THE TALK OF THE TOWN

18 FEBRUARY, THURSDAY, CONTINUED

"Beta, that was too much! I never want to be your drill partner again." Jack joked. He had somehow gotten shirtless too.

That was the uncool thing about training with guys... If they got hot enough, the shirts come off. (You wouldn't see girls doing that, no matter how hot it got!)

I didn't particularly like it because without shirts, guys were wet and slimey (imao) and their scents would also be pretty intense and their body heat... as a rule of a thumb, I think if I could feel another person's body heat, the other person's too close for comfort. It's okay from afar, I guess, but when you're training with them, they might accidentally stand too close and bleh. Guys were so gross.

When I was younger, I used to pray that my mate would never take off his shirt. I also thought it was a good idea for my mate to always wear long pants because leg hairs were gross too. And naturally, I didn't want my mate to be gross.

I took a quick glance over to where my actual Mate and Ki were practicing. Neither had taken off their shirts, and it's still winter, so everyone's pants were long.

Then I noticed they were practicing in earnest. They weren't doing a speed run like we were, but to my surprise, they were actually doing it - like the entire routine drill, which Bell didn't even know about till just now.

I walked over to check it out more carefully. How was it possible? Maybe they just learned a section of their respective parts?

"How long do you bake a crème brulee?" Mate was asking.

"40 minutes." Ki answered.

Mate jabbed a punch in his shoulder, "If you can remember that, then why can't you remember this?"

Ki growled lowly... I've only ever heard Ki growl with Mate. I'm not sure how was it that they were each other's true Alpha and Beta. Maybe it showed that Ki was comfortable enough in front of Bell to show his disatisfaction...which he only seemed to show at Bell.

Ki raised his fists and mirrored the jab, Mate blocked perfectly a la Part B. And then I realised, Ki was taking Part A (and had forgotten step 11.) Mate was taking Part B and being an impatient jerk about it.

"Didn't you say you learned this before?" Mate asked Ki accusingly.

"They taught me in my second week here." Ki answered, "But the sequence is easy to confuse."

"Wrong!" Mate growled and feigned a side kick. I realized that was step 12. He was prompting Ki the next move to execute.

Ki managed to do the side kick, and completed the rest of step 12, followed by step 13... The one I usually forgot. And then he couldn't remember step 14.

I walked around their mat so that I was in Ki's line of sight and pulled up my fists and stepped into position to hint it.

Ki smiled his thanks and step 14 was done. Actually, Ki had learned the steps, he just needed to be prompted which step was next in the sequence.

"Why are you helping him?" The moment they were done, mate had spun around to face me.

"I was helping you by helping him." I grinned.

Mate growled lowly and then he turned and snapped at Ki, "You can remember every detailed step in making silly deserts, but you can't remember a few basic steps of a standard drill?"

Ki smiled, "Not everyone has your photographic memory, Luna."

(And crème brulee was not a silly dessert.)

"Shut up. This has nothing to do with my memory. You've been taught this, why didn't you master it?" Bell growled.

"Because I was busy mastering how to make the perfect crème brulee." Ki smiled. Omo. Ki was provoking Bell on purpose! What kind of beta did that?

"Alright! We're done! Good job everyone." Hank clapped. Put away your mats. It's runtime."

{Run} Wolfie-Boo perked up immediately.  I'm still feeling confused because my wolf's dark aura was definitely still Boo, but she was acting so Wolfie tonight.

Hank came over to Bell's mat while the others put away the mats. I didn't bother to help - I'm sure Ben was perfectly able to do it himself anyway.

"Luna and Beta, sorry I wasn't able to coach you more closely." Hank actually bowed a little, "Is there anything in the manual that I can help explain or demonstrate?"

"I have a question." Bell said, "This drill... It's the standard drill a Night Leaf warrior uses?"

Hank nodded, "And Morning Light too."

"Where did it come from?" Bell asked.

"I'm sorry Luna. I don't know. It was taught to me since I was a boy." Hank answered.

Bell frowned, "And the manual? There was no author..."

Hank shook his head, "If I'm not wrong, this manual is only an instructional one created when we needed some documentation of the drill. It's mostly only used for reference by the trainers or instructors. Most of our wolves learn it as pups from our elders. It must feel very basic compared to the drill you're using at the underground."

Bell shook his head, "It's basic, but it's very solid... The more I practice it, the more I feel it isn't any ordinary drill."

Hank shook his head, "It's really quite ordinary. Really basic compared to what Captain Stephan had trained your army with at the Underground."

Bell said nothing, but he looked really thoughtful about it. I grinned. My mate was so smart. He had to be the smartest wolf in the world.

My expression did not go unnoticed. Bell raised a brow at me, "I don't suppose you know something about this manual, princess?"

Heh heh, I decided to play with him a little, just to see what would happen, "Yup, but what would you give me for telling you?"

(See, I told you Boo was still very much present.)

"What do you want?" Bell asked. Wow, he was serious.

"Nothing." I shrugged.

Jessica and Savy had come over, "Sam, we're going outside to shift for the run now."

Right, ladies first.

"If you can keep up with me at tonight's run, I'll tell you." And then I turned to leave with Jessica and Savy.

"What are you going to tell him?" Savy asked as the three of us walked up the stairs to the usual side exit for our training runs.

"The secret behind our routine drill." I answered.

"What secret?" Jessica asked.

"There isn't one is there?" Savy suspected immediately, "Sam, if you lead him on like that, he's going to get mad when he finds out you've tricked him."

