“Beta Brynlee.” Turning at the sound of my name, I notice Beta Tristan walking towards me with a smile on his face. I nod in response, waiting for the visiting wolf to grow closer before I say anything. He has freshened up since the last time I saw him and his Alpha at lunch, his blonde hair slicked back with hair gel and his clothes fresh.
“How did you find the guest house?” I ask, trying to create small talk once Beta Tristan has stopped just in front of me.
“It is nice and clean. Alpha Asteria did an amazing job providing accommodations.” I laugh, turning see Gale speaking with a few Omegas as they prepare the field we stood on to become a community garden.
“Asteria had nothing to do with it. Gale is our Luan – male Luna.” I begin, clarifying what a Luan is when I notice Beta Tristan looking at me in confusion.
“And he takes care of the duties a Luna usually does. He relishes in the home making role and it just suits Gale.” Beta Tristan nods, looking towards the direction I motioned to and spotting Gale pulling back the hunk of ground with grass attached.
“It is just fresh seeing she-wolves take over predominantly male roles.” Beta Tristan muses with a smile. I scoff, finding myself enjoying my conversation with this visiting Beta.
“Asteria should have been the Alpha in our old pack. She is flourishing now and I am happy for her.” I admit, motioning for Beta Tristan to follow me as I walk around the pack. Gale and the Omegas are fine. If they need my help, Gale will link me.
“You don’t call her Alpha like everyone else. Why is that?” Beta Tristan catches up to me, staying in step as we make our way towards the forest.
“Its because Asteria and Gale are family to me. My parents made them my God-parents and when they passed, Asteria and Gale were there for me.” I explain, sighing as we stop just inside the treeline.
“The Mate that rejected me also happens to be Asteria’s nephew.” Beta Tristan lets out a low whistle while I turn and rummage through a fallen log, finding a mesh bag and grinning.
“I am sorry to hear that.” I can hear the sincerity in his tone and smile. Beta Tristan seems more approachable than his Alpha.
“I am going foraging in the forest if you wish to join me?” I inquire, holing out the mesh bag as evidence and getting ready to grab another one from inside the logs.
“Isn’t that an Omega’s job?” A look of disgust and confusion crosses his ace and I let out a laugh. Of course a pack as big as Onix Moon will have similar view points as Pine Moon.
“Not in our pack.” I explain, handing the bag to Beta Tristan who takes it with reluctancy while I return to grab another from the log.
“Here in Crescent Phoenix, everyone pitches in to make the pack run smoothly.” I begin to explain, leading Beta Tristan into the forest.
“Yes, the Omegas do the menial work like cooking, cleaning or regular jobs like become our Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, etcetera.” I stop when we come across mushrooms – oyster mushrooms to be exact - that are edible. I point them out to Beta Tristan and crouch down, showing him how to pick them and store them in the mesh bags.
“Anyways, When the Omegas are busy doing their normal jobs – like preparing meals for visiting packs or reading contracts to sign as our lawyer – everyone else pitches in to harvest from the forest around us, hunt down game, or train the pups.” I finish my explanation as we stand, telling Beta Tristan to leave three mushrooms so that they can continue to germinate and grow other mushrooms in the future.
“No wonder everyone here seems so much happier and less exhausted.” He muses, looking at the mushrooms he just harvested.
“Go ahead and try one. They wont kill you.” I urge the wolf, watching his slight hesitation before he takes the smallest of the mushroom from the bag and eats it.
“Wow.”
“Good, right.” I laugh out, watching his surprised look morph into a smile.
“Really good. We usually just send Omegas to the store to buy everything.” I frown at this. Spending so much money just to feed the pack seems so wasteful, and I point this out to Beta Tristan who agrees instantly. We continue walking through the forest, me pointing out which vegetation is edible and which are poisonous. With both bags full, we slowly walk through the forest, enjoying the warm summer weather and the shade from the large trees.
“To be honest with you, Onix Moon is pretty cold. Everyone has a job and place and you can’t cross the line.” Beta Tristan admits, stopping in his track. We are just inside the tree line now, the pack house visible in the distance.
“I mean, I watched you hug those wolves – the Head Warrior and Head Hunter of yours – and wonder what is wrong with you.” I open my mouth to say something, but Tristan holds his hand out, stopping what ever protest I was going to say.
“I know I sound like an ass, but Onix Moon wolves don’t show affection unless its to out individual mate and pups.” I take in his explanation and nod, thinking back to my days in Pine Moon. Only specific wolves were as affectionate as I am with my pack. Most of the time it was a cold and robotic environment.
