New Beginnings

CHAPTER 2

There was a knock at the door, and I walked over to open it to find my mom there with Beta John. Obviously, they had been quite busy themselves, as my mom now sported Beta John’s mark, signifying to other wolves she was his.

“Mom!” I pulled her into a quick hug before releasing her. “How are you?” I asked, concern lacing my voice.

“This was the best thing for us,” she told me, her smile radiant. “Are you ready?” she asked as Jake’s door opened and he stepped out.

I gaped at him. He wore a sleek grey tuxedo with a black tie to match my dress. He reached his arm out to me and I linked my arm through his, connecting our elbows. Mom did the same with Beta John.

“Let’s get this over with,” I muttered, earning a laugh from my mom and a smirk from Jake.

We descended the flights of stairs of the packhouse and the flight out into the courtyard. Everyone’s eyes were on us as we walked up to the stage where a podium stood, with a table next to it. On the table was a chalice, with a golden dagger next to it.

Alpha Bill stood at the podium, with Luna Sally to his left and his other Beta to his right. There were whispers throughout the crowd, and I heard a low growl coming from one of the she wolves near us as we passed. I ignored it.

As we reached the stage and ascended the few steps, Jake led me to stand behind his father, along with Beta John and my mom.

There was no microphone attached to the podium; I would soon find out why.

Alpha Bill cleared his throat loudly and it became instantly silent.

“Tonight, we are here to welcome Jessi Brown and Avon Knudson to the pack,” his loud voice boomed out over the crowd of about 2500 wolves.

He stepped to the side, motioning for my mom to step up. Beta John released her reluctantly. She stepped up to the table as Alpha Bill stood opposite to her.

“Do you, Jessi Brown, swear to uphold your duty to help protect the Blue moon pack?”

“I do,” she answered solemnly, taking the dagger and slicing her left palm, letting a drop of blood fall into the chalice. Then she stepped back.

Jake stepped forward with me, his hand on the small of my back, refusing to let me go.

“Do you, Avon Knudson, swear to uphold your duty to help protect the Blue Moon pack?”

“I do,” I answered, slicing my left palm as drop of blood spilled into the chalice. Alpha bill took the dagger from me and sliced his left palm, allowing a drop of blood to spill into the chalice.

The chalice began to glow red, getting brighter and brighter before it just… disappeared. I felt a burning sensation on my left breastbone and looked down to see the Blue Moon pack symbol forming. The Moon Goddess had accepted us as Blue Moon pack members.

"I, Alpha Bill King, hereby pronounce Jessi Brown and Avon Knudson as official members of the Blue Moon Pack!"

Cheers erupted from around us.

I felt the mind-links falling into place as I gripped my head, gasping for breath. Jake grabbed me, pulling me to him, rubbing circles on my back as the pain slowly subsided. I looked over to see Beta John was doing the same to my mom.

Alpha Bill stepped back up to the podium. “As many of you have already heard by word of mouth, my son, your future Alpha, has also found his mate in Avon. She will be your future Luna.” His voice boomed.

Cheers erupted as everyone stood up and applause filled the air. All but one she-wolf. The one who had growled as we passed. I silently pointed her out to Jake, who told me through our new mind-link that he would explain later.

A proud grin spread across Alpha Bill’s face as he nodded for us to exit the stage. Jake led me to the Alpha table and pulled my chair out for me as Beta John led my mom to the table next to us and did the same.

The Omegas brought out plates of food, starting at the head table and making their way down. Then they joined us at their own tables, and we all began to dig into the chicken, peas and carrots, pasta with herbs and rolls.

I held back a moan as the food hit my tongue. This was the best tasting food I’d ever had. I glanced over at Jake, who was watching me as he ate. My face heated as I continued to eat, holding his gaze.

After everyone was full to their heart’s desire, the celebration began. Young pups were taken back to their homes for bed while the rest of us danced and mingled. Some of the adults drank, too, including my mom. After a few hours of drinking sparkling wine, she was definitely drunk.

I pulled her further away, towards the lake in the clearing. “Mom, are you okay?” I asked her, worried.

“I’m fine, honey. No need to worry. Just some pent-up anger I need to drink away.”

I knew exactly what she was referring to. “Do you regret already being mated to him?” I asked her, concern lacing my voice.

“Not at all. I’m angry at your father. I never really got to watch my little girl grow up. I was an outcast as ordered by your father. And I’m angry at him for it. But I’m so proud of who you are, who you’re becoming, and who you’re going to become. So, despite my anger at him, tonight is a night for celebration. I have a new mate who loves me, a new beginning, and a new lease on life, all thanks to my wise-beyond-her-years daughter. And I have you to thank for it.”

I sighed, nodding an okay. My mom walked away to find Beta John, who was watching us from the dance floor. She sashayed up to him, pulling him down for a kiss. I looked away, not wanting to witness that.

Jake came up to me then, taking my hand in his. I don’t think I’d ever get used to the sparks whenever we touched one another.

“Let’s take a walk,” he murmured in my ear. I shivered at the warmth of his breath against my ear and nodded a yes.

He pulled my hand, and we began walking side by side in a comfortable silence. The moon was high in the sky – it was probably around 10:30 or 11:00 P.M now. I was exhausted from the drives and the time difference.

