ONE

LAUREL’s POV

As a child, most of the girls in my pack loved to play dress-ups and Lunas. But I did not. While my friends busied themselves with lipsticks and eyeshadows, I was busy decorating my face with war paints and playing witches and wolves instead.

I wanted to be a warrior, I wanted to be a heroine, I wanted to be acknowledged.

But most of all, I wanted to be loved.

You see, my parents had always loved my sister more than me. It did not matter how hard I tried or how much I achieved; I was always my family’s second choice.

But all this might just change today.

Today, after years of fighting for my dream, I will officially become the Beta of Morningstar Pack.

“Laurel Moon, come forward and pledge your allegiance to your Alpha,” the master of ceremony calls out from the grandstand and all eyes fall on me.

The sun sinks beneath the horizon and the late evening breeze blows across Morningstar Square as I stand among the best warriors of the pack under the open sky. I inhale sharply, thrust my chin up and make my way to the grandstand.

As I walk past the crowd, whispers and murmurs reach my ears.

“We’ve never had a female Beta before,” one man says in a hushed voice.

“That’s true…why did Alpha choose her?” asks another.

“Maybe ‘cos she can spread her legs for him,” someone snickers.

I snap my head in their direction and the gossipmongers freeze in their spots. Their faces go red with embarrassment and they quickly look away.

I ignore them.

For many moons, I had stayed loyal to Helios, our Alpha, fighting tirelessly by his side as he ruthlessly expanded Morningstar’s territory and power. Everywhere he went, he conquered, and I never once regretted following him.

And now, as we stand at the cusp of total domination of the Southlands, we can finally celebrate with a long overdue coronation of the pack’s warriors.

Step by step, I ascend the grandstand and walk over to Helios who sits majestically on his throne and my heart skips a beat. I cannot stop thinking about how much the scene resembles a bride walking toward her groom.

Without Helios, I would never have passed the Beta trial. He recognized my talent and personally oversaw my training. And today I can finally say that I did not disappoint him. I look into his eyes, wondering if he is happy for me.

He sees me, lets a small sneaky smile show on his face and my heart just about melts. Helios is a god amongst wolves; his face and physique are a gift from the Moon Goddess.

“Laurel Moon, you’re going to start drooling if you don’t get a grip of yourself,” Daphne, my wolf mocks.

Darn, was I that obvious?

I immediately avert my eyes. Sure, I have been secretly in love with this man since forever but I know that he has never once considered me a woman. To Helios, I am but his loyal sidekick, his protégé and friend. Our friendship is too important to be risked by my hopeless longing.

I reach Helios’ throne and blow low before him. Then, my brows furrow.

To the untrained eye, Helios looks fine. Strong and invincible. But I know him too well to know better.

His shiny mane of black hair is plastered wet on his head and his brilliant eyes of obsidian narrow dangerously with a disturbing glimmer of red. His body is quivering and he is gripping the handle of his throne so hard that his knuckles have turned white.

Something is very wrong.

We lock eyes, my ocean blue meeting his abyss black and I open my mouth to speak, “Helios –“

“Let us begin.” He cuts me off and abruptly stands, towering over me with his massive frame.

“The Alpha shall now begin the initiation rites.” The master of ceremony steps forward and dips his head low as he stretches out his arm. In his hands is a tray that holds two golden cups and two beautiful blades that gleam under the rising moonlight.

Without a word, Helios grabs his blade and slashes his wrist. Dark red blood drips and begins to fill the first cup. Gingerly, I take the second blade and do the same. I cut my wrist, allowing my blood to fill the second cup.

“The Alpha and Beta shall now drink each other’s blood as a pledge of eternal loyalty.”

My wrist heals and Helios links his arms with mine.

His skin…it is scorching hot. It is as if his body is burning with an invisible flame. Worry begins to fill my mind. Helios is unwell. I need to call for the pack doctor. He needs -

My reverie is broken by the sudden intertwining of our arms. Helios lifts his hand and brings the cup to his lips, forcing me to do the same. I swallow his blood in one gulp and instantly, the power of his alpha blood overwhelms me.

My breathing, my heartbeat; they go faster and faster to the point that I want to scream. But I hold it all in and that is when I notice the strangest thing.

Helios has yet to drink my blood. He frowns as he inhales deeply from his cup.

What is he doing? This isn’t part of the ritual. The master of ceremony turns to look at both of us with confusion.

