Chapter 3: Quinn

Being here is making the reality of everything come crashing down on me. By tonight, I’ll be the acting Luna of a pack and I have absolutely no clue how to be a Luna. Add to that, we’re on the brink of a war, and while I know Minka, my wolf, is a Guardian and a good fighter, we’ve never truly been tested.

I feel tears prick my eyes, but I won't let them fall. It’s time for me to show that I’m a strong woman, a Guardian, my mother’s daughter. When my best friend came rushing up, throwing her arms around me, I finally feel myself relax.

“Finally. It’s so boring around here with Mr. Stuffy Pants,” she says, eyeing her brother.

“Riley, he’s your Alpha!” I say, admonishing her. Personally, I’m really hoping to get a peek at what’s underneath that stoic exterior while I’m here.

“And I’m his Beta, so what?” she asks, rolling her eyes at her brother.

“Technically, Clint is my Beta,” Emerson says behind me.

“Technically, Clint is my Beta,” Riley says, lowering her voice and mimicking her brother. “Seriously, who talks like that?”

“Riley, you need to respect your brother,” Aunt Grace says.

“Yes, Mother,” she says, but rolls her eyes.

“And don’t roll your eyes at me, young lady,” she says.

“Already in trouble again, my little mate?” Clint asks, jogging up. “Need some help, Emerson?” he asks, kissing Riley, before looking up at Emerson. I watch my best friend’s eyes go all lovey-dovey for her mate.

“No, I think we've got it,” Emerson says, as Riley wraps her arm through mine and we begin to walk through the packhouse. It’s been awhile since I’ve been here but it looks exactly the same. Now though, it feels different being here. My role now will be much more significant.

“I’m so glad I got to see you before we left,” Riley says as we walk outside and get a drink before sitting beside the pack pool.

“Before you leave to go where?” I ask her.

“Oh, goddess, did you not hear? Leana and Drake are having issues with the vampires. We’re not the only ones who have a war coming and since mom and dad are here, Emerson is sending me and Clint to go help.”

“You’re going to fight vampires?” I ask her.

“I’m not sure. I guess we’ll find out. But we’re Guardians, right. This is what we do,” she says so confidently, that I’m starting to feel inadequate.

“Hey, I know that look. You’re going to be great, Quinn.”

“I was kind of counting on you to be here to help me out, Ri,” I tell her.

“We’re not planning to be gone long, a couple of days, a week at the most. Hopefully, everything is fine and we’ll be back before the war hits here. And besides, my mom is here. She can help you with the Luna stuff.”

I sigh. “She shouldn’t have to.”

“You’re right,” she says, looking at me. As I watch, her lips begin to twitch.

“What?”

“Lucky for you, I’ve arranged everything while I’m gone so you don’t have to.”

“Seriously?? I ask her.

She shrugs. “Who loves you like a sister?” she asks.

“You do,” I say and lean over to hug my dearest friend.

The three of us, Malin, Riley, and I are close in age and have basically grown up together. Besides Reagan, we’re the youngest of the Guardian children.

Over dinner, I listen to the conversations about the war, the concerns about the vampires and the witches.

“Quinn, I need to tell you that I have to go to Canyon Ridge tomorrow for a meeting with Cohen and Rich. I won’t be gone overnight, but you’ll be here by yourself since Riley and Clint have to leave,” Emerson says.

“Oh, okay. Is there anything in particular you need me to do while you’re gone? Any preparations that need to be made for the pack?”

“I’ll leave you a list, but Clint and Riley have mostly taken care of everything. As the acting Luna, though, you’ll be in charge. If you have any questions, mom will be around, but you can always call me too.”

I feel a little nauseous at the thought of having to be in charge on my first day with absolutely no clue how to run a pack. I’d planned on having Riley around so I could learn from her.

“I won’t let you down,” I say, trying to reassure both of us.

“Of course you won’t, sweetheart,” Aunt Grace says, having tuned into our conversation. "You’re a Guardian. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, you have great instincts.”

“I’ll probably run the perimeter to reacquaint myself with it while you’re gone, maybe run some patrols. Once I have the pack link, it will be easier,” I say, and then look over at my father.

He’s watching me, waiting for me to realize what that will mean.

“Oh," I say. It means that I will no longer be a part of the same pack that my family belongs to.

“It’ll be okay, Quinn,” he says gently.

“Hey, your sister will be in the pack on one side of us and your brother and parents will be in the pack on the other,” Emerson says.

“I know, I just…I hadn’t thought it through is all,” I say, trying to pull on that strength that the Guardians have and not cry at the thought of losing the connection to the only pack I’ve ever known.

“You’ll still have your family connection, Quinn,” Emerson says softly. “But if you want to wait to become my acting Luna…”

“No! No, that’s why I’m here, to take on the role of acting Luna so I can help protect this pack. As you said, I’ll still have a connection to Rich, he just won’t be my Alpha any longer.” I look down at my food, no longer hungry. From the corner of my eye, I see Aunt Grace looking at Emerson and I realize they are having some sort of private conversation. I hope they aren’t concerned about me being able to protect the pack.

“So, what time is the acting Luna ceremony?” I ask.

“After dinner. But before that, I need to talk with you,” Emerson says.

I see my father’s head snap up and his eyes narrow at Emerson.

“You really have nothing to worry about, Emerson. I promise that I’ll be a good acting Luna and Guardian for the pack.”

“It’s not that. Truly. I have no doubt that you will be exactly what this pack needs. It’s something else, something…private."

I frown at him. "Okay.”

As everyone begins to finish dinner and heads outside, Emerson asks me to follow him. My father calls out to him and we both stop.

“Go ahead. You’re in your usual room beside mine and I got you a dress for tonight.”

“You did?” I ask him, surprised.

“Well, Riley helped me pick it out, but yeah.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s in your closet,” he says, and I turn, walking away as my father steps up to him.

When I get to my room, I look around, realizing that it’s going to feel very lonely here without Malin. I shake that off, and go to the closet, finding the sage green dress on a hanger with taupe heels under them.

I quickly get changed and I’m just putting on the heels when I hear a knock at the door. I smell Emerson’s wood, bark, and moss scent and I take a deep breath before answering.

“Come in, Emerson,” I say and the door opens. As soon as he steps in, he stops, sucking in air.

“Wow,” is all he says.

“Yeah? I haven’t seen it on yet,” I say, moving to the full-length mirror in the room. “Oh, it’s beautiful. Thank you, Emerson,” I say, turning back to look at him.

I frown. He looks…uncomfortable.

“Emerson?”

“Quinn, why don’t you sit down. We need to talk.”

“Okay,” I say and take a seat on the loveseat in the room.

“Right, so, um….I’m not sure how to say this, so I’m just going to say it....”