Alpha Adiera

Preparations

I woke in his arms. Wrapped around me lovingly. I sighed in contentment and rolled over to snuggle into him more, when I woke myself up. For real this time.

The bed was cold on his side. Tears unbidden marred my vision and I face planted my pillow and wept. I cried for Gus. He was taken from me too soon, in such an underhanded way. I cried for myself, I was too young to be a widow at 21! I cried for my baby who would never know their Father. I cried for the unfairness of it all. I cried until I was spent.

I got up to wash my face, ugh, I looked a right mess!

What a great start to the day.

I took my time getting dressed, breathing in through my nose out and my mouth, trying to calm myself down, hoping it would also settle the blotchy redness of my face.

I would have another very busy day ahead of me.

But first?

Coffee!

I was very happy not to smell sausages cooking, and made my way into the kitchen.

Margo handed me my coffee with a smile, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. She's such a beautiful soul. Margo was one of the first people I became friends with back when I'd first come here. "Thank you Margo!"

"You're most welcome Alpha."

"Katie hasn't opened up to me yet about her problem." Margo added in mind link.

"Don't rush her. Just let her come to you when she's ready." I replied.

I sat and ate breakfast quickly as I was starving. I was a bit later in coming down today, so my Betas and Gammas had already left for the training grounds. When I have secured a head warrior, they will be able to share the load more and get alternate weekends off.

"Want to go through some more applications with me?" I asked Stella who nodded. "Cool. See you up there."

I sorted my dishes, and headed to the office. Once there, I turned on the computer. After it had loaded and I'd entered my password, I opened Werebook to see if we had any new messages. 56!!! Woah! This is going to take a while to go through.

I opened the oldest ones first, so I could work my way up to the top.

Stella joined me as I was going through the first profile. Because there were so many, we worked through them by each taking alternate ones.

..... many minutes later ....

"Happy to show you how a real man fights.. ?" Stella said incredulously raising her eyebrows.

"As opposed to a fake one?" I asked confused. "Meh, don't waste your time. He's obviously unworthy."

..... many minutes more later.....

The phone rang.

Oh, it was Marco from the Crematorium. Perfect!

"New Moon pack, Alpha Adiera speaking."

"Adiera! My lovely Alpha! Your order will be ready to be dropped off tomorrow as planned."

"Thank you Marco! Did you have enough jars for every family? I know it was a large order to fill for you."

"Yes we did. Thanks to you for not insisting the New Moon order go before our other orders. We received another delivery of our ceramic jars in time for your order to be delivered!"

"That's wonderful news Marco! Everyone is having Thursday off to come along to the remembrance ceremony, were you able to schedule yourself off as well?"

"Yes. Thank you Alpha, I was able to have the day off with my staff. Is it true you gave all the staff working at your businesses the day off as well?"

"Yes. What's the point in being the boss if you can't give your staff a day off when they need it? I will see you tomorrow Marco. Will you stay for lunch? I'll get Margo to cook your favourite."

"Thank you Adiera. That would be lovely. I'll be there around 11. See you tomorrow."

"K! Bye!"

I needed to let Margo know straight away!

"Margo? Are you able to make marinara crepes for lunch tomorrow? Plus the regular bacon, cheese, spinach and mushroom ones for me? Pretty please? It's for Marco! Make sure you're not serving tomorrow to join us at lunch, and invite that hubby of yours to see his old mate!"

"Ma'am yes ma'am." Margo replied straight away.

"Then there's Thursday. It's a full pack event. Make something that no staff need to help serve at lunch."

"I thought that's what you'd say. Already organised what I'm doing. I'll let the rest of the kitchen staff know their attendance is required."

"Thank you Margo!"

If extras are required, I myself will help out. Goddess knows I'll need the distraction.

My last hurrah as Luna.

"Stella? I need to let our in town pack house know we are all a go for Thursday and they will be getting a paid day off to attend."

"I'll ring Mr and Mrs Daniels and let them know."

Ben's parents was the caretakers of the town pack house. They asked for that position when Gus' parents were killed. It was too painful for them to stay at the New Moon pack house, so Gus agreed when they asked to be caretakers for the one in town. It would be nice to see them as its been a while since they've visited.

There would be well over 300 wolves in attendance - just from our own pack! With all our visitors, we're catering for around 500!

