The Rising Moon Pack

Chapter 32

Maria POV

I wheeled the trolley full of goodies to the packhouse elevator, the scent of chopped mango, pancakes, and various mid morning treats filling the air. I waited patiently until the elevator reached the 2nd floor, then rolled the cart out of the door. This floor was always immaculate, so I had to be very careful not to spill any crumbs, or orange juice, on the pristine cream carpet. This floor was slightly different to the rest of the packhouse; our Aqua and Lilac colours were significantly dulled down to a more businesslike Teal and Royal Purple, giving the wing a serious undertone.

I knocked politely on Meeting Room A, and my father opened the door. He smiled at me happily, and welcomed me inside. Even though we had seen each other yesterday, it felt like I hadn’t seen him in forever.

“Good morning, Gentlemen.” I addressed the room. I could see Jake and Noah huddled together in the corner of the room, smirking like naughty schoolboys.

“Good morning, future Luna.” Alpha Johnathon was first to speak. “What do we owe this pleasure?”

“I come baring snacks!” I announced, smiling sweetly. “By way of apology, for my lack of attendance to the meetings this week.”

“No need to apologise, dear.” My father said warmly. “Right then! What have we got?” He clapped his hands together gleefully, noticing the trolley was filled with plates and plates of food.

“Mrs Davies has kindly marked you a plate each; I believe a few of you have special dietary requirements and preferences. There’s a mixture of tea, coffee, and orange juice, too.” I addressed the room.

Murmurs of approval filled the air, and I caught Jake’s eye as he smiled approvingly. I watched as Noah whispered something in his ear, and Jake broke out in a huge grin.

“I wonder what that was about.” I thought to myself.

“Noah told Jake you’re gunna make all the warriors in Sapphire Moon fat if you keep feeding everyone like this.” Bella told me.

“How do you know that?” I asked her, amused. “We’re halfway across the room, there’s no way you heard him say that.”

“No, but I did hear him think it.” She chuckled.

“Wow. How come I didn’t hear that?” I wondered.

“Maybe cos you haven’t got all your gifts yet, but I have.” Bella shrugged.

I walked over to Jake and Noah, a cup of coffee in each hand.

“Alright, where are they?” I demanded playfully.

“Where are what?” Noah asked, feigning innocence.

“My damn pancakes. Hand ‘em over!” I told him.

“Or what, Squeak?” He asked playfully.

“f**k it.” I thought, focusing all of my strength on Noah.

An emerald orb surrounded him, and lifted him about 4 feet into the air. He gasped, eyes wide in shock. The sound of cutlery scraping plates stopped, and soon the room filled with silence, as I chuckled quietly at the shocked looking Noah suspended in the air.

“Witch craft…” Alpha Jonah of Dark Sea pack mumbled, pulling my focus.

Noah landed in his seat, unscathed. Jake started laughing quietly at his reaction. I turned to face the rest of the room, and noticed my dad was grinning proudly.

“I’m not a witch, Alpha Jonah.” I reassured him. “I’m actually just a wolf.”

“You just lifted that Beta in the air, I saw you!” He yelled, getting to his feet. I could see fear in his eyes, and I stepped towards him, trying to reassure him. He backed away, and I noticed the rest of the Alphas, all looking at me wearily. They feared me, because they didn’t know what I was.

“Men, please don’t be alarmed. My daughter is nothing to be afraid of.” My father said, trying to bring them comfort.

“How do we know that?” Alpha Johnathon asked, also getting to his feet. “How do we know she’s not going to harm us?”

“Alphas, please.” I said, calmly. “Let me explain who I am. And whilst I’m at it, I may as well explain why I’ve been so absent this week.”

“Maria, are you sure about this?” Jase asked, concerned. “You don’t have to prove yourself to anybody.”

“I don’t have to, but how can I do any good for anyone if they fear the unknown?” I responded. He nodded, then took a seat.

“Gentlemen, with your permission, I’d like to show you some of my memories.” I turned to the group and stated.

“How are you going to do that, witch?” Alpha Jonah spat, and that was all it took for Jake, My dad, Jase and Noah to all growl in his direction.

“I’d thank you to remain polite to my Luna, Jonah.” Jake spat back.

“We too,would take zero issues in retracting our alliance with Dark Sea.” My father said, through gritted teeth. “That is my daughter, and I will not have her spoken to that way.”

“Dad, Jake, it’s ok.” I reassured them before turning back to the meeting. “I am an Emerald Wolf, one of very few of my kind. A direct descendent of Emeera, the first Emerald wolf, I am the niece of the Moon Goddess Selene. I am rare, and destined to be powerful. One of my powers is memory projection, although I have never tried to do it for this many people at once.”

Alpha Jonah scoffed quietly to himself, and I could feel myself getting pissed off. How dare this man look down on me and call me a witch? I was a damn goddess. I decided to start with him first, and his eyes glazed over as I began to play the memories of the past few days. I decided to leave out memories of Bella, but I showed him parts of my meeting with Emeera. I showed him Jake’s meeting with Selene, but I left out his meeting with Wyatt. That felt too personal, too private.I was careful about what I showed to Jonah, leaving out any memory surrounding my mother or Bella. I felt like part of me knew he couldn’t be trusted, but all the same I needed to make him believe I wasn’t a threat. When I was done, he blinked rapidly, and for a moment looked afraid, but his face changed the moment we locked eyes again.

