My Best Friend's Alpha

2.

Lana

Jittering with excitement, I take my very gorgeous and very blindfolded boyfriend by the hand and lead him through the forest. His 6 foot 3 muscular frame walking clumsily along the path.

'Lana, what are you up to?' he cautiously asks through a nervous smile.

The smell of smoke and toasted marshmallows lingers.

'Just a little bit further, I promise'

I pull Nial into the clearing and remove the blindfold as a chorus of 'surprise' is shouted. The whole pack had gathered to celebrate the 18th birthday of Nial Black, the future alpha of The Black Orion pack and my future husband.

Nial stole my heart when we were just 7 years old, he picked me flowers every day until I agreed to be his girlfriend, we have been inseparable ever since.

On the next full moon, his father, Alpha Tobias will step down and Nial will take his place with me by his side as his chosen Luna.

I watch Nial intently as his smokey grey eyes refocus now to see the pack gathered around a perfectly constructed camp fire. A rumble of laughter erupts from his muscular olive chest. I follow his gaze as he spies the sausages browning nicely on the rotisserie and the bottles of beer chilling in a cool box of ice.

'This is amazing you guys!'

He turns to me with a smile.

'Did you do this?'

I nod mischievously 'With a bit of help of course'

I'm scooped up into a body crushing bear hug.

'I do love you, Lana Samoe'

As Nial mingles with our pack mates, I search the sea of faces for my best friend Meela. Without her creative mind and sense of adventure, none of this would have been possible. For the past week she has stayed up late with me weaving strings of lanterns and decorating cup cakes.

I have grown up with Meela, our mother's are close so we have always been more like sisters. Together, Meela, Nial and I are like The Three Amigos but right now she was nowhere to be seen.

I spot my mother Jules, in the crowd, stood with Meela's mother, Mara. As I approach, they are laughing and reminiscing about their younger years. The care free nature radiates from their glowing russet skin. Mara turns to me and smiles with a kindness that gathers the laughter lines around her warm caramel eyes.

'Lana my dear, what a beautiful party you have organised'

I embrace her tightly,

'Thank you Mara, have you seen Meela?'

'She's probably daydreaming somewhere and has lost track of time, you know us Angeles women my dear, our heads are always in the clouds'

I smile warmly at the youthful mothers who don't look a day over 30, despite the big 40 looming.

'I'll go find her'

I turn on my heel and stalk down the path I had guided Nial along only 10 minutes earlier. Following the curve of trees, the rows of intricately carved log cabins come into view. The Black Orion pack have resided here for generations.

As I approach Meela's cabin, I glimpse her through the window sat on her bed cross legged deep in thought. Her mass of dark curls falling down around the shoulder and arm she is leant on, chin resting on her palm staring at the framed picture of her grandmother on her bedside table.

I clear my throat as I enter the cabin to make my presence known, I hear a gasp and the creek of bed springs, she quickly jumps up and appears in the doorway of her bedroom.

'There you are, you're missing all the fun' I exclaim with a friendly smile.

Her returning smile is an apologetic one.

'I'm so sorry Lana, I was getting ready for the party when my mind just wandered'. Her eyes fall to the floor as they glaze over with an edge of sorrow.

'Is everything okay? Are you still worrying about your mate?'

For the past few weeks Meela has been agonising over her ever approaching 18th birthday, helping me organise Nial's party was a welcomed distraction. When a member of our pack 'comes of age' on their 18th birthday, their subconscious wolf becomes more attuned. If the connection between the subconscious wolf and mind are strong enough, the wolf can seek out their mate.

'What if I don't find him Lana? Or what if I do find him and he belongs to a pack hundreds of miles away, or worse... He's an arrogant mysogynistic pig?'

I struggle to stifle the laugh threatening to escape in response to her dramatic facial expressions. Her golden eyes, wide with fear.

I duck as Mr Jangles, Meela's scruffy old Teddy bear is launched at my head.

'It's not funny Lana, we can't all be as lucky in love as you' Meela squeals through gritted teeth, although a smile begins to form at the very edges of her lips, compromising her angry disposition.

'Can we please just enjoy tonight? I promise we will spend the day tomorrow strategising against your arrogant mysogynistic mate. After all, you did help me organise this party, don't you want to revel in the fruits of your labour?'

When Meela's expression changed into a playful pout, I knew I had won.

'Fine'.

I grabbed her arm and dragged her out of the cabin before she could change her mind.

'I'll race you there' I spurred, knowing full well that she was faster than me on two legs and that the easy competition would be enough to lift her mood.

'Last one there is a rotten egg' she giggled raising an eye brow as she darted off ahead.

Our child like laughter turned the heads of everybody in the clearing as our race came to a finish with me trailing in behind Meela.

It all happened so quickly, so surreal as if I was having an outer body experience, watching it all unfold in slow motion before me. Our whole lives changed in an instant. My heart sank and acid rose to the back of my throat.

Nial's eyes met with Meela's and one tiny four letter word tumbled from his mouth that shattered my whole existence into pieces.

'Mate'.