Our pack owned and ran all the businesses in the local town. It all started with the crematorium. It was built in the 1950's, and it attracted clientele from all the local packs. It then extended to a bakery with a coffee shop, to help with catering at the crematorium for funerals and functions. From there, business grew from what was needed. We have a petrol station, a mechanics, a big grocery store, a dress shop, and a brewery just to name a few. Slowly but surely one after the other business got added. Gus' grand parents decided to build a town pack house, which was full of apartments for our pack members to rent at reasonable rates to cover the utilities and extras for repairs and upgrades to the property. It saved them from making the over an hour trip twice a day to the pack and back. It was a very profitable operation for our pack.

Thankfully there's an accountant in town, who is on the books, that takes care of all the money and paper work side of things for me. All the profits were spent on upgrades, extensions, repairs or more businesses, and so the cycle continued. We're currently looking at investing in a local/pack pool. With a profitable year, we're hoping to have it finalised by next Summer.

The petrol station needed to stay open for any travellers on Thursday, so I allowed my manager to keep it open utilising our human hires. Any of the other humans working at any of the other businesses have been given the day off with full pay, using the excuse that the bosses have a funeral to go to. I suppose it's kind of the same thing.

I rang Zane to let him know about Thursday going ahead as planned. He assured me that everyone who wants to attend is able to.

Then I rang Elderon and double checked he was coming too with Elyssa and Fanvier. They may be bringing an extra friend to drive them back if the boys drink too much!

Werewolf alcohol is more potent than regular alcohol, so it could get messy!

If I wasn't carrying, I would totally write myself off, but it's best for bub if I abstain. It's going to be a while before I can have a drink again.

"The things I'm doing for you already!" I said to my bump.

"What?" Stella looked at me surprised.

I laughed. "Just thinking about not being able to drink at the ceremony."

"Yeah, that sucks. For you! Hahaha."

I put imaginary lipstick on with my middle finger at her.

"Don't worry! I'll have enough for the both of us." She winked at me.

"Let's get the rest of these emails sorted so we can have some lunch."

All up, we narrowed it down to another 18 person's of interest for the position.

It was well past noon by the time we were done and made our way to the dining room for some lunch.

We met up with Ben, MeiLee, Mike and Verona at the table we normally sit at.

"Everything is good to go for the remembrance ceremony on Thursday. Are your parents planning on staying over Ben?"

"Nah. They are taking off soon after. Too many of their crew are no longer here, so it's double the grief for them."

"All good. I understand."

It will be my turn for the first time to catch up with them at the end of the month for their updates, repair list and general report of the Town pack house.

I was looking forward to learning and doing more, but it made me sad that Gus no longer could be that for them to touch base with. s**t! I'd better start looking for a replacement for the Town pack house. Hmm Ben's little sister is a bit younger than me...

"Has Caliapie found her mate?" I asked Ben.

"Nope. No one in town. She turned 18 a few months ago. She's coming on Thursday. It's been what ...? 7 Years since you've seen her?"

"5 Odd. She came back one New Year, just overnight when she was 13. Not going to lie, I thought she was a bit of a brat... but I'm sure I've grown up since then and I'm assuming she has too, so it will be good to see her."

Hmm... it will be interesting to see if she finds her mate when she's back.

There will be a lot of wolves and others coming too.

I'd finished eating, and headed to the kitchen.

"Margo, do you need any extra help in the kitchen? We'll need at least 1000 cookies made."

"I'm all over it Adiera." Margo sassed. "If I need help with anything I will ask. Stay out of my kitchen or I'll growl at you!" She had her hand on her hip jutting out. Dangerous angle alert!!!

"Ohmygosh! I got you loud and clear. Stay out of your way." I put up my hands, and backed up a step.

"Margo?"

"Yes Adiera?" She was not in the mood for any crap, because she was so focused. She was sorting out our massive food preparations from now until Thursday. What she needed to make, and when to have it all sorted for lunch, dinner, snacks, treats, drinks etc...

"I can still come in for my coffee right?" Oh snap, should not have thought of that before I'd said it out loud. I was getting misty eyed.

What the heckin brain?

Margo looked at me and laughed.

She came over to hug me.

"There there. you can still come in to my kitchen and get your coffees from me. Silly wildflower."

Margo called me what she had initially thought of me, upon my arrival at New Moon. A wildflower amongst the weeds she'd said I was.

I leaned my head on hers, hugging her back. "Thank you Margo the magnificent." I just said out loud softly what I thought. Margo was a master magician in the kitchen. She was also the kindest person I knew. She truly was magnificent.

Katie came over right then, as Margo and I hugged.

She smiled at us both hugging. "I need to tell you both while you're here. It's been stressing me out a bit ..."