Logan Chapter 73

-Logan-

Emory is clearly a natural. Pack members came in two by two, and only a couple of them made up an issue just to gawk at the new Luna. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at a backup like this after being gone for a month. Emory listened carefully to each group, asked for context when the issue was more about shifter nature than human nature, and casually suggested brilliant fixes to me more often than not. I had no idea she was a relational genius.

We’re still sitting on the same chair after the last couple of people have left, just thinking through the decisions made and the concerns brought to us in relative peace. Emory is the first to break the silence.

“Well. I thought that would be much worse. I didn’t feel like an animal in a zoo at all.” I can’t help but chuckle a little at her fears.

“You did so well, little rose. Everyone was pleasantly surprised at your simple fixes. I don’t know when my thinking got so complicated.” I catch a chunk of her hair that’s hanging over her shoulder like a red ribbon and start playing with it. It’s still so nice to have thumbs again.

“Well, speaking of simple fixes, have you heard back about what we’re going to tell my family? Are we planning to have them here for the full moon ceremony, because…?” I can feel her blush heating my hand as well as her face. I suppose she would be uncomfortable with her family’s presence at a sort-of orgy.

“Shit, baby. I forgot to text Nanette last night. Let me take care of that now by just talking to Orson about it and the issue brought up today. He refuses to have a phone, so we’ll have to either visit him ourselves or send a runner.” She thinks a moment before she replies.

“I think it would be nice to visit him. I’d like to see more of the pack lands than this house, as big as it is.” I guess I have kept her a bit sequestered here, though it’s only been two days. Stars, it’s only been two days. I check the time and find it’s only 7 pm. Orson should still be awake, though getting ready for bed. He might not take kindly to visitors at this time, but I’m Alpha.

“Then let’s go pay him a visit, shall we? Are you ready to go? Not hungry or anything?” The girls brought us snacks to get us through the mediations, and are expecting us to request a late dinner. Maybe we’ll just have some light sandwiches to take with us.

“I’m fine. Let’s head out.” I look down at her heels. They’re not what I’d call walking shoes, but she’s fairly rabid about them and I already know her well enough not to say anything about her abilities.

“Are you sure you want to get grass and maybe mud on those heels? We’ll be crossing his yard to get to his front door.” Our community is built fairly close with attaching sidewalks out of necessity, but there’s enough room for the older and richer members of the pack to have some postage stamp yards. There’s about an acre around each side of the pack house with cleverly planted trees to make it seem bigger and wilder.

“I’ll be fine.” She tells me confidently. She knows best, I suppose.

We walk to Orson’s house in about thirty minutes. It’s not incredibly far- all the elders are given the option to live close to the pack house in case of emergency meetings. Emory and I walk hand in hand, and it feels refreshingly like the first days of our relationship. It feels silly to have nostalgia for a past that can be measured in weeks, not quite two months, but I do. It was simpler without all the pack issues, though there’s an intense relief to having Emory’s knowledge and acceptance, even if it’s grudging. We walk in an easy silence, and time flies by. I look to see Emory catch a deep breath before I reach up and knock on the door.

There’s grumbling coming from inside, which is just loud enough that I know Orson intends for whoever is at the door to hear it. “Can’t expect anything from young people these days, let alone privacy. Up at all hours. A body needs rest- the sun goes down to signal the end of the day. The end of visitors, for sure.” The door swings open and Orson clears his throat, straightening his posture and bowing appropriately. Busted. “Alpha. Luna. You’re unexpected. Is there an emergency?”

Emory shoots him a conciliatory smile. “So sorry to barge in on you like this, Elder Orson. We just had two questions for you and we’ll troop right out of your hair.” She touches his elbow with her apology and I have to stomp my wolf down to keep from growling at Orson. He’s no threat to us.

Orson knows to take his arm out from under Emory’s hand subtly enough to save her feelings and mine at the same time. There’s something to be said for experience. “Well. Come in.” He leads us wordlessly into a formal sitting room, decorated in feminine florals with a delicate seating arrangement. Orson’s mate Florence has been sickly for years- not anything diagnosable or specific, just delicate. I notice Emory melting at Orson’s caring for his mate stamped into every one of her design choices that he had no say in and no inclination to change.

Once we’re all seated and Emory and I decline drinks, I decide to get right to the heart of it. “We won’t keep you, Orson. We just have a couple of things that have come up. The first, we should have asked the whole council when we had you together yesterday. I’d like to tell Emory’s family that we’re a pack rather than a community. They’re technically going to be my in-laws, and Emory is worried that they’ll try to rescue her from what will look to them like a cult. They won’t be here until tomorrow afternoon, so you have a little time to talk to the rest of the council about it and get back to me.

“The second consideration is that there’s another couple that was looking forward to having their chosen mate ceremony this full moon, and aren’t sure they’re going to be able to wait for the next one. Emory suggested having their ceremony as an opening act to ours, and letting the pack disperse after that, as is tradition. I told them I would ask you, as you’ll be the one performing both ceremonies. Do you have any questions or concerns?” Orson leans back in his seat, and I give him time to think through it. Since I was a pup, he’s been a thoughtful man, not given to impulsive speech.

“True, you’ve only brought me two questions, but they’re both quite large. I have never performed two ceremonies in one night before, and I do find them draining. On top of that, I’ve never performed the ceremony for fated mates. It may be easier, it may be harder. We cannot know. I’ll ponder on these questions and send someone with my answer before Luna’s family arrives. You’ve given me a lot to think of tonight.” He pats his knees and lumbers to his feet, a clear but respectful dismissal for us.

Emory smiles again, probably relieved to have this in someone else’s hands. “Thank you again for seeing us so late, Elder Orson. We’ll let you get back to your wi-mate. Have a good night.” Orson and I both quirk a small smile at Emory’s correction, but we all walk to the door without commenting on it.

“Good night Alpha, Luna,” is all Orson says before bowing again and closing the door behind us.