LOGIN"Who's there?"
"It's me Bubba, open up..." "Care? Caroline?" Thirty minutes ago Luna Caroline was with the newbie wolves. Welcoming introductions, answering questions and providing assurance in preparation for the forthcoming full moon. "Hello my Darling, what's your name?" She asked a seemingly withdrawn young lady. "It's Charlotte, my lady." She smiled. "It's nice to meet you Charlotte. How are you finding the pack house?" "Absolutely thrilling, my lady. I met Liz and Doris and they as well as everyone else here have been quite welcoming." "Well that's amazing. Would you say you feel at home?" "Absolutely, my lady. I've never felt more at home to be frank. Thank you for your hospitality". "You are very much welcome, Charlotte." "Charlotte Darling, I think you are very brave and as a result I have a present for you. If you'd kindly accompany our Pack's beta over here, who would show you to Miss Nova." She gestured at Otis, who instinctively moved closer. "A present, my lady?" Charlotte gasped genuinely surprised because it was the first time ever that any one was offering her a present. "Yes, Charlotte. It's my little way of welcoming you to Fortress Cave" "Wow, thank you very much, my lady." "Otis, let Charlotte join you. Show her to Nova. Nova knows what to do. I have a little something for all the other newbies as well, but Charlotte can get hers already. "Noted, my Lady". "Shall we?" Otis smiled warmly, offering Charlotte his right arm. "Of course" she responded as she took it. Just before the Luna invited everyone who had come to pay her a visit into the outer part of the royal chambers, she found Adam adjusting the curtains with zero urgency. "Adam I put you in charge of the decorations for a reason. Make sure the rug is neat we don't need all these chairs, everyone else can sit on the rug for comfort and intimacy. I need only two chairs at the front for myself and Alpha Denparlio that's if he decides to stop by. Is that clear? "Crystal, my lady." Adam responded and quickly instructed one of the Omegas to help take out the rest of the chairs. "Everything is now set, my lady. May we invite them in?" "Yes please. Invite the moon-walkers in first to take their positions across the room then doors can open for the rest. Good job, Adam" "Thank you, my lady" Adam walked away as Alpha Denparlio approached from the inner chambers. "Hey Honey, how is it going?" "So far so good" Luna Caroline responded. "I'll leave you to it then" He kissed her forehead, and returned to his private hub through the inner chambers." "Welcome once more to Fortress Cave." The Luna began... "How many of you have already found or officially met their wolves?" Only four hands went up out of twenty participants. "Well you're in luck." She continued. "The full moon is fast approaching and a lot of you will get the privilege to finally meet your wolves, I'm excited for you'all, are you?." "yes my lady" They all chorused. " Alright then, this segment will begin with one question from the hand that go up first, in 3, 2, 1!" "You there, go ahead" "My name is Helen, I was rescued by one of the hunters and led here, my lady. As for my question, I would like to better understand your role as our Luna, my lady?" "Well I bring equilibrium to our house, care for all the pubs including you from now on, plan important ceremonies, provide emotional stability for the pack and my husband the Alpha..." "Next. Just the introductions please, there will be more time to get aquainted." She stated. A huge gentleman stood up from the back. "My name is Randy, my lady. I am a rogue who met you at the academy and shared me story, after which you gave me directions on how to locate the Fortress Cave Pack. You said I would find a family here and it's only been a few weeks but indeed I have." " Randy you said..." She tried to recall. " Yes, my lady. I traveled through the woods for days following the wolf trees you had described and the river current..." "Oh yeah, I remember you. By the way everyone, Randi understands and speaks to birds, can you believe that?" They all whispered one to another in amusement "He does? he really does?..." The Luna continued. "All thanks to the moon Goddess Randi. I know you've been through a lot but it's about to get better". "Alright, one more. Yes you, I saw your hand first" "My name is Athena, my lady. I was formerly in the Sunset Pack. I Heard of a pack where members were visibly loved. And actually felt loved, protected and accepted so it ignited hope in my heart especially because I have never really felt like I really belonged. I hope to find my purpose here. "I'm sure you will find it, welcome Athena, and welcome home to everyone else" Here at Fortress Cave everyone is equal. Ranks are earned and nobody is more important than the other. All newbies are required to shadow the omegas for at least twenty moons. This is to ensure humility and encourage mutual respect as you all find your unique expressions." "That's all we can take for today. You will be handed a package on your way out. I'm the mean time , enjoy the tea that the moon-walkers will be handing you" "Thank you, my lady" They all chorused. Suddenly she felt it. First like a slight tingle then, it began throbbing. Caroline's POV "This sensation only happens when... Could it be?" "I know my heart is not supposed to be broken but it is, I know I'm not supposed to feel betrayed, or jealous, but I do. Isn't that the whole point of being in love? the unspoken jealousy? To think that I must also prep those who have been here longer and are now ready to handle responsibilities for the Alpha's Ritual, a Ritual that pricks my heart more rigorously than any dagger ever could. "Florence I need you to move all the. newbies to the great hall, immediately please..." They were not sure of the reason for the sudden location change, but if the Luna wants something the Luna gets it, so they got everyone on their feet and began to lead them out the