25

Chapter 25 – Date
“Hello sleeping beauty.” Diesel’s sexy voice said when I opened my eyes. He was carrying me down the stairs into the Castle. I had fallen asleep on the flight back.
“I have a meeting in my office with my chief warriors that should have started ten minutes ago. I was going to take you to the room to sleep, but since you’re awake we’ll head on over.”
“Okay, but can you put me down first?” I smiled.
We reached his office door and he set me down. He held my hand and opened the door. “My apologies for the delay.”
We walked to the conference table and everyone was already seated. Diesel sat at the head of the table and pulled a seat for me on his right side. Payton was the Beta and sat at his left side, across the table from me.
“Lucy, you already know my father, Alpha Knox, Beta Payton, Gamma Zeke, and Delta Elliot. My chief warriors and trainers over here are Danny, Paul, Lance, Athena and Nolan. And this is Sam, our chief tracker.” I smiled and nodded hello at them.
Diesel proudly smiled, “This is my mate and Luna, Lucy Michaels.” I seemed to receive warm smiles from around the table except for Athena, who kept her eyes on Diesel.
“Report.” Diesel said in Alpha mode.
Sam, the tracker, spoke first, “Alpha, the snowstorm dumped over two feet of snow. The trackers have not picked up any scent of rogues in or around the territory with the exception of the recent attack.”
“We burned all the rogue bodies before the storm hit, so there’s no trace of the attack left at the river.” Nolan, the warrior informed us.
“Still, it’s highly unusual for any rogue to be so far north during the snow season,” Sam added.
“Alpha, we questioned the rogue in the dungeon again. He said there’s a large bounty on a runaway she wolf they were hunting. He still swears a few of them saw a golden wolf and they ventured off course trying to track it.” Paul informed us.
“Any idea who the runaway was or who put a bounty on her?” Diesel asked, trying to hold back his anger.
“Ranger is looking for us!” Lia whispered in my head and I tried to keep a straight face.
“No, but it was someone with a lot of disposable income. The bounty was a million dollars to bring her back alive.”
“Anything else?” Diesel asked.
“That’s it Sir. We’ll try questioning him again in a few days.” Paul added.
“Will the Luna start training with us soon?” Athena asked with a smug look on her face that seemed to say she wanted to get her hands on me.
“She could try, but I will claw that look right off her face.” Lia snarled to me.
“I will be personally working with the Luna for a while on her special combat skills Athena.” Payton answered to my relief.
Diesel looked stone faced as he spoke. “I will look for all of your training evaluations this week and review them. If there’s nothing else, you are dismissed.” Everyone left except for Alpha Knox and Payton.
“Do you think it’s Ranger?” Payton asked Diesel.
“He certainly has the disposable cash and a reason. Without his wolf, he wouldn’t be able to lead a hunt.” Diesel said trying to control his anger.
“Lucy, I know you’ve never trained before, but everyone between the ages of fourteen and fifty trains in this pack. It will raise suspicion if the Luna doesn’t train.” Alpha Knox said.
“Technically, she’s not the Luna yet until after the mating ceremony and she is marked.” Payton said. “I will train in private with her until then.”
“I’d also like to work with you on your elemental training.” Alpha Knox said.
“Lucy how do you feel about that?” Diesel asked.
“I think it’s a great idea! It will help make me stronger.” I smiled, though I felt uncertain about how they would react when they see Lia.
“Son, we’re five weeks away from the December full moon, we should start planning the Luna and mating ceremony.” Alpha Knox was eager to move forward.
“Lucy you don’t have to hide here, you’re the rightful Luna of Crescent Moon and you belong here with us. No one will take you away.” Payton said with a reassuring smile.
“Thank you.” My heart felt so warm.
After the meeting, we headed down to the kitchen. “Anything special you’d like for dinner tonight?” Diesel asked.
“Whatever sounds good to you.” I said.
