Chapter Thirteen: Cabin in the Woods

ZOVADA

I sighed. 

Simon sighed. 

Claudia smirked. 

Gamma Didi raised a brow. 

Gamma Corbin pinched the bridge of his nose. 

Gamma Margery walked over to join her family and Luna Claudia. Her heels clicked on the floor as she moved. I couldn’t tell if the sound reminded me of a clock as it ticked or the countdown to a bomb. Her hands were behind her straight back, her head tall. Hair wild around her shoulders as she passed. She looked down at me from the corner of her eye. “My Luna, perhaps it would help the Young Alpha to understand just how much his unclaimed, unmated, and otherwise hidden Luna had contributed to his pack from the shadows.” she said firmly. 

“Oh, that won’t be necessary really. I just do my job. It’s really not that serious Gamma Margery.” I stammered and began to fidget with my hair, I avoided Didi’s eyes as she rolled them so hard I thought they’d fall out of her head. 

“I find that hard to believe. Don’t you Luna Mother?” 

“Perhaps. Simon. Tell me all the things Zovada has been doing while I have been in the hospital.” 

Simon sat up straight like he was about to ace the test, I covered my face as doubt crept in. 

“Since I gave her the Coordinator position, Zov has taken the company to new heights. She has completely reworked our entire infrastructure, redone our entire sales directive, marketing strategy, and created a bunch of new patents. She has almost tripled our sales consistently since she took over. Built a networking program, snagged and bagged new clients–”

“Uh huh, yes, she is amazing at work. What about the Pack Simon?” Claudia said and leaned back in her chair, bridging her hands. 

“Well the business is part of the pack so–.”

“Your business is one of many parts of the pack. What has Zovada done for the pack itself?" 

Simon sat there staring at his mother for a moment. Their eyes the same color as they bore into each other. Meanwhile, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

“The Princess Project.” Simon finally whispered. His earlier bolster and confidence waned.

“Tell me. What is the Princess Project?” 

“Its the mentorship program to help young shewolves pursue careers–”

“Yeah. And what else?” 

“What do you mean, what else?” he asked. 

“Sure yeah. It helps young shewolves, and anyone can apply for it. But who is it for?” 

“I am not following.” 

“It is a program Zovada created for orphan shewolves. Specifically at the orphanage.” Didi said annoyed. 

Simon looked at me. 

“Have you ever been to the orphanage Simon?” Claudia asked before she tossed a folder at him. He caught it as she said. “Before this photo was taken?” 

I didn’t have to look at the photo to know what photo it was. The ribbon cutting when we remodeled the orphanage and launched the Princess Project. 

“N…no…” Simon stammered as he opened it to see the picture of him and Regina as they cut the ribbon. Emotion welled up in his face. 

Claudia’s face shafted with emotion as she stared out the window. “When you were younger, I used to take you with me. I’d go multiple times a week to visit the pups. Bring goodies, etc. We met a little pup there with fiery red hair and green eyes like leaves. She took care of the younger kids in that shithole of an orphanage. I begged your father to help me rebuild it, somehow, we never had time or funding, it was a low priority. One day, that firecracker of a girl disappeared, and somewhere along the line you started your Alpha training and didn’t have time to go with me anymore. That same little girl was found countless years later, living among humans on the street, taking care of all the little street urchins and orphans. I knew she was special and I brought her back home to be my Little Leaf. Such joy I had when I discovered you were Fated Mates, somehow, everything made sense.” She looked back at me. “You were already a Luna in training and none of us knew it.”   

I smiled at her, tears in my eyes but couldn’t form words. 

Gamma Margery placed a stack of folders nearly as tall as Simon’s throat on the table in front of him. 

“Just like she has been for years, and years.” Luna Claudia delivered the sentence like the finishing blow in a videogame. I stared in awe and confusion at the folders. Simon swallowed hard and threw the photo of him and Regina on the ground next to him as he flipped through the papers. 

