*Kash View*
There was no way I was going back in his room. The rollercoaster of emotions was not something I was used to dealing with while being around people. After my heats I kind of confined myself to my room when I was back home.
Looking back at the bed he made I decided to hop in. He had added more pillows and blankets so it was easy to move things around to a nest like shape. I just made myself comfortable and settled in. I had no idea what was going through Atlas's mind. He once more helped me during a heat, and an embarrassing one at that. My face heated up. I had flash backs of some things I had done, and it was not great.
A knock at the door had me sit up. It was not the main door so it would have to be Atlas. My mind reeled at what he could possibly want. "Come in?" Quickly I sat to the edge of the bed.
He was chuckling as he entered. "I was not sure if I was welcome with such a question. Are you willing to come to dinner this evening? It will be a small affair. Zion, Doc and myself; for the most part."
"Who else?" Was he hiding something again?
"We might have a couple family heads join us that you would be dealing with during your duties while here. If you wish to meet them. If not, we can have our meal in the other room." His smile was genuine.
"I guess that would not be that bad. My scent is toned down from my heat, I think. So as long as they behave it will be okay." I could not smell myself at pre heat so it would be the Alpha's that would know my condition more. I am only affected by my emotions at this time.
"It is. I will also make sure that they all behave." His voice was at a small growl.
I laughed. "Maybe wait to punish people when they actually do something and not before. I can handle my own as well." His grin was worth teasing him.
"Yes, you sure can. I will come up for you when dinner is ready?" Atlas looked like he would be wagging a tail if he had one out.
"Sure. Just do not make it a big deal out of everything please?" My plan was to already just wear my comfy jeans and tee.
"I promise. Maybe you and I can chill and watch a movie after. If you like?" His eyes lit up with hope.
"I won't promise. I am not sure how tired I will be." My body was still sore from the heat and it might be a little much right now. Besides, my embarrassment from my heat had not settled enough for a one on one with him.
"I have a small media set up in my room. It won't be far to your own if you decide you would like too join me. I will get stuff set up for your room when we get back from your pack in a couple weeks. That is if you would like it. I am still not sure what kind of stuff you do like to be honest." It was nice to see that he was uncomfortable with his lack of knowledge. He was doing his best not to assume my likes and dislikes. That meant he wanted to get to know me as much as I want to know him.
The issues were, I had no idea either truthfully. I played some games, read and that was the most I was really allowed. "I am still not sure myself. We can discuss it later, I guess. What movie were you thinking?" Though the thought of my heat would have me going red, the idea of a quiet movie and relaxing sounded nice as well.
"Your choice. I have no preference. To be fair I tend to throw it on as background noise more than anything. Though I am debating on a simple genre. Maybe comedy? Action would be the opposite of relaxing and drama. Well, there is enough of that already in real life." He chuckled. "Sorry I do not have Pride and Prejudice Zombies."
This had me smile. He remembered. "Too bad. It is a classic."
"Anyways. I have to head downstairs and get some things organized. You will have time for a nap if you feel the need. And no need to dress up." He started walking away.
"I was never planning on getting dressed up. It is just a meal. There is no need to dress formally for one." I huffed at him. "Besides, even if you told me too, I wouldn't."
He laughed as he left, closing the door between us.
What an ass. He is nice one moment and the next he...ugh! The frustration I was feeling was another mood swing. Before I let it run me, I plopped back into the mini nest. Enjoying the assholes scent as it calmed me like no other scent had before. If he did not smell so good, I would have kicked him in the shins by now.
I did not nap, but I did rest well in the comfort of my bed. Before I realized it, dinner would be approaching. Part of me wanted to stay in bed and go down as I was, but another part of me still wanted to make a good impression. My bed was comfy though.
A big sigh escaped my lips. Making an effort would be worth it. These are people I could be working around. A little part of me did not want people to look down on me more than they would, because it could be a bad thing for Atlas as well.
Digging through the clothing I had, took longer than I expected. I never wanted to wear stuffy clothing, so some of my attire was a no go. The option I settled on was a black pair of jeans, a blue long sleeve light sweater and my black boots. Running to the bathroom I washed my face a little and brushed out my hair. The length was getting a little long, now past my shoulders, but I felt no need to cut it. I liked how it was.
