Moonless Heart

I strolled down through the green grass, holding tight to my chest some cozy, warm blankets. Our pack was gearing up for tonight’s full moon party. I always look forward to these monthly get-togethers. We eat tasty food, giggle, swap stories about our pack’s history and the spirits, and then those who can turn into wolves dash off into the woods. The rest of us stay by the campfire, trying to act like we’re not wishing we could join them. For eighteen years, I’ve been stuck helping watch the little kids and making sure the fire doesn’t get out of control. It’s getting old, and I’m desperate for my wolf to finally show up so I can prove I’m not a letdown. “Hi, sweetie!” I glanced over and saw my dad waving. I smiled back. He’d been out exploring the forest with the pack leader and the third-in-charge to get everything ready for tonight. “Hey, Dad!” I called, setting the blankets on a wooden bench. I spread some out on other benches where we sit around the fire. They’re mostly for comfort, not warmth, since werewolves stay toasty on their own, even someone like me who hasn’t met their wolf yet. But I still belong. “You excited for tomorrow?” Leader Ben asked as he walked up with my dad and Third-in-Command Sam. “Maybe a little,” I said. “What’s that mean, maybe, jellybean?” Sam asked with a grin. Leader Ben, Sam, and my dad have been buddies forever. It wasn’t a surprise when Ben picked my dad to be his second-in-command and Sam to be third when he became pack leader years ago, way before my brother and I were born. We grew up with Ben and Sam’s families like they were our relatives. My brother, Finn, is super tight with Leo, Ben’s son. Everyone expected me to be besties with Mia, Sam’s daughter, but we don’t really get along. We’re only polite to each other because of our families. “I bet my sweetie’s feeling nervous,” Dad said, giving me a side hug. “Turning eighteen is a huge moment.” “For sure,” Ben said, smiling widely. “She’ll sense her true match, and he’ll feel her too, once they’re both past eighteen.” “She’s way too young for that stuff,” Dad said, making a face, while Ben and Sam burst out laughing. They weren’t totally wrong. I was a bit nervous about finding my true match, but there was something else bothering me. My wolf hasn’t appeared yet, and I’ve never been able to turn into one. Every full moon that passes makes me look less impressive to the pack. You’re supposed to start shifting between sixteen and twenty-five. The earlier your wolf shows up, the stronger you both are. Leo turned into a wolf just a month after his sixteenth birthday, and Finn did it eight months after his. Mia was seventeen and a half when she first shifted. I’m almost eighteen, and I haven’t felt even a tiny hint of my wolf during a full moon. I was scared that if I met my true match, he’d think I wasn’t strong enough. “Still thinking about your wolf, huh, kiddo?” Ben asked. I nodded. We’ve talked about this a bunch over the last couple of years. “Daisy June Harper, two years isn’t long. Your wolf will show up,” he said. I scrunched my nose when he said my full name. My mom’s obsessed with flowers and named me and Finn after her favorites. Dad didn’t argue because he loves her too much to say no. “Well, that's understandable, Alpha,” I said. “You need to believe that you are awesome, dear,” My Dad complimented, kissing my forehead. “You are my Dad, it's okay if you say so.” I smiled at him with a friendly tone. “And if any boy claims otherwise, let us know, and we’ll handle it,” Sam stated. "Thank you, Uncle Sam," I replied. “Don't mention.” He replied, tousling my hair sideways. I sighed heavily and pulled away from him, but my Dad chuckled and hugged me back. I am intolerant of people touching my well-cared-for hair. It takes me a long time to curl it well, and whenever someone touches it, it changes into scattered frizzy hair. “Alright, no more playing around.” Let's start working! "I'll catch you later tonight, kiddo, and once it's past midnight, we'll celebrate your special day," Ben remarked. “Ugh, fine,” Dad said, acting annoyed for fun. Sometimes I think Ben, Sam, and Dad act like they’re still kids, and it’s a little weird to think they’re in charge of the pack. But they do a great job. Our pack is one of the toughest and most admired in the world, and we’re all proud. As the three of them went to finish their tasks, I got back to mine. Normally, I’d be helping my mom and the other women make food, but today I had other jobs. I’m hoping it’s because they’re secretly baking a birthday cake for me. I walked over to Rachel, Sam’s wife, to ask about the activities she planned for the kids. I told myself I’m lucky. I have a loving family, great friends, and an amazing pack. So what if I don’t have a wolf yet? Three out of four isn’t bad, right? And if I find my true match and he loves me like true matches do, that’s four out of five. That’d be awesome. But a quiet voice in my head kept saying, What if he doesn’t want you because you don’t have a wolf? It was like a song stuck on repeat. That night, I sat by the fire, chuckling with the group as Tim, one of the pack’s oldest warriors, told a wild story about fighting off a bunch of vampires. The number of vampires got bigger every full moon, but we all loved his tales. Most of the pack was out running as wolves in the forest. I still didn’t feel any urge to shift, so I offered to watch the kids and keep an eye on the teens, like always. It was just after midnight when the pack started coming back. They strolled out of the woods in pairs or small groups, looking happy and relaxed. I was wondering why they were back so soon when my mom and Leader’s Wife Sarah walked up with a birthday cake. My jaw dropped at the stunning three-layer cake covered in white frosting and tiny sugar flowers, like a garden in bloom. Two candles, a one and an eight, glowed on top. “Happy birthday, honey!” Mom said. “Thanks, Mom!” I said, and she gave me a big hug. Then Sarah hugged me tightly. “I hope you meet your true match soon, and he’s everything you want,” Sarah whispered. "Thank you, Luna," I expressed. “It's time to extinguish the candles and wish for something, darling,” Dad remarked, standing close by. “Hold on, Finn hasn’t arrived yet,” Mom remarked. “He's with Leo and Mia,” Sarah stated, leaning on Ben. "I don't mind being patient," I replied, as Ben and Sarah smiled back at me. “Honestly, the entire group is here, and we're waiting for our son,” Mom replied, sounding slightly irritated. I heard Finn, Leo, and Mia prior to seeing them. Finn jogged out of the woods, followed closely by Leo, while Mia moved at a slower pace. “Apologies!” I had no idea we had come this far. “You didn’t extinguish the candles, right?” Finn inquired. “No, she waited,” Mom replied, giving him a glance that indicated she wasn’t pleased. “Apologies,” Finn repeated. However, I was not focused. I was hit by the fragrance of pine and orange. Even without my wolf, I felt it was my genuine counterpart. I glanced back and noticed Leo at the forest's edge, looking at me with wide eyes, equally shocked as I was. Leo, the son of the Alpha, was my mate?