THE OLD HIERARCHY

Pizza was delivered... From the pack house kitchen. Apparently, here at Night Forest, betas, no matter how young were allowed to waltz into the kitchen and demand whatever they liked.

Oscar and Ben arrived with them, but it was the two elderly ladies who donned the heavy trays. The two young strapping guys just walked in with their hands in their pockets. Ben did hold the door for them though. The ladies curtsied their thanks multiple times.

I wondered if they were slaves, but they bore no markings on their arms. So these were normal wolves?

I had never ever come so close to the normal wolves here before. Except for the servants who brought food to the table, this was the first time I've met a real person from the pack.

Okay, not to say warrior wolves, or beta wolves were not real people. But I meant like real people without uniforms, you know, like Esther or the ladies in the kitchen. Or like... Well nevermind. You're right. We were all the same real.

"Hello! Thanks for making us pizza." I smiled, "Smells good."

The ladies bowed even more. They looked around the apartment and at all of us, they stared at me the longest. Was it the hair?

"Just put the food down and leave." Oscar growled.

The women startled, and begged our pardons and quickly placed the trays down and scrambled out.

"Pardon, only the kitchen help were available." Oscar said, "Please, help yourself Alpha."

Why couldn't the two strong young betas carry it up themselves?

I picked up a slice to eat.

It was weird to go first, but the pizza was pretty good.

The girls went next as the Alpha's daughters.

"Oh, it's still nice and hot." Esmeralda said.

"I don't like the olives." Estella said, "Oscar there are olives!!!"

Oscar immediately rescued Estella from her olives with a fork.

I took another slice, "Aren't you both eating?"

Ben shrugged and helped himself to a slice. Oscar looked aghast.

"Just eat, Ozzie." Ben ordered.

"Ozzie?" Estella picked it up immediately.

Both girls burst into a fresh peal of laughter.

"Ki is joining us." Ben sat down next to me.

"Oh, has he finished his work?" I asked.

Ben nodded. Oscar hesitated before sitting himself down next to Ben.

"Oh yes, Ozzie! From now on you have to call us princess." Estella told the other Beta.

"And if you forget, we will punish you." Esmeralda said with a smile. Both girls laughed.

Ben just smirked.

"Oh, alright. Yes, princesses." Oscar obliged.

The girls laughed.

Why did I feel sorry for Oscar?

"But seriously, Sam. Just now was crazy." Esmeralda told me.

"Yeah, I was so scared Grandma Luna would call Dad over." Estella said, "But she didn't. She just said she was too distraught to eat and left the table."

"She made everyone too distraught to eat too." Esmeralda said.

The two girls laughed.

"You were so brave, Sam." Estella concluded, "I don't think I'd ever dare stand up to Grandma like that."

"Yeah, you'll just run away and cry." Esmeralda said.

The two girls laughed again.

They were still laughing after all that. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

{Beta approaches}

It was Ki. There was a knock on the door and Ki let himself in, "Hello goddess."

The girls laughed.

"Hello ladies." Ki smiled his usual beautiful smile.

"Wow, this one calls you goddess." Estella said.

"Oscar, call me goddess from now on!" Esmeralda decided.

"Hmmm, I don't think it suits you. You don't have blue hair and eyes." Estella said.

"Oh, that's true." Esmeralda thought about it, "I guess I'll stick with princess then."

Both girls laughed again.

Ki sat down.

"Pizza?" I offered.

Ki made a face and shook his head. What? Not fancy enough for your high class palate? Aloud he merely lied, "I've already eaten, thank you, goddess."

Suddenly the front door unlocked. Killion and Ben stood up immediately. It was Mum, with a blond haired girl.

Oscar got up to his feet too, he bowed in unison with Ben and Ki, "Luna."

"Hi boys." Mum smiled, "Please sit down. Girls, this is Oprah, Oscar's sister. Little Eddy had been giving her a hard time all day. I thought it would be nice if she could hang out with you for a while."

The girls laughed.

"Yeah, okay." I said.

Oprah came over and made a very pretty curtsey, "Good afternoon Alpha Sam, my name is Oprah. I'm Beta Larson's daughter."

But she wasn't looking at me, she was looking at Ki.

Estella and Esmeralda laughed.