“Helios…” I whisper tersely, “What’s wrong?”

He does not answer me. Instead, he stares at me in the strangest of ways before closing his eyes and drinking my blood, down to the last drop.

After what feels like an eternity, he lowers his cup. His body stops quivering and his eyes return to their original color of the abyss.

I look at him, confused and suddenly, he stretches out a hand and brushes my lips with his finger. I blink and my breath hitches. Wow, this is intimate….

“It’s you…” he says simply.

What?

My heart is thundering too loudly for me to make sense of what he just said. Then, Helios leans in and whispers into my ear, “Come to my chamber later tonight.”

I start to hiccup. What does he mean by that? Does he want to –

No, no, no! I scold myself. Damnit, Laurel! Get a grip! He probably just wants to assign me on a mission; just like the countless others he has assigned me to over the years.

Quickly, I nod and he leans back before turning to face the crowd. He links his fingers with mine and lifts my hand up like a prizefighter.

“People of Morningstar, I present to you, Beta Laurel!”

The crowd roars.

The master of ceremony calls out the next warrior and I start to make my way down the grandstand. As I do, I scan the crowd for my family, hoping against all odds that they would grace this event.

“There!” Daphne calls out happily and I see them. Mother, father and my sister, Jamie. They really came!

My heart soars and ever so cautiously, I allow myself to be hopeful just this once and raise a hand, waving at them enthusiastically.

But they do not wave back. Grudgingly, they make their way to the front of the crowd to where I stand. Their faces are grim, as if they are attending a funeral and my smile wavers. My hand drops to my side.

“Is this it?” Jamie grunts and rolls her eyes before checking the bling on her nails.

Mother tsks disapprovingly. “What a waste of time.”

Her words sting. Mother turns and walks away with father by her side and I feel my eyes moisten. I had told myself time and time again that it did not matter, that I am used to their indifference but the truth is, it hurts. It hurts every single time.

If Jamie was the one who had been knighted as Beta, they would have been over the moon. But with me, they just do not care. Sometimes, I wonder if I am even a part of this family at all.

I take a deep breath, blow it out slowly and force a smile. I will not cry, not on this special day. I wipe away a lone tear that has formed in the corner of my eye

Jamie steps up with a smile for all to see but as she leans close, she sneers at me, “Helios is mine. Don’t think that just because he made you Beta, you have a chance with him. You’re nothing but a soldier to him. Just you wait and see…”

Jamie has always been fond of Helios too and ever since he ascended the throne to become Alpha, she has been dead set on becoming his Luna.

Then, just as she leans in, she takes a step back and waves sweetly at everyone who has come to congratulate me. Anger overshadows my caution and because of this, I fail to notice Jamie thrust out a foot to trip me.

“Look out!” Daphne cries. Everything happens so fast. I trip and fall -

“Got you.”

A hand; strong and sturdy catches my waist, pulling me back so hard I fall back against the owner’s chest.

Helios!

I am in his arms and he is holding me tightly against him. Shit. “I’m sorry!” I blurt out.

Immediately, I wriggle out of his grasp and bow low. Then, I hear the most menacing growl that reverberates from his throat and glance up to see his eyes narrow dangerously at Jamie. Her face contorts into fear but before she can utter another word, he ignores her completely.

“Are you alright?” he asks me.

I nod.

But he is not. Helios is burning up with fever again.

*****

The full moon rides high in the midnight sky.

I hasten my steps, running up the winding staircase which takes me to Helios’ chamber on the topmost floor of the Morningstar packhouse. I am late, I should have come earlier but I had to oversee the pack training.

Quickly, I run my fingers through my hair, careful to tuck the hazel strands behind my ears in a desperate bid to look presentable. I wonder if he’s feeling better now.

Soon, I reach the top of a brightly lit landing where two guards stand on each side of the dark timber door. I nod at them and they both step aside. Then, taking a deep breath, I place my hands on the brass handle, ready to push it open.

Something’s wrong.

The faint whiff of a familiar scent coming through the door stops me in my tracks and my heart skips a beat. Could it be? No…it cannot be. Did he not call only for me?

Thinking that I had probably imagined it, I step through the door to his room. Right there and then, my heart sinks to the deepest ends of the ocean.

For what greets me is the sight of Helios in the arms of my sister, Jamie. And they are both naked in bed.