Chapter 1 Ariana Ashford

Leaning against her window, Ariana Ashford sips her morning coffee as she surveyed the preparations for the upcoming Moonlight Ball just a few yards away. Just 2 days away, her wolf Asena remarks excitedly. She sighs, a million thoughts and worries popping relentlessly in her head. Well, at least her wolf was happy to finally meet her mate. She was more stressed than excited. But as the beta of her pack, at least for now, responsibilities awaited her so she put the coffee mug on her desk and prepared to check up on the last-minute arrangements of the ball.

Speaking of responsibilities, she had many. After the accident 10 years ago which killed her parents, she had to look after two sisters, Nora and Iris. She became the beta of the eastern hemlock pack 5 years later, the position left empty with respect to her late father who was the beta before her. She was also the leader of the order of blue moon, a society of she-wolf warriors formed by Luna Serine of the western hemlock pack after the great battle of Iris, 72 years ago.

"Good morning" Nora greeted her, cheery as usual, when she reached the kitchen, "You look awful". "Thank you" Ria sighs yet again, "I couldn't sleep well last night". "Clearly," says Iris who was sitting on the kitchen counter scarfing down her breakfast. "What's for breakfast?" she asks Nora as it's her turn to cook today. "Scrambled eggs and bacon, come let's have breakfast together". Growing up, she and Nora always ate breakfast together, 2 years apart but they were closer than best friends. Iris who was 4 years younger than her felt more like her kid as she was only 11 when their parents died.

"I'm late for training, see you in the evening" Iris calls out as she leaves for her early morning combat training. In our pack, wolves have mandatory combat training and school until they turn 18. Over 18, one has the choice to continue in whichever field they have an interest in. Though most of us choose to continue combat and join the pack's military division, many others work in our other important areas like pack healers, pack businesses, etc. Although the military division has some superiority complex we still respect the others as their contribution is as important as ours for the pack's well-being and progress.

"So?" Nora looks at me expectantly. "So?" I reply consciously looking down at my plate. "The ball is in three days, how're you feeling?" she asks me. "Don't you know already?" I ask her. As werewolves, we have pack mind links so that wolves of the same pack can communicate without having to speak actual words. You can control the level of intrusion over years of practice as in it's easy to intrude a young wolf's mind than an older one. Although we can let someone communicate on our will as we grow older. This is especially useful in emergency situations and battle settings when we can communicate and strategize effectively on the field. As sisters we are closer than others, so we are susceptible to each other's feelings more often than not. I've always tried to keep my emotions to myself but when it's extreme my sisters can pick them up.

"You're scared your mate might be an asshole?" Nora asks jokingly. "Well, whoever it is, I'm pretty sure I'm worse than him" I laugh. "You're hoping to mate someone of lower rank right?" she asks getting serious. There was a tradition in the packs on the east side of the river iris, mates move to the higher ranks regardless of gender as in if you mate a wolf from another pack who is of a higher rank than you, you will belong to that pack after mating. So if my mate is a delta or an omega then I could stay in my pack and continue my life like before but given our family history, there is little chance of that.

"Or you might mate with...." Nora hesitates. We both know what she was going to say. Mason, my bestfriend and the alpha's son. We were in love and at one point we thought we were mates but nothing came of it.

I sigh, some things are better left alone. "I'm going to practice too, see you later". "Do you have to? the ball is in 3 days, you'll be busy soon with the preparations" she asks. " I will be busy soon, exactly why have to wrap up business with the order, most of it is done but I still have to find a replacement as the leader, my successor" a lump forms in my throat. 5 years I was the leader, 5 too short years but it was my greatest honor.

"You don't know for sure if you're going to have to leave, why are you planning to give it all away before it even happens".

""This is how it works, Nora. It's hard but I've had my time. Five years is long enough. Even if I had mated with Mason, I would've had to relinquish the position to be the luna."

"I'm sorry I'm not capable enough to replace you." Nora say casting her eyes to the ground. "Hey hey hey, look at me, it's alright, Nora, don't you ever feel like you aren't enough. Everyone's strengths and contributions to the pack are different?"

"Yeah, you're right. I know, it's just our family has a legacy of warriors and I feel like i'm just not part of it".

"You are acting as if you can't even throw a punch" I chuckle trying to make light of the situation. "Yeah I can fight but I'm no match to you" she punches my arm. "Yeah, but no one's a match for me." I laugh darkly. She doesn't notice thankfully.

"That's true. Mason was joking yesterday, that with you gone, he will finally be the only one on top with no competition."

"Well, at least one of us is happy I'm leaving" I mutter.

"You know that's not true, nana. He's hurting too, a lot. He's just trying to be as nonchalant he can be".

