Chapter 3

Tara

Talia and I stood by the buffet, taking in the vibrant festivities. Paper lanterns cast a warm, romantic glow as the evening sky grew darker. Music pulsed from speakers around the dance floor, and the giant bouncy house, a magnet for pups, buzzed with energy. Only a few little ones, overcome with exhaustion, had collapsed at the foot of the slide, fast asleep.

Our Alpha, Jack, was about to give a speech when the impending arrival of King Maddoc interrupted his plans. He and our Luna, Diane, had to greet the King at the Pack House.

Usually more casual, Jack looked a bit stiff in his black suit and crisp white shirt, but his signature smile was as genuine as ever. I’m sure he missed his leather jacket and jeans. He was a biker, through and through, and his Harley was a hit with the pups who lined up for rides once a week. Sadly, the Alpha and Luna had never been able to conceive, which might have weakened a less loyal pack. No one knew why they hadn't produced an heir, and no one in Blue Moon asked. We had an heir, just as well trained as any Alpha-son.

My sister.

When Talia's magic surfaced alongside her wolf, she began training to take over as Alpha. Blue Moon werewolves were united on the issue, but the same couldn’t be said for other packs. More than a few were strongly against it. Alphas were traditionally male, passing the title to their sons.

Everyone knew that when the time came, some would fight against my sister's claim. Many thought she-wolves lacked the power to lead, but no one in our pack doubted her.

For six years, I’d been training to be Talia's Beta. Few knew this part of the plan; most thought I was just training to be a warrior. Those who had trained with me knew I could kick ass. No one I'd trained with, male or female, had ever defeated me. I kept it quiet, leveraging the element of surprise.

A few minutes later, King Maddoc took the stage. Everyone knelt, bowing their heads, a show of respect. “Please, stand up, it is my pleasure to be here this evening."

“He looks good enough to eat,” Trinity snickered. “Someone get me a spoon!”

Startled, I stumbled as I stood, saved from faceplanting into the grass by my sister’s quick reflexes. My wolf was something else! A few chuckles rippled through those nearby. I blushed, mortified, as King Maddoc looked right at me.

He smiled and asked, "Is our birthday girl a little tipsy?"

My face burned. "No! While I was standing up, my wolf decided to get chatty, and it startled me. I guess I'm not used to the voice in my head yet."

He laughed along with the crowd, his beautiful eyes flashing lavender so quickly I wondered if I’d imagined it. He cleared his throat, and the laughter died. He spoke briefly about pack alliances, then moved on to a new concern. Rogue attacks.

Rogues. Werewolves banished for crimes, who often lost their humanity without the support of a pack. A shiver ran through me at the memory of my only encounter with rogues.

Talia and I had been in the treehouse our dad built for us in the woods, pretending to be on border patrol. After an hour had passed, we were ready to head back when Talia caught a scent that made her nose wrinkle in disgust. A moment later, I’d smelled it too. A stench like rotting garbage laced with malice. "Tara, stay right here. Don't move." Leaving me in the treehouse, she’d shifted into her wolf, cautiously approaching the smell.

I’d scrunched against the back wall, trembling as the sounds of growling, roaring, and yelps of pain filled my ears. Then, silence. Adela finally barked an all-clear. I’d scrambled down, jumped on her back, and she ran like the wind back to the Pack House.

Rogues no longer scared me like they had then, but apparently they were showing signs of organizing.

King Maddoc looked heartbroken as he described the aftermath of a raid on a small pack north of Moon Shadow. Rogues had savagely killed everyone. They even slaughtered the pups. Tears in his eyes, he told the saddened crowd, "We only learned of the attack because one survivor, a twelve-year-old pup, managed to escape during the original attack and find her way to our borders. If rogues are organizing, we need to stay vigilant. This will be the main topic at the next Alpha Summit.”

A moment of silence passed,and all I could think of was that poor pup, wishing I could do something, anything, to help her. I prayed to the Moon Goddess, that she was loved and cared for and could find joy in life again.

“I know that was a sad story, but it needed to be told. She’s in good hands now. Let us be thankful for that. Please, let’s celebrate life together, on this beautiful evening. All I ask is that we look out for one another, and keep love and kindness in our hearts.” He ended his speech.

I might have imagined it, but he looked in my direction before leaving the stage. I turned away, not wanting him to catch me staring.

