Around the Pack
eighteen
*ROSEA*
The next day, it’s me who gets up early, while Forest sleeps in for a little longer. I can’t help but smile when I notice his broad body sprawled out over the bed, yet despite his size, he made sure he left me enough space so that I could sleep peacefully.
It’s been forever since a man respected my safe space and my boundaries.
Good to know that there are still decent people out there.
He looks innocent in his sleep, and handsome, and I have to fight the urge to brush a strand of hair from his face.
Before I leave, I make sure to notify Griffin. The last thing I want is to get myself into unnecessary danger. Although he promised us he would guard me, I am still surprised when I see him waiting for me in front of the pack house.
“Good morning, Luna,” he says with a grin. “You look surprised to see me.”
“I just realized you actually stuck to your word.”
“Did you doubt me that much?” he asks.
I tilt my head. “That’s not it, but I don’t know you.”
“Man, you are assertive,” he says. “Forest might need someone like you with him. He is way too kind.”
“And I am not?”
“Wait… no!” he looks at me, shocked. “That’s not what I meant.” When I smile, he lets out a sigh. “That’s exactly what I meant. Forest needs someone with a cunning streak at his side.”
“He can rely on me for that,” I say. “I am not here to play around.”
“I figured as much.” He eyes me curiously. “What is the plan?”
“I want to see all the most vulnerable places, such as the nursery, the infirmary and alike, and then the place where the warriors train. The advanced warriors are training soon, am I correct?”
“Yes, I met Martin on the way. He is already preparing for training. You want to talk to them?”
I nod.
Griffin eyes me curiously, but doesn’t ask any further questions. Instead, he starts leading me through the pack and shows me all of the places on my list. I take my time talking to the wolves working there. In my hand, I have my notebook, making notes in it.
Initially, the pack members working in the nursery were surprised when I arrived, but they warmed up pretty fast. The shifters working there told me it’s been ages since a luna visited them, which just adds to what I already expected.
Forest’s mother doesn’t give a flying fuck about the pack.
It would be her or Harry’s job to regularly pay a visit to this place.
I make sure to help out a little and play with the three young pups who are already there because their parents had an early shift.
My next stop is the orphanage, and then the infirmary.
The pack members there are over the moon to see me, very much to my surprise.
The lady leading the orphanage, in particular.
It looks like she is about to cry when I ask her to show me everything, and to talk to me about the kids there.
I make sure to ask the questions I need to, but do so without making it sound like I am blaming Forest’s parents.
It’s pretty much the same as with the nursery, only worse. No one of rank is ever around, no one seems to care, they are constantly running out of budget, and the young woman leading the place and her co-workers are actually paying for little presents and gifts out of their own pockets!
An absolute embarrassment for a pack! It’s the duty of the alpha couple to make sure the weakest pack members are tended to and look after the orphans, in particular.
My last stop is the infirmary, and the doctor is already awaiting me. It seems like the word must have gone around that I am visiting certain places. And unlike the other workers I talked to, he not only has a very strong opinion but isn’t afraid to voice it.
“Finally, someone in this place who does seem to care,” he tells me bluntly, while leading me through the two floors of the infirmary. “I don’t need to tell you, Luna, that the place is not up to the standards of a pack of our size and reputation.”
“I wholeheartedly agree,” I say, equally as blunt. “It’s an embarrassment.”
He looks at me in surprise before nodding grimly.
“I have been talking to the alpha about it for ages. I need more nurses, and at least one additional doctor, if not two. We need a therapist. We need more warriors learning first aid, and by the goddess, some of them would be willing to do so, but they are not allowed to.”
“Have you ever talked to Alpha Forest about this?” I ask him.
He looks at me, then shakes his head. “I didn’t think it would make a difference.”
“I think it would, or rather, I know it will,” I tell him, figuring he is the one person I don’t need to gently nudge into giving Forest a chance and seeing him in a different light.
Going by how intelligent and direct he is, he would see through me immediately.
I might just tell him, instead of beating around the bush.
“If he had cared, why did he never come on his own?”
“Well, I guess his reasoning isn’t so different to why the warriors don’t help out more. You said it yourself; they are willing to, but can’t.”
