The Little Luna

Tea and cookies

Vespian POV:

“Luna!” Squealed a ball of bright red hair as it launched it’s self at my mate. The way Luna wrapped her arms around her laughing told me that this was a common occurrence and not a threat. Though I was thankful my hand had been on Luna’s back or I was positive they would have ended up on the ground.

As we’d turned into the driveway a small two story bright yellow house had pulled into view. A porch wrapped around the entire first level of the house with a tin roof that shown bright against the sun. The trees of the forest opened up giving the house a cozy little clearing feel and fields behind the house showed neat little rows of plants that I couldn’t identify from this distance. 3 vehicles sat in the drive way, a small beat up blue Chevy car, a large black work truck, and a tan SUV with a Chevy symbol as well. Chickens ran around the yard and an old looking Bassett hound was laid out on the front porch snoozing in the warm sunlight.

When we’d stepped out of the car I had rushed around to open Luna’s door and took her hand in mine as we walked up to the door, wondering the entire time if my mates best friend would approve of me. I wasn’t sure why it mattered, but I knew it did to Luna.

We knocked and two seconds later Luna had been almost tackled to the porch’s hard wood floor, though the Bassett hound, who had refused to budge as we stepped around him on to the porch, would make the landing a little softer. The door remained open as Luna and the girl I assumed was Libby hugged and giggled, you’d think they hadn’t seen each other in days rather then just hours, there was a scent wafting through the open door way that was heavenly, melted chocolate and butter.

“Oh my gosh Luna! You scared the crap out of me today when you ran out of the cafeteria like that! About gave me a heart attack!” Libby shook Luna’s shoulder encouraging another round of giggles among them.

“I’m sorry Libby, something kind of-“ Luna’s honey eyes flickered to me before looking back at her friend and shrugging “came up. I actually came by to see if-“

Luna was cut off mid sentence as Libby followed Luna’s eyes and looked at me for the first time since opening the door. “Oh, I see what came up… And who is this?” I could feel Libby’s eyes on me, accessing me. I knew she had to smell that I was of her kind and a superior at that, but this brazen girl didn’t seem to care, instead she was watching me as if trying to decide if I was a threat to her friend.

I wasn’t use to being appraised like this, my palms got a little sweaty while I forced a charming smile to my lips and held a hand out to shake hers. “Vespian Carter, of Golden Crescent.”

Recognition sparked in her eyes before fear and nervousness clicked through them in quick succession, she flicked a nervous glance at Luna before laughing uncomfortably and muttering “What are you talking about? What’s a Golden Crescent?”

“Oh chill Libby, I know. And can I just say, I am incredibly ashamed that you never told me! We’re supposed to be best friends Lib!” Libby’s bright blue eyes flicked to Luna’s and her face fell, I could see tears build in her eyes as she worried her hands in front of her.

“I- I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Libby muttered as she took a step back. The poor girl was going to have tears streaming down those flushed freckled cheeks soon if Luna or I didn’t save her.

“It’s okay Libby, Luna knows. She knows we’re werewolves, she knows everything. You don’t have to lie to her anymore.” I kept my voice soft and calm, drawing Libby’s eyes to mine smiling at her when I noticed the fear slipping away.

“Oh thank the goddess! Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep a secret like that from you Luna! It was near impossible!” Libby started talking so fast I wasn’t sure I caught half of what she said before she grabbed Luna’s hand and dragged her into the house. Soon we were sitting on an antique floral printed couch with Luna between Libby and I.

Libby had her hands in Luna’s lap as she clasped her hands and leaned towards her animatedly, her words going a mile a minute. “Holy moly Luna, what happened today?! As soon as you dropped your things and ran out the cafeteria you could have heard a pin drop, then Celeste and Orion followed after you and no one knew what to think, you should have seen Roselyn’s face. Then this hunk behind you followed you out and no one knew what to do! I picked your books and folders up and put them in your locker for you, but I was so worried! What the hell happened? And what is he to you?” The last question was emphasized with Libby’s finger pointing towards me then Luna

For hopefully the last time today we went through what happened in the woods and then followed that story up with what we learned from Alpha Darius and Luna April in the library. By time we were done Libby’s mind looked good and fully blown.

“Wow.” Was all she said for a moment as she leaned back on the couch with her hand on her forehead. “Just… wow.”

“I know.” Added Luna, still shaking her head as if she were a cd that was skipping and repeating the same motion over and over.

“And you! Being a wolf and never saying anything to me!” Luna added in indignation, her bottom lip poking out in a pout.

Libby’s hand fell away from her face and she leaned up in a flash, looking at Libby as if she was feeling exceedingly guilty. “I’m so sorry Lulu! It’s forbidden to tell humans about us. The only way you could know is if you were mated to one.”

