Chapter 1
Her Past
“Welcome pack family!” Alpha Byron Bagwell greeted. “I want to thank you all for coming out to celebrate the first shift for ten of our juveniles.” He started, “so with that said will our first time shifters please step up.” He motioned for them to step forward. Five females and five males stepped up and went to the open areas in front of the forest tree line.
“Will family members for each shifter please join their first time shifter. It is an honor to be here for this very special milestone. We will be adding five new warriors to our ranks and five new females, who hopefully will find their mate with our pack and help our pack thrive with the addition of new pups. And among those five females is our very own, Beta David’s daughter, LaRea, will be shifting for the first time.” Alpha Byron proudly announced.
“Those shifting, listen to your loved ones, they are here to help guide you through your first shift. The first shift always hurts the most but as you shift more and more, you won’t even feel it or realize you’re done.” He chuckled. “Please remember that when you shift, you will rip through your clothes so please make sure to take them off if you like what you’re wearing.” He lightly chuckled. The young teens, who were shifting were surrounded by their loved ones who were ready to guide them through their first shift allowing them to meet their wolf and possibly even meet their one true fated mate.
“Okay baby girl,” Beta David Blackwell told his only daughter, “your wolf will know what to do when it’s time.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna hurt like a bitch.” Aden laughed. David smacked the back of Aden’s head. “Owchie dad.” He pouted.
“Don’t scare your sister that way!” He scolded his oldest son.
“Sorry,” he said rubbing the back of his head, “but it’s still gonna hurt.” He grumbled.
“Yeah, just go with it.” Tarby, her other brother, Aden’s twin, said. “If you fight it, it will hurt a whole lot more. Just let your wolf take over and let her do what she needs to do.” He told her with a soft smile.
“Got it,” she breathed out nervously, “I think.” She frowned.
“Your mom would be so proud of you.” Her dad said kissing her forehead.
“I wish she was here,” LaRea whispered, “I really miss her.” She said with a sigh, she really wanted to cry but held back. She didn’t want to make her dad think she was weak.
“I know, we all miss her.” Tarby hugged her.
“Hello there.” A voice called in her head.
Her eyes went wide, “H-Hi.” She reluctantly responded.
“Don’t worry little one, it’s just me, your wolf.” The voice said, “my name is Sabel.”
“I’m LaRea, it’s wonderful to meet you.”
“Yes, I’m so excited,” Sabel told LaRea. “I must tell you that our mate is here somewhere.”
“Wait, our mate? Already?” LaRea yelped.
“Yes, sshh...when we shift, I’ll be able to find him easier.” Sable tried to calm her human.
“What if I’m into girls?” LaRea asked.
“Uumm...” Sable thought for a moment. “If Mother Moon mates us to a female, then okay, she doesn’t make mistakes. Who am I to argue?” She told LaRea. “But ARE you into females?” Sable asked with light scrunch on her face.
LaRea giggled, “no, I like guys. There’s nothing wrong with same sex love, it’s just not for me. I was just messing with ya.” She snickered.
“Very funny, just for that, our shift will hurt more than it should.” Sable snorted.
“LaRea,” she heard and felt her shoulder being shaken.
“Huh?” LaRea said as she was pulled from her conversation.
“Are you okay?” Her dad asked.
“Yeah, sorry. My wolf introduced herself. Her name is Sabel.”
“Awesome!” Tarby smiled. “Hi Sabel. I’m Tarby, my wolf’s name, your brother’s name, is Koda. Welcome to the family.” He introduced himself. “This is our older brother, Aden, his wolf and your older brother, name is Corey.” He pointed to Aden. “And this is our dad, David, his wolf is Connor, and they are our pack Beta.”
Sable peeked through LaRea’s eyes, “where’s mom?”
Connor surfaced, “my sweet child, your mother was killed in a rogue attack when LaRea was only five.” He explained.
“Oh,” Sabel whispered. "I'm sorry."
“But we have an awesome dad, who has and will continue to take care of and love us unconditionally.” Aden told Sabel.
“So, are you ready to shift?” Her dad asked, “it’s almost time.”
“Oh, hell yeah!” Sable cheered.
“Oh, yeah, we are.” LaRea chirped.
“Okay, Sable, do your work. After your shift you can go for a run with the others, and we’ll be waiting here for you.” David told her. “You better hurry, the others are almost done.”
“C’mon, let’s shift.” LaRea encouraged Sabel.
“My sweet Sabel,” a soft celestial voice echoed through their head, “now is not the time to reveal yourself.” She said.
“But, why?” LaRea asked.
“You will come to find that you are not just any wolf, you are a blessed wolf by me.” She explained. “You’re going to go through a difficult time that will help mold you into who are supposed to be. You will become my...well, you find out. Just do NOT reveal yourself to this pack. They are not worth knowing who and what you are.”
“Who are you?” LaRea asked.
“My sweet child, I am the Moon Goddess.” She said revealing herself to them both.
“Wow, the Goddess!” LaRea smiled. “Now, how do we tell dad?”
