Moon Touched

A week till

Selene groaned not wanting to will herself out of bed. With a week to go till her eighteenth birthday she was dreading the event. For the average werewolf of Pack Apollo the big 18 was a celebration. The day they shift into their wolf and become an adult.

For Selene, birthdays were the worst. Orphaned to the pack she never felt connected to her pack. They taught her to praise Aphis the god of the sun and to respect her alpha. She was fully schooled like the other children. It just felt like a bubble shielded her from getting close to anyone.

Selene rolled out of her bed and got ready in the bathroom. She brushed her shoulder length black hair and studied her appearance with her stormy blue eyes. She needed to tan if she wanted to keep her summer glow. Most of her pack had a rich tan and summary shades of hair. It reminded her of what an outcast she was from them.

Breakfast was most likely already done by now. The pack stuck to a strict schedule to keep everyone fed. Every member had a job to do and they worked in unison like a hive bees. A strong pack worked together. They needed to stay strong the wolves of the moon would wipe out a weak pack.

The wolves of the moon were natural enemies to the wolves of the sun. They praised Neir the goddess of the night. Rumor had it their packs followed a Luna instead of an Alpha. Selene had little to no clue about them besides these simple statements.

Lately Pack Apollo had some fights on their borders. The Alpha feared it to be wolves of the moon instead of the usual rouges. Selene hoped the rest of the week to be less tense or more so she could easily pass her birthday by without notice. She ran to the pack dining area to get breakfast. Hoping to get there before it was gone so she wouldn't have to wait for the next serving.

Selene arrived as breakfast was half gone. She sighed grateful to eat now instead of in an hour. She hummed happily to herself as she stacked her plate full to keep up with her growing metabolism. Her humming didn't falter even as she sat alone to the side of the dining area. This was her normal, alone but surrounded by people.

This morning was different as the Alpha to be, Maxim came into the pack dining area. The Alpha family usually dined at home as did the families of the pack. Mostly the single warriors and workers ate here. Though on school days the children would pop in to quickly eat before school.

Maxim scanned the area before loading up a plate and heading straight to Selene. She mentally freaked as he headed towards her. He Set his plate across from her. "Mind if I sit here?" he asked.

"No, uh not at all" Selene stammered.

Maxim sat and ate across from Selene. This was a first, usually everyone avoided her, at least it felt that way. He looked over at her from time to time and she had no idea what to do, at all. When he finished his meal he pushed the plate to the side. " Been here long?" he asked.

" I was born here Alpha." Selene replied.

They never had any classes together but it was surprising to Selene he didn't recognize her at all. "I'm not alpha, yet. Sorry, I have no idea what your name is. I'm Maxim." he held out his hand to her as he introduced himself.

"Selene" she mumbled.

"Serene?" He asked leaning in to "hear" her.

" Selene" she stated louder "though your wolf hearing would hear me whisper ten feet away."

"True, but a cute girl shouldn't mumble" he replied smiling softly at her.

Selene flushed lightly, never hade anyone called her cute.

"Wait, your names on the pack calender" Maxim raised his eyebrow half questioning her.

Oh no. Her birthday along with everyone else's was on the pack calender! She wished to pass it by without notice.

"I don't know." she lied.

"Your eighteenth birthday is like, next week isn't it?" he asked her.

" You caught me" she relented easily "It's next Friday."

"Excited?" he asked.

"Honestly, no. I have no plans for it." she admitted dropping her head down.

"The packs going to throw you a party. We always throw big parties for the big one eight." he stated.

"I just, don't really have friends." she admitted.

The shame could have swallowed Selene alive. She would have preferred it to be honest.

"Let's change that." Maxim said grabbing her hand.

"What?" she replied.

"I'll help. Eighteen is a huge deal. I refuse to let you spend it alone." he was adamant.

Maxim lead Selene by the hand. It was a little embarrassing for her, but the idea of actually fitting in. She would trade the world just for a chance. They spent the day talking with all the teens. She felt, so normal next to him. Maybe, she hadn't tried hard enough in the past. Didn't reach out to the right people. She especially liked a girl named Lilah. Blonde hair, green eyes, Lilah was popular.

Selene just felt like they clicked. Lilah wanted to take her shopping for her dress. Help her with her makeup and hair on her big day. Selene was over the sun with joy and excitement, for the first time in her life. By the time Maxim suggested walking her home she had entirely forgotten herself.

"Oh, uh, I live in the halfway house." Selene said sadly.

"It's ok Selene. Losing your parents isn't shameful. We take care of our own for a reason. You're still an Apollo Pack wolf." Maxim nudged her.

Selene couldn't stop the smile that came to her face. She had never been shamed for being an orphan, but no one ever made her feel accepted either. Maxim walked her to the halfway home and wished her goodnight. He promised to eat breakfast with her again tomorrow. She went straight to her room, closing her door behind her and flopped onto her bed.

Sleep came for Selene before she knew it was even coming. She dreamed of parties filled with her pack mates and Maxim holding her hand. Her birthday couldn't come sooner.