“As the future alpha, he should have noticed on his own. He could have stood up against the current alpha.”
“The current alpha is his father, and the man who raised him,” I say.
“As the son of his parents, every single person in this pack should be thanking the goddess that he is nothing like his father.” The doctor stares at me, his mouth open.
“As the pack doctor, I am sure you are very well aware of everything happening in here.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You are a pack elder,” I say.
Again, he pauses and stares at me. “Luna, you are starting to frighten me, and I mean that in a good way. I am an elder, yes. I don’t look like it because I am still working and not as old as an elder usually is, but I am. How could you tell?”
“You are not scared of the alpha family,” I say. “And you don’t mince your words. You have the pack’s interest in mind, as it should be for an elder.” Unlike the elders in my former pack. “How did you get the position?”
“The former elder was my father. I got the title from him,” he says. “And obviously, I took all the tests and exams to prove I am eligible.”
I nod. Elders are usually only a handful of older pack members: a maximum of three, who have a vast knowledge of everything, and are known to be fair and watch out for the pack.
Just like alphas and betas attend courses and learn the ropes of their rank, and have to prove they can do it, elders have to pass an exam.
“Are there more elders?”
“Just one,” he says. “I will make sure to introduce you, Luna.” He eyes me curiously.
“I am intrigued now,” he pauses. “Forest is a good kid,” he tells me.
“My words to him are harsh because I know that. Ever since you arrived, it looks like he is stepping up.” Once more, he eyes me, and this time his gaze is much sharper, boring itself into me.
“Whoever you are, Luna Rose,“ he pauses, as if he is stopping himself from saying my full name, “make sure to reach out to me if you need me. If your goal is to support Forest and the pack, I will have your back.”
Now that came unexpectedly. All of it. I did not expect to meet an elder. Forest made a passing comment yesterday that the elders here don’t have as much to say as in other packs. I wanted to research the matter more, but it seems like fate made me meet one of them early.
And even better, a very direct, honest man who strives to help the pack members.
Plus, he knows who I am.
He didn’t say anything, but he does know; I am sure of it.
“Well then,” I turn to Griffin, who just stares at me, equal parts confused and curious. “Lead me to the warriors. I have a few questions concerning the safety matters of the pack.”
“They aren’t up to date,” he says dryly.
“I know,” I say. “Which is why I want to hear from those who are affected by it the most. Being on guard duty or patrol has to be a nightmare.”
“It is,” Griffin says. “They keep complaining about it all the time.”
“Perfect,” I say. “Lead the way, Griffin.”
Not even ten minutes later, we are at the training area of the advanced warriors.
The new schedule has already been implemented, since Forest didn’t want to waste any time.
Martin is in the middle of training when we arrive, and I stop to watch him for a couple of minutes.
He is serious and calm, but by what I can see, he is well-trained and knows what he is talking about.
“He is not bad,” I mutter.
“I hate to admit it,” Griffin says quietly. “But he really is good.”
I smile. “Don’t pretend like you don’t like him.”
“Oh, it’s just a dose of healthy rivalry,” he chuckles. “Should I make our presence known?”
“How long until their break?”
He gazes at his watch. “Ten minutes.”
“Then we’ll wait,” I say. “I’d hate to disrupt them if their break is so close.”
Griffin and I keep watching them for a while. The warriors aren’t bad. There is room for improvement, but there is also a whole lot of potential, and they are motivated, very obviously so. “Are they so into it because Martin is training them, or is it always that way?”
“They usually train well,” Griffin explains. “But having the future beta train them has really boosted their confidence. It’s similar to the elites. We had a training session with them yesterday.”
“The one Forest was holding?”
“Yes. After we moved his stuff to the new office, we had a training session. Martin and I are in the group, too. And the warriors were noticeably more motivated with the new schedule.”
I nod contentedly. “It will only get better from here on,” I say. “I wonder how Forest is when he trains,” I hear myself say all of a sudden. “He must be good.”
Griffin grins. “Are you interested, Luna?”
Against my intention, I feel my cheeks flush a little. “Well, I guess, a little bit.”
“He is easily the strongest. You need to come and watch him train sometime. He would be happy.”