Mother of the Moon - Chapter 113 - Lua Chei
Lunaya.
The dining room was designed just like the rest of the lodge. Exposed wooden beams along the ceiling with a few hanging chandeliers that bathed the room in a warm light. The walls made of both large stone bricks and thick wooden beams, scattered with windows overlooking the forest and parts of the river. The large table was made of one large piece of treated wood, running the entire length of the room, with matching wooden chairs placed around it. The atmosphere of the dining room was like a warm blanket of luxury, just like you would expect of a five-star restaurant in Paris.
“Holy crap” Alyse exclaimed as we walked in. Elaine and the others were already seated around the table, each with a large glass of wine. Astéri, Akela and a few others I hadn’t met yet, joined them. Astéri and Elaine both turned to see us as we stepped into the room.
“Ah, there you are ladies, how did you like the hot tub?” Astéri called as she stood up and walked over to us.
“It was incredible, thank you” I replied taking her outstretched hand. She led us to two empty seats towards the head of the table. As we walked past each of the people that I didn’t recognised she named them.
“These are some of my children; Akela, you know. Aleah, my youngest daughter, Analah, Ahmad, Aston and my eldest son, Ares”.
Ares stood and offered his hand to me, I took it and he pulled me forward for Sevasmo. After a brief pause, we separated, and he did the same for Alyse.
“It’s a pleasure to have you all here” he said in a deep and rumbling voice. I roamed my eyes over the eldest son, Ares, he is a tall man with slim muscles. Possibly in his early thirties. He must look like his father has he held nearly no resemblance to his mother. My curiosity spiked as I took him in, if he is of age, why has he not ascended to the Alpha position yet?
“It’s a pleasure to be here. This is quite the establishment you have, you must be proud” I said to Ares as we took out seats at his side.
“This lodge has been run by Lua Chei for generations. It is our pride and joy” he confirmed with a nod. As I looked around the table, I noticed that all the place settings had been filled, meaning the Alpha was not joining us.
“I have to ask, is your father not joining us tonight?”
“No, he won’t be with us unfortunately, he has been called away on pack business” Ares said in a very final tone. Clearly not a subject he wants to discuss.
“I hope you don’t mind, but we have arranged a set menu for tonight” Astéri called out as she stood up in her seat beside Elaine. We smiled, nodded and agreed without hesitation and then a line of waiters walked through the doors, each holding three dishes. They placed them on the table in front of each of us and the smell attacked my nose, leaving me salivating. I have no idea what it is, but I can’t wait to eat it, holy shit does it smell good. After each person had a plate, the waiters left and Astéri waved her arms.
“Please, dig in”.
I didn’t hesitate and picked up a small round ball and plopped it in my mouth. I moaned as soon as it hit my tongue. Still no idea what it is, but I don’t care. I just want more. Alyse elbowed my ribs and I turned to glare at her.
“Can you at least pretend not to be a heathen” she scolded while gesturing to her knife and fork. I smiled meekly and nodded, picking up my fork.
“Sorry love” I whispered.
Ares was watching our exchange closely, his brows were furrowed together and his lips were pursed in a straight line.
“So, you two really are Mated” he commented, not exactly posed as a question.
“Is that a problem?” I ask sternly, reading into his curious gaze and matter-of-fact tone.
“No, not at all. Lua Chei is not opposed to polyamory, however I don’t believe we have had a lone same sex Mating before. Do you not wish to procreate?”
Alyse half choked on her current mouthful of food and I tried desperately to hold in the growl working its way up my chest. The audacity of this man.
“I don’t believe that is any of your concern or your business” I snapped, placing my fork back on the table before I used it to gouge out his eyeballs.
“My apologies, I meant no disrespect. I am just simply curious” Ares rushed out with a small wave of his hand.
“Uh huh” I huffed. I raked my eyes over this obnoxious Alpha-son. My anger bubbling away in my stomach. Like a slow burning furnace. It’s not like he is one to talk, where is his Mate and offspring?
“Well, if you don’t mind my asking, where is your Mate young Alpha-son?” I sneered. He laughed and leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on the edge of the table.
“My wife has just given birth to our second child not a week ago, I instructed that she stay home to rest” he smiled. I expected him to be smug or condescending, to take pleasure in his showing up my attitude. But he didn’t. His smile was genuine and his tone was pleasant. I swallowed my pride and bit back my desire to push on the topic of his ascension.
“Oh, congratulations” I choked, I could feel my shame turning my cheeks a shade of pink.
“Thank you. She is a beautiful and healthy baby girl, just like her big sister” Ares cooed. His eyes held a brightness to them, and his tone flooded with pride and love. In that moment he reminded me so much of Micha. A pang of pain and jealousy stabbed through my heart, but I pushed it down as per usual.
