The Dark Alpha's Light

What's in a Name?

Lenore

I follow Linda into the grand packhouse. It reminds me of the palace, only bigger. “Hemlock Grove is one of, if not the richest pack in the kingdom,” Linda speaks up. “Alpha Lawson, Alpha Torben’s father, took great pride in building this house. He was a meticulous alpha which rubbed off on his son,” Linda explains proudly. She looks me up and down, “What pack are you from, Luna?”

“I come from Moonglade,” I respond. “My father is Alpha Wyatt Moonglade.”

“Aw, I have heard them. I have a cousin there. She works in the kitchens,” Linda nods.

“What is her name?” I ask.

“Oh, you probably wouldn’t know her, Luna,” Linda chuckles as we reach a grand set of elevators.

“I acted as Luna after my Mom died three years ago,” I sigh. “I made sure I knew everyone.”

“Oh, then my cousin is Mary Jenkins,” Linda replies.

“I know, Mary. I hung out with her son David in high school,” I respond happily. We get into the middle elevator, and there is only one button.

“This elevator is the Alpha’s personal elevator,” Linda tells me.

“Oh, of course,” I grumble. “Does he treat you well here?”

“Alpha Torben is all business, Luna,” Linda replies. “But yes, he does treat us well. The omegas want for nothing, and we are not overworked like some other packs I have heard about.”

“That’s good. I have heard about some packs treating their omegas like slaves and working them to the bone. I wouldn’t live in a pack like that,” I explain.

Linda smiles but says nothing as the door opens to a cavernous hall. “This, of course, is the alpha floor,” She points down one side, “That side belongs to Luna Teresa and Miss Mina,” she points to the other side, “And that is the Alpha’s side.”

We walk by several large and heavily adorned doors. We get to the end of the hall, and she opens a set of double doors, and we walk into a large room at least four times bigger than my father’s. There is a king-sized bed with probably the most expensive linens on it. It is mostly undecorated for such a large room with only a couple of paintings and a wolf sculpture in the corner. There is a sitting area with no TV and a massive wall filled with books. There is also a large marble fireplace with a portrait over it.

“The bathroom is in there,” Linda points to a door made of dark wood, “And the closet is in here,” She says and leads me into it. It’s bigger than my room at home. There is space cleared on one side, and I see my luggage. “Is that all you have?”

“Yes,” I huff.

“This dresser and this side of the closet is your side,” Linda tells me.

I nod, “Thank you.”

“Do you need me to help you unpack?” Linda asks, and I shake my head.

“No,” I grumble.

“Well, I have some other business to attend to. I will send my daughter up to show you around,” Linda tells me.

“Thank you, Linda,” I offer her a smile.

“Welcome to Hemlock Grove, Luna,” She responds and touches my hand.

After she walks out, I stare at the closet. My mate’s scent lingers in the closet, and Astrid is in my head humming happily. I wish I could be happy like her. I just feel apprehension and anxiety being here. I unzip my suitcases and start to unpack the few things I brought. My belongings look meager compared to his majesty’s side. I walk out of the closet and over to the sitting area and my hands over the numerous books. They are mostly older literature. I like the smell of old books. I pull a book from the shelf, and it’s a collection of Edgar Allen Poe’s work. While thumbing through the book, there is a knock on the door, and I jump slightly. “Come in,” I shout.

The door opens slowly, and a woman who looks to be about my age walks in. She looks like Linda but with shorter hair. She steps toward me and bows, “Hello, Luna, my name is Katrina. My Mom sent me up here to show you around if you wish.”

I close the book, put it back on the shelf, and hold out my hand to Katrina, “Hello Katrina, I am Lenore.”

“That is a pretty name, Luna,” Katrina smiles sweetly. “Would you like me to show you around the mansion? It can be quite confusing at first. I still get lost sometimes.”

“Sure,” I respond to Katrina. She seems friendly enough.

Katrina leads me out of the room, “Of course, this is the alpha floor. You have access to the entire floor,” she explains.

We get down to the ground floor of the packhouse, and Hemlock Grove pack members eye me as Katrina takes me all over from the dining hall to a large Belle-style library. I notice there is no common room or TV room for the pack members.

“Where does everyone go to unwind?” I ask Katrina.

“What do you mean, Luna?” She shrugs.

“Like a TV room or a common room. We had one with pool tables and video games at my pack,” I explain.

“Oh, Alpha doesn’t allow that sort of thing. He believes it is a waste of time,” Katrina breathes out.

“What?” I scoff.

“We don’t have parties or stuff like that. We have formal gatherings, but we don't have parties,” Katrina explains.

“So, like no fun at all?” I ask, and Katrina nods.

We walk along for another minute before a tall man walks up to me. He is wearing a suit, and I can sense a bit of authority coming from him.

“Who is this, Katrina?” He asks with a low growl.

“Did Alpha Torben not tell you, Gamma?” Katrina asks.

“No,” The Gamma eyes me and sniffs the air.

