The Blossom of Moon

What's the Connection?

    Moon stood outside Shad's office shifting her feet from one to the other feeling impatient to get this arduous chore done with. The new members had been in the office with him for ten minutes now. For all the time he's spending with them, he sure could manage to tell them all the rules himself. She huffed to herself. To her dismay, the man she ran into this morning was part of the party. It was unclear yet if he was going to be a permanent resident. She'd hoped not. She didn't need someone distracting her from her not living lifestyle. 

     Laughter exploded through the door when Shad opened it. She felt it grate on her as if she were parmesan in an Italian restaurant. Horrible feeling. The three new members looked at her expectantly. Perfect, and introduction before meeting me. I'd like to know their names too if I'm going to have to hold their hands around the compound. 

    "Moon will take you to your homes and lay out how things operate around here. She's seasoned, don't underestimate her small stature." They all nodded to him solemnly, taking his advice all too seriously for the manner they left the office. 

    "Nice to meet you, Moon." The salt and pepper man with weathered skin and a clinging mate held out his hand. She looked like she might bite Moon if she took his offer. So, she did it anyway and was rewarded with the best resting b***h face she'd seen in ages. The woman's soft blond hair did nothing to lessen the blow of those icy blue eyes forcing daggers into Moon's body.

    "Thank you...," She awaited him to introduce themselves.

    "Oh, dear, I've dropped my manners at home with the wife. Forgive me. Moon, this is Sam, Molly, and Cymru," Shad said. She cut Shad a dirty look before forcing a smile and nodding to the three. 

    Cymru exuded a presence she either couldn't or didn't want to ignore. It lit her belly on fire and spread through her veins, burning away the cobwebs her years of seclusion caused. She couldn't even remember what it felt like to desire before today. She was sure she didn't want it to stay. 

    “Is it just the one place? Or do I need to find two separate homes?” She asked of Shad before he could sneak off into his office. 

    “Just the one. Cymru hasn’t made a decision yet.” Shad closed the door behind him, leaving her to deal with the onslaught of masculinity that was melting her rigid nerves. Yet. She didn’t like the sound of that. 

    “The rules are simple; I’ll explain them along the way.” She walked out the office expecting them to follow. She didn’t have to look back to see if they were there, she could feel his heat at her back. 

    “Thank you for being so kind.” Cymru’s voice stoked the nerves fraying on ends. 

    “It’s my job. There is to be no unsanctioned resolution of conflicts using the primal method. Handle disagreements in a civilized manner or bring them to the Alpha so that we can maintain peace in the community. You will contribute your fair share of work to earn your keep. Your home is to be kept up by you, there are others that can and will help but essentially it is your responsibly to maintain its order. If you have business out of the community, you are to keep the nature of the residents a secret. From the outside we are viewed as a very selective community that has arduous qualifications to reside here. If you wish to have visitors, please have them approved before their arrival. Do not go hunting outside of the community’s forest, we don’t need any pitchfork humans coming round. If you have any questions or concerns, there are several members that are willing to guide you in the right direction. Shad is a busy man but he will make time for you as well.

    Do you have any questions?” she stopped in front of one of the nicer looking homes that was two stories with three beds and two baths. It would provide the mated couple with plenty of privacy. It was kept up by some of the retired members that were no longer able to really contribute. Their skills in the trade kept the unoccupied homes in peak condition with very little work on their part. 

    “Is this the residence?” Sam pointed to the home. 

    “Yes, you may go have a look.” Sam and Molly left her outside to endure the heat from Cymru’s wild eyes. She resisted the urge to shift her feet. He had such a strong effect on her cardiovascular system she was sure she’d need the medics soon. 

    “Yes?’ she asked coldly. 

    “Are there any rules on mating?” she didn’t want to think of this man looking for a mate.

    “Don’t move in on someone else’s mate. Be respectful, we don’t tolerate abuse here. I am sure there are plenty of unmated that would jump at being your concubine.”

    “I don’t want a concubine. If I chose to have a mate, I don’t want someone so easily swayed. I like a challenge.” His showed his eye teeth on the word challenge, like he was going to eat her alive. She felt she would let it happen. If her feet weren’t firmly planted on the ground, she’d have sworn she was floating. 

    “The place is perfect. We have a lot to do to get things moved in. Thank you for the hospitality.” Sam was looking steely at Cymru before dismissing her with a smile. Cymru didn’t seem phased at all by the look and she started to wonder, not for the first time, what the relation was between the three. 

    “Good luck with your move and welcome.” Her new curiosity washed away some of the foggy effect Cymru had on her. 

    Moon was unaware that she’d made it back to the office and settled in her chair, worrying the files hugged to her chest until someone tapped her on the shoulder nearly sending her flying head first into her desk. 

    “Are you alright Moon?” Shad asked with concern painting his face.

    “Hmm?” She tried to push the fog from her mind.

    “You’ve been sitting there staring at your screen for a pretty long time.” He indicated her blank screen.     “Did something happen with the new comers?”

    She heard the edge of protection in his voice that warned of an angry Alpha. 

    “No, no, they seemed to agree and understand all the rules. They are moving things in this moment. What is the relationship between the three of them?”

    “I can’t divulge that right now.” Moon cut him a harsh look. “Don’t you dare give me that look, you know how the rules go. Some things require secrecy.” 

    “I don’t go gossiping around either.”

    “It’s not a trust issue and don’t insult me with such an accusation.”

    “You’re right. I’m sorry, my curiosity is getting the better of me. I respect your decision. I think I’m going to take some of this work home tonight and work on the draft in my home. It’s supposed to be another frost night.” She could feel the words coming before they left his mouth.

    “Would you please take some help on that? There are so many that would jump at the chance to do anything for you without anything in return.”

    “Everyone wants something in return at some point. I can do it on my own. I’ll see you in the morning.”

    “One day you will have to drop those walls, Moon. You can’t be a lone wolf in a pack.” She ignored him and kept walking again on autopilot to her home. She was still running the possibilities through her mind on what the relationship could be. She wasn’t sure why she wanted to know so badly, but something nagged at her that she needed to clear.  

    There weren’t many possibilities as to what the relations could be. Cymru could owe them a life debt, or he could be security from the other pack. He could be a blood relative to either of them. Cymru could be the third in a weird s*x ring between them. The last she just couldn’t see but you didn’t know with people anymore. Though, if he was, he wouldn’t be curious about mating rules. Unless he was worried, they’d be thrown out for it. Then that also left to debate about his declarations of a challenge.  There were too many things running through her mind to get a solid theory.