Chapter 18: Chapter Seventeen

SAVANNAH

“Straighten your shoulders. Chin up. Remember, a luna always smiles.”

I rolled my eyes inwardly, having learned my lesson when she caught me doing it outwardly last time. Missy Price could give the Marines a run for their money with her drill sergeant-like demeanor.

“Lunas always listen to the pack members, especially the shewolves. Your alpha will most likely take care of the wolves, but you always need to make sure your shewolves are comfortable. They will become your best friends.”

Her monologue about the importance of everyone else’s happiness was starting to wear thin. Not once had she mentioned my own happiness. I was new to pack life, but from what I could gather, lunas seemed to lead selfless, and somewhat unfulfilled, lives.

A sharp rap on my head with a ruler from Missy brought me back to reality. “Always be prepared for anything and never show your distress. Your alpha will reward you.”

A smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth. ~That~ I could get used to. Dax and I hadn’t even gotten past second base, and I was already head over heels for him.

After another night of kissing like we were discovering it for the first time, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

~“He can definitely kiss,”~ my wolf commented. ~“I would have played dead for eternity if we got a bad kisser.”~

“Are you listening, Savannah?”

“Yes.”

Missy’s gaze narrowed. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, not daring to answer it under Missy’s watchful eye. These etiquette lessons were starting to fray my nerves.

I’d much rather be in Luna 101, listening to our professor explain how keeping our alpha happy would lead to a successful pack.

~“I’ll keep Dax happy as long as I don’t have to sit here any longer,”~ my wolf suggested. ~“Just run. I bet she can’t chase you in those heels.”~

As Missy turned to face me, I noticed Jaka peeking around the corner of the dining room. I’d told her my lesson was almost over thirty minutes ago, not realizing that Missy was a drill sergeant from hell.

“How are your studies coming along?” she asked.

“Good,” I replied. “It’s interesting for me to learn about the basics, because it’s so new to me.”

Jaka made a face, and I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing. Missy spun around quickly and caught Jaka in the act of mimicking her. “Nice to see you, Ms. Smith.”

Jaka straightened and gave her a curt nod. “I was coming to see Savannah.”

Missy lifted the book off my head. “Go ahead. We’ll meet again on Wednesday.”

I walked out of the room, elbowing Jaka on my way up the stairs. “That’s what you get,” I muttered.

She laughed. “Gosh, she’s so intense.”

“Tell me about it.”

Jaka followed me into my room and stood in the middle, her mouth hanging open.

“My God,” she exclaimed. “So this is how the other half lives!”

“It’s just a room, Jaka. And you’re more than welcome to come by any time. Do you have a new roommate yet?”

She gave me a look. “Ugh, yeah, some girl who won’t stop talking. She asks a million questions.”

I smirked. “Funny how you two don’t get along.”

She tossed a pillow at me. “Hey,” she said, picking up my mother’s diary from my nightstand. “They already gave you one of these?”

I kicked off my shoes. “What do you mean?”

She turned over on her belly. “All the lunas get one. Where is the key?”

“I don’t know,” I said, sitting down beside her. “It was in my mother’s things.”

“Oh, it’s your mother’s? She was a luna?”

“Supposedly her first mate was an alpha but not my dad.”

“She had two?” Jaka asked, surprised.

“Yeah.”

Jaka noticed the half-moon necklace on my nightstand. “There it is,” she said.

“There what is?” I asked.

“The key,” she said, crawling over to grab it. “Here, look.” She took the necklace, opened the latch of the diary, placed the pendant in the middle, and turned. It snapped open and she handed it to me.

“I had no idea,” I mumbled, running my fingertips against the worn pages.

My mother’s familiar handwriting filled the pages, dating back to two thousand. “Do you remember your parents at all?” she asked.

“A little. They died when I was really little, so not much. I just remember occasional images, my mother’s eyes. Stuff like that.” I braced myself and looked down at the first entry.

