#16 Bows and Arrows

Adira

Two weeks after the death of my parents, we were preparing for my brother’s Alpha ceremony. I took on the brunt of the preparations with the help of my parents’ Gamma, Madge.

Madge was young when he was named my father’s Gamma so he was barely fifty now and, without a mate or children, the job was his life. We greatly looked up to him and often saw him as an uncle figure since my mother was never without her guard.

He was honored when Aidian asked him to stay on as his Gamma with Silver being named as the Beta.

Marcy was a nervous wreck about being named Luna at the ceremony. I could tell that it was taking everything in her not to bolt. Bless the matebond for making her stick around because I knew my brother couldn’t handle losing her, too. I did everything I could to take the pressure off of her and to comfort her increasing fears, even if it meant I had to take on the Luna duties for now.

It wasn’t going to be a very large ceremony, the grief of our pack called for a more intimate affair. The local werewolf packs and dragon pods were invited, including the neighboring pod, the House of Ohlson. What our pack needed was something to celebrate and an occasion that brought us all together, so that’s what tonight’s ceremony would be.

“Addie!” I spun around at the sound of my name and saw a familiar blonde running towards me.

“Mattie? What’s wrong?” My eyes pinched together in concern when I saw the worry on the face of Marcy’s sister.

“Marcy is freaking out,” Mattie said, breathless, “She doesn’t want to do it.”

I smiled at Mattie and laid my hand on her shoulder,

“I’ll take care of it.” I assured her and we walked together back to the packhouse.

Aidian couldn’t bear to take over the Alpha and Luna quarters, at least not yet, so they were still living in his childhood suite. He was having a cottage built for them just behind the packhouse, but it wasn’t ready yet, so Marcy was getting ready in the room that the two of them shared. Aidian was in his office with Madge getting ready.

I knocked on Aidian’s bedroom door before pushing it open. Marcy was crouched down in front of the floor length mirror wearing a beautiful ceremonial gown and sobbing uncontrollably. Silver was standing off to the side looking completely and utterly out of her depth, us werewolves weren’t very good with handling emotions; least of all, human emotions. Silver released a sigh of relief when she saw me.

“Marcy?” I walked up to Marcy and grabbed her arms, pulling her from the floor, “You need to stop.” I told her sternly, wiping the tears from her face.

“I…I ca..can’t do this.” She hiccuped.

“Yes, you can. You were born to do this.” I said, gently shaking her shoulders.

Marcy kept shaking her head and crying. She was terrified of becoming the Luna, has been since the very first moment she found out about us. She was fearful of the wolves and horrified at the idea of leading them.

“Okay, listen,” I sighed, changing tactics, “I’m going to tell you a secret.”

Marcy blinked at me and sniffed,

“What?” She squeaked.

“This ceremony isn’t about you.” I said and I could practically hear the air being sucked from the room.

I looked sideways at Silver who was giving me the are you insane look. I ignored her.

“Hell, this ceremony isn’t even about Aidian. It’s about the pack. It’s about giving the pack a final moment to grieve, to understand that the chapter before is closed. Their Alpha and Luna are dead. This ceremony is about accepting that more than it’s about you and Aidian. The pack doesn’t expect anything from you, they hardly expect anything from Aidian. They just want to see their new Alpha and Luna, they want to know that their pack is in good hands, and they want to look towards the future.”

Marcy’s tears dried up as she stared at me in shock, blinking her big brown eyes at me.

“Oh.” She mumbled, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Don’t get me wrong, one day the pack will emerge from their grief and realize that they have a new human Luna who they hardly know, but, hopefully by then, you’ll be more comfortable and adjusted.” I softened my tone and tucked Marcy’s hair behind her ears.

“I’m scared that I’m going to let everyone down, that I’m going to let Aidian down.” She whispered.

I laughed at her and shook my head,

“That can’t happen, Marcy. There is literally nothing you could do to let down Aidian or the pack. You were chosen by the Moon Goddess to be Aidian’s mate and Aidian was chosen to be an Alpha therefore, you were made to be a Luna. It’s that simple to the pack. They won’t question you or your place here, human or not,” I shrugged, but Marcy still didn’t look convinced,

“You really only have two jobs as the Luna,” I began, catching her attention again, “One, to be a mother to the pack. That simply means loving them, hearing their concerns, and trying to help whenever and wherever you can. And, two, to love Aidian. That’s the most important. The Luna softens the Alpha, gives him a landing spot, a place to call home. Without the Luna, the Alpha feels alone, stuck, and on edge. Alpha wolves are big babies, honestly, they just need to be cared for and put up on a pedestal.”

Marcy sniffed again with a stoic expression on her face,

“That’s it?”

“Seriously, Marcy, it’s really just one job: love them. Love them all.” I smiled widely at her and she finally smiled back.

“I think I can do that.” She nodded.

