Kissed By Moonlight

Chapter 1: Preparations

“Amara”. I heard my name called like a distant echo “Amara, get up!” it came louder as I slowly came out of my sleeping state.

Once I had fully woken up, I recognized the voice. It was Kylie. She has been and always will be a morning person.

I, however, am not. At all.

I tried to roll back over but was stopped when my blanket was forcefully ripped from my body and cool air hit my bare legs. I growled and so did Isla. She isn't a morning person either.

“Don't growl at me!” Kylie said, trying to sound offended but really sounding more amused. “We need to see my mother before school to see what she needs to help set up the ceremony for Carter!”

I let out a huff of annoyance and glared a little at her but did get out of bed. She was right. We needed to see how we could help. Aunt Catherine has been a mess of anxiety and stress for three weeks now and we need to help her.

As I rolled out of bed I couldn't help but admire Kylie's beauty. She looked as though she had already been up for hours perfecting her look. She had long, very curly auburn hair. Her skin was tanned as most werewolves are and she had freckles dotting her face. She and Carter both had the same freckles and unruly hair. They were both also tall. Carter was 6’4 while Kylie was 5’11. Both had a lean build but Carter’s, of course, was more masculine, built with hard muscle and Kylie’s was feminine with muscle as well, but it also had a softness to it. They both also had hazel eyes that tended to look greener on most days.

We've all grown very close these last 5 years and are basically siblings and not just cousins. But, even though we act like siblings, we don't look like siblings except for our skin tone which they got from their dad and I got from my mom. Their mother was fairer, which is why they had reddish hair and freckles.

I still have my long thick white hair that falls nearly to my waist in loose waves and vibrant blue eyes that sometimes shift to ice-blue if Isla is trying to make herself known. I am also definitely not considered tall for a female. I am 5’6, so I am more on the average side. You could say I have a slim build as well, but I definitely had more curves than Kylie. I have a tiny waist but my hips do come out some and I'm a bit more endowed in the rear and chest area.

Kylie always says she would kill to have my curves but I don't see why.

“Are you done daydreaming?” Kylie asked, more annoyed now, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yes,” I told her, rolling my eyes and getting out of bed to walk to my bathroom to get ready. Luckily, we wore uniforms, so I didn't have to pick out an outfit.

I quickly brushed my teeth and hair and put on light makeup. When I exited the bathroom, I was immediately handed my uniform to change into.

She was nervous about the ceremony because she loved her brother and wanted everything to go well. She also hopes, since so many members of different packs are coming, that she will find her mate.

Not wanting to add to her stress, I quickly put on my white blouse, navy plaid skirt, socks, and shoes.

“Ready?” Kylie asked, holding up my backpack.

I walked over and took it from her “Ready”. I confirmed and we made our way to the Luna’s office. Here, both the Alpha and Luna have separate offices to do their work, since they are both in charge of separate things.

For example, the Luna is in charge of the ceremony preparations while the Alpha is in charge of security and who comes.

When we walked in, we saw the Luna immersed in papers, most likely from vendors for the event.

“Morning Mom!” Kylie said cheerfully, walking over to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Morning My Loves,” Luna Catherine said, not looking up yet. She always called all of us that. She was a very maternal person and was the best mother/aunt we could ask for.

“Is there anything we can do to help you with all of this?” I asked, walking closer to her desk trying to get a look at what the papers were for.

She shook her head and finally looked up at us, “Not right now, but I will need help once the vendors start delivering. I may need you two to help set up and get some of the boys to help and stay focused.”

“We can do that,” Kylie told her. “We will make sure there is no goofing off!”

I nodded in agreement, still trying to be a little nosy with all the papers. I was curious about what food would be available.

The Luna just smiled “Don't worry Amara, I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the food and dessert selection.” I blushed a little at being caught. But I guess I wasn't being very inconspicuous. Kylie just laughed at me. “Now get downstairs and get breakfast before the boys get back from training and eat it all.”

Kylie and I nodded, giving the Luna one last kiss and rushing down the stairs. I really just wanted some coffee and a glazed doughnut.

When we got to the kitchen, we had about two minutes before all the young warriors burst in. Including Carter and his future Beta Trevor. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of sweat and boy funk that invaded my nostrils.

“Morning Ladies!” Trevor said, coming up to me and Kylie putting an arm around both of us. He was a big flirt. Mostly harmless though.

Kylie usually blushed at the attention no matter who gave it to her and was more polite. I, on the other hand, was not.

“You stink,” I said bluntly, wiggling my way out of his grip to get more coffee.

“What you smell is pure man” he retorted, winking. Now even Kylie rolled her eyes at that cheesy line.

I was about to say something not so nice when Kylie interrupted, “Amara, we have to go so you're not late for your first class!” she said, grabbing my hand and yanking me out of the kitchen.

The people who were out of school did their training during the morning while the ones in school trained when school was over. They made it that way since it usually takes girls longer to get ready, so it's better if they just go home for the day after working out.

Sometimes we train together, but that is few and far between. Everyone needs to know the basics to defend themselves and their pack if need be, but it's your decision if you want to make it a lifelong job and continue after you graduate.

Ranked wolves continue to train their whole lives though until they retire. So Carter is nowhere near done even after he becomes Alpha. His dad, however, is and I know he is happy about it. Kylie is too. Female-ranked wolves do have the choice and Kylie chose to stop. At least for a few years to see if she wants to do anything else. Right now she really wants to be a doctor, so after she drops me at school she goes to the pack hospital and shadows and takes classes as well. When she finishes up, it is about the time I finish up training, so she swings by and picks me up to take me home. A lot of times we stop and get dinner somewhere, especially when the parents are busy.

