Chapter 3

Willow’s POV

Finally, we made it to Crescent Moon packhouse and it had to be the largest packhouse I had ever seen. I was aware that two packs had combined under one roof because Luna Ella was mated to both the Crescent and Blue Moon pack’s Alphas, one being Alpha Conner’s half-brother. Alpha Conner was the only one of us hybrids that knew who their biological father was, and in a way, I was a little jealous of him. His father had welcomed him with open arms and so did his entire family of siblings. I could only hope someday that I too could find my biological father and he would accept me as his daughter and welcome me into his family too.

As Luna and Alpha opened their doors to exit the SUV, I looked up at the massive steps that led into the packhouse and saw Alpha Caleb standing at the top of the stairs ready to welcome his brother Alpha Conner. My door opened and Luna said, “Willow you can get out of the vehicle.”

“I’m sorry Luna.” I said as I stepped out of the vehicle with my head down.

“Come inside and let us get you something to eat before you leave with Beta Shawn.” Luna says as she grabs my hand and pulls me up the steps and into the packhouse and towards the kitchen where there was a ton of food being prepared.

The amount of food that was being placed in serving bowls amazed me. I had never seen so much food being prepared at one time even with me working at the diner. Luna walked over and grabbed me a plate and started to place food on it and then returned to me with the plate and silverware. “Follow me, Willow.” Luna said as she walked towards a large dining room and sat the food down on a table and then said, “Eat and if you need more just let me know.”

I looked at the plate piled high and knew there was no way I was ever going to be able to finish what she had placed on it. They say when you don’t eat as much your stomach shrinks and I am a firm believer of that since when I actually do get something to eat, I am never able to eat much. “Thank you, Luna. But I honestly don’t know if I will be able to finish all of this. Is there a way I can take what is left for later?”

“Sweetie, you won’t need to take it for later. You will be living at the packhouse in Red Moon, and you will be provided with three meals a day.” Luna explained to me and my eyes got big thinking about being able to eat three meals a day. “Eat up and then Beta Shawn and you can leave for Red Moon.” Luna then said as she left the room leaving me to the plate of food.

Sitting down at the table my stomach gave out another growl when the scent of the delicious smelling food in front of me hit my nose. Picking up the fork I slowly began to eat the food not wanting to make myself sick from not eating in a few days. As soon as the roast beef hit my tongue my taste buds began to explode at the mouthwatering taste. My mother was never a really good cook and I never remember eating something this divine in my life. My wolf had to agree with me that this meal had to be the best meal I have ever eaten.

Thirty minutes must have passed before Luna reappeared and she looked at my half-eaten plate of food and asked, “Willow are you finished?”

“Yes Luna. It was delicious.” I said to her as I stood and grabbed my plate to take it to the kitchen.

“Sweetie you barely ate anything.” Luna then said to me and I knew she was going to think that I didn’t like it, but I honestly ate what I could without making myself sick.

“Luna I am full. That was more food than I have had all week. I thank you for your kindness and generosity.” I tell her as I move to the sink area to wash my dish.

“Willow, you don’t need to wash your dish. Just sit it there and the wolves on kitchen duty will take care of it.” Luna said and I looked at her confused. There were wolves on kitchen duty. Luna must have noticed my confusion and said, “When you live in a packhouse everyone has a duty to contribute. You will be assigned to a duty when you get to Red Moon and that will be your contribution to live there.”

“So, I just have to do whatever duty the Alpha assigns me to do and I get to live there and eat for free?” I asked the Luna thinking this had to be too good to be true. I was planning on searching for a job as soon as I had gotten to Red Moon so that I was able to pay rent and be able to buy food to eat.

“Yes Willow. You will just have to do your duty and the Alpha, and the pack will make sure you have a roof over your head and food on your plate.” Luna then said and I felt a relief wash over me but then wondered if this was how they ran their packhouse and how I could have been living like that all this time instead of living the nightmare I had been living.

Just when I was about to ask her a man walked into the kitchen and I almost dropped my plate when I saw him. I had remembered him from my short stay at the Red Moon and he honestly was one of the hottest men I had ever seen with his blue eyes and wild short blonde hair, but I was only seventeen then and he was a few years older than me, and the situation wasn’t great at the time.

The man looked at me and our eyes locked for a brief moment and he smiled at me before he turned and to Luna and said, “Is the she wolf ready to leave?”

“Beta Shawn this is Willow.” Luna said and Beta Shawn gaze moved back to me and I felt my cheeks redden from his gaze upon me.

“Willow it’s nice to meet you.” Beta Shawn said to me and I quickly reply, “It’s nice to meet you too.”

Luna then looked at me and said, “Don’t hesitate to call me if you ever need anything. Even if it is to just talk.”

“Thank you, Luna. I appreciate Alpha and you letting me leave. I will be forever in debt to you.” I tell her and she pulls me into a hug and whispers into my ear, “Willow, I hope you find happiness.” Before she pulled from the embrace.

