The Youngest Luna

Chapter 1

"Come on Layla, please come out with me tonight" Jess, my cousin and best friend said, placing an emphasis on the please while she lay on my bed next to me.

"You know your mum has us busy helping her with the Alpha conference for the next week from tomorrow so let's enjoy a night out before all that" she continued her pitch.

" That's exactly why we need to have a good night's sleep" I replied sarcastically.

Our pack, the Oak River pack was hosting this year's Alpha conference. And as the Alphas daughter I would have to help my mother, our Luna, with everything. My older sister Claire would usually be in her element with this kind of stuff. Her and mum were alike in that way. But she is currently heavily pregnant with her first child, so my mother was insistent myself and Jess filled in for her. And my older brother, Brandon, being next in line to become AIpha, would no doubt be my fathers shadow for the next week, trying to impress all the visiting Alphas. So Jess was right, it was going to be a long and exhausting week.

I was laying in my room contemplating the week ahead, which would see the Alpha's, their Luna's and two of their top warriors, from the 13 packs around the country, descend on our pack for meetings, treaty deals, trainings and a big old party on the last evening, when Jess had strolled into my room and interrupted my thoughts with plans for a night out in the human city nearby.

"Im too tired for a night out" I said with a yawn.

"We're 21 Layla, not 40, now get your butt up"

"Alrite alrite", I gave in "but if I end up sleeping in tomorow when we are supposed to be welcoming all the guests I'm blaming you"

"Deal" she squealed as she leapt off the bed.

"now let's get ready, I'm wearing your blue dress" she called to me as she walked off to my closet.

An hour later and we were ready. Jess, as usual, looked effortlessly gorgeous. Her blonde hair draped over her shoulders with a slight wave through it, all natural of course, and my blue midi dress hugged her in all the rite places accentuating her athletic body.

I really should just give her that dress, I thought to myself

I went for my fav black dress, it sat about mid thigh in length, with spaghetti straps and a low cut back, simple yet sexy.

Jess had curled my shoulder length light brown hair giving me what she called a 'fun flirty vibe'.

"Ready to head out" Jess asked..."you look gorgeous by the way, if only there were other warewolfs there, we might find our mates"

I laughed, "I'll settle for dancing with my bestie thanks" I replied as I hip bumped her towards my bedroom door

" Let's go".

Jess was the outgoing one of the two of us, able to spark up a conversation with anyone, and not afraid to be a bit of a goof ball. Me on the other hand, I'm a bit more reserved. Not a wall flower, I was confident in myself, but just no desire to be the life of the party.

We tip toed our way through the pack house, trying to avoid running into anyone who might tell my mum what we were up to. At 21 it wasn't like we weren't allowed out, but with the conference kicking off tomorrow, we were expected to be front and centre as part of the welcoming party, showing visiting packs to their rooms, and providing tours of the pack house and grounds. So my mum would no doubt not approve of this particular night out.

Safely out of the pack house we jumped into my little Toyota hatch back and waited til we were off pack grounds before turning the music up. My car was by no means an expensive flashy car, but Jess and I loved it. It gave us the freedom and sense of adventure we both longed for. It was only a 45 minute drive into the city and before long we were making our way into one of our fav clubs, Ember.

"Wow it's packed tonight" Jess mused through the mind link. A handy warewolfs feature when your in a noisy nightclub.

"Let's grab some drinks and hit the dance floor" I replied back.

A few drinks and a lot of dancing later and I was feeling glad I gave in to Jess's please for a night out, this was exactly what I needed.

We were in the mide of the dance floor when it hit me. A familiar scent. Jess and I turned to each other instantly. "f**k" we both said at the same time..

"What is he doing here" I mouthed to Jess

Before she had a chance to reply we were both getting a mind link

"What are you two doing here. You shouldn't be out of pack grounds the night before the conference starts"

"You can talk" Jess replied back just as Brandon came up next to us.

He was about to talk when I intercepted him

"Look, neither of us want a lecture from Mum about representing the Alpha family, so you don't nark on us and we won't nark on you. And we can all just enjoy our night. Deal?".

