Eric
The first snow had just come, Lilith had been doing a good job with the pack, they were getting better. Not just in human form but their wolves were working together. They had their own kind of comradery within the pack. Lilith was always smiling now a days, she was laughing, and I had hardly seen her scowl once since she threw herself into being a Luna. She even decided she was going to graduate early from her online course, so between the training and other stuff she did.
Mostly leaving the pack lands to break laws, she was focused on school. She would be done by December, which was fast approaching it was only October now. Noel had been more distance since the fight between Juliet and Lilith. I could tell he was struggling with something, though I didn’t know what it was. Lilith walked into the office dropping onto my couch. “Eric, I have decided.” She announced. I looked at her. She was laying back looking peaceful, what the hell was she talking about? “We are going to host a massive Halloween Party. And I mean massive, invite other packs, that includes Ellen’s pack. We are going to have games, booths and costumes; it is going to be a whole fucking festival.”
“Lilith that is.” She cut me off. “No, it is going to be fucking awesome. Roxie told me as Luna I can plan events and stuff, like it is kind of my job. I know the first snow came but it won’t really get bad until the middle or end of November so let's go all out and if it snows so be it. I mean we are shifters it isn’t like we would freeze we could just shift into our wolves.” She couldn’t be serious. She already did a lot, when was she going to have time for all that. It sounded like a massive undertaking. “Don’t worry about helping with any of it. I got this covered.”
I looked at her like she was nuts, what had come over her. “I also will fund the whole thing, we are not going to use a dime of your money. I want to do this so it is my fiancés we will use.” Now I really thought she was nuts. “I mean no offense Lilith but with everything you want to do, how do you plan on paying for it.” She looked up from the couch a smile that was beyond sly. “Oh, I have money, trust me.” Now I was confused. She laid back down. “I sold the Rolex.” My mouth lifted, she was going to use her horde she had been building, stolen goods, to pay for something. “It was Kali’s idea.” Lilith added.
“Still Lilith that is a lot of work just for you.” I spoke. “I am going to form a committee, we all are going to pitch in, plus Ellen is on call, she knows all about this stuff she will help walk me through it. I am the Luna after all, I think it would be fun, we need something fun around here. I know the pack has warmed up to me, despite the fact I run them into the ground every day, but I want a different side to show them.” I smiled at that. “If you think you are able to I think it sounds kind of cool.” I told her.
“Good, then it is settled. I will send out a mind link and have all the women meet me tomorrow.” She spoke. I again looked at her funny. “Just the women?” “Yes, it will be a bonding thing. I didn’t really like the cheerleaders from school, but it was still nice to just be surrounded by females and I want to do that again.” I didn’t get it, but I said Okay regardless. “Fucking fantastic.” She jumped from the couch. “All you need to do is get me a list of people to contact from other packs to invite, and make sure Ellens pack is on there. We should make them know how awesome we are.” I nodded, kind of in shock at her taking charge like this. She then moved to lean over my desk and give me a quick kiss on the lips before she practically skipped off.
I sat there stunned for a moment, I shook my head. I went back to looking at the computer. I had a few people out there trying to track down the Draco wolves. I was looking at the map they sent me, they finally caught a scent of something, and I was looking at the map to see where the scent had been located. Noel walked in and instead of dropping on the couch like Lilith had He dropped down in one of my chairs. His head went back, and he ran his hands over his face. “What's up little brother?” I asked. “Juliet and I are over.” I didn’t respond. I was sure this would happen, but I didn’t feel like it was appropriate to say I told you so.
“What happened?” I asked him. “A shit ton. She just kept bashing on Lilith and I was getting tired of it you know. Then she told me she got accepted to several schools and she was going to one out of state. I asked her what that meant for us and she said that we would figure it out. I knew she didn’t mean that. She would dump me when she got there, and I felt like she was kind of using me to just have a boyfriend, you know?” I nodded, but I didn’t really get it. “I miss Jean.” He said finally.
