" home isn't a place, it's a feeling "

__

I was trying to remember to breathe, as we stood on the top of the staircases near the entrance of the palace door. I currently wore a knee length dress, warm stockings underneath and wrapped in a long black peacoat that reached down to the back of my thighs.

I couldn't for the life of me remember if it was breathe in and out or out and in. This was ridiculous, why was I so nervous? I was never this nervous. It didn't help of the fact the werewolf who I had realised my feelings towards last night was standing right beside me, arm wrapped around my waist sending the usual sparks up my spine.

"Breathe, my love." He whispers in my ear, as if reading my thoughts.

"I don't think I can remember how." I reply back, head turning to look at him in the eye.

Gorgeous sparkling eyes.

After the intrusive thought made its way through my head last night, I had to pull away from him before I actually completed the action as well. The rest of the night we had stayed up talking about the packs and the names of everyone, he explained a little more about the history despite me knowing majority of it and everything under the moon.

He chuckles at my reply, giving me a kiss on the temple of my head right before the first car of many pulls up to the pathway. I suck in a sharp breath nerves fluttering inside me.

"Right next to you." He mutters in my ear, I couldn't help but beam at the words. "Bluemoon Pack." He then says.

Alpha Jerry and Luna Sally. I almost scream out my relief of hearing them arrive first. My shoulders sag a little at the news, my relief evident as I hear him chuckling to himself.

The kind smiles of Alpha Jerry and Luna Sally greet us as they walk up the stairs.

"Your majesty, King Nolan." Alpha Jerry is the first to greet, both their hands meeting for a firm shake.

They were the Alphas and he was the King, I remember him telling me last night. The titles were different and they called him King because it wasn't a mouthful and still stated his leadership over them.

Then he's moving to me as no introductions are needed and he's pulling me into a hug. "My dear, Cassandra." He jollily states, I hug him back giggling at his happiness. "You haven't visited in so long."

"Yes, dear. Where have you been?" Luna Sally is next to greet me with a long motherly hug.

"I've been here actually," I answer once pulling away from the hug, "I assume you know about Sarah's little baby girl?"

"Oh yes, remind me to pay them a visit later."

"She'll be coming with Andrew to dinner." Nolan speaks up from behind me, I don't miss the change of tone he uses on others. The authority and power is not missed, his voice a bit deeper as well.

However, that was news to me. "She is?"

"Yes, my love." His tone changes to soft again.

"We'll all catch up then." Luna Sally beams, bidding a quick see you later as her mate leads her to the castle doors where they would be the first in the room set up for their arrival.

I wanted to call it the lounge room, Nolan wanted to call it the sitting room.

"See that wasn't so bad?"

I roll my eyes, nudging him a little. "That doesn't count, I knew them beforehand."

"You seemed rather close with them." He notes.

"I trained in their pack for two years." I explain, his eyebrows lift up in surprise and before I can further explain another car is rolling to a stop down below.

"Fullmoon Pack." He whispers once again as a she-wolf emerges from the car and walks up the stairs.

"Alpha Kaitlin." Nolan greets I note his tone is a lot kinder, less authority put towards it and power.

Alpha Kaitlin the first female Alpha. Also my hero.

"King Nolan." She greets, a steady look on her face.

"This is Cassandra Williams." Nolan introduces smiling down at me in reassurance as he does so.

"It's so lovely to meet you," I say kind of excitedly whilst holding out a hand, "I want to hug you but Nolan tells me it's not the proper way."

I get loud unexpected laughter from the Alpha in return as she pulls me into a hug and I grin hugging her back. "Oh, I like you. Nolan you better be treating this one like Royalty."

I note she calls him by his first name.

"You know I do, Kaitlin." He replies, chuckling at the situation and shaking his head. "Should have known you would do that, Cassandra."

"I told you I hate formalities." I giggle, "sorry if that was a bit forward."

"I adore forwardness," Alpha Kaitlin was brimming with pride that I wasn't entirely sure why, "it's an honour to meet you."

"It's an honour to meet you too, Alpha Kaitlin."

She bids a see you inside and disappears into the fortress of the castle joining Alpha Jerry and Luna Sally.