I had just shut the light to the bathroom off when a knock at the main door gently rapped. I smiled having been so used to the other door, that the actual door was a surprise. "Coming!" I called out while running to the door.
The door, now repaired, opened easily. Before me was a cleaned-up Atlas. He was wearing very similar clothing. Dark wash jeans, black boots, but a light blue tee instead of sweater. He chuckled when he saw what I was wearing. "You would almost think we planned this. I can change if you want?"
Grumbling, but secretly happy, I could only reply with a small snarky remark. "Don't bother your highness. It is not like we are matched or even in any way, shape, or form."
Atlas just chuckled. "You know that others will call you that title eventually as well right?"
"What?" I looked back up at him. "What are you talking about?"
We had already started walking towards the stairs when he spoke up. "Well, beside the mate thing and Luna title. You are royal born. Even if you decide against me, you will still have a royal title added to your name." He looked proud to tell me this even if it meant I never choose him.
"It won't change anything. I am who I am and there is nothing royal about it."
My reaction had him puff his chest out a little more. "You are amazing. I can't wait to learn more about you. So far I have seen you furious, in tears and happy. You have been through more than many, and yet you still have a down to earth way to you. I really like your innocence to the world."
"I am not a young pup! You have no right to treat me like one. I might have recently turned 18, but I have been doing adult duties for a couple years already. I won't let anyone, including your pompous ass, decide how I see the world." My glare should have been enough to shut anyone down, but I underestimated this opponent.
He clasped my shoulder and pulled me towards another room on the main floor we now were on. "I would never in my nightmares, dare to change how you are, or how you view things. I find it very refreshing and it brightens my days."
My ears were still red as he brought me into a dinning hall. All the wolves present looked up at the pair of us entering. Then it hit me. He did this on purpose. We looked like a couple that just had a secret kiss or something. A couple of the men at the table chuckled while a couple females coughed and looked away.
Zion was one of the men laughing. I made sure that as Atlas dragged me to the seat he decided was mine, I gave him a little push. Of course, he chuckled a little more with my reaction. It was only with a sigh I resigned myself to the fate the jerk put me up too. Little did he know he would only get away with it when others were in the room.
"Welcome guests." Atlas did not seat himself yet but looked around the room. "I have kept this welcome dinner small. As you all know my mate had a long trip and was slightly inconvenienced when he arrived. Many of you here tonight will have time to get to know him as you start to work with him, so I ask you keep questions to a minimal. I am glad to have found him and will do a more official Luna welcome with the whole pack when the time is right. Please enjoy this dinner." He then sat and he slowly went around the table introducing the people here.
He said a small event, but it was still twelve people on top of Atlas, Zion, Doc and myself. It was a little overwhelming at first. However, true to his word, Atlas would not allow anyone to monopolize my time; especially if they interrupted me eating, or if they asked questions hard for me to answer. My biggest surprise was that the reason it was such an equal number was they were all mated pairs. Atlas explained to me that it was Zion's idea to keep it to mated pairs. They would not be as affected by my pheromones.
The couple sitting across from myself was Atlas's Gamma. The Gamma is a Royal title for a delta. They have to be part of the royal pack to have this title. He takes care of all the military type issues. Not that we have wars like humans would picture. It is not done with manmade weapons. We fight as wolves. It was him who controlled the warriors and help with negotiations. I liked talking with him. His wife was quiet but from the few words she said I could see she balanced the man out. He would get strung up and wired talking about a boarder dispute and she would calmly place her hand on his arm and speak of another topic. I found it entertaining, and tried to observe the others.
Down from the Gamma, was another pair of warriors. They helped with the personal guard of Atlas and his team. While still under the gamma, who was under Zion, who was under Atlas, they actually lead their own team of warriors. This relationship was also much the same as the gamma and his mate. They were both females, which put me at ease over the types of 'approved' relationships here. The one female was an omega and I could tell her eyes knew why the dinner was delayed.
