The Rise of the Luna Queen

Dinner

Ivy POV

Cece and Ivy made their way down to the dining hall. Ivy watched Cece as she made her way through the pack house, down the stairs, and to the dining room.

Cece radiated a sense of tranquility, leading Ivy to understand that being at ease in her home was the norm.

When they got to the doorway leading to the dining hall, the doors were already open. They could see several people talking, drinking, and laughing. They were all standing around in small groups as people in uniforms set the table and began putting out food.

“Are you okay?” Cece giggled.

Ivy hadn’t realized she was standing and staring about a foot away from the doorway.

“Um, yeah.” She responded, snapping back to reality.

“I’ve known all these people my whole life. They’re all very nice.” Cece put a comforting arm around Ivy. “I promise they’ll like you.”

Ivy smiled, and they both made their way in.

“Ivy! Welcome!” Alpha James’ voice carried over every other sound in the room. He held his hands up and then out as he approached the girls.

Ivy noticed he appeared to be much happier with her arrival in the pack than Luna Drea. Luna smiled and was courteous, but her smile never reached her eyes.

“Everyone, this is the newest member of our little family, Ivy.” He called out into the room. They all held their glasses up to her, smiling. “Come, I’ll introduce you.”

He put his arm around Ivy, and she looked back at Cece, not wanting to leave her friend’s side.

“Ivy, this is Beta Erik and his mate Gina; they’re Cece’s parents, who you’ve already met.” Ivy could have picked Cece’s parents out of the crowd. Her father was tall, with broad shoulders and red hair like Cece.

Her mother was blonde, but Cece got her fair, delicate features from her.

They smiled and greeted Ivy.

“Over here is my Gamma, Roland. Drea has many brothers, and he is one of them.” Thinking about it, he resembled the Luna.

“I am the best one,” Roland said with a wink.

They all laughed. Ivy did as well, but she didn’t know why.

“It’s funny because one of her brothers is Alpha of Ocean Moon, on the other coast,” James said in a low voice to Ivy.

“This is my mate, Olivia.” Roland gestured to a beautiful woman by his side.

Olivia smiled and took Ivy’s hand. “Please come to me if you ever need anything, sweetheart. Even if it’s just to talk.”

Ivy could tell she was being genuine. She had a sadness in her striking golden eyes, even though she smiled. She was beautiful, with deep brown skin and long, shiny black hair.

“Thank you,” Ivy muttered.

“I have been in your shoes before. Coming to a new pack as a pup is difficult to do. You’re very brave.”

Ivy understood a little more, but no one cared to explain any further. There was a small group of older men that Alpha James guided Ivy over to.

“These are a few of our elders Ivy; Richard, Allen, and Elijah.”

Ivy knew she would not remember their names, or at least which was which. They just looked like three white-haired men. She still smiled and said hello.

“We are pleased to have you, Ivy. It’s a shame how you came to be orphaned.”

One of the old men said with a sad smile. Ivy was surprised by him saying this, it was a weird thing to bring up.

Alpha James could sense Ivy’s discomfort because he changed the subject. “Have any of you seen my son?”

“I have, last I saw him, he went into the kitchen. Probably to start grabbing food.” One of the elders responded.

As the Alpha and I looked towards the kitchen, a teenage boy exited. He had brown, messy hair and golden eyes and was chomping down on a chicken wing, which was no doubt part of dinner tonight.

“My boy, Jake!” Alpha James called out to his son. “Come, I’d like you to meet someone.”

Jake rolled his eyes as he ripped the last of the chicken from the bone and threw it in the trash bin. Ivy watched as he made his way over. He was taller than her and good-looking, but Ivy felt indifferent about him.

“Hey,” Jake said as he joined Ivy and his father.

“Jake, this is Ivy. Your adopted sister.” James smiled.

“Nice to meet you.” Ivy smiled.

Jake just nodded, “Yeah, you too.”

Jake seemed just as indifferent, if not more so, towards Ivy’s arrival. She wondered if he even wanted a sister.

As the dinner started coming out on large serving plates, Alpha and Luna took their seats at the head of the table, prompting everyone else to do the same.

Ivy’s stomach growled. She didn’t realize she was as hungry as she was until she smelled the food. As she ate, she looked around at all the people surrounding her at the table. There were a couple of different conversations going on, except for the Luna. She just watched Ivy as she picked small bites of her food.

The Luna had already made Ivy uncomfortable, and this was just adding to it.

“Ivy?”

Ivy’s thoughts were interrupted when Cece, who was sitting next to her, got her attention.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.” She apologized.

Cece giggled and shook her head. “I’m going to the lake tomorrow with some friends. We may go out on a boat. Do you want to come with us?” She asked.

Ivy wanted to, but she didn’t know how the Alpha and Luna would react, and who knew what they had planned. As she directed her gaze towards them, Luna responded.

“That sounds like a lovely idea Ivy. You should go.” She smiled and sipped her wine. “I believe Jake is going with some of his friends as well.”

The next day was Saturday, and summer was ending with school starting soon.

“Sure, I’d like that.” Ivy smiled back towards Cece, who was clapping her hands.

The rest of the dinner went well. The food tasted delicious, and Ivy felt full. All she could think about now was sleep. It had been such a long and emotional day, and she just wanted to sleep.

Once the dessert and coffee were finished, everyone started to stand and say their goodbyes. They all once again welcomed Ivy into the pack.

“Hey, did you want to come hang out in my room? It’s early, and we could listen to music?” Cece asked.

Ivy wanted to, and she was thrilled to have made a friend so shortly after arriving, but she knew she needed sleep. Cece was understanding, and they said goodnight.

“Look at the little moon-shaped birthmark on your neck,” Gamma Roland said, standing right next to Ivy as she was waving goodbye to Cece and her family.

Ivy jumped, she hadn’t heard him walk up behind her.

“Oh my goddess, you scared me!”

Roland chuckled, holding his hands up. “Sorry, Miss Ivy. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just noticed you have a moon-shaped birthmark on your neck.”

Ivy put her hand on her neck. She never put much thought into her birthmark, and he was the first to point it out.

“Yeah, I’ve always had it.” She said, more sarcastically than she meant.

Roland just smiled and nodded, strolling away.

“What...” Ivy mumbled to herself. That was the strangest interaction she’s ever had. It left her feeling uneasy, and wishing she had said yes to Cece’s invitation.

Later, Ivy settled into bed, and it was the most comfortable thing she’d ever lay on. It had been quite a day, and she missed her Fae family. Despite everything, she started feeling more positive about her new life.