Chapter One

Channary had just put the finishing touches on her hair and make-up when she heard her mother calling excitedly from the bottom of the stairs.

“Come on! You’re going to be late for the festival,” her mother cried impatiently.

“Ma, I’m coming now… relax,” Channary said whispering the end.

“I heard that!”

“I love you,” Channary replied smiling.

            Grabbing her slides, Channary gave herself one last look before she came home a changed woman, a mate.

            Her ash blonde hair was thrown into a perfect messy bun, the short curls framing her face nicely. Her round face was perfectly made and her eyes, her favorite feature about herself, were the main attraction; the pale purple orbs were bright and inviting but the best part were the tiny wisps of silver littered within enhancing and highlighting more of her beauty. Channary knew she was a knock-out and soon her mate would know it too.

            Channary raced from her room and down the stairs, she didn’t waste any more time with good-byes and good lucks dashing past her younger siblings. Channary simply threw open the front door and then slammed it behind her as she left. Unfortunately, Channary’s parents were already in the car waiting on her. And by the look on her father’s face told Channary exactly what she was in for.

            Channary’s father, Alpha Williams, looked annoyed and he was. He was going to be late for yet another pack event, and all because his daughter wanted to do her hair and make-up.

This is why I wanted a boy, the Alpha thought angrily.

            The tension in the car was thick, Channary could practically see her father’s frustration vein pulsating on his forehead. Her mother, the Alpha-Wife, though excited sat silent and nervously in the seat next to her mate; she was waiting for her husband’s angry outburst. The two sat stiffly and as soon as Channary got in the car, she could feel that she was in for a drive-long lecture.

Time for damage control, the daughter mused silently.

“Channary…” Alpha Williams began, drawling out her name as if he were whining.

“Bàbà, I know, and I apologize Sir,” she said sweetly. “I just wanted to look amazing for my mate and as a representative of your pack Sir.”

“It isn’t like I could rely on a nice outfit.” Channary motioned to the sports bra and short shorts combo. “This doesn’t exactly scream virgin.”

“Channary,” her mother chided in feigned disgust. “And you know you’ll rip right through those clothes.”

“I know but—”

“No buts Channary! It is high time you start being serious. You are my daughter and the face of the Lunar Valley Pack, not only that but you are Moon-Kissed. You are very important,” the Alpha scolded.

“I know that Sir… but I’m just seventeen. I truly can’t be of any use to anyone like I am now. I just want to be normal,” Channary explained.

“You aren’t normal Channary, you are Moon-Kissed and an Alpha Progeny you will never be normal,” her father told her softly.

            Alpha Williams remembered his own childhood and how hard it was for him to make friends and how he longed to be normal; such was the life of an Alpha-son.

“Yeah… I’ll do better Bàbà. I swear,” Channary vowed.

            The Alpha gruffly accepted Channary’s vow before turning back and focusing on the drive; for the entire drive Channary hoped her mate was nothing like her father…

#

Alpha Williams slowly turned right into the Lunar Valley’s piece of the Sharedlins; before the car had come to a complete stop Channary hopped out running to search for her friends, Channary also had had enough of the stuffy car before another lecture made its way to her ears. Channary couldn’t understand why her parents, especially the Alpha, were so uncool; they were seventeen once, but they always knew how to make her feel guilty for wanting a normal life.

Channery followed the twinkling string lights that draped delicately through tree branches and the scent of burning cinnamon and nutmeg filled the air around her. The air was warm, and the Moon was high casting a silver glow on the blowing leaves; Channary lifted her arms wide as she walked, accepting every bit of moonlight that fell between the canopies. The light slid over her body slowly, tickling her and warming Channary’s body even more.

“Chan, you finally made it!”

            Up ahead, hidden behind a tree that wasn’t covered in lights, a small group waved enthusiastically calling Channary over. The group of four girls and three boys were standing off the path but still somewhat visible to the walkers passing by. Her friends all wore different variations of undergarments like Channary, but they somehow looked more comfortable than she did. Channary had never been dressed like this in public; if she had ever come outside like this her father would’ve tried to wipe her from the face of the Earth… but tonight was a Blood-Moon.

“Hello ladies, and boys,” Channary greeted sarcastically; Channary didn’t dislike the boys, but she knew they were often a bad influence on her friends.

“Hey Chan. Wanna hit?” Credence asked offering her a small white, paper joint.

            Credence Jones was a Beta-son and the second in line for the title, that was until his older brother had children of his own. Credence knew he would never become a Beta which was the cause for him being such a burn-out; his blonde hair falling haphazardly around his eyes which were bloodshot red. A tempting smile spread across his face as he bounced the joint back and forth between them playfully. He gave Channary a suggestive wink as he pulled the joint back to his lips.