"You two are close. She didn't call you by your title." I comment, turning towards Nolan.

His eyes scan over my face searching for something I'm unaware of before he nods. "She became Alpha at eighteen, with the age and gender she was oppressed by a lot of people. She came to me begging to take away the title I had given her."

"She did?" I ask in surprise, not remembering hearing this part of the story.

"I told her to give it six months and to accept my help. We became close during the time I taught her how to lead and helped her gain the respect she deserves. I consider her as good of a friend as Jack and Drew."

I nod along. "That was kind of you, to help her."

"She's a great leader, one of the strongest now and I saw her potential since the beginning."

The rest of the morning passes by quite similarly, every Alpha and Luna I've met so far, besides maybe one or two, always kind and smiling. They were welcoming towards me and that settled my nerves plenty as I managed to strike up a conversation with most Luna's and have a bit of a laugh.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Nolan says to me after another couple disappear through the doors.

I turn towards him with a blinding smile, leaning upwards towards him and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "You're amazing too."

"We have one more to go." He nods towards the car pulling in now, opening up towards them, "Bloodmoon Pack."

I knew it was coming, having kept track on all the other arrivals. Alpha Cameron and Luna Opal, the only mates that currently have a child. A little girl named Ruby who was currently settled on her mother's hip no older than four.

"Oh my goodness, she's so cute." I gush to Nolan forgetting momentarily about werewolf hearing as the couple starts laughing as they walk their way towards us.

"Hi, I'm Cassandra Williams." I immediately greet holding out a hand and Luna Opal accepts it smiling. Beside me I vaguely here Nolan greet Alpha Cameron and they begin talking.

"I'm Opal, it's an honour to meet you and this is my daughter Ruby." She smiles down at her adorable daughter, who shyly smiles at me tucking her head under Luna Opals chin.

"Hi Ruby." I greet, giving her a wave, "and how old are you Ruby?"

She holds up four fingers like I had guessed and mumbles what I assume to be the number but because I'm not blessed with werewolf hearing I can't hear it.

"Four? Wow. I love your dress it's very pretty." I coo, almost awing out loud when she smiles happily at my compliment.

"What do you say, Ruby?" Luna Opal smiles at us.

"Thank you. You're really pretty."

"Thank you so much, but I think you're the pretty one here." I gush out, defiantly awing out loud. "You're so adorable, can I keep you?"

Luna Opal laughs loudly but it halts when Ruby lets go of her mother's neck and holds out her arms towards me, small hands making grabbing motions. "Ruby you can't-"

"It's fine," I quickly rush out, grabbing the girl and settling her on my hip. Ruby wraps her arms around my neck and places her head in the crook of my neck, head facing outwards. "Okay, yeah I'm definitely keeping you." I coo.

"She's never done that before," Luna Opal gapes, mouth opening and closing.

"I'm not surprised," Nolan muses from beside me and it's only then I realise both men were watching us, "Cassandra has this thing where children tend to gravitate towards her."

"Do not." I respond laughing, before looking at Alpha Cameron holding out my hand, he shakes it grinning. "Cassandra Williams, it's nice to meet you Alpha Cameron."

"It's an honour to meet you. I see our child has already taken a liking to you." He chuckles, eyes fond as he looks at his daughter.

"Ruby and I are now best friends. Aren't we Ruby?"

She nods her head giggling as I tickle her stomach a little.

Everyone can't help but smile at the sound.

We all begin heading inside as they were the last people to arrive as Luna Opal explains Ruby didn't want to go down for her nap. We struck up an easy conversation as the men lead in front of us talking together as well. I find myself liking Luna Opal a lot.

She was actually my age having Ruby at twenty three was not exactly planned but she was expecting another on the way soon. We keep talking even as we enter the 'sitting room' where everybody was congregated.

Both of us engrossed in conversation with Ruby still held in my arms, her head resting in the crook of my neck whilst I rub my hand up and down her back unconsciously.

"I see you found a child," Andrew muses arriving to politely come greet Luna Opal shaking her hand before saying this to me.

"This always happens then?" Luna Opal amusedly asks.

