Chapter 5 The Grounds

I’m on cloud nine, I’m being led around by the most gorgeous woman I have ever met, I’m vaguely paying attention as we are walking around the pack house. As with most packs her office and living quarters take up the top floor, on the floor directly below her are the beta’s office, the elder’s office and their living spaces. The next floor down belongs to the gammas and the deltas. Then there are two floors of various rooms for guests and members of the pack who are designated a room in the pack house. We are currently on the ground floor which holds a huge living room, an entertainment room, and various conference rooms. Currently we are in the kitchen talking with some of the omegas who were busy putting away some of the remaining food from the dance into containers for storage.

“Are you sure it's no bother?” Samantha asks the older plump woman as she is putting the containers in a large basket. “I hate to make more of a mess when ya’ll are so busy cleaning up.”

“Nonsense!” The woman responds as she finishes packing the basket with bottled waters. “Those guards are working extra hard making sure we are safe and they are shorthanded. It’s the least we can do! Especially since you are going out there to help them! The poor dears are probably starving out there.” She slides the basket across and I grab it before Samantha has a chance. Jeez, I defiantly need to pump some iron, this basket is a bit on the heavy side.

“I’m sure they will appreciate it very much Mrs. Potts.” Samantha smiled as she grabbed the other side of the basket handle and helps me lift it. “I’ll be heading out now, if you need anything Greg and Jess are around here making sure the remaining guests are making it to their rooms safely.” She looks to me, “Are you ready?” We begin walking, the basket between us. “We are going to the main gate first; Violet is going to check on our side gates and will meet us back here later.”

I nod silently, I’m still upset I can’t carry this basket on my own. The first chance I get I need to start bulking up and training again. The full moon hangs high in the sky and I can’t help but stare at it as we walk in silence. I mull over what Samantha said about the Moon Goddess and how she put us together for a reason, I’m more at ease knowing that she isn’t going to reject me but I still have some worries. Will I really be enough? How can a wolf as weak as I am right now possibly gain enough power to lead a pack this powerful?

Samantha slows to a stop and I’m pulled from my thoughts as I look over to her, she also looks deep in thought. It seems she is mulling over something she wants to say but seems afraid to bring it up. After a minute she notices me staring and flashes me a smile. Now it is my turn to wonder what was on her mind. “Everything alright?” I ask cautiously.

She looks at me strangely, and after a minute she looks up at the moon. “Oh, just....” she hesitates. I turn my head slightly, looking at her questionably. She sighs. “Are you really okay with leaving your pack? I mean, you know, your family is there.”

“My family is here.” I answer without pause. “You are my family.” I look deep into her emerald eyes again; I see a sense of relief wash over her face and the slightest hint of tears start to prick at the corner of her eye. I sit the basket down and wrap her in a hug. “Sorry, I didn’t warn you this time either.” I chuckled in her ear as I felt her body relax in my arms.

Soon she started to return the hug and started to chuckle. “Okay, I think I can forgive you this time. But only you can hug me like this, deal?”

“Deal.”

“And one more thing.” She looked up at me, “I’m still the Alpha.” She smiled. “Anyone calls me Luna I can’t be responsible for my actions.” She brought a finger up to her chin in thought. “You can be the Luna!” She broke away from my grasp and grabbed the basket before I could respond, as I stood there dumbfounded, she trotted off down the path swinging the basket from one hand to the other. “Hurry up!” She called from over her shoulder happily.

I quickly run after her, grabbing the basket handle like before as we continue to walk to the gate in a comfortable silence. As the field changes into the forest and the moon becomes hidden behind the trees I start to feel like I’m being watched. I look around subtly, sniffing the air cautiously. My protective side starts to emerge, and I try to look intimating in case we are suddenly attacked. The longer we walk the more on edge I start to become, I can’t see, hear, or smell anyone around us yet I still have the sense that I am being followed. I eye Samantha to gauge her reaction and she is looking above us, scanning the treetops. She suddenly stops and smiles. “Good evening, Mr Stevenson! What are you still doing up?”

“Good evening Alpha!” An older voice answers from above us, my heart nearly stops and I look up; I am awestruck as there are houses built into the tree tops. An old man is standing on the porch looking down at us. “All quiet on the border!”

