2 Sunrise

SILVER LAKE PACK

Celeste sat in her father’s office as he and her mother explained to her why she should participate in the Summer Solstice Hunt. She was eighteen and had recently graduated high school. They had already allowed her an extra year. Now, they felt it was time for her to find a mate.

Nope. It is not going to happen. There was a little bit of guilt at her deception. But they were refusing to listen. Tradition dictated her life. And tradition could kiss her ass.

It was nearly midnight when her parents decided that they had lectured long enough. Finally, she went to bed and slept for a few hours. She was up before the sun, anxious to run, needing to burn off some of her Alpha energy. Starting her running playlist and putting in her earbuds, she stepped out of the house and stretched. Her black leggings hugged her legs below her baggy t-shirt, which was required by her father to protect her modesty.

She couldn’t help but smirk when she thought about how the only wolves that would take her on as a sparring partner were now her brothers. The rest of the warriors in the pack had already learned that she would take them down. Like her oldest brother, she was Lycan dominant. Her height, strength and power only grew as she matured.

Her modesty could be damned. As she ran and got hotter, she would strip off the T-shirt and tie it around her waist. When she was warmed up, Celeste stepped off the second-story deck and started her run. Malachi, her father, and the pack Alpha allowed her to run, for now. He allowed a lot of extra activities. And he liked to remind her how generous he was. She had participated in sports at the local human high school. Reluctantly, he had even allowed gymnastics and tumbling, later cheer squad, and then competitive cheer.

Her freshman year, he had declared no more. Trapped inside the house, with no way to expel her energy, she was driving everyone crazy. Then, within a week, he let her go back to all her activities. Even now, with no sports to play, she was getting restless. Her runs were getting longer. Following the pack law of having a male family member with her, she would keep one of her brothers at the gym more than he wanted.

None of the warriors of the pack had any interest in her. She knew it wasn’t because of her looks. She stood just under six and a half feet, with an athletic body and a full chest. Her pitch-black hair hung past her shoulders and topped her tanned body. She had a slight sprinkling of freckles across her face and full lips that the human boys said were kissable. High cheekbones and a pert nose gave her a striking profile. But her eyes were what everyone always commented on. They were silver. Most assumed they were pale blue until they got closer.

The pack members gave no opinion. Even the men in the pack that didn’t pursue her, always watched for her at the picnics and pool parties.

Celeste reached the overlook at the lake just in time to watch the sunrise. With the warmth of the sun on her upturned face, she felt her senses heighten. Closing her eyes, she focused on everything around her. The wind picked up across Silver Lake and kissed her skin. Taking a deep breath, she could smell the morning dew on the green grass. Her senses heightened and she could smell the fresh dew on the grass as it blew over the lake and onto her skin. Even her hearing was enhanced as she perceived the tiny sounds of all the little critters starting their day. A rooster crowed to greet the morning and birds chirped in the distance. As a shifter, she stood between their world and the human one, much like where she stood in the well-kept grass. There was a running path that went from the town to the overlook and then back around to the training grounds. It completely encircled the town and was usually used by the warriors during patrol.

The sound of footsteps approaching caused her body to tense up. But then a familiar scent filled her nose, and she smiled. Her eldest brother wrapped his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on her head. This was their ritual. It was their time. And it was here that she had confessed her plan last fall.

Like Celeste’s other siblings, Sirius had reddish brown hair and green eyes. He stood a little over six and a half feet with about four inches between them. They both had athletic builds and tanned skin. Sirius wore running shoes, black basketball shorts and a gray tank top. His neck had his mate’s mark, and the Silver Lake Pack Crest was tattooed on his left upper arm.

The rising silver moon reflected on the water of the lake flanked by ancient oak trees with the limbs creating an arch with the pack motto emblazoned on them. Argentum Lupus, Custos Nocits – Silver Wolf, Guardian of the Night. Celtic knots encircled the crest entwined with the lunar phases across the top and a single paw print at the base.

“When do you leave?” Sirius asked, breaking the silence.

“Two more days,” she replied. “I’m going to miss this.”

“Me too. Just promise that you’ll come back whenever you can.” He squeezed her tight and kissed the top of her head.

“I will. As long as dad will let me,” she said with a catch in her throat.

“He will. It may take a little while.”

“Did I do the right thing?”

“I can’t tell you that. But I completely support you. I didn’t meet Laura at the hunt. To be honest, I agree with you. I’m glad I met Laura before she was part of the hunt. I’m dreading the thought of having to host it now that I’m Alpha.”

“I don’t envy you,” she whispered, and they fell back into silence.

“Can I take you?” he whispered, fighting back the tears.

“I would love that.”

“I’ll tell dad you’re staying over at our house. What time do you have to be there?”

“I meet the recruiter at one at the office.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I’m getting nervous.”

“Too late for that, the Marines aren’t going to let you go so easily. Come on,” he said, leading her back to the trail that went to the training ground. “You only have two more chances to kick my ass.”

“And I plan to. Race your sorry ass!” she laughed as she took off running.

“My ass is not sorry!” he retorted as he took off after her.

It was close, but Sirius beat her. She made up for it by beating him several times while sparring. Their brothers, Aries, Phoenix, and Caelum joined them. Just before eight, Sirius kissed his sister’s cheek and told her to stay strong. He offered a salute to his brothers and then headed home for a shower before work.