The Luna's Gift

Helena's Mission

    Helena stood outside High Tribute Jonas’ office. His assistant had come to her and Mag’s living quarters and said Jonas needed to speak to her. Helena feels nervous, although she doesn't have anything to feel nervous about, she's done nothing wrong. Jonas unnerves her though, he's perfectly nice and considerate, a good boss, even remembers her birthday each year. There is just something about him that makes her not want to talk to him for longer than she has to, he just creeps her out to put it in the simplest of terms. She knocks and Jonas bids her enter.

“Good morning Ms. Flynn, how are you today?” Jonas asks, his hands folded together over his belly. 

“I’m doing well, thank you for asking. How are you today.”

“Oh, I’ve been better, my child, I’ve been better. These are troubling times.”

Helena takes a seat across from Jonas’ desk. His office is large, and Helena has only been in here a few other times, and while she does technically report to Jonas, she is mostly self managed. Her and Mags run the Daae’s library, manage the scholars using the rare books, and restore old texts and artifacts. Helena’s largest responsibility is as an Underworld historian for the Daae, a role she's been preparing for most of her life, memorizing the ancient laws, history of her world, and even the documented cases or disputes between clans and species, and is used in a research capacity when the Council or Tribunal need clarification or information. Helena and Mags essentially serve as the Underworld Google.

“I’m sorry to hear that, I do hope it gets better.” Helena offers politely, not actually caring about Jonas' day. 

Jonas smiles warmly at her, “Well that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I have a job for you.”

“I am at the Daae’s service.”

Jonas smiles even broader at this, a submissive woman, just how he likes them. 

“What do you know about the situation going on right now, with the Alpha from America abdicating his position?” Jonas rocks back in his desk chair, folding his hands over his stomach, his long red robe sleeves pulling up a little, and revealing a rather nice watch on his left wrist.

Helena shrugs, “Not much I guess, the same as everyone else who lives here. That an American Alpha is abdicating to become a member of the Tribunal, that he was Called. And that he arrived a few days ago, and everyone met in the main hall yesterday morning.”

Jonas nods approvingly, “Yes, yes. Ok so gossip hasn’t gotten around yet, that’s good. Helena, I have a job for you. I’m sending you to America.”

“Why, sir?”

He lets out a heavy sigh, “Helena, as our historian and keeper of records, I know our traditions are near and dear to your heart. Apollo, the Alpha from America, has no heir or successor, he’s unmated with no children. This situation is unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before, and technically our laws say he can name his successor.”

Helena nods in agreement, Jonas continues, “Apollo has named his twin sister Artemis, as his successor.” Jonas pauses for dramatic effect. Helena takes in the words, and what Jonas is getting at. He’s appointed his sister, a woman, as an Alpha. A female Alpha. Helena searches through her mental file cabinets for anything in their kind’s past for something similar. Has there ever been a female Alpha? Werewolf history has only been written for the past 1300 years or so, before that just oral tradition. Helena gives Jonas no reaction, no satisfaction for his big reveal. He pushes forward, “this is obviously one of the biggest things to ever happen in our society, a female Alpha, can you believe it? What’s next, women on the Tribunal?” He laughs.

Helena persists, “And I’m going to America?”

Jonas continues, “Yes, America. As a compromise between Apollo’s rights and our tradition, we’re giving Artemis a six month probationary period, and at that time the Tribunal will meet again to decide if this is something….more permanent. This could be the biggest change we’ve seen in tradition in hundreds of years, we need someone there. Someone the Tribunal trusts, to be our eyes and ears, give us daily updates, let us know how Artemis is doing as a leader, if the pack trusts her and accepts her, how she works with other Alphas. We need to know everything she does, if anything...out of the ordinary happens.”

Helena looks confused “Why, sir? Why me?”

Jonas’ nostril flares a little, he doesn't like being questioned, which is an attribute of most men in power, “because we need someone who’s committed to the Daae, who’s committed to preserving our tradition, and as a woman we expect that Artemis will…,” Jonas hesitates as he looks for the right words, “that she will...trust you, a beautiful woman, more than if we sent some Council member to keep tabs on her, and with Magnolia here to look after the library, you were the most ideal choice.”