“This is our new Luna,” Katrina smiles at me.

The Gamma’s eyes go wide, “Oh, right, he did say he was bringing his new Luna home.” He flicks his eyes to me and bows, “Please forgive my momentary rudeness, Luna. I am Frederick Boggs, the Gamma of Hemlock Grove.”

“Nice to meet you, Frederick,” I greet him. “I am Lenore Moonglade.”

“Of the Moonglade Pack?” He asks, and I nod. “So, your father must be Wyatt Moonglade.”

“That he is,” I respond with a slight smile. I am starting to miss my father, along with everyone else. I need Judi’s biting remarks and Ryland’s protectiveness. I am going to miss all of that.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Frederick tells me. “I hope you like it here.”

I put on a fake smile and nod, “I hope so too, Frederick.”

“Please call me Gamma Frederick. Alpha Torben doesn’t like us being informal,” The gamma explains. “Anyways, I have work to do,” He bows and walks away.

“His majesty isn’t friendly with his gamma?” I ask Katrina.

She shrugs, “I rarely ever interact with the Alpha. I just clean his room sometimes,” Katrina ushers me along, and we go outside and explore a large beautiful garden that spreads out before us. “This is Luna Teresa’s pride and joy.”

“I can see why,” I say as we walk under vine-covered trellises and past trees ladened with fruit. I lean down to sniff a flower and smile at its scent. I look at Katrina, “Hydrangeas were my mother’s favorite.” I look at the lovely flowers and feel a tinge of grief for my mother. “She had her own garden but nothing like this.”

“Is your mother deceased?” Katrina asks quietly.

I nod, “She died of cancer when I was sixteen. I have been or was acting as Luna since.”

“That’s admirable, Luna,” Katrina remarks.

“Please call me, Lenore,” I say to her.

“I can’t do that, Luna, Alpha-“

“Well, he isn’t here right now. Please, I insist, call me Lenore,” I plead with Katrina.

She takes a deep breath, “As you wish, Lenore. I do like your name. If I ever have a daughter, it would be the name I would choose.”

I pat her arm, and we walk out of the garden back into the house, and I nearly collide with his majesty. A low growl comes from his throat as he looks down at me. “What are you doing?” He demands and sniffs. “And why do you smell like another male?” He growls and pulls me towards him.

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Alpha Ambrose,” I hiss.

He releases me, “You still insist on calling me, Alpha Ambrose?” He scowls.

I look away from his harsh glare and said nothing.

“Fine, then don’t call me Torben. I would prefer it, Ms. Moonglade,” He retorts, and I feel a tinge of pain for some reason. “I still demand to know what you are doing and why you smell like another male? Tell me his name so I can execute him.”

My eyes widen, and I dare to look into his nearly black eyes, “I doubt you want to execute your Gamma. He just introduced himself to me. That was it,” I explain and glance at Katrina, who is standing with her head down. “Right, Katrina?”

She nods, “Yes, Lenore,” she replies, and Alpha Ambrose growls.

“What did you call my mate?” He demands, and Katrina starts to tremble.

I step between him and Katrina, “I asked her to call me Lenore.”

My mate stares at me, “You’ll let an omega call you by your first name, but you won’t extend the same courtesy to me, your mate.” He takes in a deep breath and then marches away.

Katrina sniffles, “I’m sorry, Luna,” she cries.

I touch her shoulder. “No, you did nothing wrong.” We stand there for a moment. “Can you show me the library again?” I ask her.

She slowly nods, “Yes, Luna,” She wipes the tears from her cheeks and leads me down the hall.

The library is vast, and the old book smell fills my senses. Whenever I needed a break from my Luna duties at home, I would bury myself in the library there. This library is bigger than the one at home.

“Luna, I must attend to my other duties,” Katrina speaks. “You are free to move around the packhouse and garden but don’t go any further than that.”

“Did his majesty just tell you that?” I ask her.

“My mother just mind linked me,” She replies.

“Oh well, thank you for the tour and conversation, Katrina. I hope to see you around,” I smile at her.

She bows and then rushes out of the library.

I sigh and begin my exploration of the library. I run my hands over the leather-bound tomes of old literature. I select a few books on Greek mythology and Shakespeare, find an old-fashioned chair and plop down. I spend hours reading, not noticing the hours ticking by. I am interrupted by someone tapping my shoulder. I yelp and jump.

“Oh goodness, I am so sorry, Luna,” Linda says with her hand on her chest.

“It’s alright,” I notice it’s dark outside.

“Alpha is requesting your presence for dinner,” she tells me.

“Now?” I ask, and she nods. “Oh s**t,” I set the book I was reading down. “I look like hell,” I stand up and try to straighten my clothes out. I am still wearing what I put on this morning.

“I have to take you to the dining room now,” Linda breathes out.

I nod and let her lead me out of the library. “Is Katrina in trouble?” I ask.

“What?” Linda asks.

“Katrina, is she in trouble?” I ask again.

“No, but the alpha has requested she no longer spend time with you,” Linda frowns.

