Legend Has It Book I ~{COMPLETE}~

Chapter 24 Set Up

GENEVIEVE

Conrad and Kelli’s suite was on the same floor as Phoenix and I but on the opposite end of the skywalk in the adjoining tower.

Kelli’s passion was theater. She taught drama classes and directed two or three plays plus various pageants each year.

“I have an entire suite dedicated to costumes complete with an on-call hair stylist and make-up artist,” she told me. “I know you met a lot of the pack yesterday, but tonight will be your debut and I want to make you even more gorgeous than you already are!”

“I thought this was just a pack meeting?”

“That’ll be after dinner. It’s Saturday night. Traditionally date night, or as Conrad calls it, “party til you puke night.” It’s not technically a formal event, but most people dress nicely for the evening. Those of us who are higher up are expected to dress a little better than the rest.”

Kelli showed me a photo album when we got to the drama room, as she called it. “See, most of the ladies are in date night attire. Ahhh, here’s a couple of Stella from a few years ago. See how she’s dressed just a little classier?”

I had no clue that I was being set up. None. I would later learn that the photos were from special occasions, like the one planned for tonight, unbeknownst to me. I would later be grateful to Kelli.

“Oh, ok, I get it.” Stella did look stunning and was indeed dressed just a little bit classier than the rest of the females. The men all looked dashing in their dinner jackets and button up shirts.

Kelli and I showered and donned silky kimono robes while we were pampered by the hair and makeup experts.

Kelli took the time to explain a lot about how the packhouse operated. Most of the business bank accounts were actually a community pool of money used to support the entire realm. Personal bank accounts were more of a way to keep score. Money had value and was used as currency, but it wasn’t nearly as hoarded here, as it was on earth. If a company’s profits soared, investments were made in the employees.

Money was also used to barter for goods with other realms and earth’s financial system was the chosen Inter Universe Council model.

While it appeared Phoenix may have been a billionaire, he—we actually—were mostly just the managers of the money. Our jobs were to ensure no one went without.

I knew enough about politics to know Americans would rage that Death Moon was a socialist system, but the difference was, there were few lazy werewolves. Laziness wasn’t tolerated, nor was it really a trait. The rare lazy wolf was committed to a facility or exiled as necessary.

Everyone was a contributing member of society and those with smaller roles were just as valued. The elderly were considered to have served their time and debilitating illness wasn’t much of an issue with a wolf’s ability in most cases to heal him or herself. There were a few disabled wolves, but werewolf families were often large and families cared for their own with offers of help from the community as needed. Doctors and Healers mostly assisted our wolves in healing, though more intervention was sometimes warranted, such as in the case of wolfsbane poisoning.

Esther, the kitchen manager, for example, ensured that everyone in the packhouse was fed. Farmers ensured crops were grown so Esther and other kitchen managers—most large households had one—could do their jobs and, in turn, residents ensured farmers had what they needed to do their jobs.

“Why are the names of most places pretty generic?” I asked after a while.

“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“On Earth, almost everything has a name—a permanent one. To me, saying “the packhouse” or “the museum” is pretty generic. Isn’t there more than one packhouse or museum?

“Well, yes. I suppose that’s confusing to a new resident.”

“Somewhat. Obviously, I’m used to everything being named and having maps to use. I've been tossing around the idea of naming some of these places.”

“I really like that idea, Gen! If you do name places, maybe you could honor those who’ve gone above and beyond.” She pulled a bag out from beside the mirrored station where I sat. “Before I forget, the maid recognized this as being from Andre when she put your purchases away. It’s usually a really sexy bra and panties set. All of us girls have gotten a package or two like that from him,” Kelli winked knowingly.

“Ahhhh! The ‘this will get you laid’ package, he promised,” I giggled.

“I doubt you’ll need help getting laid. Once we’ve found our mate, none of us ever really have,” she laughed. “Andre still likes to spoil us though! Now let’s see what we can find for you off the rack in a semi formal style.”

We searched Kelli’s costume racks until a blue, tea length, A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline similar to one I’d seen in a photo of Stella caught my attention. Ashley, the makeup artist, finished my makeup look with a smokey eye in blue and silver and Kelli gasped when I stepped out of the dressing room.

“Oh my goddess! You look like the color of Phoenix’s eyes!” She squealed. “You are definitely getting laid tonight!”

“Goddess, I hope so! It’s been hours!”