Oscar apologized immediately, "Pardon my sister."

But he couldn't say more because Esmeralda had kicked him from under the table.

"That's not Alpha Sam." Ben said, "That's Beta Killion."

"Oh." Oprah said, blinking rapidly. She smiled sweetly, "I'm sorry. My mistake, Beta Killion."

Ki smiled his beautiful smile, "It happens."

"Does it?" Estella asked.

"I bet that's quite funny." Esmeralda said.

As usual they laughed.

Ki beamed.

"Then who...who is Alpha Sam?" Oprah said.

The two girls looked at me, just as my bedroom door opened.

{Mate!}

Hey, Wolfie, what's wrong with your radar today? Of course Wolfie completely ignored me.

{Mate! Mate! Mate!}

He was half dressed, his dress shirt half buttoned, but his trousers still unzipped. But he was his full grouchy self, "Ki, where's the damn tie?"

Oprah's eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

My cousins gasped audibly.

Ben spoke then, "Harv says he is on the way back with your uncles, Princess. We'd better finish eating before your parents call you downstairs."

Killion and Rebel returned to the bedroom.

We were all actually hungry, so the next few minutes was spent eating. Killion returned alone and poured lemonade.

And our parents did call us downstairs, just as Ben predicted. We quickly finished up our last bites. Uncle Pierre and Uncle Andre were arriving soon.

{Alpha approaching}

We ran down the stairs as quickly as we could. To our relief, Grandma Luna was not there to see us fly into the main hall. We made it in time.

We scurried to our respective parents.

"Alpha Pierre and Elder Andre." Harvey announced at the entrance. Dad and Uncle Louis stepped forward and they all shook hands and Uncle Andre gave out half hugs and firm pats on the back to his brothers.

"I see our dear Mother still doesn't want to see us." Uncle Andre said.

"Well, we're glad to see you." Uncle Louis said.

"These are our daughters." Dad said.

At this point, Bell and Killion entered. But before Ki could announce Bell's presence, Grandma Luna showed up.

"Luna is here." Beta Larson announced from next to her.

The whole hall stood up.

Grandma Luna looked at her long lost sons and said dowly, "So you decided to show your faces."

"Mother." The men greeted, all bowing their heads briefly in respect, even though none of them sounded particular happy.

That was the power of the Luna mother of four grown Alpha males.

My Wolfie was tense and alert at the newcomers.

"How are you, Mother?" Uncle Pierre asked.

"How do you think I am? The Goddess took my mate away and now I am all alone." Grandma Luna said.

"You aren't alone." I answered, "You have your family here now."

Grandma Luna was a very proud woman. No one was ever good enough for her. But she was also very lonely. I think that was what made me speak up.

Proud people were not good at talking about their feelings, or accepting help or comfort.

I waited for Grandma Luna to lash out at me, for speaking out of my place or something. I think everyone there was expecting it. Ben had stiffened beside me.

But I was strong. I was the Alpha. I could take it.

Even if she hurts me with her words, I healed fast.

But Grandma only nodded, "My pain is unbearable. I wish to be alone now."

And she turned and left.

I watched her leave, Mindy at her heel. I felt the tension leave the air the moment she was gone.

Perhaps one day, that would be me. Too proud to grieve in front of others. Too proud to admit my weaknesses or errors. Too proud to seek forgiveness from the ones I love.

And then my Wolfie snapped her attention around. There was Oprah, she was laughing and talking to Bell. Was she flirting with my mate? Bell looked bored. Ki was next to him, smiling placidly so I knew something was up. My hair flared up. Ben's wolf growled lowly next to me.

The hall quietened, as the other wolves noticed the shift in atmosphere.

"Oh, Sam..." Mum breathed, but Dad held her hand and stopped her.

Oprah turned around, her expression wide eyed as I stalked forward.

Killion's smile never wavered, in the calmest and gentlest voice he said, "I'm afraid this isn't Alpha Sam either. This is Alpha James Lorent the Third, he is Alpha Sam's mate."

"What?" Oprah paled as I reached them.

"This," Killion indicated to me, "is Alpha Sam."

"But you're a girl!" Oprah gasped at me.

"And that's my mate!" I snarled back. Grrr... My wolf was seriously on the edge.

