Enjoy!!!

Chapter 18:

"We are going to go through the procedure one more time."

"No! We are not, you have drilled it into my head for the last week. I could not be more prepared."

Truth be told, Taine knew Mila would be more than fine at her official introduction into the pack. The constant reminders of the procedure was more a chance to talk to her. The tension between them had dissipated slightly and their daily conversation count had gone from five sentences to at least twelve. It was small steps, but it was progress none the less.

"Okay then tell me what happens after I introduce you?"

Camila rolled her eyes and picked at her fingernails. "Then I repeat the oath back to you, sign some forms, we both cut our hands and shake and then BAM. Done. We can party the rest of the night away."

By figuring something like this out together it strengthened their tenuous relationship.

A small part of him was afraid of Camila's unpredictability. He remembered when she had first woken up in this house. Their first argument, she had thrown a tantrum that left literal cracks in the wall.

He looked at her.

Really looked. The way she had her arms draped across the arm of the sofa, a magazine flipped open on the coffee table. He could see the small changes that had lead up to this bigger one. This was finally becoming a home rather than just a house.

The presence of her was slowing making itself more known with each passing day. The music that played in the mornings and the way the curtains were always open, letting the sunshine seep in. The house-plant he had given up on was magically revived. He had preferred to dwell in the darkness but Camila had become his light.

Camila's sigh brought him back to reality.

"Okay, fine and then what happens after-"

---

Camila was getting tired of the constant questioning, she was capable of remembering a few simple instructions, why did Taine keep harassing her about this?

"Look. I understand that you want everything to go well, but it seems like you don't think I am competent enough to remember what to do."

She didn't need his validation or approval, she knew she would be better than fine. That is why Camila chose to interpret the silence that followed her accusation as...contemplative rather than insulting.

Months ago she would have seen it as indifference, she probably would have been hurt. Angered by the silence. But now she knew that although his face remained expressionless, he wasn't trying to be 'slow' or irritating, but rather he had just lost himself in deep oceans of thought. Waters she wished to immerse herself in.

She closed her eyes and sunk into the softness of the couch. It was nice to have something to look forward to. It was nice to know she would now have the opportunity to lead. The presence of her wolf ran excited circles in her mind at the thought. She just hoped that Taine would be receptive and willing to let her take some control.

She thought of her mother and her father, their smiling faces. She wondered what they would think of her life now. Their smiles disapprovingly turned to frowns in her mind. What would they say when if they heard the name of the man whose roof she now slept under? The man whose heart was predetermined to be hers.

She needed to forgive, but she feared there would always be a part of her that wanted to hurt this pack for its mistakes. It truly hit her at that moment. She was going to officially become a Luna. Of this pack. Fate had a twisted sense of humour.

Camila took a deep breath, counts of seven in and eleven out. It always calmed her down when things became too overwhelming. She opened her eyes and turned to Taine, "Where is my phone? I need to call someone?"

---

"Hello?"

"Hey Luna Hart, its me."

"Mila, it is so nice to hear your voice! How have you been?"

"I have been good, I mean apart from the occasional death threat from Taine, it has been fine."

Luna Hart laughed awkwardly but jovially not fully understanding the context of Mila's rambles.

"I'm sure Libby told you that I am officially joining this pack soon?"

Mila could practically feel the grin on Lizzie's face. As she gushed.

" I am so happy for you! You are going to be an amazing Luna...If the amazing job you did here is anything to go by!"

"And how is Roger filling my big heeled boots?"

Liz laughed, "He's doing fine. A few adjustment issues but otherwise good."

Camila shook her head as if to remind herself to focus on this pack. Her soon to be pack.

"My official introduction to the pack is tomorrow afternoon, and I don't know, I just...."

"Mila you are doing the right thing."

She paused, sometimes she truly thought that Luna Hart was psychic. "But how do I know for sure? These people, I was destined to lead them but I am afraid I won't be able to look past what happened, especially because Taine doesn't know the truth. I wonder if it was really supposed to happen like this. I find it hard to believe. "

"Look, you're right, in your head, you know that you should put your feelings aside and focus on being a leader. Trust me I understand."

"Its difficult for you because your heart is still mending and its tugging you in different directions. It is okay to be unsure and its okay not to know what to do."

"Camila felt her heart clench at Lizzies words that resonated with her soul.

"Just remember, that some part of you knew what the right thing to do was when you made this decision, you need to trust your gut because people are counting on you."

"You're right Luna, I really needed to hear that." Camila knew better than most that sometimes the right decisions were the hardest, most selfless ones.

"Mila, I am always going to be here for you, sometimes as Luna's, we need to listen to our heads, not our hearts... And hey, you don't have to call me Luna anymore, we'll be the same soon!"