“She’s right Luna, under the wrong Alpha, revealing our secrets to a human is punishable by death. Not many execute for this crime anymore, but Libby could have very likely been banished from the pack.” I rubbed my hand up and down Luna’s back trying to help relax her, as she melted into my touch I knew she was accepting everything we told her.

“So, a Lycan? Really?!” Libby squealed again, apparently something she did every time she was happy or excited. “I was told they were extinct. Does this mean your dad was a Lycan?” Libby asked, her blue eyes wide and her pink lips forming a little ‘o’ as she waited Luna’s answer.

“That is the assumption so far. We really don’t know anything for sure besides what Alpha Darius’s book says and what Ellie tells me.”

“Oh okay, makes sense. But dang if this isn’t a good mystery! I can’t wait to help uncover this for you! And I am thrilled you found your mate Luna! And an Alpha to boot! Though I am sad you’ll be moving away.” Libby added at the end, patting Luna’s hand as she stood up from the couch and walked towards a doorway to the left, behind the couch. She ducked her head in the swinging door and muttered something about tea to someone on the other side.

“What do you mean moving away? We hadn’t discussed anything about moving?” Luna demanded, watching Libby walk away before glaring back at me. “What does she mean moving away Vesp?”

Damn. This whole being raised human thing just keeps biting us in the butt.

“Well, Vespian is an Alpha, which means he’ll need to be with his Pack to run it. He can’t do that from here.” Libby stated matter of factly from the door right before it swung out and a tall plump middle-aged lady with black hair and grey eyes walked into the room carrying a tray with 3 tall glasses of sweet iced tea, a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies, and a small tea cup on a saucer with steam drifting up.

“Luna girl! I’m so pleased to see you again my dear, you really don’t come over enough anymore.” I was surprised by the Irish brogue Libby’s mom spoke with, Libby’s accent was so strongly southern, I would have never guessed her parents were immigrants. Libby’s moms eyes pulled together as she gave Luna a stern look before placing the tray on the table in front of the couch. “But that is neither here nor there, you are here now. I’ve got some iced tea for you three, Elizabeth refuses to drink her tea hot, being born and raised here she has, as expected, taken on a lot of your American customs.”

Luna and I both took the glasses of ice tea Libby’s mother handed us and a napkin with a cookie on it. I was going to refuse but she seemed awfully insistent and I was not about to invoke her ire.

“Thank you.” Luna and I both said politely, while Libby’s mom gave us a heartfelt smile. After wiping her hands on her bright floral apron, she picked up her glass of what looked like hot milky tea and sat down on a chair that matched the couch we were perched on.

“Mom, this is Alpha Vespian Carter, of Golden Crescent.” Libby introduced me to her mother. “And umm…. Luna’s mate.” She added quietly before barreling on. “Alpha Vespian, this is my mother Ciara O’Conaill, wife of Gamma Garett O’Conaill of Blood Moon and daughter of Alpha Devin Connelly of Ireland’s Gealach Bán pack, or White Moon Pack.”

“Tadhg is ainm dom.” Said Mrs O’Conaill as she bowed her neck slightly to me. “We heard you were coming to stay with us for a bit. We have heard a lot about you Alpha Vespian.”

“Is liomsa an pléisiúr go léir.” I answered in return to her greeting, meaning ‘The pleasure is all mine.’ Her eyes got a little wider for a moment before a happy smile curved her lips, I must have mildly impressed her with my knowledge of her language, though I would have to admit it was almost all I knew. “Couldn’t be nearly as much you have heard of me as I have heard of your father and his amazing pack. Is it true the pack was renamed ‘White moon’ because if the abnormally high rate of white wolfs born to the pack? They are so rare I have never seen a pure white wolf before, but rumors say your fathers pack has many.”

“Yes, the pack was renamed for the number of white wolfs born to the pack, but they were not as many as rumors suggestion.” Mrs O’Conaill said with a shrug, taking a sip of her tea before continuing. “I my self am a white wolf and my daughter Elizabeth here is as well.”

“Mom!” Groaned Libby from beside Luna, she rolled her eyes looking to Luna and muttering “It really isn’t that big of a deal, it’s just a family trait us all.”

“Elizabeth! I have raised you to be proud of your heritage, not act as if it is nothing.” Admonished Mrs O’Conaill with a shake of her head.

“I know mum.” Libby muttered dipping her head in embarrassment.

Luna reached over and patted Libby’s leg and whispered to her friend, “I know you don’t like extra attention, but your mother is right, if your wolf is rare and beautiful then you should be proud.” Libby looked up with a happy smile at her friend and nodded her head in thanks, patting Luna’s hand before picking up another cookie from the tray and shoving it in her mouth.

“I told you our Luna would be compassionate and kind hearted. She will make an excellent Luna when we step up to take over the pack.” Eli said proudly, and I couldn’t agree more.