The Chronicles of Moon
Chapter 3

Alphaholes

It took Ben a few phone calls and a couple of weeks, but he managed to convince three Alphas from some pretty substantial packs to come and look at the mill and lands around Big Springs pack. Ben couldn’t get any of the really large packs to even talk to him, and he didn’t know if that was a curse or a blessing.

Moon was true to her word. After everyone went to bed, she would slip into the office and work on some of the ledgers. Even making some notes for Ben on ideas on how to shift patrols and work training schedules. She even managed to have a small street fair with local vendors showing off their goods of local honey, jams, and other such things when the Alphas come to visit today.

Ben was starting to see what Alpha Mark always saw in the girl. He was also wondering why he had missed it for so long. Yes, Moon is prone to crazy antics, but she cares for the pack more than anyone. The late-night hours are more than proof of that. But she did swear Ben to secrecy and that he must take all the credit for her ideas. He was allowed to tell Emily, but only because Moon said there should be no secrets between mates. That was Alpha’s Marks first rule of life.

Emily was so busy with their new pup that Ben had really missed her help. His father, Beta Jake, and mother, Kim, had decided about a year after Alpha Mark’s Passing to go and visit Ben’s sister and help with her pups. Becky lost her mate to cancer. He was human, and it has been hard on her.

Everything for the pack had just been left for Ben to deal with, and he was really starting to feel the pressure. Now with Moon helping in secret, at least, he’s not all on his own. Hopefully, one of the three Alphas will be interested in making a deal with the pack worries and support for lumber. It’s the best they can offer.

Ben downs the rest of his coffee and heads to the kitchen. Emily was there already with their little baby girl Rose. Moon was busy making faces and baby talking to the squirming newborn in her arms while Emily drank a cup of tea.

“Good morning, Ladies,” Ben says, smiling brightly at his little pup and very tired-looking mate.

“I think that is a matter of opinion.” Emily states rolling her eyes and yawning.

“I will stay up with her. I told you that, Em.” Ben says, hugging Emily and kissing her.

“Eww, Rosy, Mommy, and Daddy are so mushy.” Moon makes a disgusted face as Rose coos in her arms. “Well, as much as I would love to play with Rosy all morning,

I’m going to go help the shops set up. That and Mr. Mills is making caramel apples, and I want one.” Moon says, licking her lips and thinking about it.

“Won’t you meet the Alphas with us?” Ben asks.

“What, those Alphaholes, no thanks, and it’s probably better I don’t. I don’t have anything to do with this remember?” Moon hands the little pink bundle to Ben, bouncing out the door before he can even try and stop her.

“What are we going to do with her, Ben?” Emily asks, stifling a yawn.

“I don’t know. I mean, yeah, she’s Moon, and I know what everyone thinks, but they are wrong about her.” Ben kissed the little baby and his mate loving his little family but hoping today goes well for the pack’s future.

***

When the three cars pull up to the pack house and the Alphas emerge, Ben tries to swallow the lump in his throat. They all look just like the typical ass hats Alpha Mark couldn’t stand. The type of man with soft hands that never put in a hard day’s work, he would call them.

They had their Betas with them, and Ben was feeling very outgunned. “Thank you, gentlemen, for coming. This is my mate Emily, and I am Beta Ben.”

After all the introductions were made. The Alpha’s gave Ben the once over, and the group started the short walk from the pack house to the town square. A few of the Alphas exchanged looks and snickers that Ben didn’t miss but tried to ignore.

The little street fair seemed to make the Alpha happy that they could eat and meet a few local girls as all three are unmated. Ben was starting to wonder if they had other reasons for wanting to visit his little pack. He definitely didn’t like it. They were here to make a lumber deal, not replace mates.

