Chapter 7 - Welcome

The Bloodmoon Pack House loomed tall and imposing amidst the dense forest, its four stories reaching towards the sky with an air of majestic grandeur. Built from sturdy stone quarried from the nearby mountains, its walls stood firm against the passage of time, weathered yet resilient.

As the members of the Order approached, they couldn't help but be awed by the sheer magnitude of the structure before them. The front entrance, adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments, served as a testament to the pack's rich history and heritage.

The black front door, polished to a glossy sheen, bore the mark of centuries of craftsmanship, its surface adorned with symbols and sigils that spoke of ancient rites and traditions. Each detail was painstakingly etched, a labor of love and dedication that echoed through the halls of the pack house.

Inside, the foyer stretched out before them, its high ceilings reaching upwards towards the heavens. A grand staircase, spiraling upwards towards the upper floors, served as the centerpiece of the room, its banisters carved with delicate filigree and intricate patterns. The walls were adorned with tapestries and paintings depicting scenes from the pack's history, their vibrant colors and rich textures adding warmth and depth to the space.

As they made their way through the grand halls of the pack house, they were greeted by the scent of woodsmoke and hearth fires, mingling with the faint aroma of pine and cedar. The rooms were spacious and opulent, with plush furnishings and rich fabrics that spoke of luxury and refinement.

Each detail was carefully chosen to create an atmosphere of comfort and elegance, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of the outside world. Despite its lavish appearance, there was an air of warmth and welcome that permeated the pack house, a sense of camaraderie and kinship that bound its inhabitants together. From the flickering glow of the fireplaces to the laughter and chatter that echoed through the halls, it was clear that this was more than just a place to live – it was a home, filled with love and memories that would last a lifetime.

“Ah, Beta Althea, meet our guests from the Order." A beautiful woman with black hair and purple eyes turned to face the small group. "Welcome! I'm Althea Stormborn" As each member introduced themselves, Aurora took in her surroundings. It felt like whatever omminous feeling was permeating the air outside, hadn't been able to enter the pack house itself.

As they had walked around the pack lands, Aurora had felt some kind of dread trying to get to her. She didn't know any other way of describing it. It felt like fingers were trying to pull at her skin. In the packhouse, however, she felt nothing of the sort. She'd have to ask the others later if they'd experienced the odd sensations as well.

As Althea got to Aurora, she paused for just the slightest second before welcoming Aurora as warmly as she had the others. Aurora caught the slight hesitation, but felt nothing unwelcoming from the woman and brushed it off.

“Your packhouse is beautiful." Aurora complimented.

“Thank you" Alpha Damien says with the first heartwarming smile they'd seen on the man, "It's all thanks to Althea and my wife Kiyiya. You'll meet her later. She's currently trying to put our youngest boy, Cuan, to sleep."

"Let me show you all to your rooms", Althea offered. As the group began making their way up the staircase, Althea described the organization of the house. Every pack did it a little bit differently, so it was always comforting to the group to understand the dynamic within each pack they visited for any length of time.

"These bottom floors belong to our unmated wolves and our unmated staff here in the house. We don't have Omegas like some packs do. Those who want to contribute to the well-being of the pack by being part of our kitchen or maintence crew are free to do so - but we do not limit the contributions one can have on the pack based off of their birth." All of the members were pleased to hear that their hosts were so friendly to the various wolves in their pack. They'd been guests in many packs and it wasn't alway so.

"Those who are mated often choose to live in separate dwellings to the west of the pack house. We have construction crews who help build them as they become necessary. If a mated pair chooses to stay within the pack house then they are given a room on the second floor. Unmated warriors are also given rooms on the second floor. As such, you'll find the workout area and quick access to our indoor pool and rejuvenation center on the second floor as well."

This was surprising as well. Aurora couldn't wait to meet Kiyiya, as she was certain an area such as a rejuvenation center was her doing as Luna of the pack.

"Our third floor is home to our guests and our Gamma and his family. And the top and final floor is home to our Alpha and Beta and their families." Althea finished.

"Well structured" Gamma Marcus complimented.

"Thank you." Althea responded with a slight blush. As Aurora was standing next to her, she caught it before Althea turned the corner.

The group, reaching the third floor, took in their home for the next month. "We've got rooms for each of you set up. You'll have your own bathrooms and mini kitchens in each of your rooms. We've also set up a large conference room with tech hookups for your team to use while you're here."

"Do you have a secure network?" Maya asked.

"We do. I will have our tech guy, Jaxon, stop by to discuss the specifcs tomorrow. I'm afraid that's all a little bit out of my wheelhouse." Althea admits sheepishly.

"Mine too." Gamma Marcus agrees, Maya rolling her eyes at him before turning back to Althea.

"Thank you Beta Althea."

"Oh, just Althea to you all. Please don't worry about the formalities while you are here. Damien, Leo and I aren't concerned with titles among friends. Considering how much you all will be helping us while you're here, you are certainly friends" she declared with a wide smile.

"Well Thank You, Althea." Mikhail said. Althea nodded in aknowledgement and each member entered their individual rooms to get a good night of rest.

***

Aurora entered her room and was pleasantly surprised to find a large 4 poster king sized bed, a small kitchen and a beautiful modern bathroom with a gorgeous shower. 

"I will definitely be using you." She said outloud to herself as she admired the shower head. 

As she began unpacking her bags, her thoughts drifted to the feelings she got from the land as they got closer to the Bloodmoon Pack. The fact that the Bloodmoon Pack House wasn't affected led her to believe that it's not the Bloodmoon Pack that's the source, but probably their neighbors instead. They'd have to go out further west and get closer to Nightshade Pack Lands to prove her theory, but it would be a good place to start. 

As she was pondering, her phone buzzed with a message from Marcus.

(M) You up for a chat? 

(A) Yep! I wonder if the kitchen is stocked?

(M) Check the cabinet on the far right.

(A) This pack is growing on me!

(M) I'll bring the popcorn :) 

As Aurora waited for Marcus to arrive, she got started on their hot chocolates.