Helena understands better, but the heart of the situation she still is unclear about. This is huge, if Artemis succeeded, would the entire culture change? Would Alphas no longer be gendered, could a woman be a Tribunal member? What is Jonas’ angle? 

“When do I leave? How long will I be gone?” Helena asks, she doesn't think Jonas will offer anymore information about the why.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Duke drive you to the airport,” He slids over a brief itinerary, the instruction of what he wants and where to email the daily reports, an airplane ticket, and a Daae official credit card, “Artemis’ probation is six months, at that time you’ll come back and deliver an official report to the Tribunal. You must obtain authorization before using the credit card--tickets and brief instructions are here. In an official capacity, you are a historian, chartering this historical event. You’re there in an advisory capacity, you speak on behalf of the Daae. Lodging has already been arranged for you to stay in the Tribunal House at the pack’s headquarters.”

Helena takes a deep breath and picks up everything, “yes sir, I’m honored you chose me for this important...mission.”

Jonas stands up from his chair and claps his hands together, “Excellent, I have complete faith in you,” He reaches out for Helena’s hand which she reluctantly gives him, Jonas clasping both hands around her’s, “May the Gods greet you each dawn, and the Moon watch over you in the dark.” Helena bows her head respectfully and leaves the office. What the actual f**k is happening?

                                                                                            ****

    Helena took the rest of the day off to pack, prepare, and ruminate over everything that just happened. Mags is off campus today on a last minute errand to retrieve a rare book from a private collector to add to the library. Helena will have to fill her in later that evening. This seems like a waste of my time, sending me all the way to America to babysit an Interim Alpha, all because she’s a woman? Do these men really fear change this much? We should have had a female Alpha centuries ago.

    Helena fumes silently to herself, over the imposition of having to travel to another country, live away for months, and be a spy? Helena loves being the Daae’s librarian, not only learning, reading, and archiving ancient texts about werewolves, but about the other Underworld species as well. Helena was practically raised by the Daae, her parents killed in a very human way, leaving Helena an orphan. Her parents worked at the Daae, and moved to Rome from their native Ireland when she was very young. Her Origin Pack offered to take her in and raise her collectively, but the Daae was all she knew anymore. She wanted to stay, and so they made accommodations for her. She studied and excelled as a scholar, and was soon tapped by the Daae to take over the librarian job from her retired mentor Raphael. This took years of apprenticeship--studying, reading all the rare books, preserving and restoring manuscripts and scripture, offering consultation to anyone who contacted the Daae for advice or clarification of Underworld law, and even going as far as giving tours of the Daae for vacationing Underworlders. This huge, vast marble city is her home, and she loves it here. This job also gives her the time to work on her dissertation, which at the thought of sent Helena spiraling in anxiety. She's leaving her whole life, her work, her writing, for a six month stint in...Massachusetts? She collapses into her bed, stretching out, taking a moment to relax. Her wolf stirs inside of her, begging for one last run before she leaves town for the foreseeable future. She texts Mags, “Run tonight?” Mags replies an enthusiastic yes. Helena stares up at the ceiling, wondering what the next couple of months hold for her. I hate American food she pouts to herself before falling into a perfectly sunny afternoon nap.

                                                                                                            ****

    “You’re mine!” A voice growled behind Helena, and she froze, standing still in the kitchen. She didn’t turn around. Her body reacted faster than her mind, her body betraying her already. Her wolf felt the presence of their mate and yearned for a physical connection. It took all of Helena’s power to stay standing still, to resist the pull, and ignore the throbbing in her core. She felt someone come closer, stand mere inches behind her, there was already static in the air, the summer heat thick in the room. Helena tried to breathe but was losing restraint, a finger ran down her arm, to the bottom of her shorts and a finger trailed along the top of her thigh. 

Helena whispered, “s---stop.” The hand stopped moving, and a voice whispered in her ear, “is that what you want? You are my mate, I can already smell you, I want you on my tongue.” Helena’s knees started to shake and she whined, the throbbing was unbearable, she needed relief. Her body had never felt this way, this need building up inside of her, ready to explode. The hand removed completely from her thigh. 

