Page 45 of Eclipse Pack

“Not enjoying the festivities, Herb?”

The male jumps to his feet, spilling some food from a plate that he had on his lap. “Oh, Alpha Bronze, Luna Taria. I was present for the ceremonies and grabbed some of Cook Ash’s lovely food, but I’m not a crowd person, so I came to enjoy my new bench and the solitude in the orchard.”

“You mean Chef Ash. She’s just accepted a promotion, I’m happy to say.” Bronze grins, enjoying the fact that he has done a good deed so early in his new leadership.

“Well, she certainly deserves the title. She never lets us down, no matter the occasion. When I treat my team to a picnic, she does us proud every time. I don’t know where she gets her inspiration, I’m sure.”

“Judging by what I’ve seen of the gardens so far, I’d say you visit the same library. Your herb garden looks amazing and so do the vegetable beds. Your orchard seat is so much better than just a standard bench, too. You’ve impressed me and it’s my first day as Luna.” I step forward and offer my hand, which he takes and rather than shake, he bends and touches his lips to the back of it. I feel Titan growl rather than hear him and I turn to look at Bronze. “You two need to calm yourself. I think Herb and I are going to get along famously. I like him, and his olde worlde style, too.”

“If you have a spare moment at some time, my Luna, I would love to share my vision for the future of the Eclipse Pack gardens with you.” His eyes sparkle with enthusiasm, and I find it quite infectious.

“That would be my pleasure, Herb. We are going to be firm friends of the earth, I can see that.” Watching his face light up, I give him a beaming smile.

“Herb, you should show Luna Taria your project folder. I have been remiss in not having made the time to study it with you.” Bronze looks at me and continues, “Since being the head gardener, Herb has made so many improvements and in such a short space of time, it’s been incredible. What Chef Ash is to food is what Herb is to gardening.”

“I look forward to seeing your projects and perhaps being a part of some of them.” I can see Bronze wants me away from Herb, and I smile inwardly at his jealousy. Taking our leave, we stroll off and Herb resumes what’s left of his food as he sits on his bench below the branches of his apple tree.

Titan, what is Herb’s wolf called?Maya asks this in such an innocent voice, but I almost can’t breathe as I wait for his response. I also see Bronze miss a step in his stride as she asks.

You do not need to know his wolf’s name! That is not something you need to be concerned with!

Seeing Maya in my mind as she sits there with a smirk on her face, I can’t hold it any longer and I burst out laughing. Grabbing Bronze’s arm to stop myself collapsing to the floor, I have tears running down my cheeks.

“I can see you and your wolf are going to keep me and my wolf on our toes.” Bronze grins at me and I see Titan flash in his eyes.

“Life will never be boring, that’s for sure.” I stare into his eyes and almost melt as he leans down and tenderly kisses my lips. Placing my hand on the back of his neck, I pull him into a deeper and more passionate kiss. Breaking the kiss only when we have to breathe, we look at each other and can see the longing we both have.

“This is something we need to explore further when we are alone tonight. If I can keep a tight enough rein on Titan that is. He has only had thoughts of Maya for some time now.” Bronze rolls his eyes as he speaks.

“I think he can wait his turn, don’t you?” I say this with a smile and walk slightly in front and with what I hope is a sexy wiggle of my ass. Getting a slap tells me it was.

Reaching the nursery, I see someone in there. “Didn’t you close the nursery today for the ceremonies?” I ask Bronze, surprised that he wouldn’t.

“Of course. Why would I not have everyone possible attend the handover and the introduction of my Luna?” Heading into the building, I see two enormous eyes staring at me on the doors. Once in the hallway I see more eyes on me. They look like they are following my every move.

“Those eyes are a little spooky for a nursery, don’t you think?” I whisper to Bronze as we head to the classroom where we had seen movement.

“There’s a story behind those eyes. I’ll tell you later.” I swear he giggles as he says it.

Opening the door, we see two females working at a desk, but what catches my eye is the pup that is scraping at something on the back wall of the classroom. I can’t believe two adults are sitting there while a pup scrapes and cleans the walls. Before Iget a chance to say anything, both females jump to their feet and smile at Bronze and me as though this was an everyday occurrence.

“Good afternoon, Eve, Madison. How are things today?” What is going on here, I think to myself.

“Alpha Bronze. Luna Taria. Congratulations to you both.”

“Is there a particular reason that you have not closed the school today, as I instructed?” Bronze does not sound at all put out that these two have ignored what would amount to an alpha order.

“The school is indeed closed, as you instructed. All pupils have been given the day off to join in the pack festivities.” The one that I take to be the youngest informs us.

“And yet, Madison, here you and Eve are. At school.” He tips his head in a questioning manner and raises his eyebrows.

“I was supposed to be here with Coal, just the two of us,” says the one I now know as Eve. “When Madison found out that I was going to take advantage of the closure to help reprogram some of Coal’s thought processes, she refused to let me sit here alone.”

“And how is the reprogramming coming along?” Bronze looks towards the pup and then back to Eve.

“Oh, I’m confident that there will be no more defacing of pack walls or buildings in the future by the time I’ve finished with his restart button. The program will be reinstalled to the correct parameters.” She smiles sweetly, but at the same time, it’s darn scary if you ask me.

“How are classes coming along in the day-to-day scheme of things with the class? Have we seen any improvement in the pup's learning and general attitude to school?” I find this whole thing quite bizarre and can’t wait to hear about it when we leave.I’m sure there’s a story to be told, but I can’t for the life of me get a handle on it.

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