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They all agreed reluctantly, and we finally got off the topic of my private life. With important things that needed our attention, we got straight into it.
The morning meeting played out like most of them did, and it wasn't anything out of the ordinary, which allowed me to slip into my usual state of ease.
While Sebastian explained some new information about our investors, my mind wandered to Jane again.
As if my wolf was trying to reach out for her, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to see her again. That curiosity had grown tenfold, and it was getting harder to ignore.
Even if we had a long way to go regarding our bond and learning more about each other, the ceremony had lifted her on a pedestal in my mind, and I couldn’t shake that longing as it blossomed within me.
Jane was my Luna, whether I had expected it or not, and being away from her so soon after the ceremony put a real strain on me. I couldn't imagine what it would be like after consummating the bond.
Regardless of my confused feelings towards her, I had a predicament on my hands, and I needed to sort it out sooner rather than later.
Chapter 10 - Jane
I never imagined I would have to adjust to being in a new pack, and it was proving harder than I thought.
While life in Levi's pack seemed to be much quieter and more peaceful than in Sam's, it was difficult to get used to how overly nice everyone was. So much so that I couldn't walk anywhere without one of the pack members staring at me.
The moment I stepped outside, hoping to catch some sun that morning, I was met with a woman watching me while she worked on her garden. She waved and offered me a smile, and while that was nice, the feeling of her eyes lingering on me made a chill wash over me.
Eventually, I decided to walk around to get a better look at the area, and I caught the stare of multiple others.
Even if they were trying to welcome me, I couldn't shake the discomfort of being watched. It made me feel insecure, which didn't help me transition to a new way of life.
To my relief, I stumbled upon Nati, who was also out for a walk. At that moment, she seemed like a lifeline, and I wasted no time intercepting her.
She cracked a genuine smile for me. “How are you, Jane? What a beautiful day for your first week as a mate.”
That latter part still made me somewhat uneasy, but I tried to return the positive gesture. “I’m as well as I could be, but things are a bit different around here.”
Nati chuckled at that. “You aren’t that far from your old pack grounds. Surely it’s not that different?”
“It might not be far, but it’s like night and day. The people here are kind, and they’re always trying to smile and wave…in fact, I wanted to ask you what’s going on. Why do they keep staring at me?” I asked, feeling like I was at the end of my rope trying to figure it out.
“The people are both intimidated by you and trying to show you respect from afar while you get used to things.”
My brows furrowed. “Intimidated? Why would they be intimidated by me?”
The idea alone seemed absurd. Nobody had ever been scared of me—not when I was the outcast or the pack punching bag. Any of them would laugh at that thought.
“Jane, you are the alpha’s mate. You’re the new Luna. Because of that, you are, in turn, higher up in the pecking order than anyone else. Even if you’re new here, you are Levi’s equal, meaning they must respect you,” Nati explained, kind with her words. “I’m sure it must be strange, but they don’t mean any harm by looking at you. It isn’t unusual for women in the pack to look up to the Luna and wish to replicate her style or mannerisms. You have a great influence now, and I’ve heard many of them comment on how beautiful they think you are.”
I could only blink through the shock of it all as I tried to digest her words. As crazy as it was, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I should’ve known. But after everything I had been through with the other pack, it was hard to dissolve those previous ideologies that had been hammered into my head from the ridicule.
“You’re right, it is strange.”
With another smile for me, Nati linked her arm through mine and guided me forward. “Let me show you around. This must be so disorienting.”
“Please,” I said, somewhat exaggerating, to which she chuckled.
The more we walked around town, the more at ease I felt. As Nati showed me the general layout, I was able to internalize most of it, and the new town didn’t feel so foreign to me.
The pack was situated in a small town, just like Sam’s, with everything pack-related being centralized in one place. Everyone in the pack essentially lived in one neighborhood surrounded by beautiful trees and lush meadows, some even turned into parks. It was on the outskirts to allow the pack privacy and offered us some separation from the humans.
“If the pack territory is so close to the rest of town, how do the humans not find out about shifters living here?” I asked, curious about how the town differed from Sam’s grounds. Wouldn’t they see the traditions or hear howling, at least?”
Back home, the territory was considered private property, and while humans were nearby, they didn’t dare get too close. They didn’t know we were shifters but heard enough tales to keep away.