“Mr Stevenson where is Cindy? Still helping out at the venue?” Samantha looks a little worried, “do you want us to sit with you for a while?”

“Oh no, they finished up early, just waiting up for Daisy to get home. Hey, who is that walking with you? Is he bothering you?” He looked at me in what I guessed was supposed to be a threatening manner.

“No sir, this is Benjamin, my mate.” My heart nearly exploded with happiness and pride. She introduced me as her mate! “Is David home with you?” Her eyes went out of focus as she mind linked someone. “Sir I really wish you would move into the pack house there is plenty of room there.”

“Yeah, but Daisy doesn’t want to move, and I’m not arguing with her.” He looked at me again, “Is that man bothering you? I’ll call the Alpha if he is!”

“No sir, he’s fine.” Samantha sighed. “This is Benjamin, my mate.” Mr Stevenson looked me up and down before he smiled.

A young woman in her late twenties came outside. “Good evening Alpha.” She said tiredly, “Come on Dad we need to get inside its cold out here.” She led him inside and smiled at us “Thanks Alpha.”

“Cindy my offer still stands, we can relocate you to the packhouse.”

“Yes Alpha, but this was my parents' home, and Dad doesn’t want to move. He still thinks Mom is coming home.” Cindy said sadly, “but we really appreciate everything. Have a good night.” She went inside and soon the lights in the house turned back off and we started walking again.

“Mr Stevenson used to work for my dad,” Samantha explained. “He helped train me way back in the day. He was a brilliant fighter. His mate Daisy, passed a few years ago but he still waits up for her. The pack doctors diagnosed him with dementia and his daughter Cindy and her mate moved back in with him.” Samantha sighed, “I wish they would let me help them, after all he did for my dad it’s the least I can do.”

I shrug, not really knowing what to say. Pretty soon we see the large gate that only hours before I came through, to the sides I can see and hear wolves walking around the woods. A couple of them glance our way and eye me in particular with interest. Samantha walks on, seemingly oblivious as we enter the building to the side of the gate. I can’t help but notice Samantha seems taller now, more intimating.

“Who is squad leader on duty?” She commands, her tone holding authority and hints of her aura are coming out.

“I am, Alpha!” A young man said, stepping forward. I can’t help but notice now everyone is wearing the same type of outfit as Samantha and made from the same material, I couldn’t help but feel odd. “Pretty quiet night tonight. We have 5 teams patrolling our sector, rotating out every 2 hours as protocol.”

“Good job.” She lifted the basket and handed it to the squad leader, “we brought food as thanks for all of your hard work. We also stopped by to see if ya’ll needed any help with patrols.” I looked around at all the guards who looked a little tired.

“Thank you, Alpha, we just changed shifts, those here just came in from patrolling and we were about to rotate meal and rest breaks.”

Samantha nodded, “Okay, we will stay here for an hour, everyone go eat and rest while I’m here.”

“Thank you Alpha! We really appreciate it!” His eyes glazed over and I could tell he was mind linking. A few whoops and barks from outside let me know that word was out. More people came in and everyone started to unpack the basket.  We headed back outside and I could slowly feel Samantha’s aura become stronger, I felt it wrap around me in a protective hug and I wondered if everyone could feel it and if it had the same calming effects. We walked around aimlessly and wordlessly just enjoying each other’s company. All too soon the hour was over and a grateful female guard returned the basket. “Thanks again Alpha! You should go get some rest soon too, you seem tired.” She looks at me, nods and walks away. The other wolves start filing out of the building as we start to leave back towards the pack house.

‘She really does look tired,’ I think to myself as I’m walking behind her, her shoulders are a little saggy and she is walking slower than earlier. She stifles a yawn as if to confirm my thoughts. “Sorry” she muttered. The packhouse came into view and I got a little nervous again. Should I sleep on the couch? What is she expecting of me tonight? We haven’t even kissed yet.....Samantha’s head suddenly snaps up and she stops in her tracks. She looks around slowly, scanning the open field towards the dance hall. Then, I hear it.

“Help! Guards! Someone!” A man’s voice cried out. Samantha takes off running and I’m running behind her.

A terrified female’s voice screamed into the night.