OLIVIA’S P. O. V.
I find in the closet a simple blue dress with a squared neckline. I want to keep it simple but still feel a little elegant. I have never really had choices like this before. I do really feel like this is a dream. I am in Victor’s room, we are together and I don’t want to be anywhere else. I know I have Peter and Benjamin out there, but I am struggling with that. I have dreamed of being with Victor for so long that now that I am here, I don’t want to leave. I feel bad for them. They deserve better. If I hadn’t promised Peter that he could mark me first I would have let Victor take me right there in the shower. I had to hold back begging for it. I want to complete this before it is gone.
I slip on the dress and slide on some black flats. The dress hugged me nicely, I am glad that I don’t have to hide anymore. I don’t have to feel like the slut they always tried to paint me as, thanks to Hector. I can be me. The me that no one has really ever seen, except Victor and Aaron. We were friends for so long that there was no way that they didn’t know the real me. That was why Victor’s distance hurt me so bad.
I start brushing out my hair and Victor comes around in front of me and slides his hands along my waist. “Beautiful. This is one of the dresses that I personally picked for you. Most of that stuff someone else picked, but this one, I saw it and knew you would look hot in it. I was right. Now I am not so sure I want you to wear it in public.”
“Victor, this is a basic dress, if I can’t wear this in public then what can I wear?”
“How about sweatpants and a large sweater?” He smiles.
“You are crazy if you think that is what I am going to wear in public.”
He playfully frowns. “I will just have to endure. Seriously, I want you to stay by my side. I want everyone to know you are mine. I don’t want anyone getting any wild ideas since you aren’t marked.”
“I will stay right by your side, until you tell me not to.”
“Then you are never leaving, cause I never want to have you away from me.” He pulls me tighter.
I was going to try to dry my hair and make it look really nice but I can tell that we are really pushing them by not leaving the room. I decided that I will just let it air dry. “We better get this done and over with. I want to have some time with you before the training and if we don’t get down there then we won’t get it.”
I can tell he is reluctant so I grab his hand and lead him out the door. When we step out the door, I take a chance to notice what he is wearing. I didn’t notice before, but he is wearing a blue long sleeve button up shirt that matches my dress and black slacks. “Did you do that on purpose?” I point to his clothes.
“I saw you grab that dress and I thought, why not. I thought it might be cute.” He looks shy about it.
“I think it is fucking adorable. Don’t ever change. I love this side of you.”
He lowers his eyes to me. “Keep talking with that dirty mouth and we are never going to make it to breakfast.”
I smile at him and pull him down the hall. I can hear him grumble behind me, he would much rather we were headed the other direction. Hell, so would I, obligations suck.
We descend the stairs hand in hand and side by side to a room full of wolves. Alpha Craig has a buffet table set up against the wall and some tables set up around the room. I hadn’t noticed them when we went up the stairs so either they were brought in after we went by or I was so entranced by Victor I didn’t notice. We are about half way down the stairs when eyes start to turn to us. Soon the whole room is staring at us, or more accurately me.
I decided it is time to make my first speech. Not something that I have practiced, but what I am feeling right now. “Welcome all of you. I am delighted that you all could come to make me feel more at home here. I know some of you remember me from growing up here. I can say that not all of what you have heard about me is true. I ask that you get to know me before you cast any judgments. I am willing to answer any of your questions and I look forward to getting to know each and everyone of you. As future Luna I will have the power to help the pack to grow and become stronger. That is my wish for this pack to be the strongest. Everyone have a good breakfast and feel free to question me as you wish.”
I proceed down the stairs the rest of the way and head to the food table. I make my own plate. As I am piling on eggs and sausage, Victor slides closer and whispers in my ear. “That speech just made you even hotter. How am I going to make it through this breakfast?” I pull away smiling and shaking my head.
I look in his eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
With plates in hand we head to the nearest table. It isn’t hard to find because it seems that all the other wolves were waiting for us to arrive before getting their food. Alpha Craig comes and sits next to me on the side opposite of Victor. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Good, considering everything. I was worried I would feel nervous, but it isn’t happening.”
