A knock at the door startles me awake and I scramble upwards, finding myself in a rather uncomfortable position on the couch. I'm not actually sure if I went to sleep for longer than one hour all night. I'm definitely not certain how I got onto the couch. Between Rox being unsettled and my mind being on edge, it wasnt even in the vicinity of being the great first night that I hoped for.

The insistent knock sounds again and I peel myself off the couch. I attempt some feeble straightening up as I approach the door, I try to smooth my hair back into a bun but the fact that I smell a lot like baby up chuck really negates anything I am doing.

So I just give up.

As I check the small peep hole I am relieved that it is only Ellena anyway and my brain slowly recalls that she said she would drop more milk over this morning.

The wolf is a saint.

As I click open the lock and peer around the door, yawning and attempting a half smile, her bright cheerful face turns into a picture of concern. She bustles past me and in to the apartment, arms full of bags as she closes the door behind her with her bottom and ushers me to the couch.

"Bad night hun?" She questions, handing me a steaming cup that I smelled the second she entered. I take it ever so willingly. I would have pledged alliance to almost anyone who turned up and gave me the saving grace of coffee goodness this morning.

Not even kidding.

"It wasn't the best." I manage in between sips of the fresh brew.

"I think he was used to all the driving and movement. And he hates formula." I say, taking another big gulp of my liquid saviour before placing the warm cup down next to me.

"It will get better. Just need to keep trying with the mixed feeds and get him used to sleeping in a bed now don't we?" She muses and I hope that she is hinting that she wants to help. I don't miss that she included herself in this equation.

Hey, if she wants to help. Fine by me!

"Guess so." I can't actually function enough right now to say anymore. But I add in a quick thank you anyway.

"Thanks for this Ellena. I really don't know what I have done to deserve you." She beams at this, her big doe eyes shining bright, especially for this time of morning.

Or maybe it's because I feel especially un- shiny today.

"Oh hush. Honestly, it's my pleasure. Now why don't you go get a shower and clean up. I need to talk with you about the Alpha." She quickly blurts that last part, moving to look out the windows and avoiding my suddenly wide eyed gaze.

"The Alpha knows I'm here?" I ask, swallowing a large mouthful of burning coffee, effectively scolding my throat. I don't feel the burn though. Instead I just feel my heart kick into hyperdrive.

I wasn't expecting this right now. I'm not ready. My head is too fuzzy.

"Now don't worry, I can see you are starting to get all panicked. I saw him at dinner last night is all and he scented you on me. Asked about you. I said you were no trouble. He just wants to meet with you, go over the rules. That's it." She rattles out hastily, moving to stand in front of me.

I nod slowly, trying to take in her words carefully.

"Alice, I promise, he is very nice. Very sensible and fare. So is the new Beta. For such young leaders, they are already very well respected. Especially by us older wolf folk." She takes my hands, rubbing the one on top slightly for reassurance.

I can tell from her calm demeanour, she is telling the truth. It makes me a little less stressed. But just a minute amount. He is still an Alpha. A stranger. I'm still pack less. Alone. I'm still running. I need this to go smoothly.

Reluctantly, I head to the bathroom as she takes watch over Rox.

After a long steam under the shower head, I have effectively burned every millimetre of baby sick off of my raw skin and I even washed my hair. I feel shiny and new, a little less sleep deprived, but no less concerned about my meeting.

I decide to dress casual, mum like even. I need to present a picture of semi- meekness. Not weak though. I can't appear afraid in front of an Alpha. That won't do. And who am I kidding, weak is not in my nature. I am my fathers daughter. I am perhaps one of the few members left of my pack. Weak is not something I am familiar with. And never will be. No.
I will appear confident but asking for assistance, in return for my work as a midwife.

They need me, I need them. I already know that this much is true. It gives me a bargaining chip. A way in.

I eventually emerge from my shower slash pep talk to find Ellena feeding Rox on the couch, remote in one hand, baby bottle in the other. She is so old hand at this, she makes it look easy.

"How do you feel honey?" She asks, peering over at me as I exit the small hallway.

"Almost brand new." I smile in return, walking over and placing a kiss on Rox's forehead.

"Good morning little sleep thief." I say into his hair.

"Yes, comes with the territory I'm afraid honey. That's why they're so cute you see, so we don't leave them on some packs doorstep." I laugh out loud at this and sit down next to Ellena.

"So, about this Alpha..." I start but she quickly rebuttals.

"Like I said, nothing to get all flustered over, that is unless it's over his looks." She says with a cute wink and a chuckle. I feel my face go bright red.

Old tart this one.

"Well now Ellena, I know I don't know you that well but I didn't at all take you for a cougar." I jest and she snorts! She actually snorts. We both laugh again together and for the first time in a long few weeks, I genuinely smile. I actually feel a little of the heavy leave my body in the form of a sweet, innocent laugh.

