Dead Luna
Chapter 72

Amelia's

POV

I feel really bad about what I had done to Jackson, especially after the things he told me while in that drunken state about how he wished he'd never become my gamma, and he had compared himself to Leo. It made my heart hurt to know how much I've been unfair to them both. I never meant to hurt either of them, but I guess I sometimes do. I suppose even a princess isn't perfect all the time.

I should have realized that Prince William was using underhanded tactics to get me to accept him as my mate, especially once he stated that my father wanted it, and had apparently told him to do whatever it takes to convince me! Not having grown up around the Royal court or any other Lycans, I just wasn't aware of these powers of persuasion that they had. No wonder mom wanted me to grow up far away from all that, as well as wanting me to be happily mated on my own terms before anyone knew about me. Jackson was no longer quite as friendly with me since that night, although he did mention that he appreciated the care I had taken of him while in his inebriated state. Well, it was the least I could do since he had helped me on numerous occasions before. I suspect the problem is Glen. Jackson doesn't trust him, and believes my father is using him to spy on me. He's probably right. But as long as I don't let slip any sensitive information around Glen, and he continues to be helpful and protective of me, I see no reason to dismiss him. Besides, Jackson is hardly in a position to throw stones, since he had been Derricks informant during that week I spent in Winter Moon, albeit under alphas orders. And even if I did make Glen leave, my father the Lycan king would just send more security to look after me. That is something I'd like to avoid if possible.

The other reason to keep Glen around is that he is a much better sparring partner for training than Jackson is, which I've been doing for an hour each morning before breakfast. Jackson worries too much that he will hurt me, since he mainly trained among the elite warriors. I appreciate his concern, but going easy on me will not help me to learn how to defend myself properly. And though this training regime hasn't been going on for very long, I can already feel changes in my body, my muscles becoming leaner and stronger, and Im feeling changes in the way I move. I stand taller, and move more gracefully, which makes me feel more confident in everything that I do.

I am starting to grow concerned about Leo now, since my disastrous bedtime chat with Prince William When I was being pushed hard to comply with his designs on me, he had grilled me about whom I was going to choose. I realize now he had subtly alpha ordered me to tell him, so I hadn't much choice but to tell the truth. I may not have grown up in the royal court, but I do know that they can be quite ruthless to get what they want. If William tells my father whom I am planing to choose, and my father decides that Leo isn't good enough, something could be arranged to get Leo out of the running for my choice of mates. Permanently. I just have to hope that Moon Goddess is looking out for him for me, keeping him safe.

I had finished up my appointments in Wenatchee pack early this morning after spending 2 full days there. I was currently being driven to the Gifford Pinchot pack, which was a neighboring pack to Winter Moon, hidden away far from human civilization deep in the forest surrounding Mt.St. Helens. It was the very last pack that I needed to visit, and once I was done here I would be heading back to Bull Run, to prepare for the mating ball.

From the moment we drive up, I get the feeling that things in Gifford Pinchot are going to be different. So far I had been warmly welcomed (more or less) to all the packs I had visited. Here, the guards at the gate seem suspicious of our purpose here. I inform them that Luna Caroline is expecting us, but then they demand to inspect the car, and do a pat down of all of us like we are criminals smuggling in contraband.

One of the guards doing the pat down on me was taking the opportunity to cop a feel, even going so far as to pinch my n*****s, as well as suggesting I needed a full body cavity search. Glen and Jackson started growling at him, but I told them I would handle the guard.

I turn around and look him in the eye. Ambrosia comes forward and tells me this guy is single. But not for long, we agree immediately.

"For what you just did to me, disrespecting a representative of our moon goddess, I will give you a choice between only 2 possible mates. One is a mother of 3 fatherless pups, the other is a male janitor that smells like bleach and has missing teeth. You have just 30 seconds to decide!"

The smirk left the guards face rather quickly as he realizes his major c**k up. The other security guard obviously doesn't like his fellow guard, and is teasing him mercilessly. It doesn't take long for Mr. c**k Up to quietly say, "I will take the she wolf. Thank you, miss." "Sorry about him," the other security guard Ron tells us, shaking his head at the rather stupid antics of his coworker. "I've warned him that feeling up all the unmarked females would get him in serious trouble eventually!"

"Why are we being subjected to all these extra security measures?" Glen asks the guard. "We are invited guests here, and expected."

"There have been more rogue attacks here lately than usual, and with the Luna currently being pregnant with the Alphas heir, everyone is being a bit paranoid. There was an attempt to abduct her just less than a week ago, and the culprit had planned to knock her out with a combination of morphine and wolfsbane. Luckily she was very well protected, but the culprits nearly got away with the Alphas own sister!"

I gasp at that! Not only does that sound similar to what happened to me on the way to Satus Pass, but the wolfsbane could have caused serious harm to the unborn pup. I thank Ron for his time, and he directs us to the pack house where Alpha Phillip and Luna Caroline are waiting for us.

We sit down to light refreshments including iced tea, small bite sized sandwiches, scones, and fresh berries. While we eat, the Alpha and Luna explain the current situation in more detail, as well as give us updates on what is happening at Satus Pass, where Luna Caroline's twin sister Candice is Luna.

"Only 2 of your abductors have been caught so far, and the rest seem to be on the move," Alpha Phillip explains. "From what we've been able to determine, about half of them have come to this area in search of high ranked she wolves to sell on the black market, or lower ranked wolves to sell to various prostitution rings. The rest of the gang of rogues have moved on to Idaho and Nevada."

"They've managed to abduct two of our she wolves," Luna Caroline says emotionally. "Janice Albright, the sister of our Delta, and Susanna, one of my omega handmaidens."

I express my shock at the brazenness of these rogues, and wishes for the safe return of the young she wolves.

"I just don't know how we will manage to join everyone at the mating ball with this all this going on!" Caroline cries. "We definitely can't afford to send any of our guards or warriors away at this time, and at least a dozen of them are single!"

"Hmm...," Ambrosia and I are thinking fast about a solution. "It might be safer for the single she wolves to be away from the pack for a few nights. And if I spend a little extra time with the single males, I will know exactly who their mates are since this is the last pack I needed to visit. I will put their mates on the bus heading back here the next morning!"

"Oh, thank you!" Caroline exclaimed, happy and crying at the same time, and she hugs me in gratitude. Being nearly 3 months pregnant, it didn't take much to make her extra emotional right now from all the hormones. I was just glad to be able to ease her burden in whatever small way that I could. Stress would be bad for her as well as for the pup.

I'm told there are 51 single pack members (after having already dealt with the one pervert guard at the gate). 24 males and 27 females. So we make a sign up sheet and leave it on a bulletin board available for everyone to select a time that best suits them. Barring any unforeseen issues, I should have everyone's appointments completed and be on the road to Bull Run by late afternoon on the day after tomorrow at the latest.