Chapter 3- In the Open

Lua POV:

I am freaking out. I want to be calm but my heart is racing. This stupid dress is such a pain to put on! My life is upside-down. Three days ago I was on the run and now I'm getting all fancy to let Elias' whole pack know I'm his mate AND that I'm a white wolf. After finally fixing my Emerald green dress on the right way, I stare in the mirror at myself. My make-up is at least on point, my hair has no stragglers, and the jewelry Elias gave me for tonight is gorgeous.

"HI everyone most of you know Elias and I were dating and he just decided to tell me now that we're mates. By the way I'm I'm white wolf!"

I flop down on the bed. This is going to be so awkward. Of course no one is going to say anything about me being a white wolf. I'm Elias' mate they have no choice but to keep their mouths shut. What if they hate me? What if they start plotting against me? How am I going to prove I'm not a threat? Ugh! Why should I even have to prove anything! As I stare up at the ceiling, I try to stop the tears from flowing but it's too late. Damn baby hormones! I struggle to sit up. Even though the baby bump is barely visible, it has already effected my stamina. I take a deep breath and dab my tears away. That's enough. Whatever happens Elias will protect me. if people don't like me well hopefully they're good actors and I won't know. Elias basically runs into the apartment.

"Are you alright what's wrong? I could sense something was off but since we're not marked yet I couldn't tell if it was good or bad?!?!?"

"It's good. Just so happy and nervous about the party."

"Hey I know it's a lot but we've got this. We're doing it together. You come first now. I'll make sure to handle anything that comes up. You look stunning babe.

"Thanks. You have pretty good taste. When you said you would get me an outfit I totally thought it was going to be horrendous but this is exactly what I would have chosen for the occasion. "

"Ah you forget our whole relationship I knew you were my mate so I've been very observant with everything about you. Also I do have all your memories so that also helps knowing your style."

"Well I wish you told me sooner, but anyway aren't we late? it started like 5 minutes ago!"

"OH shoot yeah we're late let's go. It's ok it's just downstairs."

We briskly walk to the elevators and get in. I grasp Elias' hand tightly. I need to get out of my own head. I was taught my whole life to avoid this exact situation and now here I am pregnant with a mate, still in a world that hates white wolves. We get to the Ball Room and I wait outside the door as Elias heads in and gets on the microphone.

"Good afternoon everyone sorry for the slight delay. I wanted to first thank everyone for being able to make it with last minute notice. I know I personally hate anything last minute but I could not wait to share my great news with my pack first. As you all know for the past few months I have been dating and I've been kind of keeping her out of the limelight. Well I was waiting for the right time but you know the Moon Goddess has other plans. Very soon we will have an heir to the Onyx pack! Yes I'm going to be a dad. I wanted to wait until my mate, yes you heard that right, was of age to realize who I truly was to her but we had a little surprise before that could happen. On that note I would like to formally introduce my mate Lua!"

Deep breath Lu, deep breath. I hold my head up high, but not too high that I seem cocky, and open up the door. I walk over as gracefully as I can to Elias while smiling and waving. The clapping is drowning out the chatter so I can't hear what anyone is saying. As planned Elias hands over the microphone so I can introduce myself.

"Hello everyone. Thank you so much for the warm welcome and thank you for being here on short notice. My name is Lua Sorrel and I'll be 21 next week. I'm looking forward to be part of the pack and to one day be your Luna. It's crazy to think that after....after all I've been through. Uh I know this is a strange way for an Alphas mate to be revealed as per custom it's usually at a wedding but the Moon Goddess decided she wanted to add some more surprises to the Onyx pack. I want to start my role in this pack off slow because I want everyone to be comfortable with me and see that I'm a good person. The reason some might not see me that way yet is because... well because...."

Everyone's eyes are on me as I freeze. The murmuring starts and I feel like my throat is swelling shut. Damn it come on Lua! Just say it!. Elias grabs my hand and gives it an encouraging squeeze. He looks at me and nods. I take a deep breath and pull myself together. God I can't believe I'm doing this. It feels like an eternity later when I finally blurt it out.