“I’m good. Alpha Williams would kill me if he ever found out… and not to mention what he would tell your parents,” Channary warned rolling her eyes at the boy.

“Come on Chan, how would he know?” Katie, Credence’s sister, asked sardonically.

“The same way he finds out everything else,” Channary said looking around the group. “One of you are telling him…”

“Right…” Katie mocked.

“No wait… let’s just think about this,” Rebecca said. “When Channary doesn’t do anything, we are never in trouble but when she does do something we do get in trouble…”

            The group laughed heartedly at Rebecca. “So, Chan is right… it is one of you. The one who never gets in trouble,” she continued.

            Channary chuckled at her friend. “Drop it Becca… tonight isn’t the night for that. It’s finally the Blood-Moon.”

“Ugh,” the group groaned.

“What did I do,” Channary asked throwing her hands in the air in mock surrender.

“Girl, you always preaching about the Moon… like damn girl, we get it you’re Moon-Kissed,” Katie said.

            Channary rolled her eyes at the girl. “Yeah… it’s giving hater Katie. It’s literally the Blood-Moon Festival.”

            A deep howl sounded from somewhere within the forest; Channary and her friends rushed to get themselves together and to the center of the Sharedlins before the ceremony started, or before anyone came looking for them. They all dashed away, Channary doubling back to make sure the joint Credence dropped had been put out completely. Running towards her pack, Channary couldn’t wait for this night to begin.

#

The five packs were all in attendance, each pack member standing behind their Alpha proud and excitedly. The Alphas all stood on their portion of the Sharedlins, the pack members that stood behind them were the newly made wolves of the Season all looking to meet their mate.

            A wave of nerves washed over Channary as she glanced over all the packs noticing that there weren’t a lot of males in the line-ups.  Channary wasn’t so sure she would find her mate tonight anymore.

“Welcome young wolves, for many of you this is your first Blood-Moon Unity Festival… and for some of you that have returned, welcome again,” Alpha Bowler called into the wide field demanding instant silence.

“Look around at the wolves gathered here in this field,” another Alpha continued. “In these group could be your mate.”

“Under the Blood-Moon is where you and your mate give back to the Moon goddess Selene and the Earth for your union,” Channary’s father recited.

             A slew of childish whispers and giggles accompanied by quiet wolfy howls filled the open field sounding like an angry swarm of bees. The teenagers all joked and laughed about the blood to be given; Channary even heard some girls worried that she’d have no offering for the Earth or the goddess. After a long moment the fourth Alpha, Alpha Griggs, raised his hand and waited for the groups to quiet.

“Tonight, you will ascend into adulthood and begin to take your places in your new packs, and yes that means that you’ll now attend training and add yourselves to your packs’ chore list.”

            The last Alpha stepped away from his members holding a large golden chalice, the red liquid inside spilling over as he walked to the entrance of The Grove. The Grove was a bright red portal that stood between two large boulders in that middle of the field when the Blood-Moon had risen to it's highest. The Alpha motioned for the pack that was closest to him to line up and come to him.

“Drink a sip from the Unity Cup and go inside The Grove, shift into your wolves and allow them to find one another naturally.”

            One by one, the packs took their turns drinking from the chalice and the closer Channary got to the chalice the more she began to panic. Channary had been excited for this moment for months and now that it had finally come, she was asking herself if she was truly ready. Thinking about everything her mother warned her she would see and the pressure of not disappointing her father with her choice in a mate caused her breathing to grow short and shallow.

“Channary calm down. You’ll be fine,” her father assured her quietly as she passed him on her way to the front of the line.

            In a short time, it was Channary’s turn to drink and the first thing she noticed when she brought the chalice to her lips was that it smelled weird and it tasted off, not anything like what was described to her. Even if the strong, sweet berry taste was overwhelming the flavor there was something in it that left a bad medicinal taste in her mouth.

            Channary handed the chalice back to the Alpha and slowly began to walk into The Grove taking slow deep breaths with every step. Panic set in the moment she set through the portal, and she wanted to turn around and never do this again; Channary wasn’t a prude by any means, but she had expected the mated couples to want privacy.

The effects of the Unity Cup, Channary said to herself. That’ll be me soon…

            Channary shook her head nervously. This was the first time Channary had actually seen the act being done; the noises and sounds that were coming from some of the couples and the visuals from others taking their mates in pleasurable roughness had Channary’s creamy caramel skin burning red. Channary soon began to feel her own center moisten as she continued to watch the mated pairs around her.

            Embarrassed, Channary put her head down and began to walk through The Grove to find a secluded spot for her and her mate to have privacy. Collecting the moss from the trees and boulders near her, Channary made a pallet with the fallen leaves and used the moss as the cushion. When everything was to her liking Channary sat and waited for her mate to find her; with her back against the nearest tree Channary’s head began to feel heavy and it grew harder to keep her eyes open.