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Livie

Alarick held his hand out for me as he opened the door.

Everyone gasped, murmuring among themselves.

At first, I was very self-conscious; I had been used to the silver moon pack, always talking badly in front of me and my back.

So it threw me off to see them smile, and I couldn't help but feel happy.

I could hear them praising and welcoming Alarick with open arms.

"My... She is gorgeous. Just like you said, my boy," the man says in a deep voice as he comes in front of me and cups my face with both hands.

He kisses both my cheeks and my forehead.

His hands felt so warm and loving. They were strong, rigid, and insensitive but warm and welcoming.

Just like Ricky's hands, except Ricky's were exceptional.

They held me lovingly, making me feel wanted and protected.

"Dad, this is Livie. Livie, this is my father, Lucian Dannelly," he says, placing his hand on the small of my back.

He vows like a gentleman, making my eyes widen.

I had never had someone greet me so correctly.

One of the eldest ladies makes her way forward.

She comes before us, cupping Ricky's cheeks, kissing his forehead, and smiling at him.

"Welcome back, alpha Ricky. And you brought us a beautiful girl.

" the lady says, looking at me as she holds his hand.

"I did. Her name is Olivia. Livie for short." he says, and she smiles. "Beautiful name," she says, cupping my face lovingly. "Our Luna is surely a beautiful blessing," she adds, blushing my cheeks.

"Olivia- Pacificus. Lassis pacem facet illis in tempore tribulationis et belli," he says in a language I do not understand. It was as if Alarick knew I was puzzled. He leans by my ear and whispers the translation.

"She will bring peace to those who are weary in times of hardship and war. It's old Latin. Dad is one of the oldest in our pack. He's lived decades but hasn't aged much, as you can see." he says, making my eyes widen in amazement.

"I... I don't know about that whole peace thing, but whatever I can help with... I will do it with all my heart and strength." I reply, and his dad suddenly grabs me by my shoulders, engulfing me in a tight hug making everyone chuckle.

The girls who had come in with my old pack still looked at me, puzzled.

They didn't know I was Alarick's mate, and honestly, I preferred it this way.

I didn't want the rest of the silver moon pack to find out.

What if Molly was right, and they tried to use it against Alarick for their benefit?

I couldn't stand to see him get hurt. Morrison is the worst. I'm unsure about Skylar anymore because he is a menace, but his dad is unpredictable.

He's someone that you don't want to mess with.

Alarick signals to his beta and gamma. The three nodded in unison, and the girls with me were taken away.

I was nervous for them, wondering what he would do with them.

If I hadn't been his mate, would he take me away too?

And what would he do? Would he torture them?

Put them to extensive work? Goddess, I hope not.

After a warm welcome, Alarick finally asked everyone to go about their way. He took me by the hand and led me into his pack house. It was so massive it looked like a hotel with a home feel, but every room had a theme of its own. It was weird, but somehow it fits together.

My mouth gawked openly, and my eyes were wide in Shock. I couldn't believe my eyes. Their reception and centered sitting area was as big as the Morrison's pack house.

They hung giant chandeliers made of deer antlers.

My eyes caught the attention of a room. It was filled with books and long spiral staircases, but what intrigued me the most was that it was filled with plants everywhere.

The center sitting area didn't have many plants because Alarick explained that kids and teens mostly hung out in this area because of the free wifi.

But the library was like an indoor forest, filled with bookshelf after bookshelf—books of all kinds, including historical archives of their pack on the very last floor.

"There's an underground floor?" I asked, surprised, making him chuckle.

"Three floors. One is for all our archives, a cellar for all our wine, and another for emergency purposes.

" I could only imagine. The death of their mom had left a significant trauma.

They had built a better refuge for the pack in case it ever happened again.

"We also have game rooms and theater rooms, outside and inside, but the new mating couples mostly occupy it, so I think you can imagine what goes on in there," he says, chuckling, but I could see his cheeks become red with embarrassment. He was cute, too cute.

"Listen, I wanted to review a few things with your fellow pack members.

But... If you don't mind, I'd like you to be there.

Take it as your first Luna assignment. Is that ok?

" he says, making me give him a worried look.

He stops, grabs me by the waist, and pulls me flush against him.

My hands rest on his chest, and I will be honest, I could let him hold me like this all day if he wanted.

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad. I just need to go over a few things with them.

