Chapter 23
TARIA
Arriving back at the packhouse after the run, I feel exhilarated. Retrieving my suit from the stage where I’d dropped it, I get dressed and cover the blue bodysuit. I’m not in the least embarrassed by the snug fit of the suit, but as I’m going to be mingling with the pack, I feel the gray suit would be far more appropriate. It will also allow Bronze to concentrate on matters other than my curves. Ember has had no such concerns and is thoroughly enjoying the male attention that her bodysuit is attracting.
Titan has done nothing but preen since he met Maya, and to her credit, she is playing very hard to get. She wants to mate as badly as Titan, I can tell, but she is making him work for the privilege, that’s for sure.
Bronze has my arm and is walking me around the festivities, introducing me to everyone. He isn’t preening like Titan, though he does look very proud of himself. I myself have to admit to being more than a little smug as to how I made such a grand entrance and won over the pack. Walking arm in arm with my mate has me wearing the biggest grin possible.
Seeing how much effort has gone into the food for the garden party following the ceremonies, I’m astounded. The preparation alone must have been staggering. Mentioning this to Bronze, he steers me toward a female who is watching the tables that contain the vast array of dishes.
“Luna Taria, please meet Cook Ash. Although I’m afraid that the title of cook seriously underrates her abilities. Cook Ash, your new Luna, Luna Taria.”
“At your service, Luna Taria,” Cook Ash tips her head in respect and I immediately get a good feeling from this female.
“Chef Ash, you have excelled with such a magnificent feast. You are to be congratulated on this achievement.” I wait to see if she notices the change of title.
“Thank you, Luna Taria, but it is cook, not chef. I have had no formal training to grant me that title.”
“To produce food to this standard and to not have had any formal training, that alone, in my eyes, entitles you to be called a chef. From now on, you will be referred to as Chef Ash and will receive any pack gratuities that go along with that position.” I see the conflict in her eyes and wait to see what she has to say.
“There is not, nor has there ever been, a pack chef’s position, my luna, but thank you for the thought. It means a lot to me to just have that recognition,” Chef Ash blushes furiously.
Turning to Bronze, I raise my eyebrows and I see him smile first at me, then he turns to Chef Ash, saying, “As of this moment, there is a requirement within the pack to fill a vacancy for a newly created position for a chef. Cook Ash, I believe you fit the criteria for the role. You are duly appointed as pack chef. Congratulations on your promotion.” Offering his hand, she shakes it and looks like she is going to burst into tears.
Offering her hand to me, I brush it aside and as she looks at me, horrified that I would refuse, I grab her to me in a hug. “Well done, Chef Ash, and may I also add my congratulations on your promotion. Not before time, I may add,” giving Bronze a mock glare, but know it’s not particularly his doing.
Once Bronze is satisfied that he has paraded me enough, we join everyone else in partaking of the sumptuous feast. Sitting to one side, we eat and pack-watch. It would have been the icing on the cake if my Momma and Pops could have been here to see this, but I understand that with the rogues causing so many issues, they couldn’t be away from the pack.
Once we’ve eaten, I ask Bronze if he will give me a tour of the grounds. Holding hands, which brings the mate tingles to the fore, we slip away and the first thing I’m drawn to are the kitchen gardens. They are certainly full of healthy plants, and there is an array of different herbs. I notice that there are other plants mixed in the beds too, and this reminds me of a conversation I had with Dahlia about something she called companion gardening. Different plants grow well when in proximity to others, and some keep bugs and harmful insects away. Someone here obviously knows their stuff, too.
Passing newly turned flower beds, I see fresh shoots appearing and can only imagine that they will be a riot of color when everything is in bloom. Walking past vegetable beds, they look like they have been tended by an OCD gardener as there isn’t a weed in sight. Nothing appears to have been eaten by slugs or snails either, which is very unusual. There is always that one plant that gets demolished by the evil demons that leave their silver trails all over.
Entering an orchard, I see a circular bench surrounding the trunk of a large apple tree. It looks new and as we approach, there is a male sitting on the bench, his back to us. As we approach, Bronze speaks out.
“Not enjoying the festivities, Herb?”
The male jumps to his feet, spilling some food from a plate that he had on his lap. “Oh, Alpha Bronze, Luna Taria. I was present for the ceremonies and grabbed some of Cook Ash’s lovely food, but I’m not a crowd person, so I came to enjoy my new bench and the solitude in the orchard.”
“You mean Chef Ash. She’s just accepted a promotion, I’m happy to say.” Bronze grins, enjoying the fact that he has done a good deed so early in his new leadership.
“Well, she certainly deserves the title. She never lets us down, no matter the occasion. When I treat my team to a picnic, she does us proud every time. I don’t know where she gets her inspiration, I’m sure.”
“Judging by what I’ve seen of the gardens so far, I’d say you visit the same library. Your herb garden looks amazing and so do the vegetable beds. Your orchard seat is so much better than just a standard bench, too. You’ve impressed me and it’s my first day as Luna.” I step forward and offer my hand, which he takes and rather than shake, he bends and touches his lips to the back of it. I feel Titan growl rather than hear him and I turn to look at Bronze. “You two need to calm yourself. I think Herb and I are going to get along famously. I like him, and his olde worlde style, too.”
“If you have a spare moment at some time, my Luna, I would love to share my vision for the future of the Eclipse Pack gardens with you.” His eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, and I find it quite infectious.
“That would be my pleasure, Herb. We are going to be firm friends of the earth, I can see that.” Watching his face light up, I give him a beaming smile.