“Not to worry, I will tell him.” Sabel said. “Don’t let him know that you know what the Goddess told us. I will take the blame for this. It’s not going to be good, but I will be here for you.” Sabel explained.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, they will start to think that you’re wolfless and they will start to treat you differently.” LaRea had more questions but was interrupted by her father.
“LaRea, are you okay?” David asked.
“Uh… dad,” Sabel frowned. “I’m sorry but I can’t shift right now.” she said.
“What? Why?” asked David.
“I’m not sure but Mother Moon told me that now is not the time for me to show myself.” She explained.
“David is there a problem? LaRea are you okay?” asked Alpha Byron.
“Well, LaRea’s wolf has made herself known, her name is Sabel.” Answered David.
“So, what is the problem?” The Alpha asked.
Sabel surfaced and greeted her Alpha. “Alpha,” she bowed, “I am Sabel and Mother Moon has told me that it is not time for me to make myself known.” She informed them.
He looked at her with irritation. “And when IS the time for you to show yourself?” He asked.
“I’m sorry Alpha, I cannot tell you that because I do not know.” Sabel told him “she didn’t tell me when it would be my time.”
“Bring your human forward.” Ordered Alpha Byron.
Sabel receded to the back of LaRea’s mind. “Alpha,” she acknowledged.
“You have your wolf, but you are unable to shift?” He asked her.
“It seems so Alpha.” LaRea answered.
“Well, if Mother Moon has made that decision, then I guess we must wait to see what she has planned for you.” He said looking down at her. “You will still be required to attend training; you will have to watch and pay attention when the others train in wolf form.”
“Yes Alpha.” LaRea answered, before she could say anything else the most delicious scent filled her nose. “What is that smell?” She asked Sabel.
“That is our mate.” Sabel growled. As Sabel finished her sentence the Alpha’s son, Mason, was walking towards his father followed by his girlfriend of five years and his soon to be Luna, Sara Mansfield.
“Why are you growling? I thought you would be excited to find him?” LaRea asked.
“He has another female on his arm; it should be us in his arms.” Sabel snarled.
“Dad, is there a problem?” Mason asked and looked over at LaRea.
“Aahh, Mason, Sara,” He acknowledged, “so good of you to join us. You missed the first shift of our new juvenile wolves.” Alpha Byron glared at his son and future daughter-in-law.
“Sorry father, we were a bit tied up.” Mason smirked and looked over at LaRea.
“Humpff…I’m sure whatever it was could’ve waited, seeing as this was an important event in their live and our pack’s future.” Alpha Byron told his son. “You are the future Alpha and Sara is the future Luna; you have responsibilities to YOUR pack!” He snapped.
“They probably didn’t even realize that we weren’t even there.” Sara said rolling her eyes and glared at LaRea.
“So, does that mean when you take over the pack and there is something more important, you’ll be late or not bother to show up at all?” Alpha Byron asked.
“Dad, you’re the one in charge at the moment...” Mason started but was interrupted by his father.
“That doesn’t matter!” His dad yelled. “You are their future. They look to you and Sara for guidance, assurance and leadership! You will be like a father to them and Sara will be like a mother!”
“Yes dad! We know, now tell me what is going on, why is LaRea not in her wolf form like the others?” Mason asked with a huff. He’d heard this same lecture many times before over the last five years.
“Watch your tone, boy!” Alpha Byron stood eye to eye with his son. “I AM still your Alpha, not just your father.”
Sara felt his aura hit her like a ton of bricks. “I’m sorry Alpha,” she whispered, “I will do better. I will be a good Luna.” she said trying to maintain her composure.
“Good, I know you will.” He smiled at her and released his aura on her.
“Father, will you please tell me what happened?” Mason sighed.
“If you’d been here earlier, then you would know that LaRea’s wolf, Sabel, will not be making herself known at this time.” Alpha Byron slightly rolled his eyes with irritation.
Sara frowned, “is there a problem?” She asked.
“Mother Moon has decided that this is not the time for her to make herself known.” LaRea answered.
“Why would she do that?” Sara asked glaring at LaRea.
Sabel didn’t like the way Sara spoke to LaRea. “Who are you to question Mother Moon?” Sabel asked Sara as she had surfaced and spoke through LaRea.
Mason cocked his head to one side, “Sabel?” He asked.
“Yes, Alpha Mason.” She responded with a bow. She did not claim his as her mate.
“How do we even know that you’re even her wolf.” Sara glared at LaRea, “well, Sabel.”
Sabel looked at Sara. “You doubt who I am?” Sabel narrowed her eyes at Sara.
“Sara, stop, don’t start anything,” Mason warned. “I don’t wanna hafta step in.”
“What?” Sara yelped. “I just want to make sure that LaRea isn’t trying to deceive you or our pack. It’s what a good Luna does, right?” she asked looking up at Mason through her lashes.
“Yes, thank you my love.” Mason said hugging Sara and placed a kiss on her forehead. When Mason made skin to skin contact with Sara, LaRea hissed in pain.