In Midnight Moon“Alpha!”The packhouse trembles on its foundation from the deep anger in the voice. “You won't believe this! We're invading Silver Moon NOW! We kill them all. I'm so ready, just give the sign, man!"Gamma Kenry’s ferocity is untamable. He bursts into his Alpha's office, this one is just having a meeting with the Beta.Alpha Zane looks up from the paperwork on his desk. His Gamma outbursts are more the rule than the exception, everyone knows he is on edge all the time. All Kenry thinks about is getting a war with Silver Moon and getting Mercedes out of there. He has already worked out various scenarios with the pack warriors. Not even a chicken in Silver Moon should survive, he hates them all there. Everyone suspects Clarita has something to do with his furious mood too.“Kenry, sit down and tell us what's on your mind”, Zane sighs, his attention now entirely on his Gamma. But when he hears the following words of the man, he slowly gets up, his wolf part
Mercedes' POVFor the umpteenth time, I look through the window. Where is Zane?He's not going to leave me here to have the Luna ceremony with Glary, is he? My only mate is Zane and nobody else, I don't want to mate with Glary or anyone else. Zane has to get me out of here, I don't want to belong to this pack anymore.The past few days have been a nightmare. I arrived at the packhouse yesterday and was assigned my own apartment. I've barely slept a wink, all night I've been staring out the window, waiting for Zane to get me. But he didn't come. And still, I see no trace of him. Why is he late?My nightmare started the night of dinner with Glary's parents. The Gamma came in with a stack of documents and spread them in front of us. He pointed out in detail that money was missing from the books. Projects were carried out for pups and the elderly in the pack, but half of the funds were transferred to a private account. It involved substantial amounts that had been embezzled for almost f
“Luna, your dress arrived”, it sounds behind me.When I look back, I see two servants with a snow-white dress in their hands. The pearls in the front give it a wedding dress hue, only the gray lace at the shoulders reveals that it's more for an engagement. And that's actually the festivity tonight. Glary is getting engaged to me. And not vice versa.With one last look out the window, I walk over to the two women who have meanwhile put the dress on the bed. I look at it from a distance, it's not my choice at all. For my Luna ceremony in Midnight Moon, Elise has three beautiful robes ready. All I had to do was indicate my approval. Elise knows the type of dress that I appreciate, from the age of ten to fifteen, she has taken me to the mall to shop. So, she couldn't go wrong putting together my wardrobe for my Luna and mating ceremony with Zane.And at that thought, I feel the sting of pain in my chest again.If Zane doesn't come today, I'm lost. Lost to myself and to him.
Someone clears his throat loudly behind me, clearly audible to everyone.Both the Alpha family on stage and the Elders look up. There is a buzz in the crowd. Many react with annoyance to the interruption, just as I have to take my vows.And then I see Alpha Rainer from Shadow Moon rise from his seat.He raises his glass to me with a sneaky curl on his mouth. And then everything starts spinning around me until I slowly lose consciousness. My mother catches me as my father runs up the stage. “This way, " I still hear Alpha Rainer shout as I completely fall into the dark hole.“Mercedes, it's time”, I hear someone calling somewhere far away.With difficulty, I try to lift my heavy eyelids. After a few attempts, I have them up but I still have to get used to the view. Then I see Alpha Rainer bending over me, his face close to mine. He holds me tight in his arms. It feels like we are sitting in a car moving at high speed.I give him a watery smile and want to return to the hiding place of
Still Mercedes' POVBlinking my eyes, I wake up in my room in Shadow Moon's packhouse.Today is my birthday. Finally!Contrary to what I planned and could have ever suspected, I am stepping into adulthood in Shadow Moon instead of my mate's pack. The past few days have been hectic. The tension between the three packs fighting for my hand was enormous, the Council of the Werewolves even had to intervene.Who would have thought that not one but the three largest werewolf packs threatened to go to war over a humble Beta daughter like me?! This is the most insane thing I've ever heard.Kenry leads a group of Midnight Moon warriors patrolling in the free zone outside the Shadow Moon territory for two days. They are ready to invade upon any mishandling of the two packs. After Zane understood that Alpha Rainer had his own agenda when he eagerly offered his help to him, he savagely declared war on him. He promised to personally behead Alpha Rainer for this betrayal and violatio
Zane's words really motivated me.After watching the video several times and having a desperate outburst, I was ready to go. I can do this, after weeks of training, I can handle every setback. When this is all over, Zane and our pack will be proud of me, the way I've gone through it all. And later, our pups will tell everyone what a terrific mother they have.I'm confident, that's what I'm radiating.“It is almost a shame to have such a beautiful dress on when, about an hour later, you will tear it up to shift,” Saphira sighs as she closes the zipper. “The dress is a few sizes big. Have you lost weight, Mercedes?” I stroke my sides and indeed notice that a few full parts on my body have now gone flat. What stress doesn't do to people! Saphira fixes my makeup again this time I prefer some light colors. And then the hilarious part of this situation dawns on me. “Do you know, Saphira, that this is my second Luna ceremony with the wrong Alphas? But I believe that three time
After the banquet that seemed endless, I decided to rest in my room.I feel exhausted both mentally and physically. Saphira has stayed with me the whole time, much to my delight. “Shall we go to my room now, Saphira? I'm fatigued. Tonight I want to be fully rested when I meet my wolf”, I indicate. Joy fills my heart when thinking that I will finally be able to communicate with my wolf.My wolf!She has made herself known several times but far in the background. I couldn't really have a conversation with her either, so I don't even know her name. But that will change after a few hours. Strangely enough, tonight is also a full moon. The Moon Goddess will therefore be present at my first shift, which is all I ever wanted. I turn to leave when I bump into Alpha Rainer's chest.“Hey, Mercedes. Have you had my flowers? I hope they got your day off to a good start," he asks hopefully. I take a step back and look up at him. Alpha Rainer is a robust guy, handsome and all, but not really my typ
I’m Rooted in my place.I can't believe what just happened. My wolf has refused to shift!Tears appear in my eyes. My father walks up to me and takes me in his arms. “What happened, Mercedes? Why didn't your wolf want to shift?" he asks concerned. I hide my face in his chest. “Era said we can't shift for the time being. There's something else going on that won't allow us to shift for a while," I cry out loud. Despair has gripped me completely now.“Dad! What will happen to me now that Era won't shift? I want to go to Zane! He is my mate, I don't want to stay here”, I sob heartbreakingly. Behind me, I hear some shifts. A tumult arises, everyone starts talking at once. The atmosphere becomes menacing.Alpha Rainer steps forward. “Mercedes, now that your wolf has not stated who your mate actually is, you will have to stay here until your first shift. That is what has been agreed. There is still no clarity in this impasse. And I maintain that you are my fated mate.” He tries to grab me by