The Reluctant Luna

Chapter 18

Hey Somersault. The event didn't go as expected. 

Alexander came to my class just before the last bell chimed.  I think he didn't want my sneaking off or something. The other students, mainly the other females were like ants in a honey pot. Aka, too much. Just too much. 

Alexander said he had to leave on pack business. And it seemed to work well. At the time, I thought it was a made-up excuse. But now... I'm not so sure really.

It's strange to think that I might potentially be pack business. I feel arrogant just considering the idea.

Granted it's a reasonable reaction for me I suppose after my Aunt yelled at me just that morning because I was "walking too slow." She and Juniper have taken this Alpha-at-School situation to the next level. And that's a saying something because they were in deep as it was. My slow walking was apparently getting in the way of Princess Juniper from getting outside and to school early for her next 'encounter' with Bob Oliver the Great... An encounter that she practiced with my aunt the whole night before like a famous actress learning the lines for her leading role.

"You're like... so strong," said Juniper

"Don't forget to bat your eyes a bit dear," my aunt had said.

"This good?"

"You're golden. Maybe look up and to your right more. It makes you look innocent and mischievous," my aunt responded. "Don't forget the lip pucker at the end."

Anyway, they left for school without me. I guess because I got to the car too slowly. I had to lock the front door as the last one out of the house. I didn't make it to school in time to see how the Juniper show tanked.

I know. It was... not nice. Granted the school is only about a 20-minute walk. So it's fine, and I was a little late for my first class. I guess that's what I get for walking slow.

Sorry, I don't mean to complain. It's just that ... it's hard to be treated as if I'm a burden at my aunt's house, while also trying to wrap my mind around ...becoming someone more important. 

Pack business he had said. And maybe it was just an excuse, but at the same time.... maybe I could be pack business.

Alexander walked with me through the halls and I swear it was like the other students parted like the Red Sea. And speaking of red, I'm sure I was redder than a cucumber because my ears were feeling hot, and because a cucumber isn't all that red to begin with.

All the times I had envisioned sneaking off to meet with Alexander for the event yesterday, I had imagined ...well, a lot more sneaking, and a lot less gawking students.

I got lucky though. Luckily Mila and Juniper didn't see me. Lucky also that since the bell had only just rung the halls weren't crowded. Lucky too that I fly under the radar, and that those that did see me tailing after Alexander didn't seem to think much of it.

Alexander introduced me to Oliver in the faculty parking lot. 

"This is Evelyn. I found her in the Library," he told Oliver. Could he be any more obvious? Spoiler alert... he can be, and he was.

I raised a hand in the air praying that that would suffice for introductions. I had made a list of excuses to not shake hands. "I'm germaphobic," was at the top of the list. I'm glad I didn't have to use it though because I didn't want one of the first things I said to Oliver to be a lie.

I managed to buy a pair of white formal gloves that reach up to my elbows. I'm reluctant to use them straight off because it seems like it could be a giveaway. For now, I'll have to content myself with hiding my hands in the sleeves of my oversized sweater. 

The drive to the Alpha's house is five minutes tops, but it felt like eons. Alexander made a point of taking the backseat of the shiny black SUV. He took up the whole backseat with a collection of briefcases and a shoulder bag. He lined them up with the same intention a kid would use placing their stuffed toys in order on their bed. They have a driver.. which maybe I should have guessed. 

So there I was.. sitting side by side with Oliver. I was nervous just to breathe too loudly as if that might give me away. The car was spacious enough.. not like we were shoulder to shoulder or anything, but I kept side-glancing at him as if he might... I don't know... pounce on me or something. I was shaking like an underfed fish in the company of a shiver of hungry sharks.

He didn't pounce on me. I mean... not yet. Lol, I can't believe I just said that. 

No, it was ok. Alexander leaned against the back of our chair rests and attempted to get me to talk. I think because he thought Oliver would recognize my voice maybe. 

"How was your day?" he asked.

"Nice?" I said. "And yours."

"It's been interesting."

"Oh, that's nice."

Oliver kept glancing between us with a puzzled expression. Puzzled as to why it was so damn awkward no doubt. 

It was a relief to arrive. I'm glad I was closest to the door. The air felt ..big, and cool outside the car. There was a sense of space looking out over the yard and gardens behind the car. And before me.. the Alpha's house. And the event to come.

I remember preparing for the Halloween event. I felt so giddy and excited. And it's not that I'm not excited for this event to come... it's just that my nervousness seems to overpower it.

Is there a reason to be nervous? Despite Alexander's efforts to silently clue Oliver into the fact that I'm his missing mate; Oliver didn't suspect me. 

There's a sense of hope. Not sure why. Hope for what? Hope that Alexander is keeping. his word,, Maybe hope that I'll have time to... heal. I can't be sure.

The event went well. It was wonderful. An ice cream social. A casual kind of thing with more notable members of this pack as well as the neighboring pack. It was nice to see that such respected people can be human also. People like the current Beta and Delta... People that have always seemed more like immortal Gods than anything. And yet... there they were smiling, and talking, and eating ice cream. It was surreal. And yet, I'm not sure why. In my mind, I had created such a divide not just between me and them, but also between them and others. Between them and everyone else.

I enjoyed my ice cream, wolf tracks they called it. And it was nice to have something to eat so that I could just be quiet and keep to myself and watch. No one looked twice at me. I thought they might. But it seems that if I was allowed in then... It was fine by them.

Alexander came over at one point and told me to go talk to Oliver... as if this was my chance. And I can see how his keeping my secret must be stressful to him. But at the same time... just being there at all was a lot to take in.

I think Oliver saw us arguing a bit. But he didn't come over, or say anything.

When it was time to go Alexander offered me a ride home, but I declined. In large part, because I couldn't risk my aunt or cousins seeing me in a car associated with the Alpha. And in part also because... *sigh* I'm not sure actually. Just that it was a lot to take in. Also, I felt bad for the discomfort I was causing Alexander, and feeling that way... it felt too uncomfortable to accept a ride from him. 

I think he really wouldn't have minded and maybe would have been willing to drop me off a few streets away. He might even have preferred that if it helped to ensure my safety... but in my mind... in my mind I couldn't take more from him when I was already causing him stress.

Anyway, my math class starts soon. The event was nice. Really nice. It seemed like something out of someone else's life.. particularly when I was back at my aunt's house vacuuming. 

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