Chapter 18: The Luna & Her Soul Sister

She found her mate. She found her soul sister. They claimed the house. The pack stood whole. And beneath the quiet, something new began to stir.

The following day arrived with the sun streaming through the blinds in the bedroom, but no one stirred. Rosa and Luca were still asleep after yesterday’s events, so they kept sleeping. Two hours later, Rosa woke up. She opened her eyes and tried to get to the bathroom, but an arm blocked her way. She gently tried to remove the arm around her waist without waking Luca. Still, she failed miserably as his arm tightened around her.

Rosa sighed and poked Luca in the cheek, trying to wake him so he could move his arm.

He opened his eyes and smiled at her before asking, “What’s up, buttercup?”

Rosa giggled at his words but replied, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Luca rolled his eyes as he moved his arm to let her go to the bathroom. While there, she showered and dressed, grabbing fresh clothes from her overnight bag.

After fifteen minutes, Rosa was out of the shower and headed out of the bathroom. She saw Luca still in bed and made breakfast for them both. As Rosa was cooking, she heard the water running in the bathroom. Luca was finally up and out of bed. She placed the plates of bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns on the table, retrieved the two glasses of orange juice and the two cups of coffee, and set them on the table when Luca walked down the hallway. He came dressed in blue jeans, a red sweater, and black sneakers, while Rosa wore black jeans, a tan-coloured jumper, and black sneakers.

As they ate breakfast, Luca asked her what she wanted to do with the house. He waited until she finished her mouthful of food before answering, “Is it all right with you? I want to make it a home away from home, a place to escape and unwind during my breaks. But is it okay with you to keep it as a family home when we decide to have kids and are ready?”

Luca smiles at his mate and replies, “Yes, that’s fine with me; just let me know when you are ready for the kids, part,” he says, raising his eyebrows in insinuation.

Rosa nearly choked as she was about to put another forkful of food into her mouth when she realised what he had just said. Then, her face went utterly red with embarrassment at what he had just said to her moments ago. Still, she said sweetly, “Oh, don’t worry about that, my dear mate; you will know exactly when I will be ready for kids,” she informed him.

Luca nearly spat out the orange juice he was about to swallow and saw her smiling in amusement. She got him back after what he said about when she was ready to start a family. Luca gulped after she said that and quickly finished his breakfast.

Rosa laughed at his actions as if she might pounce on him. She was doing the dishes while Luca was packing his bag to leave for the pack. When Luca came back with his bag, Rosa had just finished washing, drying, and putting the dishes away. Rosa then packed her bag while Luca went around the house, covering the furniture to protect it from dirt and dust until they decided to return. Hopefully, not soon, they will start the family that Luca hoped for.

They left their newly acquired house ten minutes later and returned to the pack. The crowd welcomed them with enthusiastic cheers and applause. Luca and Rosa thanked them for the warm welcome before dismissing them to resume their duties, while he and Luna went to their room to unpack and settle as an Alpha pair. Rosa thought more about Luca’s words regarding having kids as the day went on. She wanted them, but she was unsure about the side effects of the tablet she had been taking or if there were any concerns. She headed to the hospital to see Arianna and discuss it.

Arriving fifteen minutes later, Rosa sees Arianna at the nurse’s desk and calls out her name. Arianna looks up when she hears someone calling her name while writing notes on one of her patients, and she sees Luna Rosa walking towards her.

Arianna then asked her, “Is everything alright?”

Rosa replies, “I am not sure; I am worried about whether there were any side effects from the tablets I was taking, if Luca and I were to have kids.

Arianna replied, “There is nothing to worry about, Rosa. Mia ensured that. She could come through once the tablets were out of your system and shifting into your wolf,” the doctor explained, comforting Rosa.

Rosa thanked the doctor for her reassurance and for helping ease her mind. She was glad she had someone close to talk to since her family was no longer living. Rosa missed her mother and grandmother.

Rosa finally caught up with her old boss and best mate, Gianna Gallo, after she and Luca arrived home from her family’s property following her Luna ceremony. Gianna could finally share everything with Rosa, and vice versa. Both women were pleased that everything had worked out, and they could still see each other now and then, without needing to say farewell. Rosa was glad to have her best mate back, but none more than Gianna, who felt relieved after hearing what had happened to Rosa. She had come through the other side and was now the Luna of her old pack. Talk about a miracle, Gianna had told her once she moved past what had happened back then. Rosa couldn’t agree more with her best mate. Rosa asked if she would stay for a while.