I mingled with the crowd for a while before deciding to go back to the Pack House. Sometimes, crowds overwhelmed me, and I was already on edge. Unfortunately, on the way I spotted a familiar face. Fantastic. The last face in the world I wanted to see, especially now.

Cindy, Queen B (as in bitch) of the Moon Shine Pack. She stood across the yard, in all her skanky glory, with her group of sub-bitches.

Cindy, an up-and-coming model and influencer with a massive social media following, had hated me since high school. The feeling was mutual, and the grudge hadn’t faded with time.

Why? Because of Jake, the Moon Shine Pack Alpha's asshole son, the Alpha-heir. She was determined to be Luna of that pack but Jake had a Luna picked out already, and it wasn’t Cindy.

It was me. The fact that I despised him didn’t matter to either one of them.

She’d recruited followers to spread nasty rumors on social media. All of it was typical mean girl nonsense, claims that I'd slept with every guy in my pack and hers. That my beloved car was payment for giving her brother Chad and his buddies blow jobs. That one was her crown jewel, the pinnacle of her high school career.

Nobody really believed it, but that didn’t stop them from yelling "head for the car” any time they saw me walking towards it. My middle finger got a hell of a workout during those days. My arm sticking out the car window as I peeled out of the high school parking lot, flipping the bird and leaving tire marks on the pavement.

I loved my black Dodge Charger, a reward from my parents for being undefeated in warrior training and a straight A student. No other virgin had been slut shamed more than me, by a bigger slut than Cindy.

Only because I knew Cindy would hate it, I’d gone on ONE date with Jake. A nightmarish dinner date, during which he treated the restaurant staff like dirt. He’d complained about everything, and insisted that the waitress call him "Alpha- son." It would have been funny if he hadn't been so serious. I didn’t even eat, knowing someone had probably spit in our food.

He’d bragged incessantly about his future as Alpha.

Even when my response was “Goddess save Moon Shine Pack,” he’d rambled on, like he didn’t even hear me.

Finally, I’d told him that if he became Alpha, I would challenge him for the title in a fight to the death.

He’d looked at me like I was crazy. "A female Alpha? That's unheard of! She-wolves can't be Alphas, Tara.” Somehow, I’d managed not to punch the arrogant, condescending look off his face. I’d bolted into the Pack House when he tried to kiss me. Yuck. I'd rather have kissed a pig!

After that, he’d continued to pester me, sending texts when I wouldn't answer calls, even sending a dick pic! I had blocked him and avoided him ever since.

“You should have told him you expected something a little more impressive from the son of an Alpha,” Trinity said now, and I laughed out loud, just loud enough to draw Cindy's attention.

Perfect! I groaned inwardly. I scanned the area for an escape route, not wanting to fight her, more for her safety than anything else. She and her friends sauntered over. They looked like they belonged in a strip club, not at a Pack event honoring the Lycan King.

Her tight black tube dress showcased a pair of flesh-colored watermelons that looked ready to burst. I stifled a laugh and prepared for the incoming bitch bomb, which I knew was coming whether the watermelons exploded or not.

She started circling me. "Well, look what we have here," she smirked. "The birthday girl herself." I tried to walk away, but she and her friends surrounded me. Tension coiled in my body, wound up tight, ready to spring.

“I don’t have time for this, Cindy." I wasn't in the mood to argue. “Get out of my way. Now.”

When they refused to move a second time, I forced my way through, shoving her aside.

She fell on her ass, and wouldn't you know it, her boobs actually popped out of her dress! Her friend tried to grab me, but I easily got a hold of her and shoved her into the rest of Cindy's posse. They fell like dominoes and I walked away, laughing my ass off.

“Can I eat her?” Trinity growled.

“Yuck.” I was still chuckling to myself.

“Can I bite her?”

“Maybe later.” I rolled my eyes, listening to Cindy whine to a gathering crowd that she’d only been trying to wish me a happy birthday when I viciously attacked her.

Trinity growled softly in my mind, and my skin felt tight and itchy. “Never mind them, Trinity. I won't let her ruin this night for me.”

“Big boobed, brainless, bitchy bimbo.” I chuckled, impressed with her alliteration.

I couldn’t wait to meet her, my wolf was one in a million, of that I had no doubt.