Surprise by moonrise

“Oh love, that dress is gorgeous!” Jasper shouted as I came out of the dressing room, bringing his hands to his face and doing his happy dance. “You know you should have trust me on this. The guys will freak out when they see you tonight.”   I looked in the mirror. “Isn´t it too much?” I asked Jasper. “I mean, I´m used to wearing dresses, but this is something else.” My reflection showed a tall, curvy girl in an off-white tight dress with two black stripes from the shoulder straps to the hem of the dress. It showed off all my curves and small waist. There was a slit in the back to improve my ability to walk, which showed just a little more skin than I´m used to.   He just let out a sigh and joined me in front of the mirror, pulling my hair back just a little bit. “You look amazing, Charissa”, he whispered in my ear. A smile appeared on his face and I turned around to hug him.   Jasper and I were friends for as long as I can remember. From the way he talked to me, people thought we were a couple, but our relationship always has been more like a brother and sister.   As I pulled away from the hug and moved my hand through his hair to mess up his black hairdo before going back into the dressing room to change to my own clothes. “Thanks Jas, you´re my savior”.   On our way home, I looked out of the window of the car, thinking about tonight. My brother Emmet and his mate Melissa would take their vows as Beta and Beta female, taking over my parent´s places in the pack. There will be a ceremony and a celebratory barbecue afterwards.   In other packs, the welcoming of the new Beta wasn´t celebrated at all, but our pack thought it was time for a change and decided to give the Beta a similar ceremony as the Alpha, as Alpha Jonathan didn´t have any heirs of his own and it doesn´t seem like he will give up his post anytime soon.   I had always thought that Emmet would be named Alpha, as he is the oldest nephew of Alpha Jonathan, but when it was offered to him, he turned it down. I´m unsure what will happen now, as I´m not a candidate to be Alpha. I sigh silently. Traditions make it impossible for me as a female to become Alpha   Maybe my father would take over for his brother…   Before I could continue speculating about the Alpha position, Jasper pinched my shoulder, waking me up from my thoughts. “We´re home, daydreamer,” he said, getting out of the car.   I grab the bag with my newly found dress and take it upstairs to my room. I didn´t even have time to take it out of the bag, before I hear someone knocking at my door.   “Miss Sanders”, I hear an Omega say behind me. I turn around to face Omega Lucy and give her a smile.   “What´s up Lucy?” I ask.   “Alpha Jonathan has sent me to escort you to his office.” She gestures to the hallway and leads the way.   My thoughts are going a hundred miles per hour while we walk through the pack house. What does my uncle want from me? Why didn´t he just text me or call me himself? He never sends anyone for me except for my father. Something must be up. Did something happen to my father? I´m starting to panic a little, noticing how my heart starts to beat heavily in my chest.   Lucy turns around at the sound of my frantic heartbeat with a confused look on her face.   “Are you alright Miss Sanders?”   I just simply nod, taking a deep breath to try and slow down my heart. She continues to the Alpha´s office.   The office is quite big, with space for two desks, a couch, and a conference table. The wall to the office is made of glass that can be tempered so no one can see inside. Right now the glass is see-through, and I can see my uncle, the Alpha, sitting at his desk, reading something on his computer.   Then it hit me, there are two desks in his office, where there only used to be one. I wonder why. Did he find a successor?   Omega Lucy introduces me to the Alpha and he greets me with a big smile and open arms. As usual, I walk over to him and give him a big hug.   “Hi uncle Jonathan”, I say, pressing my cheek to his chest as he hugs me back.   “There is my one and only niece. How are you sweetheart?”   He pulls back out of the hug and gets back to his desk before I´m able to respond. I can see his face change to his serious look, and I know the question was rhetorical.   He points to the chair in front of him, on the other side of the desk, and I sit down. It doesn’t take long before he responds my unsaid question of why I´m here.   “You don´t have to be afraid of why I asked you here. I just want to discuss something with you as your Alpha”, he says.   My palms start sweating and I notice my whole body starting to respond to the nerves. Alpha Jonathan never speaks to me like this.   “You know I don´t have any heirs of my own who are destined to become Alpha”, he starts to explain. “This got me in a tricky situation, as there is going to be a time where I need to retire. Your brother will be my Beta starting this evening, but he has made it very clear that he would never want to be the Alpha of this pack.”   As he is telling me this, I start to notice that his hair is turning grey and he looks very exhausted. My uncle is well into his fifties and it looks like the Alpha role is taking a toll on his body and mind. I´m sure that he would already have left the pack to his heir if he had one. I feel sorry for him and wonder where he is going with this speech.   “I don’t want to burden your father with my post, so that only leaves you”, he says, looking me straight in the eye. I can see the hope in his eyes, and he gives me a little smile.   “Wait what?” It comes out of my mouth before even noticing it.   He wants me to become Alpha? I didn´t see that one coming. Females aren´t allowed to become Alpha due to our traditions   “I-I…” I can´t seem to find my words. “You want me to become Alpha after you? Me? A female?”   “Yes, sweetheart”, he says. His smile has now expanded to his whole face.   “Will you be my apprentice?”