Chapter 2

At one point in time, before our first shifting, I thought my step-brother might one day be a good mate to me. This was in the time before my father and his mother had decided to unite under the Mating Moon. Up until then, it had always been Hekla, Viti, and me. We were all born within the same lunar cycle, had been presented to the Moon Goddess at the same Naming Ceremony, and our first changings were together. We were inseparable.

That is, until Viti lived in the room opposite mine, when his mother became my father’s new wife and Luna. Since that moment, he acted as though I was a stranger, or maybe even an enemy to be contended with at times. Hekla was often caught in the middle, trying to do her duty as a friend to us both, but now, as we were all old enough to participate in our first Mating Moon, she had all but stopped visiting because the tension between us all had become unbearable. To make matters worse, since my father had announced in secrecy that I was to be the first she-wolf Alpha of Iceclaw Pack, I felt different, and there had been a noticeable shift in how others responded to me for all except Viti.

Just the other day, I was in the kitchen and remarked how I could not wait until the summer blackberries were ripe for some of our cook’s blackberry lemonade. Later that afternoon, she came to give me a cool glass, saying that I was in luck because the first batch of blackberries had just ripened. I knew this wasn’t true because I had just been out to the garden to check the berry crop myself. I wondered where she found them and was humbled that she took the time. As this started to happen with others, I knew it couldn’t be a coincidence, so I spoke with my father.

“Katla, they do not know you are Alpha-in-Waiting yet, but you speak with an Alpha’s voice. This will be made known in a few weeks at the New Moon Ceremony. Before then, even simple remarks will sound like commands to others, and your pack will happily do those things without being aware as to why. Use this power of influence wisely and you will rarely need to use your true Alpha’s voice after you are annointed.”

The next morning at breakfast, Viti and I sat opposite one another, and he shot the usual scathing looks at me when my father wasn’t looking, his charcoal black eyes burning into my icy gaze. I was idly listening to Fenrir for the updates for the day. “Sir, the rogues have been spotted again on the western boundary, but we chased them back into Lunarpaw territory. They seem to be taking bold measures in crossing the human boundary. To what end, I wonder?”

“I heard that they are taking humans for Omegas,” Viti mused, “Something about trying to find a human with unusual power to bind with wolf-form.”

“That is an old-wolves tale,” my father waved his hand, dismissing the idea. ”They have been saying that since I was a pup. The truth is, rogues thirst for humans, but it is true that if a human is bitten and not killed, on a full moon they shift into a feral that is neither human nor beast.

Long ago, there was a guarded settlement of these poor souls, but since the alliance, it has not been necessary. It has been Iceclaw Pack’s duty to serve as the last line of defense of the human lands and first line of defense for our realms since the beginning, we alone ensure no rogue crosses the Northern boundary,” my father said, “Carry on, Fenrir.”

“The delegation from Silverburn is to arrive in three days for the Ceremony,” at this he looked at my step-mother, “Luna, are there any preparations that we may assist you with?” The new moon was just three days away, then I would begin the transition from daughter to Alpha. Aurelia trembled with this realization. Just then, a scrambled egg splattered onto my nose.

“What did you do that for?!” I yelled at Viti who sat looking at my father with a dumbstruck look on his face. I pulled the napkin from my lap and began to clean the mess off my face, glaring at Viti. I could feel my wolf coming to the surface and my eyes glow. “Shhhh, be still, we’ll resolve this later, “ I told her, but she stayed on edge waiting to take over.

“Katla, don’t blame me. It’s not my fault you eat like a pup still. I’ll have to warn whoever meets you on the next Mating Moon.”

Something in my voice changed, it rumbled deep, “Do not disrespect me again. Tell the truth.” I felt my eyes burn as my wolf pushed just under my skin. Viti’s black eyes locked eyes with mine, and I could see Hati’s yellow eyes shimmer around the edges. Hati and Aurelia squared against one another. Viti gripped the table, rolled his neck, and flashed a wolfy grin.

“Little she-wolf thinks she’s a big girl now? Oh, Katla, tsk tsk. Let Fenrir finish,” Viti retorted and looked back at Fenrir pretending like he was engrossed in the daily report.

My father looked at me in a way that I didn’t understand. My wolf retreated, feeling wounded at the looks that passed around the table. The thought of Viti addressing me as Alpha in three days was more delicious than the freshest blackberry lemonade.