Prologue

MILO:

Today was the day that I had been preparing for my entire life. Today I would become Alpha, and my best friend Godrick would stand by my side as I announced him as my Beta. Today would mark our new beginning. After my ceremony, we would finally be able to get started on the plans we had been developing since elementary school. We would raise the status of the Blue Moon Pack. We would become one of the strongest, if not the strongest, pack in the Western Hemisphere. We would be feared as well as awed by everyone who surrounded us.

I glance towards my bed, eyeing the tuxedo that one of the omegas had left for me. I don't understand why my mother insisted on my Alpha ceremony being formal, I couldn't stand getting dressed up, but the pack Luna gets what the pack Luna wants.

I let out a heavy sigh as I try to calm my nerves and gain the energy to put on my tuxedo.

"What did that tuxedo ever do to you?" My best friend Godrick Macafee asks, a slight chuckle in his voice.

"Existed," I reply, turning my glare from the tuxedo to him, "and what the hell are you wearing?" I ask, taking in his navy blue button-up shirt and black slacks.

"Well, you see, Milo, I am not the one being initiated in as Alpha today; that's you, bud. So I can wear whatever I want, and no one, not even the luna, can say otherwise because I still followed her damn dress code." Godrick replies, taking his black tie out of his pocket, quickly tying it into a Windsor knot around his neck.

"I may be becoming an Alpha tonight, but I will also be making you my Beta immediately after. So be prepared to have watchful eyes over you too." I tell my best friend, watching him reach into his other pocket and pull out a small silver flask.

He shrugs his shoulders, not caring how others perceive him, "I'm an open book, Milo; the entire pack already knows who I am and what my stance is on life. I have nothing to hide. The pack can either like me for me or dislike me. Either way, it won't change my plans for the future." Godrick replied.

I often find myself wishing that I could be like Godrick, not caring how others perceived me. Growing up, I used to imagine what it would have been like to be born as someone other than the son of the Alpha. I would imagine what it would have been like to live an ordinary life—one where I could attend school and not have teachers too scared to punish me for my misbehavior; where I would know if the girl I was seeing liked me for me and not for what my status could bring her. However, it was just a child's dream. The moment I took my first breath, I was destined to take over the Blue Moon pack on my twenty-first birthday, and that day had come.

"Wow, bro, cheer up." Godrick replies, patting my back, "Today will be everything we've dreamed of and more. Here take a swig of this." He says, passing me his flask filled with werewolf moonshine, "it'll help take the edge off a little."

I take a large swig needing something to calm my nerves; I close my eyes as the hot liquid slides down my throat, the burning pain helping manage my nerves. When I open my eyes, I feel ready to conquer the world or conquer my Alpha ceremony at the very least.

"Thanks a million, man. You always know how to take the edge off." I reply, returning Godrick's pat on the back.

We sat together in silence, looking back on the memories we had already shared and the memories that still hadn't occurred yet. Our lives would be changing today, but one thing I knew for sure was that we would be by each other's side through it all.

GODRICK:

As the ceremony commenced, I watched the crowd while the crowd watched Milo. I wanted to gauge their reactions and see how they responded to their new Alpha. Watching the crowd now would let me know who we could count on and who we would need to watch out for.

A group of men sitting towards the front of the crowd, near the stage, caught my eye. They were part of the elitist group and Milo's father's closest advisors. This group of men would be our most significant threat. They were anti-equality. They wanted the omegas to remain as indentured servants to the pack, any wolves whose rank was below a Delta; they looked down on.

Milo and I had plans to change this. We wanted every wolf treated equally, no matter the leadership roles they were born into. We wanted to give everyone a chance to rise to the occasion. It didn't matter if you were born an omega, a delta, or of beta blood. If you worked hard and proved your worth, you would have a position in the packhouse. We wanted our pack to be the strongest and most feared pack in the Western Hemisphere. We wanted to be the largest pack, the most formidable pack, the pack that every wolf wished to join and be a part of.

Cheers erupted; I glanced up to the stage and smiled; Milo had just completed his oath as an Alpha. His father bowed his head towards him before walking off the stage, silently telling him that he was in charge of the ceremony.

"My first act as Alpha will be to choose my Beta." Milo announced loudly for all to hear, "Godrick Macafee, please join me on the stage."

