Chapter 5: Presentation of the Wolves

P.o.V Moira/???

The final group had returned about ten minutes prior and they were about to begin the presentation. Each of the wolves waited anxiously by the stage. Ready for the long night to be over and to be able to get to sleep before rising for training the next morning.

"At least we can sleep until 10," Moira yawned to her wolf. "Training isn't until after lunch since they knew we'd be wiped out."

He nodded internally. They were exhausted. "Who new father's wolf would be that fast?" he responded. "We almost couldn't keep up."

"But we did," she said smugly. He could feel her smirk.

"Don't be too cocky. He wasn't going full speed. I noticed they were slowing down whenever we did."

"Okay. Okay. You don't have to spoil our night!"

They started as their mother's voice suddenly called out from the platform. "Good evening, everyone. We are very excited and honored to present our largest group of new wolves in history tonight. It is always a day of pride and celebration, but the number of wolves growing so much is a sure sign of the Moon Goddess blessing our pack. With that in mind I will begin the introductions." 

She held a stack of folded cards closely in front of her and read off the front of the top one, "Alessa!" A slight, tawny female wolf stood up and walked up the ramp onto the stage. She sat by the Luna's side to polite applause and began moving towards the closed areas with the cubbies as Luna Fallon opened the card and read "Alessa is bonded with Jessica Slater, daughter of Warrior Nicolas Slater and Doctor Marissa Slater." As she finished reading the card, Jessica, in her human form, stepped out from the other side of the partition and gave a small wave to her parents as she stood on the other side of the platform facing the crowd.

This continued for a time. Each wolf being called forward, changing in the partitions, then emerging in their human form. Bo was the first from their group to be called, his wolf was as large as he was and called Skyy. Stan came not long after and was bound to a wolf called Torin. The flaming red wolf named Ember was clearly Seamus. The two were definitely meant for each other.

"Colm!" called Luna Fallon. A wiry, brown wolf whose fur faded to grey at the stomach and legs came forward. Moira was excited to see her mother's reaction as she opened the card, but as she did there was a slight pause. She quickly collected herself and announced, "Colm is bonded to Patrick Leary, son of Alpha Darren Leary and Luna Fallon Leary." There was a slight intake of breath in the crowd and muttering as glances began shooting towards Moira.

"Interesting." She thought to her wolf. "They definitely expected him, but there isn't as much shock as I thought there'd be."

"Oh just wait." Her wolf responded. "They won't know what's coming."

"Father will. I don't know how long he's known, but he does."

They scanned the crowd for her father as other wolves were called. Rich's wolf, Claud, was just as big as Bo's and seemed to be reluctant to leave their side. Otto, Chris's grey wolf, followed immediately after. That only left Moira and two she wolves. Both of whom kept glancing at them as they lounged on the lawn.

"The Moon Goddess must be dealing those cards tonight just to build suspense," he said to Moira with a hint of mirth in his voice.

"No kidding! But look at the crowd, people are beginning to put it together. They've started to realize there's only three female humans left and only two female wolves. They're starting to shoot dad looks too."

Sure enough, both female wolves were called and they were the only ones left. Before her mother could begin reading the card, they moved forward and sat beside her. She glanced at the name and then back at them. That same look from the hallway earlier burning in her eyes. She recognized the name, she'd told them the stories enough she had to. The Alpha Emperor.

Moira knew she'd never say it if they waited. Without the Luna making a move, they got up and entered the partition. Silence bore down from outside as they changed. "Here we go!" they said together before Moira stepped out.

"Trajan! Bonded to Moira Leary, daughter of Alpha Darren Leary and Luna Fallon Leary," Moira yelled to the crowd. The applause began with the announcing of Trajan's name and quickly grew. She beamed at the people gathered and gestured for those behind her on the stage to come forward.

Luna Fallon regained her composure enough to say, "We are pleased to present the new wolves who have joined our pack. May the Goddess bless and guide them to carry the pack for decades to come!" Then she turned and strode off the stage, leaving the smiling teens and their clapping parents behind, as she turned toward the pack house and the solitude it offered.

Moira spared her mother a glance but not much more as she was soon engulfed in a crowd of her peers. Those on the stage all gathered around to ask her about her wolf and exclaim at his size and speed and.... it was too much. She was ready to shout when a large, strong arm appeared in front of her to the right and physically moved at least three of those gathered around her back.

"Don't crowd Future Alpha Moira," a soft, deep voice seemed to rumble from her shoulder.

"Show some respect," a louder, raspier voice added as the pressure on her left eased as well.

She glanced back at Bo and Rich who had taken up stations behind her, clearing people away. Chris moved forward as well and began reminding people that their parents were waiting to congratulate them and they could see Moira any old day and weren't they hungry and thirsty it's a good time to grab refreshments. With a chuckle at her dazed expression, Rich leaned in a bit and whispered, "Hell of a night, huh boss?"

This managed to finally snap her out of it. "Don't call me boss," she laughed at Rich. "Or Alpha," she added turning to Bo. Moving so she could see all three of them she knew she had to address the Alpha in the room. "Come on, guys, I'm just me. Nothing new or fancy."

"I wouldn't say that at all," said Chris, removing his glasses and cleaning a spot on them. "We just found out our childhood companion is bound to an Alpha wolf born with the name of the greatest werewolf Alpha of history who managed to unite a huge portion of territory under a werewolf run empire. One who was known as a fair and brilliant leader both for his pack and the non-were folk of his lands. I think that would fall squarely in both the new and fancy columns."

Moira stared back at him as he finished his speech. She took in his serious gaze, Bo's look of pride and respect, and Rich's smug I-always-knew-it grin. "Oh alright fine!" she exclaimed. "But I'm drawing the line at titles."

"Acceptable for now," replied Chris as they all began to walk towards the stairs off the platform. With an expansive smile on his usually somber face he added, "Now let's go see what new brand of trouble you've gotten us all into tonight, Moira."