“Herb, you should show Luna Taria your project folder. I have been remiss in not having made the time to study it with you.” Bronze looks at me and continues, “Since being the head gardener, Herb has made so many improvements and in such a short space of time, it’s been incredible. What Chef Ash is to food is what Herb is to gardening.”
“I look forward to seeing your projects and perhaps being a part of some of them.” I can see Bronze wants me away from Herb, and I smile inwardly at his jealousy. Taking our leave, we stroll off and Herb resumes what’s left of his food as he sits on his bench below the branches of his apple tree.
Titan, what is Herb’s wolf called? Maya asks this in such an innocent voice, but I almost can’t breathe as I wait for his response. I also see Bronze miss a step in his stride as she asks.
You do not need to know his wolf’s name! That is not something you need to be concerned with!
Seeing Maya in my mind as she sits there with a smirk on her face, I can’t hold it any longer and I burst out laughing. Grabbing Bronze’s arm to stop myself collapsing to the floor, I have tears running down my cheeks.
“I can see you and your wolf are going to keep me and my wolf on our toes.” Bronze grins at me and I see Titan flash in his eyes.
“Life will never be boring, that’s for sure.” I stare into his eyes and almost melt as he leans down and tenderly kisses my lips. Placing my hand on the back of his neck, I pull him into a deeper and more passionate kiss. Breaking the kiss only when we have to breathe, we look at each other and can see the longing we both have.
“This is something we need to explore further when we are alone tonight. If I can keep a tight enough rein on Titan that is. He has only had thoughts of Maya for some time now.” Bronze rolls his eyes as he speaks.
“I think he can wait his turn, don’t you?” I say this with a smile and walk slightly in front and with what I hope is a sexy wiggle of my ass. Getting a slap tells me it was.
Reaching the nursery, I see someone in there. “Didn’t you close the nursery today for the ceremonies?” I ask Bronze, surprised that he wouldn’t.
“Of course. Why would I not have everyone possible attend the handover and the introduction of my Luna?” Heading into the building, I see two enormous eyes staring at me on the doors. Once in the hallway I see more eyes on me. They look like they are following my every move.
“Those eyes are a little spooky for a nursery, don’t you think?” I whisper to Bronze as we head to the classroom where we had seen movement.
“There’s a story behind those eyes. I’ll tell you later.” I swear he giggles as he says it.
Opening the door, we see two females working at a desk, but what catches my eye is the pup that is scraping at something on the back wall of the classroom. I can’t believe two adults are sitting there while a pup scrapes and cleans the walls. Before I get a chance to say anything, both females jump to their feet and smile at Bronze and me as though this was an everyday occurrence.
“Good afternoon, Eve, Madison. How are things today?” What is going on here, I think to myself.
“Alpha Bronze. Luna Taria. Congratulations to you both.”
“Is there a particular reason that you have not closed the school today, as I instructed?” Bronze does not sound at all put out that these two have ignored what would amount to an alpha order.
“The school is indeed closed, as you instructed. All pupils have been given the day off to join in the pack festivities.” The one that I take to be the youngest informs us.
“And yet, Madison, here you and Eve are. At school.” He tips his head in a questioning manner and raises his eyebrows.
“I was supposed to be here with Coal, just the two of us,” says the one I now know as Eve. “When Madison found out that I was going to take advantage of the closure to help reprogram some of Coal’s thought processes, she refused to let me sit here alone.”
“And how is the reprogramming coming along?” Bronze looks towards the pup and then back to Eve.
“Oh, I’m confident that there will be no more defacing of pack walls or buildings in the future by the time I’ve finished with his restart button. The program will be reinstalled to the correct parameters.” She smiles sweetly, but at the same time, it’s darn scary if you ask me.
“How are classes coming along in the day-to-day scheme of things with the class? Have we seen any improvement in the pup's learning and general attitude to school?” I find this whole thing quite bizarre and can’t wait to hear about it when we leave. I’m sure there’s a story to be told, but I can’t for the life of me get a handle on it.
Both females positively bounce with enthusiasm as they rush to tell us how much better things are since that ass has been gone. They reel off some of the activities that have been introduced and how the pup's grades have gone through the roof. I take particular notice when I hear that there is a weekend gardening activity that all the pups willingly attend.
“Very good, ladies. It sounds like you’re doing an excellent job. Remember, if there’s anything you need, see me or Luna Taria here. We will support you fully with your endeavors.” Turning to the pup, Bronze calls out to him, “Coal. Don’t miss the eyes in the mouse hole in the hallway, will you?”
A very sulky pup answers, “No sir, Alpha Bronze. I’m sure my momma will make sure I don’t miss any.”
“Carry on, soon-to-be-a-warrior Coal,” Bronze watches as his words sink in and the pup positively beams at him.
“Yes sir, Alpha Bronze,” he calls out in his best official warrior type voice, and goes back to work with a renewed vigor.
Bronze looks at the two females and winks at them. Winks? Eve looks at Bronze as though he just hung the moon and then at the pup. Seeing the pride there, it has to be her son. Only a momma could look at a pup that way.
Walking away from the nursery and back towards the festivities that we can clearly hear as we get nearer, Bronze explains about Coal, some of his antics, and how Eve is bringing him up alone. When he describes the day he caught Lincoln about to hit Coal, I see Titan's eyes blaze and think how lucky that teacher was that day when Bronze held him back. I’m not in the least concerned when I hear that he was sent to the Shifter Council warrior training school.
The story of Coal’s father, his poor behavior and also being sent to the training school, has my blood boiling when I think of how Eve is doing such a good job bringing up that pup on her own. I must speak to Flint when I get a chance and see what’s happening with those two. I wonder if there’s any way to make their life more difficult than it already is?