2. Will She Hate Us?

*Audra*

Leaving the pack house a little late, I took a look in the mirror. It was going to be a crazy day. But at least it was the last day that we would have to hide who and what we were. When Manic and I took this job we had absolutely no intentions of befriending an 18-year-old kid. We were over 100 years old. We had pups older than her. Little did I know it would be so easy to treat her like one of my daughters and watch over her. She craved a mother figure and friends, so I decided to go beyond the scope of my mission. My Alpha wasn’t happy with me about this at first, but the King and Queen seemed appreciative, so he let it go. 

I’m the Beta of the Moonchild Pack, one of the largest in Faerl. Our pack has always been considered the Royal Wolves of Faerl, loyal to the King and Queen and the representative of all Wolves. Each species had a representative. I was proud to be a Moonchild. 

I didn’t quite understand everything when I started out. This girl seemed so ordinary and plain. She tried to blend in with everyone around her and she never did much to make herself obviously outstanding. She just wanted to be simple. Maybe she was shy or extremely smart, but it worked for her. I put a letter in my glovebox, taking a deep breath. It had been delivered last night by a Fae messenger. I was to deliver it to Elentari today, starting her journey to her parents. I had no idea how she was going to take all of this but there was no way to turn back now. 

I pulled onto the college campus, music blaring. I knew Elentari would be in math class, so Manic should be coming to the parking lot any time now. I spotted him across the way and honked. “Hey there handsome, looking for a good time?” I teased him. He leaned in my window and kissed me deeply. I loved this vampire of mine. 

“How is today going? Has she changed at all?” I inquired. We had no idea at what point before, during, or after her changes would kick in, so we were on high alert. 

“Not yet, still short, cute, and gothic,” I growled a little. I didn’t like him referring to another female as cute. I pulled his collar and smashed my lips against his. “I’m the only cute woman for you. Got it?” He grinned, knowing he would provoke me into a kiss by saying that. 

“You know you’re my one and only. Always and forever my sexy she-wolf.” He kissed me again, deeply and passionately. My arousal was starting to rise and I pushed him back. “Someone’s feeling frisky…” This man never stopped teasing me. 

“You know I’m always frisky. Now onto business, my sexy man of the night. A letter arrived while you were out last night. It’s to be given to Elentari tonight to start her awakening. Word was sent to the Witch Council to start the protection spells just before midnight. That way they are ready and anyone who might be on the lookout for her won’t notice her awakening. At least that’s the hope.” I had been excited about, and dreading, this day for the last four years. 

“She’s still going by Silk, so Serenity hasn’t spilled the beans yet. She got pulled into her zone when I left her. I took the note to our homeroom so they would know what was up. It’s so weird hiding everything from the strongest supernatural on this whole damn campus. She thinks she’s so insignificant, but she’s about to be thrown into a world where she’s the most important person that exists. I don’t know how she’s going to handle it.” We shared the same worries. Elentari wasn’t attention-seeking or the type to put herself out there needlessly. “Hey, by the way, where have you been? Or did you just want to skip the bullshit and only show up for food?” My husband knew me so well. 

“Of course, I just showed up for food. Today is the last day of this bloody assignment and I'm going to enjoy it. I’m also going to relish the fact that I hope, I will get to be best friends with the Princess of the Kingdom. Beta Audra of the Moonchild Pack and Best Friend to Her Highness Princess Elentari Tirisil, Lunar Guardian. It’s got a ring to it.” 

Manic shook his head at me, “Well, you better get going, I need to make myself scarce for a bit if I’m going to be able to shadow her for a bit. Want to make sure she’s safe.” I kissed him one last time after I got out of my car. “You’re gonna be the death of me, babe, you need to go and I do too.” I just wanted to taste his lips more. Working over time hasn’t left us much time to ourselves. With our youngest being ten years old and my heat coming less frequently, I was feeling the hit of what we call the barren depression when a she-wolf passes the age for optimal child birthing. Some didn’t get depressed, some did. I was the one that was getting it. 

I pouted, my mood shifting. “Don’t worry love, you're due for heat next month, and we’re going to the doctor at the end of the week. There still might be one or two more tiny terrors of our own running around here soon.” We knew well in advance we were chosen for this task, so we were told when our last child was born that I needed to go on birth control as well as monitor my heat, since birth control didn’t work in heat. Ten years of not being allowed to conceive. It was excruciating. But we needed to make sure our pups could take care of themselves and we didn’t give away that we weren’t high school students, or at the very least college kids that were totally unmotivated. It was an honor to be chosen, but it came at a great personal sacrifice. 

I made my way to the cafeteria and received bows from various were-beings, some from my pack, some not. The vampires respected me as well since I was fated to the great-nephew of the King’s brother. Distant blood, but still respected. Our children were wolvampen, just like the King of Faerl. I picked our normal seat and put down my bag. The food here rocked. I was beyond a bottomless pit the month before and the month after my heat, so I knew Manic was tracking my heat correctly. I piled up three plates of food, paid for them, and sat down pulling out my laptop. I worked through the pack documents I needed to while I waited for Elentari to show up after her finals. There were financial reports, rogue attack reports, population reports, requests for aid, and meeting requests. So much to do and so little time. I don’t know how I'll get it all done. 

Cracking my knuckles and a burger in hand, I attack the paperwork for the next two hours, getting as much done as I possibly can. All three dishes are clean as can be and my stomach still rumbles. Fucking heat. I’m going to need to let Yessenica out for a run more than a few times a day this month to burn all these calories. ‘Financial reports, done. Aid requests were responded to. Meeting requests responding to and appropriately scheduled. Rogue attack reports, sent to Gamma. Record time’, I think to myself. 

‘You might want to put all that away, I can feel Lucinda coming.’ Yessenica spoke up, feeling the daughter of the Moon mother fast approaching. I quickly packed my things up and grabbed another plate to make it look like I had just gotten there. Looking back towards the door, I took a deep breath. It’s showtime, gotta act natural and not like her entire world is about to change in the blink of an eye. I can do this. Right?