Ben did notice that one of the Alphas and his Beta seemed less impressed with the other Alphas and everything else, in fact. Ben recalled the stoic-looking Alpha was Colin Maddox, and his Beta is Chris Ferguson. They didn’t seem to care for anything they were seeing so far, and Ben just hoped the mill and the large surrounding woods would be more appealing to make the deal Ben pack desperately needs.

Ben cringes when Moon rushes by, squealing with a pack of pups holding a large bag of candy. Moon is barefoot and in her pink sun dress. She even had some twigs and grass in her hair like she was running in the woods with the pups again.

“What was that?” One of the Beta’s asks.

“Oh, that was just Moon.” Ben shrugs.

“She’s the last Alpha’s granddaughter, isn’t she.” Alpha Calin says, looking at the squealing group even less impressed now.

“She is,” Ben says a little reluctantly.

“Well, then she should be showing us around too, then shouldn’t she?” One of the other Alphas chimes in, and Ben doesn’t like how he’s eyeing Moon like she’s a bag of candy.

“I will ask her, but she has little to do with running the pack. She has no wolf and has taken a step back.” Ben hates the lie covered in half-truth, but he can’t think of anything else to say.

“Well, she looks like fun.” The Alpha eyeing her, says.

“I’ll ask her, Alpha David,” Ben says politely, leaving to go and try and convince Moon now.

“Moon, the Alphas want you to join us.” Ben hisses as soon as he gets to the girl passing out candy to the pups.

“No thanks,” Moon replies, smiling as she gives the last pup a piece of candy. Moon grabs a piece out of the bag and pops it in her mouth.

“Moon, this is important. You know that.” Ben hisses lower and gives her his best death glare. Moon just rolls her eyes and grabs her shoes sitting nearby, slipping them on.

“Fine, Benny, but you owe me a caramel apple. I still haven’t gotten one yet, and I don’t want to miss out, oh, and a bag of popcorn.” Moon says brightly.

“Fine.” Ben huff, not sure if he is relieved or more concerned now, and pulls a twig from her hair. “What were you doing?”

“Oh, we played hide and seek, and I lost, so I bought the candy.” Moon Smiles holding up the bad. “You want some, Benny?”

“No, And stop calling me that. Please act like an adult for this?” Ben pleads.

“Well, that’s going to be boring then.” Moon sighs and pops another piece of candy into her mouth. Ben and Moon rejoin the group at last, and Alpha David gives Moon a quick once over.

“So you are Alpha Mark’s wolfless granddaughter.” He says, clearly trying to bother Moon.

Moon Just smiles, “Yep, that’s me. I’m brainless, too. Come on, let’s go see the big machines now. They are pretty neat.”

Ben groans; a little. Yep, Moon will leave a great impression on them. Hopefully, that’s the worst thing she has to say for the day. But somehow, Ben doubts it will be. A few in the group chucked at Moon’s remark, But Alpha Colin just looks uncomfortable with Moon around. He probably has a problem with her not having a wolf, most of these types have a problem with that kind of thing, and Ben is sure if Moon had been in a larger pack, she would have been thrown out or something close to it. At least she is still loved, cared for, and everyone is used to her and the crazy predicaments she gets herself in.

The mill tour goes well, and the Alphas seem to like what they see. Ben explains the mill working and how much lumber they can process and ship. The Alpha’s speak with the mill boss Henry and things seem to be going smoothly. Moon stayed beside Ben, quietly eating her candy, when the siren went off. Rouges are attacking again. Moon drops her bag of candy, and everyone takes off for the town square.

They reach the square, and Moon is getting people and little ones to safe houses and inside to lock doors. Ben sees two of the Alphas and Betas heading with the older wolves and children clearly; they believe this isn’t their fight or worth getting involved with. Ben links his men and is on petrol to replace where the rogues are coming from.

“Where are we headed, Ben?” Alpha Colin and his Beta are with him. Ben tries to hide his shock.

“Follow me. We are going to the north border. That is our weakest point right now.” Ben says the men take off for the Border, unaware that a small pup is following them and wanting to help.