The Arrangement

He sighed. “Their Alpha lost his mate a few years ago. Without a Luna, the Pack is beginning to fall apart. The Alpha shows strength and security but there is no maternal figure to hold together the Pack and keep the balance. As you have lost your mate as well, and you do show characteristics that a Luna should have, you are their top pick to be Luna. However, the choice is up to you. You can go through with this, but just say the word and I’ll shut it down. Take all the time you need to decide. It’s a big decision.”

Madeline sat there frozen, her eyes trained on the mahogany desk. Luna. She could be Luna. But being so meant that she had to leave this Pack, her family. She has never wanted to be Luna, to be a person of power. She just wanted to be Madeline and live a simple, happy life. Only that was ripped away from her when her sweet Lucas was killed. But if she were to agree to this, she could possibly save a Pack from collapsing. She could save so many and benefit her own Pack in the making. Save a Pack or spare her feelings. The benefit of helping them outweighed the cost.

Finally, she lifted her eyes so that they met Sebastian’s. “I’ll do it.”

Her father beside her tensed and opened his mouth to speak but Sebastian cut him off. “Okay, I’ll call and let them know.”

A polite dismissal.

Madeline stood, gently pulling her devastated father up with her. Her hand continued to grip his tight as she could feel his body shaking. They walked out the door that Ezra held open for them. The door shut behind them, no doubt that the Beta needed to have a word with his Alpha about her decision.

Madeline continued walking, past her rooms and past her fathers, until they were both in the West Wing, the Alpha’s wing. She knew that her and her father would have the privacy that they needed there and that her brother wouldn’t mind. She sat down on the couch with her father beside her. They sat there in silence for a moment before he spoke.

“You don’t have to do this because you feel obligated to do so.” He said quietly and slowly.

She sighed and looked down at her hands. “I’m not doing this because I have to papa, I know I don’t. I’m doing this because I believe this is the right thing to do. I’m doing this because I want to help both of our Pack s. Besides, the Nigh Walkers are our neighbors. I can come visit you anytime.”

“It’s not distance that has me worried my daughter. It’s that you are going to be mated to a man that no one knows very well. A man that has kept himself isolated from all others. He has an aggressive streak to him after his mate died. I fear what he may do to you.” He took both her hands and held them tight. “And what if you don’t like there. If they are mean to you. If you are mated to this man there is no going back. You can’t up and leave because you will be Luna.”

Now she got it. He wasn’t just worried what this Alpha may do, but what she may do. He was worried that she might be triggered and have a break down or do something else irrational. He had been overprotective ever since she lost her mate. He worried about her constantly, always making sure that there was nothing that could harm her. And if she went away, he couldn’t protect her. Madeline smiled at him sadly.

“I’ll be okay papa. I promise I will. And if I need anything you’ll be the first to know.” She promised him. It was the best she could give him. “And if they try and do anything to me, I’ll show them what I’m made of.”

Her father took her in his arms and breathed deeply. It was a goodbye hug, or at least that’s what it felt like. He pulled away and looked at her tenderly. Worry still laced his eyes. Madeline wasn’t sure there was much she could do to lessen that worry. It would hopefully ease with time but a parent will always worry for their child.

“I’ll be okay.” She said one last time before the door opened and in stepped Sebastian, Natalie, and her mother. They all wore expressions like her father: worry, fear, guilt, sorrow. That was all she needed for tears to start to roll down her cheeks.

Her mother was the first to engulf her in a hug, followed by her father, brother, and sister-in-law. They held her tight, letting her sob on their shoulders. Oh, how she was going to miss them greatly. She has never been parted from her family for more than a week or two. And now she was going to spend the rest of her life in another Pack , even if it was a neighboring Pack . She would still be separated from them.

Pull yourself together Madeline. you’re the one that chose to leave. So, stop crying. She scolded herself. She did choose this, so she shouldn’t be crying like she was. But she couldn’t help it. She was going to miss them so much.

Madeline wiped at her eyes and her nose. She had her time to grieve, now she needed to pull herself together. She needed to be strong for her family, so she would be.

Their family hug broke up when they noticed she wasn’t crying anymore, but they all stayed close to her, though she wasn’t sure if that was for her comfort or for theirs. Her brother Sebastian was the first to break the silence.

“You’ll be leaving in two days. They want you there as soon as possible.” He said dreadfully.

Madeline nodded. “I’ll start Pack ing tonight.”