“~August two thousand~

“~I found him. After years of waiting to be at Werewolf U, to find my mate, I finally found him. He was at the alpha party, his scent startled me, because I’d never smelled anything so good in my life.~”

“~He is tall, with sandy blond hair and green eyes. The taste of his lips after he kissed me lingered well into the next day. He’s part of The Calhoun Pack in Georgia, which means I’ll be moving there after graduation.~”

“~My life is finally falling into place, and I’ve never been happier.~”

A tight pressure squeezed my chest. My mother seemed so happy, and knowing her happily-ever-after didn’t last hurt my feelings for her.

When I glanced at Jaka, there was a frown on her face. “What is it?” I asked, shutting the diary.

Jaka shifted restlessly on my bed. “The Calhoun Pack, they were quite infamous,” she began.

“~Okay~,” I responded, encouraging her to go on.

Her blue eyes locked onto mine. “They were notorious for being ruthless and cruel. They were wiped out by a neighboring wolf pack in the early two thousands.”

I winced. “I thought lycans were the cruel ones,” I said.

“They are, but that doesn’t mean wolves can’t be,” she replied.

“Does that mean my mother’s mate was cruel?”

Jaka shrugged. “I don’t know. It could just be a rumor. Just because they were known to be cruel doesn’t mean they all were. You should keep reading, maybe we’ll find out.”

The sadness in my stomach was too much, so I closed the diary and locked it. “I will in a while. It’s been a stressful week with my Grammy, the lunas, and this party…”

Jaka sat up straight. “What party?”

I kicked my feet onto my bed and lay back. “Dax’s pack is throwing me a party this weekend—”

Jaka kicked my feet off the bed and sprang up like a bullet. “Oh my God, Savannah! Why didn’t you tell me? Get up!” She grabbed my arm and began to drag me out of the room.

“What’s going on? Stop it!” I protested.

But she didn’t. She continued to drag me down the hall, all the way down the stairs, and she didn’t stop until we were in front of Missy Price’s door.

Missy answered a few seconds later. “What’s wrong?”

Jaka shot me a dirty look. “Dax’s family is hosting a welcoming party for their new luna ~this weekend~, and Savannah is ~just~ now mentioning it.”

Missy’s eyes widened. “Oh my God,” she mumbled. “We have so much work to do.” She slammed her door, grabbed my wrist, and started to drag me up the stairs.

***

An hour later, I stood in the center of a grand room, in a gown that screamed royalty. Red flowers were stitched into the bottom of the gold dress that cinched at my waist and gave me cleavage I’d only dreamed about.

Once Missy and Jaka had calmed down enough to help me, we’d been in this gown room, trying to pick out a dress for the weekend. Apparently, this wasn’t just some casual get-together to welcome me like the barbecue I had imagined.

This was a ball.

A legitimate, tux and gown, wine flowing, coronation-type party.

“This is the one,” Missy declared. “It complements your complexion, it brings out your eyes, and Dax is going to faint when he sees your boobs in this. I wouldn’t be surprised if you came back marked.”

Heat crept up my skin and along my spine. I’d mentioned marking the night before, and it had led to our hour-long make-out session.

I had too many new bite marks across my collarbone and thighs. The thought of it sent pulsating heat to every corner of my body.

“Do you like it?” Jaka asked.

I nodded. “It’s beautiful. I’m just really nervous. I don’t know if they’ll like me, or if I’ll fit in. Dax says his mother is really excited, and I’m just not what they envisioned. I haven’t even shifted yet.”

Missy stepped in front of me. Her strong eyes looked kind. “You’re beautiful, you’re capable, and you’re learning, Savannah. No one expects you to jump into this and know everything.

Dax understands. The university understands, and you need to understand. This is years of information that’s been tossed at you within two weeks. You’re doing amazing, and his family is going to love you,” she whispered.

“Thank you, Missy,” I mumbled.

Missy’s shoulders stiffened, and I watched as she turned toward the door. A man filled the doorway, and I watched as her body relaxed for the first time since I’d known her.

“Forest,” she said softly, and threw herself at him. He was tall, older than her for sure, and handsome. He swept her into a hug and kissed her so passionately that I found myself looking away in embarrassment.

Her giggle made me smile. I didn’t think someone like Missy would ever giggle. “Savannah, Jaka, this is Forest, my mate.”

