The Alpha and her Luna

The New Alpha

I've only been home a few hours, but it doesn't take long to settle into old patterns. I'm helping my mother in the kitchen, and even though my skills have surpassed hers at this point, I'm enjoying the way she instructs me as she cooks. I missed my family, and even though we talked regularly over Skype it's different to have them surrounding me. She clears her throat and begins to speak, and I know almost instantly that I'm going to dread this conversation.

"Livvy, honey.... I don't know why you had to leave in such a hurry, but I hope you know that whatever you ran from is probably still here. Not much changes around here. You'll have to deal with it sooner or later." Mom's voice is kind, but it's firm. This is her way of telling me that it's time to face the music for my actions.

"I know, Mom." I say quietly and I put the knife down and turn to her. "The night of the party I met my mate. I was going to be rejected so I ran. I know it's coming and I know it's going to hurt. I couldn't feel the mate bond back then. I wasn't eighteen yet. I should have stayed. It would have hurt less, but I just couldn't. I've been preparing for this the past two years. I'm ready."

The concern is written all over her face when she puts the knife down and wraps her arms around me. At first I stiffen. It's been a long time since I felt my mother's embrace, but it doesn't take long for me to sink into it with a sigh. I sound stronger than I feel when I say, "I'll be ok, Mom. I'm stronger than you realize."

Dinner is full of catching up. I tell my family about Clarisse. Same s*x mates aren't unheard of in the werewolf world, but it's rare. Our pack has never seen it happen, and in most packs it has never happened. Luckily the same stigma doesn't exist in the werewolf world that it does in the human world. After all, our mates are chosen for us by the Moon Goddess, and if she chooses someone of the same s*x who are we to question that? My family look confused at first, but by the time dinner was over they understand that I liked girls more than boys. Two of my brothers had found their mates since I left, and there are two more parties at our dinner table that I didn't know. That's awkward, but I manage. Things change sometimes, right?

We walk to the packhouse as a family. Mom's got the night off, probably for my arrival, so someone else is on kitchen duty at the packhouse. When we arrive and settle into a table my eyes instinctively search the common area for my friends, even though they're done with school and some of them probably have their own mates and families now. When my eyes catch Sarah's the smile that spreads across both of our lips could light up the room, and I quickly rise from my chair and rush toward her. There might be a bit of a commotion, and perhaps even some squeals of delight, but we are reunited and it's like we were never apart. She ushers me toward a table where the rest of our friends are gathered. There are new people there. Some of them I recognize, and some I don't. There's even Josh with a pup in his lap and a woman next to him that looks at him like he hung the moon and the stars himself. Life here has moved on without me, and even though I'm smiling my heart breaks a little bit at the thought of it.

There isn't much time to talk before Alpha Stephan and Luna Circe move to the podium and clear their throats. I must admit I'm a little surprised. I expected a different Alpha, and of course I expected Chloe to be our Luna, but she's seated nearby at a table, looking surly and sipping a dark amber colored liquid from a large mug. The moment my eyes land on her the scent hits me. It reminds me of wandering through the pear orchard as a child. I remember picking a pear and taking a bite of it. The aroma of the juices dripping down my chin paired with the blossoms nearby bring me back to that moment and I close my eyes for a moment. I have a hard time pulling my eyes from her, but I resist the urge to go to her.

Alpha Stephan begins to speak, and I manage to turn my gaze toward him. As he starts to speak I suddenly feel a bizarre sensation and my eyes are pulled back toward Chloe. She's staring at me. More than staring, really. She's shooting daggers at me with her eyes. I know what's coming and I gave her a resigned sigh before looking back toward her father.

"We have gathered you here tonight to make an announcement. As you all know it's time to pass the mantle of leadership of the Silver Moon pack onto the next generation." he says confidently. The room erupts into whispers and I can feel the tension in the room as we all await the announcement of who our next Alpha will be. "After several years of consideration by the werewolf council, and having to prove their worthiness we have decided that your new Alpha will be..." he pauses for dramatic effect. We're all on the edge of our seats. Our lives could change forever in this moment. "My daughter, Chloe." She stands and moves next to her father. He steps aside easily and she steps forward.

Those icy blue eyes rake over the room as we can feel the power surge around her. I close my eyes, the smell of pears overwhelming me and bringing tears to my eyes. When they reopen she's staring directly at me. The remainder of the room is kneeling, only myself remaining standing. Her eyes settle on me for a moment before the aura of power falls and everyone can stand once again. "I know it's not conventional to have a female Alpha, but I challenge you all to think of this pack not in conventional terms, but in terms of what we can make it. I have earned the right to be Alpha, and I challenge anyone who thinks they can take the title from me to make their claim." She falls silent waiting for a response. Nobody speaks. Even if somebody wanted to speak we're all stunned into silence. She gives everyone a moment before continuing.

"My parents have done a wonderful job of carrying our pack into modern times, and I hope that with their guidance we can continue the path they've laid out for us. Does anyone have any questions for me at this time?"

There's silence for a moment, but it's disturbed by a little girl perhaps 12 years of age. "Alpha Chloe, will we not have a Luna? Will you be Luna and Alpha? When you find your mate will he be the Alpha?" Her voice is tinted with the curiosity of a child, but it's full of the questions everyone else wants answered too.

"The Moon Goddess has seen fit to give me a mate. When the time is right I will share that person with you and we'll figure this out together." Her answer is kind, kinder than anyone expects, I think, and when she finishes speaking she looks at me. The way her eyes settle on mine and stay there draws attention and it doesn't take long before my cheeks are burning and I know there are pink spots high on my cheeks. Even Sarah is staring at me, and she doesn't stop until Chloe's voice rings out, "Now, you are all excused. Eat, drink, be merry! This is a new dawn for the Silver Moon Pack!"

As soon as the words are uttered I turn and head for the door. My mother seems to realize what I'm doing and she meets me at the door. Her eyes settle on mine. They're a mirror of my own, their green playfulness turned serious as she says quietly, "You can't run from this, Liv." I nod, but still, I step outside the door and walk pointedly toward the forest.