{~>*•*<~}

Kelli and I took the elevator down so we’d enter from the back of the room rather than making our entrance from down the grand staircase. What I didn’t know was that this was so Phoenix didn’t see me until Kelli was ready for him to.

The elevator opened up into a completely decked out hallway. Sheer fabric was draped in a cascade from the ceiling to the walls lined with fairy lights and flowers. I knew then something was up.

“What the f**k? This is beautiful! But—“

“You wait here. I’ll signal you in a minute.” Kelli interrupted.

What the f**k? I caught my mate’s scent. It lured me like a drug. I’d been away from him for two hours or more. I took a step forward. I learned just then that I don’t wait well. Not when I catch the scent of Phoenix.

I crept down the beautiful hall. Phoenix’s scent was mingled with that of others. Conrad, Phillip, Stella, dinner. Low voices, a baby laughing. One scent, one sound, however, was my focus. Heels clicking my way. Kelli.

“Don’t come any farther,” she laughed. More footsteps. Male ones. Conrad, Phillip and two others. They were sliding something.

“You take that corner,” Conrad ordered. “I’ll take this one.”

“What the—?”

The men rounded the corner with a throne looking seat that sat on two gold gilded planks. My mouth opened in awe as I realized they were planning to carry me out this way.

“M’ Lady,” Conrad bowed. “Your chariot has arrived.”

“What the f*****g f**k?” I was grinning from ear to ear but still had no clue what was going on.

“Please have a seat,” he commanded. Kelli produced a little tiara and placed it on my head. I did as Conrad insisted.

“I told you tonight would be your debut. Now smile pretty and wave,” Kelli beamed at her handiwork on my head.

“Let’s go. The Alpha caught her scent and is chomping at the bit!” And on one, two, three, Conrad, Philip and the two others, each at the end of a plank, carried me down the rest of the hall, around the corner and up the short stairs of a— stage. We were behind a dark curtain.

“Drumroll please!!” Conrad called out and the murmuring on the other side stopped as a snare drum began it’s ratatatat. The curtain parted. They carried me to the center of the stage to my embarrassment but as soon as I locked gazes with Phoenix, all was right in my world again.

He looked absolutely amazing in a charcoal grey jacket over a blue button shirt that matched my dress. I was set down right in front of him. “You’re so beautiful,” he breathed low and held out a bouquet of dark red roses.

“Thank you. You look good enough to eat,” I replied, giving him my most flirtatious grin, “please kiss me before I die.”

The room erupted in applause as his lips met mine.

“Gentle and Shewolves, Miss Genevieve Triplett, first born and sole heir of the late Alpha Mason Triplett of the Silver Moon pack, mate of your Alpha, Phoenix McClaran, and your future Luna.” Conrad announced.

“You forgot something,” Phoenix told him, arching an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving mine.

“You’re going to do this now?” At Phoenix’s nod, Conrad called to Kelli. “He changed things on us. Bring me the centerpiece!”

What?

Phoenix kissed me again, probably to distract me from this centerpiece thing. I was curious, for sure, but I couldn’t break eye contact. He was up to something.

I was faintly aware of Kelli’s heels clicking across the floor, anticipation building. I wasn’t well versed in the way of the werewolf, but I thought I knew what was next.

My eyes still watered up when Phoenix dropped to one knee in front of me and opened a little white jeweler’s box, revealing a sparkling diamond ring closely resembling the one pictured on my mother’s finger in her wedding album.

“Genevieve Triplett, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

I was full blown bawling, but managed to choke out, “Yes!”

As Phoenix slipped the ring on my finger, Conrad cleared his throat. “Add fiancé to her repertoire!”

The rest of dinner was a bit of a blur. I was literally humming from the inside out. I had known I would change forever the night of my first shift, but I never dreamed that roughly two weeks later, I’d be living in a fairytale.

The only thought that crossed my mind and brought me sadness was the fact that I didn’t have a father to walk me down the aisle and when Kelli begged to be my wedding planner, all I could do was tell her there was something I wanted to discuss with her after I’d had a chance to talk to Phoenix. She gave me a curious look, but I assured her, she would have a big role.

I met Phoenix’s other siblings. Parker was the 3rd oldest behind Philip and in his senior year of school. Phoebe was the youngest and only girl. She’d be 16 soon.

“I’m just curious, but why do all of your names start with a P?” I had to know. Perhaps I was becoming obsessed with the naming thought process here.

