Two Alphas, One Luna

Priya The Winter Gathering was in full effect. Every year, my father hosted the event at our family cabin. Only this time, things were very different. Every pack in Dawnshire had come. The Golden Fang pack had even dared to show up. Some would consider them our enemies. Their Alpha Mercer, had been very adamant about making me his Luna. Unfortunately for him, I was already spoken for. Gracian, was a fellow beta within the Red Eye Pack. We grew up together. The summer he turned 18, he formally asked my father if he could take me as his Luna. Thankfully, my father accepted. Tonight the formal announcement of my betrothal would be made. Gracian and I were to become the next mated pair to take over after my father. Honestly, I never felt like much of a leader. Seeing how burdened my father was as Alpha, I was worried that I wouldn’t be much of a support to Gracian. If responsibility was so overwhelming for me, how could I take care of the others? “What are you thinking so deeply about?” A familiar voice brought me back to reality. Mercer stood tall beside me at the frozen lake’s edge. I hadn’t heard him approach me at all. I turned towards him with unfriendly gaze. His large, dark brown eyes were like decadent truffles in the bonfire light. I noticed he’d gotten a haircut since the last time I’d seen him. From shoulder length raven hair, to just below his jawline. There were a series of 3 little moles visible on the right side of his neck now. “I came out this far to avoid running into you, yet here you are…” I sighed. He laughed briefly, seemingly amused by my irritation. Then his laughter died just as quickly as it came. The look in his eyes disturbed me. I took a step back but he slid his arm around my waist. “Get your goddamn hand off of me!” I shouted as I pushed my hands against his chest. My resistance only made him tighten his hold on me. He lowered his head to my right ear, his warm breaths tickling my neck. “Priya, sweetheart…If you wanted to avoid me, you would’ve been clinging to that boyfriend of yours. Now, Let’s not draw attention to ourselves, hm?” He whispered. “Let go of me Mercer…Stop acting like a desperate teenage boy, it’s pathetic.” “What’s pathetic, is your father…” My eyes widened at his words. I slapped him before I realized what I was doing. Only then, did he release me. I stepped back from him to see a cocky grin on his face. “If Warrick thinks tonight’s little announcement is going to deter me, he’s wrong. I won’t have anyone else but you, Priya…” I hugged myself tightly as Mercer walked off towards the cabin area. I had let my guard down thinking that he wouldn’t try anything with all of the other guests here. How foolish of me. To say he was obsessed with me was an understatement. It was because of my bloodline. The Red Eye wolves lineage is well over five thousand years old. Our Alphas have been among the strongest in any pack, 2nd only to the Golden Fang pack. As for our Lunas, their litters were always large. At least 7 pups were usually born and all of them strong. Every now and then, a rare pup would be born. The Red Eyed pup would have dark red fur, and is said to wield great power during the blood moon. It was extremely rare for a female pup to have red fur; until I was born. I felt sick to my stomach as I stomped through the snow towards the cabin. At this point I just wanted this night to end. Some guests were outside admiring the decorative light displays around the property. For the most part, everyone was inside. Upon entering the cabin, I took of my charcoal grey Columbia boots. The murmuring of various voices filled my ears. So many scents were in the air as well. Multiple guys wearing too much cologne, the very prominent cinnamon and nutmeg smell from all of the baked goods in the kitchen, and I was pretty sure I smelled peppermint hot cocoa being made. It was part of the reason I had gone outside briefly. “Priya! Hey!” I turned around to see Kahnna calling me. “Hey. Is everything okay?” She nodded, her dark blue curls slightly bouncing. The color made her light complexion glow. “The Alpha needs you, front and center. Gracian is with him.” “Okay…” I sighed. Kahnna suddenly frowned before leaning in towards me. She sniffed at my clothes briefly before she sighed. “Mercer tried to shoot his shot again, didn’t he?” “Shh! It doesn’t matter now does it? He wouldn’t do anything stupid in front of my father. Please don’t say anything to Gracian.” I pleaded. “I won’t have to. Once he smells Mercer’s scent on you…” she looked away from me then, appearing to scan the sea of guests. “Damn it, is it really that strong?” Kahnna raised her eye brow at me. “I’ll go change. Can you cover for me? I swear I’ll be quick.” “Yeah, just hurry up. You literally have two minutes.” She huffed. I bolted through the foyer and down the main hall towards the stairs. My room was upstairs at the end of the hall. Kahnna was like a sister to me. When our siblings were paired up with wolves from other packs, she and I stayed and looked after each other. It seemed her parents were waiting for a more…”opportunistic” match. She’d