Chapter 45
Astrid's POV
I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the scale of everything. This place was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
She then showed me the six bedrooms, each more lavish than the last. The beds were huge and comfortable, the furniture was elegant and stylish, and the views were breathtaking.
"These are for guests," Rebecca explained. "There's plenty of room for visitors if they want to stay here otherwise…"
"You guys have some place else." I said filling in for her which made he chuckle.
I couldn't imagine having six guest bedrooms. I barely had enough room for myself!
Next, she showed me the kitchen. It was a chef's dream, with state-of-the-art equipment, endless counter space, and a walk-in pantry stocked with every ingredient imaginable.
"Kaeleen loves to cook," Rebecca said. "He's actually a really good chef."
"Really?" I asked her with a frown. That was news to me.
I tried to picture a tattooed Kaeleen in the kitchen cutting up onions but it just didn't seem right.
"Nah." Rebecca said to me. "Kaeleen can't cook for shit. He has a cook"
I couldn't help the chuckle that sneaked out of me. "Now, that seems more like him."
She also showed me the game room, with its pool table, foosball table, and video game consoles. It was a perfect place to relax and have fun.
"Kaeleen and Alex spend a lot of time in here," Rebecca said. "It kinda annoys me that I'm not good at most games they play."
"I do not know how to play these games too." I said to her.
Finally, she showed me the office, with its comfortable chairs, impressive desk, and walls lined with books. It was a perfect place to work or study.
I had seen enough. My head was spinning, and my senses were overloaded. This place was beyond anything I could have ever imagined.
"Can we take a rest first?" I asked Rebecca.
"Is something wrong?" She asked me worriedly.
"Yes. In the form of luxury overload. I mean I should have known when I saw the private jet and the way you guys were dressed back at the Moonshade pack but this is…wow. I have no words." I said genuinely.
Rebecca laughed and intertwined our hands. "Let's get going. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Let me show you the compound itself."
We walked out of the building, stepping into the bright sunlight. I gasped, my eyes widening in amazement.
The pack grounds were even more breathtaking than the building. It was like stepping into a fairytale. There were lush green lawns, colorful flower gardens, and towering trees that provided shade and shelter. A beautiful fountain sparkled in the center of the entrance, its water cascading down in a gentle stream.
Perhaps if I had been awake when we arrived, I would have noticed just how beautiful this pack was.
"This is… unbelievable," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
Rebecca squeezed my arm. "I told you," she said, her voice full of pride. "The Emerald Glade pack is actually quite beautiful."
We started walking, following a winding path that led through the pack grounds. People were everywhere, tending to the gardens, playing with their children, or simply relaxing in the sun. They all seemed happy, content.
As we passed, they greeted Rebecca with smiles and nods. But to my surprise, they also greeted me.
"Good morning," they would say, then turn to me with a warm smile. "Good morning, Luna."
I was shocked. Why were they greeting me? I wasn't their Luna. Not yet, anyway.
"Why are they calling me that?" I asked Rebecca, my voice confused.
Rebecca laughed. "Because you're one of us now," she said. "You're with Kaeleen, which means you're part of the Emerald Glade pack. And everyone here welcomes you with open arms."
I felt a warmth spread through my chest. It was so different from the Moonshade pack, where I had always felt like an outsider. Here, I was accepted, welcomed, embraced. And I had not even done anything. Would they still accept me when they find out I'm just a weak woman?
As we walked further into the pack grounds, I began to realize just how vast the territory was. It was impossible to see everything on foot.
"This is huge," I said, my voice filled with awe. "We'll never be able to see everything."
Rebecca laughed, shaking her head. "You're right," she said. "We could spend all day walking, and we still wouldn't see everything. The Emerald Glade pack is one of the largest in the country."
She explained that the pack owned hundreds of acres of land, including forests, lakes, and mountains. It was a diverse and beautiful landscape, filled with natural wonders.
"We have a lot of members who choose to live on pack grounds," she said, gesturing to the numerous buildings that dotted the landscape. "But we also have a lot who prefer to live outside the pack, in the nearby towns and cities."
"What about you?" I asked. "Do you live here?"
Rebecca shook her head. "I have a place here, but I also have a home outside the pack grounds," she said. "It's where Alex and I live."
"Oh," I said, feeling a little foolish. I had assumed that everyone lived on pack grounds.
"Don't worry," Rebecca said, reading my mind. "Most of us have homes outside the pack grounds. It's good to have a little space, a little privacy."
As we walked, I started to feel a little tired. Rebecca was six months pregnant, and I knew she must be exhausted.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned. "We can stop if you want."
Rebecca smiled, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm fine," she said. "Just a little tired. But I wanted to show you as much as I could. So, what do you think about the pack?"
"This is…how much money do you guys make? This is huge." I said to her with wide eyes.