Today is the big day and there is so much to do. The architect friend I called will be here any moment but I already told him what I was wanting so he could begin the plans while he traveled here. The kids had breakfast and made it mostly without incident aside from Jessie trying to drink the milk from his cereal bowl and spilling it down his front. I had to wipe him down and then put him in a fresh outfit. I seemed to be adapting to my new roles as mother and Luna pretty well so far but only time will tell. The children were playing with the old orphanage workers who I hired temporarily as nannies for the children while Aden, my mother and I all did our work. The kids weren't happy to be separated from us but the nannies were great at distracting them while I got out of the house since my mother and Aden left an hour ago.
As I walked out the door a car pulled up and out stepped my friend Jason, the architect I was expecting. He knew all about werewolves because he is actually a witch. When Jason found out I was a Luna, he actually asked me if he could join our pack because witch hunters killed his entire coven and he figured we could use magical help as well against rogues or the hunters who attack us from time to time. I showed Jason the planned locations and he measured them to be sure the plots were the right size and they were. He magically made an outline of the base of the building on the ground to show me just how much space the building would take up. We did the same at the new medical center location and again it was perfect.
Finally I brought Jason to Alpha Irving and Aden's office to introduce Jason. They exchanged pleasantries and I finally said "I want to bring Jason into the pack as a member. Who could possibly argue that having a great architect and a powerful witch in the pack would be a bad thing?" They both looked uneasy and I said "Look, we've been friends for 5 years and he became my closest friend during my time away. If you don't trust him yet then at least trust me." They looked at each other and seemed to be linking each other. I said to Jason out loud "It really is quite rude to have people talking and linking about you right in front of your face, I'm really sorry for their behavior." He smiled at me and said "No need, they're just trying to keep their pack safe and I get that."
Irving says "Ok Ryan, you'll be Luna tonight and soon be my son by law so I have to trust that you'll do what is best for this pack and so will Aden. I choked a second on my own spit and said "Son by law?! That's a long long way off. He has to propose and I have to say yes which isn't happening until he finds a way to ask that I can't possibly refuse." Jason says "You all know the old Ryan but I know the new Ryan better than anyone. I'd be happy to help when the time comes." I smirked at him and muttered "Traitor." They all laughed and Aden said "Another ally in my quest to win you over Ryan. I think you're outmatched here. Jason, Jodie, the kids, your mom, my parents, Russ, the pack…" I laughed and said "And your point being?" Aden said "You don't stand a chance saying no when I ask. I'll do just as I did back in high school to win your heart and make you my boyfriend." I smirked and without another word walked out trying to suppress my grin with Jason following after telling Aden to call him when he needed him. Jason came with me to my office to see what the life of a Luna was like because he didn't believe me when I said "Not as glamorous as you might think." After 4 hours of paperwork and handing it all off to Jodie, I found out that I had a meeting with the parents so we headed over and Jodie handed off the paperwork to be copied to my mom.
Jodie and Jason followed me while chatting up a storm about stupid things I did while they were around and had me blushing. Finally I said "Guys, I can't be blushing and people can't hear that stuff or I could lose their respect." They both apologized and I said "You can come over tonight for dinner and embarrass me all you want. Jason, you'll stay in our guest room until we can find a place for your house to be built." He thanked me and smiled. I then turned and walked into the conference room as the parents stood and I took my seat at the head of the table with Jason sitting in a hair by the wall and Jodie sitting next to me.
The parents were here because I called them. I said "Good afternoon everyone, I called you here because we need to discuss the seriously falling grades within the pack. I would like to have older students tutor the younger students who are having trouble and parents; I'd like you to study what your high school children are studying so you can help them. Without a solid education, our pack will fall in time because someone will outsmart us. If you need help, I was a solid student in school as was Jodie and several others who may be able to help. I'll gather volunteers who can help with this and post the list in the daycare center and throughout the pack house." The parents asked some more questions and Jodie wrote down names to contact to see if they would volunteer to tutor.
When the meeting ended I had a late lunch with my mom, Jodie and Jason. I took Jason's bag to the guest room and then made us all some fried chicken. The nanny's must have taken the kids to the daycare center to play with the other kids. Jason showed me his blueprints after the others went back to work. Both buildings were perfect and he even had blueprints for his own small house and it was adorable with 3 bedrooms 2 ½ bathrooms and it was built so it could be expanded if needed. We went to the pack house and I found the perfect lot which was behind my house by about 500 yards which was still close enough to get to the pack house in an emergency or my house and the new building and also close enough to the edge of the community to help defend if needed. I showed him the lot and he seemed happy with the location and roped it off magically and actually began construction magically by excavating the basement. He told me it would take him roughly a week to finish it all in his spare time and I told him I was happy to have him as my guest as long as it took, so he did not have to rush and push himself on my account.
