Page 6 of Violet Moon (Pitch Mountain Pack #1)

five

If Parisa wanted a Gamma, Wilma was the right choice and Sera knew it. She could deal with it.

Sera’s day proved otherwise.

“Hugh, I’m falling apart,” she whined, holding her head in her hands as she stared down into the frothy latte art in her mug. Hugh had it waiting for her when she arrived after a hectic shift at Violet Moon. “I don’t know where my head was today.”

“At the top of your neck,” he replied.

Sera made a face at him. “I messed up orders, straight up forgot to schedule our fruit delivery, and stepped in custard.”

“Why was there custard on the floor? Of the bakery, I hope.”

“Yes, in the bakery. And I don’t know! I’ll have to ask Billie later.” She sighed, and it broke into a weak bout of laughter. “I ruined a shoe.”

“Which one? Not the good boots I like, right?”

“No, those are safe.”

“Thank goodness for small miracles.”

“Wait, are those the only pair of my shoes you like?”

Hugh sipped his espresso.

“Rude.”

“Your little red binder wasn’t there to save you?”

Sera shot him a look. “It was! Just, you know, after the fact. It’s how I realized I missed the delivery. I went back to find a receipt from that ceramics place we buy dishes from — knew exactly where that was, by the way — and I noticed I’d missed a note to call the farm we order from.”

“Was the note crumpled?”

“Beside the point. I found the thing, was triumphant for all of five seconds, and then stepped in custard.”

“I mourn for all the filled treats that never were. Speaking of —” He wiggled his fingers in front of him.

Sera reached into her bag and presented the pretty box all the bakery’s treats were packed inside. She’d tied it closed with a silver ribbon. “I come bearing gifts, of course.”

“The only gift I need is right here in front of me.” Hugh winked and flashed a bright, toothy grin.

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“But flattery gets you everywhere, my dear.” He took the box. “And it also gets me —” He let his voice trail off.

“Some naan khormaei, since I know you can’t stand the overly sweet stuff and you love when it’s Parisa’s baking days. She didn’t have time to make her usual big batch today, so be glad you got one of the few.” She pointed down at her cup. “What do I have the pleasure of enjoying this evening?”

“Just a simple latte.”

Sera raised an eyebrow as she wrapped her hands around it, knowing it was anything but.

“With house-made cardamom syrup, a generous amount of cinnamon, some nutmeg, allspice, and that vanilla syrup you like so much.”

“It smells divine. You always know just what I’m in the mood for.” She smiled before taking her first sip. “But you know what I’m really in the mood for?”

Hugh tilted his head in interest.

“A chance to complain loudly until I feel better and maybe something stronger than coffee.”

Hugh reached across the table to set his hand on top of hers. “Whine to your heart’s content, and then maybe we can dash over to the wine bar after.”

“I see what you did there.”

“I’m very clever.”

“Dork.”

“Excuse you, I’m extremely charming.”

“You can be both, you know.” She squeezed her friend’s hand and sat upright, taking a deep breath and figuring out how she was going to complain without spilling confidential pack business. Hugh would know she was holding something back, but at least he was kind enough to not dig too much.

Hugh’s idea to go to the wine bar sounded better by the second.

Sera made a beeline for the greenhouse when she got home. She needed the comfort of running her fingers through soil and caring for her plants. She didn’t know how long she’d been in there when she sensed someone was near and stood up straight, eyes on the door.

“Beta Seraphine.” Wilma said as she entered, voice shaky. She looked exhausted. “Do you have a moment?”

“Of course,” Sera replied. Wilma’s clothes were disheveled and her face bore signs of bruises that were quickly healing.

Clearly Parisa’s conversation with her had included more than just talking.

Her stomach tangled into knots at the thought that the position had already been given, that they’d already completed the traditional sparring, and Wilma was officially Gamma.

Wilma wrapped her brightly-colored shawl tighter around her shoulders as she stepped closer. “I believe you already know what’s happened.”

Sera nodded, unable to find the right words.

“I accepted. It’s done.”

Sera’s chest tightened.

“I’m honored and I know I can be what my pack needs me to be,” Wilma said.

Sera knew Wilma truly believed that. She didn’t lie to seem stronger than she was. She didn’t have to. “Congratulations, truly. You’re the right choice.”

