The Luna

Chapter 18: Last Minute Preparations

      Any joy she'd had when her cousins had arrived was gone. Reality had come crashing down upon her as the next two cars pulled up, each bearing an alpha and luna from a different pack.

Of course, Austin was by her side the entire time, a reassuring hand on the small of her back. Alex had left her brothers upstairs to catch up with Sebastian and his family while she greeted the other guests. While the mate at her side was a steadying presence, her nerves still jumped when the doors opened on both cars.

Her attention went to the second car first, at the blonde woman who stepped out. She was young; most likely around Alex's age. Her blonde hair faded into a pretty azure. The alpha that stepped out after her had dark hair and dark eyes, but a kind face. She knew that face; any werewolf would. Ryder Hale, the peacekeeper between packs, and his luna, Sadie. At least they'd arrived before Rodriguez.

"What's the plan?"

"Ryder will be informed immediately of what's happened. That way he knows exactly what to expect when Rodriguez arrives." Alex gave him a slight nod. Easy enough.

The second car had only one person, a bristly looking man with ordinary brown hair. Looking none too happy, the man stalked to the trunk, yanking his luggage out. He looked insufferable.

Alex watched him with the keen eyes of an alpha. Scanned him up and down, assessing his visible strengths and weaknesses, just in case a fight broke out. Granted, she was only going off of his look, but that had never failed her before.

A streak of movement caught the side of her gaze, and her attention snapped back to the Hales, who were now approaching them. Ryder had a warm, welcoming smile on his face as he neared them.

"Austin Hendrix. It's nice to see you again." Ryder shook Austin's hand before turning to her. "And you must be his lovely mate, Alex. I'm Ryder Hale, this is my wife, Sadie. Pleased to meet you," He introduced, shaking her hand. Alex just smiled and shook hands with the blonde as well. To this day, she was never quite comfortable with pleasantries.

Austin gave the peaceful alpha a half smile. "It's nice to see you as well, Ryder. Listen, you two are going to meet one of our new pack members inside. He's going to fill you in on something for me. If that's alright?"

Sadie raised an eyebrow at them. Ryder simply covered up his confused expression. "Of course. We'll see you inside, then." With that, the two were gone; headed inside. Leaving them to greet the grumpy man now striding toward them. How long did it take him to get the luggage out, even?

The man didn't so much as smile at them. He just held out his hand for a shake. "Dean Browning. Alpha of Shadow Rock." He spoke haltingly, shaking their hands with a grip like iron. Alex had seen the man once or twice around Half Moon, as his pack had a close alliance with her old one. Which meant the relatively friendly relations between his pack and this one were about to go out the window, assuming that what they suspected would go down actually happened.

Austin once again introduced them, "Austin Hendrix. This is my mate, Alex." She shook Dean Browning's hand and had to refrain from shaking it out afterward. "If you'll just go through the door to the pack house, someone will escort you to your room. Thank you for coming." The formal side of him was making an appearance, now that he doesn't have personal ties to the person being greeted.

The two would've walked him to the door ,had another car not pulled up. This alpha, she knew well. Had been looking forward to seeing, actually. He helped the luna out of the car and got her bags for her. Laura couldn't be bothered with him, just nodded her greeting to the couple and strode inside. Her brother, however, stopped to talk to them.