I'M NOT IN DENIAL (OR IN LOVE EITHER)

4 MARCH, FRIDAY, DINNER

We had dinner straight after the Cadence. Dad and his betas had to meet the gammas and the other deltas tonight.

"That was another good meeting, Sam." Dad said over the table. So yay! I'm not a one hit wonder.

"Yah man. Short and sweet. Set the next cadence in the afternoon too." Beta Lucas decided, "This is just right. We can meet the others after their work hours to update them and followup with our own internal meeting."

Urm... I'm not sure if your Gammas and Deltas would agree, Beta Lucas. They did just finish their work hours, right?

Lizzy was coming over for a sleep over movie marathon with Savy later too. Mum had NEVER allowed us to stay up all night before, but after long negotiations, Savy convinced Mum that she NEEDED this. Mum had to let her grow up. Her first term results put her on the honors roll (again). AND Sam got to go out of Packlands at night for a huge pool party on her last day of school.

So to make it fair for Savy, Mum decided to allow the overnight movie marathon. They were going to watch Lizzy's list of top 10 rom coms of all time.

"I want to do that too!" I raised my hand (and hair). It's not fair! I'd much rather lie around and watch movies till dawn than go to a pool party.

"Too bad. You have a party to go to." Savy told me firmly, and then she added graciously, "But you may join us when you get home."

Really? I looked at Mum for confirmation. Mum pursed her lips.

"If you aren't too tired." Mum allowed, "And if you wear your diadem in case you fall asleep halfway or chikaboom."

"I never chikaboom." I said. But no one believed me.

"Just to be safe." Mum placated me, "You know how you melt down when you're tired."

I never meltdown. (Don't argue with me.)

Anyway, long story short, everyone had plans tonight, so dinner was straight after stuffing myself with cookies and Bell's plate of dessert. Even Sabre had gone to Taylor's house for a pajamas party earlier.

"What's wrong Sam?" Mum asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

I poked at the juicy pieces of pork tenderloins, "I think I ate too many cookies after the cadence."

Mum shook her head ruefully, "Really now, Sam. You're not a puppy anymore."

"Yes, I am!" I gave mum my puppy dog eyes.

"I'll eat it." Ben popped his dark head out of the kitchen doorway.

Now that guy... He's been eating all night. I don't think he could get the food into his stomach fast enough to keep up with all his growing since his shift. I'd say it was an enviable problem - at least he was growing the way a normal wolf should. Even Savy had grown a bit after her shift. I noticed earlier when she passed me to go to her seat and I wondered why she was wearing heels in the house. She wasn't.

I was probably the only wolf in the world who hadn't grown in ANY way since shifting. I didn't get taller. I didn't get ahem, curvier. I did get a lot of hair though. Maybe all the protein went into that.

My betas were eating in the kitchen with Ki and Bell tonight. This was another exception my parents allowed because the Lorent leadership were going to have an internal meeting after this too, and Bell had to "iron some things out with my betas before then."

Dad was particularly understanding, "Just let them work. His Investiture is in a few weeks - he must be busy."

I've yet to hear anyone ever say no to Bell in Night Leaf. Here, we liked to fawn over our Lunas and exceed their every request. At least it felt like it when I saw the way my elders pandered to Bell.

I mean, even though I was used to ladies coming up to praise mum and say nice things to her, or warriors rush over to open doors and help Mum carry anything that looked like it was heavier than an apple. Mum was our Pack's lovely Luna. She was dad's darling. And our wolves had always been kind and loyal like that.

But to watch them do the same for Bell! It was really weird. I'm not sure if they noticed that my Luna wasn't exactly the lovely Luna type.

But Bell took it in his stride, actually, he pretty much took having the doors opened for him, and warriors carrying his stuff for granted. He also took the compliments like it was an expected thing.

The colder and haughtier he was, the more my wolves fell over themselves. The younger warriors looked at him with fear and awe. The older ones praised him like he was the last hope of our pack. Our next alpha is a puppy girl, but thank the goddess, our new Luna was a powerful and rare alpha healer wolf, a terrifying warrior, a brilliant tactician, a savy investor... Our pack's future was secured!

Also, his golden eyes were so mesmerising. His dark curls were so luxurious. More than one warrior had wished they had hair like that. And let's not get started with their discussion on what his work out routine must look like.

I'm serious. They really said such things about him. The younger she-wolves liked to discuss his butt and shoulders too. He never talks directly to girls though, but part of his charm was how he was totally unattainable.

Jessica told Lizzy who told Savy who told me that Jack (Jessica's brother) said our Luna Bell was super intense. He never smiled, and acted like he was better than everyone else. So when Bell patted his shoulder at this one training and said, "That'll do." Jack had never felt so happy. He was euphoric. It was like falling in love - but not. It was intense though. He claimed he wasn't the only guy who had this experience with Bell.

Okay. Since it was what Jack told Jessica who told Lizzy who told Savy, I couldn't give Jack my opinion, BUT-

Wasn't "That'll do (pig)" what Wilbur's Farmer said to him?

