New Moon Pack

POV: JACKSON

The blaring alarm jolts me awake from my slumber. I glance over at Tom, who stirs briefly before drifting back off to sleep. I can't fathom how he remains undisturbed by the noise. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up and check the clock-it reads ten minutes past six. I'm certain the warriors are already up and gearing up for their morning training session.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and splash some water on my face. Then, I head to the kitchen, where I find the cook and maid already busy with their tasks. I only have one cook and one maid at my place, in contrast to the bustling general pack house.

Cynthia, our cook, is a middle-aged woman we affectionately call Aunt Cee. She was a close friend of my mother before her passing. The maid, a young woman named Bethany-though we simply call her Beth-is mated to the head warrior and shares a good relationship with Aunt Cee. I had been looking for someone to assist with house chores and asked Aunt Cee for help. She suggested Beth, assuring me of her trustworthiness.

"Good morning, Alpha Jackson," Beth greeted me as she continued her work.

"Morning, Beth," I replied, making my way into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Aunt Cee," I said, grabbing a can of water and downing it in one go.

"Good morning, dear! Off to the training ground?" she asked, to which I nodded, my blonde hair bouncing lightly on my shoulders.

"Tom is still sleeping. What's on the breakfast menu?" I asked.

"You know how much Tom loves cereals on Fridays, so that's what he'll have," she replied, and I nodded in agreement. "What about you? What do you feel like for breakfast?" she asked.

"I'm not particular, Aunt. You choose. I'll enjoy whatever you whip up," I said as I made my way to the door.

"Alright then," she said, returning to her tasks. Leaving Tom in their care was tough, but over the years, I've learned to trust them. Bethany always ensures that Tom is ready for school and has a good meal before heading out.

The cool breeze brushed against my skin, causing me to shiver slightly. The morning air was still crisp. The training ground wasn't far from my home, and as I walked past the pack house, I looked at it. It was designed for warriors and provided a place for pack members, especially struggling or unmated wolves, to eat and rest during breakfast and dinner. The cooks were already bustling about, preparing meals.

Upon arriving at the training ground, I felt a sense of approval as I observed the training session in full swing. With the recent surge in rogue attacks, the intensity of our training had ramped up. We weren't a small pack; we numbered in the thousands.

New members often joined us thanks to our unique system. We didn't adhere to traditional werewolf hierarchies; omegas were free to pursue any roles they desired. Everyone had to work hard to earn their place, whether they were Alphas, Betas, or Omegas.

Eli, our head warrior, acknowledged me with a nod, which I returned before he continued directing the warriors. He was exceptional at his role. Normally, I train alongside my Beta, Chris, but he wasn't around today. That thought reminded me.

"Eli," I called, gesturing for him to approach. "Do you know when Chris will be back? Wasn't he supposed to return this morning?"

Chris is not just my Beta; he's my closest friend-no, scratch that, he's my brother. At 6'2", I'm just a bit taller than his 6-foot frame. With his striking black hair and dark eyes, he has been by my side since we were five years old. I still remember when he famously declared he'd rather munch on sand than call me Alpha Jackson. I was furious at the time, but our playful bickering became the foundation of our lifelong friendship.

He's happily mated to Lynn, his childhood sweetheart, making him one lucky guy. They have a charming five-year-old daughter named Lily, who is the sweetest little girl.

"Yes, he was supposed to return this morning, but he called to say he ran into some issues. He mentioned that everything is sorted out now, and he should be back by noon," Eli replied.

Chris had gone to neighboring packs to recruit volunteers for my pack, a yearly tradition of ours aimed at finding unmated wolves, warriors, and more. This time, our primary goal was to enlist warriors.

"Why didn't he inform me? That fool! Well, it's no big deal," I said. Eli nodded and returned to his training. I took the time to evaluate the techniques, weapons, and combat skills of some of the younger warriors. Three hours later, the morning training session wrapped up, and everyone headed to the pack house for breakfast while I made my way home.

POV: SAINT

"Isn't it a pity?" A voice drifted from behind me as I made my way home. The meeting regarding my mother and me had just wrapped up, and we were finally leaving.

"What do you mean?" I glanced back at the man.

"Nobody's had the chance to enjoy that delightful, curvy figure of yours." He grinned, a playful glint in his eye. He appeared to be in his late 40s.

Fury surged within me, and I clenched my fists tightly. Without another word, I dashed toward my house.

"I cant stand this stupid pack! Why can't they just let us go and find our happiness?" I muttered while hastily packing my bag.

"The situation has been settled, Saint. Let's just gather our things quickly before they come up with another issue," my mother said, carrying out some bags.

I let out a heavy sigh. This despicable pack. I had always dreamed of becoming a warrior, ready to defend my mother and my future family, but this pack only confines omegas to roles like cooks, cleaners, and daycare providers. I had raised my voice about omega rights, but it fell on deaf ears.

Some Alphas even claimed my lack of conformity to omega expectations was why I hadn't found a mate yet, despite being 22. That was simply untrue. I would find my mate when the goddess deemed it right, not because of their nonsensical justifications.

That's why I eagerly anticipated the annual volunteer mission with the New Moon pack. I had heard wonderful things about their system, and I was truly excited. However, my stubborn alpha was making a scene about letting me go, insisting that I was valuable to the pack. That was just another falsehood. I refused to accept the pack's mistreatment of Omegas, which left me struggling to find work. It was a terrible situation.

Fortunately, the Beta of the New Moon pack, I believe his name is Chris, advocated fiercely on my behalf, emphasizing that it was my choice to leave. The Alpha eventually relented. We finished packing and were simply waiting for the Beta to arrive. I stood beside my mom, wrapping my arms around her in comfort.

My dad had passed away five years ago, leaving my mom heartbroken. He succumbed to an illness that went undiagnosed until it was far too late. I adored my dad and aspired to be like him; he was a beta and a warrior within the pack. My mom was lonely, though she would never admit it, and that was clear to anyone who looked closely. I wanted to shield her and shower her with affection, but I couldn't replace the companionship of her mate. All I could do was hope she would find happiness in this new pack. When the Beta arrived, we set off towards our new home.

The New Moon pack was vast and stunning-definitely larger than my previous pack. We passed an array of impressive buildings and landmarks, making a mental note of ones I wanted to explore. Upon arrival, we found our new apartment. It wasn't just my mom and me accompanying the Beta; we were a group of twenty in total, including several from other packs.

"Make yourself comfortable here," the Beta said, pulling me from my thoughts. "Benard," he gestured to a man nearby, "will guide you to your rooms. Get settled, and we'll gather on Monday for your introduction and initiation into the pack." With that, he departed.

"Come with me," Benard instructed as he stepped inside. I couldn't help but wonder why he seemed so grumpy. He handed us the keys to our rooms and laid out some basic rules:

- We're not allowed to leave the apartment grounds until the initiation is complete.

- Meals will be served at 8 AM, 1 PM, and 6 PM.

There were other guidelines, but I focused on the essentials. My mom and I got ourselves settled in a two-bedroom apartment, with the living room and kitchen a bit distant from our sleeping quarters. Overall, it was satisfactory, and I felt a wave of relief at leaving my old pack behind.

I sincerely hoped to find my mate here. I had always yearned for someone to love and cherish me. Witnessing the deep affection between my parents growing up made me long for that kind of connection. A mate was what I truly desired.