"Wow, that's gonna take some getting used too." Although it was true, she knew that Lizzie would always and forever be Luna to her.

"Make sure you call me when the excitement over, I want to hear all the details!"

"I will! Thank you, Liz! Tell the boys I said hello."

"Will do Mila, take care sweetheart."

"Bye, Luna."

---

That evening Camila mentally confirmed the hair and makeup she planned to pair with her dress. And had practised her address to the pack so many times, with such fervour that she felt she wouldn't need a mic to address the hundreds she would be meeting.

She kept to herself that night, not wanting to be questioned again. Residual stress from the Alpha-mate would not help her sleep. Ivory had come over to help them both with any last minute things as per Taines instruction. Not feeling comfortable enough (yet) to participate in official pack discussions, she was reduced to relaxing in her room, trying to settle her nerves and waiting for slumber to come.

A soft knock at made her roll over to see yellow light from the hallway bleed into the darkness of her room.

Not recognizing the silhouette that entered the room she called, "Hello?"

"Sorry to disturb you, I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Mila wondered if Ivory came because Taine asked her to, or because she wanted to.

Either way, it was a nice gesture. Ivory perched on the edge of the bed with a small smile on her face...maybe it was both.

She rarely felt pricks of jealousy when she thought about the relationship between Ivory and Taine. Partially because she could barely understand it herself and partly because, it was nice to know that Taine had someone to talk to. Cause he sure as hell never talked to her.

She doubted they even did much talking outside of pack business.

"Hi Ivory, I'm feeling good, thanks for asking. A little nervous about my address to the pack but once I get there I will be fine."

"Oh Camila about that, Alpha Taine said that...that isn't happening anymore."

Camila instantly sat upright, pushing the covers away from her upper body. Letting the cold air add to her shock. "What do you mean? Why?"

"You'll have to ask Alpha T-"

She didn't have time for Ivory to be diplomatic and deflective. She pierced her with a dangerous gaze. "Ivory. Why?"

Ivory paused and then sighed. It was a sigh that told Camila that Ivory really didn't want to be talking to her about this.

She had initially seen Ivory as a puppet and Taine was the puppetmaster, but now she knew that Ivory could and would call some of the shots. Well, Camila wished she'd decided to bring some tequila tonight.

"He said something about it being out of your comfort zone."

"Comfort zone, my ass!" Camila left her warm cocoon of blankets and stormed into the living room. The hairs on her arms stood on end. She was annoyed, angry, cold and everything in between.

She knew Ivory had been sugarcoating, bigtime.

When she reached the source of her rage, he didn't even raise his head from the piece of paper he was writing on. She cleared her throat dramatically.

Finally, he looked up at her and assessed her with his eyes, a glittering cool brown.

"Yes, Camila?" For some reason the way he said her name made her angrier. The way he breathed made her angrier.

"Please Alpha, explain to me why my speech to the pack is no longer occurring?" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot against the wooden floor.

Taine slowly and calmly took off his glasses and laid them on the table. He had expected this storm. And he was the calm.

"I made an executive decision based on behavioural trends, risk assessments and time constraints."

Camila looked at him, bitterness blatant in her eyes.

"Behavioural patterns? My behavioural patterns you mean. You don't have time to check my speech and you think I am going to say something risky to the pack and embarrass you. So you decided to take away my privilege because you are an 'Alpha' and this is your last chance to exercise power over me before I am considered your equal."

Taine had focussed his attention back onto the piece of paper in front of him. Oh no, he wasn't getting away that easily.

"I'm right, aren't I? Do you really think that low of me? I thought you were starting to trust me."

The word trust morphed her words from anger to hurt. She hated herself for it.

Camila gave Taine a chance to explain himself. Five taps against the hardwood floor, one clenched jaw, three more taps... but he did not take the opportunity.

She tried to burn holes with her eyes at the papers in his hands.

"Fine. Don't speak to me. I am going to forget what you've done until after the ceremony. I am too tired to argue with you over this. Just don't expect me to pander to you tomorrow like a love-sick fool."

With those final words, Mila marched back to sleep. She had looked to Ivory for help, hoping someone would stick up for her, but of course, she didn't.

Camila had rigorously and tirelessly dedicated herself to the task of her first address to the pack. She had been excited about this aspect of the ceremony above anything else, even more than the food. The speech was the Lunas chance to connect with her pack, to show them her power and passion. Taine was nothing short of cruel for taking it away from her.

After a few hours of fuming and trying (but failing) to hold back frustrated tears, she prayed to the moon goddess for peace and sleep. Eventually, it came.