Chapter 1
Dakota POV:
Today is my 18th birthday. My mom, Vanessa, and my father, Jacob, are both making a considerable fanfare about it, but I would rather sit alone in my room and read a book or listen to music. A birthday is just another day to me, but it is a huge deal to my parents.
This birthday represents how close I am to becoming the Luna for the Silver Moon Pack. I will graduate in a few weeks, and then I will marry Koda. I cannot wait to be his wife, his destiny as he calls me. Some of the kids at school think he is a bully, but to me, he is everything—my future Alpha and my future husband. Our fathers and mothers have been friends for as long as I can remember. I was betrothed to him when I was very young. I have always considered it an honor to be the promised wife of the Alpha's son. We are the future of this pack.
"Dakota," my mother calls out to me. I carefully mark the page of the book I am reading, “Loving Her Always” by my favorite author. I love romance novels. They make me flutter. Koda makes my heart skip a beat and flutter the same way my books do. I hope I get to see him tonight for my birthday, but I probably won’t. A new family is being inducted into the pack tomorrow and his family is busy entertaining them tonight.
"Coming, Mother," I call out to her. I put my book under my pillow and jump out of my bed. I open the bedroom to see her and my father looking at me.
"We thought we could go for a run as a family before dinner. What do you think, kid?" Mother asks me. Her face lights up as she smiles at me. How can I say no to that smile?
"Sure, Mom," I say. Sometimes I think she wants me to stay a child forever, but I know she wants me to grow up and leave the nest. She is happy about my upcoming marriage, but she loves family moments when we run together and cook together.
We walk down the hall and through the kitchen. I have to stop and smell the birthday cake my mother made me. It smells divine. "Mother, that cake smells delicious," I say to her.
"Come on. After the run, we’ll have cake and talk about your wedding," Mother says. She sounded happy right up until she said wedding. She bounces back and forth between loving the fact I’m growing up and worrying herself sick about me.
We step out and walk toward the forest behind my house. About halfway there, my father begins his shift. He can shift quickly and easily. He runs toward the tree line, and it is almost like magic when he shifts into his wolf. It’s a smooth transition with no pain and no problems. He is a dark wolf, and his eyes turn almost the color of emeralds when he shifts. Mother runs behind him. It takes her a few extra minutes to shift, but she it’s no problem. No one shifts as quickly as my father. Of course, he’s a warrior, which means he needs to shift faster.
It's time for my shift. I’m still running behind my parents in my human form. The wind blows against my skin. It is cool and piercing, and the breeze will feel wonderful in my fur when I shift. I have only turned a few times. I was a later shifter, so it still hurts a little. It does not hurt as bad as it did when I first shifted, but it still stings. I leap into the air, and my wolf comes out to take over. As the shape of my body changes, the crackling of my bones rings in my ears and it is not a pleasant sound.
My father tells me that the sound will disappear when I learn to shift faster. As the pain rushes over my body, I want to scream out, but I let out a howl as the wolf in me becomes me. My paws hit the grass, and I run behind my parents into the woods.
The three of us run through the woods quickly and in sync. Our wolves move together so perfectly as we run to the stream a few miles from the house. When we make it, we stop and have a drink of water from the freshwater spring. Mom and Dad play together like young pups, and I think about how wonderful my life is with the two of them.
After a few hours playing in the woods together, we run back to the house. My father is excited to give me the gift he bought for my birthday. I’m excited to see what it is. I already know what my mother made me—a veil for my wedding dress.
We get back to the house, and I am the first one to shift back into my human form. Being a human and being a wolf is so different. When I’m a wolf, I’m free with no problems and everything feels amazing. The breeze in my fur, the sun shining down on my face, even the rain feels different when I’m a wolf. I love being a wolf and being with my parents. Maybe today isn't just another day. It’s my day, and I get to spend it with them.
I go into the house and straight to the kitchen. I cannot wait to taste my cake. My father goes into their bedroom while Mother and I cut the cake. The cake is perfectly moist and smells out of this world. I set a slice down for my father, mother, and then a massive piece for myself.
My father sets a small purple box on the table. I reach for it, but he stops me.
"Let's eat our cake first," he says. My mother smiles, and I agree. I jab my fork into the cake, and it is just as perfect as I knew it would be. My mother is the ideal cook.
The three of us talk and laugh while eating the cake. I feel so happy right now. My mother leaves long enough to get the small white box with her gift inside it. I remove the ribbon and open the box to reveal the veil she made for me, a beautiful white garter belt, and matching choker. I hold it and begin to cry. It’s happening. I will marry Koda soon.
"Mom, it’s so beautiful. I love it," I say. She wraps her arms around me and holds me for a moment.
I reach over to my father, who now looks so sad. Something’s bothering him. It is so much more than the fact that his daughter is getting married. There is more to his mood change. I sit down by him with the purple box, and I open it carefully. Inside the box is a beautiful moonstone necklace.
"Allow me to put it on you, please," my father says. His mood is slowly changing, but for the worse.
I turn my head so he can slip the moonstone necklace around my neck. I look down at how beautiful it is, and I want to cry, but it is a happy occasion, so no tears today. I turn around to look at my father. I put my arms around him and hug him. "Thank you so much. I love it," I say as he rubs my back. I realize he’s upset.
"I have to tell you something. Both of you. It’s very important," my father says.
My mother sits down at the table. She seems to have no idea what’s going on either. "I have decided to challenge Alpha Odin for leadership of the pack. I think it’s time someone else stepped up. He has lost his way and is a danger to our pack, especially the future of this pack," my father says.
My mother gasps. "Jacob, if you lose, then you will be gone forever…even if you live. He will throw you out of the pack and you’ll be a rogue. Our daughter is marrying his son very soon. You could wait and see what kind of leader Koda is. Maybe things will get better," my mother pleads with him.
There is something more to this. My father and Odin have been friends for years, so why now? Why has he suddenly decided he wants the pack? Why ruin my marriage? Why risk his life? Something happened between the two of them; I just know it. My father is so angry. I can see the resentment in his eyes. I noticed that same look when he met the new family.
My father stands, kisses my mother, and then me on the forehead. "I love you both. This is not up for discussion. I only wanted you to know in case things go bad for me tonight," my father says.
He leaves my mother and me in the kitchen as he leaves the house to challenge Alpha Odin. I run to my room, lock the door, and plant myself on my bed. Happy birthday to me!