Kash View
The road trip went fairly well. We bantered much more than I had in a long while. By the time we got to our destination, I was relaxed and not thinking much on what happened between myself and Jace or my father. Atlas and Zion kept me busy chatting over many other things including the pack we were visiting.
The pack we had been driving through the mountains for, is located on the edge of Atlas's Royal lands, much like Ridge Mountain is. However, it is on the eastern side and located in the foothills. The lands here are much more open, though still heavily forested. There were a few more bodies of water as well. The land looked dryer with the stalks of long grasses coloured in pale yellows and soft browns. The breeze also felt much cooler when it flowed through an open window.
The pack here is called the Edge Keeper pack. They are the main defence for the Royal lands. This pack had the best-known warriors, and many from the Royal Guard came from here at one point. Atlas had admitted the Royal pack was very behind on keeping the relationship up between them and that was the reason for our visit today.
Alpha Vilkas had found his Luna a while back, and unfortunately Alpha Atlas had yet to make it over. Luna Nyx had been very accommodating since the ball and all that happened, but did stress that a visit would be in his best interests as soon as possible. Not knowing much about other packs I could only assume it was a small idle threat of some sort. Zion was trying to explain about the contracts between the two packs, but without being able to see what he tried to explain about clauses and stuff, it went over my head.
"Don't worry Kash. If you want to look over the century old contract, we have it typed out in your files. When you have a chance to look at it in your lap top, let me know if you have any questions. Any of the old papers we have now stored in special rooms to keep them safe and from decay are now digital. Only a select few have access like yourself, so be careful who you share that information with." Zion looked happy I was at least trying.
"Alpha Dax never had anything like that. Well not that I knew of anyways. So, getting to know about more than one pack might take me time." Sighing I looked at Atlas. "Not to sound like a kid. But please tell me we are almost there. My legs are tired and my ass hurts."
Atlas laughed. "Almost. My butt hurts as well. It will feel nice to get a small tour before we sit down to eat." Atlas looked out his window. "My project is to get closer to the packs in the Royal Eclipse territories. We will be doing many trips and having many more events to succeed in this." He then turned back to me. "The biggest event this year will be your Luna ceremony and our mating one. We need to make a date as soon as we can."
"Pushy are we." I huffed with a smile. "Now your acting like a kid wanting a new toy."
"Careful Kash. You don't know Atlas very well just yet, but he ALWAYS gets the new toys." Zion laughed hard when Atlas smacked the back of his head. "Careful, we need to arrive safely you know."
As we went around a bend, I noticed Zion slowing the car. Curious I looked out in front of us. "What the hell is that? It looks like a military base!"
"That's kinda what it is. They train all the top warriors for the Royal Eclipse lands. Raven was born here and she is a great asset for our pack. In fact, if it was not for Briar she would not have stayed." Atlas smiled as he explained. "There are a great many secrets in our world Kash. I hope I can open your eyes to some of the many wonders in it."
"Don't try and butter things up. We all know you just wanna drag me around to your boring meetings so at least one person is paying attention." I winked at Zion in the mirror. "Besides, this place looks like I can explore safely while you do your meeting yeah?"
"No way!" Atlas growled and I stiffened at the response to my teasing. "Your duty here is to stick by my side."
Zion chuckled. "Being possessive is not a good look Atlas. Kash ignore him. You won't be able to join the meeting as you are not officially the Luna yet. Karr and Colton will escort you as you look around."
After getting into the secured area, we dove for only another five minutes to another facility. It did not look like a home. More like a maximum prison. The windows even had bars on them. I shuddered at the thought of living here. "People actually live here?"
Atlas looked at the building. "Not really. Their actually living quarters are unknown. This building is for meetings and events only. Guests do live here if they stay for long periods. We are actually staying here for three days."
"THREE DAYS! I thought it was a quick trip. Atlas, you need to be a little clearer on details. Like fuck. We have to be in this prison for three days?" I could not help the anger. It was a physical form of what my life felt like before.
"Well, today is day one and it is already dinner time, and we plan to leave around lunch on the third day. The meeting is tomorrow. You will be on your own after breakfast. Zion you're sure he can't join us?" Atlas looked away from me and back to Zion who was already shaking his head.
"I'll be fine. Karr and Colton will be with me. Just don't expect me to stay inside. That place gives me the creeps." I could see Atlas ready to argue me leaving the building. "Look. I won't break any rules you ask, except staying inside the room the whole time. You know how well that worked before, yeah?"
Atlas surprised me by laughing. "Don't worry. That is one rule I never would ask of you."
As we pulled up to the doors, I could see a pair of wolves waiting for us. They did not look menacing at least. The Alpha was actually smiling and I could see the Luna trying to look past our own guards to see, well I assume Atlas.
"Alpha Vilkas and you must be Luna Nyx. It is a great pleasure to finally meet you. Again, we must apologise for being unable to visit you both sooner. Zion had once more taken the initiative. I looked at Atlas and slowly wondered to myself if he was awkward in social interactions. "Thank you once more for the invite."
Alpha Vilkas looked past both Zion and Atlas and looked at me. "You are the cause of the trouble, are you?" Unsure what he wanted of me I moved closer to Atlas. "Hmm. Cute." He did not sound like he really thought what I did was cute; more annoying. "We have made sure no pack members will be in this area training tomorrow. He will be safe with his guards as long as he does not go past the hedges."
