“Auri, too,” Dario adds.
I purse my lips. “Must be an alpha trait.”
“Clearly.”
“Talking about alpha… Aurelia offered me a job. She wants me as her assistant.”
“Awesome!” Felix beams. “Did you say yes?”
“Of course.”
“She has been looking for someone for a while,” Dario explains. “I believe this is a perfect solution.”
“I do feel a bit bad for getting the job through contacts,” I admit.
Felix laughs. “Gwen, anyone would have gotten the job only through contacts. Aurelia would have never chosen a stranger for it, but only someone she clicks with and trusts. You are nota nepo-baby, don’t worry. If anything, the nepo-baby would be me.”
“Doesn’t it work the same for you?” I argue. “Sure, you have options and privileges others don’t. But you also work hard. You joined the warrior training. If you were a true nepo-baby, your father would have made you an elite warrior immediately, but he didn’t. Plus, the alpha needs to choose someone he can trust for important tasks – obviously, it’s going to be someone from his own family.”
“You are a kind person for saying that,” Dario says. “To be honest, it’s a fact that we were and are incredibly privileged.”
“But you are making something out of it,” I add. “And you obviously all have great values.”
“Maybe,” Dario says thoughtfully.
Once in the dining room, I deliberately take some of both veggie options. There is an awesome-looking casserole with fried chili tofu and some Indian curry.
Felix takes some of the two dishes too, ‘to try something new‘, as he says. It’s the simple things about him that always strike me at how lucky I am to have met him.
Flora waves at us when she sees us. Unlike her usual joyful behavior, she is much more serious today. “Did something happen?” Dario asks promptly.
“No,” Flora says. “Arden and I have just been talking about the luna meeting.”
“The lunas are coming, too?” Felix asks.
“Yes, they might add a different perspective,” Flora says. “Gwen, sweetheart, would you be willing to join us? The topic mostly concerns you, or rather, your old pack and friends.”
My throat goes dry. Of course, they would want me to make a statement. Well, it’s the lunas, so it should be okay. “Yes, I am ready.”
“That’s not the only thing,” Flora says. “The alpha meeting will start earlier, and for the most part, they are going to research your old pack and try to establish which pack Marina’s mate could be from. But Elden said, he might need to call you in and give them more details.”
At that, my heart rate picks up pace. I am comfortable around Elden and Aurelia, and since yesterday, also Liam. But a room full of alphas… that’s a whole different challenge.
Through our bond, I can feel the warm emotions from Felix coming through, grounding me a little before I can panic. I am part of this pack and family now; my life in my old pack was traumatic, but I want to learn to eventually not need my old coping strategies.
This is going to be the first step.
“Felix can accompany you,” Flora says softly.
“It’s only going to be our closest allies and friends,” Arden adds. “They are all good people.”
“Okay,” I say. “Of course, I am ready. This is for Marina and to get some justice for her.”
thirty
The Lunas
*GWENDOLYN*
