Escaping Rogue

eleven

After a couple of days, the time to visit this new pack came around. I was told to pack a weeks worth of clothes, since apparently we'd be spending a bit of time there. It took two moderately sized bags to fit everything, not including the dress and shoes for the actually ball.

Mario was coming with us, and the council was going to lead the pack for a few days. For a pack like ours, I'm still a bit nervous to leave it in the hands of a bunch of elders, especially with the rogue threat looming about. The day when the three strongest people are gone is the most ideal day for an attack.

Christian walked into the bedroom, carrying his suit. I watched him lay it down across the bed, before moving into the closet. I followed, walking to my side and grabbing a couple of extra things. I was packed and ready to go; Chris wasn't at all.

"What time are we leaving?"

He looked over his shoulder. "After lunch, probably. The pack has to see us off, and the elders want a quick meeting before."

I smirked, sitting on the edge of the bed and placing one of his shirts into his suitcase. "And you're sure you'll be packed by then?"

Christian rolled his eyes, throwing a pair of socks at me. "Go do luna things!"

I smiled, jumping up from the bed. "Whatever. Have fun doing alpha things."

I walked back down to the common rooms, walking through crowds of people rushing about. People were gathering outside, preparing to see us off.

I went down to Nancy's bedroom, since my dress was hidden in there. Both her and Sofia insisted that we hide it from Christian, like a bride hides her dress before the wedding.

I knocked, and waited until Nancy's small stature appeared as the door opened. She smiled. "I have your dress all ready."

I walked in, following her to the the dress that was hanging on the door to the left. Nancy unzipped the covering, showing the silky red fabric underneath.

I smiled. For once, I'll actually look decent. I'm actually excited for the day of the ball now.

"Oh and don't worry dear, I had the designer alter the waist just a little. It should fit as good as it did the first time."

That caught me off guard. "What? Why wouldn't it fit?"

Nancy smiled. "Christian may not have noticed, but I certainly have." She grabbed my cheeks, nodding. I felt my stomach drop, and at the same time felt the weight that I've gained these past few weeks. "Besides, you'll start showing in a month or two. There's no point in hiding it anymore."

I couldn't do anything. How the hell could she figure it out faster than I did? It took me weeks to know, and she knows instantly? It's not like I've made anything obvious!

"W-What?"

"It's alright dear. Most lunas become pregnant within a year. It's almost inevitable." Nancy smiled, patting my hand. She unhooked the dress and handed it to me. "Give it to Mario, he'll know where to put it."

I raised my eyebrow. "Nancy," she looked up, smiling at me. "How am I supposed to tell him?"

The gray haired woman sat down on her bed, reaching for the drawer to her left. She reached in and pulled out an old photo. I walked over, setting the dress down.

The photo was a black and white ultrasound, dated from almost twenty three years ago. "Christian surprised me as well."

"How did you tell him?"

There was a faint smile playing at her lips. She watched the photo as if the baby in the picture would move just as he did when she was pregnant. "I just told him. It was unexpected; I let him know after a long day of training, and he was exhausted." She set the photo down and looked up to me. "It just happens, Alena. You'll know when to tell him."

She stood, once again handing me the dress. "Now go, before you make yourself late."

|||

"Hurry up, Chris!"

He was bringing the suitcase he had just finished packing downstairs, while I held the suit and the shoes. Mario had already placed my dress in the car, and now all we were waiting on was Chris.

We were both dressed nicely, with him in one of his usual suits and me in a black pencil skirt that came just above my knees, a white low-cut blouse, and some black heels. I tried my best to appear as formal and high ranked as possible, all the while still managing to look normal. Nancy said it would be appropriate as well.

"Shut up, Lena." He mumbled, setting the black bag down. A person came to move his stuff to the car, and another took the suit from my hands. I watched Chris cross his arms, informing them that we would be taking the SUV.

Christian turned back to me, rolling his eyes. "What other car would I be taking?"

I shook my head, smiling and grabbing his hand. "They just wanna do their job right. I mean if they didn't ask, you probably would have yelled at them. Then where would we be?"

Chris smiled, turning to face me. His hand slipped around my waist, pulling me into his torso. For a second, I tried my hardest to suck in my stomach. He froze for just a second, before leaving down.

"Smart ass." He whispered, kissing my cheek.

"As always."

We started toward the front, where Mario stood near the SUV and Nancy and Bruce stood in the front of the crowd, with almost the entire pack behind them.

The two elders stepped forward, followed by a few more. I watched Christian take a step forward, reaching into his pockets. He pulled out a set of keys, handing them to his uncle. I walked beside him, grabbing his hand.

"Your alpha, luna, and beta will be gone for the annual Alpha's Ball at the Hanson pack. For the next four days, the council will handle any matters you may need. I trust all of you to be as ready to defend without me as you are at this second."

I watched our people nod at his request. The elders went back to their place at the front of the crowd. People began to wave at us, and happily I waved back.

These people have become something of a family to me, and I love the fact that they all care for one another like blood relatives. I'll miss most of them, I'm sure.

Chris bowed his head, to which they all sank to the ground. I watched as each person fell to one knee, bowing their heads in respect. I could count almost over a thousand people's heads, and they all were bowed at my mate.

I'm not sure if there could have been any other moment more extraordinary than this one right here.

Soon they all stood, and Mario, Chris, and I all ducked into the black SUV. We were due at the Hanson pack in two hours, and being stuck in a car with those two for that long is something I'll definitely struggle with.