Chapter 1

Tara

The morning of my 21st birthday finally arrived, and I wasted no time lingering in dreamland. I leaped out of bed, darted to the window, and flung open the curtains. A beautiful early spring day greeted me like a long lost friend. The blue sky was dotted with puffy white clouds, and morning sunshine warmed rolling hillsides covered with fresh green grass. It was a landscape that promised hope, a light at the end of the frozen tunnel of endless gray known as winter.

Outside, farmers were already tending to the fields, planting crops, while squirrels launched daring assaults on my dad’s bird feeders. Though he often grumbled about their antics, I suspected he secretly admired their cleverness, tenacity, and the odd set of ninja skills that allowed them to bypass even the most sophisticated anti-squirrel technology.

“Happy birthday,Tara!” I jumped, landing on my backside on the plush beige carpet. What in the world? The voice had come from inside my head. Was I losing my mind? Or was this one of my sister Talia’s pranks?

As a Lunar werewolf, Talia was able to use power harnessed from the moon. She could move objects with her mind, and I was her favorite guinea pig. Once, she had an A****n package follow me home from the bus stop. My socks mysteriously vanished from their drawer. The pen I reached for would slide just out of reach, until I was slapping the table like a cat chasing a laser light.

Voices in my head? This was different. Perhaps she’d awakened a new kind of moon magic.

Then, the realization hit me, and I felt like an idiot. Of course. “Are you… my wolf?” I asked aloud.

“As a matter of fact, I am,” a cheerful voice answered. “You can talk to me without speaking, unless you like walking around talking to yourself.” I could sense her, a new presence, radiating love and acceptance. Finally! I had my wolf! “My name is Trinity.”

“What a beautiful name,” I told her, silently this time, marveling at how much this would change my life. I’d always been a solitary soul, often feeling lonely. Not anymore, my built in bestie had arrived.

Tonight I would stand in the sacred circle and undergo my very first transformation Most werewolves had to wait until the next full moon after they turned 21, but tonight’s moon would be full, allowing energy from the moonlight to push the transformation, a bit of added momentum.

A full moon was only necessary the first time, and it would get easier thereafter, becoming as natural as walking.

I decided to run a hot bath. As I watched the water rise, I remembered the time I’d used bubble bath instead of bath oil, then turned on the jets. I’d gone to gather some scented candles and returned to a bathroom filled wall to wall with suds. In my defense, it had been a great way to clean the bathroom.

I glanced at the beautiful silver and white dress hanging on my closet door, a masterpiece my mother had spent months creating for me to wear tonight.

This year, my birthday coincided with something even more exciting, a visit from the Lycan King, the ruler of werewolves and our cousin species, Lycans. Guests from allied packs had already started arriving, joining us for the massive celebration. We loved our festivals, our traditions, our special events.

I remembered King Maddoc Moonshadow as impossibly handsome, and I remembered him often. I’d only had one real interaction with him, but it still played in my mind like a song I couldn’t forget.

I was fourteen, and I’d slipped away from a crowded party, looking for a more peaceful vibe, a search that led to the piano in the music room. I’d started to play, pouring my heart into the music. He must’ve entered quietly because I didn’t notice him until I finished.

Startled, I’d fallen right off the bench, and into a teenage crush that survived my teenage years.

King Maddoc belonged on one of those “smoking hot firemen” calendars, with his fashionably disheveled, sandy colored hair, and blue eyes that twinkled mischievously. His body was fine art, based on what I’d seen, and what I’d imagined.

That night, he’d smiled, his presence embedding itself into my memory.. “Don’t be scared. I promise, I don’t bite. What is your name, little one?” he’d asked gently.

“Tara, Your Highness. I’m Beta William’s daughter, of the Blue Moon Pack,” I’d squeaked. “You’re so….. tall!”

“Tall enough to pull stars out of the sky,” he’d joked.

Oh, MY HEART!

“William mentioned a daughter with musical talent. I am the Lycan King, Alpha Maddoc of Moon Shadow Pack.”

He’d complimented my playing and promised to return some day. After that, I’d spent weeks in a dreamy haze.

Talia and I had squealed about it later, and when I fell asleep that night, I had dreams I couldn’t tell anyone about.

Now, soaking in the bath, I chatted silently with Trinity. “I wonder if he’ll remember me?”

“Tara, I think you have a crush on the Lycan King,” Trinity teased, her laughter echoing in my head.

“Who doesn’t?” I giggled.. “I bet you’d have a crush on his wolf.”

“I want only my fated mate, but maybe we’ll get lucky,” she replied.

She was right, I knew I wouldn’t settle for anyone but my fated mate. Once I met him, my silly crush would fade into a memory that I would probably laugh about someday.

“As long as it’s not Jake,” I muttered aloud, shivering at the thought of being mated to the Alpha-heir of the Moon Shine Pack. Jake had stalker vibes. Definitely not mate material. As for an official title, Male Chauvinist Pig would fit him far better than Alpha.

King Maddoc, on the other hand, was rumored to be a gentleman. He’d had a string of relationships with gorgeous women, all of them ending abruptly, the juicy details splashed across tabloid covers around the world. Usually the reality was far less juicy, but juicy sold magazines.

In reality, he was searching for his fated mate, ending any relationship that lasted long enough for attachments to take root. I suspected the search for his mate was the real reason for his visits. He claimed he wouldn’t stop searching until he found her.

“Sometimes,” Trinity said, still with that same teasing tone, “a mate just might come of age since the last gathering.”

“Stop,” I said, scoffing as my heart gave a hopeful, delusional flutter. Delusional being the key word, but at least I would get to catch a glimpse of my crush on my birthday.

That would be enough, to tide me over until I met my true mate.