Page 50 of The Wolf Moon

“I know of the Alpha, Luna, and Beta. I’ve heard other words… rogues? I was told about tutelary titles. Meda and Medan for the Chrone’s wolves, which are oracles. Gaho and Hago for the Mother’s wolves. And Alta and Tala for the Maiden’s wolves,” I listed my knowledge while counting them off on my fingers, thankful that I had learned even this much during my time here. “There are also warrior wolves. But I don’t know where they fit in the hierarchy…”

“That’s a start. Here,” Roman pulled a chair from the table and indicated for me to sit. I did as he asked and he stepped away a moment before returning with a piece of paper and pen. He sat next to me, placing the paper between us. He was really close and it was pretty distracting, but I made myself focus.

“Every pack has its own hierarchy, but it’s the same titles for all packs. At the top, there is the Alpha and Luna. The Alpha is the male leader of the pack. The Luna is the female leader of the pack. A pack can have either an Alpha by itself or a Luna by itself, but their mate will usually be named as the corresponding Alpha or Luna in turn. These titles must be held up through challenges, as a leader has to have the power to lead,” Roman wrote the names on either side of the paper, so that they were even but separated. He drew two lines directly down under both titles. “The Beta is chosen by his or her Alpha. The title itself cannot be challenged, but the wolf can be. If the Beta is ever killed, another must be selected. The Beta is considered the Alpha’s right hand. They are considered the Alpha’s guardian, enforcer, and will act as Alpha in the Alpha’s absence. The Beta is under both the Alpha and Luna, though their primary duties are to the Alpha.”

Roman wrote Beta under the line that was connected to Alpha, and then turned to the line connected to Luna.

“The Sol is the Luna’s equivalent of the Alpha’s Beta. This person is the Luna’s guardian, enforcer, and acting Luna when the Luna is absent. Just like a Beta, this wolf is chosen, so the title can’t be earned through challenge,” Roman explained before drawing a V under the Beta and Sol titles so that they combined underneath. “The rest of most of the wolves in a pack are considered Deltas. These include Medics, Warriors, Surveyors, Workers, and it used to include Oracles.”

Roman wrote Delta largely and underneath this he listed each type including the oracles which he crossed out purposely. He listed random descriptions under each one: healers for Medics, soldiers and enforcers under Warriors, messengers and spies under Surveyors, and several duties under Workers such as hunters, farmers, cleaners, cooks, builders, and a mark to indicated several more duties available. Then he drew yet another line leading to another class below even a Delta.

“The lowest rank allowed in a pack is that of Omegas,” Roman continued wisely, drawing a symbol next to the word and indicating to it, “You’ll know them by this brand on their neck. These are wolves who have committed a crime against the packs worthy enough to earn a life of servitude, imprisonment, and shame. Some may be challengers who failed to win, but survived the battle…” Roman paused as he mentioned this and he glanced at me.

“You’re lucky I didn’t brand you,” He said with a small smirk.

“I would have loved to see you try,” I responded fiercely.

Roman’s smile grew and it held me mesmerized for a moment. I wasn’t used to his patience, the gentleness of his words, or the smile that didn’t hold malice behind it. He turned to add another word, not connected to the branch of the pack.

“Rogues are wolves without packs. Most are banished wolves or have chosen to leave their pack, some may be Omegas prior, and even those who are born rogues were probably born of someone who had been banished, branded, or abandoned their pack. They can be problematic, but many times they’re taken in by packs if they wish for it,” Roman said, his words reminding me of Diana and Cate, who had been with a pack of rogues before joining the Trinity pack.

I could imagine Cate being mysterious and devious enough to be kicked from a pack, but I couldn’t imagine someone like Diana doing anything to warrant being banished. Did she leave her previous pack? I was extremely curious and now that Roman was more open to giving me answers, I felt I could ask.

“Diana and Cate were rogues before, right?”

“Yes. Diana was born rogue. She claimed responsibility for Cate because no one knew the circumstances of her past. That and Cate’s talent for fighting were the reasons why I agreed to accept her with Diana.”

“Is it because she wouldn’t tell you her past?” I asked him curiously.

“Cate is mute,” Roman stated simply before pausing, “You should have noticed…”

Something strange was definitely up with Cate. Yet the last time I had mentioned it to her, she had said it was just gossip. Or had she even answered? Should I just tell Roman that she could speak? Was she hiding her voice for a reason? A part of me wanted to just tell the truth, but another felt an attachment to Cate and wanted to protect her. What if I caused her trouble by telling one of her secrets? Maybe she just didn’t like anyone.

“Right.” I responded shortly, closing my mouth firmly.

“I want you from now on to stop every pack member you come across. I want you to learn each of their names, if they have a tutelary title, what their duty is as a Delta wolf or otherwise, and who they’re connected to either by mate or by relative. I don’t expect you to learn about all the wolves in all the packs, but as Luna of this pack, you should know who you’re meant to lead,” Roman instructed me determinedly, adding to my work steadily.

“Okay,” I agreed confidently. I had time. I could do this. I had already learned many of the names of the people of this pack in the months he’d been gone, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to learn more about them.

“Follow me,” Roman stood suddenly, holding out his hand for me. I lifted my own, grasping his hand and standing to do as he requested. He began to lead me out of the King’s Corner, out into the village determinedly. It was a cloudy and humid day, the weather warm enough to dampen my skin immediately. It would become hotter soon, but I’d always enjoyed the summer air.

I did as Roman suggested as we went on our journey through the village. I stopped every wolf we came by, greeting the ones I knew and being introduced to any I didn’t. I asked more questions beyond their names and added the information into the depths of my mind like putting them into boxes that I would be able to access later.

In between this, Roman held my hand and led me without second thought. His hand was rough in mine. It reminded me of the night before, in the forest, when those hands had been exploring every part of my body. I blushed at the thought and immediately tried to think of something else in hopes that Roman wouldn’t notice any change in my behavior.

I was living with him officially now. Would it be like how it was before I’d completed the mark? Or would we fall into that passion again in the future? A part of me, the part of me that enjoyed the thrill of it, hoped it wasn’t just a onetime ceremony. Another part of me tried to remind myself that he was responsible for the misery of my entire family including my ancestors, so I shouldn’t have any feelings beyond hate for him.

Roman ended up leading me to the arena where the warrior wolves were training with Beta Caleb. He released his grip on my hand when we arrived. I felt an immediate anxiety rise within me upon seeing Caleb. Did he know his mate was pregnant, yet? He would be the first lycan father in nearly two decades, based on what Logan had told me before. I suspected he would be absolutely ecstatic to learn this, but I didn’t want to be the one to spill Diana’s secrets.

That was me; the keeper of secrets.

“Beta Caleb, line them up,” Roman greeted Caleb, sliding back into his shell as King Alpha. Caleb glanced at me just briefly, nodding respectfully, and then immediately shouted for everyone to line up as Roman had ordered. From what I could tell, all the warrior wolves were here, including Logan and Cate. I had to fight the urge to greet them all as old friends, recalling my many weeks of visiting this very place to practice fighting. Would I get to do this again?

Once everyone was standing stiffly in a line, Roman looked at each one before turning to me. He stepped towards me, ignoring everyone else for the moment.

“These are our strongest wolves in the pack. Not only will they be able to protect you, but they will be able to survive challenges. This is important when picking out a Sol,” Roman explained to me carefully.

“Picking a Sol?” I knew he had just explained to me the hierarchy of the packs, but I hadn’t expected to have to pick my version of a Beta so suddenly.

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