Jake and I just walked, him mostly leading the way as we walked the path around the lake without saying a word. Then I heard a twig snap behind us, and I whirled around. No one was within sight, but I let the walls to my mind down, listening for thoughts close to us.

What a b***h, came an unfamiliar tone in my head. I turned back to Jake who was eyeing me, confused. I put my finger up to my mouth to signal him to stay quiet as we kept walking.

About another quarter mile done and another twig snap. I didn’t whirl around this time.

Someone is following us, I mind-linked Jake. His eyes widened in surprise, but he said nothing verbally.

I listened again for any thoughts close to us that weren’t our own.

She doesn’t deserve to be Luna! I do! Shouted in her head as I listened.

Jake… I began, unsure how to tell him that I can read minds willingly. I sighed, biting the bullet. I have to tell you something Jake… I can read minds at will. Not through mind-links, but anyone’s mind at any time when I pull the mental block down.

Jake’s mouth formed an O shape before he recovered and shut his mouth. That’s… pretty awesome. Is that how you know someone is following us?

I nodded as we kept walking. I can hear her thoughts. That she deserves to be Luna, not me.

I know exactly who it is, Jake told me. We kept walking briskly, hand in hand. We hadn’t even reached the first curve around the lake but other than that one opening, the lake was practically surrounded by trees.

Another crack beneath the unknown she-wolves feet brought forth a low rumble from my throat. I had had enough.

“Show your face, you coward!” I cried out, facing where the last sound was heard from. A she-wolf who looked about 20 stepped out, a scowl on her face.

“I don’t deserve to be Luna, and yet here you are, too coward enough to even face me?! How does that make you Luna material?!” I spat, a growl erupting from me.

“Lexi, you need to stop. You have a mate.”

“I don’t want a lowly Omega!” she yelled.

This made me furious. “Omegas are not ‘lowly’! Every pack member has a role in the pack, no matter their position! And you’re an Omega, too! So, what are you saying about yourself?”

“I was never meant to be an omega! I’m born to be Luna!”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed in her face. “And yet, here we are, my being the Alpha’s mate, not you!”

“You won’t make it as Luna! You’re going to fail!”

Jake spoke this time. “A Luna who is backed by the majority of the pack will never fail. You will never make her fail! You would fail, not Avon!”

This made Lexi angry. A loud growl erupted from deep within her and she began quivering, her shape blurring as her canines extended and clows came out, fur sprouting from her pores and bones crackling before she was on all fours. A muddy brown wolf stood before me, the same color as her human eyes. The chocolate brown eyes of her wolf glared at me with contempt, a loud growl reverberating from her chest.

Then she was charging at me. I didn’t even bother shifting; this was going to be too easy. I kicked her in her side, causing her to fly into a tree with a loud thump. She whimpered in pain but stood back up slowly, shaking it off before charging at me again.

She went to grab me in her jaws, but I lifted the same knee up, slamming her jaws shut before she could get to me. I spun around and roundhouse kicked her head, hearing a crack like a joint popping as she went flying again.

She growled and struggled to get up.

“Lexi! Do you want Alpha Bill to get involved?” Jacob scolded.

“I’ll kick her ass without even having to shift! I’ll break every limb of hers if I have to!” I growled.

That pissed Lexi off more. She got up and crouched down, ready to attack. I jumped at her, grabbing her front left leg in my hands and snapping it. She yelped out in pain, but I didn’t stop. I jumped lithely over her wolf and did the same to the other leg.

She howled out this time, causing the music to stop and all attention to turn our way.

Alpha Bill and Luna Sally were near us within a minute. Taking in the scene before them: Lexi’s wolf on the ground with two broken legs, Jake and I in our human forms.

“Shift back!” came the Alpha command.

She whimpered as bones cracked as she shifted back, laying on the ground, cowering in fear and pain.

“What happened?!” Alpha Bill demanded, still using his Alpha tone.

“She was following Avon and me. Avon told her to come out of hiding. So, she did, and attacked Avon, saying Avon doesn’t deserve the Luna position,” Jake bowed his head under the weight of the command, but not as much as anyone else would have been.

“Lexi, I’m only going to ask one time. Is that true?”

“She attacked me! I’m the one with broken bones!”

“Because I was defending myself!” I shouted.

“Lexi, after your arms are fully healed, we will deal with your punishment. Jasper, John, please get her to the hospital where Doctor Graham can treat her before her arms heal wrong.

Both Betas picked her up, forcing her to walk, not really caring about the pain they were causing her.

“The celebration is over. Everyone, go back home,” Alpha Bill dismissed the crowd that had gathered. “Avon, meet me in my office.”

I gulped, afraid. Jake squeezed my hand as we made our way back to the packhouse. Jake left me at the second floor, leaning in for a kiss, unsure of how I would react. I touched my lips to his, and the sparks that erupted immediately made me relax. He pulled me into a tight hug, inhaling my scent as I inhaled his.

“I’ll see you… in the morning, or tonight if you need to talk,” He said softly.

I nodded as I headed down the hall to Alpha Bill’s office.

“Come in, Avon,” came his deep voice without me having to knock.

I sighed, took a deep breath, and opened the door. Alpha Bill sat at his desk, motioning for me to sit across from him, so I did.

“Avon… this is going to sound like a weird question but… what color is your wolf?”