Prologue
The night is pitch black, the moon that gave the shifters their gift nowhere in sight. I’m pacing up and down the balcony of the pack house, scanning the woods surrounding them for any sign of trouble, but with my limited human eyesight I can only barely see the outline of the trees. My Father, Alpha Jackson commanded me to stay put in case an attack makes it to our doorstep. He is dealing with intruders on the eastern border and everything in me is screaming to disobey him and go help. He isn’t the wolf he used to be, greying more and more with every day that passes.
I am next in line to become Alpha since I don’t have any siblings, but my Father is waiting until after my arranged marriage with his Beta’s Son. He did however agree to give me the right to choose my own Beta when I become Alpha. That is, if my future Husband’s wolf doesn’t overpower me at the ceremony, in which case, he would be Alpha by wolf law and I would be reduced to his Luna.
I have been putting off the ceremony for as long as I can manage, hoping to find my true Mate. Rare as they are, only my Mate can give me a legitimate reason to back out of the marriage. My Father has been allowing the delay, I can’t help but wonder if it is because he also wishes me to find my true Mate, as he was blessed with his, or if he is just afraid of seeing someone else’s blood child become Alpha.
He has never said it, but I know he was disappointed when I wasn’t a boy. My parents were barren and they went to the Moon Goddess on the full moon and asked her to bless them with an heir. Nine months later I was born and they have not had another child since. Born of the Moon, that’s what they call me.
The shifter magic within us is strongest under the full moon, on a black moon like tonight we are weakened. Our strength still surpasses any human ability, but for a werewolf, we are weak. It puts me on edge that the attackers chose tonight to invade, when both their and our powers are weakest. It is very unusual and it makes me want to gnaw my fingernails off.
Suddenly, a warning howl rips through the air. My Father has found the assailants. For a moment I lose control and feel my wolf takeover. The pull of skin starts in my chest as a vicious growl escapes my human mouth and my teeth elongates into fangs. I fall forward with my hands in front of me as I watch my fingers turn into claws and my hands triple in size as they become paws. My wolf has gorgeous golden caramel blond fur and striking yellow eyes
I look up as my vision becomes clearer and my nose elongates into a giant muzzle. A snarl rips from my wolf as she tries to overcome the anxiety that I felt at hearing that howl. I get anxious, she gets mad. That’s how it’s always been. She overcomes my frail human emotions with her primal wolf instincts. The transformation is complete, she is now in control.
She growls and takes a running leap over the balcony railing, making my heart stop as she easily lands on her feet at the bottom. I fight for control as she starts running in the direction of the howl. She snarls at me inwardly as I slow us down, fighting for control of her massive body.
“What are you doing?” I demand inwardly. “We were ordered to stay put in case there is trouble.”
“There is trouble.” She replies through clenched teeth.
“I don’t see anything!” I yell at her mentally.
“Then focus.” She snaps back.
I press my panic aside for a moment and try to become one with my wolf. Her heightened senses can hear and smell things from miles away, and her golden eyes can break through the pitch black night like it is broad daylight. I tune in to her, allowing her to take control. Then I smell it, the trouble she was referring to… Another Alpha has entered our territory.