“That is because you are a strong woman and you will make a great Luna.” He takes a bite then swallows. “That was a good speech, for someone who has never done this before you have quite a skill with this. You made them feel welcomed, you made them feel like you cared and that you are ready for the work ahead. I couldn’t have written you a better speech.”
“Thank you Craig. I was put a little on the spot though. I would like a little notice first before any more public affairs.”
“Of course. I apologize about this. I was just so excited to introduce you.” He actually looks a little ashamed. I am amazed. “You can ask my Beta, I went nuts when Victor was born and made the biggest damn spectacle of myself that there ever was. Thankfully my Luna was there to reign me in. I tend to go overboard when I am happy. I am very happy to have you as the Luna of my pack.”
“Thank you Craig. I really don’t know what to say to that. I am glad to be here as a part of your family. I will do my best to lead this pack to the strength that I know this pack has. I know Victor is on my side with this.”
“What are you going to do with the other pack? I mean you are their future Luna too, are you not?”
“I am not sure that I want to accept that position with Peter. I know we have the mate bond and everything, but if I am being perfectly honest with you. The pull that I have for Victor is by far the strongest of the three. I feel our mate bond so strongly that there is no way that I could ever reject it.”
“That is good to hear. I really hope that everything works out with you all. I am going to go and make myself useful around the room. I think that maybe the wolves are afraid to approach you with me sitting here.” With that he gets up and leaves.
I can feel Victor’s arm around my back. We are comfortable there for a moment before the first wolf approaches. “Hello, Alpha Victor, and future Luna Olivia.” She is a meek wolf and I can tell that she is nervous. She is young, about fifteen.
“Hello,” I greeted her with a smile. “What is your name?”
“Cathy, Luna. I have a question.”
“Feel free Cathy. I am here to help.”
“You said that you want to make us a strong pack, does that mean that you are going to train the Omegas as well as the others?”
“Actually you are all going to be trained. Fully. I have already started making preparations with Alpha Victor that every wolf who is above the age of twelve and not infirmed will be trained.”
“Does that include females? I know that was not something done before, but I would like to train.” I can see the hopefulness in her eyes.
“Of course. Didn’t you receive the notice to report to training at noon?”
“Yes, of course, but I thought it would just be training in self defense for the upcoming war. I didn’t think that it would be full training.”
“It will start as self defense and then move into full training. We want as many fully trained wolves as possible, that will make us a stronger pack. We have made it an option after the self defense if some would like to only know that then they can report only for self defense. I would really hope that as many wolves as possible will continue to train to their full potential. I am not going to lie, it is going to be a lot of hard work to get us to the strength that we need to be, but I know we can do it.”
“I am very happy. Thank you Luna.”
She goes to leave, when I stop her. “You will be reporting to my training group at noon. I will be happy to see you again Cathy.”
“I am looking forward to it, Luna.” Her smile got all the bigger as she walked away.
No sooner had she left when another wolf took her place. “I have a question for you.”
I can tell this asshole has no intention of treating me with respect and I can feel Victor tense at my side. This guy is leaning on the table with his fists clenched resting there. He looks to be around our age. I can tell that he has had some training, due to his muscle mass. “Go ahead. What did you say your name is?”
“Trevor. Why should we follow some slut who can’t keep her legs closed?” He speaks disdain in his voice. Then it clicks, I have seen this asshole before. He was friends with Hector. He was one of the ones who would laugh at me about everything that Hector put me through.
Victor goes to stand, but I put my hand on his thigh to stop him. I look at him with a “I got this” look.
I turn back to the asshole. “Well, Trevor. I understand that you are under the impression that I have been around the block a time or two. This is a vicious lie that was started by your friend. I ask you, have you ever seen me with anyone who wasn’t my mate?”
All the wolves who are around are listening to this exchange. We have gotten a bit loud, but it needs to be exposed for what it really is.
“Who would admit to being with you?” He sneers at me.
“It would seem that I am good enough for your Alpha, that makes me question, do you see everyone else as better than your Alpha?”
