Chapter 15
AURORA
Watching the training session this morning, I struggle to not show how amused I am at Taria’s efforts. I had never realized she was missing the daily training, and I had taken no notice of my officers' reports. As I observe the way Warrior Wallace is currently chastising Taria, I am realizing the grave mistake I have made.
“It is a little upsetting watching Taria being taken to the ground continually, isn’t it?”
Turning my head to the speaker, I give Raina a nod. “Yes, it’s taught me a valuable lesson. I won’t ignore what you and Warrior Wallace bring to me in the future. I honestly did not realize she was missing the training sessions, and thought you were both on her back because she was my daughter.”
“We wouldn’t do that. We love her to pieces. She is usually a bubble of fun and has that loving aura about her you cannot fault. She is, however, under the impression that a Luna can do as she likes and the pack will protect her no matter what happens. If she is a mate to an alpha, then she has to learn the position is a responsible one. Do you think it would be helpful if she were to go to be trained somewhere with one of the other pack Lunas?”
“If she is a mate to an alpha, then she will be trained by that packs current Luna. What I need to address is her attitude, and I won’t allow her to look down on, or have expectations regarding others in the pack. Once she has finished with Wallace have her come to the office.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Raina calling me alpha lets me know we have someone approaching.
Turning, I see it’s Doctor Patricia. “Good morning, Alpha Aurora. I wanted to catch you before I have other duties to attend. Alpha Heir Bronze has healed enough that he can leave the hospital.”
“That is good to hear. I will come to the hospital and speak with him. Has his wolf emerged?”
“Not fully, but he is alive and well. There is a lingering of the sedative, holding him back. I have the blood work to finish as I have not seen this sedative before. My aim is to unravel the concoction and make an antidote, then if for any reason we come across it again we can do something much faster than with Alpha Heir Bronze.” Doctor Patricia is rubbing her hands together and I know her well enough that she’s showing all signs of itching to get back to work.
“Thank you Patricia, go do your thing and I will check on the patient. I am expecting his parents to arrive any time, as I'm sure Councilman Flint would have informed them.”
After giving me a respectful tip of her head, Patricia rushes away. I turn back to look at Raina. “Something else for me to fit into my busy day.”
“Well, you would be bored if you sat in that office all day doing nothing but paperwork,” Raina laughs.
“No chance of that happening, but for one day it would be nice,” I grin as I walk toward the hospital to speak with Alpha Heir Bronze.
Walking into the room, the first thing I notice is the powerful aura that Bronze has. He is going to be a powerful Alpha and one I’d like as an ally because to think of him as an enemy leaves me feeling uneasy.
“Good morning, Bronze.”
Looking up at me from where he’d been sitting looking out of the window, he gives me a quick nod of welcome. “Good morning, Aurora. I would like to say thank you for getting me out of that camp. You didn’t have to slow yourselves down by helping me, but you did the decent thing, which wasn’t the easiest thing, and saved me.”
“I would like to think if any Alpha had been in my position, they would have done the same. I’m hoping that the other hostages that fled got back to where they came from. I didn’t recognize any of them, which has me thinking they may have been from areas beyond ours.”
“After they injected me, I remember little. Things are hazy and it’s not getting any clearer with time. I was on the way back from the Alpha Training camp and one of the males traveling with me handed out drinks to the rest of us. We congratulated each other on passing the camp testing, then I only remember flashes of being taken to the camp before they injected me and as I said, everything was hazy from that point.”
“Would you recognize this male again? It seems the rogues have infiltrated our ranks, but with pack members. If they were rogues, they would stink, and we’d detect them, so the ones doing this have to be traitors to their pack, and our kind,” snarling as I state this because there is nothing I hate more than a traitor.
Turning to look out of the window, the Alpha Heir shakes his head. “The young she-wolf getting beaten the heck out of is my mate. But, I can’t accept her if she is going to be weak and entitled. My parents and my pack would not accept her.”
Stepping up beside him, I look out of the window, and my heart sinks because the she-wolf is Taria. Closing my eyes for a moment, I speak candidly. “Taria is my daughter. Sadly, I have not kept my eye on her closely enough. She is under my eye now and is going to be attending training daily, as well as taking on responsibility for herself and others. Don’t hold it against her. I failed her, and didn’t do a good enough job of educating her, and allow me the time to groom her correctly.”
“I can do that, but I have to go to my pack. My parents are coming for the alpha meeting you are holding,” holding his hand up to stop me speaking, “Councilman Flint came this morning and spoke with me. My parents are coming for the meeting and I will return with them afterward. I can give you six months to work with Taria, but if she has not improved in that time, I will have to reject her.