“Wait, Omega Refuge and Rehabilitation: Empowering Omegas when no one else will. Hospital Wing Expansion, Sanctuary Healing Wing Facility Growth, Sanctuary for Women and Children,Training the Youth of Tomorrow: Be Prepared, Not Scared,The SheWolf Den: A Domestic Violence Shelter for the abused, Herbal Gardens and Fountains, Horticulture Remedies, The Horne Legacy Orphanage…Diamond Glass… Mother, I thought these were all yours?” 

“Done in my name, on behalf of, but the brains behind it all? Zovada. For every single one.”

“I–”

“So tell me. Why haven’t you claimed and marked your proper Mate and Luna before all of the Horne pack? She has more than earned her spot.” 

His gaze narrowed. “I know she has earned her spot. She never had to fight for it?” 

I looked at him in confusion. “What?” That sentence would’ve broken me and filled me with so much love and light IF only things hadn’t fractured between us this far….

He turned and looked at me. “Zov, I told you. You are my future Luna, no one can take that from you. Why is that even a question?” 

“Then why are we still waiting?” Claudia said. 

“There are a million reasons. One being, status and expectations. The boards of all the companies. The allied forces were all vying for a piece of us. Our enemies. Zovada doesn’t have a wolf. That creates an entire additional problem we need to manage. This situation is delicate. I am trying to protect her. I’ve been waiting for the right time. Why the rush? We have so much time to get all of this right…safely, and strategically. For. The. Pack. ”

I let out a sigh. “What if I don't have more time?”

Simon’s head snapped over to me immediately. “What are you saying? We have plenty.” 

“You. Have plenty. I have no wolf as you so graciously pointed out.” I climbed to my feet. I might have Wolfblood. At some point, I am going to start to age. None of us know how this body of mine works. I want a pup. I want a future. I need more than platitudes. I deserve more than this Simon. I am getting tired.” 

“Zov–”

I raised my hand to silence him. 

He stood to his feet as realization of my words dawned on him. At some point, I am going to start to age.

“Fine. Then let’s do it. Let’s get married. I’ll pick a date right now. The day of the coronation, I will announce you as my Luna and officially propose.”

“How romantic.” I snarled. 

“Then at the ascension ball, we will announce our date of the wedding.” 

“What a half ass production–” Didi started but her father stopped her and shook his head. She silenced herself based on his expression.

Simon took my hands in his. “Zov. I love you. You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t care about a grand gesture, or anything. I would go to the courthouse today and marry you if you said yes, but I think you at the very least deserve a Grand Luna Ceremony, with a customized Luna Moon gown.” 

Tears stung my eyes. Simon reached up and caressed my cheeks to wipe the tears away. “Your dream wedding, out in the field of flowers behind the cabin in the woods. Surrounded by the trees, bathed in moonlight while the fireflies danced around us.” 

“You remember that?” 

“Of course I remember, Zovada. For all of our moons, you’re mine.” 

My heart was breaking as he spoke to me. The memories of two young kids we used to know before we changed, rushing through the woods flooded back as he pressed his forehead to mine.  

“It’s settled then?” Claudia asked. 

“I…” I started.

Simon kissed me deeply. “I’ll be there ready to announce to you, Zovada. I’ll commission a beautiful gown to wear. If you decide to put it on, I’ll know your answer.”

With that he left the room. As if he feared I’d reject him outright. I sighed and placed a hand on my throat and another on my heart as it thundered in my chest. 

“This is entirely your choice Little Leaf.” Claudia said with a warm smile. “I will not be disappointed if you choose to reject the bond. I will truly understand.” 

I nodded at her and mulled over his words. “Your dream wedding, out in the field of flowers behind the cabin in the woods. Surrounded by the trees, bathed in moonlight while the fireflies danced around us.” 

My hands trembled. Cabin in the woods? The memory of the Vale cabin resurfaced, the heavy iron Vale key in my pocket. I rarely left my room without it ever since Claudia gave it to me. 

Suddenly, the room spun and a chorus of voices screamed my name as I collapsed to the ground. Didi was at my side to catch me before I connected. “Luna?!”

“Di….di…..” 

Everything went black.