“Crescent Phoenix is different.” I begin, looking back at the pack house and watching my pack mates help one another in organizing the bonfire that will take place tonight to welcome Onix Moon better.
“When we came here – Asteria, Gale, their pups and I – the place was a wreck due to your pack attacking over land dispute.” I catch a guilty look cross Beta Tristan’ face and give him a tight smile.
“I wasn’t part of that attack. My mate was giving birth to our pup and I had to rush from a meeting with an ally pack to be there with her. It’s why she isn’t here.” He holds his hands up in surrender and my tight smile relaxes.
“Congrats. Anyways, we took charge to help rebuild the pack within a week. We gave them the affection a family affected by devastation needed and in turn, they made us their Alpha, Luan and Beta.” I continue. Beta Tristan is silent for a moment as we stand in the treeline watching my wolves walk around, hugging, laughing and working as one. We are one big family. I even notice some of the Pine Moon refugees that will be joining us tonight helping with the tasks set by the Omegas. They look confused, but as someone explains what to do, their confusion disappears and they get to work right away.
“I want Onix Moon to be like this one day. Like one big family where we comfort and help each other.” Beta Tristan has moved to stand beside me, a soft smile on his face as we watch Crescent Phoenix.
“It’s a lot of work and involves gaining the trust and respect from your pack.” I note, turning to face the blond wolf.
“But if you can get your Alpha on bored, it will happen in due time.” Beta Tristan hums a noise of acknowledgment but something flashes in his eyes. I have a feeling that the relationship he has with Alpha Viren is unusual but keep this hunch to myself. What ever happens inside their pack is their business.
“Why don’t we drop these off at the pack house and I can give you a tour before the bonfire tonight.” I suggest, holding up my bag.
“Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Beta Brynlee.”
“Call me Brynlee.” I shrug, walking out of the treeline.
“Then call me Tristan.” Happiness fills me as I believe I just made another friend. If all goes well with this trip, Tristan could become an ally and the wounds and scars left by Onix Moon attacking this pack in the past could heal properly.
Our walk if filled with playful banter, me explaining to Tristan what it takes to be a caring Beta and him asking me if I could talk to his Mate and give her some pointers later to which I agree too as we enter the kitchen and leave the bags full of foraged mushrooms and plants on a counter and wave to the Omegas working in the kitchen.
Upon leaving the kitchen, we bump into Quincy who immediately steps between Tristan and I. It is only after revealing that Tristan has a Mate and was not involved with the attack did Quincy relax and give me a hug. He informs me that Asteria called him into her office and will see me at the bonfire before leaving just as fast as he came.
“So what’s the story between you two?” Tristan asks as I begin showing him around the pack, pointing out the newly built homes and dormitories for our ever-growing pack.
“Between me and who?” I ask, getting an eye roll from the other Beta.
“You and that Quincy guy. Are you dating him since your Mate rejected you considering you two seem closer than just friends.” My steps faulter for a moment as Tristan states his observation and I pause to think. I know me and Quincy are close, can sense his feelings growing for me. Heck, I can’t even lie to myself and say I feel nothing because I am attracted to him. Attracted to his caring nature of his pack. How he treats everyone with respect. I like how safe and comfortable I feel with him and how I just gravitate to him when I need some comfort. Everything a she-wolf would want in a mate Quincy has. Yet I hesitate.
“We aren’t dating.” I admit quietly, avoiding Tristan’s gaze.
“But Quincy did help me through the pain of rejection that I kept at bay for a little longer than I should have. He is special to me and I think part of me is scared to loose him too.” My hands goes to cover my mouth as I shock myself with revealing this information – information that I myself did not realize I felt until now. Tristan smiles at me and places his hand on my shoulder.
“And part of you is waiting to talk to that Ex of yours right?” I nod, not trusting myself to speak in case I blurt something else out unexpectedly.
“I get it. My Mate, Delilah, she rejected me because she thought I was as cold and uncaring as Viren and his dad. Took me a year to prove my worth to her. Take your time and heal before you rush into anything Brynlee.”
“That’s the plan.” I lower my hands from my mouth, grinning back at Tristan.
“Anyways, the sun is setting which means the bonfire will be starting soon. Why don’t you grab your Alpha and pack mates and I will meet you there.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few minutes.” With that, I watch Tristan walk towards the direction of the guest house. If a wolf who has only gotten to know me for a few hours can see through me, then I wonder what my pack has been keeping to themselves when watching Quincy and I together.