Black Moon Pack

Chapter 2

Aaliyah POV

It had been a few days since graduation, and my brothers were going into full-on protective mode. It was sweet, but also kind of annoying. I mean, they had their new jobs and responsibilities, so why were they so fixated on keeping an eye on me? "Guys, seriously, I'm not a kid anymore. Take a chill pill and give me some breathing room," I told them, trying my best to hide my exasperation. I knew they cared, but sometimes they could be a bit overwhelming.

I reassured them, saying, "Aurora assured me that everything's fine. It's just my body gearing up for my 18th birthday and our first shift. She said it'll all make sense soon." Even though I had gained my wolf earlier than usual, I hadn't been able to shift yet. I had learned to trust Aurora's wisdom, even when my family had doubts.

With my birthday just around the corner, Bonnie and I had to get our act together and find the perfect gown for the Alpha Ball. Dom surprised me with his fancy new "Beta" credit card as an early birthday gift. It was sweet of him and Junior to spoil me a little. With their high-paying jobs at the Black Moon Firm, I could indulge a bit more than usual. I wasn't one for extravagant gifts, but treating myself to a shopping spree sounded like a fun way to celebrate.

I found myself torn between pursuing an internship at the firm or diving headfirst into training and pack business. It was one of those tough decisions that came with almost being 18. I wish Aurora could give me some advice, but lately, she had been pretty exhausted and kept to herself. She mentioned something about new beginnings and being ready to shift, but then retreated into the depths of my mind to recharge. Guess I'll have to figure things out on my own for now.

"Shopping?" I texted Bonnie, and within two seconds, her response came in, "I'll honk when I'm outside." Pumped up, I threw on some casual clothes and within 15 minutes, Bonnie was blaring her horn outside. "I'm out! Love you guys!" I yelled to my family and dashed out the door. Dom was swamped with his Beta duties at work, and Junior was at home, keeping an eye on Mom and me. "Damn, B, it feels amazing to breathe real air. My damn brothers won't stop smothering me," I vented to Bonnie as I hopped into her car. She gave me a tight hug, cranked up our favorite tunes, and the radio filled the car with dope beats. Holy s**t, I missed my ride-or-die bestie, even though I had just seen her a couple of days ago.

After an exhilarating ride and singing our hearts out, we arrived at the mall. Nails first, then hair, and finally, the hunt for the killer dress. Gia, our girl, hooked us up with fabulous pedis and manis. Feeling fresh, we headed to the hair salon. I went for baby pink nails, while Bonnie rocked fiery red, always bold as f**k, just like her personality.

Entering the hair salon, we were greeted by an intern with glasses of bubbly. Bonnie suggested I go for a stylish haircut to embrace my womanhood before my birthday. I said, "f**k it, let's do it." Bonnie got all excited and bombarded the hairdresser with instructions. I was scared shitless. After what felt like an eternity, the hairdresser spun me around to face the mirror. I cautiously opened my eyes and was pleasantly surprised. My hair had a sassy, face-framing style with badass blue-black.

Doms POV

Man, I couldn't believe how far I'd come. Being the Alpha's Beta and second in command at the firm was no small feat, and it filled me with gratitude. But amidst all the success, there was one mission that still tugged at my heart—to protect my little sister.

It all started two years ago when my world turned upside down. I overheard my parents arguing, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Aaliyah, my baby sister, wasn't my full sister. Turns out, during a rough patch, my mum had slept with some random wolf, and she was the result. It shattered my trust in my mom, but it didn't change how I felt about Aaliyah. I would do anything to keep her safe, even give up my life. From that day on, it was a secret Ryder, my wolf, and I vowed to keep.

This strained my relationship with my mother, and I knew I had to take control of my own destiny. I used my legal and business expertise to climb the ranks at the firm, and to my surprise, Alpha Aaron himself chose me as his Beta. The responsibilities were immense, but Junior and I managed the business effectively in Aaron's absence. Still, we needed better organization and structure, and I mulled over the idea of hiring an Office Manager or even considering candidates from our pack's warriors.

While Junior and I eagerly awaited the arrival of our fated mates, we hoped that joining the Black Moon Pack would bring us the love we longed for. We were ready to embrace those unbreakable bonds that completed us. But my main concern was Aaliyah, on the verge of turning 18 and experiencing her first shift. With Aaron's approval, I made special arrangements at the Pack house, ensuring a safe and comfortable space for first-time shifters. I wanted her transition into our pack to be smooth and filled with support.

Aaliyah was everything to Junior and me. We were overbearing and overprotective as older brothers, but we had to be. We had no knowledge of why she gained her wolf so early & with our absent father, it was our duty to shower her with love and care. Honestly, I also wished for a break from my mother's constant pestering about grandpups.

In the midst of my responsibilities as the Alpha's Beta and my role as a protective brother, I longed for true happiness and fulfillment for our family.

Flashback Graduation night

"Junior, something's not right with Aaliyah lately. I can sense it. Keep a close eye on her and try to work from home more often. I'll talk to Aaron about it when he arrives," I communicated to Junior through our telepathic connection. We shared a silent understanding of the gravity of the situation. But despite the worry, I resolved to keep our family safe without losing myself to excessive concern.

Aaliyah was different from anyone we knew. Her wolf spirit awakened earlier than most, and since then, it became our mission to shield her from any harm. As I embraced my role as the Beta of the esteemed Black Moon Pack, I found solace in the hope that I could provide her with the protection she deserved. "Don't worry, we've got her," reassured Ryder, my loyal inner wolf, with unwavering determination in my thoughts.

Present Day

"Hello Alpha Aaron, great to finally see you face to face again. How was the flight from Italy?" I greeted him with a warm smile, a small nod and extended my hand. This guy was tall as hell, almost 6'6". "Hey, man, good to see you too. The flight was long as f**k, but I'm glad to be back in LA. By the way, from now on, call me Aaron. None of that formal stuff, unless it's official pack business," Aaron replied, radiating a laid-back vibe that was a breath of fresh air. I couldn't help but wonder how he stayed cool during those mind-numbing meetings that could have easily been emails. Definitely not looking forward to more of those, that's for sure.

"I've been thinking, at the Alpha Ball, it's time to officially initiate you and your family into the Black Moon Pack. And if anyone else wants to join, they'll have their chance. What do you think?" Aaron's proposal caught me off guard, but he wasn't finished. His words carried the weight of authority. "I wanted to ask you directly. I want Junior to be my Gamma. Both of you have proven yourselves in the company, and I already see you as part of my family. I've spoken to my father, and he's ecstatic that I've chosen you as my Beta, the second in command, and Junior as the CFO and Gamma. So, what do you say, brother?" Aaron's statement hit me like a force of nature. After all the blood, sweat, and tears we poured into our work, it was surreal to find ourselves in this position.

"Yeah, man, that's an awesome idea! I've already invited my sister and mother to join us tomorrow night. I hope that's cool," I replied, my excitement and gratitude shining through. "And as for Junior, we'd be honored to join the ranked family. I think it'd be epic if you announced it during our initiation. He'll go nuts, in the best way possible." I couldn't contain my joy. Aaron chuckled and agreed to make the announcement, and we delved into the last-minute preparations for the ball. Thank the goddess, most of it was sorted out already. We'd been working on this event for the past six months, and things were falling into place. I just needed to make sure the Pack house renovations were finished according to Aaron's requests and that his office at the firm was set up to his liking. After all, he was now the Alpha and CEO of the Black Moon Firm.