"I'm a white wolf"

You could feel the shock in the room as the pack tries to process what I just said. Is there going to be a riot? Is someone going to start a problem? I don't know what gets into me but this courage comes out of nowhere. I am done being afraid. I am done not being seen. It's all or nothing now!

"I understand the shock as most believe white wolves have gone extinct since the war. I have personally never met another white wolf. I grew up on the run with my parents for 8 years until they were slaughtered and I managed to pass myself off as human and be sent off to Canada. I understand how white wolves were made to be seen as enemies, but I'm before you now to prove that's not the case. I am holding off on my wedding with my mate as well as claiming my title to give everyone time to get to know me as Lua, not just as a white wolf. I ask that you guys give me a chance. I am open to any questions, even if you think it's inappropriate I have no problem opening up to you all. I hope you all will be willing to get to know me not just because I'm Elias' mate but to also understand the true customs of white wolves and not what our grandparents painted us out to be"

With that Elias hugs and kisses me on the forehead before taking the microphone.

"I know this is some hard news to wrap your heads around. It was hard for me at first too. Lua is no threat and I believe the Moon Goddess chose her for our pack for a reason. Lets continue this party as any other welcoming party. Come and get to know Lua the way I do and I promise you all will see what an amazing person she is"

The caterers start bringing out the food and the background music starts playing. Elias and I take our seat and a microphone is passed to the first table. Elias' best friend and Beta, Kai, starts the conversation back up.

"Well Elias sure knows how to throw a curveball doesn't he?"

The pack chuckles then quiets down to hear what he says. I crush Elias' hand as hard as I can under the table preparing for the worst.

"Let me just welcome you Lua, to the Onyx pack. It's a great gesture of kindness and respect going against customs you've rightfully been blessed with by the moon Goddess. Uhm I can only speak for myself of course but from what I know of the White War I think most of us can agree that our grandparents started that war unjustly and out of fear. I might not understand white wolf customs and your special abilities but what I do know is that history likes to bury a lot of truths and cover them up with lies so that the majority just follow whatever those is charge say. I look forward to getting to know you and I will tell you right now that not only as Betta, but also as an Onyx Pack member, I look forward to learning the truth and getting to know you as a new member of the family"

To my surprise, everyone stands up and claps. They agree with what he said? They don't have a problem with my wolf? Am I dreaming? Happy and relieved tears trickle down my cheek and the tension in my body slowly drains as if all the steam of fear and anxiety was let out. I finally let go of Elias' hand that is now red and hug him. Kai comes over and gives us both a hug. I feel no tension in the air. Slowly more pack members come up and introduce themselves. Elias and I make small talk with each one, but no one really asks me anything about my wolf. They just ask regular things about myself and my pregnancy. How Elias and I met. A few express how they're sorry about what happened to my family and we even get into a few conversations about how wrong the White War was. There's no way this is real. This whole time I thought there was so much hatred towards white wolves still. I thought the majority was going to protest my presence, but it actually seems like I won't have to worry about the majority. After a few hours people start to leave. The staff starts cleaning up and only Elias, his Betta and his wife are left. These are the main people who run the pack. I feel a little overwhelmed but also excited. it's like I'm apart of the inner circle. Kai's wife Juno starts the conversation as we all sit at the same table.

"Well you guys had us all thinking this party was about the Merge you announced this morning Elias. You definitely surprised us all"

Kai fixes himself in his chair and has excitement written all over his face as he chimes in.

"Definitely surprised. I can usually read Eli like an open book. I thought it was weird he was keeping his girlfriend a secret! Anyway, what's the plan in telling the rest of the world? I don't think we have to worry about anything major, maybe just some radicals, bit I think overall most agree the White War was a disgrace for our Werewolf history"

I don't know why, but I feel completely comfortable with these two. I feel like they're not acting and genuinely mean what they're saying. Elias was about to speak but I excitedly cut him off. God I never knew how fulfilling having conversation with people could be.