The last couple were friends of Zion. They lived in the village we passed on the way in. I liked them as well because they looked just as nervous to be here as I was. I waved to them so as not to draw to much attention to them. A young couple that ran a bakery in town. I was told dessert was brought from them. They looked younger than the other couples and I just found them adorable together. They seemed to support themselves equally.
"Well, Kash. Are you settling in well?" Doc was drawing my attention away from my surroundings. "I understand you have plans to start your duties soon?"
A little startled he brought it up while the others watched me hopefully. "Yeah, I guess. Zion has been helping me with the programs I am unaccustomed with."
The omega spoke up next. "You plan to start your Luna duties so soon? Are you sure you should not rest? You did have a long trip and I understand you have to repeat it again in a couple weeks. You should take this time to rest."
My eyes opened wide, then I turned to glare at Atlas. How was I supposed to speak of this? My glare lessened when I saw him flinch. Taking in a deep breath I spoke the truth without giving away the secret. "I do plan to start light during this visit. More learning the programs and people as I explore the lands here. We do have to return to my old pack soon, for my brother's inauguration as Alpha. I was informed that Atlas, umm...Alpha Atlas has a need to visit packs on the way back so I would rather have an understanding of my duties and position before then."
The rest of dinner seemed to go well. The desert was a delicious chocolate cake with whip topping. I promised the young couple to visit their bakery soon. The other pairs, including the gamma were excited to start working with me and offered to help me explore the area: well, until Atlas growled at them. Possessive much?
As we walked back up to our rooms, I thought over the dinner. "Thank you for the dinner. You picked the right people for me to gain a comfort here. I understand that those people and I might not always see eye to eye but, it was good to meet them here, over an important meeting. The omega knew why I was not around earlier, but allowed me my dignity."
Atlas smiled with a grimace. "I know not all my pack members, or other pack members we deal with are as open minded or welcoming. The idea of the issues that could come to you just for who you are, anger me."
"You can't protect me all the time idiot. I have to be able to do it on my own as well." I huffed at him. "I am my own being and it will be a cold day in hell I will let people try and walk over me that are not my Alpha."
This time Atlas laughed. "Are you up for a movie? I can have some drinks and popcorn or whatever snacks you request brought up."
There was no telling what was going through his mind at this time that made him laugh. I cocked my head to the side to take a better look at him. "You are insane. You laughed then invite me to a movie and snacks. There was no joke to laugh at. Though I will admit a movie will help me wind down from the meal. Let me shower first, all the extra smells bug me still."
"Let me know what drinks and snacks you want first." We were already at my door.
Reaching for my handle I thought of what I did want. "Surprise me." I then slipped into my room, closing my door behind me.
This was now panic mode for me. It was like a real date. My first ever date. My brain was going a million miles a minute trying to decide what to do. I had jumped in the shower trying to scrub the extra scents off before realizing I had no clue what to wear! I was not going to wear just pj's was I? Would it even be proper to do that? Looking into my foggy mirror had me break down a little more. Atlas was damn good looking. There was no way I would show up in just my pj bottoms. Was he going to just say dressed? Should I just get dressed again?
"Fuck!" I growled and stormed off to my closet with my towel around my waist. After digging through my small selection, I decided on my comfy pj bottoms and a light long sleeve. Throwing the slippers on was a given when my bare feet hit the floor.
I sat on the corner of my bed scrolling through my phone while I waited. I had been gone already five or six days and not one text from my father. There was one from my brother asking me be safe and nothing more. It was my first time away from home and they did not care. In my anger I threw my phone across the room.
"Whoa! Kash! You, okay?" Atlas's surprised voice had me look at where I threw my phone. "You want to talk about it, watch the movie or call it a night?"
"Movie please." If there was one way to help me pretend it was not happening, even if for just a little, it was this. As I stood up, I realized that Atlas was half dressed. Again! "What the actual fuck! Are you always half dressed?" Not that I was internally upset. How could I with this view? But there was a little devil asking me how many others seen this view, when I really just wanted to keep it to myself.
"If you want I can grab a shirt in my room. I have everything ready." He walked in and I felt a little bad he was going to cover up.