“I know you can. You have the biggest, kindest heart. Even when you were afraid of us, you still loved Aidian and you still came here.” I shook her around a little bit and she started to laugh.

“It’s wild how much faith you all put into this Moon Goddess. It’s hard to believe that you all accepted me just because you believe the Moon Goddess chose me.” She sounded skeptical, as human’s always do when they first learn about us.

“I know, but it’s the truth,” I shrugged again and backed away from her, “You look beautiful, by the way.” I added.

“Well, almost,” Mattie teased, guiding her sister over to the vanity, “Once I fix the make-up she ruined.” She pretended to look annoyed and that had Marcy laughing again.

Marcy caught my eyes in the mirror,

“I bet you’re mated to an Alpha, too, Addie.” She said and my eyes went wide.

Silver doubled over, laughing hysterically and I glared at her.

“What?” Marcy looked between us, “All those things you said about what a Luna should be, you’re those things, too.” She looked confused.

“Ignore her,” I grumbled, looking pointedly at Silver before turning my attention back to Marcy, “But, no, Marcy, I don’t think I’m meant to be a Luna.”

“Why?” She asked.

“Because there are other things that make a Luna, things that you just automatically have. I’m not saying a Luna isn’t strong, because they are, but it’s typical for a Luna not to fight or be a warrior. Don’t get me wrong, there are some badass Luna warriors out there, but their Alphas are….one of a kind,”

I thought of the stories we heard over the last century of Alpha and Luna duos who kicked ass together, but I knew that wasn’t the path for me,

“Most Lunas, they don’t fight unless they have to. Instead, they care for those who cannot fight in the safehouse when there’s a conflict, they make sure that the pack is provided for after the conflict, they check in on the medical tent, sometimes they even become nurses or doctors to help out in the infirmary. Please don’t misunderstand me, those are important roles and I’m confident that you’ll fill one of them perfectly,” I smiled at her again,

“But, it’s not for me. I’m not a nurse, a doctor, a healer, I’m not the one who stays in the safehouse with the children and the elders. I’m a warrior. I’m the one on the front lines. It’s who I am. I can’t have a mate who’s too dominant to see that, too worried about my safety to allow that. I’m a different kind of person than you, Marcy, and the kind of person that I am isn’t meant to be a Luna.”

There was a far off look on my face until I shook it off and smiled at Marcy in the mirror,

“Anyway, you look great. I’m going to do final checks and then I’ll be back.” I slipped out the door before she could respond.

I heard Silver speak before I could make my escape down the hall, so I leaned my ear against the door to listen,

“She doesn’t think she has a mate.” Silver said and I frowned.

“What?” I heard the shock in Marcy’s voice.

“She wants a mate. She’s not one of those Archers who believes that war is life and doesn’t want love to ruin that,” Silver laughed, “But, she doesn’t think there’s a man out there who can deal with her personality. And, even if she does have a mate, she’s worried that he won’t accept her for her and she’ll have to reject him. I think that’s what she fears the most.” Silver’s voice turned sad and I glared at her through the door.

Dirty rat spilling my secrets.

“That’s sad.” Mattie whispered.

“It’s the life of an Archer, of a dominant she-wolf. Unfortunately, she’s not alone.” Marcy said,

Hearing enough, I walked away from the door and down the steps to the first floor. I went to the office to check on my brother. Knocking on the office door, I waited for a reply so I didn’t walk in on anything unsightly.

Madge opened the door and grinned at me,

“There she is.” He said, holding out his arms wide.

I smiled at his heartfelt laugh and gave him a hug before searching the room for my brother. Aidian was sitting on the couch with a whisky glass in his hand and his suit jacket unbuttoned, his tie undone.

He stood up when he saw me, setting the glass aside.

“What’s wrong?” He asked and I rolled my eyes at him.

“A sister can’t just check in on her brother?” I asked.

“No.” He answered bluntly.

I laughed curtly and stepped up to him, messing with his tie.

“I just talked Marcy off a ledge,” I said and he jerked away from me, “Relax, she’s fine.” Using the tie, I tugged him back towards me.

“What happened?” He was glaring at me.

“She was worried about becoming Luna, worried she wasn’t good enough,” I said, my attention on his navy blue tie, “I just told her what Mother always told you.”

I finished the knot and smirked up at him,

“It’s not about her.”

Aidian threw his head back and laughed. I tugged his jacket closed and did up his buttons. Smoothing it down before stepping back.

“You really are a smooth talker, Addie.” He pats the top of my head like a small child and I swatted his hand away.

“It worked, didn’t it?” I snapped.

Aidian’s features softened and he gave me a big bear hug, the kind of hug that only a brother could give his baby sister.

“Thanks, Adira.” He whispered, kissing the top of my head.

I stayed in the moment for a minute before pulling away and pushing him to the side.

“Just try not to fall on your face up there,” I teased and he stuck his tongue out at me, “Be ready in ten minutes!” I yelled before leaving the office.