Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future novel Chapter 6

I finish pantry duty making sure everything is set in the guest rooms. I had Sam order bouquets for each of the suites as an extra touch. In the guest Alpha's suite, I also add a bottle of champagne. If this is the last thing I ever get to do, I want it to be something that makes someone else happy.

 

It is almost one-thirty in the morning before I plop into bed exhausted. It has been a shit day. If Luna Caroline has anything to do with it, it will probably be my last. Lex is exhausted too. She stops sulking long enough to tell me she needs me to shift, but I can't. I have no time or energy. I keep promising her I will, but I feel like I've broken that promise. I float off to sleep to the sounds of her whimpering in my head while I cry into the pillow.

 

To my surprise, my alarm wakes me in the morning. Lex makes me promise to hang on for one more day. We go through the motions of the life I hate. While I'm getting ready, I look in the mirror to find my hair is completely silvery white now. I tuck it into a bun to try to avoid people noticing it.

 

The delegation from Blood River arrives in the early afternoon. They are all tall and intimidating with tattoos and big muscles. Some of them have visible scars on their arms and faces. They're wearing matching black and white business clothes or all-black security uniforms. Luna Caroline directs them to the sitting room while I quietly bring in pitchers of water and ice tea for them to drink. I do my best to try not to be noticed when one of the women calls me out.

 

"You there, omega," She says abruptly, staring with green eyes and black hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

 

I look around and realize she is speaking to me.

 

"Wine. Wine for everyone."

 

"Beta Lenora, of course, right away," Luna Caroline says quickly, then nods her head to me.

 

I rush to the wine cellar and pull out two cases of wine, napkins, and glasses, prepping the drink service cart and head back to the sitting room. I open three bottles each of red and white, leaving the rest for them to do as they wish and I back out of the room so I can start on preparing dinner.

 

The rest of the day goes without a hitch. The guests seem pleased with dinner. In the evening, I go to each guest suite to make sure everyone is happy with their accommodations. A couple of people ask for more bags of chips or soda but on the whole, everyone seems satisfied.

 

The last door is the Beta's room. Beta Lenora opens the door wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans, looking much more relaxed than earlier. She has a large tattoo of a rose and a dagger on her forearm. Her dark hair is still pulled back but she isn't wearing makeup. I can see now, she looks only a few years older than me. I can hear her mate inside talking on the phone.

 

"Thanks for checking on us. Everything is wonderful. The flowers are a beautiful touch. You have good taste," she smiles at me. I bow to her slightly, then turn to leave.

 

"Wait, what's under your hat?" The Beta asks suspiciously. I stop in my tracks and turn around.

 

"I'm sorry ma'am?" I ask. I feel the blood drain from my face and a knot forms in my belly.

 

"Your hat. Why is it so low? What are you trying to hide?" she asks, "Come closer."

 

I come closer and slowly take off my hat. Keeping my eyes to the ground. My silver hair cascades down my back. It is embarrassingly greasy and visibly dirty. I feel myself blush.

 

"Oh, I see," she says with surprise in her voice, "Now. Don't be disrespectful. Always look me in the eye when I speak to you."

 

Oh crap. I look up at her. The light from her room shines right into my eyes. She looks at me blankly for a moment trying to process what she is seeing.

 

"What are you? A hybrid?"

 

"No, ma'am. The pack doctor did tests but doesn't know why it happened. He thinks it must be a transformation related to my wolf getting ready to wake up," I mean, it's not a lie...it's just not the whole truth, right? How am I supposed to tell a complete stranger that my wolf says I am the Moon Goddess's actual daughter and that is why I have silver hair and violet eyes?

 

She grabs my chin and pulls my face closer to hers, inspecting closely, "And does the pack doctor know someone has broken your nose recently? You still have bruises."