Prologue

Sam

Today was the day I had been preparing for my entire life. Today, I would become Alpha, and my best friend, Gregory, would stand by my side as I formally announced him as my Beta. Today would mark our new beginning. A beginning that we had been planning for since we were little cubs in grade school attending our first pack meeting together. A beginning where the Blue Moon pack would become the strongest pack in the Western Hemisphere, where our pack would be revered and respected by all.

I glanced down at my bed, eying the tuxedo that one of the pack house omegas had left out for me with disdain. To me, the elegancy of the Alpha Ceremony was overkill. The ceremony shouldn’t be about frills and finery; it should be about your leadership skills and education, but unfortunately, I was not Alpha yet, so I would have to follow the dress code my mother and every Luna before her had set forth.

I let out a heavy sigh and slowly began preparing for the ceremony, channeling all my nervous energy for this evening into donning the dreadful attire.

“What did that poor Tux ever do to you?” My best friend chuckled, interrupting my battle with the stubborn tie that wouldn’t knot correctly.

“Existed,” I growled in response, yanking the damned tie from my neck and tossing it onto the bed before turning to face Gregory.  “What the Hell are you wearing?” I asked, unable to hide the jealousy from my tone when I noted his almost casual attire of a blue button-up dress shirt and black slacks, with no tie in sight.

“Well, Sam, you see….” He smiled, “There was a little Omega wolf who told me that, seeing as I’m not the Alpha-to-be, I could wear this cute little ensemble.” He spins around, showing off his outfit,  “ She may have said something about the Luna, not wanting the handsome Beta to outshine her little star., but I can’t be quite certain, seeing as how she was withering beneath me while spilling all her secrets. ” He teased, his smile widening with each word.

As I lunged toward him, he leaned forward and jolted left last minute, sending me springing toward the door and him to my bed, where he grabbed my tie and managed to right himself before he fell completely. On the other hand, I landed face first, smack dab in the middle of my wooden door frame.

“Careful, Sammy boy. You wouldn’t want to damage the tux.” Gregory laughed, reaching his hand out and righting me, before helping me knot my tie correctly, slipping it effortlessly into the perfect Windsor. “All eyes will be on you tonight.” He murmured quietly in a serious tone.

“And when I name my Beta, those eyes will be upon you too.” I retorted with a snarl, not taking his warning well, pulling out of his grasp, standing tall, and putting the entirety of my six -foot-six frame to use as I looked down my nose at him.

Gregory shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, not in the least bit intimidated by me, knowing that while I stood a few inches taller, he could easily outmaneuver me if he wanted, “I’m an open book, Sam. The entire pack already knows who I am and my stance on life. I have nothing to hide. Whether they like me or not has no importance, it won’t change my plans for our future. You’re the one who needs the pack’s support; I’m just here to lend you a helping hand.”

Today wasn’t the first time I felt envious of my best friend. I often found myself wishing I could be like him and not give a rat’s ass about how people perceived me. I’d always imagined what it would have been like growing up in Gregory’s position rather than my own. I’d imagine what an ordinary life would be like- 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 just for the title and status I came with. Wishes are for dreams, though. My future was carved out in stone the minute I took my first breath. I was destined to take over the Blue Moon pack on my twenty-first birthday. I was destined to become the Alpha.

I let out a heavy sigh, running my fingers through my tangled brown locks, shaking off the melancholy sweeping over me.

“Happy thoughts Bro.” Greg winked, pulling a hidden flask from his back pocket and tipping it to his lips, “Today will be everything we’ve dreamed of and more.” He vowed as he passed me the flask.

The bitter taste of werewolf moonshine coated my tongue as I poured the drink back, closing my eyes as I took a large gulp and let the hot liquid slide down my throat, the burning pain numbing the last of my nerves. When I swallowed the remnants of the flask and opened my eyes, I felt ready to conquer the world or, at the very least, conquer my Alpha Ceremony.

Empty flask in hand, I turned toward my best friend and gave him a genuine smile, clasping my arm around his waist, “Thanks a million, bro. You’ve always got my back. I couldn’t do this without you.”

“I’ll always be here, man.” Gregory smiled, clapping my back, reassuring me he’d be by my side always.