Chapter 23
AURORA
Today, I need to play catch up on my to do list. I’m not big on lists, as they tend to get more added than taken away. Eventually, I find they just become demotivating and a pain in the butt. First things first, I need to eat. I have a real hunger this morning, so breakfast before anything.
Entering the dining area, I fill a plate from the counter with a variety of meats, a portion of scrambled egg, and some toast. Seating myself at an empty table, I make a start on demolishing my breakfast. It’s very quiet in here as it’s still early, so I’ve only had to acknowledge a small number of pack members. Warriors mainly coming off their night shift patrols.
Looking up as a shadow falls across me, I see Xavier standing by the table. “Alpha Aurora, may I join you?”
“Warrior Xavier, of course you may, and welcome.”
Watching him seat himself and lay out his breakfast tray has me grinning. Everything has a place and he lays it out with precision. Before starting his meal, he bows his head and I hear him mumbling. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone say a prayer at mealtimes ever.
Looking up, he sees me watching him. “Something I’ve always done. My Grandmother insisted at every meal. It was something she picked up from living with a human family when she was a child.”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to intrude on your personal space.”
“No apology necessary, Alpha. I’m happy with my choices and my family traditions,” giving me a slight nod. He begins eating his breakfast, which is far healthier than mine, I have to admit.
“Can I ask you a personal question, Alpha Aurora?”
“You can ask the question. You may not get an answer.” I stop eating and wait to see what it is he’d like to know.
“When we first met in the forest, I had an unfamiliar emotion run through me. I merely wondered if you or your wolf felt anything? I’m not suggesting a mating bond. Please don’t misunderstand my intention. I know it was not such a thing as that. It was quite unsettling, as I have felt nothing like it previously.” Looking at Xavier, I can see he is sincere in his statement.
“I can honestly say that I felt nothing and had my wolf sensed something, she would have made me very aware. She is not shy about stating such things. I was not the only female present. I assume you have explored this avenue?”
“Yes, indeed. I had the same feeling when I returned and gave my report. Your beta, Raina, was present, yet she wasn’t in the forest with us. I can only imagine that the Goddess has some task for me to perform and that you are perhaps the focus of such a task. Forgive me if I appear somewhat cryptic, but I have always been forward when it comes to asking questions.” Finishing his food, he takes his leave, and after disposing of his tray, departs the dining room.
Sitting there for several minutes, digesting both my breakfast and the strange conversation I’ve just had. I shake my head and, following Xavier’s example, clear my tray and head out to the training area.
Seeing Raina and Wallace watching the training, I look to see who is currently under their scrutiny. Taria’s wolf, Maya, is sparring with a male warrior wolf. She looks smaller and no match for the wolf she is facing.
As I watch, I see her hesitate when an opening for an attack presents itself. Seizing the opportunity, the warrior wolf leaps towards her and there is a moment where everyone watching takes a gasp. As the warrior is in the air and bearing down on Maya’s neck, she slides forward, rolls to her back and, with all her four feet below the male, she snaps her legs straight. Caught completely unaware, the male is launched high into the air and lands heavily on his back. Before he can make a move, Maya is standing over him with her jaws at his neck.
The warrior stares at her with a shocked expression. Roul steps into the circle and indicates both wolves to shift and to return to their positions. Speaking quietly to the warrior, Roul dismisses him. Seeing me watching, he brings Taria to me.
“Alpha Aurora, is that a move that you have taught your daughter?”
“I have not taught her such a move. I wish I could take the credit.” I give a questioning look to Taria.
“No one taught us that move. Maya saw the opportunity and lulled the warrior into being overconfident. She studies others as we wait for our training slot and notes things she feels could be useful to us. She knows that her smaller stature can also be used to our advantage.”
“Alpha Aurora. Your daughter has become quite the fighter in a short time. If I can focus her as much as her wolf, she will become quite the warrior. I am very pleased with her development in training in both physical forms.” Roul looks at Taria, gives her a head nod and walks away to continue the pack training.
“That is quite a compliment coming from Council Warrior Roul. I am extremely proud to hear such praise. Taria, you are certainly becoming the basis for a very competent and successful Luna. I will be speaking to Luna Tatiana and Luna Hope shortly to arrange your visits with them. I have no doubt that you will impress them and will take on board the differing styles that Lunas have within their packs.”