royal chambers to the great hall in a procession. Then Luna Caroline dashed into the inner chambers, straight to the door leading to the private hub... Bang! Bang! "Yes, it's Caroline, open up." "Who's there?" "It's me Bubba, open up..." "Care? Caroline?" Thirty minutes ago Luna Caroline was with the newbie wolves. Welcoming introductions, answering questions and providing assurance in preparation for the forthcoming full moon. "Hello my Darling, what's your name?" She asked a seemingly withdrawn young lady. "It's Charlotte, my lady." She smiled. "It's nice to meet you Charlotte. How are you finding the pack house?" "Absolutely thrilling, my lady. I met Liz and Doris and they as well as everyone else here have been quite welcoming." "Well that's amazing. Would you say you feel at home?" "Absolutely, my lady. I've never felt more at home to be frank. Thank you for your hospitality". "You are very much welcome, Charlotte." "Charlotte Darling, I think you are very brave and as a result I have a present for you. If you'd kindly accompany our Pack's beta over here, who would show you to Miss Nova." She gestured at Otis
"I would like to borrow one of the containments below the Beta chambers." "Yes, my Lord" Otis responded. Still looking dazzled because there were much more comfortable containments beneath the royal chambers. Secondly, why does the Alpha need a containment for the full moon? "This must stay between you and I, Otis. Neither Luna Caroline nor anyone else must find out, do you swear?" "I swear to you, Alpha" "Good. Eliana will be transforming for the first time tomorrow. I have been prepping her myself and she's ready." Even though Otis has always had his suspicions, this admission still caught him off guard and intrusive thoughts evaded his wolf brain. "Eliana has never shifted and she is a moon-walker? She has never shifted and she is the Alpha's personal watcher? Did the Alpha not claim the same Eliana as his backup Luna?..." "OTIS" Otis startled out of his head. "Yes my Lord" " Is there a problem? Did you hear everything I said?" "Ple
"Ashton, in only a couple of days the full moon would finally arrive, we know that the pack can already feel the pull in their bones, because we feel it in ours as well." Ashdon nodded in confirmation so, he proceeded. "This morning I almost snapped. That already informs us that tempers are currently shortened especially among the newbies therefore, I need you to spearhead a mobilization to reinforce the dungeons and it's walls for the new wolves as soon as possible. Additionally, appetites are consequently going off the charts so the hunters need to increase their quotas and bring in enough meat to ensure that everyone has all the calories they need to survive the full moon. "Do you understand?" Ashdon as well as every other official, understood and was highly trained to recognize when it was just their pal who was addressing them and when hierarchy was speaking. This was one of such times, it wasn't just Otis speaking, it was the Beta of the Fortress Cave pack. S
"I want to thank you for all that you do for this pack, Eliana" I have heard so much about you and I genuinely look forward to knowing you better. Thank you for the helping hand you've been in ensuring that things run smoothly in the packhouse while I'm away. Your service has not gone unnoticed.And to you all; thank you for paying such keen attention. Please enjoy all that is set before you..."The applauses and cheers erupted again as the Luna made her way down the stairs of the stage with the help of the Alpha.Azra could hear Eliana exhale sharply, as though she had just escaped a sharp arrow." So, do you feel good about yourself?" Azra sneered at her sister Eliana." It must feel so refreshing betraying a woman this harmless, doesn't it? What did she ever do, open her doors to us?"Eliana could feel the tears swelling in her eyes, but she had to summoned the courage to respond."Not right now, please Azra. Someone might hear you. And let's not corrupt the jo
"Florence please tell me you've ticked all the boxes required to ensure that this anniversary celebration does not go south" Otis inquired eagerly. "Yes I have, we have every box ticked as Luna Caroline instructed." Florence confirmed. The Alpha never missed an opportunity to brag about Luna Caroline's beauty. His friends had journeyed from afar to celebrate with him, each with their mate except for John who had clearly refused to "be distracted by the responsibilities that accompany tolerating a mate" in his words. "And there comes my Luna!" Alpha Denparlio announced. "Isn't she just beautiful! She's got the fairest skin in the entire region, no offense to y'all" he teased. "None taken!" John shouted which incited a brief giggles. Alpha Denparlio continued: "Her aura accompanies her into every room she graces, like right now. Caroline is the best thing the moon-goddess ever did for me, if I had to choose. I would choose her over and over again. Please welc
"I, Alpha Denparlio, accept you Eliana Niklaus, as my backup Luna."The entire ceremonial room went quiet at once. It was total pin drop silence as the moon-walkers exchanged looks among themselves and the generals did the same. Regardless of how awkward it felt, Eliana had no choice but to accompany the Alpha out of the room because that was her primary responsibility as the Alpha's personal watcher. "That was scary what you did back there, dada". Eliana finally mustered the courage to comment. Even a deaf werewolf could have heard the shakiness in her voice as she spoke but the Alpha couldn't care less. "Ana" he responded. "The generals and moon-walkers are sworn to secrecy, not even their mates would learn of what transpired here today.Additionally, you seem to forget that I am the Alpha of this pack, the supreme authority. I run this pack and my decisions MUST NOT be questioned." "Forgive me. It is not my intention to question your decision, dada. I am terr







