15 FEBRUARY, MONDAY, DINNER
It took no small amount of self-directed pep talk to get myself "back out there" for dinner with my family and the current cause of my acutely embaressing malfunctions.
I was going to be mature about this and have my dinner. Nothing crazy, I was just going to deal with it, the way I dealt with all my previous embarrassing episodes of my life - pretend it didn't happen. Failing which, I would simply pretend I couldn't care less. I was the alpha. I can't hide in my room from my own mate! That would be even more embaressing.
Sam's principle of compounded embaressment - the level of embaressment increases directly in relation to how many people around noticed your embaressment.
For example, if you said something wrong, and shrugged it off. No one noticed your embaressment. They might have noticed the error, but you were totally unbothered by it. Then they would simply take it as a simple slip of the tongue, or perhaps they misheard. And everyone would move on, and your embaressment would be minimalized.
However, if you said something wrong, but showed your embaressment by turning red, trying to shutter something to cover it up, or in anyway highlighting the error and your embaressment about it, everyone would start to notice - which would be even more embaressing. And then they could tease you, or try to graciously help you - and the embaressing episode would be extended, and its acuteness also multiplied by the number of people watching you turn red or make a fool of yourself.
Therefore it was imperative to never let your embaressment show. Especially if you were the Alpha.
So hiding in my room till Bell left wasn't an option. I needed to put on a strong front and just show up for dinner, sit down, and eat as if nothing had happened.
I was the Alpha. I can take it.
But seriously! Of all the nights for Dad to decide to invite his betas over to join us for dinner. Beta Lucas and Beta Gerald had been following Dad all afternoon today. They went in and out of meetings and trashed out new policy details. Most of it was in preparation for the pack merger.
By the time I showed up, everyone was already at the table.
Ki announced, "Alpha Princess is here."
I sat down and dinner was served.
I took a peek at Bell who had been seated next to me. Bell was also acting like nothing happened, so either my steps to minimize embaressment were paying off, or he hadn't thought my reaction was in anyway out of the ordinary.
Yeah, maybe all the girls he said romantic things to ran away too.
Or it could be because he was currently engaged in serious conversation with Dad. For some reason, the conversation now was making me flashback to the conversation Principal Laura had with Bell and Henry earlier at school today.
Did you notice how Alphas discussed alpha business in low voices and generally muted emotions? The more serious the issue, the more brooding and quiet the exchange. Lol.
Right now, Dad was telling Bell about some of the issues they had just ironed out, "It'll be best if we can keep the original packs running steady even while we transitioned to the new and merged leadership."
"That would be best." Bell agreed gravely.
"Take it as our last hurrah." Beta Lucas announced proudly, "We have done everything possible to be able to handover our pack in perfect running condition. After that, whether you run it to the ground or whatever, it'll be off our hands.
There it was again, the last hurrah.
"Of course we are all available should you ever required extra hands on board." Beta Gerald quickly reassure Bell.
So not quite "the last".
"Thank you." Bell nodded, "But you don't have to worry. Everything is going as planned, and in three years, the FAO would be well positioned to assume command of the Green Packlands."
"Good." Dad nodded, wholly satisfied, "By the time we retire, this would be a very different world."
"Yeah, man." Beta Lucas said, "The Green Packlands that you young wolves would run will be a whole new world."
{Don't you dare close your eyes}
Mate smirked, "Not just the Green Packlands, Beta Lucas."
The men paused at that.
"What do you mean, son?" Dad asked.
Mate shrugged and then he opened a hand towards me. A lock of my hair floated right into it.
"My princess is not one to flaunt her powers, but as her Luna, I am privy of it. And I assure you, she has amassed great power, and it grows stronger by the day." Bell divulged, completely exposing his villain nature, but none of the other wolves at the table seemed to feel this was out of the ordinary.
And the worst part was, my fully automonous hair was literally, playing right in his hands. I've fallen so bad for him, it wasn't even funny or cute anymore.
Instead, the attention of the other wolves was on my growing power. I felt them stare harder than they should at me as they tried to guage my wolf's growth.
Sam's principle of compounded wolf power. Like embaressment, wolf power also stacked.
Myy dad had said, "The power of an Alpha was not in his wolf, but in the wolves that ran behind him."
While at the time, I thought it was some zen thing that I had no idea how to apply, it turned out that he had meant this quite literally. As in with every loyalty I gain, a link is form. I'm linked to my Night Leaf, my pack, and Morning Light, and just a little bit, to the Lorent Pack too. As the bonds strengthen, and I gain their loyalty, my alpha powers get a bonus boost.
The most obvious experience was at the Underground Army, when the army swore their allegiance to me. Over a hundred wolves ranked at least a warrior and above. Fight dogs who had survived were top dogs... Stephan was an Alpha wolf, so was Mate, and Fluffy... There were quite a number of Beta level wolves, and gammas too for sure. It wasn't just their outstanding wolf level but the power of their bloodlines - often indicated by inherited hair and eye colours.
I remembered the rush of power when they had sworn their allegiance to me. It was nothing short of surreal.
With each wolf that chose to run behind me, my wolf powers grew. With each individual bond that strengthened, my wolf power grew.
Beyond my own evolving power - which was already 4 magic bloodlines, 3 of them alpha ones that ran in my veins.
