My Say

18

I can't blame my lack of sleep on my host. The bed was comfy, the covers warm, soft, and smelled good. I had been fed, watered, even given vodka. With all these boxes ticked I should have collapsed into oblivion the moment my head hit the pillow. Instead my brain had mulled over everything until my wolf had threatened to pee on my pillow. Morning couldn't come soon enough.

"Wow, did you get any sleep?"

"Coffee." I stagger into the kitchen, sitting at a table chair, head on the table.

"You need water."

"Coffee has water in it."

"Caffeine isn't good for someone in your condition."

"What? Did that mother quaker manage to knock me up while I was unconscious?" My voice raised at the thought he might have taken another thing from me.

"What? NO!" She is rubbing her temples and sighing at me already. "No, he's your mate. He couldn't do something like that. Anyway your wolf would have told you if you were pregnant."

"Then what condition are you talking about?" It was too early, I was too tired, and this felt like an edition of 'Who's on first'.

"You're dehydrated. Milk or water will be a more effective pick me up" Two glasses are sitting in front of me, one of milk and one of water.

"You know, all you had to do is just tell me there was no coffee. I'd have been fine with that." Downing both glasses.

"No, I have coffee, it's just not something you need right now. After we get you healthy, then you can have a cup."

"Cup? Girl, I'm gonna drink a pot." Standing up and stretching out. My body didn't flex as it had, before all this I could fold myself over hands hitting the floor or my forehead placed on my knees. Now that flex was gone, arms swinging and legs burning as I attempted to reach my toes. "Well shit. After we leave the Elder, the next stop is the gym."

Amelia nods as if she understand,"If you want a shower I've got you clothes."

"Yeah, I guess that would be appropriate."

20 minutes later I stood by the bed staring at a dress, "Amelia, why is there a dress on the bed?"

"That is what Lunas wear."

"Not this one, find me some jeans and a tee shirt."

"The Alpha..."

My head whipped around so fast water splattered the walls, "What makes you think I give a flying monkey what he thinks?"

"It's tradition..."

"Is it tradition that the Alpha whip his Luna at the induction ceremony?" She shakes at the memory. "No? Thought not. I can safely say that we aren't a traditional pairing. I will not be in a dress until I marry."

"Uh, Luna, we're wolves we don't do the big white dress marriage thing." At my grin she gets it, "Oh". Her soft tone tells me it saddens her that I wouldn't be what the pack is used to.

"I'll see what I can find."

It took her a while to return, "These are the only one's I can find that may fit. They were left by, Jim, my nephew."

"Lees? Hell yeah. Bo swore by these, 'no other jean fits like the originals.'" She looked shocked, "What's a matter"?

"Nothing, just shocked how happy legwear makes you." Her smile seems forced, but I'm so happy to be in jeans and a tee again.

"What do we have for my feet?"

"Luna, we're wolves. Since the liberation we haven't worn shoes unless we are in the city." She shrugs, "We only wore them to blend in, now we don't have to we don't"

"I get ya, I hate to wear shoes. Since the overthrow, I only wear them in the winter. During the summer I have moccasins. Love them. The guys always make fun of me for "going native". The memories make me smile.

"The guys?" Her question snaps me out of my memories.

"My family."

"Where are they?" Her eyes had that slight glaze that indicates she is linking.

"Amelia, would you tell a forgien pack where yours is located?"

That startled her, "No".

"Then why ask me too?" I can tell Red is speaking to her, she shakes her head. I know he is telling her to press me for more information on where my family is located. They can't have unknowns on their territory. "Tell Red to cool his tits. I will not be telling anyone where my family is."

"Luna, he says, tell him yourself."

Laughter spews out of me, "Glad I wasn't drinking, ya could have killed me." It took a minute to get my mirth under control. "No, the link is shut and will stay so until further notice." Heading to the sink I refill my glass and drink, one more trip to the bathroom. "Ready? I'm ready to get some answers to my forbidden questions."

She looks slightly sick, "It isn't natural that the link is cut off like that. We're a pack, you're our mother. You should be able to speak with us anytime anywhere. You should not hide from us nor us from your.

"Buck up, this is me not you. It's not like you're the one forced to be here or be with an ultimate jackoff." Pretending that I misunderstand her.

We walk as she tries to explain this to me, "You don't understand what a Luna is."

"You're right I don't and if it was up to me I never would."

Her temper begins to boil, "You must stop saying things like that. We are a family, the Luna our mother, the Alpha our father. Mother takes care of us, she ensures we are fed, clothed, warm in the winter, she ensures that we are healthy, that our pups are educated. She is our light, she ensures that the Alpha doesn't turn into a tyrant."

"So my job is to make sure that everyone is happy and healthy all the while ensuring Alpha pup stays on away from the dark side."

"Yes", she's hesitant. I guess I'm missing the finer points but don't care. This is not where I want to be. "Finally", the word is very softly spoken. I almost missed it.

The door is pale green, the house is stone, the roof is mossy. If I had been just strolling by not paying attention, it might have been overlooked as a large stone pile. "Don't dilly dally, come in, come in."

The inside is like the exterior, rustic and natural. Crooked leg chairs dot the interior, a large cauldron, sits bubbling over a fire in the massive fireplace. Herbs hang from the ceiling, jars, plants, books, and things occupy every available wall space. "Don't just stand there, come eat."

The seats are amazingly comfortable, the food smells delicious. Bacon, sausage, ham, cathead biscuits, sawmill gravy, tomatoes, scrambled eggs, potatoes with onion and peppers. How is the table not groaning?

"Thank you mam, this looks wonderful."

"It should. It took a lot of work to put this out for you."

That halted my fork, "Care to explain that?"

"Eat first, talk later. You need to regain your physical strength." The only sounds after that were the moans of happiness and the scraping of the forks on the plates. I truly felt I would burst when done, pushing back from the table I considered popping the button on my pants. "If you'd worn the dress this wouldn't have been an issue."

"If I'd worn the dress I'd have been uncomfortable as hell." Picking up my plate, I began to clear the table.

"At least someone taught you some kind of manners." She leans back, finishing her coffee as the dishes disappear into the sink.

"Leave them, my apprentice will be by soon to take care of all of them."

"Fine, they can soak in hot water till she arrives. There's no reason she should have to scrub if it's not necessary." I miss the look shared between Amelia and her.