"Arya," Arya said, moving her hand forward, to shake, but Vivien flinched.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Arya quickly apologized.
"Please, you don't have to apologize," she said, her voice shaking.
"Vivien, can you show me around tomorrow? I mean, if you are free." Arya asked, as cheerfully as she could.
"B..but Luna, I'm ranked below the lowest wolf. How can I..."
"Nonsense. I want you to be my guide."
"But Alfa would never allow you to go around with me!" The girls eyes watered.
"I'll talk to him."
The girl nodded happily. 'Arya, where are you? My parents have arrived.' Alfa mindlinked her. Arya was surprised that he could mindlink her without even marking her, so she tried the same, 'I'm on my way.'
'Ok'
"I'll wait for you here after breakfast tomorrow. I've got to go now," Arya said to Vivien before turning around and going back to the hall.
'You heard me.' She mindlinked Alfa.
'Of course I did, now get here, fast.'
'Yes.'
"The old alfa, Alfa Kane, has arrived with Luna Genevieve," the guard at the door announced, just as Arya came to Alfa Flowerew's side.
Before he could ask anything, the door opened, and in walked a handsome man, with grey hair and blue eyes, just like Alfa's, wearing a black suit. Beside him was a beautiful woman who also had blue eyes and sharp jawline. She looked like a model, wearing a peach coloured long dress.
Alfa went forward and shook his fathers hand, then hugged his mother. She kissed him on his forehead. "How are you?" She asked.
"I'm fine, mom. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Son, I'm so proud of you. You finally found her! Where is she?" Kane asked his son before looking behind him. "Hello Aria, how are you?" He moved towards her.
"I'm good," Arya said, looking at her mate, her eyes pleading.
"Arya, this is my dad, Kane, and she's my mom, luna Genevieve," Alfa said, pulling Arya toward his mother before Kane could get near her.
"Hello, Aria. How have you been?" Genevieve asked, in a motherly tone.
"Hello, luna, I'm great. It's nice to meet you," Arya said, respectfully.
"Please call me mom. I've always wanted a daughter, and today, the moon Goddess blessed me with one," saying this, she hugged Arya warmly.
Alfa Kane was a little taken aback by his sons action, but didn't say anything. He could already feel that Aria wasn't comfortable. But why?
"Aria, why don't we let the men talk, and we ladies talk about ourselves," the old luna said as she took Arya away from them. Arya gladly followed.
Everyone bowed down to their Luna. Genevieve still held that title, as she can only pass it to Arya once she has been marked by the current alfa.
When they were a little far from the men, the Luna turned to Arya and asked, "Aria, I need to know something, and I want you to be honest with me! Did you agree to all this?" She had a very serious expression.
"What?" Arya asked, feeling confused.
"I don't want you to feel forced into something that you don't want. Flower isn't forcing you, is he?" Genevieve asked, and Arya had to control the laughter that was raising inside her. Flower? She's going to tease him for the rest of their life!
Rest of their life... doesn't sound foreign anymore.
"Yes, luna, this is my own decision. At first, I did resist, but finding my wolf made me feel differently about him," Arya said honestly. She left out the part where she wanted to kill her husband.
"I'm glad to hear that, honey. If you ever need me, you call me anytime. OK?"
"Ok," Arya smiled back.
They made some small talk while drinking wine, and the women who knew the luna walked up to her and greeted her.
Arya was now beginning to feel tired. She was used to parties, but this one seemed to go on and on. Alfa had forgotten that she had been discharged from the hospital today.
Her mind darted back to her team. They were in Alfa's other house. If only she could make it there... 'Don't even think about it. You can't go alone!' Alfa mindlinked her.
Arya was stunned. How could he read her mind. She looked for him in the crowd and caught him staring straight at her.
'It's just a thought. I can't go anyway.' She mindlinked back.
Then there was the sound of spoon clinking against a glass. Everyone looked towards the sound, and saw alfa Kane holding a glass, seeking attention. Silence fell in the room, as everyone looked at him.
"Today, I would like to make a toast, to my son, and he's mate, Aria Moonstone. Welcome to the family, Aria. I hope you will become a great luna, just like my lovely mate, Gene."
Kane rose his glass in the air, "To family," he said, and a loud chorus of "to family" came from everyone, as Genevieve led Arya toward the father son duo.
The party went on and Gretchen asked Alfa to let Arya rest, as this was one reason she had lost consciousness in the first place.
Arya had gone to bed early, and didn't wake up until someone called for them in the morning.
Alfa Kane, Alfa Flowerew, luna Genevieve and soon to be Luna Arya were all sitting on the couch the next day, having a light conversation.
"Aria, Flower said..." "Mom! Call me..." Alfa cut his mother mid conversation, only to be ignored by his mom, "That you want to meet your family first, before the marking ceremony. Why don't you and him go there tomorrow, and he also said something about four... five..? Humans who came with you are still here... they can return back with you."
Arya looked at Alfa, her face almost red from trying to control her laughter. If only Alex had heard this, he would be rolling on the floor choking himself to death laughing.
Alex had thought 'Flowerew ' name was funny, but Flower; a huge grown up man in his 30s being called Flower, oh that would have everyone rolling on the floor laughing.
She politely nodded, then excused herself. "Please excuse me, need bathroom break." She almost ran out of the sitting area, and into the bathroom, clutching her stomach laughing. She laughed until tears ran down her face, then controlled herself.
She washed her face and patted it dry with a napkin, then walked out, bumping straight into the big bad Alfa Flowerew himself.
She held her breath.
"Something funny?"
That was enough to send her back into laughter once again.