After our plates were cleared, another course was brought in and it smelled and tasted just as delicious as the first. This course was trays of oysters, lobster and small pieces of fish. The seafood spread was incredible. The conversation throughout dinner flowed nicely and we all got to know each other a lot more. Astéri and her daughters were very interested in learning more about Luna Eclipse. Unsurprisingly. An all-female pack would get any she-wolfs interest turning. Although Elaine told them enough to sate their curiosity, it didn’t escape my notice that she withheld a lot of information.
Ares and I got to speak a lot more. I judged him too quickly, he is actually a remarkable Were, a great father and an even better son. He explained that he has been ready to take the role of Alpha for some time now, but his father insisted that he spend the first few years focused on his new family, without the distraction of running a pack and a popular travel lodge. It impressed me that he chose his family over the power of Alpha rank. Not many Weres would take that road. My respect for Ares skyrocketed when he explained his decision to me.
Dinner and dessert wound down, the three youngest children; Akela, Aleah and Aston, headed off for bed. Leaving Ares, Astéri, Analah and Ahmad with the six of us.
“So, you are fond on the A names, Astéri” I joked. She chuckled and nodded.
“After number seven we were running out of ideas, but we had to uphold the tradition. Ambrose, my husband, and both his brothers had A names, as did his father and grandfather. So we just stuck with it”
“I like it, I think it’s really sweet” Alyse chimed in.
“Thank you darling. Tell me, do you have any children?”
Alyse tensed up and shook her head before picking up her wine glass. I gently squeezed her thigh and shuffled a little closer. Astéri caught on to the slight increase of tension in the air and quickly changed the subject.
“Well then, I remember you mentioned that you’ve come to find the Triple Goddess” she said, loudly, her voice carried an aura of power across the table. Finally, the topic I have been waiting for. Please, please, please, tell me you know where she is.
“We have” Elaine confirmed, her voice holding just as much strength and power.
“How do we know that you don’t mean her any harm?” Astéri asked, her gaze set squarely on my own. She’s a smart woman and could clearly tell that I am the most invested in this topic.
“As I said, we only wish to offer our greetings and hopefully form an alliance. You know that Luna Eclipse will support any woman of power. You can’t get more powerful than the Triple Goddess” I replied without breaking eye contact.
“I heard you, but we still don’t know a lot about you. If we tell you where she is and you harm her, the Goddess herself will take her wrath out on Lua Chei”
“So you do know where to find her?”
“Ahh, I didn’t say that now did I?”
“What will it take for you to believe that we have come peacefully?”
Astéri was quiet for a moment, she eyed me up and down and rolled her eyes over Alyse as well. Alyse had gripped onto my tense hand, trying to calm down my erratic heart. Elaine and the others all too sat stiff and anxious, awaiting Astéri. She brought her gaze back to me and tipped her head to the side, her stare boring into my soul.
“This means a lot to you” she remarked,
“Of course it does, it means a lot to the entire Were existence” I replied bluntly.
“Yes, but you especially. Why? What has got you more invested in this than any of your companions?”. I paused, unsure how my poker face was failing me. Alyse squeezed my hand and flashed me.
***Don’t Lunaya, she could be baiting you***
***I know, but I need to give her something. She can already sense it***
***Fine but don’t tell her the whole truth***
***I wont***
I looked to Elaine and she was watching me with an intense glare, she also didn’t want me to tell the whole truth. Fuck. How am I meant to spin this? I desperately raked my brain for something. Anything. I have an idea.
“I came across a Seer, she told me that I needed to seek out the Goddess” I spat out. It was a partial truth. Even if only zero point five percent of it.
“I see” Astéri mumbled while rubbing her fingers over her chin and eyeing me sceptically,
“And what else did this Seer tell you?” Ares butted in. I turned my gaze to him, and he was clearly more curious than sceptical. He had a softness to his face. He must definitely take after his father.
“She didn’t answer the questions I asked, she told me that only the new Goddess could give me answers” again a partial truth. I’m getting good at this whole deception thing. I’m not sure if that is something I should be proud of though.
“Well, I’m convinced” Astéri laughed and slapped her hands together. Her children daughters laughed and Ares smiled wide, and I felt Alyse relax beside me.
“So, you’ll tell us then? You’ll tell us where she is?” I asked urgently.
“I will, on one condition” she nodded. Oh great, of course there would be a catch.
“You will take my daughter Analah with you. And then, when you leave, she will accompany you to Luna Eclipse in order to form an alliance between our two packs”.
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