Finally it was time for everyone to begin heading to the meeting hall for the ceremony and my meeting with them all to reveal my new plans as Luna for the pack. After I was sure that the nannies had the kids and were on stage with them, I grabbed Aden and took him to his office and pulled out maps and said "We need to start constructing more houses for when new members arrive because I have a strange feeling that we will be having an influx of new members soon." Aden looked at me funny and asked "What kind of new members and how do you know?" I sighed and said "My gut tells me just as it told me that now was the time I needed to come back and that turned out with all of the orphaned children including ours getting new homes. Please just trust me on this because I think the people who come to join are people we will need in the not so distant future or our pack may fall and I won't allow that." Aden smiled proudly and said "You truly are the perfect Luna. Alright, I'll trust your judgment but I want you to meet each new arrival privately to get a feel for them before they join." I replied "Alright, I'm just nervous because I've never met vampires or other witches aside from Jason and I definitely never met any fae." Aden said "I thought you said…" I cut him off "They are new pack members we will need their varied talents to survive. The vampires will hunt animals and drink the blood while bringing the corpses back here to be butchered for meat for the pack to consume and save on the food budget. The fae will help keep the forest and gardens alive and well and will beautify the community. The witches will help build up the community and some will work at the medical center I'm sure and use their magic to heal the injured during battles. I don't know how I know all of this baby but I do. I just need you to take a leap of faith and trust me." He sighed and said "I will always trust you babe. You have my complete support. We should probably consult the elder about your premonition that you seem to have had." I kissed him passionately and when we pulled apart I said "You really are the man I began falling in love with all those years ago. Thank you for bringing him back to me."
We walked hand in hand into the meeting hall and on stage with all eyes on us. I started the meeting off. "Good evening everyone." They replied "Good evening Luna." I smiled and said "So, I bet you're all wondering about the new building locations roped off." They all nodded. "I said "The lot next door to the pack house is going to be a brand new state of the art medical center with all of the latest equipment and will include everything from an MRI to the newest surgical equipment." The medical staff was cheering hysterically as the rest of the pack had smiles on their faces and chuckled at the medical staffs enthusiastic response. I continued "Now, the building very near my house between here and my house will be a new top of the line child care center with multiple floors, an indoor swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts inside, a football field and soccer field outside. There will be an indoor and outdoor playground for the younger kids and care centers for every child from infants to teens if needed. The staff from the old orphanage will manage the center and when it is built, they will be hiring a full time staff to run it 24 hours for the patrol wolf families and families who have jobs off the pack and work overnights. The service will be free but I will ask those who have some spare time to offer it to the center to help clean or make snacks or whatever they need. In the basement of the childcare center will be a safe room that the staff can bring all of the children to and lock them in during an attack so they don't have to run here to be safe." The room roared to life with applause and thankful cheering as soon as I stopped speaking.
When they finally calmed down I thanked them for their enthusiasm and finally said "The last item I want to discuss is the arrival of new pack members in the future. I need volunteers with construction experience to work to begin building new homes and we will even begin building our own schools eventually. I believe we will be having an influx of many different supernatural beings coming to us to ask to join our pack and I intend to offer them that membership if I deem them trustworthy. I hope you will trust me enough to know I would never do anything to put any of you in harms way." A man stood up and looked around the room and said "Luna, I think I can speak for us all when I say we believe in you and if you say they are good people then we will follow your lead." I smiled warmly at him and looked around the room and said "Thank you all, I appreciate your support. Now, I'd like to introduce you to a dear friend of mine and the architect of the new buildings, my friend a witch and your new pack member Jason." Jason stepped up next to me and smiled out at everyone as many stepped up and shook his hand before going back to their seats. Next I'd like to introduce Aden and my new children Laura and Jessie McGowan! The pack cheered as the children ran over to us and I got Jessie of course while Aden got Laura. When the cheering died down the nannies took the children and Jason went with them as they stepped off stage and my mom stepped on stage. I then said "Ok, now I'll turn over the meeting to Alpha Irving."
Alpha Irving and Luna Samantha stepped forward and Aden came to stand to my right and my mom to my left. Alpha Irving said "There comes a time when every Alpha and Luna must turn over their power to the next generation and allow them to lead us all into the great unknown of what is yet to come. Our son Aden McGowan will make an incredible Alpha for the years to come." Luna Samantha said "Aden could not have been paired with a more magnificent mate and Luna as he was when the moon goddess gave him Ryan McLean to keep him on his toes and even slap him around when he needs it." There were chuckles from around the crowd as I nodded yes. She continued "We have all already seen that he will and has already made an excellent kind and loving Luna." There were murmurs of agreement that made me smile and almost cry. Irving then continued "Now is the time we give our powers and responsibilities to these two excellent leaders so they can keep us all safe and happy for years to come."