I knew he was hurting. He had not said her name in a long time. His mate who died way to young. I noticed then he had tears in his eyes. I got up and went to give him a hug. He started to cry harder, I didn’t think this was about a breakup, I knew these tears were about Jean. “Noel, maybe you should find someone who has lost their mate as well. I am not saying now obviously, but both of you would understand. You know?” He sucked in some breath before letting it out. Nodding agreeing. I changed the subject “Lilith is organizing a Halloween party/ festival thing. She is inviting other packs and stuff.”
Now Noel was looking at me with the same quizzical face I had on earlier. “So, she is taking the Luna thing on?” He asked and I nodded. I knew he had been keeping distance from her, only helping with the training and when she asked something from her. Lilith hadn’t been upset at him, he was never rude to her, and she told me he would come back around to being her friend. She had been so sure of it. Which surprised me she would think that way considering her life. “You think she wants my help; I have been kind of a dick to her?”
“I am sure she would if she was not organizing it with only women.” Now he looked confused again and I just nodded. “Do you think she will at least let me be her friend again?” I laughed. “Noel, she understood how you felt, she even told me that in time you would go back to becoming her buddy, she never even said anything negative about you, even despite you giving her the cold shoulder.” He raised his eyebrows. “Really?” I nodded. “You wouldn’t know it since the distance, but she is kind of becoming quite popular, she has several friends now, I mean even the pack seems to have a kind of admiration for her. You haven't come but we have been having game nights a few times a week with some of the other mated couples in the pack. Even Mia is cool with her at this point.” His mouth fell open.
“Have you not seen the pack has been dressing differently? You noticed most of the young people and some of the middle aged are not so regimented and stuff?” I asked and he shrugged and said “I noticed some of the people, I am sorry Eric, I just have been in my own head you know. I am really sorry I haven’t even been doing beta duties very well.” I nodded agreeing with him. Lilith told me just to give him time, and as much space as Noel wanted, she was adamant in the belief he would go back to his regular self.
“Well, that is good I guess.” I nodded. “So what can I do for you Eric, since I have been slacking I am determined to be doing everything I can to make it up to you.” I looked at him. “Well having someone help with investments and I don’t know if you want to but I want to go see dad.” Noel looked at me seriously. We normally never visited him, he had a hard time looking at us with how we resembled our mother, who had died. He was a recluse now. “Are you sure, he is not big on visitors?” I nodded. “I want to tell him about Lilith, I hate keeping her from him, plus I want Mom’s sapphire ring and he has it.”
Noel turned his head. “Are you going to purpose to Lilith with it.” I smiled. “I plan to yeah.” Noel smiled. “When?” He asked. “Probably after she graduates. I was thinking Christmas.” He laughed. “I am happy for you bro.” I could tell he was, but there was also sadness in his face. No doubt thinking of Jean. “I don’t want moms wedding ring, I know dad would never hand that to me anyways, plus I don’t think that diamonds are Lilith's thing, despite the fact she has a pile of them in her horde.”
Noel then asked, “Her Horde?” I laughed “Oh yeah, she has a crap ton of shit she has been piling up. I honestly don’t know where to put it all. You know she goes out and she always comes back with stuff, I think from pickpocketing considering most jewelry is behind cases. Though she one time brought back a motorcycle which I told her she had to get rid of.” He now looked super confused. “How did she bring a motorcycle here?” I laughed “That day she brought Marcus, and they showed up with a Ducati in the bed of the truck. That is all I know, honestly, I don’t want to know how she pulled that off.” Noel then laughed.
“Well, I think I should go find her, maybe make amends for being a dick.” I nodded. “I think that would be wise. Plus, I think it would be nice for you to see her, she is always smiling and laughing now. She seems to be thriving, less on edge than she has been since she first came here. You know she doesn’t even ask about her father at all. I think it is because she trusts that I will get to the bottom of it.” He yawned and said, “Have you found out anything.” I nodded. “The trackers I sent out finally caught a scent so hopefully soon we will have a location on the pack.” Noel slapped my shoulder. “That is good” We finished up and he went to find Lilith and I got back to work.