The voice said quietly into Helena’s ear, “You are mine. You are the one I have waited so long for. Your pleasure will be my life’s purpose, and every moan from your lips will be my offering to the Goddess in thanks for bringing you to me. Now, are you going to keep eating your snack, or are you going to let me take you across this countertop until I’ve decided you’ve had enough?” Helena wanted that hand back, she wanted that hand to touch her and never stop touching her. She had never been this aroused, and by a stranger? Her mate? Helena nodded, and exhaled, begging for release. 

The hand returned, over the front of her thigh and moving towards her center, under her shorts the fingers found Helena’s panties. The hand tugged at the edge of her panties, so close to the pulsating heat, but still so far. Helena pounded a fist onto the counter, exasperated, and pushed her ass into the crotch of the stranger, begging for more. The stranger laughed, and playfully tickled a finger over Helena’s c******s, but without any pressure to ease her suffering, just enough to drive her to the brink of madness. The other hand grabbed a fistful of Helena’s long brown curls and pulled back hard, bringing her head back and exposing a long slender neck. 

Helena cried out in pleasure, “please, p-please.” Helena gasped, her mouth dry, her panties soaked. “You’ve asked so very nicely,” the stranger purred into her ear, “now spread your f*****g legs like the good girl you are,” with another yank of her hair. Helena wasn’t sure her legs would even follow her brain’s command to open wider, but she managed to spread her legs a few more inches, while the stranger purred in delight. A knee came up between Helena’s legs, pressing on her mound, on her c******s. She was startled at first, but quickly the pleasure took over, the hard thigh pressing against her, moving against her, stroking her. Helena could feel the familiar warming in her toes, her face, her fingers. She was going to come, and her body quivered in the sweet anticipation, all of her senses alive and ready. The warm tingle moved inward until all parts of her body connected there at her core, Helena exploded in pleasure, wave after wave crashing around her, her vision going blurry, her swollen p***y pulsating against the stranger’s thigh. Helena laid across the countertop, supported by the stranger’s leg and arms. Helena layed there, feeling every whisper of orgasm in the furthest corners of her body, her body twitching with every long lasting ripple. Sense slowly returned to Helena, as her breathing steadied. Helena didn’t move, she laid with her cheek against the counter, she closed her eyes, “who are you?” she asked. The stranger didn’t move, “don’t you know?”. Helena opened her eyes, “yes.”

                                                                                                            ****

    “Helenaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I’m home!” Mags shut the door behind her, “you will not believe the beauty I just picked up from the auction! I mean, I know we saw it online, but the pictures did not do it justice. It’s gorgeous! And it’s pre-Peace Treaty, did you know that? It’s so interesting.” Helena jolted awake at the sound of the door, it took her several moments to  bring her attention back to the present moment. That dream...it was so real. Helena took survey of her body, she came in her sleep, she could feel it. The slickness between her thighs, the pulsating goodness from her c******s. She had never come in her sleep before, “maybe the stress from today?” She thought. She remembered the stranger from the dream, she could feel the absence of the knee from between her thighs, she remembered the sensation of grinding against the hard leg until she exploded into waves of pleasure. She started to get aroused again just thinking about it. Who was this stranger? Why did this dream give her more pleasure than any other lover or even solo adventure? And a “mate”? Finding your mate was rare, so rare that the Daae interviewed and documented all mated pairs. Most wolves these days fell in love, spent their lives together, had pups, and generally had a very happy relationship. This idea of a clandestine mate was in children’s stories, a gift from the Lunar Goddess, and happened once a century maybe. Even then, the Daae investigated heavily for fraud. It was so rare and fantastical, that wolves talked about their Mate the same way human children talked about growing up and marrying a prince.

Helena was a serious and realistic woman, she didn’t believe in growing up to marry royalty, she had never even daydreamed about it like other children, she knew her passion was the library, her work, and her contributions to cultural preservation. She was truly happy in her life, and not a sort of happiness that single people tell themselves when really they’re miserable, but she was truly happy with her work, her friend and housemate, even her rotation of lovers she kept for when the urge strikes her. But this sudden absence of her mate’s presence, even from a dream, has left a gnawing need deep inside of her. Helena realized she felt sad, she felt longing for someone who’s face she never saw.