“My wolf, Titan, is not happy with any of this, but he knows that we have to have a Luna who can do all that is expected. Titan has spoken with Taria’s wolf, Maya. Maya understands that Taria has to step up, and she’ll make sure she urges her in the right direction.
“Luckily, when I met Taria the other day, we did not touch, so the mate bond has not started. I want her, don’t think that I don’t. I know that the pack won’t accept a Luna who can’t fight, and is entitled. We are a down-to-earth pack, looking out for each other. If I can do anything to help prepare Taria, then tell me and I will willingly and happily do it. My mother Luna Sage, I’m sure, will help, and if Taria visits when I am out of the packhouse, she will take her through her responsibilities once she is Luna.”
“Thank you for not rejecting Taria. She is a sweet and loving person. I have done her a disservice and intend to rectify that. I will keep you informed, Bronze. I will have someone come for you. They will get you settled in a room that will be yours for the duration of your stay.”
“Thank you, Aurora.”
Leaving the hospital, I make my way back to the packhouse and my office, with Raina beside me. She has said not a word since before we entered the hospital room. I can see and feel her sorting through in her mind what she has heard. She is probably as worried as I am about Bronze rejecting Taria. I don’t know if my soft-hearted daughter would survive a rejection, and that has my determination high enough to make sure that does not happen.
Entering my office, I sit behind my desk and place my elbows down and my head in my hands. Closing my eyes a moment while I absorb the information and the dilemma that I face.
“Training is finishing in a few minutes. Are you ready for me to fetch Taria?” Raina asks.
Looking up as I reply, “Yes, bring her here before she showers and changes. I need to get this done before my resolve breaks.”
I wait quietly for Raina to return with Taria, taking deep, calming breaths to prepare myself for what is coming. The door opens and a dirty, sweaty, and annoyed Taria stomps into the office and throws herself into a chair.
“Get up, and show respect to your Alpha,” I snarl. Taria looks around to see who I am speaking to, but as I am staring at her, she points to herself. “Yes, you…get up and stand with respect when in your alpha’s office.”
“Mother…” Taria starts to whine, but I look at Raina, who grabs Taria by the arm and yanks her onto her feet in front of my desk. “Ow, you are hurting my arm.”
Raina rolls her eyes and I hold back the grin that wants to show itself. I know Raina hasn’t held onto Taria hard enough to cause a bruise, and this is another way of Taria behaving badly.
“Stop with the theatrics, Taria. You are in a life turning moment. I know you found your mate. I know he is an alpha, and a powerful one. But what I also know after speaking to him is he will reject you if you don’t become the Luna that he needs, and to be truthful, he deserves,” the shock on Taria’s face nearly has me pausing, but she must grow up now or lose the best thing that ever could happen. “Do you want your mate?”
“Of course I want my mate,” Taria snaps, but to her shock Raina slaps her around the back of her head as she snarls, showing all her teeth and a touch of her wolf in her eyes.
“There is no, of course, Taria. If you want your mate, you have to show him you have grown up, taken responsibility and are worthy. Nothing in life is handed to us on a plate. You will shower and change, then go to the kitchen to help prepare the lunch menu. Once that is done including the cleaning afterward, you report to Raina for your next responsibility. I will show you how to grow up and become the Luna you are meant to be. But, be aware if you whine and resist, you are on your own and will lose Bronze as your mate because of it. I don’t have time to follow you around and,” using air quotes, “wipe your ass for you. Grow up Taria, grow up fast. I lost both my mates and life is very lonely without them. Your father, as I told you, died while on patrol duty, killed by a rogue. My second chance, I watched die in the same way, unable to get to him in time. I wouldn’t wish that on you, but you will lose your mate if you don’t take this warning and show everyone what a good Luna you can be. Dismissed, it’s up to you now.”
Raina pulls a stunned-looking Taria out of the office, and I can hear her laying down the law as they walk away. I rub my face with the palms of my hands, hoping we can teach her enough in the six months that she has.
Twenty minutes later, Raina returns with a huge smile on her face. “Oh dear, Taria didn’t enjoy having to prepare all the sandwiches for the lunch menu. Cook Ivy is finding this highly amusing, and will make sure Taria doesn’t slack off with the chores. Our little Taria has upset a few pack members with her attitude, and they are going to be making sure she knows it.”
“She has to learn, but I feel guilty that she is going through this because I didn’t teach her the right way. Allowing her to do as she liked because I was busy with pack business was the wrong way to be, and I will always regret that.”
“Aurora, you couldn’t be in two places at once. We all have to admit we spoiled her because she was yours, but we didn’t see the damage we were doing, either. Let’s do the best we can now to make sure she doesn’t lose her mate, and that she is the best Luna any kingdom could want.” Raina gives me an encouraging smile, and I take it with both hands, knowing I’m going to need it.