Irving put his hand on Aden's heart and Samantha put her hand on my heart and my mom moved between us and took both of our hands. As Irving, Samantha and even shockingly my mom along with the pack, including Jason began chanting something, I felt a STRONG wave of love, energy and wellbeing surge though me. My body felt like it was pulsing and when I looked down at my hands, they were. Aden was pulsing as well and then Irving said "Aden McGowan, receive now the power of the alpha and protect this pack with your life over all else." Aden said "I will" and a brighter pulse shot into Aden's chest as he gasped and took a half step back before steadying himself. Aden's eyes glowed brightly and he looked at me. Samantha then said Ryan McLean, receive now the power of the luna and care for this pack as if they were your family, because they are now all in your care." I replied "I will" and a pulse just as bright as Aden's, shot out of Samantha's chest and right into mine. It nearly knocked me off of my feet and I felt the power surge through me and could feel my eyes glowing because they got hot and I felt Alex at the surface wanting to howl in delight. I suddenly felt a weight hit me and went down to one knee while shaking slightly. Samantha knelt down and helped me to my feet and said "That is the pressure of the pack mind link. It flows through the Luna so you carry the weight of it. Don't worry, you'll get used to it and adapt in a few minutes, you're strong mentally and physically." I smiled at her as Aden and my mom came to my sides and Irving and Samantha kept a hand on me as well as support. When I felt fine, they all stepped back, Aden took my hand and smiled at me as we turned to the crowd and Irving and Samantha said in unison "Welcome our new Alpha and Luna!"
The pack cheered loudly and I looked over at Aden who leaned in and kissed me before getting down on one knee and saying "I know I still have work to do but I know I can do it before a wedding. You are the love of my life and I can't imagine another day without you being by my side in all things and in all ways. Will you please marry me?" I thought 'Damn it, how can I say no to that but at least he knows he still has work to do' and said "Yes, I will marry you but you better follow through on that promise or you'll lose the ability to create an heir with anyone." He cringed for a second and then said "Don't worry; I'll have your forgiveness in a few days, a week at the longest. I rolled my eyes and said "Good luck my love." Aden slipped the engagement ring on my finger. It was a platinum band with diamonds going all the way around down the middle. I can't believe how beautiful it is and it is actually my idea of a perfect engagement ring for a guy, not too masculine and not feminine either. I actually had a few tears roll down my face, knowing how much thought he put into buying this ring and held my hand out for him to slip the ring onto my finger. He pulled it out of the box and slipped the ring on while moving the old promise ring to a necklace, a platinum chain he pulled from his pocket and placing it around my neck. I smiled while still crying silently saying "You put quite a bit of thought into all of this I see.��� He smiled back and wiped away my tears before saying "I always think about you and what you will like and what our current and future family will like."
I sigh in contentment and forget where we are for a moment and kiss him lovingly while whispering "I suppose now that we're engaged and the actual alpha and luna of the pack and have children together, we should at least live in the same house. If you want, for now you can move into one of the other guest rooms. Once we're on track you'll move into my room." He smiled broadly and said "Sounds good to me." There were cheers and I blushed like there was no tomorrow because I forgot we were in a room full of werewolves with super hearing. I let me face fall onto Aden's chest trying to hide. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around my head giving me what I wanted thankfully. I wrapped my arms around his waist and nuzzled into his chest which earned me an obviously happy possessive low growl which made me smile into his chest. I slapped his chest slightly and just mumbled "oh shush" and he chuckled again.
Once the meeting let out Samantha walked me through how to use the Luna voice and had me try it on her. I dug into it and did as she said. When I felt it was ready I said in a voice that sounded like a combination of mine and Aden's "Punch Irving in the shoulder, hard." She turned to Irving and punched him in the shoulder. Irving yelped "Ouch! What was that for Ryan?" I smiled innocently and said "It was the first thing that came to mind." They all laughed and he said "Yea right, I'm sure you couldn't think of anything else." I said "Not that she might fight not to do." He begrudgingly then agreed that it was smart. Aden commanded his dad to do cartwheels which you could tell pissed his dad off. I did some back handsprings over to Irving and said "Not bad pops." He froze and said "Did you call me pops?" I smiled and said "Yep, after all, you and Samantha will be my mother and father in law soon enough." He hugged me in a bone crushing hug and Samantha soon joined him. Aden said "Can we use our voices on each other?" Samantha said "Try it on Ryan and see what happens." Then Samantha mind linked me 'Play along until you get close if he says something like I expect and then slap him silly." I chuckled and nodded at her. Aden then says in his Alpha voice "Ryan, come jump into my arms." I smiled and walked over to him slowly and when I got right in front of him with his hands on my hips, I kneed him in the groin and he went down like a sack of potatoes. I said "Don't ever try that again, fiancé or not…husband or not…mate or not, I will do that or worse. Everyone laughed and I finally helped him up and kissed him gently but he was obviously still in pain. I asked everyone to leave us for a moment and when they were gone I gently rubbed his crotch through his jeans and his eyes opened wide with shock. I kissed his neck softly and blew on his ear making him shudder. His hands were soon on my ass kneading it and he seemed to forget about the pain in his balls. Then…I pulled away and said "Glad you're feeling better my love, now go move into your new room. He looked shocked and groaned as I walked away and went home.