6. A Difficult Honor

*Audra POV*

Tomorrow was going to be interesting. I left the college and started driving towards my pack house with Manic by my side. My nerves were getting the better of me. “I think we need to report to the King and Queen tonight. That way tomorrow can go a bit more flawlessly. Though I don’t know if anything about this can be considered flawless.” I ran my fingers through my hair nervously. “She’s not going to hate us once she finds out, is she?”

“I know when we accepted this assignment we didn’t ever think we would befriend her. I mean she’s a good hundred years younger than us. But we both decided we liked her personality and wanted to be friends. Our friendship has always been genuine and a choice. As long as she can understand that we didn’t have to befriend her to finish out our mission, it’ll be okay. I don’t think she’s so unreasonable that she would not listen.” It didn’t take much to reassure me. I sighed softly, kissing the back of his hand.

“This is why you’re the calm to my storm, my dear.” He grinned ear to ear and licked his lips seductively. He knows all the ways to drive me crazy. A groan escapes my lips. “Can you save turning me on till after we’re home? Driving horny is not the greatest option you brute.”

We pulled in at the pack house and I sniffed the air. “OOOOOH it’s taco night!” my mouth started to water. “Race you inside!” Manic laughed at me. He always teased me because I am and always will be a bottomless pit. I took off running into the pack house straight for the large dining room, “Tacos, I’m coming!!” I shouted and a lot of eyes turned to look at me. The entire room burst out laughing.

“You are completely immature, my fated. Really? Shouting for tacos?” Manic couldn’t stop laughing. A tall man came up to us, still laughing, himself.

“I think I have the most… unusual beta in the history of were-kind.” His arm snaked around the woman next to him, who smiled at me like an older sister would to a younger sister. This was because I am her younger sister. Our Luna is my sister and I am the Alpha’s beta.

“Alpha! How are you today?” I asked him with a cheeky grin, “My Luna, you’re lovely as ever!” I put my hand on her swollen tummy and knelt down kissing it, “And you! How are you lil pup? Behaving for mommy, I hope… Remember auntie loves you!” I stood up and kissed my sister's cheek.

“I did come to find you for a reason besides showing off my love’s baby bump.” Kross signaled for us to follow him, and I looked longingly at the taco bar. He must have caught my glance. “Oh for Goddess’s sake, go pile up your plate and come to my office.” He knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t stop grumbling for tacos.

I grabbed Manic and dragged him with me. I made three plates and had him make three plates, knowing he would only eat two.

“You are really hungry aren’t you?” His eyebrow was raised. “Your heat must be closer than we thought.” His smirk was so fucking sexy.

“Don’t do that to me right now. We are supposed to go to my brother-in-law's office and sit through a meeting. If my arousal is permeating the room they are not going to be happy.” If I had a free hand, I would have smacked his shoulder. As it were, the food was too precious. He was also aware of this.

“Let’s go, my starving love. You can eat all you wish when we sit down.” We started walking down the hall to a set of double doors. The guard at the door opened it for us with a bow.

“Manic, Audra.” Alpha Brant had a very serious tone. This made my wolf back up a bit, slightly intimidated. “You’ve done a great job on your mission, according to the King and Queen, handling it flawlessly, despite my reservations.” He sighed as if conflicted. “You are my right-hand wolf, Audra, and important to this pack. Your family is all here, and we love you.” I didn’t know why he was saying this but I was feeling very nervous.

“Alpha, please speak plainly. Otherwise, you may give my poor wife, not to mention myself, a panic attack.” Manic could feel all of my anxiety through the fate bond. He couldn’t stand it when I felt that way. Brant nodded.

“My apologies. I just don’t like the idea that I might lose my Beta to the Royal Family as a personal guard for their Princess.” His face was sour. “It is a great honor, but I’m not sure how this pack would do without your genius. Your sister keeps me on task and motivated while you keep the financials and pack relations on track. I don’t want another Beta. I have the perfect one. But I also can’t downplay the honor the position you’re being offered is.” He turned to Manic, “The offer isn’t just for Audra, by the way. It includes you. This means you, your pups that aren’t of age, and any that are of the age that chooses to travel with you will leave the pack to live in the Royal Castle as well. Though I would never take your membership of this pack away, ever. Once a Moonchild, always a Moonchild.”

My jaw hung on the floor. The King and Queen wanted us to continue to be by Her Highness’s side. “This… is a lot to think about. I was just wanting to get past tonight and know everyone is alive at that point. I don’t know what to do.” I looked helplessly at Manic, hoping he would be more eloquent with his words than I.

“Alpha, may we have a couple of days to talk it over and discuss this with our children as well?” He was much more composed than I was at the current moment. It was surreal. A personal Royal Guard to the protector of the Moon Goddess Selene. Insane.

“That’s fine. I would rather you take the time to think this through thoroughly. We will support you no matter what decision you make. You’re a blessing wherever you are, and I don’t want to have to train up a new Beta, but I am damn proud the King and Queen of the supernaturals consider my family as worthy. You both are incredible.”

My sister wiped a tear from her eye. I knew she was worried I wouldn’t be there for her firstborn’s birth. My sister is about 10 years older than me, but Alpha Brant didn’t turn 18 until 6 years ago. She had already gone through her barren depression that hit around 100 years old, but Selene blessed them with a pup. It might be two pups.  I move to hug her, “Hey hey… Even if I do go to the Castle, they got portals right? You let me know you’re in labor and I’ll be back before you know it. I will always be here for you. Always.” Her tears now flowed freely, having the opposite effect I was going for. “It’ll be okay, I promise. We’ll know better what we are being led to do in a couple of days. I probably won’t hear from Elentari till next week just before her graduation. Stop by the house and we’ll have a cuppa and talk this over together, sister to sister.” This had the effect I wanted and her tears started to dry up. A sweet smile started to appear. “That’s my big sister. I love you to the moon and back.” Our family has said that since well before I can remember.

“If there’s no more, Alpha, we’d like to get home so we can talk this over with our children. It’ll take a bit to get them all gathered, as a few have found their mates, so this may be a bit more complicated than we expected.” Alpha Brant nodded.

 “That was all for now. But clean up your plates. Damn bottomless pit…” He was laughing at me. I pouted and called him a meanie butt, storming out the room. He always said I was cute when I pouted. Now it was time to talk to the family. We’ll see how this goes.