UNEXPECTED MOSQUITOES

"Why Luna, you're absolutely radiant today!" The Matron praised.

"Oh, is that so..." Mum smiled, but her side glance betrayed her awkwardness at the Matron's effusive praises."

"Is that a new dress, Matron?" Laura stepped in to help, "Oh my goddess, it looks lovely on you. Don't you think so, Luna?"

Mum smiled, "Yes, Matron, you look lovely today."

The Matron beamed so hard she was the radiant one.

It wasn't just the Matron who was dressed up today though. I caught a glimpse at the other women behind her. Most of them were wearing dresses today. Was it because of the excursion later?

After exchanging pleasantries with my Mum, the Matron came over to me. She was still beaming. I straightened at her approach.

She bowed once, and then her eyes darted to the wolves behind me.

Ben cracked his neck, {Dammit, my shoulder's gone stiff.}

Torque and Ink took this as permission to crack all their joints. Ink had found the bus too cramp for his long limbs, and of course Torque had suffered too.

{Please mind yourselves.} Wolfgang admonished sternly, {We are in public.}

The matron hesistated at the sight of a very stern looking Wolfgang and three obviously scary wolves "stretching."

Mum narrowed her eyes at me, and I took it as my cue to not cause trouble.

"Good afternoon, Matron." I managed.

The matron startled and then quickly bowed again, and then just in case, she bowed a third time, "Wel…welcome Alpha Princess."

I guess Beta Lucas was right, big warrior wolves can be intimidating to normal wolves. I looked back to check my wolves, but they had taken Wolfgang's cue and were now standing at attention. Even Ben, although his eyes were narrowed at the Matron.

Shannon had told us many stories about his life as a pup at the Destitute House and the Matron was usually the Boss Monster. Whenever I repeated these stories to Mum, she'd tell me to be more understanding, "There are two sides to every story."

The matron bowed again and quickly returned to Mum, "Luna, your daughters are looking more and more like you! "

Ben chuffed, but he was close enough for me to jab him in the ribs.

{What?} Ben protested, {Does she think we are all blind?}

{We aren't here to cause trouble, Ben.} I warned.

"I remember when they were just pups!" The Matron continued to gush, "It's as if they grow prettier every time they come!"

My mum laughed a little, "Is that so…"

{Why are we even here?} Ben groaned into the mindlink.

{Your attitude leaves a lot to be desired, Young Beta.} Wolfgang noted.

True, but it also made me feel a little better for my own less than good feelings about our situation. Why were we even here?

{As her Beta, you are her right hand.} Wolfgang proceeded to lecture my beta, {Your existence hangs on your Alpha, and your purpose is to execute her will. Be honored. It is the right hand that draws the sword and the right hand that grasp the reins. Show neither weakness nor disdain, a beta is impartial to all and loyal only to one.}

"Oh, the beta's daughter is here too!" The Matron exclaimed as if uncovering another hidden treasure.

"My son..." Mrs Beta looked over to us, "My son is also here."

"What a surprise!" The matron looked over as if seeing Ben for the first time. Ben growled and the matron quickly turned back to the ladies, "He is so tall now, and is as handsome as his father."

HAHAHAHAHAHA…

{She is blind.} Ben grumbled.

Savy smiled at us. I know she couldn't have heard our mindlink, but Lizzy and her were having their own secret discussion over their own private mindlink.

Ben glared back at our sisters.

Wolfgang sighed, {Young Beta, please stay focused.}

Which was pretty much the last straw for Ben, {Shut it, Hotstuff.}

{Ben…} I stepped in here. I know Ben never been great at receiving critique, but Wolfgang was just trying to help.

Ben sigh, {Yeah, whatever, Sam.}

So was that an okay?

{Sorry, I'm just in a bad mood right now.} Ben sighed a little.

The adults were walking in front of us. We had to make our way around the building to the benches set out in the backyard. Lizzy and Savy turned back to wave us to follow. I nodded and started walking.

