Chapter 2

The next day Blair had a meeting at the pack school, to walk through and audit a few classes. Everyone was very nice, from the principle to the students. Blair told the principle about her idea for work experience classes for juniors and seniors. "You remember Luna, it would be just the girls," Principal Lair explained. "Oh yes, of course. I know the boys leave before sophomore year," Blair stammered trying to cover that she forgot. Lair smiled, "I think it's a wonderful idea, it might give the girls a sense of independence," Lair agreed. After eating lunch with some of the high school girls which seemed awkward, since a few of them stared at her. Blair walked out to her car, "Blair," a girls voice called. Blair turned around, it was the pretty blonde from the group. "Can I help you?" Blair asked. "Aileen, I just wanted to meet my competition," the young blonde said holding out her hand. "I'm sorry?" Blair replied confused. "James is mine, he was before he left and he will be as soon as I graduate," she shot at Blair. Blair furrowed her brow, "You don't belong here, with us. You'll never be our Luna," Aileen spat and walked back to her friends. Blair got into her car and drove home, wondering what the girl meant by James was her before he left.

Blair reached her house and went inside, she put her keys and purse down on the counter and stood at the back sliding glass door. She stared at all the greenery, before opening the door. She took a deep breath and shifted. Blair took off running jumping over the stream and heading deep into the woods. She was trying to fit in and be the luna her mother raised her to be, but everyone in the pack seemed against her. From the bitter old ladies down the high schoolers. Blair had felt so alone since coming to the evergreen pack. This pack was bigger and that was something the luna teachings left out. Blair ran until her lungs burned, she stopped at a small clearing, to rest.

It was nearly six, when James walked into the house, "Blair," he called, but the house was quiet. James looked around and saw her keys on the counter and the door open. James walked out to the backyard, "Blair," he called again. When he didn't hear her, he shifted and took off after her. James followed her scent to the clearing, where he saw her sitting on a log, staring up at the little bit of sunlight left, dancing through the trees. James walked up to her, "What happened?" He asked sensing her sadness. Blair didn't move, "Nothing," she barely said, looking down at her feet. James gently brushed her hair to her other shoulder, letting his finger lightly skim across her skin. Blair's breath shuttered, "Don't shut me out," he whispered against her skin, holding her shoulders with his hands as he placed a gentle kiss on the back of her neck. "I met Aileen," she told him. James hung his head at her back , "Not this again," he said looking up as she turned on the log to face him. "You should've told me," she stated angry. "Told you what?" He asked. "We were kids James, but I have a right to hear it from you," Blair accused. "What are you talking about?" James asked. Blair went to walk away, convinced he was trying to play confused. "No," he said grabbing her arm. "Not until you tell me what you're talking about," he demanded. "I don't belong here," Blair spat, tears forming in frustration. James released her in shock, "Your pack hates me, they wanted you to stay with Aileen and maybe you should have," Blair continued. "Blair I was never with Aileen," James tried again. "She told me," Blair began. James' alpha side was done with this conversation and being questioned, "Enough," he shouted in his alpha voice, Blair's head snapped down. James let out a sigh and closed his eyes, an alpha doesn't use that tone on his Luna. Blair felt humiliated and completely alone. It was as if James was turning on her. He didn't want to hear the problems she was having, not really anyway. "Blair, I'm sorry," James whispered taking a step towards her. She stepped back, "Blair," his voice now a plea. Blair turned and began walking towards the woods, "Excuse me, Alpha," she shot back over her shoulder, before shifting and running back to their house alone.

It was dark when James made it back to their house, he locked the door and walked into the kitchen. There was nothing there, Blair must not have eaten. James went to their room and knocked before slowly opening the door, "Blair," he said softly. She didn't move, James sighed to himself and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He climbed into bed looking at Blair, he reached over to touch her arm, but pulled back unsure. James laid down on his back, thinking. "No, I'm an alpha, damn it," he told himself and rolled over wrapping his arm around Blair and pulling her close. Blair opened her eyes and stared out at the moon as James nuzzled behind her neck. She was torn, the strong connection they shared and the mark she bore made her want to turn to him and apologize. The alpha blood that coursed through her and the stubbornness she had wouldn't let her show weakness.

