Alex strolled into his office, a content smile still lingering from his honeymoon. The sun shone through the windows, casting a warm glow over the neatly organised chaos that was his desk. He hadn't even had a chance to sit down when his beta, James, popped his head in, grinning mischievously.
"Hey there ! I thought I wouldn’t be seeing my alpha for a while," James teased, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.
Alex raised an eyebrow, matching James's grin. "Well, do you want to keep managing the pack on your own? Because I could very much go for another break."
James laughed, shaking his head. "No thanks, boss. I've got enough grey hair from these last few weeks. But I've got some updates for you, and unfortunately, they can't wait."
Alex sighed theatrically, dropping into his chair. "Alright, hit me with it. What's so important that it couldn't wait until after my post-honeymoon glow wore off?"
James walked in and handed Alex a stack of reports. "First off, the Council wants you to host this year's Blue Moon ceremony. It's happening in the next six months."
Alex groaned, rubbing his temples. "Fantastic. Anything else?"
James's expression turned more serious. "We've been keeping an eye on the Silver Moon pack. Chris hasn’t tried anything suspicious yet, but he's becoming a real tyrant. He demoted Rosalie's parents to omegas and is, well, sleeping with literally all females in the pack."
Alex's eyebrows shot up. "Wow. Can't keep it in his pants for even a second, huh?"
James snorted. "It seems like it. But seriously, it's a mess over there. We need to be cautious. A tyrant Alpha means a pack rebellion."
Alex leant back in his chair, becoming thoughtful.
"Rosalie should not know about this. She'd be devastated. We need to handle this carefully."
James nodded. "Agreed. I'll make sure the information doesn't leak. But you might want to start thinking about how we can protect our pack and keep an eye on Chris's antics."
Alex sighed, feeling the weight of leadership settle back on his shoulders. "Thanks, James. I appreciate you holding down the fort while I was away."
James waved it off with a smile. "No problem, Alex. Just don't make a habit of it. I like having my weekends free."
Alex chuckled. "Deal. Now, let's get to work. We've got a Blue Moon ceremony to plan and a tyrant to watch."
As they dove into the reports and updates, Alex looked out of the window. Watching Rosalie while she walked to the beach or tended to the garden was a comforting sight. But right now Rosalie wasn't doing either she was in the pack kitchen surrpunded by her curious betas who wanted to know about her honeymoon.
Rosalie was not quite prepared for the whirlwind of curiosity that greeted her. She had barely set foot inside when Janet, Ashley, and a flock of other girls descended upon her, their eyes wide with anticipation.
"Tell us everything!" Janet exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet. "How was the honeymoon?"
Rosalie laughed, trying to fend off the barrage of questions with a wave of her hand. "Okay, okay, calm down! One at a time, please."
Ashley leant in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Come on, Rosalie. Spill the tea. We want all the juicy details."
Rosalie rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Well, the honeymoon was amazing. There was this lively cottege in the middle of a forest, surrounded by nothing but nature. It was so peaceful and romantic, just what we needed after the wedding chaos."
Janet clapped her hands together. "And the romantic dinners? Candlelight? Dancing under the stars?"
Rosalie nodded, a dreamy smile playing on her lips. "Yes, there was plenty of that. Alex really pulled out all the stops. It was perfect."
Another girl, Megan, piped up from the back. "But what about the... you know, the bedroom stuff?"
Rosalie's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "Megan!"
The kitchen erupted into giggles, and Ashley playfully nudged Rosalie. "Hey, we're all just curious. You can't blame us!"
"Well," Rosalie said, trying to regain her composure, "let's just say we didn't get much sleep, but we didn't miss it either."
The girls burst into laughter, and Janet fanned herself dramatically.
"Oh, I can't wait to find my mate." She winked at Rosalie.
Rosalie shook her head, laughing along with them. "You guys are terrible."
Ashley grinned. "So, did anything embarrassing happen? Come on, there has to be a funny story."
Rosalie's smile widened. "Oh, you have no idea. Let's just say we may have accidentally knocked over a lamp and broken a bed in the heat of the moment."
The girls erupted into more laughter, eager to hear all the juicy details.
Janet clapped her hands. "I knew there had to be something! Poor Alpha."
Megan leaned in closer. "Did you get any gifts?"
Rosalie nodded, pulling out a small necklace from under her shirt. "Alex gave me this. It's a heart pendant with our initials engraved on it. Isn't it sweet?"
Megan squealed in delight. "That's adorable!"
The girls cooed in admiration, and Ashley sighed. "You guys are just too cute."
Rosalie's heart swelled with warmth as she looked around at her friends. "Thanks, guys. It really was the best time of my life. But I'm also glad to be back home with all of you."
"Yes, let's have a party !" The girls cheered in agreement, already planning a welcome home party for Rosalie.
Rosalie laughed, feeling grateful for such amazing friends. "I love you guys," she said, feeling overwhelmed with happiness.
Just as the kitchen was filled with laughter and the aroma of freshly baked cookies, the door swung open with a creak. Estela stopped in her tracks, taking in the sight of the kitchen staff and betas huddled in a corner, giggling like schoolgirls.
Estela rolled her eyes, her arms crossing over her chest. "What is going on here? Why is no one doing their duties? Is this a kitchen or a gossip club?"
The room went silent in an instant. Everyone scrambled to their feet, murmuring hurried apologies as they darted back to their tasks. Janet and Ashley were the first to make a break for it, cookies still in hand.
Rosalie was about to follow suit, but Estela's sharp voice halted her. "Not you, Rosalie. Sit down."
Rosalie gulped, nervously sitting down on a stool. The kitchen was now eerily quiet, the hustle and bustle replaced by the soft clinking of dishes and the faint hum of the refrigerator.
Estela took a seat across from her, folding her hands on the table. “Rosalie, now that you’re back, there’s an important responsibility you need to focus on.”
Rosalie blinks, confused. “What do you mean?”
Estela leant in, her expression grave. “Your most important responsibility as Luna is to ensure the continuation of the pack. That means having Alex’s pups.”
Rosalie’s eyes widened, and she felt a surge of panic. “Pups? But we just got married! I mean, we haven’t even settled into our new routine yet.”
Estela waved a hand dismissively. “Details, details. The pack needs heirs, Rosalie. Strong ones. And as Luna, it’s your duty to provide them.”
Rosalie’s mind raced. She had thought about having children with Alex, of course, but it had always been a distant, abstract idea. The sudden pressure made her head spin.
“I... I don’t even know if I’m ready for that,” she stammered. “I mean, there’s so much to learn and do as Luna already.”
Estela’s expression softened slightly, but she remained firm. “I understand it’s a lot to take in, but it’s something you need to start thinking about. The pack looks to you and Alex for leadership and continuity.”
Rosalie took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “Okay, I understand. I’ll think about it."
Estela nodded, standing up. “Of course, but don’t take too long. The sooner we have a new generation, the stronger our pack will be. When I was your age, I already had two pups."
"But I am just 18 !" Rosalie protested.
"A perfect age to have strong pups." Estela replied with a knowing smile, her eyes filled with wisdom. "You'll see; it will all fall into place when the time is right."
"Right !" Roselie stammered. Does Alex share Estela's thoughts?