The Luna Before Me

The Beginning

Chapter 1 - 

Oakley - 

I loved the Spring, the smell of fresh rain was the most intoxicating scent to me, and all the blooming flowers reminded me even after the harsh treatment of winter, life can still be reborn. Unlike the other werewolves in Oregon I lived in the human town, I have lived outside the pack my whole life. I always hoped one day my wolf would be reborn. She came out for my first shift, but has receded and refused to come out again. Living in a human town and trying to remain normal has affected her ability to surface, I’m not as strong as a normal wolf should be. 

I started walking at a faster pace, I wanted to get home and tell my mom all about my first day of college. Even though I was 21, I was just now starting at the local university. My mom had told me that the smart choice was to save money and attend community college before I went to university. As I approached the house I noticed an unusual black SUV parked outside, it was odd for my mom to ever have visitors at the house. I paused at the front door, trying to hear what was going on inside before I came in. Since my wolf receded so long ago I had lost my wolf abilities, I couldn’t track or hear things as well as other wolves; I could however still feel the mate the Moon Goddess had given me, I just couldn’t find him. 

I slowly opened the front door and peered in, I couldn’t see anyone. I tried to softly shut the door behind me, but my mom still had her wolf and of course heard me.

“My little Oak Tree is that you?” she called out.

“Yes mother, I just got home from school” I replied as I stood stationary at the front door.

“Do you mind coming in here?” she shouted at me.

I walked into the kitchen to find two large men sitting at the table with my mom. It was apparent by their large build and highly toned muscles that these men were wolves. 

“Come sit Oak Tree, we want to ask you something” mother said to me. I looked at all the people at the table, but decided to sit across from all of them.

“As you know I was ostracized from the pack after we lost your father. I brought you with me to raise here because I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving my daughter for another pack member to raise.” I nodded my head because I had heard this story many times. “Well the pack wants to know if you would like to rejoin it?” she said as she stared at her fingers drawing circles on the table in front of her. I was in shock, I hadn’t realized I was able to rejoin the pack.

“We are extending this offer through the new Alpha Beau, his ceremony will be this Saturday, so if you accept you will not be able to access the pack territory until Saturday” one of the burly wolves said. I was flooded with emotion.

“Yes! Yes! Please let me come back!” I replied with an overjoyed voice. I always wanted to see other wolves, I wanted to know what it felt like to be accepted. The wolves at the table looked at me in surprise about the reaction I just gave them.

“Well okay then. Future Alpha Beau would like to invite you to his ceremony. We have already given your mother the directions.” With that being said the two men stood and nodded at my mother and I before they left. I could feel my mother staring at me. 

“That was a bit excited don’t you think?” she said shooting me a ‘mom’ look of discontentedness.

“Sorry Ma, you know how much I have wanted to go on pack land. I don’t remember it sense I was so young when we were forced out” I replied slightly ashamed of my reaction to the invitation. I quickly covered my mouth with the realization I just made.

“Ma do I have to move onto the land!”

“No my dear, they said you can remain at home unless you choose to move there” she laughed at the expression I was making. “You still have three days till Saturday so you better make sure you are all caught up on homework so you can go then.” she said with a sharp look. I smiled and popped out of my seat and scampered up the stairs. 

“Marie did you hear that? We get to go on pack territory.”

I tried to talk to my wolf, but she didn’t reply. I’ve been trying to talk to her since she officially receded, but there was never a response. I hoped being around all the pack wolves would draw her back out. I missed my wolf. 

I sat at my small desk and began working on all my assignments, I wanted to make sure I was able to get them all done early. 

Beau -

“Your ceremony is tomorrow night Beau, must you really stay up so late working out” my Beta, Jackson, said. 

“You know I have to get all this energy out Jack” I replied back. Being an Alpha so far past when I was supposed to find my mate was making my wolf restless. We could sometimes feel our mate, but she was too far for me to pinpoint. I spent most of my waking hours working out or attending to pack matters. 

“She’s out there somewhere, Beau. Has Ryan told you anything more on who your mate is?” Jack asked.

“No, he doesn’t know much about her because he’s never actually met her” I shrugged at him. 

“Hm, maybe you should talk to the Elder Ronald, his mate was from another pack and would tell you where to start” Jack suggested. I nodded to him, thats why hes my Beta, he can always come up with a solution I would have never thought of. I followed him out of the gym and towards our rooms. Before we parted ways Jack turned to me.

“I’ll call him in the morning and let him know you are coming.” 

“Thank you Jack” I said with a pat on his shoulder. I turned and went into my room. I got changed into my pajamas and laid in bed thinking about how my conversation with Ronald will go.

“Mate is beyond the trees” Ryan growled at me.

“She's in another pack I know, we’ll find her” I told him

“Hm, I don’t know” Ryan was obviously doubting that she could be in another pack.

I laid down in bed and let myself drift off into sleep.

When I awoke the next morning I checked my phone and noticed that Jack texted me letting me know that a meeting was set up between Elder Ronald and I for 11 AM today. I checked the clock and saw that it was already 10:15, I growled and texted Jack asking why he didn’t care to wake me. I quickly got dressed and ran down to the cafeteria so I could grab a snack before I went to see Ronald.

Walking to Ronalds wasn’t a far walk, but I prided myself on being early to every meeting. I walked onto his porch and loudly banged on the front door, in true Alpha style. The door swung open revealing his daughter Tiffany standing behind it, Ryan growled within me.

“Well hello our strong future Alpha” she said in a seductive voice to me.

“I’m here to see your father” I told her in a stern and steady voice.

“Ah yes, come in Beau” she said as she motioned for me to come in. 

I started to walk in and said “You may address me by my Alpha title, I’m not a friend to you.” She rolled her eyes and huffed away. I walked through the small hall, into the breakfast nook area. Elder Ronald put his hand out inviting me to take a seat.

“Very nice to see you again Future Alpha Beau, I hear you came to see me about finding your mate” he asked.

“Yes, but please call me Beau” I told him.

“Okay, what do you know of your mate? Do you feel a draw to go anywhere?” he asked, sipping his tea.

“I don’t know my mate, I can feel her sometimes but I can’t find her” I told him, I was wracking my brain to find a better way to explain this feeling.

“She isn’t from another pack” he quickly said to me.

“What do you mean? How do you know?”

“You said you feel her, if you feel her you have met her once before. When I was without my mate I felt nothing but emptiness and loneliness. You can feel her because you have met her before” he responded.

“I don’t remember meeting pups from other packs when I was young” I said, pondering when I could have run into her.

“Then she was from this pack, you have many outcast visitors coming in on the night of your ceremony. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find her then, among them.”

“Thank you Elder Ronald. You have given me great information” I said as I stood to leave. Ronald nodded to me and then waved his hand to excuse me from his house. I left the house without running into Tiffany thankfully. Walking back towards the house I decided to have a little chat with my wolf.

“You’ve met her before” I scolded Ryan.

“I  don’t know, we were young, how was I to know she was our mate” he argued back.

“When the ceremony comes you will behave yourself, even if we find her”

I could feel Ryan agreeing with me.