Chapter 52

The pack wolves were used to Luna Black. She was a fierce woman. You had to be when it came to marrying an alpha like Julian had been. Macy Black had been known to the pack to be ruthless and bold. There had been rumors for years that she had been barren and could not have children. The fact of it was, Macy and Julian never wanted pups until they had them. At first, having a pup for Macy was purely out of duty. They were becoming elders in their long reign and had no heir and Julian would not accept giving the pack into the hands of anyone else without a fight to the death.

What had been her duty turned into the love of Macy’s life. She had not known she loved being a mother until she had her pups. Not just one, but triplets that filled her life with purpose and love. Her pregnancy had been rough on her and the birth traumatic. She couldn't have more children but was fine with that. She and Julian adopted Jaxson when her own pups were two years old and raised him as their own.

The older Luna had gone from hard and cold to a warm and loving mother over night. Except when it came to her children. You threatened her pups in any way or told her what to do with her children, your life was in danger. So when the new Luna spoke so boldly to Macy, telling her that her son would not be going anywhere in such a cold tone, every last wolf stopped what they were doing and stared at Cassidy for a few seconds and then they looked to Macy as the two women stuffy faced each other.

Macy stared at Cassidy and then plastered on a smile. “He needs to change into appropriate clothing for a formal breakfast. It is custom and tradition once the bond has been completed between an alpha pair. I wouldn't expect you to know this… being new here and not from a pack of your own.” She told Cassidy before looking to James. “Now son, go and get proper clothes on.” She said and looked to the rest of the wolves “Get back to cooking… you have an hour and a half before breakfast is served.”

“James is going… No where.” Cassidy said with a bit more of a bite to her tone this time around as she stood up, setting the apple on the counter. She knew Macy meant well. The woman had been Luna for well over a hundred years and was used to getting her way not to mention she was used to telling her own children what to do. Tradition or not, she and James were going out for a run. Her wolf was growling within her mind, offended and angry at the audacity of this she-wolf who dared to think she was going to control her and her mate.

“I don't care if it is tradition or even law. If you wanted us to attend a formal type breakfast after we just pushed our bodies to the point of breaking because of the heat, you should have told us before hand.” Cassidy said and smiled sweetly towards Macy and then looked to the cooks that looked like deer in headlights not knowing who to listen to. “Thank you… all of you who have been forced up early I'm sure to make this big breakfast but the Alpha and I will not be here to enjoy it. Open the pack house to the entire pack to come in for a buffet type of breakfast in celebration. We can have a small, family only formal dinner tonight instead after James and I come back.”

James felt… arousal. No one stood up to his mother. The other wolves would joke that she was he real alpha of the pack because his father never argued with her. At least in public. Cassidy not only told his mother no, she also set out the plan for the dinner and on top of it did something for the entire pack. “The Moon Mother has blessed me with a mate I'm starting to think I don't deserve.” James said as he came over to Cassidy and wrapped his arms around her to pull her to himself, leaning his head down and giving her a possessive kiss.

He kissed her until she pulled away, giving him a slight shove to his chest once her mind cleared from the shock of what he did in front of not only his mother but all of the kitchen staff as well. James chuckled, amused with her reaction and stepped back, but took her hand in his, giving it a little reassuring squeeze. “Cassidy is right mom.” He said with a shrug. “You should have said something, linked me or otherwise. We have plans this morning and wont be home for a few hours. Besides. Once she is officially in the pack in the eyes of the sun and moon, she will be the Luna. So whatever she says, goes.” He told Macy before looking over when the cooks began to rush around again. “After going through all the stress of making two large meals today, I want all of you to take tomorrow off. The wolves here in the pack house can fend for themselves for the day. Might teach them a little humility.” He said while looking at his mother.

Cassidy grinned at James when he stood by her side on this and she swore her wolf swooned in her mind. She looked over at Macy who was stunned into silence. “We will be back in a few hours. We need a run. We have been cooped up for three days and just need some fresh air. I'm sure you can understand.” She said in a respectful tone even after the minor confrontation between the two.

“Come my Luna.” James said and tugged on Cassidy’s hand, getting her out of there before anything else could happen between the two of them. He and his father didn't have an easy transition when it came to giving up and taking positions. He was sure his mother and Cassidy were going to go through the same struggle. It was never easy for wolves to give up their status.

He took Cassidy right through the pack house to the back deck, laughing once they were outside and going down the stairs and to the forest behind the pack house. “You are going to give my mother a run for her money. Remind me to make popcorn the next time you want to assert your authority over her.” He told Cassidy as he pulled off his shirt and began to strip from his clothes once they were well hidden, folding his clothes and setting them at the base of a tree.

Cassidy giggled and shook her head. “I… I didn't even mean to be so bitchy. I was just aggravated that we wouldn't be able to get out. I didn't know it was a tradition to have breakfast after a heat. Why is it? Why cant we just rest or sleep?” she asked as she shed her clothes as well.

James watched Cassidy as she took her clothes off, the two of them standing before each other as the gods had made them. He went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close as a serious look came over his face. “I get it. I was a little aggravated too. I knew about the breakfast, but damn its been since grade school when I learned about it.” He said, letting his hands run up and down her back in slow comforting strokes. “They have the breakfast as a good omen. A feast for the Luna to nourish herself after the stress of a heat.” He said, leaving out the rest. Not sure she wanted to hear it was to give the best start for any life that was made from the heat.

“It was a nice thought… But… I need to go for a run and have some fresh air.” Cassidy said and grinned teasingly before she leaned in and gave him a sniff and wrinkled her nose. “You smell like you haven't left a bed in three days.” She teased him before she stepped away. Her shifting had become seamless with the help of James and his brothers helping her. It was seconds for her body to break and reform as she gave up control to the wolf and let her free.

Cassidy didn't even wait for James to shift before she took off into the trees, running as fast as she could, stretching herself and heading to the little pool of water where James had found her the first day she was free from the prison. It had become her and James’ second home while they were in this form and she knew the way like the back of her hand now.

James had caught up with her quickly. His wolf was almost double the size of her more petite feminine form. They played with each other. Nipping and chasing each other between trees and rocks. They went into an all out race once they were on the path to the waterfall and river and Cassidy was half a length in the lead when he grabbed her with strong jaws sinking into her fur, forcing her to trip up and fall to the ground.

He stood over her, head low and silent, barely breathing despite the playing as he mind linked her not to move, something was wrong. The black fur along his back bristled and he looked around them slowly before he moved off of Cassidy and began to cautiously check the sides of the path. She looked around and seen it then, the slight reflection of light off of a nearly invisible fishing line that was stretched tight across the trail as a trip wire to some kind of trap.