Chapter 35
Liora
“Beta Liora.” Turning at the sound of my name, I notice Beta Titus walking towards me with a smile on his face. I nod in response, waiting for the visiting wolf to grow closer before I say anything. He has freshened up since the last time I saw him and his alpha at lunch, his blond hair slicked back with hair gel and his clothes
fresh.
“How did you find your guest house?” I ask, trying to create small talk once Beta Titus has stopped just a
little in front of me.
“It is nice and clean. Alpha Maya did an amazing job providing accommodations.” I laugh, turning to see Dan speaking with a few omegas as they prepare the field we stand on to become a community garden.
“Maya had nothing to do with it. Dan is our Luan–male Luna,” I begin, clarifying what a Luan is when I notice Beta Titus looking at me in confusion. “And he takes care of the duties a Luna usually does. He relishes in the homemaking role, and it just suits Dan.”
Beta Titus nods, looking towards the direction I motion and spotting Dan pulling back the hunk of ground with grass attached. “It is just fresh, seeing she–wolves take over predominantly male roles.”
I scoff, finding myself enjoying my conversation with this visiting beta. “Maya should have been the alpha in our old pack. She is flourishing now, and I am happy for her,” I admit, motioning for Beta Titus to follow me as I walk around the pack. Dan and the omegas are fine. If he needs my help, he will link me.
“You don’t call her alpha like everyone else. Why is that?” Beta Titus catches up to me, staying in step as we make our way towards the forest.
“It’s because Maya and Dan are family to me. My parents made them my godparents, and when they passed, Maya and Dan were there for me,” I explain, sighing as we stop just inside the tree line.
“The mate that rejected me also happens to be Maya’s nephew.” Beta Titus lets out a low whistle while I turn and rummage through a fallen log, finding a mesh bag and grinning.
“I am sorry to hear that.” I can hear the sincerity in his tone and smile. Beta Titus seems more approachable
than his alpha.
“I am going foraging in the forest, if you wish to join me?” I inquire, holding out the mesh bag as evidence and getting ready to grab another one from inside the logs.
“Isn’t that an omega’s job?” A look of disgust and confusion crosses his face and I let out a laugh. Of course a pack as big as Blood Moon would have similar viewpoints as Stormclaw.
“Not in our pack,” I explain, handing the bag to Beta Titus, who takes it with reluctance while I turn to grab another from the log.
“Here in Ivory Fangs, everyone pitches in to make the pack run smoothly,” I begin to explain, leading Beta Titus into the forest.
“Yes, the omegas do the menial work like cooking, cleaning, or regular jobs like becoming our doctors, nurses, teachers, etcetera.” I stop when we come across mushrooms–oyster mushrooms to be exact–that are edible. I point them out to Beta Titus and crouch down, showing him how to pick them and store them in
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the mesh bags.
“Anyways, when the omegas are busy doing their normal jobs–like preparing meals for visiting packs or reading contracts to sign as our lawyer–everyone else pitches in to harvest from the forest around us, hunt down game, or train the pups.” I finish my explanation as we stand, telling Beta Titus to leave three mushrooms so that they can continue to germinate and grow other mushrooms in the future.
“No wonder everyone here seems so much happier and less exhausted,” he muses, looking at the mushrooms he just harvested.
“Go ahead and try one. They won’t kill you,” I urge the wolf, watching his slight hesitation before he takes the smallest of the mushrooms from the bag and eats it.
“Wow.”
“Good, right?” I laugh, watching his surprised look morph into a smile.
“Really good! We usually just send omegas to the store to buy everything.” I frown at this. Spending so much money just to feed the pack seems so wasteful, and I point this out to Beta Titus, who agrees instantly.
We continue walking through the forest, me pointing out which vegetation is edible, and which are poisonous. With both bags full, we slowly walk through the forest, enjoying the warm summer weather and the shade from the large trees.
“To be honest with you, Blood Moon is pretty cold. Everyone has a job and place, and you can’t cross the line,” Beta Titus admits, stopping in his tracks. We are just inside the tree line now, the pack house visible in the
distance.
“I mean, I watched you hug those wolves–the head warrior and head hunter of yours–and wondered what is wrong with you.” I open my mouth to say something, but Beta Titus holds his hand out, stopping whatever protest I am going to say.
“I know I sound like an ass, but Blood Moon wolves don’t show affection unless it’s to our individual mates and pups.” I take in his explanation and nod, thinking back to my days in Stormclaw. Only specific wolves were as affectionate as I am with my pack. Most of the time, it was a cold and robotic environment. “Ivory Fangs is different,” I begin, looking back at the pack house and watching my packmates help one another in organizing the bonfire that will take place tonight to welcome Blood Moon better.
