Chapter 24 Lucien

I threw my gloves down on the table as soon as I got through the door to the Pack House. The trucks for the old ones. The ones who refused to live close enough where help could be provided on a daily basis.

Instead, they chose to live on the outskirts away from the rest of the pack. Preferring solitude over the day-to-day bustle in the center of things.

I could understand that to some extent, but for the most part, they’d reached an age where they didn’t always run with us anymore. The burden they thought they were avoiding, only became more of one because of the time and effort it took to make sure they were okay.

At least with the advent of modern communication, we didn’t have to physically check on them every day.

I think if that were the case, I’d make a formal edict and push the move to the hub.

Lands were too expansive, and with everyone becoming busier by the day, there was no way we could manually drive out and check on dozens of solitary wolves.

Back in the day when Dad had to do that, there was a lot less happening with the Pack and their various businesses, schools, the clinics, and the land itself.

Like most packs, we did farm to table for the entire pack. Regardless of what labels said, supermarket items just smelled wrong to our noses. There was always some type of pesticide or chemical present, even in the produce. So we just grew our own.

Most families had gardens to feed their own households, the larger crops that the entire pack used, like the grains were done large scale, took up hundreds of acres, and meant lots of man-hours from sowing to harvest.

I followed my nose in the direction of freshly baked bread. The kitchen was bustling with activity as lunch was soon to hit the table, but I slid in quietly and reached for a slice of bread.

I yanked my hand back when a wooden spoon connected with my knuckles. Not hard enough to sting, but a thwap nonetheless.

“Tsk. Wait for lunch like everyone else Alpha.” Rosa said smiling.

Even though my Father never took another mate after my mother died, Rosa was the closest thing to both a mate and a mother.

When Dad was alive, the females looked to her as their Alpha, not quite the Luna, but they did defer to her decisions.

Now that Vanessa was Luna, I’m not sure where Rosa would fit any longer.  It was a conversation I needed to have with both of them.

Vanessa made it very clear that she didn’t want to be in charge of the womanly things the pack did. She wanted to be in the mix of things, involved in Pack decisions.

I’m not sure how all that is going to work out. Sure, it was modern times and all, but there were still some things that were tradition.

Having a female involved in Pack business wasn’t one of them.

I’m sure Ravenhall didn’t involve her or her mother in those meetings either. I don’t know why she was so put out when I told her no.

Then again, I don’t think she’d been told no in her entire life.

Rosa turned back to the stove with a smirk, so I grabbed the slice of bread and hustled out of the kitchen toward the dining room.

Kane and the Council were already seated when I came in. They all moved to rise, but I shook my head and moved to the head of the table.

Kane sat at my right, Selwyn to my left. There were always a few empty seats for any guests any of us happened to bring along.

Today it was just us. Vanessa, along with some security, went back to her old pack to get the rest of her belongings. She was due back later this afternoon.

Not only was she due back, but Silverpine was now inheriting three of her besties. Because, as she put it during our X-rated phone conversation last night, “I didn’t realize how much I missed them until I got back. I simply can’t bear to be that far away from them…ever.”

Females. I’d never understand them.

I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t make room for an additional three unbonded females in our pack. They’d go through the loyalty rites just like every other wolf wanting to be part of the pack. So I agreed.

Then Kane showed me the text from his security guy, Malik. One limousine with four females, courtesy of Daddy Ravenhall, four SUV’s full of stuff, and a truck packed to the hilt with furniture and other shit.

The Pack House was already filled with furniture. We surely didn’t need any more. Maybe it was for the house Kane and I decided to give to the besties.

It was already furnished, but we could remove that furniture and bring it to Wane Hall. I’m sure the Matron would appreciate some newer items.

Rosa came in along with the other women from the kitchen and put the serving bowls and platters of meat on the table, then moved to vacate the room.

Many lunches were shared with Rosa when Dad sat in this chair. Even though we hadn’t spoken since his death, I knew she was hurting. I could see it in her eyes.

“Rosa, please join us.” I murmured as she set the plate of freshly sliced bread in front of me.

“It wouldn’t be right,” she replied.

“I decide what’s right,” I countered.

Her lips pursed, and she paused before nodding her head.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she moved to the opposite end of the table where she once sat facing Dad.

She looked at me before sitting. I nodded.

Before she could move, Kane sprung up and moved the chair out so she could sit.

Some things just felt right.

This was one of them.

After a quick blessing from Galdo, we dug into the meal. Savory beef, hearty vegetables, and of course the bread filled our stomachs.

The Council gave Kane and I a brief rundown of their next Council agenda. Nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary.

Just as we put our forks down, the front door burst open.

“Honey, I’m ho-ome,” a sing-song voice rang down the hallway, followed by a gaggle of giggling.

Vanessa and her entourage stopped at the dining room door.

My body instantly reacted to her in her short skirt, high stiletto heels, and very low-cut blouse.

I was ready to take my leave, carry her upstairs, and not come back down for hours.

Until she opened her mouth.

“What’s she doing in here?”