Chapter 49

Amelie

"Ladies, as the ranked females of this pack, we will focus our attention on improving the lives of all pack members. We also need to refine our pack's reputation from militant enforcers to investigators and relief responders. Should others fear us? Yes, but they should also see us as hope." They all stare at me with wide eyes. During the month together at the Ashwood pack, I got to know Gideon and how the pack operates, and I outlined changes I felt needed to be made. Some would be quick and easy. Others would take years to develop fully. My ideas and solutions floored Gideon. He gave me free rein to use my authority to improve the pack. He said he knew I was always meant for him to make the pack stronger than he could ever on his own. He permitted me to use whatever resources I needed. So am taking the ranked females under my wing.

Shay the Beta, Jorden the Gamma, and Becky as the Delta. Becky may have been born an Omega, but as soon as she was mated to a Delta, she was one too. Benjamin was the caption of the Elite Delta Squad. She was a leader, and people were drawn to her; she was only an Omega because she was not a warrior in the classical sense. Shay, on the other hand, was a true warrior. She was small in stature but being the Beta female, she could take down almost any male in the pack not because she was strong, she was, but because she was smart and could quickly find a wolf's weakness and exploit it. I knew someone with that level of quick reasoning and decision-making needed to be on my team. Then you had Jorden the Gamma female, a warrior, yes, but she was one of the top investigators and trackers. She solved cold cases for fun! My team was unstoppable.

I continued, "We will be starting by making small changes and slowly implementing bigger ones. We will also need to increase the number of Omegas into the pack." Shay and Jorden gave me a curious look. It was not dismissive or hateful but wondering what I wanted all the workforce for. I smile wide, "We are going to be improving hospitals and schools first. We will also be putting together a relief and rebuilding task force. This group will supply support for packs in need of rebuilding after a disaster, war with a rival pack, or large-scale Rogue attack." They all look at me, then look at each other and start clapping. I chuckle. They have no idea the number of changes that would be coming. "As I said, our schools and hospitals need to improve first. This is the only way we will have the right people. We will also need civil engineers, architects, restauranteurs, shopkeepers, and grocers. Everyone will have their place and purpose. It does not matter if you clean the toilets or fight on the front lines; everyone is important and plays a vital role in our pack. We are the ranked females. We are the example and will lead this change." I can feel my Luna aura leaking out as I stand to address my team.

All three stand and move to the front of the table I am standing behind and kneel. I didn't ask them to do that. They all just did it in unison. Shay was the first to speak. "Luna, if I may."

"Please speak freely, and you all can call me Amelie or Am when we are together, please." I nod

"Thank you, Luna Amelie. We feel blessed by the goddess that you are our new Luna. You are who our pack needed." Jorden chimes in.

Before I could say another word, Shay says, "I, Shay Marshall, Beta-female of the Druit Guard pack, pledge my loyalty to my Luna, Amelie Ashwood, the mother of our pack." Shay just gave the Luna pledge. This was a little know pledge only done between the Luna and the ranked females. It was a huge sign of respect not only for the Luna but the Alpha too.

"I accept your pledge. Please rise Beta." I extended my canines, thank the goddess Inari was not fully sealed, biting into my thumb. Shay extended one of her claws and made a small cut on her palm. I let a few drops of my blood fall to her cut. As soon as it did, her cut healed, and she wavered on her feet a little.

She looked up at me with saucer wide eyes, "Wow, that's power on the same level as the Alpha." I smile.

"I, Jorden Rodriguez, Gamma-female of the Druit Guard pack, pledge my loyalty to my Luna, Amelie Ashwood, the mother of our pack." I bite my thumb again, and Jorden cuts her palm.

"I accept your pledge. Please rise, Gamma." I let a few drops of my blood hit her palm.

She drops back down to her knees and regains her composer. "Holy shit! Are all Luna's this strong?" I just smile. I cannot tell them that I am a descendant of the first of our kind.

