Silver Moon Luna

Chapter 1 - Scenting

Standing in the middle of the road, waiting in the drizzling rain. For what you ask. That I am not sure of. I had the feeling of coming here, guided by the moonlight. The moon is full and high in the sky. Looking up, I could see the craters and shadows dancing on the moon. The pack is on their nightly run, so I will not be interrupted for a short time. I have always enjoyed the smell of the rain and the grass so fresh.

As I begin to sit on the side of the road listening to the howls of my pack sitting on a fallen tree, I smell the most delicious scent. Whatever I came here for smells of cedar and cinnamon. I looked around trying to find the source of the smell. Thinking to myself, this must be my mate. No one in our pack that I can recall at this moment has this smell. I darted from my sitting position, running towards the smell. I shift into my wolf. I have to find the smell. I run faster than I ever have feeling the ground beneath my paws. Then the trail of the scent stops cold, I stop running as if I just ran into a wall.

The pack will be returning from their run soon and I do not want them to question why I was not there. I took off, running into the trees to the left where I could feel other pack members coming. I joined the group and ran back to the main house.

I go to my room on the third floor and begin to wonder and imagine where the smell came from. I didn't feel another being near me. The smell did not last long. But it is all consuming me while I look in the mirror. Even my wolf could sense the calmness the smell brought us. But now we want the answers and will not stop looking for them.

"Alina, where are you?" I could hear my mom holler from the hallway.

"In my room." I yelled just enough for her to hear me. I could hear the doorknob begin to turn and I hurried and pulled the covers up to my neck.

"Alina, my beautiful. Where have you been this evening? I heard that you wandered off from the pack during the run. You know you can't keep doing that." I could see the worry on her face as her eyebrows squinted together, causing lines on her forehead. She always worried about me as I am the only child to take over when my dad steps down as Alpha. Lately, her worry has become extreme. If I walk around the house, outside, or talk to anyone, she wants to know about it. I try to appease her as much as possible. But all I could think about tonight was the amazing aroma I smelt in the woods.

"Oh Mom, you know I always enjoy straying away from the pack and enjoying the moon in my own way. I stay within hearing distance just in case." I tried to calm her nerves.

She did not like this answer. I don't blame her as I am trying to evade any more questions than necessary tonight. "I have told you many times not to act in such a manner. You know your father wants to start getting you more involved and ready for your Alpha role. We want to step down and enjoy the remainder of our days together. But you have to stop with the nonsense and remember you are not an average wolf out there during the run. You are the next in line, our only child. Please, Alina, you have to take more precautions."

Her words put me at ease. She did not ask any more questions about me wandering away. She is pushing me to remember that as an only child of an Alpha I have to be more cautious. "I know and I am so sorry. I will start being more careful and staying with the pack."

"We have visitors coming this Friday. I only have a few days to prepare. They will be here for your party on Saturday. I can't believe how fast the years have gone. Saturday you will be 21, and there will be a full moon! We have so much to celebrate!"

"What do you mean, visitors, and why am I just hearing of this?" I hope she didn't hear the frustration in my voice. I was doing my best to keep a straight face.

"Alpha George and Luna Rosemary from the Gold Leaf Pack will be here. They will be bringing Alexander, their oldest son and a group of pack warriors with them. I know I have told you of their visit for a few weeks now. Do you not listen when I talk to you?" I seemed to have given myself away again as she knew I was not listening again. "Alina, did you hear me?"

"Sorry mom, I am excited to see them again. It has been many years since their last visit and Luna Rosemary makes the best pies around." and just like that, all I could crave was one of Luna Rosemary's homemade pumpkin pies. I have not had one in so long. I just hoped that my mother did not see me drooling.

"Alina! Is that drool on your mouth?" She was chuckling as she said it, so it began to lighten the mood from when she first came into my room.

"Of course, I am. I know she may not want to cook one while she is here, but I sure hope we can coax her into it." And just like that, our conversation was away from my dismissive behavior. My mom and Luna Rosemary had been friends before I was born and before either of them became Luna's of their own pack.

