Breaking Chains

Party Crashers

I couldn't believe how many people were there just to meet me and welcome me home. I decended the stairs and was introduced to Alphas and Betas from at least 3 different packs. The Delta Range pack, the Harvest Moon pack and the Evergreen pack. I had already met the Beta of the Delta Range pack, Ashton, who gave me a shy and apologetic look when I extended my hand to him for a hand shake. "Nice to see you again Michelle." " You too. Why didn't you tell me you were the Beta of your pack?" "Whenever I introduce myself as the Beta people tend to give me a wide birth because I hold an authorative role. I don't want anyone to be afraid to get to know me just because I am a high ranking member of my pack." "That's fair. Your Alpha seems like a really nice guy." "He is. He is my older cousin on my father's side. His father was Alpha before him, and he is every bit as amazing an alpha as his father was, maybe even better. He has built schools closer to the pack house so it is easier for us to blend in. We own a rather large chunk of land and have pretty much built a town for the pack on that land. The original pack house and most of the family housing was destroyed during a rouge attack during his father's time as Alpha. That attack cost him his life and my aunt's life. They died protecting the pack house where all the children were." "That's so sad. I'm so sorry for your loss Alpha." "You can Ryan. We are all friends here right?" "Right! Thank you so much for coming and welcoming me back home." "We are glad to be here", replied Ashton. Once I had met everyone we all gathered around the tables in the garden for dinner. The people at my table consisted of my Aunt Lana and Uncle Matthew, Aaron and the rest of the gang." Matthew stood up and tapped his spoon on his champaign flute to signal for everyone to be quiet. "Tonight is a very special night. My niece has finally returned to her pack and has already become acquainted with her wolf. For someone who has been through so much and has very few memories of who we are, Michelle has not shown us any sign of fear or mistrust. She came back to us with her heart and mind open to what she might be able to learn from us. She has proven herself to be a capable fighter and a compassionate individual. So, I ask you to raise your glasses in celebration as we welcome Michelle home and grace her with her rank in our pack. To Michelle, may she be a warm light that helps to heal our world."

Echos of my uncle's toast rose up from all around me. I stood and curtsied as best I could in pants and Aunt Lana came to stand beside me and took both my hands in hers. "It has always been a tradition for our kind to have a mated pair be the Alpha and Luna of our pa. k. Tonight we set a new tradition. Aaron, my son, you were always meant to follow your father as Alpha when we either stepped down willingly and of our own accord or whether it be because we have joined the Moon Goddess in the next life. We couldn't be more proud of the man you have grown into. We know that you will keep this pack strong as Alpha, but who can you trust at your back helping you make important decisions and planning battle strategy when needed? Who will be by your side no matter how much of an ass you may be in the moment. Through out history we have seen mated pairs in the Alpha and Luna ranks wreek havoc on their pack members just because they were having problems in their relationship. In order to protect our pack and everything we hold dear, we name Michelle as the next Luna of the Midnight Mist pack." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I looked at Aaron and saw he had a wide, cheeky smile on his face. He knew about this and didn't tell me?!, I screamed in my head. Seeing the frustration on my face he started to laugh. Right as I was about to punch him in the arm for being a jerk I heard a familiar voice. It was my former master.....The Crimson Duke! "Hello again Michelle. I see you are doing quite well after leaving my estate. I'm happy to see that." "What the hell are you doing here?", roared Matthew from beside me. " You announced your successors tonight. I wouldn't miss that for the world. You know how much familial bonds mean to me."

The sound of his voice set my teeth on edge. Aya growled in the back of my mind begging to be let loose to tear his head off. I , took a deep breath to steady myself. I just bought this outfit, I really didn't want to ruin it by shifting right here. " Family bonds don't mean s**t to you asshole!" shouted Aaron and Ryan at the same time while Ashton came to stand in front of me like a sheild. " You are the reason my parents are dead along with countless others in your pursuit to try to rule all the packs as a king." I stepped out from behing Ashton and looked the cold bastard standing before me right in the eyes. " You killed my parents and then kidn*pped me when I was just a child. An innocent, helpless child. You beat me, abused me and lied to me the whole time. I didn't even know I had a family or what and who I was all my life because of you. And after all that the only thing I wanted was to never have to see you or your evil family ever again. Why did you come here?" " I wanted to see if the rumors were true. I wanted to see if the pathetic little whelp of a girl that I kidn*pped and tried to break really did in fact find her wolf. Basically, I wanted to see if you were finally useful to someone for a change." As he spoke those final words he flashed me a wicked smile that made my skin crawl. "You really want to know?", I asked already preparing to shift. The outfit be damned, this guy needed to be taught a lesson. " If you really wanna know, follow me." I started to walk towards the training grounds. Everyone in attendance followed my lead leaving the Duke to bring up the rear. Once we entered the training grounds I looked at my opponent and said in a sharp and dangerous voice, " I hope you made peace with the Goddess because you will be meeting her soon." He smiled and replied, " Is that so? We will see who comes out of this victorious. Many have tried to kill me. All of them failed. What makes you so sure you will be the one to send me to meet the Moon Goddess?" " I really hate you. That's why." "I'm going to enjoy breaking your bones again." " Mine won't be the ones broken old man." With those last words said we began circling each other. Aya spoke up from deep inside me. This time he is the one that dies! Let's get this rat bastard Michelle. For your parents and everyone else who has been hurt by this monster. " You got it.", was all I said in reply and once I had finished that statement in my head Aya took over and we shifted. Our souls coming together in one form ready to take down our advisary.