Chapter 1

Samantha’s POV     

“If I cover for you, can you run home and get my spare sneakers?” Garth asked me, smiling and pointing at his feet.     

“Go yourself. Why do you need your spares, anyway?” I snapped, looking at his feet. His sneakers looked fine to me. Besides, Garth knows I’ve missed too many training sessions lately. Xavier, the pack’s head warrior, wouldn’t hesitate to report me if I missed anymore. He’s a stickler for the rules.

I’ve dedicated so much time to my Luna duties lately that I am on the brink of failing warrior training. Axel would be angry with me and tell me I was to ‘lead by example’. I want to avoid giving him any excuse to say I’m not ready to be Luna, especially when our mating ceremony is so close.  

Besides that, Garth asking me to run his errands is a joke. Since I’m the future Luna of the Shadow Pack. Garth, the pack’s Gamma, shouldn’t be asking me to do anything. I watched as Garth bent down and pulled the sneaker off his foot, lifting it to my face. He then poked a finger through a hole in the sole. How could he have missed such a large hole when putting on his sneakers this morning?  

Now, there are plenty of spare clothes and sneakers scattered around the training field, all of which come in a variety of sizes. However, Garth is the tallest and broadest member of our pack. He has to have his clothes and footwear custom-made. There are no spares anywhere for him other than in his suite at the packhouse.  

“I wanted to do some extra training today. You know, so I look my best for the mating ceremony. You never know who might come.” He shrugged his shoulders and grinned at me. “I thought you wouldn’t mind running home to get my spares. I know you’re itching to try on your Luna dress again. I’ll buy you the time, and you can pick up my sneakers on your way back.” Garth’s not wrong. Last month, Alpha Drake finally agreed to step down and allow Axel to become Alpha. Because of our wolf pack’s traditions, my Luna ceremony had to wait until the following full moon after his ascension.

I had never dreamed of becoming Luna. I wanted to teach the little ones. But I’d never stand between Zola and her mate. Becoming Luna comes with that union.  

The tailor took my measurements and collected detailed information about my dream ceremonial dress. I had no idea and had to seek help from my long-time best friend, Lily. We have been best friends since we were little, and I value her opinion.  

Growing up, Lily always dreamed of living in the packhouse. The only way that would happen was if she were mated to the Alpha, Beta, or Gamma. With none of them being her mate, I was worried she was going to be jealous that I was living her dream. But as my best friend. She was happy for me and was there every day to spend time with me. It’s not like I can control who Zola was mated to.    

My dress arrived a few days ago. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, never mind worn. A pure white princess dress with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice is decorated with crystals that illustrate the different phases of the moon. I have tried it on several times since it arrived. Lily has helped me each time, as I am all fingers and thumbs. But now I feel confident I could do it alone.  

I promised myself that the next time I wore my ceremonial dress, I would wear my mom’s moon necklace to see how it looked. My dad gave it to her when they became mates. It makes me emotional whenever I look at the pendant, as I am reminded that they are no longer with me. The necklace is so precious to me that I hide it behind a loose skirting board in my suite. It’s so precious that I rarely take it out of its box, never mind wear it. I am too afraid of losing it.

I know I will have to remove it when it’s time for Axel to mark me. But up to that point. I want to feel like my parents are with me. Watching me celebrate my special moment. Garth snapped his fingers in front of my eyes. “Earth to Samantha. Is it a deal or not?” I nodded my head, accepting Garth’s offer. This errand will allow me the privacy I need to see myself in my complete outfit.  

“Hey, Xavier.” Garth yells loudly, calling our head warrior. “Fancy making today’s session interesting?” Xavier walks over to us. Compared to me, he’s huge, but Garth makes him look small. He looks at me and makes a mark on his clipboard, no doubt marking my attendance. “I was telling Samantha here that you’re getting too old to train us. That your glory days are behind you and that Axel should bring in a new head warrior? You know, fresh blood.” What the hell is Garth doing? Is he asking for death by insulting Xavier? No one challenges Xavier. He’s been our head warrior forever, and that is for a reason. Despite his age, Xavier is still the best fighter the pack has. I am sure that if he wanted to, he could even beat Axel. Not that he would ever try. Xavier respects the rules and the pack’s order. Xavier’s face turns red, and I’m sure I see steam coming out of his ears. “Is that so, pup?” Xavier sneers at Garth, poking him in the chest. “Well, challenge accepted, Gamma. Everyone front and center!” Xavier yelled loudly.     

