The Luna of Lunas

Chapter Four: Sweetpea II

[Dominic’s P.O.V.]

“I don’t understand, she was always such a happy girl”, I lament to Clara.

“Love, it’s okay. She just needs time to adjust.”

“Clara, it’s been two years. She should have adjusted by now.” I am so frustrated. I am finally happy again, and my daughter is determined to stand in the way of my happiness. How did I raise a girl like this?

-

A knock takes Clara and me out of our conversation. "Come in."

Imogen peeks her head around the door. Imogen has been a goddess sent girl to this pack. I was skeptical of her at first, but the whole pack seems to love her. Our pack members regularly seek her out for advice, especially when they are having issues with their mates. She is kind and gentle and strong, surprisingly so. I’ve watched her training with our female warriors. Although she is obviously no match for a wolf, she gives as good as she gets and always stands up with a smile after being beaten down. I had wished she was Gavin’s mate, and, honestly, if she would allow it, I wouldn’t oppose Gavin taking her as a chosen mate. He has an Alpha wolf. He will eventually go off and create a pack or take over an existing one; it is in his nature, and Imogen is a Luna if I ever saw one.

“Sorry, Alpha, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I need to speak with you about a few things.”

“That’s okay, Imogen, this is a fine time. Have you spoken with Sarah?”

“I have, but I have a few questions before I get to her. I haven’t asked too many, and I try not to listen to pack gossip, but…”

I nod. In a pack our size, we’re not liked by everyone. They respect our decisions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t talk. “Please ask your questions, Imogen.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” She looks hesitant. “I’m confused, Sir, Clara is your… wife?”

“Chosen mate and Luna, yes.”

“In human terms, I am his girlfriend, or partner, since our relationships are more serious than human ones.” Clara answers. “Also, I am acting as a Luna for now, but since Dominic is no longer the official Alpha, I am acting in capacity until his eldest son returns. There is no need for me to connect to the pack as the Luna.”

I hate hearing her refuse to refer to herself as Luna. She was a Luna before that b*****d cheated on her and forced her out of her position. All because she never gave him a boy.

“Thank you. I have another quite personal question, if you will allow,” Imogen asks.

I nod, signaling her to continue.

“Clara, when you arrived at this pack, did you try to take on a motherly role with Sarah?”

Her question irked me. Clara would never try to replace Sandra, my late mate. I didn’t even realize I was growling until Clara smacked me on the arm. “Dominic, hush. You asked for her help, and she can’t help unless she gets answers to her questions.”

“I am sorry for such an intrusive question, but I am just trying to help your daughter.” Imogen didn’t seem intimidated by me at all. She was respectful because it was right, not because she was scared. Interesting.

“To answer your question, Imogen, no, I did not. Even though Dominic and I reconnected, I was living with my daughter, a Luna in a neighboring pack, helping her with her baby. He just turned one, so I decided to leave and live full-time with Dominic a few months ago.” Clara answered her.

“Did she know her father had taken a chosen mate? You reconnected two years ago, from what I have heard.”

“He didn’t take me as his chosen mate until I decided to come and live here full time. If we had marked each other, it would have been too hard to stay away, and I needed to be with my children.”

“Thank you. I understand.”

I just sat back and watched the two women converse. Clara has always been exceptionally graceful with her words, but I know her to be fierce when her loyalties to family are so much as questioned. She never answers in anger, but she has a sharp, almost diplomatic tongue when she feels threatened. I saw none of that in this exchange. Just two women openly and respectfully speaking to each other about a sensitive topic, just like Lunas. Interesting.

-

[Imogen’s P.O.V]

“Could you tell me what set Sarah off today?” I hate prying into other people’s private lives, but technically I was invited to pry, and I needed to know.

“She’s a teenager,” Dominic answers me.

“I mean no disrespect, Sir, but it is something more than that.”

“How can you know that? I raised teenage girls, and they’re always difficult at that age”, Clara quipped. “What qualifies you to say what is normal when raising a teenager? You’re barely over being one yourself.”