And my mate's power, which I could tap on... Just as he obviously had been tapping on mine.
I was quite sure he used to have the stronger wolf when we first met, and he had gotten much stronger since, only now... My wolf was the stronger one. I wonder when that happened?
But knowing this explained his ability to ressurect so many rogue wolves repeatedly at will - I just realized the magnitude of how impossible that would be. Something of that insane power, no wonder the rogues called him a death god!
So he had been burning MY wolf power to magnify his abilities? No wonder my wolf was always sleeping! Grrrr.... How dare he!
All this while, I had been so considerate to only siphon a little of his each time, he had been guzzling down mine. Did he think just because he was my Luna, he was free to help himself to my wolf? Did he think I'd overlook this because he was so good looking?
{Not like you had any use for it.}
Grrrr... Boo was such a traitor!
{As long as Mate is happy}
Don't pretend to be a submissive mate now!
But Boo was in a good mood. So was Mate, he gently tucked the lock of hair back in place, while my hair pretended to be the quiet and demure type in his hands.
Grrrr...
"Sam?" Mum looked a little concerned. She turned to Bell, "Is she alright?"
What were you asking him?
Bell nodded, "Her wolf is calm."
My wolf? What about me? And why was my Mum asking HIM? I was right in front of her. I could answer for myself!
"Sam?" Mum asked again.
I folded my arms and sulked, "Nothing."
{Great answer}
Everybody was against me! Even my wolf.
I popped another yummy forkful of bow shaped pasta into my mouth. Grrr....
Mate patted my head and I immediately flared at him and pointed, "I'm the Alpha! You have to do what I say!"
"Sam!" Mum admonished.
{Cute} His wolf chuffed.
I had it! I was the alpha! From my hair to my parents, why were they all acting like Bell was in charge!
"You!" I pointed at Bell, "Stop that!"
"Stop what princess?" Bell asked.
"Stop thinking I'm cute!" I blurted out, "It's annoying!"
Bell had the audacity to laugh.
I stood up and punched him.
"Sam!" Now mum stood up now, "Do not hit your Luna!"
"He's my Luna! I can do whatever I want with him!" I flared back.
Mum looked at Dad. Dad simply shrugged.
"It's alright." Mate said rubbing his shoulder, "It didn't hurt."
Liar! I made a fist and pulled back for a good swing, "Stand up so I can hit you properly." Oh yeah. Let's see you not hurt now!
Mate stood up. He had that stupid smirk on his face. What? Did he not believe I won't hit him? I'll punch him right in his stoopid face. I'll... I'll...
Grrr....
{Mine}
I'm sure he could just heal up.
{Mine}
"Stoooopid!" I scolded him.
{Cute} his wolf was totally amused now.
If it were anyone else, I would really have punched him. But this was my mate. Mine. Grrrr... I flared at him fully. Grrrr!
"Sam..." Mum tried again, but she didn't have to worry.
All the power in the world and I wouldn't be able to hit him properly - and from the smirk on Mate's stoopid face, he was well aware of it. The realization was terrifying for me. Now I know why even though Dad was the Alpha, I had known since a pup that Mum was the one who held the real power in our home.
Mum looked at Dad again, and Dad cleared his throat, he looked reluctant, but he eventually spoke, "Have the Black Forest trainers arrived yet?"
"Yes, Alpha. Harry is helping them set up." Beta Lucas reported, "They've brought their scent masking suits and sprays tonight."
"That sounds interesting." Dad nodded, "Let's go over to take a look, Sam."
"Yeah, okay." I decided.
There was no point in continuing a losing battle.
Ki opened the sliding door out and Dad and I walked out without our coats. The night air was cold and fresh. I washed the mist on our breaths.
"You're gotten stronger again." Dad said.
"Yeah, but no matter I strong I get, Bell still has the upper hand." I complained loudly, maybe too loudly.
"Oh boy." Beta Lucas chirped from behind us, "Was that what it was about?"
I flared, but Beta Lucas continued, "You were fighting with the wrong weapon, Sam."
Eh?
"What do you mean?" I spun around to ask.
Beta Lucas nodded, "You were using your fist, when you should have used your..."
Dad growled.
"...your ah..." Beta Lucas stumbled, but only for a moment, "Your words! Yes! Your words."
Dad stopped growling.
I narrowed my eyes at the elder beta, "My words?"
Beta Lucas swallowed, "Yes. Just words. Right Gerald?"
Beta Gerald simply looked confused, "I ah... I'm afraid I am not in the position to advise since I'm not aware of the issue, but perhaps yes... In my experience, it's usually a good idea to try talking it out first."
Poor guy. I don't know why Beta Lucas had to drag him along.
Dad's large hand rested on top of my head, "You're still young. Don't worry about it for now. If your Luna does anything you don't like, I'll take care of him for you."
And Dad meant it too. He said it in that deep and muted alpha business tone. In fact, I was so sure that Dad meant business, that I instinctively decided that Dad was the LAST PERSON I would ever complain about Bell to again.
"Yeah. Good idea, thanks. I'll try using my words next time." I hurriedly agreed with Beta Lucas.
It didn't make any sense right now, but Beta Lucas had been guiding me since I was young. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.