They are being shown to their rooms now, so if you want, we can go for a tour.

" he says, making me smile. So he held my hand, showing me every corner of the house and the surroundings.

I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. I have never felt so welcome in any place as I do here.

He even took the time to show me where they had fields of crops and different orchards.

But my favorite was the vineyard in one of the fields next to the library.

All through the pack house and in different corners of the territory, there were picnic areas and resting areas for the members, along with fire pits, comfortable sitting areas, and playgrounds for the smallest members.

I have never seen a pack so invested in accommodating their members well. But I liked it. I really liked it, and maybe I'm wrong, but I'd love to see the green face of jealousy if Leah ever saw this pack's territory.

We finally made our way back and were greeted by a group of teenagers who did not doubt coming to hug us.

The girls grabbed and played with my hair.

I had long brown hair that passed my mid back, almost touching my waist. It curled a few strands occasionally, but I rarely kept it down.

"Alright, guys, go on and get homework done.

I'll see you all for dinner." Alarick says, giving high-fives to the boys.

"See yah, Alpha. Bye, Luna," they said, making my cheeks red.

I am yet to get used to the title. "Come on, the girls are finished setting up in their rooms; I know it's late.

We should go and get lunch with them," he says, pulling me into the dining room.

Again, I was left speechless as we walked in.

Their dining room was so big it looked like a fancy restaurant.

Almost toward the end, right by the kitchen, the girls were sitting, giggling, and eating.

The smallest one with her mom was so happy, drinking a milkshake.

So many take for granted what they have that a milkshake is not a grand thing, but for us, who have never been privileged, to have a milkshake was only in dreams. A dream that Alarick has now made possible for these girls.

If only Skylar knew that he had allowed us to live a better life by trying to eliminate his weakest members. A more peaceful life. A happier life.

The smallest one sees us coming and quickly gets off her seat.

She is no older than ten but so thin that she easily looks like an eighth-year-old.

She runs to us, hugging Alarick around her waist tightly and closing her eyes with a huge smile.

"Thank you, Alpha. You are the best alpha in the world," she says as she chokes up and cries.

Alarick pulls her off gently, getting on his knees to her eye level, and wipes her tears. "Hey, it's ok, sweetheart. Why are you crying? You didn't like your shake? We can get you a different one?" he asks, but she shakes her head no.

"I just... I really liked my room and my mom... She hadn't talked or smiled since Dad died. Alpha Morrison said you were going to enslave us, and I was so scared. But you're... You're the nicest person I have ever met." she says, unable to hold herself together as she continues to cry.

Her mom is now close to us, her hands forward and looking worriedly at her daughter. "Alpha, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into her," she says, trying to apologize. Alarick smiles and wipes her tears.

"You don't need to apologize. I'm only doing the humane thing for you guys. I promise you, you are all safe here." he says, taking my hand and holding the small omega's hand as we walk to join the rest.

We sit with them; they are initially timid, even when taking another bite of food.

What once was a hidden thing to sit by the alpha, we were now sitting in front of him.

He chuckles, gesturing for the girls to continue.

"Girls, please. Eat. Your food will get cold.

" he says, then waves to one of the girls passing by.

She's wearing a white button-up, black slacks, and hair nicely done in a high ponytail.

"Good afternoon, alpha; good afternoon, Luna. Are you ready to order?" she asks, widening my eyes.

"Yes, two burgers, fries, and Livie. Do you want a soda or a shake?" he asks me, but I am left baffled.

"This... This is a restaurant? But I thought we were in the pack house?

" I ask, making him chuckle. "It is. But- there's no point in making my girls cook a hundred or more of the same plate when not everyone wants to eat the same.

Everyone in our kitchen is a worker. They get paid to cook what you want.

This way, everyone sits and eats what they want, when they want.

The only time we all sit together is dinner.

So, soda or shake?" he says, making me look back toward the kitchen in amazement, making him chuckle.

"Uh, a soda, please. Cola." I say, making the girl smile.

"Right away, Luna," she says as she walks away. I never thought a pack would be so big, sophisticated, and modern. The hierarchy in our old pack was so restricted that never in my eldest dreams did I think I could sit in a place like this, let alone be addressed as Luna.

I am glad for one thing, though. We were now in a pack willing to do anything to keep us safe from harm, thanks to Skylar not wanting to deal with us.

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