Chapter 1

Anna's description of a perfect day was; a symphony of nature's finest sounds - the cheerful twittering of birds amidst a gently blowing breeze on a sun-drenched morning. The peak of her enjoyment came in the late hours of the morning when she luxuriated in the plush blades of grass in her mother's mystical garden nestled behind the house. The verdant foliage, interlaced with delicate blooms and the fragrance of nature's purest essence, offered her a haven of serenity that she could hardly resist.

It was enchanting, as her mother's mystical powers preserved the plants from withering. She'd just lay on the soft grass, as she did that morning, gazing into the distant skies, observing intently whatever caught her eye.

Besides the fact that she would turn eighteen, she just felt there was something special about that day. The eighteenth year was significant in the Silver Moon pack because, just as she was told, it was a year of transition. But she felt pretty different from her other friends when it was time to transition.

She wasn't as excited as they were. Just a few months ago, Jennifer, her best friend, had experienced her own transitioning. It had been a highly heralded event. Jennifer was the daughter of the pack's alpha, so it was expected. She could recall the ecstasy that burned in her eyes that night. But Anna wasn't feeling any of that.

She was often tempted to blame it on the fact that her father was a wolf and her mother a witch. At that point, she just wanted to enjoy her birthday for what it was and not just because of the transformation.

Dressed in a flowing, pristine gown, she reclined on the verdant blades of grass, savoring every second of the present moment. She knew, all too well, that this blissful relaxation would soon be cut short as her mother and her other siblings were clamoring over the plans for her birthday party.

She wasn't as anxious as expected about the preparations; it seemed like the excitement dwindled as the years went by. In a bid to make it a bit more eventful, she'd invited some friends over. It wasn't to be as grand as that of an alpha's daughter.

A sharp call of her name punctured the air, jolting Anna from her reverie "Anna!" It was her mother, Hilda, her face stoic and expressionless. "Come on in at once." The interruption was perfectly timed, shattering the stillness of the moment.

Hesitantly, Anna made her way inside. Her usual routine was now disrupted. The atmosphere was charged with activity as everyone bustled about, each taking the occasion with utmost seriousness - everyone except for the one it was meant for.

Hilda cast a sideways glance at her daughter and sighed. "At times, I can't help but wonder why I even bothered planting that garden in the first place," she mused aloud, with Anna trailing closely behind her.

"I also do sometimes," Anna said, smiling. "What really inspired your creation of the world's best cushion?"

Hilda's voice rose slightly as she turned to face Anna. "You have chores to tend to, young lady, and lounging in the sun isn't one of them." she chided, the urgency in her tone palpable as they ascended the stairs to Anna's room. "Need I remind you how important today is?"

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'm sorry," Anna apologized, not wanting to ruffle her mother's feathers on such an important day. While Hilda was an excellent mother, she was also a formidable witch and held sway in one of the most influential covens. "By the way, where is father?" Anna inquired, hoping to shift the focus away from her previous idleness.

"He left with Richard this morning for the Enchanted Valley to see what the prophecy about you would be." Her father, Troy, was considered one of the prominent betas in the prestigious Silver Moon pack, headed by Richard, one of the most feared alphas in the region. "You have to be fully prepared by the time they return."

After a few minutes of trying on various dresses, Anna's patience was wearing thin. The day she had eagerly awaited was quickly turning into one she wished would end. However, she finally settled on a dress from the array of options that had been presented to her.

With that out of the way, she made her way down the stairs to her father's study, which was her second haven after the garden. There, she sought to get lost in one of her father's many books. She had evolved from doing manly deeds with her brothers into seeking solitude and showing an interest in romance and some adventure.

Anna laid back in a chair by the window with a book in her hand. Soon, she was caught up in a romance tale, as she was already a few pages deep into the book.

Being a werewolf, her hearing senses were acute enough to pick up a lot of sounds; this often posed a distraction as she could hear all the clamorings in the house. Instantly, she picked up the opening of the front door, which was in the room beside the study, followed by her father's voice and then another foreign voice. Richard. She was sure it was him.

She let out a deep sigh, running her fingers through her long, jet-black tresses. This was the second time her carefully curated routine had been disrupted, and it was beginning to take a toll on her patience.

As the minutes ticked by, the voices grew louder and more intense, morphing into more than just another minor disturbance. Anna abandoned her book, stepping closer to the wall separating the study from the room beyond, straining to make sense of the jumbled words being exchanged. With the gravity of their words, It quickly became evident that this was more than just a petty squabble - something serious was transpiring.

"Trust me, there's no cause for concern," Troy insisted, while Richard staunchly opposed him. "There are plenty of other alternatives, and that's not the best course of action," he argued, his tone laced with conviction.

Richard's commanding voice carried a deep timbre, one that exuded a sense of authority. "Has the council of wizards at the Enchanted Hills ever been wrong?"

"I know they haven't been wrong, but this is a more delicate matter." Troy stood by his word. "We can't just base all our judgments on prophecies with outcomes that can easily be altered by other means."

Richard fell silent for a moment before resuming in a higher pitch. "The words of those wizards have safeguarded the Silver Moon for generations. Your situation will not be an exception. This could obliterate the entire pack, and I will not allow that to happen," he warned, his tone unyielding. A brief silence hung in the air. "Mark my words, you will regret this," His words were uncompromising, carrying an implicit threat.

Anna's mind raced as she struggled to comprehend the situation. She sifted through a myriad of possibilities, attempting to piece together the fragments of information she had gleaned.

"Anna?" A voice made her fizzle through her skin—her older brother's gentle voice came so unexpectedly. She jumped slightly, startled by his sudden presence. A wry smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he caught his younger sister awkwardly leaning against the wall. Anna had been so engrossed in the conversation that she hadn't even heard him approach. "What are you up to now?" he inquired, his voice laced with amusement.

"It's nothing." Yet another interruption—how off could today be? She thought to herself. "Why are you here?"

"You've been summoned. The alpha is here." He announced, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Out of her four older brothers, Anna held a special fondness for Mason, perhaps because he was the youngest among them. As the only female among wolves, Anna often felt a sense of peculiarity around them.

With the brief impromptu announcement, she put herself in order, straightening out her gown as she walked to the living room, where everyone was.

"Oh, here she is," her mother said, delightfully presenting her to the alpha. The sight of the alpha was intimidating; he towered over everyone else in the room. His imposing figure was accentuated by a thick, silver-lined beard and mustache, which added to his menacing appearance.

Anna carefully glanced through the faces present in the room. Aside from her four brothers, parents, and their maids, Richard was there, accompanied by six men. The men appeared stern and resolute, their wolfish demeanor reflected in their cold gazes. They were garbed in the attire of warriors, their swords sheathed at their sides, poised for action.

The argument had seemingly dissipated, but Anna couldn't shake off her lingering doubts. She offered a respectful bow, acknowledging the presence of the alpha and his entourage. Richard stepped forward, taking her right hand and kissing the back of her palm, his lips grazing her skin briefly. He flashed a faint smile, a gesture that did little to ease Anna's unease.

"The Silver Moon pack is indeed fortunate to have such a wonderful member in her midst," Richard remarked, his smile still firmly in place. "I see great strength and beauty in your eyes, my child," he added, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary, before releasing her hand and turning to leave. His presence commanded respect, and Troy followed closely behind him as they departed, with a sense of purpose in their stride. "We'll be back for the transition ceremony," Richard called over his shoulder as they exited. 

Richard's words echoed in Anna's mind. His smile had been reassuring, but there was something in his gaze that she couldn't quite place, leaving her with a sense of trepidation and a nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong.