Where the hell am I? Esmee thought as she woke up from the deep sleep that had recharged her batteries. Oh, that's right. I got married yesterday.
"Good morning my beautiful Esmee." Hunter said as he entered the room, carrying a tray loaded with food. "I brought you breakfast."
"Good morning to you too." She replied as he put the tray down on the bedside cabinet before handing her the steaming mug of tea and her phone. "Looks like Savannah wants to meet up." She said as she opened the group chat. "When can that be arranged?"
"Not tomorrow." He said definitively. "I want you to be introduced to the pack properly, which will happen tomorrow at the new moon ceremony. How about the day after?"
"I will suggest that." Esmee replied as she sent the suggestion via text to her siblings. "What is the new moon festival?"
"The new moon festival," He replied, "Is an all day long event where new members of the pack are inducted into the pack."
"Inducted?"
"Those humans that want to become Werewolves are bitten," He explained. "The young pups that are of age and born into the pack become Omegas, and the Omegas who are of age get assigned their first adult ranks."
"What age does a pup have to be before they become an Omega?" She asked.
"11. And they are Omegas until they are 18." He replied. "A large number of pups are coming of age this month, so a lot of families will be there. It will be a good chance for you to meet your future pack."
"It sure will." She replied, taking a sip of her tea. "Anything else I should be concerned about?"
"No, but you should know that it isn't often that a non-werewolf that isn't going to be turned attends any one of the ceremonies. They are only permitted to do so if either myself or one of the people being initiated into the pack have invited them." Hunter explained.
"So, what is on the agenda today?" She asked.
"I don't know what the world holds in store for you, my beautiful Esmee." He replied, kissing her on the top of the head. "Maybe you should talk to Valentina, and see what she can tell you about the pack. Unfortunately I can't spend the day with you, I have a lot of paperwork to complete." He said, standing up. "I promise, I will come back and show you around the village later."
"Okay." She replied. "I guess I will see you later." Hunter kissed the top of her head before he left the room. Once he had closed the door, she took the breakfast tray off the nightstand and put it on her lap. Yum, she thought as she slathered the butter over her pancakes. Sadie would have never let me sleep this late, let alone have breakfast in bed. When she had finished her breakfast, she put the tray back on the nightstand and went for a shower.
Feeling clean from the shower and Full from her breakfast, Esmee picked up her phone and opened it. Looks like we will be meeting the day after tomorrow at noon, She thought as she read the message chain. And looks like we will be meeting at Fletcher's place. Thank goodness for Claudia's proclivity for wanting to record everything, She thought as she went and got the notebook that Claudia had got her as a wedding gift.
I should probably take this down to the kitchen, Esmee thought as she looked at the tray that her delicious breakfast had been served on. Feeling bold enough to face whatever was waiting for her downstairs, she picked up the tray and left the room.
"Good morning." She said to the strange blonde haired man that she encountered when she entered the kitchen. She put the tray down. "You must be Jason." She said as she held her hand out. The stranger just glared at her.
"So you steal my title, and now you are trying to steal my man too?" Liera's high pitched voice screeched as she flounced into the kitchen. "Do you have a death wish?"
"I-Im s-sorry." Esmee suttered, backing out of the kitchen. Or rather she would have, if she hadn't backed into Valentina.
"Grrr." Valentina snarled at Jason and Liera. "You had your time to shine, Liera. Now leave Esmee alone."
"Yes, ma'am." Liera said as she and Jason backed out of the other end of the open plan kitchen.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you." Esmee apologised. "Please don't be mad at me." Valentina laughed.
"Why would I be mad?" She asked. "It's not like you were intentionally walking into me, were you?"
"No, I wasn't." Esmee replied. "Why is she so mad?"
"Don't you remember our conversation last night?" Valentina reminded her, as she put the kettle on. "Liera hates that she has lost her position as 'queen' of the pack."
"That's right." Esmee replied. "Hey, would you do me a favour and tell me about the different ranks within the pack? If I am going to be Luna, I might as well know about the pack."
"Sure." She replied, finishing the cups of tea. "Grab a notebook and we can talk at the table."
"Well I already have the notebook and pen," Esmee said, sitting down at the table.
"Good. That level of organisation will help you immensely as you take on this role." Valentina said as she brought the cups of tea over. "So the highest rank of the pack is the Elder. They are the most respected members of our pack, but hold no sway when it comes to major political decisions." She said as Esmee jotted down the notes.
"That's what Jason and Liera are, right?"
"Correct. Then there is the Alpha and Luna." Valentina continued. "They are exclusively a pair of mates. They are the leaders of the pack. The Alpha is responsible for the 'external' needs of the pack, the security of the pack borders and inter-pack relations." She took a drink of her tea as Esmee continued to write. "That is Hunter's job. You are the Luna, which means that you are responsible for making sure the inner workings of the pack are working as it should."
"What does that mean?" Esmee asked
"It means that you are in charge of all domestic affairs." Valentina explained. "Under you and Hunter are Shilo and I. We are your Betas, your second in commands of you will. We will be your biggest supporters, and are prepared to step in when You and Hunter are unable to do your jobs for whatever reason."
"So was Hunter Jason's Beta, back when he was Alpha?"
"Yes." Valentina replied. "Jason was hurt in a fight, forcing him to retire. Hunter was the one that suggested that he goes into that fight, and Jason has never forgiven him for that. Then again, Jason was always angry. Can I continue with my lecture on the different ranks now?"
"Sure."
"Good. Under us betas are the Deltas, the Betas-in-training and the secretaries of the chain of command. Of the 4 Deltas that are in training, 2 will become Betas by passing the necessary requirements, almost exclusively a pair of mates." Valentina took another sip of her tea as Esmee continued to scribble notes.
"So, how will being Luna help out with the Pairs of Triplets prophecy?" Esmee asked, taking a drink of her tea and stretching her hand.
"Because there is a story, where a human gave birth to the first werewolves." Valentina said. "I don't remember every detail of the story, as I was just a small child when I heard the legend. But I am sure that there was a prophecy involved that might help you and your siblings out with the Pair of Triplets prophecy." She said as she drained the last of her tea. "Let's go to the library, and then spend the rest of the day pouring over old manuscripts and figuring out how much information we can find."
"That sounds like a great plan." Esmee replied, finishing her tea. "Let's go."
"Knock knock." Valentina said as she and Esmee entered the Library.
"Can I help you ladies?" Hunter asked as he looked up from his mountain of paperwork.
"Yes, what can you give us on the Moon Bearer prophecy?" Valentina asked.
"Quite a bit." Hunter replied, turning his back to them and pulling a few books off the shelves.
"Man, you weren't lying when you said you had a lot of paperwork to do." Esmee said. "That is more of a mountain than a simple stack."
"That's what happens when one person has to do the work of two." Hunter replied, pulling a few more books off the shelves. "This is everything we have on the Moon Bearer prophecy." He handed an equally tall stack of books to Esmee. "Happy reading, my beautiful Esmee."
"Thank you." She replied as she and Valentina left the room.