“What?” I sigh. “I like Katrina.”

Linda smiles slightly, “I believe she is taken by you too, Luna. But his orders are final.”

“We’ll see about that,” I smirk as we reach a grand set of doors.

Linda says nothing as she opens the door, and I am overwhelmed by my mate’s scent. The room is large with a long table for twenty. He is standing at huge windows. I step in with Linda, and he turns to us. I have to try not to let how hot he looks in his suit affect me.

“You are dismissed, Linda,” he barks at the omega, who bows and walks out of the room, closing the doors behind her. He turns his dark glare on me. “I thought I asked you to dress nice,” He hisses.

“I was reading in the library and lost track of time,” I respond.

“Full of excuses,” He slithers out and walks towards the long table. “Sit,” He orders me.

I slink over to the opposite end of the table and sit down. The table is set for a formal dinner. I look at the variety of forks laid out by the plate and shudder. I was never good at formal dinners, not that my father cared.

Alpha Ambrose snaps his fingers, and several omegas dressed in black tuxedos come from another door with trays of food. Apple cider is poured in front of me while an appetizer is set in front of me. It smells good enough, and I pick up a fork to eat it, and his majesty grunts.

“What?” I say as I look up at him.

“That is the wrong fork,” He responds.

“A fork is a fork,” I mumble and dig into the food. It’s bacon-wrapped scallops with a sauce. It melts in my mouth, and I take a sip of wine and ignore his glare.

“Your father did not teach you proper table manners?” Alpha Ambrose hisses out.

“My father was more concerned about running his pack and teaching me to be a good leader. He didn’t have time to worry over forks,” I hiss back.

He lets out a “Hmph” and sips his wine.

We continue to eat our meal in silence. By the fifth course, I feel full, “Can I go now?” I ask. “I don't want to spend all night eating.”

He glares at me, “Do you always leave in the middle of meals?”

“I leave when I am no longer hungry,” I shoot back. “I don’t see the point of this many courses. It has all been delicious, but I am no glutton.”

“Are you saying that I am?” Alpha Ambrose snarls.

“No, you are an alpha male, and alpha males just eat more,” I explain.

“I see,” He muses. “You may go then,” He says with slight sadness.

I shoot out of my seat and start for the door. I stop before touching the nob, “Thank you for dinner,” I mumble before walking out. I swear I hear him say something in return. I wander the packhouse more before finding my way back up to his room.

He sits by the fireplace, reading and sipping on what I think is tea. He says nothing as I move inside. I wonder if I should say anything but ignore him and go to the closet. I grab my pajamas and carry them into the bathroom. The shower is so large and complicated that it takes me a minute to figure it out.

‘You are being rude to him,’ Astrid speaks up.

‘What?’ I retort. ‘He is being rude to me, Astrid. I am not going to let him push me around.’

‘You could at least try harder with him,’ She responds.

‘Oh, hush,’ I snarl and block her. I finish my shower and dry off. I brush my long hair and do my other nightly routine. I walk out of the bathroom and go into the closet to grab my phone. I sit on the stark white couch and text Judi and my Dad.

-How is it going?- My dad texts.

I wonder if I should be truthful or not. I could see my father launching an attack, if I am honest, and I can’t have that.

-Everything is fine, Daddy- I text back.

I chatted with my Dad and Judi for a bit longer before feeling tired. His majesty is still reading by the fire. His eyes follow me as I walk toward the bed. “What side is yours?” I ask.

“Left,” He responds.

I pull down the covers on the right side and lie down with my back to him. I play on my phone a little longer before setting it on the end table. It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep. In my sleep, I feel him get into bed.

“Goodnight, Lenore,” I hear him whisper as his hand glides down my back. I can’t help but shudder from the tingles of our mate bond, but I say nothing in return.

Hours later, I am awoken by someone sobbing. Astrid whimpers in my head, and I turn to see Torben crying in his sleep. His eyes are tightly closed, but tears escape them. I feel empathy for whatever makes him sob in his dreams. Instinctively I move closer to him. Suddenly his arms encircle me and pull me flush to his bare chest. He buries his face in the back of my neck and inhales. My own body leans into him, and I shudder from his touch. Astrid is in my head, purring away like a nipped out cat. It doesn’t take long for me to fall back to sleep, and I don’t wake again until the morning.

Astrid is whimpering from the loss of her mate’s warmth. I open my eyes, and sit up. Torben walks out of the bathroom wearing only a towel, and I have to keep myself from gawking at his naked chest. He stares back at me but says nothing and moves into the closet.

I hold my hand to my chest and pant lightly. I pick up my phone and see a couple of messages from my brother and father. I send them some replies. Torben emerges from the closet dressed in a fine three-piece suit. He stares at me with his dark eyes, and I manage to smile. A faint one spreads on his handsome face before fading.

“Get up and get dressed,” He says in his usual tone. “After you get dressed and eat some breakfast come to my office so I can go over your work schedule,” He demands and then leaves the room.