His Warrior Luna

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I tapped my foot impatiently as my fifth outfit change of the morning was brought in. The servants scurried around like scared mice, arms laden with fabric worth more than their yearly wages. My ceremony rehearsal starts in an hour, and nothing felt right.

“The blue one makes you look pale, the green clashes with your eyes, and the pink is too… common,” my best friend Melissa listed off, sprawled across my king-sized bed. “Stick with silver. You're literally the Silver Pack princess.”

“Tell me something I don't know.” I grabbed a silk robe as the servants stripped off the rejected dress. “Everything needs to be perfect for tomorrow. The other packs will be watching.”

“They're always watching,” Melissa said, rolling her eyes. “But seriously Clara, you could show up in a trash bag and still outshine everyone. You're the Alpha's daughter.”

That was true. Being Alpha Jason and Luna Alice's only child came with certain guarantees. Like having five seamstresses at my beck and call the day before my eighteenth birthday.

“Miss Clara,” Sarah, the newest servant, approached with yet another dress. “Martha thought you might like this one.”

I turned to examine the offering and immediately frowned. The stitching on the hem was crooked – barely noticeable to common wolves, but glaringly obvious to my trained eye.

“Are you kidding me?” I held up the edge. “Look at this disaster. Do you think I can wear something so sloppily made to my ceremony rehearsal?”

Sarah's fingers trembled as she tried to find the flaw. “I-I'm sorry, Miss Clara. I can fix it-”

“You've done enough.” I shoved the dress back at her. “Just get out. I can't have incompetent people working on anything related to my ceremony.”

“But Miss Clara-” Martha, the head seamstress, stepped forward. Her gray hair was pulled back in its usual severe bun. “Sarah is still learning, and-”

“Did I stutter?” I turned my head slightly, letting my authority show. The same way my mother did when servants forgot their place. “Or do you need a reminder of who will be running this pack soon?”

Martha's mouth snapped shut. The room fell silent except for Sarah's muffled sobs as she fled. Melissa raised an eyebrow at me but said nothing. She knew better than to challenge me in front of the staff.

“The silver dress from Paris,” I declared. “The one with moonstone buttons. That's what I'll wear to rehearsal.”

The remaining servants rushed to retrieve it while I studied myself in the three floor-length mirrors. My long dark hair fell in perfect waves, my skin glowed with expensive products, and my figure showed the results of countless training sessions. I practiced my ceremonial smile – not too wide (unladylike), not too small (unapproachable). Just right.

Something flashed in my eyes – a hint of red? I blinked hard, leaning closer. Nothing. Just my normal blue eyes staring back. Must've been a trick of the light.

“You're doing that creepy mirror thing again,” Melissa commented, now flipping through a fashion magazine. “Your face is going to stick that way.”

“Better than looking like a grinning fool.” I turned as the servants returned with my chosen dress. “Besides, tomorrow is-”

“The most important day of your life, yes, I know.” Melissa tossed the magazine aside. “You've only mentioned it about a thousand times. First shift, official mate marking ceremony, blah blah blah. Some of us already went through it without all this drama.”

I shot her a look. “Some of us aren't the future Luna of the most powerful pack in the region.”

The servants helped me into the silver dress, their touches light and efficient. This was better. The fabric caught the light perfectly, the moonstones gleamed like tiny stars. This was how an Alpha's daughter should look.

“Speaking of future Luna duties,” Melissa said with a sly smile, “your future mate is here. I can smell his designer cologne from upstairs.”

My heart skipped. “Joffrey's early.” I wasn't ready – my hair needed a final touch, my lipstick needed refreshing-

“Practicing your ceremony face?”

I spun around to find him leaning against my door frame, a black velvet box in his hands. Joffrey looked exactly like he'd stepped out of a magazine – perfectly styled blonde hair, crisp white shirt, that aristocratic jaw everyone envied. Our children would be gorgeous.

“Maybe.” I smiled my perfect smile. “Is that for me?”

He crossed the room, but his eyes stayed fixed on my reflection rather than meeting mine directly. Typical Joffrey – always more concerned with appearances than substance. Not that I was any better.

