The Strength of a Luna

Pack dynamics

Chapter 8

Arden POV*

We had been walking in relative silence for over 30 minutes. I had noticed that Andrea was slowly leading us past the training grounds, occasionally point out useless things with fake enthusiasm. She made an effort to try to make it look natural without drawing any attention to us. Alarm bells were going off in my head. Why would she have to be so careful just to talk to me? What happened to my new bubbly best friend?

Eventually, we made it to a small clearing that was still within pack grounds, but away from anyone else. Andrea hung her head and started pacing. I watched her for a few minutes before my patience had completely run out.

“Times up, Andrea. This is really freaking me out.”

“Sorry, Luna” Andrea looked at me. Her face showed that she was clearly stressed out, but she broke eye contact and looked around the clearing. “This place would make for a beautiful garden.” She said and started pointing to different spaces while rattling off what she thinks would look good. “Some lilies there, and roses by the path, and carnations...”

“Andrea!” I raised my voice.

“Sorry… please sit down.” She pointed to a large rock and waited for me to sit before joining me. Andrea took a deep breath and finally began talking.

“I’m not originally from Dark Woods Pack, as you know. I’ve only been here a few months, and am still learning how everything here is run. My old pack was so different.” Andrea stared off in the distance as she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “Here, at Dark Woods, we are meant to be seen, not heard. She-wolves aren’t supposed to train, and talking to males other than our mate is highly frowned upon. Your mate, Alpha Robbie, is very strict with how his pack is run. He truly follows the old ways to the letter.” She looks at me, and I’m taken back by the fear in her eyes. “Please Luna, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not trying to say your mate is a bad man, and I don’t want you to hate me. But you asked why people seem scared of you. They aren’t afraid of you. They are afraid of him.”

I looked at Andrea as I tried to make sense of what she was saying. She hasn’t given me any reason to think that she would lie to me about anything this big. But in all reality, I only know what she has told me about her life before moving here. At the same time, I barely know anything about my mate either. He had shown me such affection once we met, and has even respected my wishes about not being marked until the ceremony. But then, it’s like he has cut me out, not even responding when I try to talk to him. Maybe his avoidance of me has meant more than respecting my wishes?

“Arden,” Andrea said bringing my attention back to her, “Everyone had been hoping that once he found you, he would be tamed a little by your presence. I know that it is out of line for me to be talking to you like this about him, but I don’t want you to be blind about how things run in this pack. I want us to be friends.” Her eyes were pleading for me to believe her.

“Ok. Tell me what you know.” I was putting my trust in her, and I could see the relief in her eyes. Fae has been MIA since leaving our old pack. I thought it was because she was upset that I refused to let him mark me right away, but it has been days now. She never stays quiet for this long, and if anything that Andrea has to say can shed some light on why, then I need to know. Plus, what kind of Luna doesn’t know what is happening within her pack?

“Oh, thank Goddess.” She breathes out a sigh of relief. “I’ve been wanting to talk about this since you arrived, but I honestly didn’t think you would believe me.”

Andrea got up and started pacing again. She ran her hand over her bald head before grabbing the back of her neck and facing me once again.

“Ok, so there are a few things about pack dynamics that have been worrying me. First thing, the she-wolves aren’t treated equally. The ones who grew up in this pack rarely talk, just like Amanda. I’ve only heard her say a few words in the 3 months I’ve been here. She is Beta Female! Yet she has no backbone or voice.”

I could easily agree with Andrea there. I’ve tried talking to Amanda a few times, but she always ducks her head and leaves the room. I had just assumed it was because she was so shy, but now, it is easy to see that it hasn’t just been Amanda who is quiet. I haven’t talked to any of the other females in the pack. If I happen to see anyone, they just politely smile and bow their heads.

“The second thing I’ve noticed,” Andrea continued talking while her pacing started once again, “Like you pointed out earlier, the staff in the pack house never talk. Ever. I thought it was weird, so after a few weeks of being here, I asked Jason about it.” She stopped pacing and looked at me with horror. “Jason told me that Alpha had their tongues removed so they couldn’t complain about their work. Apparently the old laws suggest that staff shouldn’t have any reason to voice their opinions, and they should just do their duties in silence.”

I jumped up from the rock, and Andrea flinched as if I was going to attack her. Instead, I grabbed her shoulders and made her look me in the eyes.

“Are you absolutely sure about that?” I asked harshly.

“Yes, Luna.” Her voice trembled, “I couldn’t believe it, so I secretly asked one of the house staff about it. They showed me. I almost left as soon as I realized that, but I didn’t have the strength to leave Jason.”

I let her go, and then it was my turn to pace. I tried calling for Fae. I knew that she would answer the desperation of my voice, but all I could feel was her gently stirring in the back of my mind before she went still again.

“Gah. I need to talk to Fae, but she isn’t answering me.” the desperation could be heard in my voice. “Andrea, can you talk to your wolf? I haven’t been able to reach mine.”

“Yes, Luna. Jason has allowed me to keep contact.”

My eyes felt like they were going to come out of my skull.

“ALLOWED YOU?” I screamed, and she rushed forward to cover my mouth.

“Shhh. We are out here for a reason. And, yes, allowed me. That was going to be the next thing I was going to tell you about.” Andrea removed her hand from my mouth and waited for me to calm down before continuing. “Old laws say that the male is in control of their mate’s wolf. He even had a witch come and “bless” the pack. Whatever she did makes even the strongest she-wolves submit to their mate’s desires. In Alpha’s head, he believes she-wolves should only be allowed to communicate with their wolves at certain times, and he has commanded that the men in his pack take control over the female wolves. Jason won’t outright go against the Alpha, but I’m lucky that he was raised by his mom, and has his own beliefs. If it wasn’t for that, I would’ve left a long time ago.”

I stand there dumbly not knowing what to say. I had been so looking forward to finding my mate, and once I did, he showed me respect by giving in to my request of waiting. I haven’t seen the side of him that Andrea is telling me about, but there has to be some truth behind it. I’ve seen how the women in the pack bow their heads and keep quiet, and I’ve felt the lack of my wolf. But even with proof, the mate bond makes me feel like I need to talk to Robbie before I make any decisions.

I started making my way back towards the pack house, and Andrea followed me without a word. She doesn’t speak to give me time to mull over what she has told me. I feel like there was more that she wanted to tell me about, but my brain was overloaded with all that she has already shared.

I can’t help but hope that maybe she is wrong.