He nodded and she turned her mother, who had tears welling up in her eyes. “Do you have to go so soon? Can’t you stay here for a little while longer?” Her mother’s voice trembled.

“Oh, mama. It’s going to be okay. I’ll only be a little way away. It’s not like I’m going to the other side of the country. And I promise I’ll call every day and I’ll come visit whenever I can.” She promised her. That was all she could give.

Her mother sniffed and wiped her eyes some. “Since your leaving so soon, I’ll go talk to the other women and plan a farewell party for you. There’ll be food, and decorations, a-and music.”

Madeline smiled. If anyone knew how to throw a party it was her mother, even on such short notice. “I can’t wait.”

Her mother beamed then left in a hurry, off to go plan this going away party. Best to leave on a good note instead of in dread and sorrow.

Natalie looked to her mate and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m going to go get Jacob from Mrs. Williams.”

“Good. The poor soul has put up with him for more than an hour.” Sebastian teased. Natalie gave him a smack on the arm before departing. He chuckled, rubbing his arm in mock hurt.

Madeline felt a pang of jealously but she pushed down and aside. She needed to be happy for her brother. Even if he got the life she always wanted, she needed to be happy for him.

She shook her head to clear it then to both her father and brother, the only two left in the room. “I’m going to go see if they need any help in the infirmary.” Then she turned on her heel and walked out the door.

The infirmary wasn’t a place that Madeline particularly enjoyed, especially after all the time she a had spent in there a few years ago. It was mostly white. White rooms, white walls, white curtains. Then there was also the smell of antiseptics. It made her want to gag.

She washed her hands and slipped into some scrubs and pulled on some gloves. The infirmary almost always needed volunteers to help because not many wolves were trained in the art of medicine and surgeries. Not that the volunteers were trained but they at least knew how to bandage wounds and do as they’re told.

Madeline followed the stench of blood down the hall and stepped into a room that held one of the wounded. Because his wounds weren’t dire, he had yet to be treated. He just had gashes on his chest and a few bites. Nothing too deep, nothing to serious, though the doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

Grabbing some supplies, she walked over to his bedside and poured alcohol on him to clean out the wounds. The gashes needed to be stitched, so she gave the wolf a belt to bite on. Slowly, she made small, neat stiches on each gash, then wrapped them in bandages. The bites, thankfully, only needed to bandaged.

She moved to the next room and the next and the next, helping in whatever way she could. Giving the wounded someone to hold onto, bandaging, assisting in surgeries.

Most of the wounded were able to leave within a few hours, their body healed enough. They were just advised to rest for a day or two. A few were to stay overnight, just in case. And a couple were in critical conditions. Their bodies were too damaged to heal themselves. They would be watched day and night until they either get better or die.

With nothing else to do, she headed home.

The moon peaked through the clouds, shinning a dull light. Madeline took a moment to stand under the moon’s light and looked up. When she was a little girl, her mother told her that every time someone died, a new star formed. She wondered which one was Lucas’. She wondered which ones were those three wolves that died. And she wondered who all the other stars used to be.

Sighing, she looked down at her feet as they carried her back to the Pack House. She walked up the porch stairs and into the House. She walked through the House until she finally found her room near the West Wing. Madeline walked inside and immediately started stripping. She needed to wash off the stench of blood and antiseptics.

The hot water felt soothing on her skin, stress slowly seeping out of her. She scrubbed her skin then scrubbed again, trying to rid the smell of the infirmary that had cloaked her skin. When she deemed herself clean, she turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping a fluffy, white towel around herself.

She dressed in a long sleeve shirt and pajama shorts. She braided her wet hair to keep it out of the way.

She grabbed a suit case out of her closet. She knew she couldn’t bring all her belongings but she also knew she didn’t need to. As she would be Luna, most things would be provided for her. So, she had to choose what meant the most to her, what she was most sentimental about. She ended up picking a few of her favorite clothes and dress that was too beautiful to leave behind. Madeline also stuck a few photos and a small bear that her brother had given to her when they were children.

Though despite it making her heart hurt, she decided that it was best that she didn’t bring anything to remind her of her dead mate. She was to be mated to another and would be Luna. She needed to completely move on and try to live this new life that she was given.

Madeline climbed into bed and snuggled under covers. There were too many thoughts running through her head to sleep, despite the shower she had taken. She was worried about her Pack , her family, and she was worried what was to come. She was scared that she might end up hating the Alpha she was to be mated to. And she was even more scared that she might fall for.