Under the Light of the Full Moon

Against my better judgement

One hour earlier - Apollo's perspective

I hear a knocking at my door, and a sudden "honey, if you don't come down for dinner you're going to be hangry in the morning and i'm not dealing with your snark" my mother booms through the heavy doors. I roll my eyes, knowing she's right, and head to the door. It swings open and standing there with smiling eyes but furrowed eyebrows is my (reasonably, I must admit) concerned mother. "it won't be so bad honey, I know you know it's not her but the least you can do is come and be nice." Again, I roll my eyes and let out a small huff, bowing my head and following my mother down the stairs and into the dining room.

Dinner is in full swing, and loud. the packhouse is always so. f*****g. loud. And yet when I walk in there's silence, and I see her... she is beautiful I admit to myself, but... everyone always says there's this undeniable pull to your mate and I just don't feel it. 

I see a look of conflict in her eyes, and I wish - truly I do - that i could comfort her, mark her, see her as my mate and love her for eternity, but I just can't. It would be unfair to me and her both. I really hope she finds her mate, cause a life without a mate just seems so... shitty. Regardless, I sit down for dinner and eat despite basically no appetite. 

"Hey, a few of us are going on a run tonight, maybe out to the cliffs, wanna join?" Jay states, nudging me whilst the others laugh and chat all around us.

"I dunno man, you know I don't like going out on a full moon" I reply with a shrug. I don't know why, I always feel this desire in the pit of my stomach, and a tingle in my body every full moon to go out, but then something balls up in my throat and makes me think it'll be a bad idea, it's honestly very conflicting.

"oh come on, you never come out with us!" Jay then moves closer, speaking only in a whisper now "I need to tell you something, just please come with us" he looks at me pleadingly. He's been my best friend for as long as I've known, and he only looks at me like this when he really does need something.

Apollo, as the future leader of this pack, I demand you take your friends and our... guests - he gestures ever so slightly to my unlucky would-be suitor - out tonight. If she is not to be your mate and our next Luna, the least you can do is maintain our alliances. I shrug in response

"ok Jay, you got me. Everyone who would like to attend our run tonight, meet us out by the edge of the woods at 9pm." I push down the ball in my throat as hard as I can, and scan the room. Everyone looks so shocked and happy that I have chosen to go out tonight. Goddess, I hope this is a good idea.