“YOU sound good to me.” He grinned causing me to blush. “Go put on a warm coat and meet me at the entrance hall.”
“Okay.” I replied and walked towards the north tower stairs to fetch one of my new coats. I saw Athena heading towards the dining hall and smiled at
her. She gave me a cold glare and walked off. Yep, she definitely doesn’t like me.
Fifteen minutes later, I was standing in the entrance hall wearing my coat. Diesel came through the front doors wearing his snow parka, hat and gloves. His blues eyes were sparkling and made my heart flutter.
“Where are we going?”
“Date night!” He smiled and placed a beanie on my head. He leaned down and scooped me up, carrying me outside into the cool night air.
“Your chariot awaits my lady.” He set me down on a large black snowmobile. He straddled the driver’s seat in front of me and started the engine. He reached back for my hands and placed them around his waist and into his coat pockets. “Hold on tight little one.” He called back to me.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Lia purred back and I let out a giggle as I leaned into his back and held on tight. The snowmobile glided smoothly across the top of the snow. We entered the woods and Diesel zipped through the trees easily.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the village and there was a soft glow from the old fashioned streetlamps that lined the streets. Diesel helped me off the snowmobile and we walked towards a wooden building with a sign that said, ‘Chinese Chopsticks’.
He held open the door and placed his hand on the small of my back. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Good evening Alpha.” An older she wolf said. “Table for two?”
Diesel nodded his head and she led us to a quiet booth in the corner. “Do you have any favorites you’d like to try Lucy?” He asked me.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I smiled.
“The usual.” He ordered and she bowed her head.
“Did you enjoy the snowmobile ride?”
“It was pretty awesome. The forest looks so beautiful with the fluffy blanket of fresh snow.”
“If you’re up to it, I’d like to drive you to Crescent point after dinner.” “Sounds great, what is it?” I asked.
“You’ll see.” He smiled.
Several large bowls were placed on the table, egg flower soup, dumplings, fried Rice, chow mein noodles, garlic chicken, vegetable shrimp, and kung pao beef. We ate dinner and Diesel told me more about the pack, talked about his parents and discussed places he couldn’t wait to take me. He traveled a few times a year internationally for business. I thought about how I was rarely allowed passed the tree line at Dark Moon and now I was sitting here talking about traveling overseas. If this was a dream, I hope I never wake up.
As we finished up dinner, our fortune cookies were served. I took one and opened it. “What does yours say?” I asked Diesel.
He looked down and laughed when he read the little paper in his hand. “It says, the fortune you seek is in another cookie.”
“What? No, it doesn’t!” I laughed and reached for his fortune. “It really does say that!”
“How about yours?” He asked me.
“Big journeys begin with single steps.” I read mine out loud.
“I guess that means you’re ready to take the journey to Crescent Point tonight.” He smiled.
We were back on the snowmobile and my nose was getting cold, so I buried my face in Diesel’s back for warmth. He smelled so good, I thought to
myself. My life, my journey, had taken me someplace special. One Alpha broke me, and another is putting me back together. The world with Diesel was so different and I loved it. We arrived at Crescent Point; the moon had illuminated a beautiful light on the snow. It was a look out point to view a magnificent waterfall.
“This place is amazing!” I said.
“You should see it in the warmer months, under a full moon, green grass and wildflowers.” His husky voice said as he pulled me into a hungry kiss. His tongue slipped into my mouth to deepen the kiss and sparks shot through my body. I kissed back, desperately wanting more. We broke apart to catch our breath and he rested his forehead on mine.
“Duke can hardly wait to run with Lia. He’s been a lovesick puppy ever since we found you.” He smiled.
I reached my hand up and placed it on his cheek, I looked into the eyes of my mate. My mate who had loved and accepted me just the way I was. I knew in that moment that I wanted to take another step in this journey.
I took a few steps back and continued to look into his eyes. “I have something I need to show you.” I started removing my clothes.