Chapter 29
Eamon's POV
If the last six years have taught me anything, it’s that Cara and Lilia are nothing alike.
Lilia was a princess in every sense of the word. She loved to be doted upon, loved to be the center of attention.
Cara couldn’t be more different.
Cara almost never thinks of herself. She’s always considering others, whether that’s her children, her friends, or the pack as a whole.
She might be the most selfless she - wolf I’ve ever met.
When she first came home, she was bedridden and had complicated medical needs for recovery from both the accident and the pregnancy.
Naturally, my brothers and I did what brothers are meant to do: we took care of our sister.
Cara hated it.
...Or perhaps, she's not accustomed to it.
“I can do it myself.”
“You don’t need to do that, I’ve got it.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.”
She would say these things no matter how much pain she was in with a smile. No matter how much we could all tell that she was lying.
But the lie is also the truth. Because she did indeed quickly improve her condition, just as she said, "I can do it myself."
As her Alpha King and brother, I have a duty to care for her and protect her.
But, above all, it must be said that Cara is an excellent worker. She has a drive to participate and help the team more than most.
Cara is so different from Lilia. She's strong, not like a princess at all, and I see a possibility in her abilities. Maybe...
Maybe one day, that would make her one hell of a leader.
It had to be about a year ago now when I invited Cara to attend an important pack business meeting. We were negotiating a deal with a nearby shipping port, hoping to lower our costs and expand service.
Initially, I only planned to bring my brother Colin and my longtime Beta Walter, but something told me to ask Cara. By that time, she was off bedrest.
She was healthy enough that if you hadn’t already known about the accident, you probably never would’ve guessed that she’d been bedridden for five years.
Cara was hesitant to accept the offer, but her performance during the meeting proved that I’d made the right choice to bring her. I barely had to speak at all.
She stared down the two men on the other side of the table with a disarming mixture of friendliness, confidence, and wit.
“Now, gentlemen,” Cara had said with a smile that was menacing yet comforting.
Her voice was light, “We all know you settled your last account for a much lower price, so unless your operations manager is in so far over his head that he can’t keep all these numbers straight…?” She raised her eyebrow at the men, challenging them to agree that their staff was incompetent.
“Of course not!” They replied in unison, clearly flustered.
I didn't witness the scene firsthand. But when I saw Cara again, they each shook her hand, shellshocked, “Umm… yes, thank you… pleasure doing business with you…”
She was a natural, that much was clear. After that meeting, I offered her more and more responsibility.
Now, nearly a year later, I can’t imagine managing pack business without Cara.
When Walter approached me with news of his plan to retire, Cara was the first, and only, name I could think of. In the one year that she’s served the pack, she’s been instrumental.
Hell, she should probably have my job.
Well, that’s an interesting thought…
It's also the most reasonable decision.
Cara's POV
“You asked to see me?” I say, walking into Eamon’s office.
Eamon smiles and gestures for me to take a seat in front of his desk.
“Yes, please, make yourself comfortable.” I do as he instructs, keeping a curious eye on him.
“Walter is retiring,” he says simply.
I nod, unsurprised. Walter has been the BloodyMoon Beta since Eamon’s father was Alpha King.
My father.
Even now, six years later, it still takes me a second to remember that I’m a part of the Alpha family, too.
“That will be a big adjustment. He has served the pack for so many years, and he performed so well,” I reply.
“Yes, the person who follows in his footsteps must be someone who can manage just as well, if not better, than he. Someone with experience serving as Beta to a large pack… Someone smart, who can juggle many things at once…” Eamon says, looking at me meaningfully.
“You mean… me?!” I ask, genuinely surprised that I’d be considered for the job.
ME?!
“Precisely.” Eamon says. Seeing my face, he adds, “Why wouldn’t it be you? You’re extremely well - qualified, Cara. You’ve got experience.”
I blush the slightest bit at the compliment. “I appreciate that, but that was different… I was raised in DarkWood.”
“As an orphaned outsider,” he reminds me. “How is that any better than fulfilling your birthright and joining the leadership here at BloodyMoon?”
My mouth snaps closed, stopping whatever I was about to say. Eamon makes a good point.
But I’m not sure what to say.
I hadn’t been expecting a promotion so soon. “I feel like I only just got here. There’s so much about this pack that I don’t know…”
Eamon nods, “That’s true. But if there’s anyone up to the challenge of learning quickly, it’s you. Believe me, I have the utmost faith in you, Cara. Now you just need to believe in yourself.”
I look down at my hands, suddenly feeling the weight of his love and care for me. He knows I can do this. I think deep down, I know I can do this, too.
But I’ve got the twins to consider now. They need me to be both mother and father for them, and I need to make sure they’re taken care of.
That they have the childhood I never had.
For the millionth time, I wish I had my wolf Lucy here in my head to help me weigh the options. I wish I could hear her voice again…
But I can guess what she’d say.
She’d tell me that Mia and Ethan already have a better childhood than I ever did. That they already have something I never did.
Family.
They have me, and all six of my crazy brothers, and Ruby, and the entire BloodyMoon pack. To help them, to teach them. To love them.
I’m not alone.
It’s that one soothing thought that gives me the confidence to look up and into Eamon’s eyes.
I know what I need to do.
“Okay. I accept. I’ll serve as Pack BloodyMoon’s Beta.”
Relief flashes over Eamon’s face, which then morphs into pride. “Thank you, Cara. We all thank you.”
I move to get up from my chair, assuming that our meeting is finished, but Eamon stops me by lifting his hand.
“Actually, I’ve got something important to discuss with you as my new Beta.” He says.
“Yes?” I ask curiously.
Eamon hesitated, looking at me, and finally made up his mind. He said softly, “This morning, I received a crucial document, one that's vital to the future of our Pack.”
I ask,“ What is it？”
“...It's PACK DARKWOOD.”Eamon says.
“Pack DarkWood has reached out. They want to reopen communications and establish diplomatic relations.”
“If we agree, Alpha King Alaric will arrive here shortly.”
My stomach drops, and I grip my fingernails into the chair to steady myself.
