Dead Luna
Chapter 39

Leo's

POV

I had unconsciously wrapped myself around Amelia again as I slept, her sweet scent of ambrosia intoxicating me and drawing me near. I wanted to linger in bed all day if I could, but I knew I had no right to. I was only a potential mate, and though I wanted very badly for Amelia to love me as she had once done, I knew that she could no longer feel the mate bond as I did.

Today was going to be a busy one, so I quietly slipped out of bed and threw some clothes on. I quickly scribbled a note for Amelia that I left on the bedside table, and left.

It was very early in the morning, but the kitchen staff had already begun to set out coffee and a selection of pastries and fruit. I can smell that bacon was still cooking nearby, so I took just the coffee for now and asked the kitchen staff to inform my officers and Amelia of my location when they came down for breakfast. I wouldn't be able to mind link my pack members until after my Alpha ceremony, so I'd have to make do in the meantime. Then I went to Jerome's office to get started.

First up, I needed to make it mine. Or at least not Jerome's office for now. I needed to decide what furniture could stay, and what must be rid of immediately. Jerome had decorated in an African theme, so all the wooden face masks, mud cloth, and posters of exotic animals and African grasslands need to go. I found a box and tossed most of it in, to give to his sister Desiree. She was welcome to keep anything she liked, place it in storage, or toss everything in the trash if she wished. I didn't care, as long as it was gone. Half an hour later I was joined by Beta Raghuram, who was happy to see the few changes I'd already made, and said he would organize getting the room repainted while I spent the next few days in Winter Moon. Then we got some of the needed paperwork started. There wasn't a lot that we could do in advance of me becoming the official Alpha of the pack, though. Thankfully we were soon joined by Gamma Desiree, as I had a bit of a favor to ask of her.

Then we were making decisions about the Alpha ceremony, and hoping that Amelia was willing to accept some of the changes this might make to her goddess appointed task.

After that was decided, we were all getting hungry so we headed to the dining hall for breakfast, where soon we were joined by Delta Malcom, who entered the room with Shantae and young Jarvis, who was looking around in awe. Apparently they had been kept away from the pack his entire life for their own safety, Delta Malcom making sure that they were well cared for in that hidden cabin deep in the woods. Malcom had gone to collect them first thing this morning, and wanted them to relocate to the pack house, if possible. Amelia then came in for breakfast, and Malcom immediately asks if he could have the first appointment with Ambrosia this morning. She agrees with a laugh, and says "Afterwards you can help me by setting up the rest of the morning's appointments!" After breakfast, we all reassembled in the Alphas office with Amelia, where I explain the plan I had discussed with my Beta.

"The next full moon is in 26 days, and that's when we will be having the Alpha Ceremony. And I'd like to be able to have the Luna ceremony on the same night if I could." I start, and see Amelia nodding along. "The only way for that to happen, is if we host the mating ball here in Bull Run, on the same night."

"Oh!" Amelia exclaims, looking happier than I had expected her to. "I suppose that makes a lot of sense! Alpha Craig doesn't really have the ability to host the mating ball properly without a great deal of inconvenience, and this territory is more centrally located than Winter moon. So I'm sure they will happily agree to the change of date and venue. We'd just need to tweak my plans for the other 6 packs, but I think it would be possible. It's going to be a bit of a whirlwind, though."

"Not entirely. I've already been in contact with Alpha Derrick this morning. You and I will be heading there this afternoon. You can finish out this week in Winter Moon, and that'll give you about 3 days in each of the other packs." "Wow, Leo!" Amelia exclaims. "This is a well thought out plan! I'm actually quite impressed."

Thankfully, the Alphas' office was quite large enough for Amelia to be doing her appointments in one corner, where a couple chairs had been set for her, while I worked at the huge desk. I needed to meet with the pack lawyers Hiroshi Yakamoto and Arther Woo to get paperwork started for the transfer of power, then I needed our tech support wolf Vijay Prakash (Raghurams brother) to get me computer access so I could look over the pack finances. There was so much to go over, to plan, and prepare for in the next several weeks. I would not have the luxury of an extended stay in Winter Moon. And though it broke my heart to do so, I was going to have to find a replacement bodyguard for Amelia.

Meanwhile, over in the corner of the room I could overhear my Delta Malcom asking Amelia if it were possible for Moon Goddess to make him a second chance mate to Shantae. Apparently he was worried that she would say no if he asked her directly to be his chosen mate. Shantae hadn't shown any interest in having an appointment with Amelia, and was only focused right now on trying to provide a normal life to her son Jarvis. They were heading to the school right this minute to get the 9 year old signed up. "Well, seeing as how her former mate is no longer in the picture, and I'm fairly sure there are no other obstacles in the way. Yes! I'm pretty confident we can make that happen."

Malcom was so thrilled, he hugged Amelia while thanking her profusely, then he did a silly little "happy dance" around the room before sending in the next wolf who had an appointment with Ambrosia.

Amelia laughed, the lovely sound making my heart glow with happiness. I was glad to learn that Malcom was such a good and honorable man, having taken excellent care of the unfortunate pair for all these years. He sounds very trustworthy, and I have confidence in keeping him on as my Delta. I was content to leave him in charge of the pack, along with Gamma Desiree, who was tasked with clearing her brothers things out of the Alpha suite in the next few days during my absence. I promised Desiree a honeymoon in Cannon Beach after my return, in order to meet her new in-laws.

It took Amelia the entire morning to getting all the unmated wolves of the pack sorted out. After which we had a quick, informal lunch of soup and sandwiches before we left for Winter Moon. Home.