The crowd once again erupted into cheers. I rolled my shoulders and stretched my head to each side before standing from my seat and strutting toward the stage. No one was shocked by the Alpha's choice in a beta. Everyone in the pack knew that Milo and I were inseparable. That we were two peas in a pod and that if one of us went somewhere, the other was sure to follow.

The most intoxicating scent of honey and vanilla wafted to my nose as I reached the stage. My wolf started running in circles excitedly, and I knew what the smell meant. My mate was somewhere nearby.

"Mate," I whispered, and the word echoed beside me; turning my head, I noticed that the scent of his mate had also entrapped Milo. What a coincidence that we should find our mate simultaneously on such an important night.

The crowd was silent as everyone waited for our mates to appear. One lone she-wolf walked toward the stage. She was beautiful. Her long blond hair was pushed off to the side in a low ponytail. She had gorgeous green eyes that felt like they were piercing my soul with just one look. She wore a long jade-colored halter dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She was exotic, and I couldn't wait to claim her as mine.

"Mate," She purred, her eyes staring into mine. Her voice sent a chill down my back, raising every strand of hair on my body.

"Mate." Milo and I growled back before staring at each other, a look of confusion in our eyes.

No, surely this couldn't be right; we couldn't be feeling the same mate pull for the same wolf.

The crowd started whispering among themselves; as Milo and I continued to stare at each other.

"EVERYONE LEAVE!" The former Alpha Gerald shouted, breaking Milo and me from our trance.

The crowd slowly started to disperse as Milo, the she-wolf, and I waited on stage, unsure of what to do in this situation.

"CAN ONE OF YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON!?!" Former Alpha Gerald yelled as soon as the room emptied.

Feeling the effects of his Alpha voice, I bared my neck to him; Milo being of Alpha blood and the true Alpha of the Pack, didn't feel the effects.

"Isn't it obvious." Milo chuckled darkly, "The Goddess Selene has decided to play an awful joke on us. She's paired Godrick and me with the same she-wolf."

"Th..Th...That's absurd and utterly unheard of. There must be something else going on here." Gerald responded.

"It's true, Alpha Gerald," I respond, finally finding the strength to speak, "I feel the mating pull towards this she-wolf. And from the way Milo's eyes lit up when he saw her, I know he's feeling the same pull towards her."

The she-wolf is standing off to the side, completely silent, not giving her input on the subject. I can tell by her quiet demeanor that she must come from an Omega family. She must be here as a servant from a visiting pack. Most visiting packs make their servants dress up for Alpha ceremonies. The more wolves that attend, the greater the possibility is that more fated mates will be found.

"Well, you boys need to figure this shit out. We cannot announce the girl as our future Luna if she's bonded to your Beta." Gerald replies, glaring at the girl before looking at his son.

"You can go now, father," Milo growled, excusing his father. As his father walked towards the exit, Milo turned towards the girl, "What's your name, beautiful?" He asked, trying his hardest not to walk over to her.

"Ericka. Ericka Christofferson. From the New Moon pack." The she-wolf replied timidly, staring down at the ground.

"Ericka," Milo purred. "It seems like you've caused quiet the commotion today."

"I'm sorry, Alpha, I'm not sure what is happening. It was not my intention to ruin your ceremony." Ericka replied, raising her head just enough to look into Milo's eyes and notice the teasing smile on his face.

I remained silent. I wanted to watch Ericka and Milo's reactions to one another. I wanted to see if the connection they felt was real and if it was, I wondered where I stood in the equation.

"No need to apologize, Ericka. I, however, do need you to answer me this, would you be willing to date both Godrick and me for the month and then choose the best match for your mate. After you decide, there will be no hard feelings between Godrick and me. One will have our mate, and the other will pick a chosen mate. Godrick," Milo called, turning towards me, "Do you agree to these terms?"

"If Ericka does, then yes, I'll agree. If she wants us both, I won't say no to that either. You know how I feel about pack politics. We have always planned to change the world; why not start now with our shared mate." I respond, looking at Miles and then back at Ericka, noticing how her cheeks were now tinged pink.

Before Milo could respond, Ericka spoke up, "I agree to the terms, Alpha Milo. I will give you both a month to prove who the best match for me is. I only hope that at the end of all of this, you two can remain friends and still change the future for werewolf kind.