“Early birthday present.” He opened the box, revealing a diamond necklace that probably cost more than most wolves made in a year. “Something special for tomorrow's ceremony.”

“It's beautiful.” It was. Just like everything else in my life – perfectly, flawlessly beautiful. And just as cold.

Melissa made a show of checking her phone. “And that's my cue to leave. Try not to mess up your makeup before rehearsal.” She winked at me before slipping out.

Joffrey helped me try on the necklace, his fingers brushing my neck. We looked perfect together in the mirror – the future power couple of the Silver Pack. Both from elite bloodlines, both groomed for leadership since birth.

“The Northern Pack's Beta just confirmed attendance,” he said, adjusting the clasp. “Your mother must be pleased.”

“Ecstatic. She's been working on the seating arrangements for weeks.” I touched the diamonds. “Politics never sleeps.”

“It's what keeps us on top.” He stepped back to admire the effect. “Speaking of politics, my father wants to discuss territory negotiations after the ceremony. Having the largest pack in the region isn't enough anymore.”

Of course. Everything came back to power. Even our mating was more of a political alliance than a love match. Not that I minded – love was for common wolves. We were meant for greater things.

The next hour was spent rehearsing our positions for tomorrow's ceremony. Step here, bow there, recite these words. Everything choreographed down to the last breath. My mother interrupted with the guest list, treating each name like a chess piece in her social game.

“The Northern Pack's Beta confirmed attendance,” she said, checking her tablet. “Make sure you acknowledge them before the Southern Alliance. And the Eastern Pack's Alpha is bringing both his sons – be especially courteous.”

“Yes, Mother.” I tried not to fidget as she adjusted my posture. “I've memorized all the protocols.”

“Good.” She didn't smile. Luna Alice never smiled during business. “The Silver Pack's reputation-”

“Rests on tomorrow's performance,” I finished. “I know.”

My father appeared briefly, barely glancing at me as he reviewed the ceremony schedule. “Remember the protocols, Clara. No mistakes.”

“Yes, Father.” Always yes. Always perfect.

Later that night, after dismissing my servants, I stood on my balcony watching the lower-ranked wolves gather around their bonfire. Their laughter carried up to me, real and warm. Emma, one of our members, led them in traditional songs. I found myself leaning forward, drawn to their genuine joy.

“Miss Clara?”

I jumped, turning to find Grace, my childhood nanny, holding a silver tray. She'd been with us since I was born, one of the few servants allowed to see me at my worst.

“Your evening tea,” she said gently. “And some lavender cookies. For the nerves.”

“I'm not nervous,” I snapped, hating that she could still read me so well. “I don't need anything.”

Hurt flashed across her weathered face. For a second, I wanted to apologize, to ask her to stay like she used to when I was little. When she would brush my hair and tell me stories about the ancient wolves. Before I learned that future Luna's don't need comfort from servants.

“Of course, Miss Clara.” She set down the tray and turned to leave. “But if you did need anything…”

“I don't.” I turned back to the window. Below, a young couple snuck behind a tree, sharing a secret kiss. My hand went to Joffrey's necklace. Would we ever have that? That simple, honest connection?

Probably not. But we'd have power, influence, respect. That was better than love, wasn't it?

The moon was rising, casting silver light across my room. I tried the meditation exercises from my preparation books, but something felt off. My chest burned. Not the “gentle warmth” the books described – this was different. Wrong.

Pacing didn't help. My fingernails kept lengthening slightly – a warning sign this close to shifting. I forced my wolf down using Father's techniques, but she fought me harder than usual.

“Quiet,” I whispered to her. “Just one more day. Then you can come out properly.”

My wolf growled in response. She'd been restless lately, pushing against my control. Most wolves didn't feel their animal side this strongly before their first shift. But I wasn't most wolves, I was an Alpha's daughter.

Finally, I climbed into my silk sheets, forcing my breathing to steady. Tomorrow will be perfect. It had to be. I was Clara, daughter of the Silver Pack Alpha, future Luna. Nothing could go wrong.

As sleep claimed me, my fingers dug into the mattress.

I woke to find deep claw marks in my silk sheets – something that hadn't happened since I was a pup. Staring at the torn fabric, a chill ran down my spine. What was happening to me?