Dead Luna
Chapter 26

Amelia's

POV

Even though I won't be going on a romantic date this evening with Alpha Zachary as per the original plan, I decide to dress up nicely anyhow. We still have things to discuss, after all.

One of the outfits Luna Veronica had insisted on buying was a sexy form fitting red dress, which I paired with some "f**k me" strappy red stiletto heels, and a gold sequin clutch. I even put on a little light makeup, and did my hair in an elegant low bun. I was looking and feeling good, and it showed. As soon as I leave my guest suite, I can immediately tell Leo disapproves of my appearance.

"Whats the matter?" I ask. "Don't I look nice?"

"You look sexy, and you know it." Leo states with a growl. "I'm going to have my work cut out for me tonight as your body guard! Hopefully I don't get beaten to a pulp protecting your a*s."

"I shouldn't even need a bodyguard, in my opinion. Men should learn to control themselves, and quit blaming their abominable behavior on how a woman dresses, or looks, or behaves. No means no!" "But we live in the real world, where a Gammas duty is to protect the Luna from the bad guys. So you're stuck with me."

I roll my eyes at that, even though I wish it weren't the truth. There is obviously something wrong with how many boys are brought up these days, to not have respect for women. And even worse is the response of some women to that sort of behavior, and blaming the victims of harassment, assault or abuse. That somehow the victims deserved it, or brought it on themselves. And any time I hear that phrase "boys will be boys", I secretly wish to punch them in the mouth. But few things are truly ever solved by violence. It often just begets more violence.

We head downstairs to the foyer where we see Beta Dillon waiting in Zachary's car, Zachary himself is seen rushing down the stairs about 15 minutes later while trying to straighten his tie. Leo beats him to the car and opens the car door for me, while he then heads to the other side of the car. Leo takes the last seat in the front passenger side of the Range Rover.

"Sorry I was running a little behind." Zachary apologized. "I was soothing 2 irritable she wolves. They aren't happy about our date tonight."

"Well, it's no longer a date, is it? More like a strategy meeting between an Alpha and the Luna of some other pack. And as we are chaperoned, as well, they can't imagine there'd be any monkey business, surely."

"A jealous she wolf will imagine all sorts of things," Alpha Zachary says with a grimace. "And I've got 2 of them. And you would have to dress up like that to get me in even more trouble, wouldn't you? Word got around very quickly the moment you emerged from your room."

"You told me this morning to get dolled up. I'm just following orders."

We hear a couple snorts from the front seat. Beta Dillon tries to cover up his snort with a little cough. Leo turns on the radio in an attempt to drown out our conversation.

We drive into the nearest major town of Redmond, Oregon, to a great steak house. And since it's not an actual date, both Leo and Dillon share a table with us. It's the sort of cozy, loud, sort of place where they have bowls of peanuts at the table and everyone tosses the shells on the floor, and the bread is soft and pillowy and served with a huge glob of honey butter. The place is owned by the pack, and therefore we are seated in a private area that is unofficially reserved for wolves, and therefore we don't actually have to limit our conversation.

"So, Alpha Zachary." I begin, once our dinner order is taken. I see Zachary watching wistfully as the waitress sashays back to the kitchen. Even I agree she's got a shapely derrière, but this alpha needs to learn to stop objectifying women. "Have you managed to mark your chosen mates, yet?"

"Not yet. I was dealing with my parents for the entire afternoon. They aren't happy about the situation. They would prefer that I just choose Miranda, since she is Delta blooded. Grace is the daughter of an elite warrior, which isn't smart enough for my mother's ego. But I have to choose Grace also because she's already pregnant. And I don't know which one will eventually give me a son, either. So it's all just been one big mess."

"You realize, of course, your s***m are ultimately the deciding factor of what gender the pups are, right?" I ask, making sure he isn't blaming his mates for things that are completely outside their control. Alpha Zachary nods. "And it'll be all down to whether Moon goddess feels that you have reformed your behavior, before she decides the time is right for a son."

"Anyway, my parents aren't happy but they are resigned to the situation." Zachary continues, basically ignoring my little lecture. "I'll be marking my mates either tonight or first thing tomorrow, and make the announcement in the evening. Mom is already starting to plan the Luna Ceremony for this Sunday. You'll stay for that, won't you?"

"I certainly can." I agree, "And if you invite Alpha Jerome, perhaps he'll give me a ride to Bull Run pack afterwards."

The rest of the evening is spent on the logistics of getting his unmated pack members to the mating ball, since it will not be hosted in Iron Peak for obvious reasons.

The drive back to Iron Peak is rather quiet. At one point Alpha Zachary places his hand on my thigh, right below the hem of my dress, but one glare from my direction has him retreating, with a quiet apology once I ask if he knows many boys name's starting with J or

K.