And also, Jack and the other guys were mad. My whole pack had gone bonkers over their new Luna.

{As they should.} Boo was smug.

I think Boo was also bonkers mad over Bell, so let's disregard her comment.

Sometimes, the instincts of a pack wolf would save his life. Sometimes it can be exploited to trap him. And sometimes, it turns an entire pack into idiots.

Ben came over to the table to clear my plate for me, "What are you thinking?"

What, who me?

"You have your thinking face on." Ben informed me. My whole family looked up from their meal to examine my face.

I shook my head. I owned no such face!

"Just that I think you guys spoil Bell." I said.

Ben made a face, but he shrugged, "You're the one who spoils him."

"I do not!" I flared. "Like name one thing I've ever did for him!"

"Let's see. You signed the cheques to develop his new underground army, and we're financing all his business ventures because they aren't suspicious at all." Ben deadpanned, "Everytime he's in a bad mood, you get moody. And whenever he shows you his sling, you look at him like you want to cry."

Okay. Stop. Just stop. I cast a glance at the other wolves around the table. I mean, my family I didn't mind. Even Beta Lucas was okay. But Beta Gerald, the president of my imaginary fan club was here.

And whatever Ben said wasn't true.

"You told Harvey to cover for him everytime he uses us as an excuse to skip Lorent meetings." Ben continued.

I said name one thing. This was more than one thing. And I did not! Okay, maybe that last thing, I did do. But I had my reasons.

I'm sure Ben would have continued exposing my shameful weakness, but he stopped and frowned at the plate, "Are you sure you're alright, Sam?"

I nodded, "I just ate too many cookies."

Actually, I was feeling kind of tired too, but I couldn't say it out loud. I felt sure Mum might make me miss the party, or worse, wear the diadem there.

The diadem was gold and Krystal had made it very clear our accessories had to be silver in color. I'm not sure why I let a teenage human dictate my wardrobe tonight, but I had to go exactly the way the cool girls were. It was top priority.

My other priority was EJ and Fluffy. I was honestly afraid to let Fluffy and EJ into a human party unsupervised.

"Are you sure you're okay, Sam?" Mum's worry was renewed no thanks to Ben.

"Yes." I tried to sound sure, "And also, I don't spoil my Luna. I'm just..."

Bell popped out from the kitchen suddenly, Ki at his heel, "I'll be taking my leave. Thank you for dinner."

{Mate! ~❤️ }

And then he added, "I'll also be borrowing Ki."

And without waiting, he made a brisk bow and left.

Ki bowed more politely, "Please excuse us. I've arranged for Barry to clean up after dinner and preparing tomorrow's breakfast, Luna."

"Oh, thank you Ki. Please don't worry about us." Mum smiled.

"I've also prepared your outfit tonight, goddess. Also, I've posted Lucifer's picture and tagged your friend, Zara."

"Ah, thanks, Ki." I had all but forgotten about that!

Ki smiled, like a flower to the sun, "It was my pleasure, goddess. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

I shook my head. How could I ask him to do any more?

Dad nodded, "You better go. Bell needs you more than we do right now."

Ki nodded a bow, "Then I'll take my leave. please excuse me,"

"Hooboy. Your friend won't believe that's a hamster." Beta Lucas said, "That furball is as large as a football."

"The greedy bugger stole some crystal and grew again Dad." Ben told his father, "You can check him out later. He's moving into our basement."

"Who?" My mum looked confused.

"Lucky." I told her, "My hamster. It's the size of a small dog now."

"Hoo boy." Beta Lucas said, "A rat the size of a dog."

Mum managed a tight smile. Mum was a little sensitive to all things rodent.

"I mean it's a cute rat." Beta Lucas immediately tried to assure Mum, "Not rat-like at all, luna."

"Lucas." Dad warned.

"Hoo boy. I'll just stop talking now."

And everyone laughed. Even Harvey came out from the kitchen to join us (and help clear the plates because he was a good beta like that.)

Home was saying the wrong things but no one minding. Home was where someone pointed out your greatest weakness like it wasn't that big a deal to them. Home was...

"Sam." Mum said more seriously a little while later when the conversation drifted to other things, "Do you remember what I told you the other day?"

There could easily have been more than 300 things my Mum told me in the last few days. Why was she pulling a Wolfgang on me?

But she wasn't, Mum continued by answering her own question, "You are the Alpha and your wolves would naturally take your lead. If your show love and respect to your Luna, they would follow suit."

"So you're saying it's MY fault that everyone's spoiling him?" I asked. I did not!

"Oh, Sam." Mum smiled, "Of course not. No one is spoiling Bell. Everyone is just taken by their new Luna. He's charming and capable, and it's wonderful how the both of you are so in love."

Charming, my foot. (And we were not in love!)

"It's just the mating bond, Mum." I answered sensibly.

"It's love, Sam." Mum insisted, "You don't have to deny it. The mating bond is never wrong."