeting is over "When's your daughter com -- "

She's cut off by the door opening, I tense up, and I forget how to breathe, I'm angry, I think I'm angry, I don't know. She walks in, and there's a knot in my throat, my blood is on fire, and my beast is growling.

"Am I interrupting?" She grins.

"Adaline!" Camille yells in excitement at the sight of her daughter. All I can do is stare at Adaline, she left this pack, she left me.

Adaline's POV

"Oh my baby girl, you look so grown." Mom grins, kissing me repeatedly on the cheek. I smile, hugging her closer, I'm trying to ignore it, the feeling of being incomplete and staring right at my other half, it's an ache, a void in me, but I've mastered the act of ignoring it, or so I think.

"Let me hug my daughter too, wifey," Dad says, laughing, and I leave Mom, hugging him, he feels almost like him, almost.

"You have been missed, Adaline. I hate that I missed out on your growth." He murmurs and guilt floods me.

I left New Orleans almost nine years ago. No one knows why I left, only I do. I grew up in the Big Easy, as they call New Orleans, and I grew up in The Blue Moon Pack, my mother is a witch, and my father a werewolf, everyone turns at age sixteen, and they get mated few months later, by mated I don't mean get married unless they want it. Mating is similar to soulmates, you get to know who your wolf wants, the person you'll spend the rest of your life with. I remember praying desperately to the moon godess every night to get a good mate and finally be a werewolf, but I didn't.

I waited and prayed, but I didn't. I watched my best friends wolf out, go hunting, and train in their wolf forms, and I was the only eighteen years old to be abnormal. I waited for two years, and then I left.

"You didn't miss much, Dad." I grin, releasing him.

I stare around the room, resisting every urge to look at him, Alexandru. f**k.

I smile as I greet the Alpha, I bite my lips to keep my retort in, finally glancing at Alexandru, just to find him looking at him, his eyes are bluer than ever, he's grown too, roughly. I tear my gaze away, as I greet Faye and Catalina. The pleasantries go on for a while, till I've greeted everyone except Alexandru, I look at him again, still surprised to find him staring at me like he's trying to decipher me, as he sees me, sees through me.

This is awkward, I grimace, attempting a smile "Hi Alexandru."

He grits his teeth, and I feel a rush through me, but I ignore it.

"f**k you, Adele." He says, quietly, but I hear him, we all do. I bite my lips to stifle my gasp. I watch him as he marches out of the room, his every step thundering.

I breathe out, staring around the room, "I will talk to him." I say, heading out.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Zach says, and I try not to blush in embarrassment.

"It's good. I got it. It's just Alexandru." I shrug.