Prologue

The Blue Moon Ball

Three years ago…

Edgar Callen watched the festivities from a concealed corner near the lavish velvet curtains. A pillar with an elaborate sculpture of a black wolf standing on its hind legs, fangs bared blocked him from view. A live orchestra played his favorite classics. The women who’d shown up for the Blue Moon Ball tonight were dressed in the finest silk, and adorned in gold and diamonds.

“Have you seen Edgar?” A hazel-eyed blonde with a French accent asked.

Edgar grimaced. His father had made a huge mistake throwing this Cinderella style ball at their Ontario mansion to find him a mate. It’s wasn’t that he couldn’t find any females – they usually found him – he just didn’t have the time for a relationship right now. How could he indulge in something as frivolous as a romantic relationship when rival packs were constantly fighting and killing innocents. He spent most of his free time coming up with ways to tighten their security. He glanced around the ball room. His father had hired armed human body guards to protect everyone at the ball tonight. He shook his head unable to believe the extent the violence between packs had reached.

Edgar left his empty glass on the pillar near the sculpture’s hind legs. Wouldn’t it be nice if he could roam around freely, without having to worry about being attacked? He waited for the French beauty to walk away before sneaking out of the ballroom and into the forest. How could he enjoy himself and choose a mate when his pack was afraid of going to sleep at night?

Thinking he was alone, he made himself comfortable under his favorite maple tree and lit a cigarette. He’d spend the rest of the evening here, he decided. The women inside would eventually grow tired of searching for him and leave. Or they would enjoy the night with one of the many humans or betas present.

“Your mate isn’t going to choose herself,” someone said.

The soft, teasing voice startled him. “I take it you’re not interested in being my mate,” he’d responded.

The woman laughed. “Imagine the catastrophe that we will all awaken to if I, Elena London, mated with you on a Blue Moon night.”

Elena London. Every instinct in his body warned him to run. It was common knowledge that Elena was trouble.

“I imagine it would make for interesting breakfast gossip tomorrow morning,” he replied, ignoring the warning bells going off in his head.

“I imagine it would end the senseless killings of our pack members. I’ve often wondered if there was a way we could live in peace. Wouldn’t life be different then?”

They paused reflecting on the possible consequences their union would cause, most of it good.

“We could focus on our lives for once,” Edgar said dreamily, “we could build careers instead of armies, raise wolves instead of warriors.” Maybe Elena London wasn’t so bad after all. Perhaps time had mellowed her adventurous spirit.

“Hmm. You know, it doesn’t sound like such a bad idea after all,” Elena said. “I could finally launch my fashion label, show my collection at New York Fashion Week.” He saw her smile in the moonlight, imagining her future. Elena London was a beautiful woman. Any Alpha in his right frame of mind steered clear of her.

“We could make it work,” Edgar replied. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like living without having to worry about being attacked, or letting my guard down.”

“Of course, we’d need rules since this is an arrangement of convenience.” She studied him from head to toe. “You’re gorgeous but hardly my type.”

Edgar had laughed. “You have a type.”

“Yeah. Silent and non-existent. I prefer a man who lets me live my life as I please. I want to travel the world, meet people, mingle with celebrities. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t plan on cheating or anything. I just don’t want to be bound by full moons, rules and traditions. Wolf- life can be so blew sometimes. I want to be free.”

Her words resonated with him. “I would also like to know what it feels like to be free for once. Truly free.”

“And one more thing,” she’d said, “I am not cut out to be a mother. I don’t want kids, cubs, babies – whatever we’re calling them these days.”

Edgar sighed. Nobody knew the family’s consulting witch had predicted Edgar would father the most powerful Alpha the world would ever see. Maybe Elena would change her mind over time, and help him fulfill that prophecy.

He snuffed out the cigarette, rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Let’s go announce our intentions to mate,” he told her.

“Fake mate,” she corrected, “you are my fake Alpha and I am your fake Luna.”

***