Killion smiled. He was enjoying this way too much.

"I'm sorry! I beg your pardon, Alpha." It was Oscar that cut in, "My sister studies far away, she is seldom at home, so she is unaware of a lot of things. Please overlook this."

Uncle Louis started moving forward. I didn't have to live here to know by now that once Uncle Louis got involved, it was bad.

Oscar who did live here paled. His dad who came to stand by Uncle Louis' side only looked regretful. One side of Beta Larson's jaw ticked, but he made no move to stop his Alpha.

I held up my hand, "Uncle Louis, please. No need for you to step down to deal with this. It's not serious."

"He is a Beta who dared to speak out of turn to an Alpha. And not just any Alpha, but his own Alpha's niece and guest. What makes you say this isn't serious?" Uncle Louis growled.

What a way to take this personally!

And can I just say, Alpha drama was really too intense to be my cup of tea. I understood why Dad left this pack. Okay, no. I had no inkling about my Dad's reasons. But if I were Dad, I knew now that I would have left too.

Oscar dropped to his knees, "Forgive me, Alpha."

Oprah just stood there stunned.

Killion was still smiling. Mate's face was unreadable, but thanks to the mating bond I could tell that he was clearly untroubled about this, and just a bit amused. Grrr... Those two.

Ben's wolf was on alert, but Ben was smirking at Oprah. And then I remembered, Oprah made Lizzy cry.

Harvey was keeping a cool face just behind Uncle Piere, but his wolf was alert for my signal or any danger towards me.

Okay, I just need to defuse the time bomb - which I had accidentally triggered.

"Uncle Louis, do you mind if I decide the punishment then?" I smiled.

"I don't see why not." Uncle Louis said, "Go ahead. Short of permanently maiming them, it is up to you."

Beta Larson tensed further but held his tongue.

What should I do? I hated when things get this way. Why didn't I get the wise type of Wolfie? But I got a stupid Wolfie. Ah well, I was a happy Wolfie, and I was good at winging it.

I walked over to Oscar and grinned at him, "Stand up."

Oscar got to his feet. I fisted my hand and pulled it back. Oscar shut his eyes and turned his face slightly to give me access.

I let my punch land on his shoulder.

"Whatever." I laughed.

His shocked face was priceless. He reached over to touch his arm where I had hit him.

"Ah, ah Alpha, that didn't really hurt." Oscar admitted in a very quiet voice. I had to give him props for his honesty.

"Well, I was only that much offended." I replied shrugging it off, "Unless you're saying I punch like a girl - I would really punch you then."

"Ah no!" Oscar answered quickly, "No, that punch had very good form."

To which I just burst out laughing. WTH was a punch with very good form? This wasn't ballet.

Then I walked over to Oprah who honestly looked so terrified, I asked, "Are you okay?"

Oprah nodded, she was close to tears. Urgh... I felt like I was bullying her.

I pointed at mate, "This is mine. Got it?"

Oprah started crying. She nodded.

"It's okay, don't cry." I said, "I heard you're studying at the Lorent's Girls' Highschool. Is it fun there? Is it hard? Do you like it?"

Oprah kept crying and nodding at the same time. I was trying to be friendly, but I think I was scaring her worse.

So I was pretty glad my cousins finally spoke up.

"Stop crying already." Esmeralda said, "Sam said it was okay."

"Yeah, Sam is really nice. You don't have to worry." Estella said.

"Yeah, Estella has been checking out Sam's mate every chance she got and she's still alive." Esmeralda said.

"Shhhh! I did not!" Estella said.

They laughed.

"Maybe a little bit." Estella said.

More laughing. Oprah stopped crying.

"Yeah, if you're just looking it's fine. I'm used to it." I said, remembering the female population at my own pack.

"Well then, that's settled." Dad decided, "Let's leave the young people to work this one out on their own."

"That's hardly punishment." Uncle Pierre said.

"It's not punishment at all!" Uncle Andre said.

I pretty much flared at them.

"You want me to punish them? Fine! I wasn't done anyway." I turned back and alpha commanded, "Follow me!"

We went to the receiving room. I was growling. My wolf was on the surface. But also, I was about to have some fun.

I'm glad I gave up my lollipop.