The Alpha and her Luna

The Lake

I'm the first to arrive at the greenhouse, and when I enter and flip the lights on the memories of my childhood spent in one of many greenhouses just like this flood me. This is my first visit back here since my return from Paris, and the sense of comfort washes over me, like I'm surrounded by my father's love. It was in a building just like this that I sat as a young pup, listening to the stories of my parents' youth, and about their first mates. The timbre of loss in my father's voice when he spoke of her was deep, and even though I knew he had an all abiding love for my mother I was struck with the depth of love that one feels for their destined mate.

I leaned against one of the counters along the far wall and took a deep breath, the thickness of the soil and dampness being drawn into my lungs as I took a moment to reflect. I had run from her. She felt what I feel now, and I ran from her. I couldn't feel our mate bond then, but I feel it now, and I can't imagine the torment I put her through disappearing like I did. A pang of guilt stabs me in the heart and brings tears to my eyes before the sound of my friends filters in through the night. I reach up to swipe at my eyes before pushing off the countertop and turning to look around for the lime tree my father told me about.

I locate it just as the group of people enter, and when I reach into the pot it's contained in I find several glass bottles hidden just under the peat moss my father has hidden them under. I smiled briefly before grasping three in each hand and lifting them overhead with a cry of triumph. The smile on my face is genuine, and I'm happy to be here, but just below the surface I can feel the sorrow sinking into my bones. Even if she is willing to give us a chance, Becca and I have a lot of lost time to make up for, and it's not going to be easy. We know it's not.

Sarah's the first to reach me, and she easily reaches up and swipes a bottle for herself. Josh swipes two, handing one to the she-wolf that's with him. "Nope, Joshie!" I exclaim, before grinning at him. "You haven't even introduced us yet, and you're already giving her my dad's liquor? Don't think so!" I'm laughing though, and let's face it - he knows me as well as I know myself. We've only been best friends since we were five. He chucks a thumb toward the woman next to him and says, "Oh her, she's... umm... Oh, I forgot her name, but she's cool." He smirks as he looks at his mate, and I can't help but laugh as she gives him a good hard punch in the shoulder. Her voice is pleasant as she says, "Hi, I'm Alexis. My boyfriend's busy tonight so I decided to hang out with this big lug here." She chucks her own thumb toward him, and he reaches up to grab his chest in a mock heart attack. Their antics make me smile and as I swipe the two bottles from him I hand them to her, and wrap my free arm around her shoulders. "So, Alexis... wanna be my new best friend? My old one got punched so hard he forgot his manners. I'm Liv, and this is, by far, the best vodka you've ever tasted. My dad makes it. Don't tell my mom." She glances over her shoulder at me as we exited the greenhouse, leaving Josh behind, staring at us incredulously. As I pass Sarah and Sam I hand them each a bottle of the vodka, and wave for them to follow.

We've been doing this since we were kids, though not always with the promise of alcohol waiting for us. There's an area near the lake where we've built a fire pit and there are logs surrounding it to sit on. At some point a hammock was hung nearby, and I notice that while I was in Paris someone added a picnic table to the setup. It stings a little to know that life moved on without me, but what could I expect. Of course it did. The thought makes me a bit melancholy and I can't help but lose myself in my thoughts for a few minutes.

Everyone sinks down near the dark fire pit, except for Josh. He lights the fire. It's always been the way, and the rest of us tease him that it's taking so long. More things have changed though, and he lights it easily, a task he must have acquired while I was away. My friends are uncorking their bottles, but nobody is drinking yet. I sink a few of the bottles in the sand next to me, while opening the top of the one I have remaining in my hand.

It's just then that the feminine silhouette of my mate can be seen in the light emanating from the greenhouse. It's Chloe, and she's still some distance away when her scent hits me, the pear orchard, crisp and light, and my mouth waters. I'm staring, and I know it, and at some point Sarah notices too, lifting her eyes to the silhouette. One by one my friends realize we're being approached by the alpha, with Josh being the last to lift his head. The fire has caught now, and he steps back to sit next to Alexis.

When she reaches us, I try to give her a confident smile, but I know it's falling short of that. None of us have ever spent any significant amount of time with an alpha, quite honestly, and we're not sure how to behave. I pat the log next to me for her and she easily moves toward us, sinking onto the log. I look around at my friends before plucking one of the bottles of vodka out of the sand and handing it to her. "My dad made it, from the sugarcane growing on the pack lands. I know you like whiskey, but... " My voice dies off. She takes the bottle, smiling tensely. Nobody knows what to say so I take a deep breath and stand up. I hold up my bottle and my friends do the same, a few of them uncorking them before they do. I don't speak until Chloe has her bottle high in the air as well. "Ummm, so I've been gone a while, and I imagine you guys have had plenty of toasts while I was away, but... " I turn my eyes to Chloe, and I continue, "A toast! To friendships that last forever and nights like this! To new friends, and mates!" I lift my bottle in Alexis' direction and then I falter before I turn toward Chloe and lift the bottle to her as well. Then I start to count.. "1...2.." The entire group grows animated and starts to count with me, "3! Cheers Bitches!" The last words ring out loudly as they come from everyone in the group except Chloe. She's smiling though, and when we all lift the bottles to our lips she drinks with us, laughing at the spluttering from the lightweights that weren't prepared for my dad's vodka. I sink back down next to her and give her a warm smile, the vodka warming me deep down from inside and the fire warming me from the outside. I feel Chloe's free hand slip to the small of my back, the physical touch comforting me, and sending little tingles of electricity up my spine. When I turn to look at her, she takes another drink. The crowd around us dissolves into conversations between everyone, and I quip in from time to time, but for the moment I just drink in the atmosphere, wondering why in the world I ever left.