"Are you going to use up all the nicknames you can give me? Besides, when did you and mason get so close?" I ask her. They've never talked to each other all that much, except when our families met and pack meetings.

"We're not close. We've been meeting since I started my job and mostly while planning the upcoming ball". She crosses her arms "meetings you've been skipping".

"Sorry ma'am, for not being exciting to host a ball which as well could be my farewell party"

"Ah, how self-centered you have become Beta Ashford. Thinking you are the only wolf of mating age going to be present at the ball" She raises an eyebrow.

"I'm just kidding obviously. Everyone is excited. You think you might find your mate too?" She is just 3 month shy of 18. It is a pretty common age to mate. Although I hope she won't, this soon.

"I don't think so, apparently mating is becoming more of conscious decision. As in if you really don't want to mate, your mating bond won't be apparent until you're ready".

"Really?" I ask skeptically."Next what? we get to choose our mates?" I roll my eyes. Mating has always been a primal instinct, blessed by the moon goddess. Our mates were decided by her, the best choice to carry our line forward, strengthen the bloodline, when we meet them by destiny, fate, the stars. It has been that way for centuries.

To think we have a say in any of that feels like blasphemy.

"It's a theory, of course. Just scholars on the east side hoping for a change". Nora chuckles.

"Fair enough, it's a pretty dream I guess."

"How are the arrangements of the ball going? Everyone is expecting the most magical ball yet, even other packs. We've got quite a reputation huh".

"It's all because of the parties hosted by mason in the past. All those ragers and now the ball is expected to be bigger than the ones before". She says, exasperated.

"Well, not just that. We are the richest pack on the east side. It makes sense."

"Not for long. Regent pack is catching up" Nora, cracks her knuckles.

"Ooh, fun". I chew the last of my breakfast. "Isn't their luna attending the ball? she isn't mated yet right?" I ask, putting my plate in the dishwasher. "Luna Maia? oh she's not attending. She's out of country, I think it's bc she doesn't want to find her mate". "Why not? isn't it time, she became luna 2 years back, it's the perfect time". "It's probably complicated, it could be anyone. What if she mates with an alpha? could be mason, too bad she's absent. It'll be a complex situation". "Ascended lunas usually mate with beta wolves, I don't think that would be a problem, besides I thought you didn't like their pack". "It's just I-don't-like-them-because-they're-rivals feeling, it could be a strong alliance". Nora shrugs.

"Good point. Anyway" I grab a chocolate protein bar from the table "I'm leaving, see you later. I'll attend the meeting in the evening to discuss the security measures of the ball".

"Okay. See you later. All the best with the things at the order. I hope everything goes well". Nora squeezes my hand and disappeares upstairs to get ready for the day.

I fasten the rest of my gear and start out to the practice centre.

A day of rearranging and planning strategies lays ahead, starting with my second home.

Walking to the centre, Ria had too many thoughts crowding her head. Too many responsibilities, tasks lay ahead that she's been hoping to avoid. Get a grip, Ariana, you got this. It's not a big deal, she tells herself.

She walks by a bunch of kids who whisper when they see her, she's the scary beta, not knowing she can hear them, thanks to her heightened hearing. She chuckles to herself. It's a chilly morning, people huddling together to reach their destination quickly. She nods to a few she knows, they stop and nod back.

She thinks of the meeting that is in a couple of hours. To finalize the next leader of the order of blue moon. Technically the final decision is the current leader's, so it's her decision. But traditionally it's always been a collective decision, as they were, in their heart a sisterhood of warriors.

All the members in their 5th year and above will be present at the meeting. To give their opinions, their preference, their choice in the next leader. She thinks back when she was appointed, it was unanimous apparently, even though she had been fairly young.

"Of course it was unanimous, no one was on par with us even at 16" Asena says. If she was proud, her wolf was a hundred times worse. But without Asena, Ria would be nothing. Her wolf was her friend, her sister, her conscience. "So what do you think I should do, Asena. Who should I put forward as the next leader". Asena sighs, "You know who I think it should be, but you won't listen". She's right, I know who it is. And I am conflicted.

She reaches the centre. The training is probably her favorite place. She walks in to see young trainees going through their morning drills and practice sessions.

She passes the gym. Then individual training rooms, this is where the one-on-one combat practice happens. She sees Iris practicing in one, seems like her instructor is gone but she's still sweating bullets. She thinks of saying hi but pauses, thoughts swirling in her head. Ria moves forward, deciding not to disturb her.

The order is the farthest in the training centre, almost a section of its own.

She was deep in contemplation when someone elbows her. And before another breath is taken, Ria tackles them to the ground, hands behind their back. A scuffle ensue only to be subdued in seconds.