“Thank you, but I know how I can be, how people see me. Blunt. Arrogant at times. Unable to read between the lines. A bit too caught up in my own world to hold a conversation for long. And all these things are true, except the arrogant part, and I like those things just fine, but do you think they’ll get in the way of being a good Gamma?

” Some of Wilma’s usual confidence faded away.

“Never,” Sera said. “The things that make you who you are could never get in the way.”

“I’m not sure how to act now.”

“Like who you should be around the pack?”

Wilma nodded. “Should I be different?”

“What did Parisa say?”

“That I was chosen because of who I was, not what I should be.”

Sera smiled, the words filling her chest with fondness. “She’s exactly right. You’re who you need to be. You’re who this pack needs you to be.” Wilma was who she needed her to be, too — someone to lean on when she often fell short.

“Thanks,” Wilma said quietly, her fingers playing with the hem of her shawl. “I’ll try to follow your example.”

Sera laughed. “Oh, please don’t do that. We don’t need someone else like me trying to lead the pack.”

Wilma looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m definitely not the right role model. Watch Parisa if you need to know how to be.”

“But my role is much closer to yours,” she started, looking confused. “You’re the bridge between the Alpha and the pack. Now I’ll be a part of that bridge, too.”

“Just be a part of that bridge in your own way. Don’t follow me.”

“But you’re an excellent Beta.”

Sera wished she could believe her. She cracked a smile anyway because she didn’t want to be rude. “Thanks, Wil. I think I try, but I’m a mess. I just do my best, is all.”

“The pack doesn’t expect more than that. And they love you, you know. We all do.” Wilma’s voice grew quieter. “I do, too.”

“Wil.” Warmth flooded Sera’s chest and she moved to pull Wilma into a hug, but remembered to ask, “Is it alright if I hug you?”

Wilma smiled and nodded.

Sera hugged her, Wilma’s curls pressing against her cheek.

Wilma squeezed her back in return. “We’re going to tell everyone tomorrow,” she said over Sera’s shoulder. “The plan is to close the bakery and have a dinner.”

Sera patted her back and stepped away. “It’ll be nice to have everyone together. And to celebrate you, of course.”

Despite her own selfish thoughts about the situation, it was an event worth celebrating. Wilma was definitely worth celebrating.

Members of the pack often ate together because it was impossible to be alone in a house of thirteen, but it was rare for everyone to sit around the giant oak table in their dining room. It was good to see her pack all together, even if Sera’s stomach was a knot of nerves.

Parisa stood at the head of the table, back straight, shoulders squared. She spoke in her commanding voice, the one Sera didn’t often hear, and ran through the preparations for the moon cycle while Sera felt like she was about to burst with the news.

“I think we all need a reminder that the moon cycle is both exhilarating and draining, so we need to all be preparing so that we are both physically and mentally ready for the change. We have excellent cooks in our midst providing nutritious meals, but I’ve noticed a sharp increase in the amount of, well, less than substantive snacks around the house. ”

Some of the wolves shared guilty grins with one another. Sera thought about the store-bought, overly sweet chocolate sandwich cookies in her bedside table drawer.

“So please make sure you pay close attention to your nutrition in the days ahead of the moon cycle so you are able to care for both your pack and yourself. In addition, physical training shouldn’t be ignored.

I, myself, fall into this trap with a busy schedule, but being physically ready for the change is paramount.

If we keep the health of the pack in mind, we should all be set to have an exciting two days in the country this month. ”

She took a deep breath and let it out. “Additionally, I know that, even though we’ve kept a tight lid on any gossip, every single one of you knows about the Alpha situation at Crooked Creek.

I’ve been there several times over the past few weeks and please know that Clyde’s level of concern has dropped after some initial well-founded concerns.

However, he has suggested that we move deeper into our borrowed area to give this newly presented Alpha the space he needs during this challenging time. ”

Any wolf was more aggressive and territorial during the full moon, so a new Alpha was a wild card. Giving him more space was a wise idea, though she wished they had other options. As the only city-bound pack in the region, their choices for places where werewolves could roam free was limited.

“And with that out of the way, I have much more exciting news for our pack. The Pitch Mountain Pack has grown over the past several decades.” She smiled at the newer wolves before landing on Jo.

“With growth comes the need to adapt. As we change and look to the future, we must also reflect on tradition and what makes us who we are in order to secure the health and safety of this pack for generations to come. And with that —”