Dead Luna
Chapter 15

Leo's POV

I was so relieved when Amelia didn't ask me anything about her paycheck. I'm sure she figured out the "generous customer" was our group, but she isn't aware that the guys had made me pay the tab, and that Derrick had insisted I give her a $100 tip. Only, I actually added an extra zero to the total. So instead of paying the $210 that Derrick insisted upon, I paid a total of $1,210. I could easily afford to. And now that I've seen how's she's lived the last 3 years, and heard that her paycheck was double what she expected, I'm glad that I did it. Watching Amelia interacting with her potential mate is gonna be hard, I'm quickly discovering. I still have feelings for her, and it hurts. But once moon goddess forgave me for being such a shitty mate and breaking her heart like I did, I've realized that I have to let Amelia go, so that she can find happiness. And that once she has found happiness, then I will find peace as well as have a second chance at my own happiness with a new mate.

So I will hang back, I will make sure the rules are followed, I'll act as bodyguard or chaperone when called to, and I'll do whatever it is Amelia needs of me for the next two months. I will atone for my past, and become worthy again to be blessed by a gift from the moon goddess. Even as I long for the gift I threw away in my arrogance.

Silver Falls pack is a beautiful place, very "old country" with a Bavarian vibe going on. The neighboring human town of Silverton even hosts a locally famous ocktober fest every fall. I could imagine Amelia would be very happy living here, she'd probably feel like a sort of fairy tale Luna princess of sorts.

When I saw the two of them kissing in her room, I tried to be objective rather than insanely jealous. I'm even half willing to admit to myself that they actually look like a beautiful couple together. But I'm nowhere near ready to say that out loud, if ever. We walk thru the gardens and Amelia tells Craig a bit about her life up until now (thankfully leaving out any of the bits that involve me). Then we view the training grounds before walking past a small pack medical clinic. I can hear quite a lot of their conversation as we walk. I hear Alpha Craig say that they only have one nurse staffed in the clinic at this time, anything major that the nurse can't handle has to be taken to the hospital 30 minutes away in Green Mountain. Thankfully werewolves are generally healthy, so it's rarely an issue.

Alpha Craig explains how a lot of the pack revenue comes from farming, mostly flowers and medicinal herbs, and organic eggs, sold at farmers markets in both Salem and Portland.

"We aren't a large or wealthy pack like many, but we are almost completely self sufficient with all the vegetables we eat being grown right here. And we are trying to expand to other industries. We recently acquired a few goats for making artisan cheese, and a couple sheep for their wool. There is a big interest lately in knitting with homespun natural fibers, and we hope to tap into that. Eventually we are thinking about expanding our fiber line to other animal fibers, and possibly making sausage."

Then we come to the little pack school for the children younger than 12. Amelia shows quite a lot of interest in it, and I hear her state that a school for the upper grades will be needed soon, as she believes the mating ball will cause a big increase in the number of children.

"The pack day care will need to be expanded as well, and perhaps a larger playground built for the pups." Amelia suggests. Then she playfully asks a loaded question that I wish I wasn't privy to. "If I become your mate, how many pups would you like to have?" "Oh, at least three," Craig answered without hesitation. He had a big grin on his face at the thought of his happy little future brood. "But I'd certainly be willing to have more if it makes you happy. I adore children!"

"Me, too! I was thinking maybe 4 or 5." Amelia responds, and leans into the tall blond alpha as they walk along, the pair completely obvious to my aching heart.

"I've been meaning to ask about your Gamma back there," I overhear Alpha Craig say just before we head in for dinner. "Is he part of the deal? The Gamma position is currently vacant since I haven't had much use for one in a small pack with no Luna in residence. But I'm not exactly comfortable with the idea of your ex also being my Gamma."

"No worries, he's just temporarily on loan from Winter Moon." She assured him. "He's unlikely to stay here unless he finds his mate here, and even in that event he'd likely move back home along with his new mate, don't you think?" "I'm sure you're right."