Luna Training

ALLIE

After James leaves, Eleanor turns to business.

“I’ll give you a quick tour of the pack house, and while I’m showing you around, I can explain what being a luna really involves.

“Fundamentally, the luna is there to support and care for the pack. They provide leadership alongside the alpha. An alpha without a luna is a weaker, less capable ruler.

“There are formal duties that a luna has, but just as important are the informal ones. The pack house has an official luna’s office where you’ll work.

“Come with me and I will show you where it is. She leads me downstairs and along a wide corridor.

“Here is your office,” she says, pointing to a large oak door with the word ‘Luna’ written in gold letters. It is right next to James’s.

“Your door should always be open to pack members. It’s sometimes easier for a wolf to speak to their luna than it is to raise these matters with their alpha.”

We walk inside. The room is tastefully decorated in pale blue. There is a desk and leather chairs in the center of the room. In the corner is a small sofa and coffee table. “The luna provides balance. She ensures that each wolf in the pack receives care and support, and looks after their physical and spiritual well-being while helping keep them safe from outside threats.

“We run the pack house and manage all the staff who work here. We also arrange all the pack social gatherings and parties. This is the part that many young wolves find glamorous.

“The shallow ones long to be luna so that they can be the center of attention, and wear designer dresses and expensive jewels,” she sniffs. “However, these are the least important aspects of the role.”

“They don’t realize the hard work involved, the difficult decisions that have to be made, and sometimes the danger we face.

“There are times when we are called on to take over the sole leadership of the pack, coordinate battles against our enemies, and ensure that our young and our weak are kept safe.”

“I understand that you’re a strong fighter.”

“I can look after myself.”

“You managed to kill two rogues single-handedly.”

“Yes, but I had no other option. They would have killed me if I hadn’t taken them out first.”

“Our world is a violent and dangerous one. You did the right thing. You must be prepared to defend yourself and the rest of the pack.

“I also understand that you taught Karen a lesson. I’ve never liked that wolf. It pains me to speak negatively about a member of our pack, but she’s vain and selfish.

“She has tried to attach herself to both of my sons. Fortunately, they can see through her.”

I’m relieved that she doesn’t blame me for the fight with Karen and that she doesn’t feel that she has to take her packmate’s side.

So far, I’m having a lovely time with James’s mother. She has been welcoming and she hasn’t made the luna role sound too intimidating.

“James told me you’re studying to be a doctor, and that you want to use your degree to provide medical treatment to other lone wolves.

“This desire to help improve the medical care available to loners is admirable and shows that you have the right qualities to be luna of a pack.

“I’ll take you to the Silver Fang Pack hospital this afternoon. I’m sure you’ll be interested to see how it differs from the one at the Red Moon Pack.

“The healers there are excited about meeting you. They have heard about your training with the Red Moon Pack healers. They’re proud that their new luna has such an interest in their vocation.”

“That would be wonderful.”

We chat for a bit longer until James rejoins us. He grabs hold of my hand and pulls me close.

“How have you both been getting on?” he asks anxiously.

“Great. Your mother has been so helpful, and I’m enjoying her training. We are going to meet the healers this afternoon.”

“She is doing very well, James. I am sure she will make you a wonderful luna.”

“It is almost time for lunch. Are you up to meeting some of my ranking wolves? They will be joining us. They’re excited to meet you.”

“Yes, of course.” It’s time that I met more of James’s pack.

He leads us to a room off the main pack dining hall.

“I thought that it would be better if we dined in private,” he explains. “Otherwise, the rest of the pack will spend the whole of lunch staring at you.

“Next time you visit we will arrange for everyone to be there so you can meet them properly, but for now, having lunch with the ranking wolves will be intimidating enough.”

I sigh with relief. Meeting the whole pack at once would be overwhelming. I’m not sure how they will react toward me.

The Red Moon Pack was bad enough, but at least I knew that they didn’t hate rogues. The Silver Fang Pack, on the other hand, had good reason to be wary of loners after the murder of their alpha.

Seven wolves are already there, sitting at a round table set out for lunch. They rise to their feet when we enter.

I look at each of their faces, trying to gauge their reactions. They smile in welcome and greet us warmly, all except for one middle-aged wolf who merely nods as he stares at me.

James introduces me to each of them in turn. When we reach the unsmiling wolf, he says, “And this is my gamma, Eric.”

“Welcome, Luna,” Eric says, but there is no warmth in his voice.

“Thank you,” I respond warily.

“Eric is Karen’s father,” Eleanor informs me.

“Oh, how nice.” At least now I understand why Eric is so unfriendly. He must know about my recent fight with Karen, and he’s bound to hold similar views to hers on lone wolves.

I need to resign myself to the fact that I won’t get a warm welcome into the pack from Eric.

“Shall we all take a seat? I’ll let the waiting staff know that we are ready to eat,” Eleanor says.

James pulls me into a seat next to him. He squeezes my hand, and all my nerves evaporate.

“So, Luna,” a wolf named Amy addresses me. “I understand that you’re training to be a doctor and have started healer training at the Red Moon Pack. Our healers are very eager to meet you.”

“As I am them. Eleanor has been telling me all about your hospital, and I can’t wait to see it.”

We fall into an easy discussion about healing and how it differs in the Silver Fang Pack compared to the Red Moon Pack.

“Of course, as important as healing is to any pack, there are other duties that a luna must fulfill,” Eric chimes in. “Are you comfortable with the challenges you’ll face in your new role?”

He looked at me hard. “With no experience of pack life, never mind having held the role of a ranking wolf before, the thought of becoming luna of a large pack like this must be daunting for you.”

“It is,” I admit. “But with the support of James and Eleanor, I believe I can master it. I don’t expect to be the perfect luna, but I’m determined to work hard and do the best I can for this pack.”

“And we both have every confidence in her,” Eleanor adds warmly.

“Of course, but for a rogue… Well, it will be a difficult transition.”

“Do ~not~ refer to my mate as a rogue,” James snarls.

“Apologies, Alpha. I did not mean to offend,” Eric says, fooling no one. His dislike of me is clear for everyone to see.

“Well, you did. I won’t have my mate insulted.”

Eric bows his head and bares his neck.

“Perhaps this will be a perfect opportunity for us to begin our tour of the hospital,” Eleanor suggests diplomatically.

I smile at her gratefully and follow her out of the room, glad to get away from Eric.