The conversation in the laundry room shifts from the heartbreak of Amara to the daunting reality of what it means to be the woman beside an Alpha. V sits with her notepad, the Ohio grit now channeled into a strategic mission to overhaul the cracks she’s starting to see in the Moon Shadow sanctuary.
I sat on one of the folding tables, swinging my legs and scribbling furiously as Gina talked. “Wait, stop,” I said, holding up the pen. “You keep saying that word. Luna. What the hell is a Luna?”
Gina smiled, though it was seasoned with a bit of pity for my steep learning curve. “The Luna is the female counterpart to the Alpha. It’s not just a title, V—it’s a role. Traditionally, the Luna’s duties include planning the communal dinners, assigning the household chores, organizing the village events… the ‘soft’ side of pack life.”
I felt my nose crinkle in immediate distaste. “So, basically, I’m the head of the party planning committee and the head maid? That sounds like fluffy stuff that doesn’t interest me at all.” I looked at my list of “food insecure” households and felt the urge to do something much more substantial than pick out table linens. “Who’s doing all that now?”
“Honestly? Knight and I have been splitting it,” Gina admitted. “But it’s a lot to manage on top of everything else.”
I looked at her, then back at my notes. “Look, Gg. Keep doing it. If you’re good at the logistics of the house, stay on it. I want to focus on what the Moon Shadow pack actually needs—the stuff that’s falling through the cracks, like Amara and her mother. I want to be the one who sees the problems Stormy misses.”
Gina’s eyes lit up, a look of pure relief and respect washing over her face. She realized then that I wasn’t going to be a “traditional” Luna who just looked pretty on Stormy’s arm; I was going to be the one who fixed the foundation while he guarded the walls.
“Now, tell me about the hierarchy,” I said, tapping the pen against my chin. “Does a Luna get a Beta and a Gamma, too? Or is that just a ‘boys only’ club?”
Gina shook her head. “No, the Luna doesn’t usually have a formal staff.”
I snorted. “Well, that’s wrong. If I’m going to do this, I’m not doing it alone.” I looked her square in the eye, my voice steady. “Gina, will you be my Beta? My second-in-command for the stuff that actually matters?”
The silence in the laundry room was broken by the sound of a heavy door slamming and a high-pitched yell. “Mommy! Splash Lady!!”
Kyle came skidding into the room, fresh from his preschool session with the elders. He ran to Gina first for a quick hug, but then he pivoted and climbed straight into my lap. I adjusted him easily, resting my chin on his shoulder as he settled in like he belonged there.
“You can call me V, kiddo,” I told him, ruffling his hair. “Or even Roni, if you’re feeling fancy.”
Gina watched us, her smile widening as she saw how easily I took to the role of protector. “I’d be honored to be your Beta, Roni. I think the Moon Shadow pack has no idea what’s about to hit them.”
I squeezed Kyle a little tighter, my eyes drifting back to the laundry Amara had left behind. “Good. Because we’re starting with the pantry. And we’re starting tonight.”