Becky looks up at me, "Am I allowed to do this? I mean, I'm an Omega."

I raise an eyebrow at her and cross my arms, "Becky Sanders, you are no longer an Omega. You are a Delta female, a ranked member of this pack, and a member of my team."

She takes a deep breath, "I, Becky Sanders, Delta-female of the Druit Guard pack, pledge my Loyalty to my Luna, Amelie Ashwood, the mother of our pack." I bite my thumb for the last time. I was thankful that I heal quickly again. Becky cut her palm.

"I accept your pledge. Please rise, Delta." Becky stands, and a few drops of my blood hit her palm. She instantly falls backward. Thank goddess that Shay is fast and caught her. Becky's eyes glaze over for a second, and she gasps for air. Her eyes close for a second and suddenly open, glowing bright blue.

"I-I… what was that! Are you an Alpha?"

I laugh. "Well, all true Luna's are. We are the Alpha female of the pack. I come from a very long line of Alphas and Betas, so my bloodline is a little stronger than most. Now our bond is stronger. We are sisters, family. You should all check your pack marks."

They all roll up their sleeves, and behind their oak tree pack mark, was a crescent moon. Jorden looks up at me, "What is this?"

"It's the Ranked Luna mark. What you all did out of instinct was called the Luna Pledge. It can only be done between a true Luna and the ranked females of a pack. In return, you all received a blessing from the moon goddess herself. We are a stronger pack because of it." I pull down the shoulder of my cardigan, showing them my pack mark. "You see, I now have the same crescent moon behind my oak tree. Just how Gideon and your mates have a full moon behind theirs. This is the proper mark for a ranked male and females wolves of a pack. I am proud to share it with you ladies!"

"Mommy! That was so cool!" Daisy comes running up and tugging on my leg. I had not noticed the kids had stopped playing and gathered around us. Ryan and Easton are running to their mother's and Rose sitting on Becky's lap on the floor. I was glad they saw it. I was also glad they were not scared of me or what happened. All the kids are looking at the upgraded pack marks in awe and wonder.

I bend down and pick Daisy up. She starts touching my marks, and her eyes are wide and full of questions. "Ladies, let's take a break. It's almost lunchtime, and I think the kids have questions. We need to teach them as they will take over our roles one day."

"Yes, Luna." They say in unison.

"Please call me Amelie when we are together." We all head down to the dining hall together.

As we enter the dining hall. We are announced, and everyone stands and bows. I was not expecting them to do that when I entered without Gideon. Gideon and the ranked Males were already seated at the head table. They were the only ones not standing. Gideon looks at us with curiosity, and I give him a wink. Becky breaks off and sits with Benjamin.

I guess I will need to talk to Gideon about adding Becky and Benjamin to our head table. As we get to our seats, our mates stand and pull out our chairs. They are complete gentlemen. I can tell they all sense something, but they are not sure what it is.

Gideon sits and turns to me, "Something is different. What happened?"

I turn my body toward him and show him my pack mark. "Notice anything?" He examines it.

"It has a crescent moon. How or why?" He gets a big smile on his face. He knows this is good.

"They instinctively did the Luna Pledge. I accepted, and we sealed it with blood. They are now officially the same rank as their mates blessed by the goddess." His mouth drops at my words.

"I can feel their auras changed. They are stronger." He is grinning from ear to ear.

"That reminds me we need to move Becky and Benjamin up to our table. She is officially my only Delta-female and now raised his rank." I look over at Becky, and she is showing Benjamin her upgraded pack mark, and he is in total awe of her.

"He is the captain of the Elite Delta squad. It should have been done as soon as he found his mate, but now that his mate is the Luna's Delta, it will have to be done." He leans over kisses my cheek. I look over, and I see Shay and Jorden showing their mates, and both men turn and look at me and bow.

The next thing I knew, Gideon stands and pulls everyone's attention to him.