“When we came here–Maya, Dan, their pups, and I–the place was a wreck, due to your pack attacking over a land dispute.” I catch a guilty look cross Beta Titus‘ face and give him a tight smile.
“I wasn’t part of that attack. My mate was giving birth to our pup. It’s why she isn’t here.” He holds his hands up in surrender, and my tight smile relaxes.
“Congrats. Anyways, we took charge to help rebuild the pack within a week. We gave them the affection a family affected by devastation needed, and in turn, they made us their alpha, Luan, and beta,” I continue.
Beta Titus is silent for a moment as we stand in the tree line watching my wolves walk around, hugging, laughing, and working as one. We are one big family. I even notice some of the Stormclaw refugees who will be joining us tonight helping with the tasks set by the omegas. They look confused, but as someone explains what to do, their confusion disappears, and they get to work right away.
“I want Blood Moon to be like this one day. Like one big family, where we comfort and help each other.” Beta Titus has moved to stand beside me, a soft smile on his face as we watch Ivory Fangs.
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“It’s a lot of work, and involves gaining the trust and respect from your pack, I note, turning to face the blond
wolf.
“But if you can get your alpha on board, it will happen in due time.” Beta Titus hums a noise of acknowledgment, but something flashes in his eyes. I have a feeling that the relationship he has with Alpha Morgan is unusual, but keep this hunch to myself. Whatever happens inside their pack is their business.
“Why don’t we drop these off at the pack house, and I can give you a tour before the bonfire tonight?” I suggest, holding up my bag.
“Sounds like a plan. Thank you, Beta Liora.”
“Call me Liora,” I shrug, walking out of the tree line.
“Then call me Titus.” Happiness fills me, as I believe I just made another friend. If all goes well with this trip, Titus could become an ally, and the wounds and scars left by Blood Moon attacking this pack in the past could heal properly.
Our walk is filled with playful banter, me explaining to Titus what it takes to be a caring beta, and him asking me if I could talk to his mate and give her some pointers later, to which I agree as we enter the kitchen and leave the bags full of foraged mushrooms and plants on a counter, and wave to the omegas working in the
kitchen.
Upon leaving the kitchen, we bump into Luke, who immediately steps between Titus and me. It is only after revealing that Titus has a mate and was not involved with the attack that Luke relaxes and gives me a hug. He informs me that Maya called him into her office, and will see me at the bonfire, before leaving just as fast
as he came.
“So, what’s the story between you two?” Titus asks as I begin showing him around the pack, pointing out the newly built homes and dormitories for our ever–growing pack.
“Between me and who?” I ask, getting an eye roll from the other beta.
“You and that Luke guy. Are you dating him since your mate rejected you, considering you two seem closer than just friends?” My steps falter for a moment as Titus states his observation, and I pause to think. I know Luke and I are close, can sense his feelings growing for me.
Heck, I can’t even lie to myself and say I feel nothing, because I am attracted to him. Attracted to his caring nature towards his pack. How he treats everyone with respect. I like how safe and comfortable I feel with him, and how I just gravitate to him when I need some comfort. Everything a she–wolf would want in a mate, Luke has. Yet I hesitate.
“We aren’t dating,” I admit quietly, avoiding Titus‘ gaze.
“But Luke did help me through the pain of rejection that I kept at bay for a little longer than I should have. He `is special to me, and I think part of me is scared to lose him too.” My hands go to cover my mouth as I shock myself with revealing this information–information that I myself did not realize I felt until now. Titus smiles at me and places his hand on my shoulder.
“And part of you is waiting to talk to that ex of yours, right?” I nod, not trusting myself to speak in case I blurt something else out unexpectedly.
“I get it. My mate, Daisy, she rejected me because she thought I was as cold and uncaring as Morgan and his dad. Took me a year to prove my worth to her. Take your time and heal, before you rush into anything, Liora.”
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“That’s the plan.” I lower my hands from my mouth, grinning back at Titus
“Anyways, the sun is setting, which means the bonfire will be starting soon. Why don’t you grab your alpha and packmates, and I will meet you there?”
“Sounds good. See you in a few minutes.” With that, I watch Titus walk off in the direction of the guest house If a wolf who has only gotten to know me for a few hours can see through me, then I wonder what my pack has been keeping to themselves while watching Luke and I together.
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