"You know, I really thought the pack wasn't going to take so kindly to me. I was taught my whole life that we were completely hated. It's eye opening to see that so many people can acknowledge that the White War was just wrong. I feel a little more comfortable coming out of the woods so to say now. Eli and I thought the best way would be with an interview. On the news tomorrow morning I will be making an announcement similar to what I did with the pack, just more professional I hope.. Then we will be asking everyone to send in their questions and I will be answering the most common ones at a live interview. I'll also be releasing a book. I've been writing it ever since I was sent to Canada. I planned on publishing it anonymously when the Peace Treaty came out, but then I got distracted by Elias and he knocked me up so I had no time"

I chuckle and so do Elias, Kai, and Juno. Elias has strangely been quiet but then he speaks up.

"To be honest I had no clue how the majority felt. I've been so caught up in expanding the pack and creating new laws that I've never really had time for normal conversations with anyone. I was only able to be normal with Kai and Juno when they'd come over and we'd play video games or just watch movies. I was 17 when I took over the pack. A child basically, but I had no choice my dad was almost burning this pack to the ground. I had to challenge him. I knew I'd win but I never knew how much work all my dreams for the pack would actually be."

Kai comforts Elias by putting his hand on Elias' shoulder and I grab his hand. Kai's touch obviously calmed Elias and I could tell they shared a strong bond not just as Alpha and Beta but like brothers too. I realized I didn't know much about the Onyx Pack history. Kai's voice snaps me out of my inner monolog.

"You work harder than anyone I know. And you're a genius. No other Alpha in history has done what you have done. Especially in 5 years! You'll be in all the Werewolf history books Eli. I can't believe you're going to be a dad now! You couldn't let me do anything on my own huh, always have to copy me."

Elias and I look at each other confusingly. Kai drops his head and bites his lip. Juno laughs and shakes her head. She rolls her eyes and playfully punches Kai in the arm.

"Well good job bud you lost 50 bucks! I knew you were going to let it slip!"

Elias basically leaps out of his chair and pulls Kai into a bro hug. I follow suit and go over to Juno and congratulate her. Is that weird? No right these are Elias' best friends and I'm his mate so it's not weird even though I barely know them.

"Kai I can't believe we're both going to have pups close in age! They're going to be best friends just like we are. Best friends since birth! When is your pup due?

Elias' face was gleaming with joy. This was definitely interesting. Juno grabs her dress and pulls it backwards to reveal her baby bump. She was definitely far along.

"Baby is due in 8 weeks! So much has been going on with the Peace Treaty, the Merge, your father. We wanted to actually just show up one day with the baby and completely surprise you. We almost made it but big mouth over here changed that plan! Our babies are only going to be a couple months apart! What are you 3 months along Lua?"

Elias and I laugh. Juno and Kai are so confused and just look at each other then us.

"Actually our baby will be about two weeks older than yours."

"Wait how? You only started dating a few months back. Even if you knocked her up on the first night she'd only be 3 months along?"

"My pregnancy only lasts 12 weeks. I'm almost at the halfway mark. Next week I'll probably be as big as Juno believe it or not"

"Lucky! I have been so over these pregnancy hormones and these months that feel like years! I wish I could make a baby in only 3 months!"

"Trust me you don't. You get to experience everything gradually where as I get bombarded with all of that at once."

"On second thought youre right I'm not going to complain about pregnancy stuff again. I can't imagine feeling everything on overdrive!"

Juno and I talk about our cravings and crazy hormones while Eli and Kai talk about Fortnight and how they're excited to be fathers. We talk for another 2 hours before realizing the time. Juno and I went to the bathroom numerous times and passed the huge clock on the wall each time yet were so focused getting to know each other that we never thought about it. The guys of course could stay all night just talking and wouldn't realize the time until the sun came up. We said our goodbyes and made plans to hang out after things calmed down a bit. I can't believe the book I've been writing for almost 13 years is going public tomorrow, and that I'm going public tomorrow. This party has definitely lifted up my spirits and I'm less worried about it. Elias and I take a shower before heading to bed. It feels so good cuddling under the warm blanket completely naked. He expresses how proud he is of me and I tell him how relieved I am with the outcome of the party. Before I know it I fell asleep wrapped in his arms feeling loved and safe.