“It’s.. true?” He asked me, and I nodded.

“Yes.” I answered. “I am an Emerald Goddess. I am powerful, but I won’t cause you harm. That’s not who I am, and it isn’t someone I want to become.”

“What did you see, Jonah?” An alpha I recognised as Jackson asked him.

“I’ll show you?” I offered, and he looked at me sceptically before pulling up his chair. “Alright, anyone who wants to see this, speak now and form an orderly queue. I don’t know how many people I can do at a time,but I’m going to attempt groups of 5.”

Almost all of the Alphas scrambled to line up in groups, except for 3. These were the older Alphas, Alphas the same age as my dad. They had ruled their packs side by side, and trusted my dad implicitly. I turned my attention, and began to project again. A gasp fell over the whole crowd, including the 3 alphas who hadn’t gathered. It had appeared that I had unintentionally projected to them all.

I looked to Jake with fear in my eyes. How had I done that? I didn’t even have my full powers yet, but here I was projecting to a room of at least 30 people. Jake smiled at me reassuringly, and Noah gave me the thumbs up, so I relaxed and powered through. I showed them all exactly what I had shown Jonah, and by the end they were all looking up at me in amazement.

“Wow.” Jackson laughed. “You’re one special Luna!”

“Thank you.” I smiled warmly. “Does anyone have any questions?”

“Yes.” There was a deep voice at the back of the room. “I’m Alpha Thorn, Alpha of the Black Mountains pack. How do we know that you aren’t ever going to become a threat to us?”

“Good question,” I nodded, thinking it over. “Well, I think it’s only fair to assume that anyone who is in alliance with either Rising Moon or Sapphire Moon, would be under my protection. I’m not just the future Luna of Sapphire Moon, I am an Emerald Wolf Goddess. From my understanding, Emerald wolves are protectors, we’re here to be in tune with the earth, with our pack. We’re supposed to do good, not evil.”

“So you’re saying that anyone who chooses not to align with Rising moon or Sapphire moon, automatically becomes an enemy and therefor could be in harms way because of your powers?” He quipped, and I smiled. I knew was he was doing, but I wasn’t going to take it lying down.

“If you’re trying to insinuate that I would cause harm to any other living creature just because they aren’t a member of my pack, Alpha Thorn, then you are sorely mistaken.” I told him firmly. “My destiny is not to cause pain. My destiny is to live alongside the people I care about, and help where I can. No one is going to be hurt at my hand. Not if I can help it.”

“What about that Beta you just lifted in the air like he was nothing?! He has at least 150lbs on you, yet you were strong enough to life him from his seat.” He protested.

“Yes, using telekinesis, Thorn.” I smiled at his annoyance. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid I could kick your ass in a fight? You do realise that I’m not actually as strong physically as a big, bad, Alpha, right?” I mocked. “Don’t be afraid. Your masculinity is still intact, I swear.”

Jake snorted with laughter, and Thorn’s head whipped around furiously, anger glinting in his eye.

“I don’t trust you.” Thorn told me, spitting his words at me furiously. I shrugged back at him, amused.

“That’s all we needed to hear.” My dad stood to his feet. “I, Alpha Benjamin James Johnson of Rising Moon pack, break alliance with Alpha Thorn Thomas of the Black Mountains Pack. I do this because he has continued to disrespect my daughter, Maria Jade Johnson, the Future Luna of Sapphire Moon pack.”

Silence filled the room, and Jake stood to his feet.

“I, Alpha Jacob Asher Blue of Sapphire Moon pack, break alliance with Alpha Thorn Thomas of the Black Mountains Pack. I do this because not only has he disrespected my future Luna, Maria Jade Johnson of Rising Moon pack, but because he has continually disrespected my future father in law’s kindness and hospitality.” He looked Alpha Thorn in the eye, refusing to back down.

Jase stood to his feet.

“Before Alpha Thorn is escorted from the building, does anyone else here take issue with my sister?!” He bellowed.

The room stayed silent, Alphas shaking their heads vigorously.

“Before you leave, Alpha Thorn. Does anyone here want to keep their alliance with Black Mountains pack?” My dad asked.

Three, maybe four hands went up, but the rest stayed very firmly down. Those who were up, were up because Black Mountain was either their neighbouring pack, or much larger and stronger than they were.

“Alright, gentlemen. Those wishing to sever ties with Black Mountains, line up by the door. Thorn will be escorted out and one by one you can say what you need to say. Those of you remaining in alliance, there are no hard feelings. We understand your motives for doing so.” My father stated, fairly.

I sat down in Alpha Thorn’s chair in front of the table, Jake and Noah coming to sit next to me, my plate of pancakes in their hands. Finally! I could eat. I watched in amusement as Alpha Thorn had to accept the rejections of almost every pack in attendance, and smiled to myself. I guess this would teach everyone a valuable lesson, including him.

Never disrespect the daughter of an Alpha.