Chapter 3 Preparations

"Quit mocking Mason. I was aware of your presence. And I wasn't avoiding you".

"Is that why I haven't seen you even once in the past week or we haven't trained together in months?". He says through the mind link.

I jerk at the sudden invasion.

"Both of us are extremely busy Mase. We're not kids anymore".

"We haven't been kids in a really long time. We still made time for each other".

He was right. We grew up too soon. I had an entire reality shift after my parents' death. He was the next alpha, his responsibilities caught up way too quickly for his age. We haven't been kids for over 10 years. But we were always there for each other.

Truth to be told, I was tired. Tired of waiting, hoping we would be each other's mate. In reality, loving someone who is not your is exhausting, it takes a toll on you that is not easy to bear.

But what I've realized is that maybe I wasn't in love with Mason like I thought I was. I mean, yes, I do love him. How could I not? He understands me better than anyone, it would be so easy to be his mate, his luna, and guarding the pack I've been born in, close to my sisters. And that's when I knew. What I loved was the idea of it, the comfort of the life that I wanted. With him. I haven't met anyone kinder and fiercer than him. But that's not the same as being in love with him. Maybe. I don't know.

But all of it is pointless, he wasn't my mate and that's that. I don't think that he reached that realization yet. So I started avoiding him. Wasn't easy given the nature of our ranks but you do what you gotta do.

"You are doing that thing again" his voice startles me out of my brooding.

"What thing?".

"The staring in to the space thing, getting lost in thoughts".

"Well, clearly they are far more interesting and important than you. And get out of my head, thank you very much". I hiss.

Mason just sighs. "Tell me about it".

"It's nothing. Just order stuff. Now if you want to make yourself useful, tell me about this emergency meeting".

"Well, since you're asking nicely".

I wait.

"Don't freak out but-" he pauses maddeningly.

"I never freak out". I retort.

"Well, the ball is going to be held tomorrow night".

"What?!!!" I splutter.

"I told you to not freak out".

"Yeah, okay. I'm not. But why?"

"Something about the full moon. I don't know. But I'm pretty sure it's got something to do with the west side packs attending". We arrive at the meeting hall.

"The alpha is now going to brief us on why". Mason finishes.

I nod. There are already a few people sitting. Some of them pack elders. Some of them the staff working here. I greet and nod.

Then I go to Nora, who is haphazardly making noting and flipping through numerous files. Probably last minute changes owing to the change in schedule.

She looks up in alarm when I reach her.

"This is going to be an epic disaster Ria, what are we going to do? We have less than 48 hours to finish it up. And nothing is ready yet. Nothing". Mason speaks before I can.

"Cheer up, little wolf. It'll be alright".

"Oh, hey Mason, I didn't realize you were here too".

"Ouch. That hurt my ego".

"Deserved". I jab jokingly.

"Sorry. I didn't mean it that way". Nora apologizes.

"Oh, don't apologize Nora. I was just kidding".

"And don't worry about the ball, I heard that most of the base work is already done. It will be fine". I add.

Our conversation is halted by the arrival of our Alpha.

I look up to see that more people have arrived.

"To all the members here, thank you for being here on such short notice". Alpha Dominic starts. We all sit dow.

"As you might have heard, we are moving the date of the Moonlight Mating Ball to tomorrow dur to the prior appearance of the full moon and in light of certain safety reasons. Even though it's minute, I have faith in our planning committee to be able to pull this off". He pauses. "Beta Ashford, I believe the security measures will be established on time?".

"Yes Alpha, they are in process and will be finalized at the earliest. We will be prepared". I reply.

We've been laying the ground work and preparing patrol schedules since the past two weeks, as security is the top priority. I finalized the protocol during lunch.

"Good. We'll be discussing on it after this meeting".

After that there are a few more minor announcements and status checks and then the meeting is adjourned.

The pack's military division stays back.

Alpha Dominic sits down as I hand him the finalized security protocols and measures.

He looks through them briefly.

"Well the reason we moved the date is because a few western packs have responded that they will be attending. To invitations we never sent them". Alpha Dominic continues.

"Of course, any pack is warmly welcomed here, especially if it's a mating ball. But the Blood Moon Pack has sent a notice that they will be attending".

Most of the ones in the room grunt. We all know about the blood moon pack and their blood history. Even if they haven't initiated any battle, at least in the last 10 years, there is a constant strife among the western packs.