confessed to me that there was someone she wanted to be with in our pack but, she wasn’t sure he felt the same way. I wanted to help her, but Kahnna was the type to do things her own way. When I returned to the foyer, Kahnna was waiting for me. She smiled upon seeing my form fitting, cherry red ball gown. I even wore matching stilettos knowing I would be complaining about how sore my feet were later. “Damn girl, Gracian is going to have a hard time behaving himself tonight. You look beautiful.” She gushed. “Come on, let’s get this over with so everyone can eat and go home…” We walked through the foyer and up a short flight stairs to reach the den. All of the guests were gathered here, some were fanned out just outside of the den. The place was packed. The satisfying crackling sounds from the fireplace filled my ears. It’s comforting warmth filling the room. My father was standing beside the mantle with Gracian on the opposite side. Gracian’s silver hair flowed freely over his shoulders. He was wearing a blue-gray tailored suit, left unbuttoned. The light gray button up underneath complimented his sun kissed skin. His dress shoes matched the blue-gray of his suit. I could smell the Dior Sauvage coming off of him in faint waves as I approached him. It was hard not to smile as he offered his hand to me. “Ah, I see your outfit change is what kept us all waiting.” My father teased. “I’m sorry for the delay…” I felt so embarrassed. I heard some of the guests trying to hold back their laughter. Gracian slid his hand around my shapely hip, pulling me closer. “You look lovely, Priya…” Gracian whispered. “Thank you, so do you…I mean- you look handsome…” He laughed briefly at my nervous fumbling of words. I heard my father clear his throat, demanding our undivided attention. “Now, onto official business then. Many of you have sent your sons and nephews to my beloved daughter, hoping she would become your Luna. Tonight, I wish to announce Priya’s betrothal. Gracian Calascione & Priya Gessele will become a mated pair on the next full moon. At that time, They will assume the roles of Alpha & Luna to the Red Eye Pack. I will be their advisor as they come into power.” Surprisingly, the room erupted with applause and whistles. I saw most of the wolves smiling at us. Happy for us. Except Mercer. He was scowling at Gracian as if he was trying to burn a hole through him. A chill ran along my spine. I felt Gracian’s fingers on my chin, turning my face towards his. His deep red eyes looked worried. “Priya? What’s wrong?” “It’s…Nothing.” I averted my gaze then. Gracian scanned the room and found Mercer’s scathing gaze. I looked back at him to see him smirking. I felt Gracian loosen his hold on my hip, and I knew he was going to confront him. I quickly stepped in front of him. “Don’t. Not like this. Making a scene is what he does. Not you.” He looked down at me, a deep sigh escaped his lips. The sudden shift in mood had captured my father’s attention. “Is everything alright you two? He asked, eyebrows furrowed. “Yes, Let’s continue.” I answered, trying not to sound flustered. “Everyone must be famished. The table is set in the dining room. If the Alphas would please join me in my office after dinner, we can discuss other official matters.” Most of the guests headed towards the large dining room adjacent to the kitchen. The open design of the cabin allowed you to see the kitchen and dining room from the den. The guests that couldn’t fit at the long table, took a plate from the kitchen and circled back to the den to enjoy their meal around the fireplace. With all of the tension flying between me, Gracian, and Mercer, I wasn’t hungry. I grabbed my black, hooded trench coat and swapped my stilettos for my boots before heading outside with Gracian. We sat on the wooden bench swing on the porch. Resting my head on his shoulder, I closed my eyes. “Priya,” “Hm?” “I almost made a fool of myself earlier. Thank you for stopping me.” Gracian took my left hand into his right. “You’re a better man than he will ever be, you don’t need to prove that to anyone. Especially not me.” “In a few weeks, you’ll be my Luna. If Mercer keeps harassing you…I won’t hesitate to kill him.” Gracian’s tone went very dark in that moment, I knew his threat was far from empty. “And you would be justified in an official challenge. He’s trying to provoke you into a fight before you can take your place as Alpha. Ignore his childish antics…” I raised my head to look up at him then. “That’s hard to do when I could smell his scent on you. Did you think I wouldn’t smell it underneath your perfume?” Gracian looked me square in the eye then, and I almost squirmed under his gaze. “I hoped you wouldn’t. Tonight is very important for us, the last thing we need is a bloody brawl in front of the entire community.” “I know…Next time, promise me you’ll come to me.” “I promise.” The cold night air whistled in my ears. Gracian put his arm around my shoulders and held me against him. Here in this quiet moment, I could rest peacefully. His embrace was my sanctuary where all of my worries and fears didn’t exist. If only for a little while.