Dead Luna
Chapter 28

Amelia's POV

On Saturday evening guests began to arrive for the Luna ceremony, and the air fairly sparkled with excitement. Everyone was in a great mood, except for former Alpha Christopher who always seemed to be in a perpetual bad mood, and Alpha Zachary's brothers Travis and Shawn, who each believed that Zachary was getting off lightly for the crime of stealing their mates.

Luna Veronica was in her element, being the perfect hostess. She had arranged a cocktail party that evening for the guests who arrived Saturday night, with canapés and wine served by omegas in crisp uniforms, plus a buffet of more substantial foods set up in a small breakfast room that typically went unused. The vast majority of the guests would arrive the next day, so this event was small in comparison to the festivities that would happen on Sunday.

In all, representatives of 16 werewolf packs would be attending. Some of whom I had suggested to Luna Veronica to invite, based on suggestions from Moon Goddess. A handful of Iron Peak pack members were apparently mates to some of the attendees. I try to stay out of the way for the most part, as I suspect some people still harbor thoughts that I was supposed to have been Alpha Zachary's Luna, and I don't wish to be seen interfering in any way.

I have no regrets. I knew beforehand that Alpha Zachary was a play boy, and I have little interest in personally reforming him into a respectable Alpha, when I have several other, better, options. I was willing to give him a chance, but he couldn't curb his s****| appetite for even a few days for the good of his pack. He may be good looking and wealthy, but he was also selfish, immature, and would have been an unfaithful mate. I would have been miserable with him, and made more so by several of his family members. His sister Allison seemed to be the friendliest of the bunch, but she kept away for the most part, probably distancing herself from her insufferable family on purpose for her own mental well being.

Just before noon on Sunday, both Alpha Jerome and Alpha Derrick arrive. Craig wouldn't be arriving for several hours because he had the Vancouver farmer's market to attend in the morning. He would be driving the 3 hours straight here afterwards, barely in time for the evening's festivities to begin.

After Alpha Jerome and Alpha Derrick have gotten settled into their rooms, they immediately search me out, and we spend the afternoon together. Jerome seems less than pleased with Derricks presence, as he is considering this to be part of his week. Derrick just ignores Jerome's bad mood. They are both glad, however, that the "competition" has lost one participant, and that both their chances have improved as a result.

It's another beautiful day, and rather warm. I suggest heading to the garden for a walk. We have to walk along the edge of the garden, as the lawn is being set up for the ceremony, where several rows of uncomfortable looking white resin chairs are being set up, as well as two large tents. My little iron bench from the other night is currently sitting in the light shade of a nearby maple tree, and we sit together snuggly with Jerome on my left, and Derrick on my right. Leo stands some distance off, talking with Beta Jackson, and Jerome's Gamma Desiree.

"Zachary was never likely to be much of a contender against the two of you!" I explain. "Moon goddess had already given me enough information on him to put me on my guard. I was willing to give him a chance, anyway, but he blew it big time."

I went on to explain exactly what I had heard and seen during my time in Iron Peak, and Moon Goddesses punishment of Alpha Zachary. The Alphas were equal parts amused and horrified as the story unfolded of Leo and I catching the three in the middle of their morning tryst, as well as the following punishment.

As the afternoon progressed, I decided I needed to head back to my guest suite to change into more festive attire, the two alphas reluctantly letting me go. I took a quick shower to freshen up, then slipped into the sexy red number that I had worn the other night to the dinner at the steakhouse with alpha Zachary. I loved how it accentuated my curves. I paired it with the same sexy heels I had worn before. I wore my hair down this time, however. I also wore a small gold chain with my initial A dangling from it, which was adorned by a tiny diamond. It had been a gift from Leo on my 18th birthday, and I hadn't worn it since I left Winter Moon. But I always kept it close all those years. I wonder if he even remembers it?

I leave my room and start to head down the stairs, when I hear a commotion in the foyer. I head that way quickly to replace chaos. Alpha Craig and Leo are trying to hold back Beta Jimmy Schwartz from attacking Travis Blake, who has his arms wrapped tightly around Jimmy's sister Elena.

Everyone was demanding answers, and Travis is shouting back that she was his mate.

I suggest to Travis that he take Elena someplace quiet where they can get to know each other. Once they are out of sight I place a calming hand on Jimmy's shoulder and ask him how Janet is doing. Jimmy calms down enough that Alpha Craig and Leo are able to let him go, and though he still looks a bit disgruntled, he mumbles that Janet is doing well.

"So who is that guy anyway?" Jimmy demands. "I don't want my baby sister running off with some lowlife scum!"

He doesn't sound all that pleased to learn he is one of Alpha Zachary's twin brothers, until I explain that he is nothing at all like his dear older brother.

Then Craig is telling me how Jimmy and Elena had been helping with the Vancouver farmers market since Tiny was taking a couple weeks "paternity leave", and Kitty was helping with Chloe and Edison. Apparently my absence was deeply felt by them all. Then we were joined by alphas Derrick and Jerome, who had donned their best suits and both looked quite handsome. Ambrosia came forward to get a good look at them, gave them a wink, a whistle, and said, "You both look good enough to eat!"

Craig looked down at his overalls, and decided he had better go change into something more suitable since it was half an hour until the ceremony. I promised to save him a seat, and the other alphas begrudgingly agreed.

I then noticed Leo was looking at me very oddly. I look down at myself, and everything seems to be in order as far as I can tell.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, uncertainly.

Leo walks closer to me, reaches out a hand towards my neck, and gently lifts up the pendant with my initial on it. He stares at it for several seconds, makes an odd noise, then drops it. Glancing around the room, he suddenly realizes that everyone is staring at his odd behavior, and he slinks outside without saying a word. "Well, that was strange," Alpha Jerome breaks the uncomfortable silence.