Happy Birthday
The crisp mountain air whipped through Violet Moon’s silver-streaked hair as she stood on the balcony of her packhouse. Today was her fiftieth birthday. She had led the pack since her parents died in the Rogue Wars when she was sixteen. The Alpha Luna of the Silver Ridge Pack had ruled with a just hand and a fierce heart, alongside her mahogany-brown wolf, Reign. But tonight, Reign paced restlessly within her mind. The negative thoughts that she would remain mateless and childless took over her thoughts. Violet Moon didn't question her future until she turned 40 and her grandmother's prophecy had yet to come true.
When Violet was a little girl, her grandmother had whispered a prophecy: *“You will know your fated mate the moment you look into his eyes, child. For they will be the exact shade of storm-grey as yours.”* Fifty years, and she had never seen those eyes. Violet had long accepted that the Moon Goddess had simply forgotten her. But she continued to stay in perfect shape, daily training to remain strong because a small part of her still believed he was out there. She sighed, her own striking grey eyes reflecting the moonlight, unaware that miles away, destiny was roaring down the highway.
Zion, Alpha of the Nightshade Pack, gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle. His midnight-black wolf, Atlas, was suddenly clawing at his consciousness, howling at him to *turn, turn now!" Flanking him on their own bikes were his Beta, Onyx—a rugged, stoic older wolf who still looked like he could be in his prime —and Stone, his young and eager Gamma. Without warning, Zion swerved off the interstate, tearing up a winding mountain trail toward Silver Ridge territory.
"Alpha! Where are we going?" Onyx called over the comms, but Zion couldn't answer. The pull was an intoxicating, magnetic thread wrapped around his soul.
He skidded to a halt right at the Silver Ridge border. Within seconds, a patrol surrounded them, led by Violet’s Beta, Poppy—a feisty , five-foot three brunette with a sharp tongue and a lethal stance.
"State your business, Gentlemen," Poppy demanded, her hand on her hip.
Onyx stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Poppy. A sudden, heavy silence fell between the two Betas, an electric current snapping through the air. Poppy’s eyes widened, her fierce demeanor faltering for a split second before she masked it with a scowl. Onyx merely cleared his throat, a dark smirk tugging at his lips.
Before anyone could speak, the crowd parted. Alpha Luna Violet Moon walked out. The air was suddenly heavy with the aura of both Alpha's
