Chapter Seven: Their Lunas

ZOVADA

I was not sure how long I stood in that garden; dreams blended with reality; my gaze fixated on the sprouts I’d apparently produced with the Luna Mother. What is happening to me? I stared at my dirty hands, equal parts soothed and horrified by the possibility of finding my origin after all this time. Was I some type of Earth Witch?

Did I have some relatives tucked away somewhere? Are they in hiding? What happened in the War of the Witches?

The cabin in the forest faded back into view, for a moment…

“Zovada!” The Luna Mother cried out, her voice pulled me from my thoughts, reality seeped in, I shook away the thoughts. With one last look at ‘Vale’ on the wrought iron key, I truly smiled for what felt like the first time in a long time. With a grateful sigh, I placed the key back in its beautiful leather pouch, my fingers danced along the edges of the worn embroidered leaf insignia. I slid the pouch safely in my overall pocket and met her at the doors that led to the hell hole of the rest of the pack house. 

Luna Mother Claudia beamed at me, and I noticed that for the first time in years she looked healthy. Dressed in an elegant three-piece plum suit with a white blouse and black bow tie with black heels. Her long curly grey hair was down, the front of it pulled back with a black bow. She looked powerful, healthy, and sharp. Ready for action.

“Luna Mother. You look…”

The doctors and nurses gathered around, looked at her aghast. Margery stood at her side, dressed in a simple black blazer suit skirt ensemble. She looked less hand maiden, and more personal assistant than she had in years. I sensed the enormous change in her energy immediately, “Wait, you are a Gamma…” 

Margery smirked at me. “Yes, apologies for the deception. You’ve met my family already.”

“And bonded.” Luna Claudia smirked proudly. “With Didi.” 

“You could tell?” I asked in awe. 

Luna Claudia lowered her face to mine. “I sensed it as soon as you entered. Gamma Corbin must be so disappointed.”

“Disappointed?” I asked.

Gamma Margery straightened her jacket. “My poor Mate has always wanted his own Luna to serve. However, the bond between Claudia and I was stronger, so I became her personal Gamma instead.”

“Seems you have followed in my footsteps in more than one way.” Claudia replied. 

I smiled and looked at Margery again. She was stunning, her Gamma power rippled, how could I have not sensed it before?

“Daughter. I think it is time for my people to see their Lunas, don’t you?” Luna Claudia’s voice pulled me out of my reverie. My heart skipped, emotion climbed into my throat. 

Their Lunas? My heart thundered in my chest. Will Simon see me with his mother and feel attacked? Manipulated? Will it remind him of our Mate bond? Of his promise? Our supposed future?

Luna Claudia snapped her fingers and some men dressed in suits escorted me to a room nearby and made quick work of my appearance, faster than lightning before they vacated and left a dress bag.

“Put it on, no objections.” Her voice called out from the other side of the door. I grumbled but opened the bag and slipped into it. The suit was a deep three-piece blue and black ensemble that matched the Luna Mother’s, I threw open the door, and she grinned proudly at me.

“No heels for me?” I asked and threw my red hair over my shoulder.

She smiled. “Not today. You wear heels every day in the boardroom. Don’t think I am unaware of how the pack treats you. You are safe in exactly two places. Here, and that boardroom.”

I ignored the fact she did not mention the living quarters of me and Simon. She nodded and Margery pushed open the doors. Luna Mother Claudia walked out after Margery, her arm looped through mine. 

The guards gasped, “L-luna?”

“Michael, Victor. Hello. Thank you for keeping my sanctuary. Ensure no one crosses my boundaries to disturb it in my absence.”

“Y-yes of course Luna.” They both bowed deeply.

Michael stammered. “Ma’am, can I just say, I am so grateful to see you?”

She smiled back and placed a hand on his arm. Then did the same with Victor, her calming Luna aura passed through her hands and both guards smiled happily. My heart swelled, it was bittersweet to watch her Luna power. Was this something I would be able to do one day? Even without a wolf?

We walked away from the guards, and even though I could see the action had placed some tiredness upon her, Luna Mother Claudia stood tall and imposing.

“Luna Mother, please conserve your energy. You don’t know what we are about to walk into.” I whispered.

She grinned proudly and took a sip of a hidden poultice in her pocket. “Good catch. Luna Zovada.”

My heart thundered. “I am not sure I know how to feel with you calling me this all of a sudden.”

She chuckled and pocketed the poultice, instantly replenished. She patted my hand. “A Luna is responsible for her pack members. Knowing at a glance, or a smell, or a sense that something is off or wrong is the epitome of a good Luna despite what you, yourself are going through. Especially with a mate bond in peril.”

I mulled over her words. “How have you been so strong for so long, Luna Mother?”

“Meaning? Oh, you mean with the affair?” I nodded, she let out a bitter laugh. “It is easy, truly. There is a reason I call Richard, Dick. It isn’t just because it is a version of a nickname for the name. Fated mate or not, there is one thing Lisa will never have that I do and it is not only class. It is status and actual Luna power. I come from not only a wealthy family, but a powerful bloodline. My father is an Alpha by blood. Not a challenge.”

“Oh? I did not know all this.”

“Yes. I am an actual Luna wolf. She is, well, I don’t know what she is. Maybe the daughter of a warrior? I don’t really care. The only reason why her father won that match was because the Alpha was riddled with illness. Had lost his mate, no heirs, and much of his pack had already left or died. Unfortunate really.”

“Does that happen a lot? Packs just…dying out?”

She smiled sadly and patted my arm again. “Yes. Many of the old packs feared the advancement of technology. The quickness of its spread and reach, they didn’t want to adapt. Think of it in terms of the advancement of human civilizations. If they do not adjust, they are always doomed to fail. Many fear change, but change is constant. It is not something you can stop. Growth is inevitable, much like death. You can never outrun it. You either grow with it, or you will be outgrown.”

We stopped in front of the gaudy golden doors to the main room of the packhouse. “Of all the lessons I have taught you. That is the most important.”