A Luna Scorned

Chapter 3

“Ari, keep your heels down!” I shouted from the middle of the round corral. I had been giving some of the pups here riding lessons to earn some extra money. They needed to learn it anyway so they could help work the ranch when they got older.

“Horses, huh?” a soothing sound emanated from behind me. I jumped and spun around. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you”. Liam had made his way through the round pen and was standing beside me evaluating the horses and riders.

“Yeah.” I wasn’t sure what to say. I could feel Nat getting riled up inside me. The scent of rain filled my soul. I was in heaven. I wanted to fling myself at this man I didn’t even know, yet he looked so indifferent.

“Can’t see I’ve ever seen a pack run cattle before.”

“It pays the bills. The pack enjoys it. So do I.”

“Your father says this was all your doing?”

“Yes, Alpha”.

“Please, call me Liam.”

“Hannah, you’re doing well, but pick up on the other rein when you ask for that transition. Make sure you are using your body, and stay out of his mouth.”

“How did this all happen?”

“What?”

“This. The ranch. You seem to know so much about horses and ranches.”

“I went to school in Texas and worked on a ranch while I wasn’t in class. I learned a lot. Had a lot of fun.”

“Seems like it has been good for your pack.”

“Yeah. It got us the money we needed to rebuild our pack.”

“Seems to have done a lot of good.”

“Alright guys. Good job today. I’m proud of all of you. Go ahead and untack and clean your horses, then we’ll feed them and get them stalled for the night.” I ended the lesson early. I was reminded that tomorrow morning I would be leaving the pack and wouldn’t be teaching the kids anymore. I had passed that torch to Caleigh. She had learned very quickly and apprenticed with me for the last six months. She was the only person I trusted with teaching anyone how to rope and ride and train the new horses. I knew the ranch would be in good hands with her. I really didn’t want to leave my pack. I had worked so hard to help get us where we were. It felt like I was abandoning everyone.

Liam must have been able to read how I was feeling. He placed his hand on my shoulder. Sparkes erupted upon contact. I suddenly felt very weak in the knees.

“Pull it together, Ky”. I said to myself.

“He smells so good.” Nat unveiled herself.

“Nat, he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge we’re his mate. We’ve got to pull ourselves together.”

“Kyrie, I’m sorry to have to be the one to take you away from all of this.” I was pulled from my thoughts and my wolf.

“Yeah, I'm not really happy to be leaving here.” Sometimes my mouth had no filter. Thoughts just formed in my mind and came right out my mouth. Liam paused for quite some time before responding.

“You will like our pack. We don’t have horses and cattle, but everyone is really nice. I think you will blend in just fine.”

“Please excuse me. I need to go make sure the pups are getting things handled with the horses. Then I suppose I should pack my things. We are leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’d like to leave earlier than later, if possible. If you could get things packed up today, I will have my guys load it for you. Just leave it in your room and let me know when you are ready.”

“Okay. I will see you later?” I half asked, half stated. Liam walked me to the barn.

“Yes. I have to be getting to the Alpha meeting now. I will link up with you when It’s over.”

Liam made his way towards the pack house and I turned my attention to the students. I assisted, well, more like supervised, as they cleaned, fed and watered their horses for the night. After the last student left, I wandered over to one of the stalls. Inside was the most beautiful horse I had ever laid eyes on. She was a gorgeous bright, dappled palomino with the brightest white mane and tail I had ever seen. Each leg had a large, white stocking that went all the way up to her knees. She had the kindest eyes, and the sweetest personality, although she could be a little brat when she wanted too. She loved to work and could go all day. She had so much heart and put her all into everything she did. I picked her up at an auction and trained her myself. She was my baby. I undid the latch on the stall door and walked inside. She instantly placed her head in my hands searching for a treat.

“Sorry baby, I don’t have anything”. She looked at me and decided that she would accept scratches and attention instead of a treat. The realization of me leaving here tomorrow hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes filled with tears and I buried my head in my horse's neck. She seemed to understand my feelings and stood patiently as I bawled my eyes out into her mane.

“Hey Ky.” I heard Jensen’s voice and quickly tried to pretend like I was braiding her mane. I knew he knew I was crying, but he must have also caught on that I didn’t want him to know. “How'd lessons go?”

“Really well. I’m going to miss those pups and giving lessons.”

“I know you will. But, Caleigh will be a great teacher and you know that she will teach them right.”

“I know. That’s why I chose her.”

“Hey, so, I have some good news”

“Yeah, what's that?

“I found my mate last night.”

“NO WAY!” I shouted as I bounded out of the stall, scaring my horse in the process. She jumped and booked it for the far side of the stall where she stood there snorting at me and giving me the death stare. “Sorry.” I told her as I exited her stall and gave Jensen the biggest hug I could muster.

“I’m so happy for you.”

“That’s not the best part.”

“Oh?” I was intrigued.

“You know how usually the females leave their packs and go with their mates?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, not this time. I’m going to hers.”

“What?” I was excited, but confused. Although it did happen, it definitely wasn’t normal for a male to leave his pack for his mates pack.

“I guess she's the alpha’s sister, and also the acting Luna’s beta. So she’s begging to stay. I finally agreed. I don’t really have much here besides you and Sam, and Sam has Avery he’s always off with her. It’s not a permanent thing. We’ll be coming back here after a new beta takes her place and she gets them trained.”

“That’s great news. You’re such an amazing guy Jay.” I hugged him again.

“But wait, it gets better.” How could this get any better? I questioned to myself. “She's the beta of the Silver Moon pack. I’ll be going with you!”

“NO WAY! I was so excited to not be going into a new pack completely alone. But my excitement quickly turned to confusion. “You said she was beta to the acting Luna?”

“Yeah, well, this is the bad news.” His excitement quickly faded as well. “Alpha Flint has a girlfriend. They’re high school sweethearts. Been together for, well, Sandie said Alpha Flint is 28, so since he was seventeen, so eleven years they've been together now.”

“Sandie is your mate?”

“Mhmm.” He nodded. “She filled me in on everything last night. She and Rachel have been best friends since they were pups. Rachel is Alpha Flint’s girlfriend.”

“So, how does this work for me?”

“I don’t know. But Sandie says Rachel isn’t too happy about you.”

“Well, yeah. I can see why. Now I'm even more nervous to go.”

“Don’t be. Everything will work out. I’m sure Alpha Flint will break up with her now that you are his mate. She’ll step down and you step up.”

“Yeah, but I bet she hates me. This is going to be so miserable. I’m so glad you’ll be there with me.”