Finally, there was a lull in the line of people waiting for food, and Persephone turned in my direction. I felt uncomfortable, not knowing how to relate to the woman I had only ever known as the wife of the alpha.
Deciding to start with a safe topic, one I could easily relate to, I focused on the food. “So, is this a normal amount of food for a full moon event? How often do you host this many pack members inside your home?”
She grinned, dazzling me. “We only do it on the first day of the full moon. That’s when the moon is at its strongest. We usually invite the pack members to a large communal dinner so they can all celebrate together and share in the experience.”
I nodded slowly, taking it all in.
“The first night of the full moon can take a lot of energy as it pulls on our wolves’ connection to the moon and its power. The run is a way to strengthen our ties as a pack, and thefood is a way to replenish our energy.” She paused and leaned in, lowering her voice. “From your questions, I’m assuming this isn’t something you all dodown the hill.”
It took me a minute to realize thatdown the hillwas referring to us middle class pack members—the ones who weren’t privy to such extravagant celebrations and feasts. I shook my head, refraining from making a snide remark.
Persephone sighed. “Maybe someone should change that and start doing something similar. It’s important for all pack members to come together to run and have sustenance on the first night of the full moon, not just the rich.”
Was I hearing her correctly? The great Persephone Keller, the one who turned her nose up at most people, thought that the lower class citizens of the pack should receive the same treatment as its elite members? I must have misunderstood.
All my life, I never thought Persephone—or Dominic, for that matter—cared much for those not in their ranks. Now, I was more confused than ever. Did she actuallycareabout the shifters who didn’t have the means to make large donations to the causes she deemed worthy?
Persephone must’ve seen the surprise on my face, though I was trying hard to conceal it. She raised one of her perfectly groomed eyebrows, then she sighed and turned her attention to doling out plates of food as more shifters emerged from the trees.
She’d gone all out with the catering: smoked ribs, baked beans, chicken thighs, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, green beans. It all looked amazing. My stomach growled as I scooped it all onto the plates, hoping everyone would move quickly through the line so I could eat.
Once the wave of shifters had their food and moved away from the buffet table, Persephone turned back to me. “It probably seems like we’re cold and uncaring,” she admitted.“That’s not the case, though. We care deeply for all our pack members, not just the ones who are well off. Everyone. Rich, middle, and lower. It’s just that it’s hard to relate when you’re seen as royalty. It’s almost as if we scare the poorer people. Like they don’t know how to act around us.” She paused to say hello to a friend before continuing.
“We have people in place to take care of the different classes. They plan events and try to keep up the morale of our people, updating us on anything we could do to make their lives better. I hate to admit that I haven’t been diligent in keeping up with how they’ve been running things lately. That’s awful, isn’t it?”
I didn’t know how to respond, though I was thinking that, yeah, it was pretty fucked up not to keep tabs on the staff members tasked to take care of your pack members. I wondered what had fallen through the cracks that could have made people’s lives better, or what morale-boosting events had gone unplanned because Persephone hadn’t taken the time to approve them.
I hadn’t had time to form a response to her question before she spoke again. Maybe it was hypothetical and she didn’t want to give me the chance to agree that it was, indeed, awful.
“As the mate of the alpha, that will also be one of your duties. Once you and Ty officially mate and go through with the mating ceremony, of course.”
I noted the sarcasm in her voice and assumed she was just as anxious for Ty and me to mate as Dominic was. Why was everyone getting their panties in a wad over us mating so quickly? What business was it of theirs? Couldn’t we take our time and solidify our relationship before the ceremony?
Everyone I’d ever known who had found their fated mate took the time to date and get to know each other on a deeper, emotional level before jumping into mating. It was simply goodsense to know your partner and develop a strong bond before taking that next step.
Persephone broke through my thoughts. “People in positions of power tend to get a big head and need people they trust to keep them in line to stop them going off the rails with their ideas and proposed plans for the pack.” She gave me a wry look. “It’s been a while since I checked in on my most trusted advisors, so I’ll be calling a meeting in the morning. You should be there to get acquainted with the current council. Obviously, you and Ty will decide if you want to keep them on board, or if you’d rather choose your own council members.”
Wow. An invitation to a council meeting? I was shocked that she was being so open and accepting.
So much so that I couldn’t keep it to myself. “Persephone, I’m honored that you’d invite me to the meeting, but I must admit, it’s a bit surprising.”
“Oh, really?” The slightest line creased the skin between her brows. “Why is that?”
“Well, I’ve gotten the feeling that you hated me. At least, that’s how it seemed when Ty and I discovered we were fated mates. You wouldn’t even look me in the eye.”
Persephone’s mouth fell open as she dropped the ladle back into the baked beans. She turned to face me, no longer keeping her voice low since we’d just served the last pack member in line. “Liza, I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time about all of that.” She reached out and gently touched my arm, then recoiled, second-guessing her kind gesture. Maybe she assumed it would make me uncomfortable. The mate to the alpha showing such kindness to a middle class pack member? It was unheard of. “I know you’re aware of what Dominic did to your pack… to… to your parents.”
I tried not to flinch at the mention of the horrific slaughter of my parents and their pack as Persephone continued.
“I knew about it. Actually, I’ve known about it from the moment it happened. I hated to see you without a family at such a young and innocent age, being placed for adoption in a pack that wasn’t your own. It was gut-wrenching, but it was the best we could do for you.”
She sighed and brushed a stray hair out of her eyes. “Knowing who you were and where you came from made it extremely difficult for me to accept that fate had chosen you for our son. I want you to know, though, it was nothing you had done or not done. Guilt made me react the way that I did. I also admit that, as much as I’ve wanted Ty to find his mate and for Dominic to retire as alpha, I’ve had a hard time accepting that things are changing around here, even though I’ve wanted it for a long time.”
A pack member walked up with a smile and grabbed a plate.
Persephone stopped talking long enough to greet him and fill his plate to the brim. “There’s plenty of food, so if you want seconds, please help yourself.”
The man smiled, nodded, and made his way to the beverage table.