I'm happy for her. She found her passion and she is good at it. She is like her mom with maternal instincts and just has a gentleness and kindness about her that can put anyone at ease. I hope she finds her mate soon so she can start a family of her own.

“You know,” Kylie said, breaking me out of my thoughts as we walked to her car “You should be nicer to him. He could be your mate.”

I wrinkled my nose and struggled not to gag. “He definitely isn’t. He’s 20 so he would've sensed it, right?”

Kylie shook her head. “Maybe not. Only really high-ranked Alpha bloodlines can sense a mate before their mate is of age. Carter may even have trouble sensing his if she is still under 18. Mostly, the royal bloodlines get the luck of having the ability to find their mates early.”

I took that information in. She would know since she’s been studying this stuff lately. She got really into genes and different abilities when it came to her medical studies.

I smiled at her. “You’re like a werewolf encyclopedia.”

She just rolled her eyes. “This stuff is actually very interesting! Did you know white wolves are the rarest of all wolves? Black wolves are the second rarest and tend to stay in the royal bloodline, but the royal bloodline has never had a white wolf. In fact, there are only about 20 white wolves ever recorded in history. Of course, some could have been missed, but still!”

“Other than it being rare, what's so special about it?” I asked her, curious now. I also liked watching her when she gets passionate about this. I know not many people let her go on and on about this stuff. A lot of wolves have it in their heads, since she is the daughter of an Alpha, she needs to aspire to be a trophy wife but that's not Kylie.

“Well, some records said they had special abilities like healing quicker and being larger than some Alphas. They are also faster and stronger in both human and wolf forms. I even read one article that said they have been rumored to have powers. Like mind reading or clairvoyance”

I rolled my eyes at that. I'm sure that was just someone's imagination going wild. They found out white wolves are rare and tried to make that more interesting by adding special abilities when in reality it's probably just some recessive gene that's been weeded out through the centuries and is basically extinct. However, Kylie’s version is more interesting.

“I'll believe that when I see it,” I told her, laughing a little at the ridiculousness of it. It was silent for a few moments before Kylie pulled up to the front of the school.

“Thank you! See you at 6!” I told her, giving her a quick hug and hopping out of the car to make my way inside.

I didn't miss the way some of the males leered at me or how the females glared. I was used to it. My white hair made me stand out and look exotic to them, I guess. Personally, I believe if I had regular colored hair like Brunette then, no one would notice me at all.

I quickly walked to my locker to put away my clothes for training later. Before I closed my door, I sensed someone behind me.

“Morning!” my best friend Ruby chirped, dancing up to me. She was always full of energy in the morning. She is a lot like Kylie which is probably why she is my best friend. Ruby is full ginger. Bright red hair, pale skin, and freckles. She is taller than me at 5’10 and looks like a supermodel in my opinion.

She turns eighteen three days before me and is hoping that Trevor is her mate for some reason. I have to admit he is good looking but I'm also pretty sure he has slept with almost every she-wolf with ranked parents. Except for me and Kylie, of course…and Ruby. She is the Gamma’s daughter. Her mother and father were the sweetest people on the planet. They have their own little pack at home. Little redheads everywhere. Ruby is the second oldest of six siblings. She has an older brother named Ryan who is a year younger than Carter and Kylie. He is just as sweet as the rest of his family. He had already found his mate when visiting the Emerald Pack about 6 months ago. His mate is very kind and pretty. She is the daughter of the Delta of that pack.

“Morning.” I finally said back unenthusiastically, shutting my locker and facing her.

Ruby’s smile never wavered “Are you ready for our physics test this afternoon?” she asked, linking her arm with mine and dragging me to our first class.

I rolled my eyes as she led me into our Werewolf Lineage class and to our seats. “Is anyone?”

She just rolled her eyes back and took her seat. “Dont act like you don't get perfect scores all the time”

I just sat down at that and didn't reply. She is right, I do get perfect scores. What she doesn’t know is that it's because I have been taught all of this before. When I was being held captive, they hammered an education into us, and I do mean hammered literally. If we didn't get perfect scores, we were tortured. So we learned quickly to never get an answer wrong.

Luckily, the teacher decided to start class before any more could be added to the conversation. I took out my notebook as the lights were dimmed and the projector pulled up the slides. We were going over Lycans and how they died out and became werewolves. Also, the only DNA link to Lycans is now only in the royal bloodline, and even their DNA is showing less Lycan DNA mixed as each generation is born.

“So, within the next few generations, we may see a complete wipeout of the Lycan Bloodline…” Mr. Harris finished as the bell rang. “There will be a test on Friday on chapters 10-25!” he yelled as we filed out.

“Ughhh” Ruby groaned, “Why does there have to be a test on Friday? Failing a test is an awful way to start the weekend!”

I couldn't help but giggle “I doubt you're going to fail. I'm pretty sure we learn the same thing every year about werewolf history.”

“I know! But how can I concentrate when Carter’s alpha ceremony is this weekend too!” She whined, nearly stomping her foot in protest.

“It'll be okay”, I assured her “The test will be in the morning, then you'll have the whole day to think about the ceremony.”

She just huffed again as we made our way to our next class.

Looks like it's going to be very busy the next few days…