I smile at her and Beta Shawn says, “We best get going. I have training this evening with my warriors.”

We headed outside where Luna followed us to retrieve my bags from the SUV. Beta Shawn grabbed them all and asked, “Is this everything?”

I was embarrassed to say that was all my personal belongings that I had to my name, but it was. “Yes.” I finally say and he moves them to his own car putting them into the trunk.

Luna gave me one last hug before I got into the car with Beta Shawn and headed off to my new home. As we pulled away from the Crescent Moon packhouse nervousness and excitement both filled me not knowing what awaits me.

“So, Willow, Alpha Conner tells me that you were one of the hybrids that stayed at Red Moon during the battle.” Beta Shawn says to me and I know he is trying to be nice to me and start a conversation.

“Yes, I was only seventeen at the time.” I tell him and I can see he is doing the math in his head of how old I am now.

“So, you are eighteen?” Beta Shawn asks.

“I just turned nineteen yesterday.” I tell him and he quickly turns my way and says, “Well Happy Birthday Willow.” With a smile on his face and I wonder if all the wolves have amazing teeth like him.

“Thank you.” I say with a smile back to him.

“So, what duty did you do at your old packhouse?” Beta Shawn now asks me and I am glad Luna had explained this to me just moments ago or I would have looked like a fool not understanding what he was asking me.

“I didn’t live at the packhouse but I worked at a diner as a server.” I tell him and I can see he is the one confused.

“I thought Alpha Conner had all his hybrids living at the packhouse.” Beta Shawn now says, and I know most of them did, but my mother wouldn’t allow it because she needed me to work to help her make ends meet.

“Unfortunately, I stayed at home to help take care of my mother, but I did train with them every day.” I explained to him not wanting to give up all the information to him why I had to take care of her.

“What kind of training?” Beta Shawn asked and I was relieved that he asked about it and not about my mother.

“To be a warrior.” I told him and he looked quite interested in that.

“So, you have combat training?” Beta Shawn asks me and I could see a hint of excitement with this.

“Yes, in wolf and witch form.” I explained to him and I can see I have his interest.

“I have training tonight and I would love to see what kind of training Alpha Conner has provided you with. It’s not normal for the she wolves of our pack to train but I am sure that Alpha Chance will make an exception if you would like to continue your training.” Beta Shawn says and I get excited to hear that I may be allowed to continue to train.

“I would love that.” I told him.

The rest of the drive to Red Moon we talked about everything and anything getting to know each other and I felt that I could be myself around Beta Shawn. At first I was nervous because I found him very attractive but once I got to speak with him and get to know him, he was easy to talk to and I wondered if he is always like this or if he is just trying to be kind to me. Either way I was enjoying our conversation and the time we were getting to know each other without him knowing my true past.

Before I knew it, we were pulling into the Red Moon packhouse and the almost two hour drive went by too quickly as I would have liked to have spent more time with him getting to know him more. Beta Shawn pulled the car to the front of the house and got out of the car and opened the trunk to retrieve my bags.

When I stepped out of the car, I looked up at the massive steps that led to the front door and wondered if all the packhouse were purposely built like this. Moving to the trunk of the car I grabbed one of my bags because Beta Shawn had the other two already in his hands. As he shut the trunk he said, “Follow me and I will show you to your room.”

Following Beta Shawn up the grand steps and into the house and then up two more flight of steps till we stopped in front of a door, and he opened the door and said, “Lady first.” I gave him a smile and walked into the huge bedroom and spun around not understanding how this could possibly be my room. There was a huge canopy king bed that sat in the middle of the room with two nightstands beside it. A tall dresser and then a long dresser with a beautiful mirror sat on the other two walls and then a vanity with a mirror sat on another wall. Doors were open to a walk-in closet and another door led to a private bathroom with a huge clawfoot tub.

Beta Shawn laid my bags on the bed and watched me as I walked around the room not believing this was for me. “This can’t be my room.” I finally said to him.

“You don’t like it?” Beta Shawn asked me with worry on his face.

“No, I love it. It’s just unreal this is my room. Are you sure I am in the right room?” I asked him worried he gave me the wrong room.

Beta Shawn began to chuckle before he said, “No I am sure this is the room that the Alpha told me to put you in.”

“Are all the rooms in the house this large?” I asked as I moved to the bed to sit.

“On this floor yes. The second floor bedrooms are a bit smaller.” Beta Shawn says and I wonder why I was given a bigger room.

“Where is your room?” I asked him curiously.

“I am just down the hall two doors.” Beta Shawn tells me and I can see a smile form on his face because I asked him and then he said, “I better leave you to get unpacked.” And he moved towards the door to leave.

I stopped him by asking him, “What time is training?”

He turned back to me and said, “At four pm.”

“I will see you there if the offer still stands.” I say to him hoping that it does.

“I look forward to seeing what you have learned.” Beta Shawn tells me as he shuts the door to my new bedroom leaving me to unpack.