Jessica laughed now, "Wow, Sam. Your relationship with your Luna is so exciting. No wonder the both of you have been the talk of the town"

"Why are they the talk of the town?" Savy asked curiously, "What have you heard about them?"

Jessica's eyes gleamed and then she told us what "everybody knew".

Apparently, "everybody knew" about the blossoming romance between the White Lorent Prince and the Night Leaf Princess... like all good gossip, everybody knew except me. 

Ever since the news article came out on our Valentine's Day date, it was official. The Young Alpha James Lorent III was engaged to the Alpha Princess of the Green Packlands. This was huge news to the Green Packlands. Mostly, it signaled the two most powerful packs in the Green Packlands merging. 

Now here were some facts about the Young Alpha James Lorent III that not everyone knew, but Jessica had gleaned from her cousin in the Lorent pack: 

Did you know that the Young Alpha James Lorent III was the only surviving male alpha heir in the Green Packlands? Morning Light's Alpha Daniel and his Luna had died from a rogue attack years back, leaving behind no heirs. Night Leaf's Alpha Kingsley and his Luna only had daughters. (Jessica had paused here to give Savy and I a pointed look. We nodded contritely.) And the other minor packs had lost their male alpha heirs in various rogue attacks, infighting, and sickness over the years. 

Did you know that the Young Alpha James Lorent III was already 18? A full adult wolf! He had turned 18 in Autumn last year. It was common knowledge that the father and son could not get along. Some speculated that the elder alpha did not want to hand over the reigns because his son would overturn the leadership and heartlessly run his own parents out of the pack. Others were sure that it was the son's wild ways that made him wholly unsuitable for any real pack responsibility.

But the Alpha Office at the Lorent had now explained that it was according to Lycan tradition that the young alpha would only have his investiture ceremony after he had mated, for the Alpha and Luna were to be recognized together as the head of the pack. Postponing the Alpha Investiture till the Young Alpha was mated was a standard practice upheld by many traditional packs as a sign of reverence to their future Luna.

I'm not sure why I would have thought the reason why Bell never had his investiture was because he had been kidnapped and sold to the fightcages at the end of last year. I had always assumed this would naturally shut down any plans for an investiture ceremony. But Jessica made no mention of Bell's stint as a fight dog. I was left to conclude this wasn't what "everybody knew."

The Lorent Alpha Office had also provided an outline for the Young Alpha James Lorent III's future ascension, now that he had found his mate. It had been decided that an exception was to be made for him, due to his lunas' young age.

Alpha Lorent had decided that our betrothal was firmly committed due to the support from my highly esteemed family and the long-standing relationship between our packs, not to mention he had personally observed the tender love between the young couple. Thus he was pleased to announce his son's investiture ceremony in spring this year, on the 28th March. As according to tradition, the ceremony would be held on the full moon. Just as the Inaugeration Ceremony at his coming of age had been held during the half moon. 

The only untraditional thing about it was that the new Alpha and Luna would not be be participating in the traditional mating ceremony on the evening of the Investiture. Instead, they would throw a banquet to celebrate our betrothal.

By the way, it should be noted that the full moon in March this year was the Full Crow Moon. I'm not sure exactly what this signified, but Jessica had made it sound like it meant something. 

Maybe it eluded to the Young Alpha being evil or something. I wondered if "everybody knew" that my luna was evil.

Did you know that when the Alpha Investiture takes place, the Young Alpha James Lorent III would officially become THE Alpha James Lorent III? (No more young). This title would come with the full privileges and responsibilities of the alpha of the Lorent Pack. His father, Alpha Lorent would retire and become the Elder Alpha, and only take on an advisory role in the leadership, as tradition dictates, of course. 

Jessica's cousin had told her that work had been hell for her mate. The change in leadership was making everyone in the Lorent pack jittery. The stocks were going crazy, and her mate had to do overtime almost every night since the news broke out.

And those were the three facts about my own mate that "everybody knew."

"So by the end of March, you'd be betrothed to THE Alpha of the Lorent Pack!" Jessica concluded for me, "That'll make you the Lorent Luna."

Wait, what? I shook my head. No way!

"I can't imagine that." Savy admitted.

"I know right?" Jessica said, "Who would have thought, our Sam would be the next Luna of the Lorent Pack!"

I probably should've seen that coming, but I totally didn't.

"My mum said it was a good thing." Jessica confided, "Young female wolves that are too beautiful are always troubled by a lot of unwanted attention. A strong Alpha mate would be able to protect her."

And then, almost as an afterthought, Jessica added, "Dean was pretty depressed about it though."

Martha had told Florence (and probably everyone else in Night Leaf), and Florence had told Dean about the huge pile of presents I had received on Valentine's Day. Martha had seen them in my room when she came to clean. Some of it looked really expensive too, but she hadn't dared to pry.

(Yes, because Martha would never invade anyone's privacy like that.)

But, Martha was sure that at least two bags contained jewellery.

"You better not talk to Dean for a while." Jessica advised me, "I think he's still getting over you. He even made you a Vday gift and everything. He said you're just friends, but when he heard about your other gifts, he got upset and said he couldn't give you his. I told him he had to let go. So give him space, alright, Sam? I know you two were tight, but if you're too friendly with him now, it'll make it harder for him to let go."

Wait, what? I shook my head, "But..."

"We better get change." Jessica smiled. She patted me on my shoulder in an encouraging way and glided out of sight.

Savy looked at me, "You okay?"

Why wouldn't I be okay?

"Yeah, whatever, let's just get changed before the guys get here." I shrugged it off.

Of course I'm okay... right?