"I will not tell her, but I hope she makes one as well. Well, Alina, sleep well. Tomorrow, Beta Lucas will be your right-hand man. As you keep wanting to wander off, you have to take him with you anytime you leave this house. I do not want a report that you tried to evade him again. It's important that you are safe." She came in for a hug, and I could feel her protective mom nature as she hugged my shoulders.

"Goodnight my sweet mother. I will do as you asked for now." I gave her the best daughter smile I could.

"Goodnight Alina." She stated as she was walking to the door.

And just like that, my door was closed. My parents' room was just across the hall. When I could hear her close the door, I slouched into my bed. The moon was still shining in my room, and I prayed to the Moon Goddess that I could behave while our company was there. I knew this would make my parents happy.

As I lay on my side staring out the window, all I began to smell was cedar. I closed my eyes, knowing that it was just my imagination. Before I drifted off to sleep, the cinnamon smell came to me and, with the calmness it brought, I was out in no time.

I woke up to the wonderful smell of sausage and bacon. I did enjoy my protein each day. It was my favorite part of any of our meals. Thankfully, my parents thought it important that each family in our pack had their own table for the first meal of the day. She found it gave us all time to reflect on the previous day. I know it's just her motherly way of wanting all the moms to have a moment to connect with their children the way she does with me.

As I turned the corner into the kitchen, as it was not polite to be late for breakfast, I ran straight into a wall of muscle. At least that is what my hands felt as they came up holding me steady to what or who I ran into.

"Hey, are you OK?" I heard the husky, masculine voice asks.

"I am good, it seems I was not paying attention because of the delicious smell coming from the kitchen." I had not opened my eyes yet to see who I had run into. I started to open my eyes, but an unfamiliar smell came to me.

"Wow! I bet those are Marie's famous cinnamon rolls. I do apologize for running into you again." I don't know why, I just couldn't stop staring the moment my eyes opened.

"Miss Alina, Marie did not make cinnamon rolls today. I am not sure what you are smelling." and that is when I recognized his voice. It was Beta Lucas.

"Oh Lucas, my sleepy mind must be playing tricks on me. Our run kept us out late last night so I must not have gotten enough sleep." I was trying to cover my tracks as I backed up from him but got close enough to make sure he was not the one producing my cedar cinnamon scent.

"No worries, Miss Alina. Your parents are awaiting you at the table. Enjoy your breakfast," he stated as he started down the hallway.

I walked into the dining area and sat next to my dad. I always sat next to him during breakfast. He was always so busy that it was harder to touch base with him. Then it was my mom. "Good morning, Dad. Sorry I was a little late, the run went for longer than normal last night."

"I heard, young lady, let's not make it a habit any longer to have late runs. Also, Alina..." Oh, I knew he would side with her when it came to me having any fun. "Remember your mother's orders today and for the next week while the company is here. Alexander will be here today ahead of his parents. Let's be hospitable." and then began eating so that I could not retaliate. He knows how to do that so well.

I love my father and never wanted to disrespect him. I seemed to get my way more times with mom. Dad was the Alpha of our pack and while I knew pack rules, he was my dad. And thankfully, until recently, he was just that. He has taught me a lot growing up. Being a warrior is one of them. Now that I will be 21 on Saturday, he said I would begin Alpha training. He wants to make sure that I am prepared to take his place when it's time. Which I hope is many years of us working together before he steps down.

I was finishing breakfast, the flavor of the sausage melting on my tongue, when the cinnamon smell hit me. How was I going to go on an adventure because of this smell while being babysat by Beta Lucas? I had to come up with a plan, quickly.

"Alina, now that you have finished, I do have a matter to attend to. Would you like to escort me?" Lucas asked.

I could feel the smugness rolling off of him as he knew he was my escort for the day. "Beta Lucas, how about you attend to your matter. I will stay in the house for 1 hour. I do have to get fully ready for the day. This will also give you the time you need." I really hoped my plan worked. I was crossing my fingers.

"You think of your Beta as a fool. I have watched you grow from birth. You can't sneak around me that easily. I shall wait outside your room for 15 minutes while you finish getting ready." And just like that, we were walking to my room. As we walked to the 3rd floor, my mind wandered to the smell again. Why is it captivating me so much? I kept thinking to myself.