Chapter 1

A peircing femine howl rang through the market bringing all the villagers in my pack to a dead stop. I nearly dropped the dead rabbit I was bartering for to provide my family with dinner tonight. All eyes were fixed on the lady standing in the middle of the market square. Her red hair indicated that she was a red wolf and her modest coral colored dress that went to her mid-thigh with gold trimmings and a high collar indicated that she was a royal messanger. Once she was satisfied that she had everyone's attention she began.

"Here ye, Here Ye," she announced shrilly, "The royal palace will be hosting an official Wolf Games the victor will win the title of Luna, a marraige to our Alpha, Alpha Berion the Loyal, and all the privledges that come along it."

This time I did drop the rabbit. The vender selling me his hunt complained but I barely heard him. I was too transfixed by the red wolf and what she might say next. 

"All eligible female wolves are encouraged to attend and enjoy the royal hospitality of the Fang Gibbous pack." Excited whispers filled the crowd, but the messanger was not done yet. She seemed to be staring right at me as she finished message with one last devastating condition.

"All female wolves of mixed color are required to attend on threat of death."

I immediately broke eye contact and lowered my eyes to the floor. Threat of death? I've never heard of an Alpha needing to threaten anything to get enough suitors to join the games before. Especially not Alpha Berion. Even as far away as my home, the Waxing Tail pack, I had heard tell of his reputation. He was strong and handsome, a black wolf I think, or maybe a dark brown. He was known for being brave and feircely loyal, but also dripping with charisma. He can't be struggling with getting attention from female wolves so it surprises me that he would host a Wolf Game at all to pick his Luna. And what of his fated mate? Did he have one and planned on seeing her on the side because he didn't think she would be a good Luna. Impossible they don't call him the Loyal for nothing. I left the rabbit forgotten on the tiled ground of the market square and rushed home to bring the news to my parents.

My father used to be a great wolf artisan so though our home lay a ways from the market it was charming and well built. I burst through the door in a frenzy. 

"Calm yourself. What is it?" I heard my mother speak into my mind using pack speech. I heeded her command and shifted into my human form to deliver the news she had missed. She barely let me finish before she was coming up with a plan. 

"The new Luna? and of a Gibbous pack no less. This could change our lives." She spared a glance out the window at my 10 year old brother in playing outside with the other pups. My other two brothers had been sent to war, a price my family had to pay for the treason commiteed by my father. If only that fool could have stuck to hunting and weaving his tapestries my whole family might be here right now, but if I could become a Luna I would have the power to bring my brothers home from the war and stop my littlest brother from ever being sent. I hated to imagine him out there on the border where pine forest meets the desert fighting tooth and nail with enemy coyotes where I could no longer ensure his safety like I had been doing ever since our older brothers were sent.

"You have to go, Elma," my mother insisted, "And do anything you have to do if it means you can bring my sons home."

"I know, mother." I bowed my head in sadness at the mention of my brothers. 

"It doesn't matter that you would be giving up your chance at a fated mate. I trusted fate with my mate and all it brought me was pain and suffering. Pack leaders make their own fate and so must you if you want to become one of them. You may not be very strong or fierce or exceptionally wise, but you have been clever at times and you can look half decent when you want to. Best of all you don't stir up trouble like your father and you always do as you're told." my mother elaborated as she turned from the bone broth she was stirring over our stove to look at me sternly. It didn't sound like the makings of a Luna to me, but my mother new best.

"I will mother." I had alsways been the obedient daughter ever since my father tore our life into pieces with his betrayal. I wish I could ask him why he did it, but he ran like a coward and no wolf has seen him for six years. She may come off as insensetive and demanding at times, but I knew my mother was just doing the best she could with everything she had on her plate. It didn't matter what she said this time my fate had already been decided by another. 

"There's one last part of this announcement you have to hear," I told my mother lifting my head and brushing my hair out of my face. My calico red, white, and black hair.