"And although we have no conflict with that pack, there is word traveling that the Nightwalker pack will be here. You all know how much I resent unreliable information but considering it's the Nightwalker pack, one can never know their movements".

Furious murmurs arise in the room. And I don't blame them.

Nightwalker pack has an infamous reputation for being brutal, intolerant, violent. They prey on weaker packs for territory. Now as werewolves, being predatory is in our nature, but the Nightwalker pack has no respect to wolf traditions, pacts. They torture enemy wolves and are always on the move for no violence.

The Blood Moon Pack has bitter rivalry with them. There have been about three battles in past four years between them, which is a lot even considering the unrest in the west.

"Now, I'm sure we all agree on this when I say that the Nightwalker pack will not be welcomed to the ball. Nor will we host them in this pack. Now let's figure how to keep them out".

It takes better part of the evening to brainstorm our security and patrols and fighting division if it comes to that. We're hoping it won't come to that.

I'm mentally tired when I reach home in the evening, it's past sunset and the lower level of our home is lit. It warms my heart knowing my sisters are probably waiting at home. Probably a couple of our friends too.

When I open the door and enter the dining room there's Nora, Iris and Dahlia sitting there and to my happy surprise Mila.

Mila, Mason's sister, now Luna of river ash pack and my closest confidante until she mated 2 years ago. Even though we're far away from each other now, we can always pick up where we left.

She hugs me tightly "I missed you so much riri, and now that I'm finally here you can start getting excited for the ball". I roll my eyes at her. "I missed you too. Why are you so late, you should've been here earlier". I complain.

"I know, I know. But Calvin couldn't make the time and I didn't want to come without him". she admits.

"Aw, couldn't part from your mate even for a day". The girls tease her.

I smile wistfully, wondering how it must be to have a mate. Someone you couldn't live without, even for a short period of time.

'Why was the ball moved to tomorrow Ari?" Nora asks me.

"They said it's because of the full moon but I call bullshit. There's definitely something going on". Iris mutters.

I almost chide her for that tone but I stop myself.

"Well, a few western packs are going to be here and we are hoping to conduct it before a certain pack arrives".

"Is it the Nightwalker pack?". Mila asks.

"Yes. How do you know?".

"Calvin has been making sure to secure our territory before we came here. Even though they will probably head here, he didn't want to take the risk". She answers.

"Goddess, it's all because the Alpha Adamos will be here. Couldn't they just keep their issues on other side of the river?". She continues.

"Why is he coming?" Dahlia wonders.

"Why else? To find his mate".

"Wait they don't have their Luna yet? Didn't he become the Alpha like 10 years ago?" Nora asks incredulously.

"And doesn't he has a son? or a daughter? I heard rumors How is that even possible". Iris adds.

"Well, yes. He does have son. But the mother is not his mate. It was apparently a wolf-less female he fell in love with. Which no one actually believes, how could he love when he does not have a heart. Anyway, she died in childbirth, many believe it was the curse of the moon goddess, for defying fate. Oh, there's a rumor that the alpha never even looked at his son. And everybody in the pack avoids him. It's so terrible, for a kid to face all that with no fault of his own".

Everyone is silent. Then Nora breaks it "Wow that's a lot. How is he though? the alpha, I mean".

"I heard he's quite handsome. But no matter because he's said to be extremely intimidating and cruel". Dahlia comments. "So tragic". Mila sighs.

"I think it's rather romantic. Him marrying a female who was not his mate, just because he loves her". Iris says.

"Well romantic or not, it's a complicated matter. Goddess know which female will turn out to be his mate, she has hell of a life long trial waiting for her. Blood Moon Pack has bitter enemies, Nightwalker Pack being the biggest problem".

"Does anyone even know why there's such intense hostility between them. I mean, yes, Nightwalker pack kills for fun. But they seems to be more than that between them".

"There seems to be. But no one actually knows why?"

"Ari, what if he turns out be your mate?".

"Who? Alpha Adamos? Impossible". I shake my head. "There's no way. There aren't many cases where someone from east side mated with someone on the west and think about the bloodlines and pack directions. There's no way we can mate. He's an alpha after all and I would die before I become a luna of a western pack that has no morals". I am shocked and honestly a bit worried, there's no way we could mate right. I'm in no position to settle in and become a luna of a pack I don't even know. Let alone become a mother of an unlucky child.