Luna Rising

Something Rotten

Duncan

We pulled up to the gates of Blood Moon Pack right at noon. The guards waved us through after we gave them our pack information. As we arrived at their pack house, Conn started to get super agitated, pacing in my mind. This did not bode well. ‘What is going on with you, Conn? Chill out. We haven’t even gotten out of the vehicle yet.’

‘I know, but something is wrong here. I can feel it already. We need to find out what it is. This pack feels dark. Don’t you feel it?’ he responded.

‘I feel something, but it’s hard to concentrate with you pacing in my head the way you are. We’ll figure it out, I promise. But be cool for now, would you?’ I asked him. He huffed but settled back down.

“You ready to start this farce?” Julian asked. He shot me a questioning look, clearly aware that I’d just had an internal battle.

“Yes. Conn’s agitated. Something is rotten in this pack; he feels it already. Stay aware,” I said to the entire group in the SUV with me.

Before we’d left Crescent Moon, I’d told all the warrior volunteers that we were heading to the Blood Moon mating ball, but to keep their eyes open as we had never spent time in Blood Moon before. I didn’t fill them in completely on the true reason we were here, but my warriors are smart. They’ll keep aware of their surroundings and let me know if something seems off.

I heard a squeal as soon as I opened the door to the SUV, and I looked up to see the alpha’s daughter on the pack house steps with Alpha James and future alpha Tobias. It was almost enough to make me get back in the vehicle.

‘Look at it this way; now we already know she’s not one of our mates,’ Lucian mindlinked us.

‘And thank the Goddess for that. I don’t know if I’d be able to live with that noise for the rest of my life,’ Julian joked.

‘I wouldn’t put it past her to try something while we’re here. Don’t let her get you alone anywhere,’ I said to them both. Some of these she-wolves would go to any lengths to trap a high-ranking wolf, and given the reasons we’re in this pack, I don’t trust anyone here.

We took a moment to make sure our warriors were in order and covertly check out the greeting area. The pack house loomed large in front of us, and up close it showed it’s age. The shutters were peeling and the flowerbeds could use new mulch. There was a small group of omegas behind the Alpha family in servants uniforms, their eyes facing down.

We walked up the steps to greet everyone. Alpha James was in his late fifties, and his chosen Luna was beside him. She was in her mid-twenties. We have not received an announcement about a Luna Ceremony for his new Luna, which was suspicious, but not necessarily a sign that there was something bad going on. Stranger things had happened.

“Good afternoon, Alpha Duncan. Welcome to Blood Moon Pack,” Alpha James greeted me. He nodded at Julian and Lucian. “We’re pleased you could make it. I’m looking forward to speaking with you later about some potential business opportunities,” he added.

“Thank you for having us, Alpha James. I’m always open to hearing about new opportunities,” I responded.

He looked at me, calculation glittering in his eyes. “Wonderful! Let me introduce you to Amelia, my daughter. Of course, you know Tobias, my heir, already.”

“I was so excited when Father told us your pack was coming, Alpha Duncan. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you,” Amelia said to me, fluttering her lashes. “I do hope you’ll save me a dance at the ball this evening.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Amelia. I’m sure I’ll see you there. If you haven’t found your mate by then, that is,” I told her. ‘No way are we touching her. I won’t let you. She smells like at least two other wolves right now,’ Conn told me.

‘I know, Conn. Just pleasantries. We’ll avoid her…we’re going to be avoiding the ball as much as possible, anyway.’

She giggled. “Maybe I will.” She winked at me. The blatant flirting in front of her father just put me even more on guard. I turned back to him then.

“I’m sure you’ve got others to welcome. If you could have someone show us to our rooms? I know that I’d like to freshen up a bit, and I’m sure my men would as well after the long trip this morning.”

“Of course, Alpha Duncan. We’ll get you squared away. I have you in the alpha guest suites on the alpha floor, and your men two floors down. Let me get an omega to show you,” his Luna responded. Alpha James had not introduced us when he was introducing his family. Another red flag.

“Thank you…” I trailed off, an obvious attempt at getting a name.

“My apologies! This is my new Luna, Claire. We just found each other a few weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to get her ceremony planned yet, since we were so focused on this Mating Ball. I’m sure we’ll be sending you an invitation when we set a date,” Alpha James told us.

“Congratulations. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for your hospitality,” I aimed that at Luna Claire, as Alpha James narrowed his eyes at me.

“Well, let’s get you on your way, shall we?” he said. “Louise, please show the Crescent Moon group to their rooms.” He indicated an omega who was standing a bit behind him.

“Of course, please follow me,” she said, eyes downcast.

As we headed into the packhouse, I heard Julian take in a deep, sharp breath. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ I linked him immediately.

‘My mate is here somewhere. I can smell her on this omega,’ he replied, shock in his tone. I don’t think any of us actually expected to find our mates at this pack.

‘Okay, we’ll figure out who it is—if it’s a pack member or maybe someone she’s already directed to their rooms. We’ve got some time,’ I replied to him. ‘Notice how subdued this omega is, though? I get being respectful, but she acts as if she’s scared to lift her eyes. At least in front of Alpha James.’

‘I saw. Man, I can’t wait to be done with this weekend. I already want to grab my mate and go home,’ he answered.

‘Yeah, yeah, Casanova. We need to find her first.’ I laughed. Louise glanced up at me at the sound. “Sorry, ma’am. My Beta here thinks it’s a good time for jokes,” I said lightly. Her face softened a bit, little lines crinkling beside her eyes as she smiled.

“Oh, no worries, Alpha Duncan. Laughter is good for the soul, and we take all the pleasant moments we can around here.” She smiled at Julian. “Beta Julian-"

“Wait, you know my name? Alpha James never introduced the rest of us,” he asked, confused.

“Of course! As the head omega, it’s my job to make sure we offer the best hospitality, and the best way to do that is to be aware of the leadership that is joining us,” she responded. “I made a point of looking at all the RSVPs and pack leadership when I was helping Luna Claire with the planning. She’s so new, and still learning, you see, and I know the Royal Pack specifically requested that we expand the invitation list for this ball. Now, I’m going to have my daughter come and show you to your room on the alpha floor, Alpha Duncan, while I take Beta Julian, Gamma Lucian, and your warriors to their rooms. Just one moment.” She looked down the hall, clearly looking for her daughter.

As a slender she-wolf came around the corner in the hallway, she called out, “Kayla! There you are!” relief clear in her voice. Something was obviously going on there. The she-wolf looked up at her name, a small smile on her face, and then she froze. Her gaze went to Julian, and I looked at my friend. He was watching her, a question on his face at her response to him. Then he took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“Mate,” he said, staring at her down the hallway.

“Mate,” she responded, then sent a panicked glance at Louise. Her eyes were enormous, and the smile fell from her face when she realized we were incoming ranked wolves for the mating ball.

“Mom?” she said.

We looked to Louise, who was standing there with shock on her face. She quickly gathered herself, gave a small shake of her head, and smiled widely. “Well, then, let me introduce you to my daughter, Kayla Rayne. Kayla, this lovely young man is Beta Julian Everhart from Crescent Moon Pack. It’s okay, sweetheart. They’re a good pack.”

At that, alarm bells rang in my head, and Conn let out a small growl. For her mother to clarify that, clearly something was wrong here in Blood Moon Pack. And we would find out what.