"Alright," Lily said, pulling out her planner. "I went through an expedited course due to my own situation, but you have a little more time to prepare."
"Prepare? Time for what? What are you talking about?" Kasia asked.
Lily looked up from her planner, meeting Kasia's gaze with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "In order for the Council to test you..."
"Back up, back up, the Council? Like the Council, the werewolf council?" Kasia asked, interrupting her.
"Yes, who else? Why did you think you were going through Luna training? All Lunas that don't have a sponsor have to be tested," Lily explained.
Kasia's brow furrowed. "Can't you be my sponsor?"
"No. A pack has to sponsor a Luna-in-training," Lily answered.
The very idea of becoming a Luna was just unbelievable for her to wrap her mind around, yet there was something about the prospect that piqued her curiosity. It was like touching a hot stove; she knew it would burn her, but the temptation was too great.
"Normally, a Luna-in-Training would have her pack as her sponsor. The Council wouldn't test wolves that are descendants of Alphas," Lily admitted, pulling out a folded printout from her planner and scanning it. "But based on your secret identity, your entire pack was decimated. Even though Janet was able to forge a record for you, there is no documentation on your parents. So, you have to prove that you are qualified to be a Luna."
Lily frowned and said, "All of this seems complicated."
Her wolf, Deva, communicated with her in a soft mental whisper. 'We have these practices and traditions to ensure our people are taken care of and we live peacefully.' Lily nodded in agreement and turned back to Kasia.
"Look, I wasn't born when there weren't rules and traditions, but during that time, some werewolves and Lycans acted worse than rabid animals. They were reckless, wild, and uncontrollable. The Council was created to establish order," Lily explained, her voice solemn.
Kasia tried to maintain her composure because what Lily said brought up memories of finding her dead parents. Images of their lifeless bodies, torn apart, flashed through her mind. She swallowed hard as she tried to block out the memories.
'Breathe Kasia. You need to breathe. You're hyperventilating,' Deva told her.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lily asked.
"No. No, I'm fine," Kasia replied, rubbing her temples. "I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself. It doesn't seem like I have a choice."
"Well, unless you want someone else to be Alpha Ethan's mate," Lily added, and Kasia couldn't help but snarl at Lily. Lily raised her hands defensively. "Woah, calm down. I am just stating a fact."
Kasia caught herself. She didn't understand that immediate response to the very thought of another woman touching Ethan. "Sorry...I..."
"It's fine," Lily said with a smile. "Trust me, I get it. You should've seen me when my mate's ex came back into the picture."
Kasia cleared her throat and asked, "What will I be trained on?"
"Etiquette, strategy, combat, conflict management, event planning, and people management," Lily listed off.
"The position seems like that of an HR professional," Kasia said. "And I don't need to learn how to fight. I've gone through extensive training."
"I can see how you would think that," Lily agreed. "You have to advise your Alpha, and being a Luna comes with more responsibility than you think." She leaned in closer, her eyes serious. "You may know how to fight like a human, but you don't know how to fight like a Lycan. Your little spat with Aimee is nothing compared to a Lycan or even a werewolf properly trained."
Kasia's eyes narrowed, her pride stinging from Lily's remark. She knew that her abilities were strong, but she also recognized that she had much to learn about Lycan and werewolf culture. Swallowing her pride, Kasia asked, "What are we going to start on first?"
"Handling pressure," Lily replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she observed Kasia's sour expression. "You're a bit of a hot head, and a Luna must be calm under pressure."
"Don't look like that," she added, laughing lightly.
"I'm not a hot head. I'm allergic to BS," Kasia argued.
"Well, you need to get better at dealing with it, and we're going to start there starting on Monday," Lily continued.
"That's only three days away," Kasia said.
"And? Do you have something else to do?" Lily asked, and Kasia said nothing. "Exactly. Then, we will spend these three days getting everything you need in preparation. I'm sure Alpha Ethan gave you an expense account."
"He didn't get around to that. Our relationship...is complicated," Kasia replied.
"I'll speak with Janet. She can get you one," Lily said. "Now, let's plan out your schedule."
Lily seemed to sense her inner turmoil and reached out to place a comforting hand on Kasia's shoulder. "I know you can do this," she said softly. "You wouldn't have been chosen if you weren't capable."
Kasia took a deep breath, allowing Lily's words to sink in as Lily continued talking through the schedule planning. She couldn't help but feel lost as her life was completely turned upside down only because she wanted to find her sister.
Lily grabbed Kasia's hand, bringing Kasia out of her thoughts. "I hope you will learn to trust me. I will get you through this. I promise."
Kasia searched her eyes for lies and found none. Something about Lily reminded her of her mother and brought out a longing for nurturing that she didn't realize she was in need of. Kasia gave Lily a genuine smile and said, "Okay. I believe you."
Lily squeezed her hand and said, "Now, let's start on something. We're going to work on your breathing. This is going to help when you feel overwhelmed. When you're under pressure, your body needs oxygen to make clear decisions. So, let's practice some deep breathing exercises..."