He stared at us both for a few seconds before mind linking. "Deal", but listen, there are a few warewolfs out tonight. Warriors from some of the visiting packs that arrived in town early. I ran into some at the club we were at before here. I don't know them so just watch yourselves ok. Not all unmated males are respectful around unmated females."

" We'll be fine Brandon" I replied as I made a gesture to shoo him away.

Brandon was 2 years older than me, and as much as we got along, we could also rub each other the wrong way.

Jess looked at me with a huge smile on her face and wiggled her eyebrows...."oooo" she started through the mindlink "we might get a sneak peek at the talent we will be hosting"

"Talent" I laughed. Now who's 40.

We both burst out laughing.

Let's head upstairs and grab a drink, I suggested. The club had two levels. The upstairs was more like a VIP area. With booths to sit at, a bar, and an outdoor patio area. Whereas downstairs was the dancefloor.

We were making our way through the crowded dancefloor towards the stairs when I began to feel restless, like I wanted to shift on the spot and I couldn't figure out why. Then I smelt the most mouthwatering scent I'd ever encountered. It was like coffee and chocolate mixed with a hint of vanilla. And the words instantly reverberated in my head. MATE.

I froze and started scanning the room looking for the scent. It wasn't super strong so I began to wonder if he had already left. But as my gaze drifted upwards our eyes met. He was leaning on the railing of the balcony above the dancefloor. I couldn't quite see all of him in the dim light but from what I could see this man was gorgeous. Tall, dark and handsome was an understatement. He had to be a head warrior, maybe even a beta, judging by his size.

My mind was going crazy, I couldn't meet my mate like this, in a seedy nightclub, when I probably look like a hot sweaty mess from dancing all night,

Jess grabbing my arm brought me back to reality and broke my gaze with my mate.

"Are you ok you looked spaced out" she said.

I swallowed hard realising my mouth had gone dry.

"Um, yep fine, I think maybe we should call it a night, just getting a bit tired"

"What, no way, it's still early and Im pretty sure I just scented the warriors Brandon had mentioned, let go say hi." Jess declared.

Before I could protest she was pulling me up the stairs.

"I need to pee" I mind linked as we reached the top, and veered away from where I new my mate was standing.

We went into the bathroom and as Jess went into a stall I stared at myself in the mirror. I grabbed some paper towels and started dabbing my face and neck to get some of the sweat off, then rummaged in my small clutch bag grabbing the little makeup I had chucked in, and began trying to make myself not look like a hot mess.

"What are you doing" Jesse's voice gave me a fright, "I thought you needed to pee?"

"Just touching up my makeup" I quickly replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

Jess started to smile...."so you do want to meet those warriors"

"Just don't want their first impression of an Alphas daughter to be me looking like a hot mess is all. Have to represent the Alpha family and all"

She scoffed.

"Since when do you care about 'representing the Alpha family' " she put in air quotes.

"And you don't look like a mess. Hot yes, mess no. Now let's go grab a drink."

I reluctantly followed her. I knew there was no way of convincing her to leave, and as nervous as I was about meeting my Mate, at least the setting of a nightclub gave me a bit of a buffer, I convinced myself.

We found some seats at the bar and were waiting for the bartender when my mates scent overwhelmed my senses and I knew he was behind us.

"Mind if we join you" a man's voice came from behind us.

Jess spun around so fast her hair naturally did an effortless movie style flick.

I on the other hand, I jumped in fright and nearly fell off my chair

*f*****g great first impression Layla* I thought to myself.

There were two tall men standing behind us, the one who spoke was not my mate. My mate stood silently next to him, his gaze never leaving me. This close I could get a much better look at him.

He had black hair and a chiseled strong jawline.

His eyes were a greyish blue colour like I had never seen before. He had a light stubble beard which was cleanly cut around his mouth and only emphasized his jawline. The shape of the muscles on his arms and shoulders were visible through his shirt. I picked would be a theme on the rest of him.

I suddenly realised I had been checking him out and snapped my gaze back up to his face only to find him smirking at me.

He leaned in close enough that he didn't have to raise his voice to be heard.

"Happy for you to look as much as you like, mate". He emphasised the last word and I swallowed hard.

"But I'd like to know your name first" he queried.