Becoming the Luna

The dining table is tense and everyone but Hayden and their parents notices this, Hayden too caught up in bringing his grandfather up to date.

Yanis is still visibly uncomfortable about his best friend being a Werewolf now but he seems to be adjusting, Renee and Virgil sitting on pins and needles.

Renee, in the case Hayden asks her a question about his father, an issue she particularly didn't like to address and Virgil, worried that something would trigger his mate's memory about childbirth and male Omegas.

But somehow, all Hayden babbles about is his bookstore and Dream and Ruby, it was almost like he had forgotten that he was a Werewolf.

The meal rounds off without event, Maggie and Grant leaving together, saying something about an event they were invited to.

"I'll also like to get some rest with Pixie, it's been a really busy day for us both." Candy says, getting up carefully.

Maggie and Renee had even been against her joining them for lunch but she had waved their worries aside, saying she was fine.

"Mom, I wanted to ask, when will you come back to Pine Creek?" Hayden asks his mom after they had all moved to the receiving room, Yanis and Virgil giving them some privacy.

Everyone had already said goodbye to Aunt Candy and baby Pixie, there wasn't any reason to hang around anymore, it was getting quite late too.

"In a couple weeks." Renee says, throwing her arms around her only child, a brief expression of guilt coats her face but she's quick to hide it when Hayden looks up at her with a wide smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah." She affirms, hugging him close. "I'll wait till Andy leaves then I'll hang around for a while before coming home, knowing Andy she will want to leave by the end of this week."

Hayden chuckled slightly, he definitely saw that happening.

He says goodbye to his mom, letting her fuss over him and lick her hands to fix his hair.

"Where's Yanis?" He asks much later, leaving his mom to find Virgil waiting alone.

Virgil shrugs. "Something about his luggage, if we leave now we can miss him."

"V?" Hayden lightly scolds, making a face. "Let's wait for him in the car."

They make their way out only to find Yanis leaning against Virgil's car.

"Took you both long enough." 

"It's not to late to leave him behind." Virgil implores his mate who just looks amused.

"The journey will be over soon." He comforts, patting Virgil's arm.

•~•

Keiran was being quite reasonable but Dale couldn't ignore the red flags going up, true to his word, Keiran didn't seem like the type to want to usurp power but he didn't seem like the type to do favors either.

He was cold and ruthless when he needed to be and didn't seem like the type to bend to authority.

"Fine, it would be a waste to simply turn you away and I don't think Head Beta Nelson would appreciate that." Dale accepts, voice tight. "I don't need to remind you that my word is law, do I?"

Keiran raises both hands in mock surrender with the tiniest of lazy smiles on his otherwise neutral face. "I understand that."

"How soon do you intend to begin? This is a peculiar situation so I'll give you the choice of living here or wherever you wish." He explains.

Keiran's expression shutters at this, shoulders stiffening. "I'll get back to you on that and I should like to come in tomorrow, the sooner I get started the sooner I can get out of your hair." He surmises, getting up. "Call me Keiran by the way, we are going to be working together… Alpha." He stretches out a hand for a handshake.

Dale gets up as well, being polite and takes his new Head Beta's hand.

"Oh, and…" Keiran pauses on his way out, turning around.

He was about to tell Dale to keep an eye on his new secretary if he didn't want to recieve bad news but something makes him swallow back his words. "Can I deal with the boutique now?"

Dale raises a brow at this but inclines his head. "Sure, Keiran, go ahead." He permits, shuffling through the files on his desk to look busy.

As soon as he confirms that Keiran is gone, he jumps out of his seat, hurrying out of his office… where was Dream?

He knocks gently on the secretary's door, thoughts whirring.

"Come in."

Is all the incentive he needs to push open the door, just to see Dream hard at work on the newly provided laptop.

"Hey." Dream says drily when all Dale manages to do is stand and stare.

"Hi." Dale says slowly, not trusting himself to not bite his tongue or blurt out something stupid.

"I figured you would be busy with Mr. Banes so I decided my report could wait." Dream walks forward, holding the tablet.

Dale frowns, something was off about Dream, there weren't any sparks in his eyes, what could have happened.

"Yeah… um… I should probably tell you this now, Keiran… Mr. Banes is going to be the Head Beta.

Dream's eyes widen in surprise but he makes no comment, nodding slightly. "Well, the report is in the tablet but I'll also email you the abridged version." He says, handing the device over to the Alpha.

"Thank you." Dale smiles gratefully.

"I was just about to come see you." Dream was saying. "I'll leave in a couple minutes so I can be moved in by the end of today..."

Dale nearly drops the device that had just been handed to him in surprise, fireworks going off in his brain.

"Dale? Dale?" Dream calls when he gets to response to his answers.

Dale shakes his head. "Yeah?"

"I was asking about my residence?"

"Oh yeah, room 405, I'll leave the keys on your desk for you."

"Sure." He nods, picking up his briefcase.

Dale hesitates, he knew how to handle a fiesty Dream but when the other withdrew like this, it made him nervous.

"I um…" Dale stammers lightly, pushing a hand through his hair. "I wanted to say thanks for the meal, I finished it."

Dale's heartbeat slows down when he sees a faint spark start behind Dream's eyes, the shadows of a smile on his face. 

"Good, make sure you eat lunch, dinner is on me." He orders, walking out with his briefcase in hand. "Help me lock up my office, I'll be back later."