"No." I reply.

"Yes." Andrew replies. Giving me a look of disbelief at my words, "she always has some child following her around or in her arms, they seem to..."

"Gravitate towards me?" I drawl sarcastically repeating Nolan's words from earlier which Luna Opal realises as she lets out a laugh.

"Exactly!" Andrew exclaims, "I swear my little girl would be crying but as soon as this one arrives she's as happy as an angel."

"That's so dramatic." I laugh.

"He's not being dramatic, my dear. It's only the truth." Luna Sally appears out of nowhere joining the conversation, "whenever she visited our pack house children were always surrounding her." She tells them all.

"Nolan," I playfully call out, he wasn't far away having been in a conversation with a bunch of Alphas. Immediately he turns raising an eyebrow, "help me, they're ganging up on me."

"What they're saying is true, love." He calls back amused.

I gape, not liking how everyone in the room now laughs having clearly heard the conversation. "You're supposed to be on my side." I huff out as everybody still laughs.

I have to laugh along too.

___

The four Luna's, myself and Alpha Kaitlin who had claimed 'wanted no part of the masculinity contest' that the Alphas and Nolan had gone off to do apparently in his office, were left in the sitting room.

I was actually enjoying myself immensely, the six of us all in various spots in the lounge room, sipping on wine because Luna Daphne had said 'just because we can't get intoxicated doesn't mean we can't enjoy the taste' which left me with the nonalcoholic drinks - because unfortunately I indeed could get intoxicated.

Ruby was now fast asleep in Luna Opals arms as she sat next to me talking, the six of us were sharing stories and laughing loudly as they all told me the embarrassing things they had done as Lunas.

Overall, I was having a good time and for the first time in a long while I felt as if I truely fit in. Despite the fact I was human and these were strong powerful woman, but that was besides the point, they made me feel no less.

"It's been a while since this has happened," Luna Sally says from my other side, a nostalgic smile on her face.

"What do you mean?" I curiously ask her, the others were still chatting away unaware of our seperate conversation.

She nods to everyone in the room. "The last time Luna's gathered together and talked like this was when I was first initiated. The other generation used to do this but this generation we all go our seperate ways until dinner time."

"Oh." I say shocked, "I thought this was normal? You all seem pretty close."

Luna Sally laughs shaking her head at me. "Oh my dear, it is only because you have connected us all. The reason we're all talking to one another is because you started the conversations, think about it dear, who was the one that told us all to sit down?"

I look away in thought, thinking over my actions before Nolan and the other men left the room. I had been talking with both Luna Opal and Sally, dragging the others into the conversation before suggesting we all sit down. I mean, there had been a pause as they all seemed shocked at the suggestion.

Thinking back on it, they were all beaming ear to ear and suddenly much more conversation had flooded open - like all apprehension of one another had dispersed. Even Nolan who had come over to tell me they were going into his office had been smiling seemingly pleased.

"I guess," I still apprehensively say causing her to laugh and pat my arm.

"You, my dear, are always so unsure of yourself." Sally had always been like a grandmother figure to me, being one of the eldest Luna's she was always the person I went to for big advice. "It's about time you realise your potential. How are you finding it here? Settling in well?"

This question seems to gain the attention of the whole room.

"Yes, are you settling well living in such fine establishment of a building?" Alpha Kaitlin leans forward teasing, as the other women laugh nodding.

"Oh, it's rather hideous this place," I joke, "it takes me fifteen minutes just to get to my room then twenty to get to the kitchen, I think I may have to invest in an electric scooter."

"I'm sure if you asked King Nolan he would agree." Daphne muses as we all burst into laughter.

"Seriously," I sober up, "it's magnificent here. I love it, the view from the windows are beautiful no matter where you stand, the fact I don't have to cook for myself is a plus and also everybody is so kind."

"Of course, did you expect anything less?" Luna Sally asks.

I bite my lip, shrugging. "I never expected to feel so welcomed really, considering I'm only human but so far everyone's treated me as an equal and I like that."

"Those photos from your induction ball were beautiful, I saw your dress and it was gorgeous." Luna Opal speaks up, my mind zeroing in on what she called the ball.