{What's wrong, Ben?} I hadn't even realized Ben was in a bad mood, he seemed happy when he got home, {Did something happen?}

{It's nothing.} Ben wasn't forthcoming, and then he let go of my back, {Hotstuff, exchange places with me. I'm taking time out.}

Wolfgang did as he was told, but he also had to let Ben know exactly what he thought of his behavior, {It is a mark of immaturity to allow your feelings to interfere with your duties, young beta.}

And naturally, Ben wasn't someone who'd just quietly accept being called immature, {Says the guy who lost his flame because he was too proud to take a beating.}

We were still walking but now with Wolfgang's hand was now on the small of my back, so I could feel him tense up. He stopped mid step, and I thought he would turn around to confront the young beta sulking behind us, but Wolfgang only answered quietly, {So I would know.}

And we were walking again.

I felt bad for Wolfgang. I had been dismissing the whole thing about him being "dishonored" as Snow Moon Kingdom as nonsense, but now I was getting the feeling that the dishonor was something Wolfgang was really living with right now.

{Hey, Ben.} I decided to deal with Ben first, {Is Beta Lucas giving you a hard time about something?}

As far as I knew, that was a surefire way to put Ben in a bad mood.

{It's nothing, Sam.} Ben answered.

I glanced back and notice Ink's expression, {Ink report. What's bugging Ben?}

{Ah.} Ink looked very sorry, {Reporting to Alpha: I only know that Beta Ben is under pressure to meet several deadlines.}

{Shut up, Ink.} Ben said, {It's your fault too! And now Cobra's called out to settle the horses. F*** it. He dumps random extra work on me, and reassigns my men, and then gloats every time I miss a deadline!}

I knew it had to be Beta Lucas!

Wolfgang's mouth pressed downward, {Young Beta, if you do not want to fall behind the other two, you cannot indulge in childish tantrums.}

I reached out for Wolfgang to stop him by his sleeve, {Ben's younger than Ki and Harvey, so its not really fair to compare them. Ben's running really hard.}

But Ben only got madder, {It's fine, Sam. I wasn't trying at all.}

{Why would you say that?} Now I was upset, {You've been running at full speed since your first shift!}

{How else would I be able to catch up with you?} Ben pretty much yelled, and then he stopped himself, {Whatever Sam. I'm just a little stressed out, okay? It's none of your business.}

At that, Wolfgang really stopped and turned around. The next thing I knew, his fist was in Ben's face. It was a proper punch on a pivoted swing, like a 10/10 punch. Oscar would have been impressed by Wolfgang's "very good form". (I know I was.) Ben landed on the ground.

Someone gasped, and then there were more gasps as the adults in front of us turned around and realized a fight had broken out.

Wolfgang didn't mince his words, "If you want to run with the warriors, then you have to run as a warrior. So you are about to fail. Who hasn't ever failed? What's the point of bringing it up if you aren't asking for help? Why burden the princess with your whining?"

He caressed his fist in his palm as he approached Ben's fallen form. When Ben growled at him, he lifted his brow and smirked, "What? Are you dissatisfied, Young Beta?"

I grabbed Wolfgang's arm to pull him back, "Wolfgang!"

WTH was wrong with him?

"Sam!" This was Mum.

"It wasn't me!" This was my auto-reflex.

Mum looked to the older warriors for help, "Someone, please stop them."

But then Ben got up and dusted himself off, "It's my bad, Luna. Sorry. It's fine. Just a mosquito…"

Ben glared at the Fire Wolf by my side, "Won't happen again."

Wolfgang bowed stiffy, "Forgive me for startling you, Luna. The mosquito annoyed me."

Wolfgang looked pointedly back at the Young Beta.

WTH. Where were Harvey or Ki when I needed them?

I decided somebody had to do damage control so I let go of Wolfgang and skipped over to take my Mum's arm, "Ignore the mosquitoes, Mum. Let's not keep everyone waiting."

I threw back a look at my two wolves. WTH! Ben I understood, but Wolfgang too? But there was no time to analyse mosquito fights.

I cleverly changed the subject, "There's an excursion after this right?"

Mum nodded and forced a smile for the other ladies, "Well, yes. Sorry about that, let's have lunch."

Over the mindlink though, Mum made it quite clear, {Sam, I need to talk to you after this.}

Sigh, {Can't you talk to someone else?}

{I could talk to your dad if you prefer.} Mum was very obliging.

{No, no, I'll talk to you later.} Hahaha, no, I definitely did not prefer to get Dad involved.