It's nice. The weightless feeling peace brings momentarily.

But as the laughing dies down, the worry creeps back in and the heavy is back, crushing each breath with its doom filled clouds. Except these are not filled with rain. They are filled with emotion. A whole storm full of them and I don't see them releasing anytime soon.

If anything, they keep on mounting.

Guilt. Check.
Fear. Check.
Pain. Check.

As if she can see me sinking back into my dark internalisation, Ellena finishes winding Rox and hands him to me.

"All finished, what a good little pup he is." She says, more to him than me. I take him over to the bouncer and strap him in, letting him be buzzed by the soft vibration while I chat to Ellena about this meeting the Alpha wants.

"Ok, run me through it. Where are we going? And who will be there?" I start, my need for every small detail to be planned to meticulous standards is showing.

She switches her placement on the couch to face me, one hand on her knee and one hand on mine for reassurance.

"It will be at the pack house. Just you and the Alpha. I know that may make you nervous but I will take you and stay with you during your meeting if you prefer? And he would like us to come as soon as we can." She finishes, waiting for me to assess the situation.

"He will let you stay?" I ask, not sure why he would let her be in the room with us at all. Certainly wouldn't happen in the my old pack, unless she was high ranking.

"He will if I ask it. I may not be Luna anymore but my name still holds some power." She says, not changing her facial expression. She doesn't say this to toot her own horn, more just staring the obvious. Which wasn't obvious at all! If she was anyone else, she would have name dropped this immediately.

But she didn't. And that is precisely why I trust her.

"I knew there was some power in you." I say with a smile and she returns it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, leaning back on the chair and thinking over my short time with Ellena. Nothing gave it away yet everything did. I sure missed this one.

"Oh well, it's old news these days. Since I lost my mate, the last Alpha, and I stepped back from pack duties, I just lead a more simple life. The cafe is my duty now and I love it's simplicity. Plus, who goes around just advertising themselves like that?!" She throws her wrist out for effect, shaking her head dismissively.

I laugh at this.

"Um, basically anyone who is anyone in a pack does that!" I exclaim, wide eyed and just mystified by this woman. She just frowns and rolls her eyes.

"Well, not here we don't. MiLuna is a small pack with a proud history, but we don't go around showing off." She says matter of factly.

MiLuna. It seems familiar to me yet I can't recall any particular information about it right now. Still, it bugs me. I know I have heard that name somewhere. I'm going to do some research later. I love pack histories.

I flit about the apartment gathering some supplies for the baby bag and get Rox changed into warmer layers and tuck him safe and snug into the pram seat. I dig out the warmest jacket I can find from the clothes I brought with me while Ellena makes herself at home in the kitchen, unpacking the bags she brought with her.

They contain groceries. I stop and frown at her as she stocks the fridge and pantry with a few items.

"Now don't give me that look Alice, I know you haven't had time to shop and you had nothing. I also got you a warmer jacket, check the bag on the sofa." She says and she points over her shoulder to the couch, effectively dismissing my attitude about all of her gifts.

Sure enough, a brand new black puffer jacket sits neatly in the white bag, along with a blue onesie version for Rox.

" I seriously have to start paying you back for all of this Ellena." I say sternly. I try to give her a warning look but I change my mind when I see her firm expression.

"You will do nothing of the sort." She says flatly, finishing up her packing away and reaching for her own jacket on the counter.

"Are you ready?" She asks, though I can see through her question. It's a command really. There is some Luna in her yet.

" As I'll ever be." I reply and mean it.

As I throw the baby bag under the pram, along with my keys, I take a deep, steadying breath before standing again and heading to join Ellena in the hallway.

"Let's do this." I say as i lock door of the apartment and we enter the death contraption together.

Ellena slams it shut and presses the button and the machine whirs to life with a loud whinge.
I close my eyes and count to twenty, very aware of Ellena chuckling heartily next to me.
As we exit alive, amazingly, we begin the walk to my car and Ellena helps me pack Rox and the pram into the car, before jumping into the passenger seat along side of me.
As we drive along, she gives me directions out of town the opposite way that I entered and soon we are heading out on to a picturesque tree lined highway away from town.

"So Luna, give me the run down on MiLuna, what do I need to know?" I say, sneaking a glance at her reaction to me calling her Luna.

She pinche me on the arm playfully and shakes her head.

"You are a bit of a smart ass aren't you?" She jokes and rolls her eyes at me before contiuing;

"Alright, where do I begin?" She says as I grin with glee and we settle into the drive together. I literally brim with anticipation, pack internal runnings are my favourite.

And what I learn about this one is not only interesting, it's about to be an essential.

Any guesses about MiLuna?

What do you think will happen when she meets the Alpha?

Do you think he will buy her cover story?

And do you love Ellena as much as I do?!!

Thanks for reading and voting XX