Chapter 1 – Grace

Chapter 1 – Grace

                The soft breeze rolls past me ruffling the heavy gown dawned on my small frame as I stare out into the field of moon flowers. The forest is alive with the sound of the creatures of the night. Quiet but still expressing the life it held within. A soft touch moves my attention to the long golden hair tied with a ribbon as a smile graces my lips. Finally he is mine. The full blue moon illuminates the sky as I lean in to kiss the man I love…

                My eyes quickly open as the dream still fresh in my memory haunts me. The gown that women wore something from a long time ago. One that you can find in movies, theatre plays and the museums in the large cities. But the woman in my dreams had my silver hair, even if it is longer than how I keep it styled.

                I couldn’t help but to turn my head towards the window beside me. The moon staring back down at me as if mocking me. It’s as if the Moon Goddess is watching what I am doing knowing that it will soon be the week of the blue moon, the week for The Run. I hated it, dreaded it. I did not want to run through a forest of wolves, the females dodging males as they run for their freedom. I did not want to be forcefully claimed like my mother was. Never knowing if the male that took me as his mate - a male who just finished rapping me in the Moon Goddess’ forest - is going to be good to me and will give me a life of pure happiness or will abuse me and create an even worse hell than I already live in. I wanted a chance to fall in love. I want to go on dates and build a future with someone deserving. I want a male who would bashfully smile at me before leaning in for my first kiss and holding me close for the rest of our life. I want my life to be mine and to have love that would last forever.

                "Grace?" I snap out of my thoughts of self-pity and turn to look at all the wolves in the room, realizing that the Alpha is directing his statement to me. His eyes held annoyance at the fact I had stopped paying attention to him. If a male had done this, it would have been fine. But I am a female. I have to sit quietly and listen to the males as best as I can in this pack.

                "Sorry, I dozed off." It isn't a lie since snores from other wolves – male wolves- echoed the quiet room in this long meeting that the Alpha, the Beta - my father- and the Theta –our third in command- called forth for the mate-less wolves eighteen or older in the pack to remind them that they will be taking part in The Run and the rules to follow.

                "As I was saying, The Run is filled with multiple threats. Eli the head of the Vampire Coven in that area already alerted everyone that rogue fledglings have escaped before being welcomed into the coven and will be hunting for fresh blood to drink. Keep your eyes alert.” My father announces. Vampires were once our mortal enemy until a temporary treaty was signed over one-hundred years ago. Things still happen between our two species that cause much uproar as we have to hide the events from the humans but it has been relatively peaceful. Fledglings especially rogue ones, poses a threat to both our species. This year’s event would be even more dangerous with Fledglings running wild at night.

                “Let’s not forget about the faeries that live in the Moon Goddess’ forest either. If you run into one stay still and listen to them until an opportunity to escape arises. Faeries are known to teleport wolves into traps or into the arms of unmated rogues like the Raggers.”  Mitchel, the Theta, continued. Faeries, or Fairies as humans call them, were known to cause trouble for werewolves, vampires and witches. They were mischievous and childish. But if you angered one at all it would spell your doom. But I had no problem with them. A coven of faeries lived just outside my grandfather’s pack. They are my friends and had given me a token when I was eleven, a gold earring I wore in my cartilage that is spelled with fae magic, as well as gifting the same token to Amelia. I will be safe from the ones hidden in the forest when I enter it and so will anyone that is with me. I just hope that Amelia isn’t there this year at all.

                “Now I have one main point to finish this meeting. Many of you pups have expressed your dislike to The Run, but it’s a tradition since the first werewolves were created by the Goddess. Either you wolves go willingly to The Run or we will force a shift on you and cage you till it’s time for the event to start and the chase to be mated is in full swing." His eyes stay glued to my sapphire ones. I am the one she wolf who always voices my opinion about this barbaric event made to make she-wolves submit to a male and bow down to the rules of males. She-wolves who would become slaves to their male counterparts as their word would become the law. I can’t help the growl that rise past my lips as I hold his stare with my own. I stand abruptly - hate and disgust radiating off of me in waves - as I slam my fist to the table in front of me, breaking it in two.

                "Who do you think you are, playing with our lives like some puppet master? We may be werewolves but we still have humanity in us. We should be able to fall in love!" I shout out, my body shaking with the pent up rage as I continue my stare with the Alpha, my father wincing from my outburst and giving me a look I have gotten used to over the years. His hard eyes looking into my own as well with a challenge that dared me to continue this behaviour. I knew that I was in for a hard beating if I ever manage to go home tonight. But I have a sickening feeling that I will be imprisoned until the run considering I have never gone to the event yet.

                "Grace Harvest sit down!" The Alpha yells at me with an alpha command in his voice. The hushed whispers quiet down till only a pin drop can be heard as the tension between the Alpha and I can be sliced with a knife. Being born with Alpha blood from my mother’s side gave me the ability to be on par with an Alpha and considering the fact that I did not recognise the man who held command over this pack as my Alpha meant that I could withstand the power of his command and disobey him if I want to. And right now I want to challenge him.

                "No. I am done with having my life toyed with. I am still considered human in the eyes of the human laws. I am the heir to the Beta position as well as the best warrior in this pack and demand the same respect as one of the top ranking." They all know I am just below that of the Theta. I am the best warrior this pack had seen and Mitchel always requested me for missions involving taking down rogues or transporting the Alpha and his daughter to other packs for meetings and treaty signings. My rage is growing with every breath, my claws extending from what once were my nails. The Alpha and the rest of the wolves can feel the challenge as I slowly began to walk towards the wolf my eyes were locked onto. My feet stop just a few meters from him, enough room to attack the Alpha before me but also enough to keep space between us. I can see the thoughts swirling behind his eyes as he calculated a way to get out of this challenge, one I will gladly issue if it weren’t for the fact his daughter is like a sister to me, a sister that I consider my Alpha and he knew this to.

                "If you want to be treated like any top ranked wolf in this pack then go to The Run and win your freedom. If you can make it to the lodge by the end of the week where I will be waiting then I will no longer send wolves who do not want to participate to The Run and will give everyone a choice."  It is an offer I would never refuse since this gave everyone a choice. Made she-wolves an equal in this one topic and will give them a chance to reject going to this event.

                Every wolf in this room stared wide eyes at the Alpha and I, disbelief making the smirk on my face grow. I know that my father is not happy with this arrangement- this bet – but since his Alpha spoke it, he will have to obey.

                "Fine, I accept this bet but if I win my father and you will also have to step down to Amelia and I.” I cross my arms and wait for the Alpha to speak. He knows the chances of me winner were high.  Before I could hold out my hand to shake his and confirm the bet, the scent of an omega reaches my nose. My body turns on reflex to dodge but I am not fast enough as a needle is shoved into my shoulder, the liquid inside entering my blood stream and acting fast. My bones begin the snap as a forced shift is placed upon me, fur sprouting through my skin agonizingly until I am left on the floor in a ball of pain.

                "I accept your terms and I'll be waiting for you at the lodge Grace. Make it there unmated and free and you win the bet, but if you do get mated by the time you make it to the lodge then I continue forcing wolves to go." The Alpha states as he prowls towards me, his posture already triumphant when he comes to a stop before my frame as omegas carefully carry my silver furred body to a cage that will hold me until The Run.

                "Until then, enjoy the Run." His voice is menacing and I growl with the anger still coursing through my body at the realization that an omega had snuck up on me. The Alpha must have given a few omegas sprays to conceal their scent in case a powerful wolf spoke out of line. Go figure he had a plan set.

                Soon darkness creeps along my vision as the pain of the forced shift causes me to fall into the dark slumber of unconsciousness.