Alex's welcome party had gone on well into the early hours of the morning. She had enjoyed the party and meeting so many of her new pack. She and Aidan had spent the night in his room in the pack house rather than trekking into the woods to his house. Alex had fallen asleep the very second her head touched the pillow, which she was glad of. It was getting harder to resist Aidan and the mate pull that created such a strong desire for him, particularly when he was stripped down to his boxers at night.

The walk to Aidan's home, and her's too now, was a short one, through the forest behind the pack house. It looked like a huge wooden cabin, built on the top of a slope in the middle of some beautiful tall tress. The rustic look outside was not representative of the inside in any way. The front door opened into a hallway, with a study on the left and a large open plan living room on the right which backed onto the kitchen. There were windows everywhere, letting in an incredible amount of light for a house that was built in the middle of some very tall trees.

Aidan led her down the hall past the kitchen on her left, to a corridor where the bedrooms and bathrooms were located. There were five bedrooms in all, some ensuite with the largest one located at the end of hall. Here, the superking sized bed faced the window on the opposite wall, with two doors leading to a bathroom and an incredible walk in wardrobe. Alex was surprised and impressed to see that her clothes and some belongings had already been unpacked for her. There were even a few of the photo frames from her own home set up on surfaces around the room. She smiled at how sweet it was that Aidan had organised for this to happen to make her feel welcome immediately in his home.

Aidan's arms creeped around her waist as she looked around the bedroom, kissing her neck and squeezing her into him.

'So do you think you'll be comfortable here Luna?' he whispered in her ear, sending lustful shivers down her body.

'It's beautiful', she responded, leaning back into his embrace. 'So what's the plan for today,' she said hastily as she felt her core start to come alive at the warmth of Aidan's body behind her. She pulled away to look at him and to stop herself from getting too aroused. Aidan smirked knowingly.

'We are going on a tour of the packlands. The hospital, the school, the offices. I want to show you everything,'. So get ready and let's go', he gave her ass a little smack as she laughed and headed to the shower.

____________

The day went swiftly by with many handshakes and hello's to various groups and people carrying out their work around the pack. Marcus joined them mid-way through the morning, giving Aidan an update on some pack business as they walked and talked Alex was very taken aback to see both men and women working as doctors and nurses in the hospital; as teachers in the school; in the kitchens and the offices. She hid this surprise very badly from Aidan.

'Did you think we tore the girls from school the second they could read and write?' he asked, smiling wryly at the shocked look on her face.

'Well..' she hesitated in her confusion but was honest when she said, 'Yes. You don't have any female warriors so I assumed your backwards approach extended to everywhere else as well.'

Marcus laughed. 'Aidan does things a bit differently now than when his dear old dad was in charge. Back then the ladies were seen and not heard alright.'

Alex looked at Aidan for confirmation but he was looking ahead as they walked. She frowned. She knew nothing about his background or his family. And she was getting the feeling that she had misjudged him on some matters.

'So tell me a bit more about yourself Alpha,' she slipped her hand into his to encourage him to talk to her. 'I don't really know anything about your family.'

'They're all dead', Aidan said in a low growl, pulling his hand away as he spoke to her. 'What else is there to say?' He opened the door to his office and stepped inside. 'I have a few things to sort out here and a few calls to make. Marcus will show you your office and take you for lunch.'

He closed the door a little harder than was necessary.

'Don't worry about him,' Marcus said as he put his arm around Alex and led her down the hall, 'Aidan's family history is a bit of a sore subject. And for good reason.'

Marcus showed her into an office, further down the hall. It was spacious and bright, with a big desk and chair as well as some couches and armchairs and a spectacular view of the surrounding forest.

'Wow this is nicer than my office at Black Mountain', Alex exclaimed, taking in the view and landing herself on one of the comfortable couches. She looked up at Marcus.

'Can you tell me about Aidan's family?'

Marcus hesitated for a moment as he took a seat beside her, mulling something over in his brain. Whatever reservations he had, he obviously came to the conclusion that she needed to know this information. Alex became more horrified as the story unfolded. The losses Aidan had suffered were more enormous than she could even imagine. His mother and sister dead, and a fight to the death with his father to take the title from him. No wonder he could be such an asshole sometimes. Alex hoped Aidan would share some of this with her soon. She was starting to get a better idea of who he was and why the pack was run the way it was. But she was sure she could work with him to make things even better, if he would let her.

'I think it's time for lunch after all of that misery', Marcus said as he pulled Alex up off the couch.

__________

Alex spent the rest of the day with Marcus, laughing as if she were at home with Nolan and Robbie. He was hilarious and likeable, quick with comebacks and jokes that made Alex's face and stomach hurt with laughter. She met his mother and two of his sisters who worked as teachers in the high school. They embraced Alex as though she had joined their own family and were vibrant and fun to be around. Alex shared some stories about her own mother, and her days as a teacher in Black Mountain.

Marcus' mother invited them back to her house for dinner that evening. The house was small but full of character. There were beautiful colours on the walls, comfortable and worn looking furniture, photos of Marcus and his sisters at various ages and a large portrait of who, Alex assumed, was Marcus' father taking pride of place near the fireplace.

'It took twelve wolves to bring him down,' Marcus said as he stood beside her in the living room, staring at the photo. 'He was incredible. Taught me how to be this awesome,' Marcus winked and laughed, leading Alex into the huge kitchen. This was an extension and clearly where the family spent most of their time. There was a big hob with long counter spaces either side, a breakfast bar and dining table that could sit 14 people. Alex washed her hands and started chopping and peeling alongside Marcus' youngest sister, Jenny.

The four older sisters and two of their mates joined them over the next half hour, greeting each other loudly and jovially. They were all delighted to have their new Luna with them and were generous with their hugs and words of welcome to her. Eating dinner with them and listening to their stories and banter, was very similar to her own family dinners. Lots of inside jokes, lots of noise, laughter and excellent food. Alex was thoroughly relaxed and enjoying herself. When the topic of her background came up, she felt comfortable asking their opinions on female warriors and training.

'Do you think it's time for women to be trained and to be able to join the warriors?' she put out to the table in general.

Marcus responded immediately. 'The short answer is yes. Over the years, I've trained my sisters and mother to be able to fight as I wanted to be certain they could defend themselves against an attack at the very least'. Alex was about to interrupt but Marcus spoke over her. 'But there's a longer answer here too. You don't know enough about the pack yet Alex. Aidan has made tremendous changes over the years to give women have equal rights and better opportunities but every change has come at a huge cost. There's been violence and banishments and uprisings amongst his own ranks. The peace now has been hard fought for.' Marcus looked so serious now and the table was quiet. 'So I encourage and support your beliefs Luna and the things you want to do, but I advise caution for how you go about change and what you might come up against.'

Alex had thoroughly enjoyed her evening with Marcus and his family, although it gave her a lot to think about with regard to the things she wanted to do here. She had thought that she was landing in a pack whose female population were oppressed and would be delighted to follow her lead on the changes she wanted to see in warrior training. Instead, she was now understanding that perhaps change would need to be a little bit more subtle. And subtlety was not her speciality.