Chapter 404

Olivia

“Thank you all for coming. I have a very special announcement today.”

Nathan’s voice boomed across the park as he leaned into the microphone. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and he had called a meeting in the park. I already knew what he was announcing: The First Snow Festival.

“Our pack has been through a lot in recent history,” he continued, addressing the group of pack members who had gathered, as well as the camera crew that was broadcasting his speech on the local news. “And our traditions, the things that once brought us together, have nearly been forgotten.”

He paused, licking his lips for a moment. I was standing beside him with Aurora and Elliot in their stroller, the perfect picture of a happy little family. I always hated things like this—I hated the attention—but if it was good for Nathan’s image as Alpha, then I would happily do it.

“Perhaps some of you have felt as though I have not been performing as well as your Alpha as you would like,” he said. “And perhaps you’re right; while I was focusing entirely on behind-the-scenes work, I almost forgot just how important our community is.”

As he spoke, there was a soft murmur that rippled across the crowd. The people who had gathered looked both confused and a little excited.

“So,” he concluded, “that is why I, Nathan, your Alpha, have decided…”

He paused for dramatic effect, something that he had gotten much better at during his time as an Alpha.

“To bring back the First Snow Festival.”

When Nathan finished his speech, another murmur—this time a murmur of excitement—made its way across the crowd. People looked at each other and at us, and I could see the excitement in their eyes. Applause made its way through the crowd next, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Well,” Nathan said once the cameras were off and we were walking away from the microphone, “that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“Short and sweet,” I said with a grin. “And everyone is happy.”

Nathan nodded, and paused for a moment to watch as the excited crowd dispersed. “You’re sure you want to help with preparations?” he asked. “I mean, between the twins, the pregnancy, the wedding and now the bakery…”

“It’s nothing, really,” I said with a wave of my hand. “I’m the Luna, aren’t I? It’s part of the job.”

Nathan chuckled as I spoke. He leaned over, cupping my face in his hands and giving me a gentle kiss on the lips. “You’re the best, Liv,” he murmured. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

…

The next afternoon, I found myself at the park once again. The air was much chillier today—so chilly that I could see my breath in the air. In this region, fall was much shorter and the snow came earlier. By next week, we would have our first snow; which also meant that the First Snow Festival couldn’t wait.

But I didn’t mind. I was gathered around a picnic table with a group of volunteers, leading them in their work.

“Alright, everybody,” I said, putting on the signature ‘Luna’ voice that I had begun to get more used to as of late. “We’re going to have fifteen vendors at the festival, so we need to plan out where each stall will be located…”

As we worked together, mapping out the details of the upcoming festival—everything from vendor placement to decorations to the enormous Christmas tree that would be erected in the center of the park—I felt a sense of ease.

I had never expected it, but I did enjoy my work as the Luna. I just hoped that, like I had promised Nathan, I could juggle it along with everything else.

However, as we dispersed to begin laying down markers for the vendor stalls, a group of women approached me. I knew them well: Laura, Stephanie, and Margaret. They were known as some of the biggest gossips in town, and I always dreaded their presence.

“Olivia,” Margaret, the de facto ring leader, began with a knowing twinkle in her eye, “we heard through the grapevine that you’ll be apprenticing at the bakery. Is that true?”

“Yes,” I replied with a nod. “The head baker offered to give me some informal training. I’m looking forward to it a lot, actually. It’ll be nice to finally get some proper training and maybe even a real job someday.”

The trio exchanged glances. Stephanie leaned in next, her eyes glinting with the prospect of something new to prod about.

“So you haven’t got any experience?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I’ve worked in the restaurant industry, but never a bakery,” I said as I unfurled a long garland to string between two trees. “I’m excited to finally try it out, though. I’ve always loved baking.”

“Oh, you have?” Laura chimed in. She nonchalantly took the other end of the garland and helped me string it up, but I knew that it was all just an act to seem casual. “That’s surprising.”

“What’s so surprising?” I asked.

Laura shrugged, then exchanged a flicker of a glance between the other two gossips. “Well, one would usually think that someone who is supposedly ‘passionate’ about baking would… Oh, I don’t know, go to culinary school?”

Her question touched on a sensitive subject. College hadn’t been an option for me financially, and it was something that I didn’t talk about much.

“Well, thanks to things such as the internet, I’ve been able to do a lot of my own research,” I said curtly. “Not to mention reading, watching cooking shows, and practicing a lot on my own.”

The gossips exchanged glances again, and I could tell that they would certainly be discussing that later. But now, it seemed as though they planned on dropping it for now, or rather changing the subject.

“And what about your children?” Margaret chimed in. “Who will be taking care of them while you’re out of the home?”

Her question caught me off guard. It wasn’t an uncommon question, but it was rarely asked to fathers. Apparently, it was only important when the mother was the one who wanted to work.

“That’s personal,” I said, keeping my tone neutral as I dug through another box of decorations for some ribbons.

Stephanie scoffed. “When my children were little, I never would have even dreamed of abandoning them for a silly ‘job’.”

My frown deepened, and I found myself clutching the ribbons tightly as I tried to keep myself composed. “Would you say something like that to a man?” I asked, turning to face the trio.

The gossips exchanged knowing glances; it was obvious that my question had struck a chord, but their disapproval of my apprenticeship was still palpable. With a curt and insincere farewell, they walked away, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach.

As they walked away, I couldn’t help but overhear one of them muttering under her breath, “It’s unfair that the Luna gets handed job opportunities based on her status, not her merit. She should be ashamed for working outside the home with two babies and another on the way.”

Their hurtful words stung, and I wanted nothing more than to confront them, to defend my choices and the opportunities I had earned through hard work and dedication.

However, doubt crept in, and I hesitated. Maybe they had a point. Perhaps I should reconsider and make way for someone who truly needed the job. Perhaps I should have just decided to continue to be a stay-at-home mom after all.

My thoughts wandered away from the festival preparations, overshadowed by the gossips’ judgment.

And I was left with a newfound uncertainty in my veins.

Was I a bad mother for pursuing this career?