21

POV ... Kai-Lea
I was training in front of everyone now. I was even taking on the twins, who were seriously regretting teaching me to defend myself. Or so they feignedly say when I kick their asses in our private building. Out in front of everyone is another story as everyone is just seeing a Luna who is just as strong as her Alpha mates. I was still practicing with Gussie and Chellea, in our little shed. Granted the guys found out about it one night about six months back, and that didn’t go over too well with Dad or the twins, or Wade. Wade even pointed out to me just how badly that could’ve gone, with only us three knowing about it. Which made me realize how stupid the idea was. I even apologized to Dad, the twins, Wade, Mom, Gussie, and Chellea. As I'd put their safety at risk. Mom understood but was disappointed, which I had learned that I hated that look from her the most. Gussie and Chellea were actually forced to join in my sessions with Wade after that. Dad said that if they were willing to train with me like that then they were going to train like I do. So, the day after finding out Dad made them join us.
“Crap. Wade’s here too.” Chellea shouted, “What did you get us into?” she groaned.
“She didn’t get you into anything young lady. I heard your conversation from the hallway, the other day. And let me tell you, when I find out which boys and I will. They and I will be having a conversation with their parents.”
“DAD!” she and Gussie screamed as their eyes were as wide as could be.
“Don’t ‘DAD’ me.” He said.
“Then the guys should have to have a talk with ALL the girls’ parents that they’ve been with.” Gussie said.
That made me wonder about what I had talked about with Mom and earned a growl from the twins. Which made me think of something else. The special date that was coming up that I had planned with my handsome as can be mates.
“They are right. If our girls are to be held to that standard then so should the boys. To which I can take care if you’d like.” Mom said coming into the building, “They may be our daughters, but they are also someone’s mate. Meaning they are destined eventually to mate with one another. And it’s not like you were a virgin when we met. And neither are our sons. Expecting our daughters to be is unfair and downright outdated.”
“Fine. But they are still training my way.” Dad said with a defeated look on his face.
“Fair enough.” She said leaving us with Dad.
Dad had us in brutal training for days, pushing us far beyond anything we'd ever done before. Unlike when I trained with just the guys or Wade, this time Dad didn't hold back. He beat the crap out of us, and then made us take turns doing the same to each other. He was relentless, determined to drill into us the reality of what it meant to be unprepared. Training in secret in the shed, without telling anyone, had been a dangerous mistake. As Dad put it, any one of our enemies could have come in the night, taken all three of us, and no one would have known until it was too late. The harshness of his words sank in as the days passed, and I felt like he was going to kill us with his intensity. But I understood the lesson—he was doing it out of love and fear for what could happen.
Even though Karrin and Cal’s betrayal had been dealt with some time ago, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off. Cal had apologized and, after some reflection, asked to leave our pack and live with her aunt in another one. She didn’t feel she deserved to stay after what she'd done. Dad left the decision up to me. I told him I was fine with her going. She shouldn’t have that one mistake held over her head for the rest of her life, especially if she was genuinely sorry. Dad praised me for my decision, saying it was a very Luna Queen-like thing to do. But he also reminded me that, as Luna Queen, I would sometimes have to make decisions that wouldn’t have such happy outcomes. I understood, though a part of me hoped those kinds of situations wouldn’t come anytime soon. I was still learning, still adjusting to everything, and the weight of those decisions loomed over me. But as the future Luna Queen of the Green Mountain Pack, I knew challenges would come—there would always be something.
We focused a little on the upcoming transition of power. After discussing with Dad and the others, we decided it would be best to take over as Alpha Kings and Luna Queen as close to graduation as possible. The twins, Wade, Tobias, Emma, and I were all set to graduate soon, along with a few dozen other pack members. While most of the others would head off to different colleges, the twins, Wade, Emma, and I would be attending the same school. Technically, I was set to be enrolled in three schools, but I'd physically attend just one with the twins. I was so excited about it, but Dad couldn’t help but worry. He believed in my passion and my ability to handle everything, but he also feared I'd burn out before the twins, and I settle down to started a family. Not that he wouldn’t be happy with me doing that. Just that he knew I wanted to do more before having a family of my own. Eventually, I reassured him that I wasn’t planning on having pups anytime soon—I wanted to live life fully before starting that chapter. Besides, there were still unknowns. I had more mates to find, at least one of whom is a Lycan, though I didn’t know much about Lycans yet.
Despite the looming responsibilities of graduation and leadership, Mom and I found time to plan my special date with my mates. We decided it would take place at the Gazebo, and she helped me choose flower arrangements and table settings. We even dragged Merietta into planning the menu. It felt good to focus on something lighter and more joyful amidst all the serious planning. Nothing was going to ruin that night if Mom and I had anything to say about it.
Dad, despite his stern demeanor during training, was surprisingly supportive of the whole event. He told me how proud he was, not just of my academic and training accomplishments, but also of how I was balancing everything—friends, personal time, and my growing responsibilities as the future Luna Queen. He said he'd never seen someone so determined to prove the world wrong, and while I wasn’t trying to prove anything to anyone, I told him I was just making up for lost time. He was especially excited to help with the date, even helping me pick out and size the special gifts I was planning to give my mates. Between the excitement of graduation and leadership transitions, and the anticipation of my big date, it felt like everything was falling into place, though I knew challenges would always be just around the corner.