Harvest preparations

The Harvest Festival had always been my favorite time of the year.

It was the one celebration every wolf in Moonridge looked forward to, regardless of rank.

For three days, the pack forgot about patrols, border disputes, and council meetings.

Children raced through the village with flower crowns woven into their hair.

Warriors challenged one another to friendly competitions.

Families gathered around great bonfires beneath the moon, sharing stories that had been passed down for generations.

It was more than a festival.

It reminded us that before we were warriors… we were a family.

As Luna, the responsibility of organizing the celebration had always fallen to me.

It was a responsibility I loved.

************

The great hall buzzed with activity.

Long wooden tables were lined against the walls while servants climbed ladders to hang silver ribbons from the ceiling beams.

“Careful with those lanterns,” I called. “Leave enough space between them. We don’t want the fabric catching fire.”

“Yes, Luna.”

Another servant approached with a list in her hands.

“The hunters have delivered the pork.”

“Good.” I nodded satisfactorily.

“Should we prepare all of it for the first evening?”

I shook my head. “No. Smoke half of it for the second day. The festival is long enough without running out of food.”

She quickly scribbled down my instructions before hurrying away.

“Where would you like the musicians to perform this year?” another asked.

“The western courtyard.” I replied. “They’ll have more room there, and the children can dance without disturbing the elders.”

The servant smiled. “Of course, Luna.”

For the next two hours, questions came one after another.

How many tables? Which flowers?Where would the neighboring Alphas be seated? Should the training demonstrations take place before or after the evening feast?

One by one, I answered them all.

By midday, the hall had transformed into something beautiful.

Even after all these years, I still found joy in watching everything come together.

“You’ve thought of everything.”

I turned to find Kael standing in the doorway.

I hadn’t even heard him arrive. A smile found its way onto my lips.

“I thought your council meeting wasn’t over until this afternoon.”

“It ended early.” He looked around the hall, his eyes taking in every detail.

“The decorations are beautiful.” He smiled.

“The servants deserve most of the credit.” I cracked my fingers.

He chuckled. “And there you go again.”

“What?”

“Taking credit away from yourself.” He smirked.

I laughed softly. “It isn’t taking credit away if it’s true.”

Kael walked toward me, stopping close enough that only I could hear his next words.

“I don’t tell you often enough…but this pack would fall into chaos without you.”

Heat crept into my cheeks. “You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not.” His voice carried the quiet certainty that had always made me believe him.

“You’re the reason everything runs so smoothly.”

Before I could answer, Elder Rowan entered the hall.

“Alpha.”

Kael turned. “Elder.”

“The delegation from Riverclaw Pack has confirmed their arrival tomorrow morning.”

“Good. I’ll meet them personally.”

The elder nodded before noticing me.

“Luna.”

“Elder Rowan.” I bowed a bit.

His gaze swept across the hall approvingly.

“The preparations look impressive.”

“Thank you.” I smiled.

“We’re fortunate to have someone as organized as you.”

For a brief moment, warmth spread through my chest.

Perhaps…Perhaps I had imagined the distance growing between us all.

Then the elder cleared his throat.

“Although…”

I knew there would be an ‘although.’

“Since Miss Lily will also attend the festival, perhaps she could help choose the flowers for the nursery afterward.”

I blinked. “The nursery?”

“The future Alpha’s chamber should reflect his mother’s preferences.”

Kael frowned. “That can wait.”

“It would be wise to begin early,” Rowan insisted.

“There is still plenty of time before the child is born.” Kael insisted.

“There is,” the elder agreed.

“But preparation has never harmed anyone.”

Kael’s expression hardened. “My Luna already has enough responsibilities. There is no need to burden Lily with additional duties.”

The elder smiled politely.

“I merely thought it would make her feel included.”

His words were reasonable. Too reasonable.

No one could object to them without seeming cruel.

I spoke before Kael could.

“If choosing flowers will make her happy, I have no objections.”

Kael looked at me. “You don’t have to agree.”

“I know.” I offered him a reassuring smile. “It isn’t worth arguing over flowers.”

The elder bowed. “As always, Luna, your generosity honors this pack.”

Something about the compliment left a bitter taste in my mouth.

**************

Later that afternoon, I walked through the gardens with two servants, selecting flowers for the festival.

White moon lilies, roses, and Silver foxglove.

Everything needed to be fresh before tomorrow.

As we rounded the stone path, I heard familiar laughter.

Lily sat beneath one of the old oak trees with several village women surrounding her.

One of them held up two woven flower crowns.

“Which do you prefer?”

Lily tilted her head thoughtfully. “The white one. It reminds me of moonlight.”

“Oh, that’s perfect!” one of the women exclaimed. “We’ll make matching ones for the children.”

Another woman beamed. “And perhaps smaller ones for the nursery.”

Everyone laughed.

Lily noticed me then and immediately stood.

“Luna.”

The others turned. Realization crossed their faces.

“Oh!”

One of the women hurried toward me.

“My apologies. We didn’t realize you were here.”

I smiled gently. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”

The woman looked embarrassed.

“We were asking Miss Lily which flowers she liked. She has lovely taste.”

Lily shook her head quickly. “Nothing compared to Luna Elara.”

She looked almost flustered.

“I told them I don’t know nearly as much as you do.”

The women nodded eagerly.

“That’s true. Our Luna has organized every Harvest Festival since she arrived.”

“And they’ve all been wonderful.”

Their praise should have comforted me.

Instead…I noticed something.

They had spoken of me with respect. But they had laughed with Lily.

There was a difference.

One was admiration, and the other was affection.

And affection could not be commanded. It had to be earned.

That evening, the final preparations were underway.

The great hall glowed beneath hundreds of lanterns.

Everything was exactly as I had envisioned.

The musicians had arrived.

The kitchens were overflowing with food.

The guest chambers were ready.

I allowed myself a quiet moment of satisfaction.

“You look pleased.” Kael appeared beside me, carrying two cups of warm cider.

“I am.”

He handed one to me. “You should be.”

He glanced around the hall.

“You’ve outdone yourself.”

“I couldn’t have done it alone.” I sipped from the cup.

“No.” He smiled. “But only because you taught everyone else what needed to be done.”

Before I could answer, hurried footsteps echoed across the hall.

A young maid stopped before us, slightly out of breath.

“Alpha… Luna…”

“What is it?” Kael asked.

“It’s Miss Lily.”

Both of us straightened immediately.

“Is she alright?” I asked.

“Yes.” The maid smiled sheepishly.“The baby has been kicking all afternoon.”

I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“That frightened me.”

“I’m sorry, Luna.” The maid bowed.“Miss Lily said she wanted to show Alpha.”

Kael glanced at me. There was hesitation in his eyes and guilt.

“I’ll only be a moment.”

I smiled. “Go.”

“Are you sure?” He peered deep into my eyes.

“It’s your child.” The words came easier than I expected. “You should be there.”

He searched my face for another heartbeat before nodding.

“I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

I watched him disappear down the corridor beside the maid.

The hall suddenly felt much larger and quieter.

A pair of servants walked past behind me.

One whispered excitedly, not realizing I was close enough to hear.

“I can’t wait to meet the little Alpha. I’m sure he’ll be just like his father.”

Their voices faded into the distance.

I stood alone beneath the lanterns, surrounded by a celebration I had spent hours creating.

Tomorrow, the pack would gather to celebrate another successful harvest.

They would laugh, dance, and sing.

And for a few precious hours…Everyone would believe Moonridge was the happiest pack beneath the moon.

I closed my eyes.

If only happiness were as easy to decorate as a festival hall.