“No, that is not what I said. You are twisting my words.” He looks at Victor scared now. He offended the Alpha in front of everyone. Of course I twisted what he said a bit but I made it clear that what he is saying is not just offensive to me but to my mate.
“I think my mate has made the point clear. You Trevor would think that you know a person based on a disgusting wolf who would torture his rejected mate with silver and wolfs-bane to keep her to himself. Hector the man who started this whole lie kidnapped and tortured your future Luna to keep her to himself. Does that really sound like some slut that runs around with anyone?” Victor sat back in his chair and glared at Trevor. “Be careful who you follow, before you wind up in the same spot as Hector.” The warning was clear. Hector was six feet under for treason, kidnapping, and torture.
All cockiness was gone from Trevor. His mistake was aired in front of the pack. No one will be willing to make the same mistake. The other wolves even seem to take a step away from Trevor like he has some disease that they don’t want to catch.
“I apologize Alpha. I simply wanted to clear up a misunderstanding.” Liar.
I answer for the both of us. “Make it a point in the future to get all of the information before you make accusations. You never know who your accusations can offend. In this instance it was your Alpha. Alphas are not known for their forgiveness, be grateful that your future Luna is.” I glare at him, making it clear that I do not buy his lie and I will be watching him.
“My apologies. Alpha, Luna.” Trevor slinks away.
“I know it needed to happen, but it still felt gross to talk about that. I hate that they saw me like that. I was never like that. But one asshole can make everyone think the worst of someone.” I whisper to Victor.
He leans forward and kisses my temple. “You did great, baby. I can guarantee that the pack won’t think those thoughts again. We made it perfectly clear that it was a lie and not to ever be mentioned again.”
I give him a small smile. I know he is right, but it still hurts to relive the accusations that have plagued me for the past two years. “I hope the rest of the questions are more pleasant.”
As if I had opened the doors again the next wolf stepped up. “Luna. I have a question, my name is Thomas.” He gave a slight bow. He looked older, like maybe around Alpha Craig’s age. He showed me more respect than anyone so far. Cathy was more fan girl, but Thomas was submitting to me.
“Yes, Thomas, what is your question?” I smile at him, to show him that I am pleased with his sign of request.
“What is planning on being done with the missing she-wolves? It would seem that there is no word on what has happened to them and one of them is my daughter. I want to know what happened to her.” I can see the pleading in this man’s eyes.
“I have some good news for you. I am not saying that we have all of the she-wolves but we have found a lot of them. We are planning on returning them to the pack later this evening. I am really hoping that we will be able to return your daughter to you by tomorrow. If everything goes successful tonight, I don’t see why not, as long as she is among the she-wolves that we have found. If she is not we will continue to look. We want all of our wolves brought back safe and sound.” I can visibly see his light up as I was speaking.
“Thank you, Luna. I can never repay you for this.” He is bowing so low his face is almost hitting the table.
“This was not my doing. This one was Alpha Victor and Alpha Peter, they were not willing to let the missing she-wolves be a thing to push to the side. They are willing to do what it takes to bring them back.”
The other wolves around us have turned and are now clapping for Victor and I. At first I thought it was just for Victor but then a wolf let out a howl followed by, “Long live, Alpha Victor and Luna Olivia.” This feels amazing. Their affection towards us is flooding. I can’t help but get teary eyed. They are accepting me and I am a part of this.
Victor hugs me close to hide my tears from the other wolves. Then he kisses my neck. “You deserve this. You are the reason that Peter and I worked together. We would have still been on different fences if it wasn’t for you. You made it happen. See you are already a great Luna. These wolves can see it. There is always a bad apple but that doesn’t mean that the whole batch is bad.”
“Thank you.”
The rest of the questions died down for the moment. I am grateful. I am really too emotional to answer any more questions. The rest of the breakfast was a pleasant get together. I did see Trevor slinking around in the background. It looked as though the other wolves were shunning him. I decided that I would have to fix that. I know what he did was wrong but I was not about to let Hector ruin another life.
After breakfast Victor and I excused ourselves claiming that we needed to finish preparing for the training after lunch.