9. Black Moon Pack
After a ten minutes walk, tiny houses came into view. They looked all similar, whit small gardens surrounded by white wooden fences.
The streets were full of women, men and kids, either playing, chatting or running. Laughter was filling the air.
It reminds me of home in the good times.
"Welcome to the Black Moon Pack, Amaya!" Luca said as soon as we entered the small city.
"This is so beautiful!" I said, trying to see as much as I could.
"Wait till we get to the city centre."
Leon starts laughing at his brother's excitement. Then he looked at me and nodded his head.
"So, what pack are you from?" Luca asks.
"I... I have no pack, Luca. I..."
"She means her pack is not from this continent. She just left there to find her mate."
Leon said before I could finish my sentences.
I didn't question, as I knew why he did it. But I was wondering if it was a good idea to come here after all. Suppose he hides this even from his brother.
A loud voice brings me up from my thoughts.
"Leon! Leon! Oh, thank the Moon Goddess! My boy is home.
" Mom..." Leon said, rolling his eyes
"Oh, my handsome boy! You came! Do you know how much I missed you? And who is this lovely woman?"
"She is just a friend, mom! Nothing more."
"A friend, uh? I see... Well, does your friend have a name?"
"Oh, I apologise, ma'am! Please forgive me. I'm Amaya! Is a pleasure to meet you!"
"Oh, dear Amaya! You do not need to apologise. It was this man's job to introduce us." she said, grabbing Leon's left ear."
"Mom! I'm not three! You are embarrassing me!"
Leon shouts. His face was now tomato red.
"Oh, no! I need to go now!" Luca said quickly and started running after he burst out in laughter.
"Is this how I taught you to speak with your mother, Leon Moretti?" the woman said, pulling harder at his ear.
I was trying not to laugh, but I knew I wouldn't be able to contain it for much longer.
"Ok... I'm sorry, mom! I missed you too!"
"Was this hard now, Leon?"
"No, mom! Please forgive me!"
"Oh, my sweet boy! I love you so much!" she said and hugged him!
"I'm Rosa! Rosa Moretti, Leon's mother. I'm pleased to meet you, young Amaya! But can you tell me? What pack are you from? I can feel that there is something different about you..." Rosa said, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Mom!"
"Oh! Forgive me, child! Sometimes I talk without thinking. Come, let's make some tea or coffee."
"Mom! Later! I need to see Alpha first. I need to inform him about Amaya."
"Oh, sure! I haven't thought about that! Go now, but please do not leave without coming home, Leon! At least stay for a high!"
"Mom, I don't know..." Leon starts to say, but I interrupted him when I saw Rosa's eyes filling with tears.
"We will! I want to know more about Black Moon Pack!"
They both looked at me in surprise, and I just shrugged my shoulders.
"Oh, of course, if Alpha will allow me to stay here."
"I'm sure he will, Amaya! Thank you so much for doing this!"
"No worries, ma'am!" I said with a smile.
"Please, dear, call me Rosa!"
"Sure ma...umm... Rosa!"
Leon cleared his throat and grabbed my hand.
"Come on, Amaya! We need to go."
"Bye Rosa! See you later!" I said while being dragged by an annoyed Leon.
"What is wrong?" I ask him.
"Nothing! Just feeling a bit... I don't know. Mom is sometimes..."
"She is just missing you, Leon! And she loves you! This is all that I have seen there."
He smiles at me and nods his head.
"Thank you, Amaya! You know what to say, to make others feel better."
I smiled at him, and we walked in silence for another ten minutes before we stopped at some massive black gates.
"We are here! This is where Alpha lives!" He said, pointing at the huge house.
"And there is the packhouse," he added, pointing at the one slightly smaller next to the big one.
"Whoa! So the Alpha King doesn't live in a palace?"
"He does! Is a 10 minute run from here! But he likes to stay here sometimes. I think it makes him forget how lonely he is."
He opens the gates and walks to the house with me on his tail.
I was feeling so nervous now.
"You ready?" Leon asks before knocking on the door.
I nod my head and smile at him.
"Leon! Wait!" I said just before he knocked.
"What's wrong?"
"What if your Alpha doesn't like me? What if he asks me to leave this pack?"
"I will leave with you! But do not worry! Alpha Ricci is a good man.
"Ok! But will we tell him the truth? About me?"
"We need to, Amaya. Maybe he knows something more than us. Perhaps he can help you.
" Ok, Leon! I trust you!"
He grabs my hand again and knocks on the door.
A petite blonde woman opens the door.
"Leon! Welcome back! Should I tell Alpha that you are here?"
"Hi, Anna! No, no worries! I will tell him myself!" he said in a warm voice.
"Of course!" she said to him, blushing slightly.
"Please, meet my friend Amaya! Amaya, this is Anna!"
"Hi! Nice to meet you, Anna!" I said to her with a smile.
"The pleasure is mine, Amaya! Come in! Alpha is in his office. I'm sure you can remember the way, Leon!"
"I do, thank you!"
I followed him to the lovely house. The walls were painted in white and golden, and all the furniture was black. It looked the same as a palace.
"Keep your head down till I introduce you, Amaya! Is a sign of respect." Leon told me when we stopped in front of one of the many doors.
"Leon, is that you?" A deep voice from the other side of the door.
"Yes, Alpha is me!"
"Come in, son! And I remember that I told you to call me by my name when we are not in public."
Leon opened the door but didn't enter. I was so curious about this Alpha now. His voice gives me an unfamiliar feeling.
"I do, Alpha! But I have a friend with me. A special one that I want you to meet."
"Then let me meet this friend of yours, Beta!"