 James woke up in the morning alone, he got up and looked in the bathroom, but it was empty. He put some clothes on and walked to the kitchen, to find his mother waiting at the door for Blair who was grabbing her purse. "Where are you going?" He asked confused. "We have a few things to get settled before the ceremony, tonight," Maggie told him, chuckling as if he didn't know. He stopped in front of Blair, she still refused to look at him. Bowing her head instead, "If that's ok with you, Alpha," she whispered. James sighed, "Have fun," he told her. Blair walked around James and walked out, Maggie gaped at him confused, "What was that about?" She asked. "Nothing ma," he dismissed and walked into the kitchen for coffee. "James, that's not nothing," she replied. "I accidentally used the alpha tone on her," he confessed. Maggie's jaw dropped, "She's been having a hard time, James why would you do that to her?" Maggie scolded. "I know, I just. She wouldn't stop with this Aileen nonsense," James began. "So you used that on her but not on the people who need it," Maggie pointed out, shaking her head, she turned on her heel and began walking out. She stopped at the door, "Glad to see we've taught you so well," Maggie snapped with tears stinging her eyes, before she walked out slamming the door. James set his coffee on the counter and gripped the stone counter, "DAMN IT!" He yelled, loud enough for the cabinets to shutter. James looked up at the fire place and the photos of he and Blair, there was one of them as children before he left for training in Scotland, one from Ben's alpha ceremony before everything happened and another from their claiming ceremony. In every picture she was looking at him with so much love and admiration. So much had happened to them in such a short amount of time, Blair in particular had been on a rollercoaster. James knew his mom was right and he knew what he needed to do. He pulled out his cell phone, "Sir," Erik answered. "Erik, please call the former beta, John, former Deltas Harry and Torrey to my office. I want you and Ryan there as well please," James ordered. "Yes, Sir," Erik replied and hung up. James went to get dressed, his anger now focused. 

Blair looked less than excited as she stood on the pedestal letting the seamstress check for any last-minute adjustments. "Are you ok?" Maggie asked. Blair looked over and nodded, "I think everything is finished, Luna how does it feel?" The seamstress Isla asked. "The fit is great," Blair answered. "Do you not like the dress?" Maggie asked. "It's beautiful, I'm just not sure it's me," Blair said of the dark green, strapless, ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. Maggie walked over, "Darling, it's worthy of you," Maggie assured. Blair smiled, "Ok, go take it off so we can go get your hair done," Maggie ordered. Blair took the dress off and Isla set everything up to deliver the dress later. Maggie and Blair walked out and headed across the street to the salon, Blair gasped and jumped. "What's wrong?" Maggie asked. Blair looked at her and back at the gazebo, "I thought I saw alpha Tim," Blair told her. "That horrid man isn't allowed in our territory," Maggie replied grabbing Blair's hand. "Blair you're shaking," Maggie added. "Just startled," Blair replied with a quick smile, and they went into the salon.

James walked into his office tall, chest out with a stern look on his face, he was exuding his alpha power from the moment he entered the building. He wanted to put fear into these men in case there was any doubt of James's ability to lead the pack. The men stood as he entered and sat only when James sat. James took a moment to look at each of the men, "Do you know why you're here?" James asked his tone steady and strong. "No alpha," John his father's beta answered. "You're here because your wives and daughters, feel that they are still in a position of power to say whatever they want," James told them. John immediately pinched the bridge of his nose, "John, I've been told that I had a relationship with your daughter," James honed in. "Alpha, I," John began, but James put his hand up and John stopped. "On more than one occasion these women have insulted your luna, and Aileen has apparently challenged Blair, calling her competition," James continued letting his temper flare just a little. John was completely red, "Because you were my father's counsel men, I will give you this one warning. Should your households continue in this disrespectful manner, or should it seep into the pack, I will have no choice but to banish you all," James explained his voice still low and full of judgement. The men nodded, "I suggest you talk with them privately before I make it public," he added and dismissed them. Erik and Ryan look at James, "Aileen really challenged Blair?" Ryan asked as soon as the door was closed. "She called her competition," James replied. "That's bold, she doesn't know the training Blair has had," Ryan said. "Too bold, you were right when you said this could seep into the pack," Erik added. James flexed his jaw still irritated from the meeting, those men completely bowed down to him, there was a time when he was younger, he looked up to them. Maybe that was his problem, he had looked up to those men and never said anything to them. From now on he wouldn't make that mistake again.