“There in my closet, the black ones,” Garth whispers as he pushes me away. I don’t know why he whispered. We’re all wolves and have exceptional hearing. But I don’t care. He is risking his life for me to have a small amount of joy.   

I talked to Zola about Garth on the way to the packhouse. We both agree that we like Garth. Then again, everyone in the pack likes Garth. He’s a dependable and friendly person who has the needs of the people at heart. A gentle giant.

I became excited as I walked up the porch steps. “I should have the house to myself,” I told Zola, pushing the door open and closing it gently behind me.   

But as I closed the door, I could hear noises, grunting and moaning. I took a few steps inside. “Who the hell is that?” I snickered. It was clear it was a couple having sex. The packhouse is where the pack’s leaders live. Axel and I will share the Alpha suite once I am marked. Until then, I have the Luna suite. Jaxon - Axel’s Beta has a suite, and Garth has a suite. It was easy to figure out that the man enjoying himself was Jaxon. As Axel would be out doing his duties, and Garth is getting his butt kicked by Xavier. “Jaxon must be taking advantage of having the packhouse to himself,” I told Zola. I don’t need to bother him as my dressing room is located a few rooms before his suite. Once I get inside, the room is soundproof. So he won’t be able to hear me, and I won’t need to hear him.    

So I gently and quietly climbed the stairs, not wanting to disturb the intimate couple. As Jaxon’s grunts grew louder, so did the woman’s moans. “Harder,” the woman screamed. Her voice sounded familiar. But it’s none of my business who Jaxon has sex with. I am not a prude. Both Zola and I are looking forward to having sex for the first time. But I saved my purity for my mate on the day I was marked. Not many people know this about me.

Whereas Lily has sex as if her life depended on it. She has shared in great detail the orgasms she has had in the past year, sometimes in too much detail. The only thing she doesn’t mention is the names of the men who helped her reach those peaks. I’m happy about this because I would probably be unable to look them in the eye if I knew who they were.

I am surprised Axel hasn’t forced himself on me. I know he has had many women in the past. But since discovering we were mates, he has been faithful. But all that will change next week.

As I reach the top stair, “Faster,” the woman cries out before she screams in pleasure. I made my way to my dressing room to find the door ajar. Which was strange, as it had been locked when I had left earlier. That’s when I heard moaning coming from my dressing room. Jaxon, the dirty bastard, is fucking someone in my dressing room. This will be the room that will become my nursery when I have pups. Zola growls at his disrespect. My anger rose, and I felt sick. “How dare he!” I shouted at Zola as I pushed open the door. To see the back of a naked man thrust backward and forward into a woman wearing a white dress.      

“Fuck yes. Fuck.” The voice I recognized screamed out. It belongs to Lily. “Fuck Axel, I’m coming.” She yells as she climaxes. But as she reaches her high, the bottom falls out of my world. My mate is screwing another woman. Not a random woman, either. My best friend, a person I shared all of my hopes and dreams with.   

Axel then grunted loudly as he continued to thrust backward and forward. Then he slows as he leans forward and sniffs the dress Lily is wearing. That’s when I realized what Lily was wearing. My Luna dress. Zola wants to shift and attack. But against Axel, she wouldn’t stand a chance, so I forced her back. 

I am in a state of shock and disgust. My brain shuts down, but my body goes into autopilot mode. The next thing I knew, I was clapping my hands. This grabs the attention of them both, who turn and look at me at the same time.

Lily smirks, whereas the look on Axel’s face tells me he was shocked to see me. “That was quite a performance. Please carry on; don’t let me interrupt.” I spat out in disgust before I stormed out of my dressing room. 

There is no chance I ever want to see either of them again. Not a chance will I be his mate or her friend. Alpha Drake will grant me a transfer when he hears what Axel has done. He won’t make me stay. I know he will understand.