Then Luna Nyx spoke up and smacked her mate. "Ignore his cold demeanour. It is a pleasure to meet you all. We have a small dinner being arranged, but for now how about I show you to your rooms?" As we walked through the doors, I was impressed it did not look as unwelcoming on the inside. "I understand you always have your guards nearby so I assure you that you are all on the same floor. Atlas, you and your mate I'm sure would be fine sharing a room? I picked one in the middle so you have your Beta and guards around you. Alpha Vilkas has been a little off these last few weeks so I stepped forward to push for the meeting."
As she continued to blabber on, I looked around the building. The interior was decorated with colours and decor you would expect to see inside a cabin. Soft greys, beiges and accents of white made the place look larger than it was. There were even a larger number of plants of all varieties. My first thought was who had to water them all, and then I wondered if the Luna would do it.
"Kash. You should be listening to Luna Nyx." Karr whispered in my ear. "What she speaks out loud, and what she actually is saying is much more important."
"Huh?" I spoke louder than I meant and my face went red as everyone stopped and looked at me. "Oh! I...I...ah...I um." Stuttering I finally just settled with an apology. "Sorry."
"You must be tired from the long drive. I shall leave you to your rooms. Dinner is at eighteen hundred, and please don't dress up. It is a casual affair." She gave a small bow before walking off.
"Sorry Atlas. I should have been paying attention." Sighing I prepared myself for a talking too.
"That's okay. This is all new to you and you have not been out much. I was never very good at listening at first either. In fact, Zion still does a better job of it." Atlas smiled.
"I wouldn't have to if you did your own job." Zion then took off to another door beside ours. "Rest for the time being. We have an hour for dinner."
Atlas grumbled as he opened the door. "He didn't have to call me out when I was giving him a compliment."
Walking into the room I froze. The smell. I knew it. "Your uncle has been here."
"Luna Nyx mentioned that. She was also not privy to the conversation between her mate and my uncle. I have a lot of bonds to fix from the years of neglect. Most not my own. My own father lost touch with many when he lost his own mate. Looks like my uncle has been trying to use that for his own gains." Atlas took my arm and brought me over to the bed. "I will scent the place while you rest." He sat me on the bed and then started walking around the place. While he increased his pheromones, I ended up responding with my own. Atlas turned to me when he was done. "Now, how does that mark on you look?"
I jumped up from the bed and looked towards the door. "Don't we have a dinner to get to?"
Atlas moved faster than I was able, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck. "We have time."
His actions had me want to purr. Now that the room was scented like our own, I had started to relax. Leaning into his body I finally let the purr escape. "I think you are the troublesome one."
"Hmm." Atlas then licked my neck from collar bone to my ear causing a shiver of excitement inside me. "You smell and taste so good."
"Um, Atlas. As much as something inside me is purring, I really do not want to." Of course, my body did not speak the same language. Slick was already leaking a little. "Can I have a quick shower?"
Atlas finally let go. "Sure."
His voice sounded off. "Are you okay? Like, you're not mad at me?"
Atlas smiled. "Kash. It will take a lot more than you denying me to make me mad. You won't be able to do it during my rut, so I can take revenge then." At my face he laughed. "I'm kidding! Go have your shower. Dinner won't be long and we can crash early."
To say dinner felt off was an understatement. No matter what the conversation spoke of, it felt tense. The weather? All gloomy. The drive over? Horrible. The read in the room was awful and I wished for a way to ease it up. Before long I was wiggling in my seat.
"Kash? Are you okay?" Zion spoke up before Atlas who was speaking with Alpha Vilkas about the ball.
"Of course he's not!" Luna Nyx spoke up. "Both of you Alphas seem to forget there is an omega in the room. Your behaviour is putting them on edge. We are trying to have dinner, not mark territory you two." She then smiled at me. "Is there anything you like for dessert dear?"
My head looked at Atlas and Alpha Vilkas who both looked like kicked pups. "Uh, no thanks. I'm not really that hungry." Truth be told I had been moving the food around my plate more than eating it.
"Tsk. See! That is the problem. Atlas, you need to pay more attention to your mate. He has ben feeling left out this whole dinner. Barely touching a thing. What have you been doing instead? This room is so tense you would think it was a death match not a dinner."
"Sorry dear. You are very right." Alpha Vilkas then smiled, which looked scarier. "Alpha Atlas, Zion, and umm, actually I am not sure what title you should have Kash."
His tone had me wonder. "Um, Kash is fine."
"You will call him Luna. He has already started the duties. We just have to have the official ceremony." Atlas smiled as he spoke but again it was a scary smile.
The room felt worse and a whimper escaped. "I think I will retire. Thank you for dinner Luna Nyx and Alpha Vilkas." As fast as would be polite I left towards the room Atlas and I shared. The pheromones were just too much for me in that room. I have no clue what it was all about, but I honestly was not sure if I could handle what was expected of me if the meetings were all like that.
"Hey Luna? Karr and I will stay outside the door until Atlas returns." Colton spoke up and looked concerned.
"Thanks. Have a good night." Shutting the door, I went right for the suitcase of Atlas's and stole a large tee, putting it on, before curling up in the bed. I had no cares but trying to clean my nose of all other scents but Atlas. His would always calm me.