I am being patient,I argue, though I'm still trying to casually tug out of Hilde's grip. I like all the hugs and the touching, but I'm just not used to it.
You are cringing. Relax. Our presence, our omega nature, means a lot to other wolves. These are not the same people we met on the road. Allow us to provide for our people.
I try to relax while Hilde finishes commanding her kitchen army, never letting go of my arm. The workers leave to do her bidding—cooking, cleaning, prepping—but not before saying hello, reaching out to touch me, giving me awkward smiles, before returning to their work.
"Well, since you're here, might as well take some bags with you."
"Bags?" I squeak.
She pulls out a few empty bags, opens them on a table, then digs into an industrial-sized fridge. Her head pops out, and she tosses things in, periodically eyeing me like she's telling my food-fortune, before putting some things back and grabbing more.
With her head practically buried in the fruit-crisper, she calls out, "I do this for the Ashland Pack. But since you're our new omega, I'm adding you to the list. You're welcome."
"Ashland Pack?"
She pulls out of the fridge, a giant stick of cured pork in her hand. "Lune's pack."
"Oh. So, it's Grayson and Orion Ashland?"
She nods slowly. I look at Doc and smirk, "So does that make me Mona Ashland?"
Doc's mouth drops open, widening with his eyes before he glances at Hilde. She stands there for a moment, stunned. I try to think of what I said wrong.
"Is-is she…"
"No one else knows, Hilde."
"Knows what?" I ask dumbly.
"She'll be our Lunaandour omega?"
"What's a Luna?"
Doc turns his warm smile back on me. "The Lune's mate becomes the clan's Luna. It's a political position, but the seat has long since been empty."
"Uhh… I just learned what the word matemeant. I'm not about to get involved in clan politics."
"Yes, of course. Don't worry about that right now. And you don't need to keep it to yourself, but Grayson and Orion have not shared with anyone your status as their mate. They were concerned once people found out it would make your transition into our clan even more… dramatic. It's already enough for you to be our new omega."
It's funny how yesterday he was begging me to give this all a chance, and today it's a foregone conclusion. I don't bother denying I want to stay here, not with all this free food. But still… aLuna?
"I'll keep it to myself," I agree.
"It's not that you need to, Mona. You can tell anyone, your mates would be happy to share the news. It's just to give you a little more time to adapt before you're bombarded."
"I'm not even going to ask what a Luna is supposed to do," I mumble.
"That's probably for the best," he says ominously. Then he turns back to Hilde, who's been silently watching our exchange. "Are you alright, Hilde?"
She sniffs, then nods succinctly. "I'm fine. So, where were we?"
"Ashland Pack," I remind her.
Then she resumes stuffing food until both bags are full.
"I'm head cook because I know what people like. I have a sense for these things. For Ashland Pack, and now, for our new omega, I will prep lunch and grocery bags for you. I can send someone to deliver them once a week, or—"
"She's staying in the main cabin, Hilde."
