Page 9 of Violet Moon
Sera pinched her lips together as the wound in her heart reopened.Her brother had been bouncy and excitable, too.He had messy hair like Jo.He’d smelled like them, too, like sunshine and forests.She couldn’t remember much of her life before the change, but she got flashes of him, so crystal clear sometimes.She didn’t know whether she wanted to cling to them or bury them.
For now, she buried it the best she could, but the pang in her chest remained.
“It was good,” Sera replied, voice thin.
“Awesome.”Jo’s smile broadened and they plopped down on the couch beside Sera — right beside Sera.There was plenty of room on the other end, but Jo chose a seat that forced them to nearly touch.“You know, Wil’s been teaching me ceramics.It’s really fun and my hands get gross, which is also great.Do you like ceramics?”
Sera didn’t turn her head, but her face tingled where Jo was looking at her.“I haven’t tried it.Not in years, at least.”
“Oh, you totally should.You could join us sometime when you’re not busy!Not that you’re not busy, just, like, if you have a moment when you’re not busy.But I know you’re busy so don’t worry about it if you can’t.”
“I don’t want to intrude on your friend time.”
“You’d never be intruding!We’d be happy for you to join us.”
Sera glanced around the living room and caught her packmates staring and hiding grins.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Awesome!And if you’re busy that’s fine.I know you’re usually busy.You’re Beta and all!”Jo tipped their head to the side and let it land on Sera’s shoulder.
Sera tensed at the contact.Jo was enthusiastic in their affections, but they’d never initiated anything beyond a handshake or a quick, jumpy hug.This felt different.Her chest tightened as her heartbeat quickened.The ringing in her ears was back.She wasn’t on the couch anymore, but on the coast, running after a little boy until, finally quiet and calm, he sagged against her side.
“Jo, I —”
Sera bolted upright half a second before the rest of the pack in the room did the same.
Their Alpha burst through the back door of the house, looking every bit as put together as always, but there was a wild look in her eyes.
The levity vanished from the room.The younger wolves dipped their heads in deference.
She stared at Sera.“We need to talk.”
“Close the door behind you,” Parisa ordered.She paced around her office with her arms folded and her face pinched in concentration.
“What’s the news from Crooked Creek?”Sera asked, tone low enough to avoid being overheard.
“Not good.Clyde’s worried Jason’s on his way to becoming a failed Alpha.He’s losing the fight to his Alpha wolf.The aggression’s gotten worse.He’s pushing back against Clyde’s authority.If this were the old days, he would have been taken care of by now.”
Sera shuddered at the insinuation.“How do we help?”
“Support,” Parisa said, locking eyes.“Clyde needed assurance that we could lend our strength if needed and that, if it came to it — heaven forbid — we could take in some of his pack if Jason were to duel him and he lost.”
“Has it really come to that?”
“Last night’s aggression was a wake-up call.”Parisa leaned back on her desk, arms crossed.“For everyone.We forget that the old ways are still alive because we don’t see them daily.We run bakeries and bookstores.We lead tours up to waterfalls.We don’t fight for authority.We don’t struggle like we used to, but, Sera —” Parisa took a step towards her.“Nothing about our pasts, our natures, has disappeared.We just have the luxury of ignoring the darker sides — until something like this.”
“Fight for authority?”Sera balked.“Is that what Jason intends to do?To fight Clyde for control of the pack?”
It was unheard of for duels to happen these days.Now packs settled the matter of a new Alpha by sharing authority or breaking off and beginning a new, smaller pack.
“No,” Parisa replied, features darkening.“He doesn’t intend to duel Clyde.”
“So there’s no chance that Jason would try to take control of the pack?”
“We’re straying from the point.”Parisa clenched her fists at her sides.“He simply needs to know we’re with him.”
“Of course we are,” Sera added, voice quieter than before.She bowed her head, instincts taking over.An angry Alpha was an Alpha that demanded more deference and respect.
