Chapter 1 – A few days earlier

Mina POV

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Mina’s hands worried over her dress, smoothing the pale blue fabric until every non-existent crease was perfectly flat. She liked to think her mother had chosen the dress to match her eyes, but she knew better than that. It was the pack’s colours, and a Legacy Luna must always represent her pack. Just like she should stand tall, she should smile but not too much, she should be feminine but not a pushover. She should be perfect. Mina caught sight of her reflection in a nearby window, and made the small adjustments needed, as if she could feel her mother’s sharp words correcting her form.  

There. Perfect. Anything less would be used to tear her apart at the Luna court.

“Presenting Williamina Skye, future Luna of the Clear Blue pack.” A voice beyond the large oak door called out to the hall of the nation's most powerful wolves.  

A snort to her left jerked her head as if he had grabbed her chin and yanked it himself. She speared Alastor with a glare that silenced him, but wasn’t quite capable of stealing his smirk. She narrowed her gaze, her tongue sharpening, readying to strike, when a warm hand slipped into hers. Its presence was an immediate comfort. It eased her, rescuing her attention from the eldest Hayre brother.

“Ignore him.” A low whisper brushed against her ear. “He’s a jackass.”  

“Yes. He is.” She huffed, flicking her mane of black hair over her shoulder.  

Owen chuckled and squeezed her hand before stepping back into position to her right, where he always stood as her personal guard. The warmth of his features, his gentle smile and deep eyes, they filled her with a sweet glow that quelled her temper every time his brother wound her up.  She'd be lost without him but come her birthday they’d never have to be a part. A Legacy Luna always had her mates at her side and, as her assigned protector since they were pups, he was guaranteed to be her first mate. Mina was certain she could already feel the mate bond stirring, the bond that would form when she scented his pheromones on her twenty fifth birthday. Why else would she be so calm around him?

In the face of her biggest challenge yet, his presence grounded her, a reassurance that wrapped around her, helping her to stand tall as the oak doors opened.  

The Diamond Ridge grand hall was a buzz with wolves, but they all stopped to watch her as she entered. Their gazes raked over her body, critical of any flaw, heavy with judgement, but far easier to bare than the scrutiny of her mother. With square shoulders, her head held high, Mina didn’t let them get a lick of ammunition to use against her. She was a Goddess-blessed Legacy Luna. Pride straightened her back and carried her forward as she shared a demure smile with the warrior who announced her. Regal with every hour of her gruelling training.  

“It’s odd at first, isn’t it?” A sweet voice was at her side when she entered, catching Mina gawking at the guests. “So many women all in one space. It takes my breath away every time.”

Though each Luna was accompanied by their unit, keeping the ratio in favour of the men, there was a shiver of feminine power in the air. Mina inhaled it, letting it wash through her, strengthen her.

“It’s beautiful. You are a marvellous hostess, Luna Chelsea.” She dipped her head to her ally, enjoying the way she beamed as bright as her namesake.

The Luna’s musical laugh lifted around her, making her look even more beautiful in her diamond encrusted dress. Diamond Ridge were the hosts of this month’s Luna court, a small blessing for Mina's first attendance. They were Clear Blue’s allies, wolves she trusted. As the youngest wolf at the court, she’d take every blessing she could get, including a friend greeting her when so many just stared. Luna Chelsea’s first mate came to her side and offered a hand to guide her around to do her hosting duties, but she paused before leaving and handed Mina a flute of champagne.

“Enjoy yourself, Mina. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

With that she glided off as perfect and seamless as any Luna could hope to be. It was the Legacy power within the woman that made her stand so tall, though even Mina felt a twinge of jealous as she moved so effortlessly. 

With fewer women being born each year, passing the leadership of a pack down a bloodline was rare. Only three Legacy Lunas remained in the nation; Chelsea, Mina and Evelyn of the Golden Spring pack. Leadership thrummed in their veins but there was also something more. Something that made the Legacy Lunas’ packs flourish in ways ordinary packs never could. Something that gave them and their units abilities no other wolf could wield.

Excitement shivered in her veins. When she completed the mate bond with Owen on her birthday, she’d have Goddess given powers too. Mina fingered the Clear Blue heirloom cuffing her wrist, her pulse point thumping against its cool metal. All she had to do was survive the Luna court and take her rightful place as Luna of the Clear Blue pack. With Owen as her first mate, together they’d find her second and keep Clear Blue’s respected reputation going strong.

In their unbalanced nation, it was common for women to find two mates, especially among Lunas. They became the Luna’s unit; her personal protection and support as she leads the pack. Mina couldn’t imagine who would be her second mate. Other than Owen, she didn’t feel close to any other wolf. There were some that definitely drew her attention, it was hard not to when she was surrounded by handsome warriors for most of the day, but she hadn’t connected with anyone like she had him. Those who had tried to sway her attention had only been interested in her power, hoping to get a slice of it for themselves.  

