Chapter 1 - Our Anniversary

~ Moxie ~

“Happy Anniversary!” I feel my husband’s warm breath tickle against my neck as he sucks on my mate mark, pulling me into him as I stir awake.

“Morning…” I hug him back, closing my eyes and trying to memorize the feeling…it has been a while.

This is the first morning we have woken up together in weeks.

I moan out in pleasure as sparks shoot across my body, my lower core throbbing with that need as I can barely open my eyes.

Today marks our third wedding anniversary. Three years since Anton chose me as his Luna.

Somewhere along the way, mornings like this have become rare. Most days, he has left before sunrise. Most nights, I fall asleep before he comes home. Moments like this have become brief shadows of the life we used to share.

“What time is it?” My hands reach for the cover, the early morning chill trying to support Anton in waking me up. I moan out again, this time in protest.

I was up late finalising the Luna Festival, my eyes pleading with me to go back to sleep, needing the warmth of the bed to return.

“It’s early, go back to sleep.” His voice says one thing, but his lips say another, sucking back on my mate mark sending a ripple of sparks throughout my body again.

“I can’t if you are sucking on my neck.” I half-heartedly squirm under his hold, enjoying the attention. He has been so busy, and so have I. I can't even remember the last time we shared breakfast without someone calling for the Alpha.

“Well, as you are awake…here…” He rolls over towards his bedside table to retrieve something, rolling back and earning a giggle from me as the mattress dips…rolling me towards him.

He places his arm around my back, adjusting my position as if I weighed a feather, placing my head on his chest as he positions a small box on top of his stomach. My fingers trace down his muscular abdomen, my mouth salivating with that urge.

“What is it?” I look up to him.

“Open it and find out.” He smirks down at me, placing a kiss on top of my forehead.

I do as my alpha orders, carefully opening the gift box not wanting to tear the edges. The box itself is so beautiful I will keep it for always…no matter what is inside.

Once open, I pull out a small leather pouch, my eyes twinkling with anticipation. I open the pouch and gently pour the contents into the palm of my hand to reveal a gold bracelet.

“Oh, Anton it’s gorgeous.” I’m gentle with my fingertips not to damage the intricate design. I shall treasure it always.

“You like it?”

“I love it.” I beam out, pushing up off my elbow to glance at it from a different angle. It’s beautiful,

delicate and feminine. I love it even more because my best friend has a similar bracelet, now we will be matching.

“I didn’t get you anything…” I start only for him to cut me off.

“I’m not expecting anything…”

“Let me finish. I haven’t got you anything yet…but I thought, maybe in nine months’ time…” I let my words hang in the air as I move his hand slowly down to my stomach, an eyebrow rising as I watch him figure out what I am hinting at.

“A baby?”

“You’ve been so patient with me while I got to grips with becoming the Luna, and I know you’ve wanted a baby since we married.”

“I can wait…I thought…” Sadness etches in the corner of his eyes. I know what he is going to say.

Having been orphaned at a young age I never gave motherhood much thought but now being with him and feeling this happy….I finally feel ready. That this is a path that feels right for us.

“I know you can, that’s why I want one now. We are ready Anton, I am ready.” I lean into him, placing my lips on his as I seal the promise with a kiss. As I open my eyes, I find his are clouded in a mind-link, a growl emitting from him. I’m used to moments like this being short lived, being an alpha must come first.

“Anton?”

“I really need to go.”

“The borders?”

“No, the hospital.”

The word catches me off guard. My white doctor's coat has gathered dust in the closet while I planned celebrations instead of searching for a cure.

I had wanted to return to the medical wing, but Anton thought my place was here, unifying the pack. “Our members need hope, Moxie,” he had told me.

“Go back to sleep Moxie, I’ll see you at the festivities.”

With those words, Anton slipped out of the room, leaving me alone in the warming bed. Like the supportive wife that I am, I forced myself to get up and prepare for the day.

This festival was supposed to celebrate my third year as his Luna, but it felt more like a fragile mask hiding a dark reality. Every day the hospital admitted more infected wolves. Every day another treatment failed. Every day we lost someone.