There it is. Clara had been so open with me. Her quick switch to defensiveness told me that she was more involved in the incident than she is letting on. “I apologize, Luna… Mrs… I’m sorry, but I don’t know the correct way to address you.”

“Clara is fine, Imogen.”

“I apologize, Clara. I am answering based on my expertise. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in social work, specializing in traumatic loss. For the last few years, I had been working with children who have lost their parents due to horrific circumstances. I may not have worked in a wolf pack, but I have worked in disaster and war zones. I understand traumatic loss.”

Clara’s face softened. “I’m sorry, Imogen, I’m just frustrated. I never took a motherly role with Sarah, and I regret it. Maybe I could have helped…”

“Clara, it wouldn’t have helped.” Her and the Alpha’s heads snapped toward me. They had been looking at the ground for most of our conversation. A tell-tale sign of guilt. “Sarah isn’t actually angry with you; you are just the easiest target for her anger.” I pause and see they are curious now, not angry. Well, maybe still a little angry, given my directness. “It’s not that she misses her mom, per se” I continue when I see their faces relax a bit. “She just never had a chance to grieve. No one explained to her what was happening or why. Essentially, her life froze at ten years old. Now she feels that everyone is moving on, and she’s being left behind again.”

“Imogen, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but…” Dominic is getting angry, but he needs to hear this.

“Please, Alpha. I mean no disrespect. From what I heard, Sarah’s mother died, and you weren’t in your right mind to look after her. Essentially, she became an orphan.” I can’t quite decipher the look I’m getting from Dominic right now. If he was a cartoon, steam would be coming out of his ears. His eyes are black. S***.

-

[Dominic’s P.O.V.]

An orphan! A f*****g orphan! Imogen has gone too far. How dare she imply my daughter feels like an orphan.

‘Love, calm down. Listen to what she is saying. You know you were a mess after Sandra died. Imogen may not know what losing a mate does to a wolf, but you trusted her expertise for a reason. Children with trauma. Just listen to her,' Clara, my anchor, mindlinks me. She brought me back to life after Sandra died. Only now does it hit me. Clara brought me back to life. I was long gone before I met her again. Had I neglected my children so much?

“Imogen, what can we do?” It goes against everything in me as an Alpha to defer to someone else, but I’m desperate.

“I want her to reconnect with her mother. She was old enough when the former Luna died to have memories of her, and, from what I’ve heard, no one really speaks about her.”

A growl escapes me before I can catch it. Clara slaps me again. “Dominic, stop it and listen.”

“I’m sorry, Imogen.”

“I understand. It’s a very sensitive topic. If you could tell me something that the former Luna did or a place she loved, that would be a good starting point.”

I racked my brain. What could help Sarah? We live in the same house. Sarah has all her mother’s personal effects. What could… wait! “Sandra played piano. She was teaching Sarah when she died.”

“That makes sense!” Clara exclaimed. “Sarah was tearing apart the piano stool when I found her, and I told her to stop. I didn’t realize the significance at the time.”

“Imogen, does this help?” I asked her.

“Yes, Alpha, it helps. May I be excused?”

I nod and allow her to leave. With her hand on the doorknob, she turns. “Alpha, if I may ask?”

“Yes, please Imogen.”

“When does your son return? The Alpha, I mean.”

“Next month.” She has never expressed any interest in pack politics… or was it my other son she was interested in… “He returns next month, Imogen. There will be a pack celebration. I hope you’ll attend.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

"Imogen," I call her as she's leaving. "Why are you back to calling me Alpha? We're in a private space."

"With all due respect, it's not as private as you think."

With a laugh, she opened the door and exited as pack members scurried to hide the fact they were right outside the door, trying to listen in. Usually, I do not tolerate eavesdropping, but the pack gets anxious when they think I am about to do something that'll cause Imogen to leave. I understand that, so I'll let it slide this time.

-

“What are you thinking, love?” Clara asked me.

“I don’t know, but I feel she is important. My wolf is telling me to trust her.” Ainsley, my wolf, has been repeating the same message since I met her. ‘Trust her, the Innocent One.’