It left a sour taste on her tongue. A bitterness that made everyone pale in comparison to Owen. Maybe she didn’t need a second mate. She held the power of a long line of Lunas, and he was a strong warrior in his own right. Though, he was still young and hadn’t earned the trust of the Hayre family yet. That’s why her mother had insisted Alastor accompanied them to court.  

The eldest Hayre sibling had been as bitter to attend court as she was to have him, but Mina couldn’t deny his presence helped. Though the official purpose of the Luna courts was purely to discuss national matters, it was a breeding ground for gossip, forging new alliances and picking a target. A political target, of course. As leaders, the Lunas wouldn’t directly attack each other at such meetings. However, out of them, all bets were off. Alastor had attended with her mother before and could guide her through the political minefield, though her only job at this court was to attend. Her role next month, when she officially held the Clear Blue Luna title, would be different.

Mina sipped her champagne, wondering who to greet first, when her attention caught on the elder Hayre sibling. Rather than be at her side, Alastor was approaching a nearby Luna with two glasses of champagne, much to her unit’s chagrin. Her cheeks heated as he ignored their glares, leaning against the wall in an arrogant slump that matched the smirk pulling across his lips. The Luna giggled and Mina had to wonder how witty he could be. He never offered her more than a cutting word or two.

She watched him, sipping her champagne, but quickly stopped when her stomach turned with its bubbles. Alastor leaned closer to the Luna, her unit tensing, their canines starting to lengthen, but he was seemingly oblivious. With his mussed hair and blase demeanour, Mina questioned his warrior capabilities. Did he not realise he was about to cause a scene? Her jaw tightened as he caught a lose strand of the Luna's hair, correcting it with a twirl of his finger, but her eyes flared as the unit behind her stepped to her defence. Honestly, did he always have to cause her grief?

With a huff, Mina marched towards him, bunching the skirt of her dress in two fists. Her glare drilled into her loose cannon of a warrior, and she considered how she’d instruct his family to reprimand him for such behaviour. They were Clear Blue's protector family, the wolves assigned to lead their warriors, the very best among them. An event as serious as the Luna Court needed more decorum than Alastor portrayed. The neglect could not go unpunished.

Suddenly, her path was blocked. Without caring to check whose torso she had almost bumped into, she gave a curt nod and moved to veer around them, but the body blocked her again. Mina glared up at the man. He was tall, a looming height that tried to make her shrink, but she stood against it, holding his gaze even as a shiver traced her spine. She was a Legacy Luna, she couldn’t back down.  

“Williamina Skye.” Her name sounded oily on his lips. “Finally, a woman I see. Congratulations Luna.” He dipped his head, not far enough to hold the respect she deserved.  

“I officially take my position in a few days, but I’ll accept your good faith early, consort...” She trailed off, unable to place him. He wasn’t from their allied packs. 

“Alpha.” He corrected but offered no name. 

He didn’t need to. There was only one Alpha in the nation, a man every Luna despised. The leader of the Blood Mountain pack. Icy dread sliced through her veins and, in her struggle to keep her composure, the man collected her hand and lifted it to his lips. It took everything in her not to flinch.  

In a blink, the chill of his grip was replaced by a comforting warmth. It guided her hand back to her side before its touch hovered to her waist.  

“Alpha Castriel, what an unpleasant surprise.” Alastor sneered, manoeuvring Mina with the barest touch to the base of her back so she stood slightly behind him. Protected.

The two men watched each other with eerily polite smiles, neither looking away. A thick tension wound between the pair, but her warrior's easy stance didn't falter. Before either of them spoke, Owen was at her side and, without looking her way, Alastor guided her to his brother’s care.  

“This has been delightful.” Castriel chuckled, snapping out of his stare-off with Alastor. “I wonder if you’ll be around at the next court.” His dark eyes brushed over her, chilling her as if she stood alone.

“You’ll see me.” Owen puffed out his chest. 

It was a relief when the harsh gaze moved away from her, but Owen tensed under its intensity. “I wonder.” He purred.  

It wasn’t until Castriel had walked away and Owen’s touch drifted to her shoulders did she realise how tense he had made her. She forced herself to fix her composure, but it was shakier than before.

“Are you alright?” Alastor drew to her eye level, a frown creasing his brow. She had always considered the golden flecks of his lighter eyes lacking the warmth of his brother’s, but it was a different warmth, like standing in the sun’s rays. She nodded. “Good.” He abruptly straightened; any care gone. She wasn’t surprised. That was the first kind word he had ever said to her. “I’m going to see where he went. Owen; actually protect her this time.” Alastor threw him a glare, that had the younger sibling stiffening, but he nodded all the same. “Stay out of trouble, until I get back, Princess.”