Dead Luna
Chapter 40

Leo's POV

Amelia was excited to go home to Winter Moon, which was a 3+ hour drive. If one could fly between Bull Run and Winter Moon, the two territories honestly weren't all that far apart, but the Columbia River was a major obstacle. We either had to drive to Portland or Hood River in order to use one of the few bridges that crosses the mighty river, before heading North to Winter Moon, which was not very far from the infamous active volcano, Mt. St. Helens.

My Beta drove, and Amelia called shotgun so she could choose the radio station. I was alone in the back seat, to my disappointment. I had many things I wished to say to her. I wanted to hold her hand, and spend what little time I could trying to win her heart as one her potential mates.

Instead I closed my eyes, and listened as Amelia sang along to the radio. Each song seemingly designed to remind me just how unworthy I was. One song was about a girl who could buy herself flowers and write her own name in the sand. In the next song, the girl is saying she doesn't care if the guy is hurting because he broke her first. Then another song hit me even harder than the first two, about a guy dancing with his eyes closed, because he is all alone and everything reminds him of her. The very next song is one about a guy asking if it was too late to say sorry. How much more of this can I possibly be expected to take?

The final straw was a song about a girl killing her ex boyfriend, and then killing his new girlfriend, too.

"Can we turn the radio off for a little while, please? I'd like a nap."

"Sure thing, Alpha," Beta Raghuram says, turning it off. And suddenly there is blessed silence.

Ive been an alpha for less than 24 hours at this point. I start to wonder how long it'll take me to get used to being called that? I had several years of training and had long expected to be made Gamma. This was an entirely new role I was being thrust into with no warning, no training, nor any experience beyond working closely with Alpha Derrick Lyons, as well as no expectation of ever being an Alpha. So this was all very strange and new to me. Uncharted waters, as it were. I only hope I don't screw up too badly! Maybe I should ask Amelia's help to find me a mate with some leadership experience. If given a choice, I wanted Amelia, but in the rather strong likelihood that she chooses Craig or Derrick, I should be practical. Amelia could help me to find the perfect she wolf to be my Luna, help me to effectively run Bull Run, and give me heirs. Although the thought leaves me cold, it just wasn't all about me any longer. I also needed to think about what is good for my pack. I suppose Kitty Armstrong would be an excellent choice. Capable, efficient, hard working, and easy on the eyes. But I honestly prefer Amelia's dark hair and soft green eyes to Kitty's blond hair and blue eyes. I'm sure I'd get used to Kitty in time, with the help of the mate bond. But Amelia will always have a large piece of my heart. I will always regret her.

I eventually do fall asleep, only to be awakened when we arrive at Winter Moon. Amelia rushed off to see her mom without even a glance back, too excited to see her after all this time. Meanwhile my Beta and I head to Alpha Derricks office.

I knock on the door and peek inside, to see Derrick at his desk, with both Jackson and Rick present.

"Hey, Leo!" They greet me, looking rather uncertainly at Raghuram.

"I wasn't expecting you until next week!" Derrick continues. "Are you back for good, or do you still have things to do for Moon Goddess?"

"About that..." I start slowly, trying to figure out how to put things as I go. "My part of the task for Moon goddess is over, I suppose. And I'd appreciate if someone else could look after Amelia for about 3 weeks, and be her bodyguard." "If you're worried about your Gamma duties here, don't be," Derrick says kindly. "I still don't have a Luna, so it's ok with me if you need to leave again for a while."

"I appreciate that, Alpha." I tell him humbly. "But I am actually resigning from the Gamma position of Winter Moon, as well. Effective immediately."

"What?" Derrick asks in wonder. "Why is that?"

"Because last night I saw Leo kill Alpha Jerome Fitzpatrick with my own eyes." Raghuram says, joining the conversation boldly. "And I, Beta Raghuram Prakash of Bull Run pack, now insist that he take over as alpha of Bull Run!"

Everyone was speechless for at least 10 seconds after Raghuram's pronouncement, then the room erupted in sounds of amazement, questions, and congratulations. Everyone eager to find out how this all came about.

So I told them about Jerome's rude and insane behavior, how he had tricked me into leaving the room, and how I managed to get back in by hopping across balconies from the Gamma suite, how I saw him attack Amelia, the fight, and the aftermath. Everyone agreed that I had no choice but to kill the demented alpha.

"Is Amelia ok?" Derrick asks, looking serious.

"She was understandably very upset at the time," I answered. "But I believe she will be fine. And she was excited to come home today, to see her mom. They were apart for more than 3 years, you know."

Alpha Derrick nods, then stands up and walks right out of the room. I suppose he wants to make sure Amelia truly is alright. In his shoes, I would want to do the same.

"I don't know anyone to whom I would trust Amelia's safety with more than myself, except for you." I say to Jackson. "I know it's asking an awful lot, but could you please be her bodyguard for the next 3 weeks? I have so much I need to do at Bull Run, that I just can't! I don't think she will be in any real danger now, since Zachary has his mates and Jerome is dead. But you know how unmated male wolves can be, so I'd feel better if she had someone trustworthy to look after her, you know?"

"I do. I think of Amelia as almost like a sister." Jackson says as he contemplates the favor being asked of him. "I'll do it. I'm sure Derrick will understand. He wouldn't like it if something happened to her, either." "So now I'm stuck doing the work of the both of you!" Delta Rick says in disgust. "As usual."

Then we are joking around and teasing each other as we used to do. But things could never really be quite the same. Even without the mantle of Alpha being thrust upon me, I had changed too much in the last few weeks.