Gianna answered Rosa, “No, not long, I’m just here for the weekend and to catch up with you,” she had explained before continuing, “I need to get back to work on Monday.”

Rosa smiled at her best mate, understanding her next move. Then Rosa asked her, “Would you like to see my parents’ house?”

Gianna agreed and went with Rosa to her parents’ old place, showing it to her. Gianna liked it and hoped she could build one nearby, but she would have to ask the Alpha for permission first. In the end, Rosa, knowing what Luca would say, agreed with Gianna to get Luca’s approval.

Rosa then showed Gianna her parents’ and grandparents’ burial site to pay respects to her family. Abundant wildflowers grew nearby, and they were close enough to visit daily and lay fresh flowers on their graves. Rosa’s perspective shifted again after she recovered from the shock of discovering they were in their homeland, Italy, all along. It was understandable to learn what had happened to her family and what had caused them to leave their birthplace and start anew.

Gianna then asked her if she or Luca had contact with the Alpha who had taken over the pack in Italy. Rosa answered yes. “We both contacted Alpha Acosta but declined the invitation to discuss it further. We were happy that the Luna Crescent pack was thriving under Alpha Acosta and that we wouldn’t interfere with their pack’s business,” she explained to Gianna. “Was he all right with that?” Rosa looked at her boss and replied, “Yes, he was better than all right with it,” she explained to her best friend. “Well, that’s good to hear.” Rosa nodded her head in agreement with her old colleague.

Gianna looks at Rosa before telling her that she will leave the local community hospital and return to the pack in a few weeks, as she has found her mate, none other than Beta Stefano De Luca. She also informs Rosa that she has been training two more experienced staff members to fill both positions, as they will not be returning to the hospital. She would have done the same if she had known about Gianna’s background. Rosa is thrilled that Gianna has finally found her mate, too, especially since he is from the same pack. Rosa knows no one better than Beta Stefano De Luca, who is her best friend.

The following morning broke with the dawn as the sun rose, struggling to pierce the early-morning clouds. Meanwhile, the Beta pair woke up and prepared themselves before heading to the dining room, where the staff would serve breakfast in fifteen minutes. Gianna, the Beta female, would return to tend to everything at the local community hospital before coming back to the pack and taking on her duties as Beta female. Rosa couldn’t wait for Gianna to come home for good. She felt complete, having her best mate by her side. Having Gianna with her was like having an older sister. Gianna was, and always would be, Rosa’s family.

The last four weeks felt very slow for Rosa. Still, finally, the day arrived for Gianna, their Beta female, to rejoin the group. Rosa waited outside in front of the packhouse, eager for her return. When she saw Gianna’s car approaching, Rosa squealed with happiness. She hugged her mate as soon as Gianna could step out of the vehicle. Gianna returned the hug, smiling to see her. They both went inside and headed to her office. Once inside, they sat on the couch, where Gianna explained she would handle loose ends at the local community hospital. New staff would fill their roles and manage personal matters at her other residence before returning to this one. Rosa was excited by the news and hugged her again. Gianna chuckled at Rosa’s enthusiasm but agreed with her.

Before long, there was a knock on the door, and Rosa called them to join her. Luca and Stefano came to see their mates, especially Stefano, since he hadn’t seen Gianna in a month. He was ecstatic to see his mate as Luna Rosa, just a tad more. Both the Alpha and the Luna were smiling at the Beta pair, looking at each other with love in their eyes. Just like how Luca and Rosa still look at each other.

The rest of the day proceeded as usual in the Ferrera Wolf Pack. Everyone, including the Alpha and Beta, went about their duties, only stopping for lunch and dinner. People relaxed outside, sitting on the settees in their mates’ arms, enjoying the view from the front porch as pack members returned to their respective homes or rooms in the packhouse. Everyone wished the Alphas and Betas good night, and they responded kindly.

Two hours later, both couples headed back inside and to their rooms, saying goodnight before entering. Luca and Rosa prepared for bed, then slipped under the covers. They settled comfortably in each other’s arms as Rosa gradually drifted off to sleep. She felt Luca kissing her on the forehead. Before dozing off, he thought about their future and the pack’s. It could only get better, he told himself, then closed his eyes.

Unbeknownst to Luca, another important event was about to unfold that would change everything within the pack.