“Mom’s maiden name is Pierce,” Phillip responded.

As dinner wound down and the plates were cleared, Phoenix announced our departure from the party, thank the Goddess. We were still having a little meeting but he had promised to keep it short.

I realized Anne was there, towards the back, with a date. A female date. Ahhh, that made sense. As we began to exit the dining room, Anne kissed her date and made her way out with us.

There were 8 of us all together. Stella, Conrad, Kelli, Philip, Anne, Elder Brown, a historian, then me and Phoenix.

Replicas from the museum were displayed on a wall and an old fashioned chalkboard stood in the corner. WHAT WE KNOW was written across the top of the chalkboard.

Phoenix thanked everyone for coming and reminded them that what was said in this room stayed in the room. “Anne, I know you want to get back to the museum tonight, so we’ll let you go over what you know, first.” He sat in his chair and pulled down on his lap again.

“Thank you, Alpha. First of all, I have begun tracing any mentions of the Silver Moon pack. The books gifted from one of your great grandfathers to the other will hopefully lead to newer information. Secondly, I understand the need for subtlety regarding what we publish, but I do intend to be inducted into the Hall of Historians. Elder Brown here is a distant relative. It’s in my blood. I hope to earn your trust so that you will entrust me to be a Keeper of Knowledge that may not become available for public consumption.”

Keepers, I learned, are the ones who ensure that Legends are passed down. They worked closely with Elders and were quite revered. Only the best became Keepers of Knowledge.

“I’m pretty positive you will become Legendary,” she continued. “You sort of already are.”

“You will certainly be considered, Anne. I skimmed through some of your work before the party, and was pretty impressed,” Phoenix told her.

“Thank you, Alpha. I live for this stuff.” Anne opened one of the books from the gift set. “According to records listed here in 1799, a census was taken. Only 25 family names are mentioned, and none are familiar, but it does indicate a widespread census was taken and the population was published as being 275,000. Those who worked the cleanup after the attack twenty years ago estimated the population at only 360,000. It's difficult to say why there was such a slow increase in two centuries, but it’s not common. The Death Moon pack, not the entire realm, has more than tripled if we subtract the increases from mergers.”

Elder Brown spoke up, “It’s possible there was a hereditary disease of the Silver Moon pack, but so far, we’ve not found any evidence of that. Health issues among older packs are typically known plus, Genevieve seems to be quite healthy. She recovered from the altitude sickness pretty quickly.”

“Soooo, what it sounds like to me,” Phoenix spoke, “is that there is a lack of information where normally there would be more.”

“Exactly,” Elder Brown nodded. “We’d really like to talk to who or whatever kept you alive, Ms. Triplett. That may shed some light on things.” They didn’t know about Josephine or were at least pretending not to. Mary was probably the one they would really like to talk to, but I wasn’t going to make any suggestions.

“I’m not sure that would be any help, but I’ll discuss things with your Alpha in private. Things have been moving really fast and I— I really just want to be alone with him, to celebrate our engagement.” I wasn’t lying, but I did pull that out of my ass to dodge where Elder Brown’s statement was going. Something told me I needed to protect certain identities, at least for now.

Mr. Brown’s eyes twinkled. “I completely understand. I was young and in love once, too. Now I’m old and in love,” he chuckled. “Ms. Simons, if you are going to the museum after here, I would love to see the display. I hear you’ve done a great job.”

“Oh, absolutely! I’d love to show it off to a fellow Historian! Alpha, do you need us for anything else?”

“No, I don’t think so tonight. Conrad will show you out.”

When Anne and Elder Brown were gone, Phoenix gave me a big kiss. “Awesome diversion, babe. You’re a natural at what my father had to fight to teach me.”

“Female intuition,” I shrugged.

“We will eventually fill them in, but for now, a lot of things are speculation. Such as how or why is the Triple Goddess showing up everywhere and what does it have to do with us?”

“We’ll keep working on the timeline,” I suggested. “A pattern should present itself.”

Phoenix nodded. “I know you want to see all the books for yourself, but you can only read one at a time. Pick one and then I’ll divide the others up and we can all skim and take notes.”

We divided up the books and one by one, the others, knowing this had turned into our engagement night, began to say good night. I was actually engrossed in a book when Phoenix shut the door for the last time, after Conrad and Kelli, but I was instantly alert to the fact that we were alone.