Page 48 of Eclipse Pack

Approaching the alpha office, my warrior lets me know that the inner circle has all arrived and are waiting. Entering the office, I see them all stand from around the conference table. I notice also that they have left the chair by my right hand empty for Taria to use. That simple show of respect goes a long way with me, and I nod to each of them as I walk around the table.

Once seated, I take a moment to introduce everyone formally to Taria. Adaline, Eve, Xander and Dixon are all very friendly and I don’t sense any type of nervous undercurrent from anyone. It isn’t a meeting to discuss anything specific, more of an informal introduction as to what can be expected in the future. Letting them chat a few moments amongst themselves, almost as a brainstorming session, to see what comes out of it, I look around my office.

“I’ll get Wesley to order one for you, if you like.” Taria’s quiet comment makes me smile.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m sure,” I reply, trying to sound sincere.

“Very well. You can carry on relying on the kitchen for a thermos of coffee. I much prefer to make mine fresh and from my own shiny new coffee pod machine.” Her giggle has everyone looking at us, but she carries on without missing a beat. “Does anyone have any spare staff hours that they can devote to Herb, the head gardener? He has been doing some amazing stuff that will benefit us all in the long run and I’m sure that he can utilize any spare muscle or time that we can support him with. Eve and Madison have got the pups involved on the weekend to doseed planting and seedling repotting. If he can find the pups something to do, I’m sure he will be grateful for any adult help. I’ll be taking an extra interest in the gardens, and Herb has a project folder that he wants to go through with me. If anyone here feels that I can help or support them in anything, please don’t hesitate to come and see me. I have an office across the hall and I will be operating on an open door policy, so don’t think you’ll have to make an appointment to see me. If I’m available at the time, I’ll be happy to see you. If I’m not, I’ll arrange something with you.”

Everyone seems to be opening up and having a warm response to Taria, which I’m pleased about. I didn’t doubt for a minute that she’d fit in, but there’s always that one percent that makes you nervous.

Once I’m satisfied that we’ve achieved what I wanted from today I call an end to the meeting and look forward to getting my luna’s opinion of everyone, although she has met some already.

“I like them all. They seem to be keen to do right by you and none of them look like they are here to kiss your ass.”

“Well, I asked for an honest opinion,” I laugh as her words sink in.

“I wouldn’t speak like that in front of anyone else, my lover, but you surely know I’ll speak my mind when we’re alone?” Taria waits for my reaction, in case I think she is too brutally forthright, I’m sure.

“My darling, I respect your open dialogue when we’re alone and know without a doubt that you wouldn’t speak out of turn in a formal setting. I’m glad that you share my thoughts on them, though. I wouldn’t want an ass kisser within ten miles of me.

Slipping herself onto my lap, she whispers, “Well, you won’t hear me say that about you! Have we got anymore official duties to perform now, or can I tempt you back to our suite for some unofficial duties?”

Walking as sedately as we can through the packhouse we make our way to our suite and are very active with unofficial business the rest of the afternoon.

Chapter 25

HERB

Having met Luna Taria, I found her absolutely charming. I was taken with her openness and her genuine interest in anything garden related. I’m going to check through my project folder and make sure it is fully up-to-date before I show it to her. I know Alpha Bronze hadn’t been that interested, he has enough to be doing if I’m honest, but I was mildly put out that he never made the time to even look at it.

Everything is coming on well with the extra help that I have been given. Anyone that has qualified for pack punishment has been diverted to me rather than Chef Ash and her kitchen, which I am very grateful for. I have been able to dedicate more time to supervision, which has paid dividends rather than have my head down, ass up working on some of the simple menial tasks. Head down, ass up! That was a term my father used to use. Why I’ve suddenly come up with that, I don’t know.

My father would have been in his element working with the pups. He loved planting seeds and then repotting the seedlings, and seeing the pups' faces when their seeds began to sprout would have made him so happy. It was the beginnings of life itself, he used to say. Obviously where I got my love of everything green, I’m sure. Mother always wanted more flowers. She always said he didn’t grow her enough flowers and yet, never a week went by without her having vases of flowers in the house. We never went hungry for vegetables either. I don’t know how he did it when we had such a small garden. Every inch always had something growing, and we’d be harvesting something throughout the year.

Heading back to my workshop, I cast my critical eye over each of the beds as I pass, and to my surprise, I only pick up the absolute minimum of issues. Things are certainly going well. Walking into my workshop, I head over and sit at my bench. I use this for virtually everything from drawing designs, eating lunch, potting, mixing my different composts, even keeping my folder updated.

Taking my folder from the shelf above the bench, I start at the beginning and flick slowly through it. It still astounds me that so much has changed and such a high percentage of improvements have succeeded. I’m pleasantly surprised to find that the folder doesn’t need anything added, and is showing all the latest ideas.

Thinking over what my schedule is for the day, I could easily make time to stop by the Luna’s office and see if she has a few minutes to spare herself. I’m sure that she could give me some more suggestions for things that I haven’t thought of yet.

Entering the packhouse, I see Ember at the Luna’s door. She scares the hell out of me, I don’t mind admitting. Before she got that damn bat from Alpha Bronze, she was always such a sweet thing that I always smiled when I saw her. If I’d been her fatedmate then, I’d have been over the moon. Now, though, I’d run a mile if she looked at me and said, ‘Mate!’

Approaching slowly, she watches me and I feel like a mouse being toyed with by a cat. “Hello, Herb. Come to see the Luna?” My folder flies from my hands and I jump a mile. Diving to the floor, I scrabble around for my folder, and the few sheets of paper that have fallen out.

“Erm, yes, Warrior Ember. I have, yes, come to see Luna Taria. Is that okay?” I stutter and must sound like a completely petrified lunatic.

“Herb, what’s got into you lately? You’re always on edge. Is something wrong? If you’re being bullied or are frightened of something or somebody, you just have to tell me and I’ll put them straight.” Slapping her bat into her palm has me nearly peeing my pants and I jump again, dropping my folder.

“No, nothing's wrong. I’m fine, everything is fine. No worries, no problems. Everything is just peachy. Can I go now?”

“Go? Go where? You just got here to see the Luna. Are you sure you’re okay?” Ember bends down to help me pick up the folder and loose papers, and I just stare at her.

“I’m not okay. You scare me.” I blurt it out and then look at her, horrified at my own admission.

“What? I scare you? Why on earth would I scare you? What have I ever done to make you afraid of me?” She looks at me with a look of shock on her face.

“You two, come inside at once.” Luna Taria is standing at the door to the office and points toward her desk. “Come in and sit down, the pair of you.”

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