It had been three months since her mating, and Roselie had settled comfortably into her role as Luna of the Greystone pack. The transition was smoother than she had anticipated, thanks to the support of Alex and the welcoming nature of the pack members. Today, she was knee-deep in preparations for the Blue Moon Festival.
Roselie stood in the grand dining hall, surrounded by stacks of menus, catering samples, and various lists. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she made notes and adjustments. Besides her, Sarah and Estela were helping with the final touches.
"Okay, let's go over the menu one more time," Roselie said, glancing at the pile of papers in front of her. "We’ve got to make sure everything is perfect. No mistakes allowed!"
Sarah nodded enthusiastically, her long brown hair bouncing. "I agree! Will there be a mating ceremony as well ?"
Roselie laughed.
"Maybe, but you are just 17, Sarah."
"I will be 18 soon."
Estela chimed in, "Let's focus on the food first, then we can talk about any other details."
Roselie smiled. "You're the boss , Estela."
"I’ve been doing this for years. Besides, who could forget when we accidentally served fish to Marcus? Poor guy broke out in hives so fast, we thought he’d transform right there!"
Sarah giggled at the memory. "I remember! He looked like a giant pufferfish."
"But that’s exactly why we need to be meticulous. So, Estela, you know everyone’s food habits and allergies. Anything we need to change?" Roselie asked.
Estela tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, we’ve got the usual suspects. Marcus and his fish allergy, obviously. Then there’s Clara, who’s lactose intolerant, and let’s not forget about Alpha Jacob, who gets sick from anything with nuts."
"Wow ! I didn't know wolves also had so many allergies." Roselie commented.
"You know what's worse ?" Sarah asked. "Silverwere. Once the council meeting was in a hotel, and everything was made of silver."
Roselie shuddered.
Sarah piped up, "And we can’t forget that Alex hates broccoli. He’ll eat it if he has to, but he’ll complain the whole time."
Roselie smirked. "I’ll make sure to keep the broccoli far away from him. Maybe we should just serve it as a side for people who actually like it."
Estela nodded. "Good idea. Now, about the main courses: "
Roselie’s phone buzzed, interrupting Estela. She glanced at the screen and laughed. "It’s Alex. He’s checking in to make sure we haven’t burned the place down yet."
She answered the call with a playful tone. "Hi, Alpha. No disasters so far. How’s your day going?"
Alex’s voice came through with a chuckle. "I'm just making sure my Luna isn’t overworking herself. How’s the planning going?"
"We’re almost done with the menu. Just double-checking everything to avoid any allergic reactions or broccoli-related complaints."
Alex laughed. "You know me too well. I’ll leave you to it then. See you at dinner?"
"Of course. Love you."
"I love you too."
Roselie hung up and turned back to Sarah and Estela. "Alright, where were we?"
Sarah grinned. "Discussing the main courses."
Roselie nodded. "Right. So, we have cavier, oysters, and lobster bisq shooters as appetisers. Roast beef, grilled chicken, rack of lamb, grilled salmon, pasta, and vegetarian lasagne. That should cover most preferences, right?"
Estela gave it a thumbs up. "Absolutely. And for sides, we’ve got mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a mixed green salad. Oh, and no broccoli near Alex."
Roselie chuckled. "Perfect. Desserts?"
Sarah’s eyes lit up. "My favourite part! We’ve got a chocolate fondant, crème brûlée, champagne sorbet, and a fruit platter for those who want something lighter."
"Sounds delicious," Roselie said, jotting down the final notes. "I think we’re all set. Great job, team!"
Estela beamed. "This is going to be the best Blue Moon Festival yet!"
Sarah hugged Roselie. "You’re doing an amazing job, Roselie. I’m so proud of you."
Roselie smiled warmly. "Thanks, Sarah. I couldn’t do it without you two."
As they wrapped up their preparations, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. The Blue Moon Festival was going to be a spectacular event, and Roselie felt confident that everything would go smoothly. With her supportive team and a well-thought-out plan, nothing could go wrong—except maybe Alex finding a rogue piece of broccoli on his plate.
*************************************************
Alex sat behind his massive oak desk, papers and reports scattered in front of him. His beta, James, sat across from him, a look of concern etched on his face. The room was dimly lit, the flickering flames from the fireplace casting long shadows on the walls. Alex rubbed his temples.
"James," Alex began, breaking the heavy silence, "these reports are troubling. Chris has been having meetings with some dubious people. Our informants claim to have seen him with rogues and known mercenaries."
James nodded, his brows furrowed. "I've been thinking the same, Alex. It doesn't bode well. Chris is up to something. The question is, What exactly?"
Alex leant back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibilities. "Chris iscrazy. If he's meeting with these people, it could mean he's planning something big. Maybe he's trying to acquire something—power, weapons, allies."
James crossed his arms, pondering Alex's words. "Or," he added slowly, "he could be making pacts with other packs, trying to form alliances. If he’s preparing to attack us, he’d need more than just his own strength. He’d need the support of others, especially if he’s planning to take over our territory."
Alex sighed, his gaze shifting to the window where the moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. "That means we might have to do the same. We can't afford to be caught off guard. If Chris is gathering allies, we need to counter his moves. We need to start reaching out to the neighbouring packs to see where their loyalties lie."
James nodded.
"Agreed. While we have close relationships with certain packs, we also need to forge new ones. Chris cannot outmanoeuvre us."
Alex stood up, pacing the room as he spoke. "We also need to strengthen our own defences. Double the patrols at the borders and increase the training sessions. Make sure every member of the pack is ready for anything."
James gave a tight-lipped smile. "Consider it done, Alex. I’ll also have our spies gather more detailed information on Chris’s activities. The more we know, the better we can prepare."
Alex stopped pacing and turned to face James, his expression resolute. "And we need to be discreet about it. We can’t let Chris know that we’re onto him. Let’s keep him guessing about our moves while we figure out his."
James saluted, a spark of fierce loyalty in his eyes. "Understood, Alpha. We won’t let you down."
As James left the room to carry out his orders, Alex returned to his desk, staring at the reports with a renewed sense of purpose. He was determined to stay one step ahead. He wouldn’t let Chris’s ambitions destroy everything he had worked so hard to build.
Alex’s thoughts drifted briefly to Rosalie, hoping she was safe and unaware of the brewing storm. He clenched his fists, vowing to keep his pack and his mate out of harm’s way. Whatever Chris was planning, Alex would be ready to meet it head-on.
The familiar scent distracted him. It was Rosalie, standing in the doorway, dressed in a silk robe.