C2 Chapter 2

Talia's POV

It's 10am when I finally get out of bed.

Vance had an alarm installed by my bedside, maids at my beck and call.

I'm honestly not used to this lifestyle. It used to be Landon and I against the world, well, with moral support from the rest of the pack.

“Hi.” A maid walks in without much decency, not even enough to look away while I throw what's left of my clothes on.

“Yeah, hi. Good morning.” She doesn't make any effort to look away, fate accepted.

“Master said to ask what you want for breakfast.” She looks like she is reading a script, I just can't see which.

“Is he still around?” I want to come off nice. If I'm going to be housebound till I give Vance an heir, as he projected, I might as well make friends with constants like her.

“What do you want for breakfast ma'am?” If my dry throat wasn't still recovering from the sounds it produced, I would have doubted that she heard me.

“Anything would be fine.” I can't wait for her to leave.

She turns back, her well pressed uniform standing firmly on her petite frame.

My body feels sore, but younger. Living with Vance looks like a magic I'm willing to stay in.

Tonight is our traditional celebratory pack gathering. A ritual heritage passed down generations of generations of werewolves.

I'm supposed to stay idle all day in preparation for that, I know this too well, however my curiosity always gets the best of me.

As a successive Alpha, Vance ought to have relics stored, from the tenure of his ancestors. Such moon themed relics are often the indoor decorations and most times bragging rights of Alphas.

Our bedroom looks quite normal, save for the leather cloaks and necklaces from last night's adornment.

I have to be dressed my best tonight. It's as important as the wedding.

The celebration will be taking place on the rooftop, with close observation of the moon goddess.

It's nighttime. I'm not supposed to see my Alpha before the ceremony. I can hear the pack assembling above me.

Kara whines and whimpers. She's happy, but I know she's scared too. The pack has quite a number of females, but they're also powerful women. Vance and I are not going to be together all night. As Luna, I would have to spend time with the women in the pack. I'm scared, so is Kara.

“It's alright, Kara, Alex won't let anything happen to you. It's alright.” She quietens for a while, and I know she is as scared as I am, but we must trust our Alpha.

I didn't get Kara till I turned fifteen.

“Did you just scream?” I asked Landon one afternoon, right after we just finished eating. I just turned thirteen, but he is five years older than me. “I heard you say ‘fuck’." That was Landon's que that I had started getting my wolf. He denied it but opened up to me the next day, and taught me all I know about Kara. It's been ten years, but we really haven't known each other well.

“You are set.” Tracy, the annoying maid brings me back to reality." It's your first appearance as Luna, you have to look the part.” I want to make her swallow her words and wipe the doubtful stare off her bland pale face, but I have bigger issues.

All members of the pack have assembled. I head up to the rooftop, my walk-in directly precedes the start of the program.

“Packmates!” Vance sucks up all the attention behind me. The pack is quiet and paying rapt attention to the tall dashing young and powerful Alpha. “I present to you, my lovely beautiful Luna, under the celestial canopy of our ancestral realm, we are before you today, with hearts overflowing with joy and pride.” This evokes the desired sensation in the crowds as they all look to Vance in pregnant silence.

I stand up and walk over to Vance.

It's time for our first transformation as a couple. The rest of the pack have transformed, leaving just the both of us.

Standing tall and straight next to Vance, my new life suddenly dawns on me.

It's time for our first transformation as a couple. Under the soft warm glow of the moon, our hearts echo in harmony with each other.

“Breath." Vances voice is low but distinct. “Just breathe." He must be feeling my nerves.

"I've always had shaky hands." I blurt a little too loud. A weak excuse but it's the only thing that occurs to me. I look up to find Vance's eyes change from the sexy blue hue to a frightening golden yellow slit. Vance is gone, ruthless Alex is almost out.

“Hey, Kara," I somehow think calling her would make her change her mind. She's more scared than I am, frightened now. " Kara, Kara… " I lower my voice, it's bad enough that some of the wolves could hear my thoughts, hearing me call her out loud would be embarrassing to Vance and I.

My eyes are glistening from the tears welling up in them.

The wolves were staring intently. I want to believe Vance is not angry, but Alex is ruthless, it's so hard to tell. I want to run as fast as my legs can carry, and never come back.

“Breath." I hear Landons wolf, Mars says. Kara is less agitated, I feel it.

A smile bending Alex's grave face is confirmation enough that my eye had begun to change.

It takes a full minute till Kara fully comes out.

The howls and whines from different corners of the pack is the first Kara has ever gotten, I hope this validation is all she needs to be less frightened.

‘Did you see what just happened?’

‘Why did she take so long?’

‘Is she okay?’

‘How could she be Alpha Vance Luna when she is so weak?’

The voices come at me all so fast.

“Rrrrrrrr" Alex's snarl and baring his teeth restores order, to everyone else.

He grabs me tight, but I'm slipping, Kara is. I can have her for no more than two minutes at a time. If my heartbeat is anything to go by, in 20 heartbeats, we're back to me.

“Are we done?" I ask Vance in my head. My voice is shaky.

“Not yet, Honey." He replied.

Kara is leaving. I can no longer hear everyone as I used to, which is more scary. I sense it and run back into the house.

Tracy, the annoying maid comes to my rescue.

As soon as I shut the roof hatch, Kara leaves, rendering me stark naked, with just the door between me and the very intimidating pack I am going to be leading alongside Vance.

“Thank you." My tear laced voice sounds so pathetic, even to me.

I dash towards the bed room, Tracy leading me on.

“I think you are fit enough for Vance." Tracy says as she pulls a cute little chair for me from the dressing table. “I also think you are fit enough to be a Luna, and I think you would do an amazing job.” One would expect compliments to come with a smile, but Tracy's just doesn't. I however see the sincerity in her eyes, and that alone means a lot to me, and Kara.

“I would have to start by not running out of paxh gatherings.” I really do not want to talk to her, but God knows I need a shoulder to cry on so bad.

“That's very possible." She says, smiling this time. It's the first time I've seen her wear something other than a frown, she sort of looks good. “Just don't run. It that simple.” She locks eyes with me.

“It was hard not to." I break the glance for fear she's looking right into my soul. “I only have Kara for two minutes at most, she doesn't stay longer than that.”

"Your wolf, yeah?” Tracy asks

"Yes. Aren't you… ?" It's then I realized she's fully human.

“How did you meet Vance though?" It's the only change of topic coming to my head. I might as well ask it now that she's acting humane.

A single tear rolls down her eyes. I didn't mean to prick a sore spot, hell, I didn't even know it would be a sore spot. “If that is all, i will be in the kitchen till you call for me."

She heads to the door. Turning the knob, she says “He killed my only child." Tracy turns to face me. Her eyes are red and watery. “That's how I met him."