Hours later, standing in the middle of the crowded square, I forced myself to focus on the present. The cheerful band music played, and the aroma of freshly cooked food made my stomach rumble, but it all felt surreal. I kept reminding myself to put on a brave face to reassure our people that everything was fine, even when we both knew it wasn't.

My thumb gently traced the intricate edge of the gold bracelet on my wrist.

“What’s that?” Chloe, my best friend since childhood slowly walks over to me with a smile on her face.

She is looking bigger by the day, the pregnancy really starting to show.

“My anniversary gift, isn’t it pretty.” I place my wrist out for her to get a better view. She has a similar bracelet; I remember thinking this morning how the design is close to hers. How Anton had specifically purchased it so I would match my best friend.

“It looks lovely on you, not many can get away with gold, but you can.”

My eyes drop down to her wrist, expecting to find her matching gold bracelet, but instead it is replaced with a shiny platinum bangle, smothered in diamonds.

“Woah girl, where the hell did this come from?” I grab her wrist, the diamonds almost blinding me under the late afternoon sun.

“Oh, it was my mother’s, I found it when going through the final boxes.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is, isn’t it.” Her eyes gleefully linger at her wrist before she smiles out at me, turning to look at the celebrations around us. “This looks fantastic Mox, you’ve done such a great job.”

“Thank you.” I smile warmly. Yes, all those late nights have finally paid off. She’s been living with us during her pregnancy, and I’ve tried my best to keep us all together. I haven’t felt this close to a family unit since my parents were alive.

Children dance around a maypole with flower crowns on their heads, while parents watch close by. It feels therapeutic to see the pack stepping out, taking a rare breath away from the fear of infection.

“Where is Anton?” Chloe asks, scanning the crowd.

“I’m not sure, he’ll be here shortly.”

“He isn’t here? To celebrate?” I catch her side glance, my chest tightening.

“He’s still busy forming the defences, it takes a lot out of him.” I defend him quietly.

“I’m sure it does.” Chloe lowly comments, her brows lifting as she turns away again.

I bite my tongue. She is my best friend, but recently the pregnancy hormones are making her comments sharper. I let it pass, knowing an argument isn't worth it.

“Alpha!” someone calls out, and I spot Anton working his way through the gathering pack members. He smiles, shaking hands, gliding through them effortlessly as his alpha aura fills the air.

“Ladies…what are you both discussing?” Anton places a kiss upon my cheek.

“You?” Chloe bluntly exclaims out, her comment stealing his attention away from me.

“Oh?” His eyes narrow.

“I was just showing Chloe the bracelet you gifted me.”

“You deserve the world.” He cups my face with his hands and pulls me into a lingering kiss. My eyes close, reaching for that lingering warmth.

Only when the kiss ended did I open my eyes.

Anton isn't looking at me anymore.

His gaze has shifted past my shoulder.

To Chloe.

“What is it?” I move the conversation into a private mind-link with him to break the strange pause.

“Nothing…your friend here keeps giving me dirty looks.” He mind-links me back, placing a hand around my hip and pulling me into his side.

“She’s pregnant and without a mate, just give her some space.”

“Whatever you want. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am ready.” I reply just as he cuts the mind-link and turns to address the pack members in attendance.

“My pack members, thank you for joining us as we celebrate three wonderful years of Luna Moxie being by my side.” Anton happily chimes out to the crowd, noises of clapping and cheering echoing back at him.

“With Moxie by my side, our pack has never been more…..” He abruptly cuts out. I look to Anton as he pauses, his gaze travelling behind the crowd, towards the medical facility.

“…stronger. Even with the mutant pandemic stripping our species, we remain one of the strongest packs still in existence and I….” He cuts off again, this time the sounds of screaming coming from the hospital, before an ominous sensation washes over the pack bond.

“Alpha… Luna… the mutants have escaped.”

A sudden gasp tears through the mind-link to Anton and me before the connection abruptly snaps, their death striking my chest like a physical blow.

Then comes another scream.

Closer.

Much closer.