I want to blurt out the question what she meant by my induction ball but something stops me. Instead I smile appreciatively. "I wasn't aware there were photographs taken, I should ask Nolan to have them sent to me."

"Perhaps it's because you were too busy staring into the Alpha Kings eyes?" Daphne slyly comments sipping her wine as I gape at her.

Quickly I remark, "I spent to much time focusing on not tripping in that dress more like." This causes another round of laughter, "trust me ladies, the difficulty in walking down those stairs was enormous."

"Is it true you got Alpha King Nolan to teach you how to folk dance?" Luna Melody shyly asks, she was rather quiet and not as loud as the rest of us however when she did speak she was nothing but a sweetheart, which brought on an urge to protect her at all costs.

She was the youngest of all Luna's being only twenty one, which I found to be impressive considering most reigned the title at age twenty five.

"Everybody asks me that but in reality he was the one that asked me to dance."

"Really? It had been so long since he's been down to the balls floor with everybody else, we all figured it was you who asked." Luna Sally comments.

"He's not too bad of a dance partner," I muse, "I think by the end I was almost better than he was."

"Speaking about me, my love?" A voice calls from behind.

"Just telling them all of your deepest darkest secrets." I tease, glancing over my shoulder to see him leaning against the entries archway a look of amusement flashes through his eyes before he straightens himself up.

Clearing his throat he says, "ladies, dinner is being served in five minutes."

"Dinner already?" A range of baffled voices fill the room as time seemed to fly through the afternoon without us realising.

"That's our cue then." I laugh lightly standing from my spot and setting everybody into motion as everyone follows suit, all of them exiting the room in hushed conversation and giggles.

I hang towards the back until they are all gone, leaving Nolan and I alone. "Hi," I walk towards him and he meets me halfway, his hands falling to my hips and my hands press against his chest involuntarily.

He doesn't respond but instead he stares. A glint in his brown eyes, soft tilt of the lips as they flicker across my face.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I grin at him.

"You're amazing, you know?" He utters once again.

My eyes flicker down to his lips as he speaks before I quickly move them back up to his eyes hoping he hadn't seen. Being this close to him was like a drug, elicit thoughts and slowing down all mobility.

"You've said it once or twice." I tease.

"And smart, beautiful, kind, thoughtful, adorable and did I mention amazing?"

"Stop," I whine out, pressing my forehead to his chest trying to hide the heat rising to my cheeks.

He laughs to himself, hands from my hips wrapping around my waist before lifting me up and spinning me around. "Did you know everybody adores you, my love."

I squeal out at the sudden movement, "Nolan!"

"All I hear is how absolutely perfect you are." He sets me down gently to the floor our bodies still pressed together.

Looking up at him in wonderment. "You're a liar."

"No, no, I'm serious, my love."

I simply shrug off what he says. "We need to go to dinner before the others wonder where we are."

"You don't believe me?" He frowns.

"Come on, Nolan." I don't reply to his question, tugging on his arm to let me go but he refuses only tightening his hold. "Come on, you know that's not fair being the strongest Alpha and all."

He smirks a little at that but it falls into seriousness. "Not until you believe what I say."

I stare at him, narrowing my eyes before finally sighing out. "No one is perfect, Nolan."

"What if I said I believe you are perfect?"

"I would say you're crazy."

He hums, the smirk lifting back onto his face. "Crazy for you perhaps."

"Oh goodness," I throw my head back in laughter, "that has to be the most cheesiest thing you've ever said. You're an idiot."

"Yes, but I'm your idiot." He continues to tease.

"What movie did you get that line from hm?" I giggle, tugging him down the hall as he finally begins walking beside me.

"Your fault for forcing me to watch all those ridiculous movies when you were sick."

"So you were paying attention!" I exclaim, turning the corner at the right moment to see both Andrew and Sarah who held my niece in her arms heading towards the dining room. "Sarah!" I call out.

They both swiftly turn at the call.

"Hey," she easily smiles as I rush up to her and pull her into a hug with a quick peck on the cheek, "how is it all going?"

"Good," I grin happily,