I turned my attention back to him and took his outstretched hand. He had dark eyes and even darker hair. “Nice to meet you both. Is this important, or can I take you somewhere?”

Missy looked over at me, but I waved my hand dismissively. “This is the dress. You go have fun.”

She bit the side of her lip but nodded. “Okay. I’ll be back later, and we can work on your entrance.”

Jaka let out a whistle. “The Ice Queen has a heart,” she mumbled. “Her mate already graduated,” she said. “You can tell she doesn’t get to see him often.”

Realization hit me. “Dax graduates this year. Does that mean he’ll go back home and wait for me?”

My heart pounded against my ribs. I didn’t want him to leave me at the university by myself.

Jaka shrugged. “I guess that’s up to him and his pack.”

I swallowed my sorrow, and gestured toward the zipper. “Get me out of this dress. I’m sweating bullets.”

Jaka left to go back to her dorm room to study, and I found myself doing the same. The minutes turned into an hour before I finished my two assignments for the week.

I was engrossed in an episode of ~Married At First Sight~ when the piercing sound of a siren jolted me from my bed. I made my way to the hallway, where other Lunas were peering out of their rooms, some accompanied by their Alphas, others alone.

Dax was on Lycan duty, so I hadn’t heard from him in hours. The rapid patter of Missy’s footsteps echoed up the stairs, followed by the heavier tread of Forest.

Missy’s gaze locked onto me. “Everyone, back to your rooms. There’s been a breach on campus.”

I quickly retreated, shutting my door behind me. I picked up my phone, dialing Dax’s number. He probably wouldn’t answer while on duty, but it was worth a shot.

After seven rings, it went to voicemail. My heart pounded against my ribs. A shout echoed from outside my window. I pulled back the curtain to see Alphas sprinting toward the nearby woods, some shifting into their wolf forms mid-stride.

I’d never witnessed a wolf shift before, and the sight sent adrenaline coursing through my veins.

~“They’re here for you,”~ my wolf warned.

“Quiet,” I muttered, nervously biting my nail. “Everything’s probably fine.”

More voices echoed from outside, followed by the unmistakable sounds of a fight. I longed to rush downstairs and check on Dax, but I felt rooted to the spot. I couldn’t protect myself—I’d never shifted.

“Why haven’t you come out yet?” I asked my wolf.

~“I tried,”~ my wolf retorted. ~“And your scrawny ass fainted.”~

“Always blaming me,” I mumbled.

~“Where’s our mate?”~ my wolf asked. ~“Is he okay? You need to go check on him.”~

I considered my options. I couldn’t venture into a wolf fight without a wolf of my own. Whoever was out there could easily capture me.

I climbed onto the windowsill, cracking the window open. The sounds of fighting had ceased, or perhaps they’d moved deeper into the woods. I wasn’t sure.

But his scent was near. I scanned the field surrounding The Luna House and spotted a figure running at an incredible speed. Daxton’s silhouette was a blur, but his scent was unmistakable.

I expected him to head for the doorway, but instead, he leapt toward The Luna House, scaling the brick exterior like Spiderman.

I screamed, stumbling back from the window as he slid through the narrow opening and slammed the window shut. He turned to me, his eyes a blazing gold.

My mouth went dry at the sight of him. He looked furious, his broad chest heaving, his jaw clenched. “Are you okay?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes. What’s happening?”

He stepped closer, pressing his lips to mine. The urgency in his kiss took me by surprise. Had a Lycan breached the university? Were there multiple intruders? Had they been close to The Luna House?

When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine. “I was terrified when the siren went off. I thought they’d gotten you.”

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

He stepped back, his eyes returning to their normal dark hue. “I need to go check on the situation, make sure everything’s under control.” He turned, and I noticed the tension in his shirtless back muscles.

~“Ooooh, girl,”~ my wolf murmured.

He stood on my windowsill, glancing back at me. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t leave the room, okay?”

“I promise.”

His gaze swept over the room, landing on my dress draped over the ottoman. “I want to see you in that,” he said.

“You will.”

He smirked. “Lock the window after I leave. Don’t open it for anyone but me.”

He vanished as quickly as he’d appeared, leaving me with a racing heart and a fear of the unknown.