“Thank you, momma… I mean Alpha Aurora. I will endeavor to make you as proud as I can, while learning from these Lunas.” Taria gives me a head nod of respect, and I can’t resist giving her hand a squeeze before she heads off to her next task in the kitchen.
Raina and Wallace both give me beaming smiles that tell me they are happy with Taria’s progress. Raina joins me as I walk back to the packhouse and regales me with tales of some of the things that pack members are saying about the ‘new’ Taria.
“It has not gone unnoticed as to how much she has changed in such a short time. When she joins a table at mealtimes, the pack members are like pups that have been given a treat. In the training circle, her opponents are now wary when they see who they are to fight. She has turned her game around and her reputation with it.”
“I am glad to hear these things, Raina. I failed her and to see that she has taken the criticism and made such positive changes in her life gives me hope for her future. I think she will make a great Luna. I only hope that her Alpha will live up to her expectations.” Entering my office, Raina takes her leave and I sit behind my desk.
Taking up my phone, I place a call to Luna Tatiana. It only rings twice and a guarded voice asks, “Hello, Alpha Aurora. How are you?”
“Luna Tatiana, I’m well, thank you. And you?”
“I’m very well, thank you. What can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you could help me with my daughter, Taria. I have not given her the amount of attention needed for her education to become a successful Luna. Would you be willing to spend some time with her and show how you do things for your pack? I realize we had our issues at one time, so if you don’t want to help, I fully understand.” I wait with bated breath for a response, hoping that Tatiana can overlook our earlier situation.
“Alpha Aurora. It would be a pleasure to help your daughter. Any issues we had are long since forgotten. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then. If you let me know when she will arrive, I can have a room ready for her and she can shadow me for a time, and I can arrange some tasks for her to take on as her own, too. I would be honored to be a part of her learning.”
I’m sure the sigh that escapes me does not go unnoticed. “I thank you for your help in this matter, Luna Tatiana. If there is anything I can do for you, you need only ask.”
“I understand the need for Taria to have some help in understanding the Luna role. Don’t forget, I was to be an Alpha myself and the town council, and many others, including Shifter Councilman Flint, gave me considerable help towards achieving that goal. I was fortunate to meet my alpha mate and become a Luna instead.”
“Taria too has met her alpha mate. Please treat this in confidence. He was not impressed with her entitled attitude and this brought home to me my failings as both her momma and alpha.” I feel that I’m talking more than I should about my failings, yet I need the Lunas to understand my position in this, as well as Taria’s.
“Alpha Aurora. I would imagine that among everything you have gone through since taking over the Blood Pearl Pack, you have done many positive things for your daughter that you don’t realize and perhaps don’t give yourself credit for. You have been both Momma and Poppa to her during a time that you have molded a very successful pack. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”
Hearing someone calling to Luna Tatiana, I thank her for her kind words and end the call. Taking a few moments to compose myself, I then place a call to Blackshadow Pack and Luna Hope.
The call takes only a few sentences and Luna Hope is more than willing to help Taria, too. That’s the priorities from my list so far.
Mind linking with Raina and Wallace, I ask them to come to the office. Next item, the packhouse doors being locked at night and patrols around the packhouse itself.
With Raina and Wallace seated, I discuss the subject of packhouse security. This has been picked up by the council warriors as well as myself, so needs addressing.
Raina is not happy that she has not picked up on this, and Wallace assures me that this should be part of the security procedures we have in place. Both will look into this tonight and report back in the morning. Any failings will be rectified immediately, I’m sure. Neither Raina nor Wallace would want to be responsible for a breach of the packhouse.
The rest of the day I spend ticking off tasks from my list and just as quickly seem to add new ones. I hate lists!
Showered, relaxed, and finally in bed, I just seem to close my eyes when a loud and insistent knocking on my door has me jumping out of bed. I hear Raina shout to me to meet her in my office as soon as I can and hear her footsteps heading away down the hall.
Dressing quickly, I rush to the office, where I see two warriors outside, standing guard. What the hell is this?
Entering the office, I find two more warriors, Raina, Wallace and a male pack member in attendance.
“Alpha Aurora. While monitoring the security procedures this evening, we discovered this male leaving the packhouse. When we followed him, we found he was attempting to meet with a rogue at the border. The rogue unfortunately escaped. It appears we have a traitor in our midst.”