Wolves and the Water

Chapter Two

The Coastal Red Wolves were very discreet. The royal family didn't travel with a protection detail like many of the other packs around the world. They tried their best to live simple, yet comfortable lives. No one in the pack needed or wanted for anything. No one was sick or hungry. They blended in. Like their fur to the sand and prairies they ran on. No one knew how large the pack truly was, and that was the way that they wanted it. Some of the wolves lived on the preserve in the Albemarle Peninsula to make the humans think there was an endangered species still present there, but most of them lived in houses that littered the coastline.

*****

After breakfast the girls hoped into a white Chevy Suburban with Autumn in the driver seat. Everything was already at the preserve except for them and the Luna dress. Autumn continued to eyeball it in the rearview mirror neatly tucked inside it's black casing. It would be a bit of a drive to get there. Usually, they would just hop on the boat and drive over, but Alpha Mitchell was touchy about him being the only one to man the rig. The girls let the time pass without too much to say. It felt like everyone in the car was holding their breath. Even the twins were unusually quiet. Especially, given that they were only 11. Her Mom patted her hand when she saw her gripping the steering wheel through white knuckles.

"Breathe Autumn. Everything will be fine." With that she switched on the radio and tried to drown out the silence.

They made it to the preserve in no time. Somehow the day had gotten away from her. It was already 6 when they arrived. The tournament was set for 8. Her luna ceremony at 12. Then...the hunt would begin. Autumn stared at the gathering pack and the large looming teepee ahead of her.

"Time to get ready my beautiful girl." Her Mom smiled at her brightly. Autumn could feel her forcing her calming effects on her through her water magic. She tried to push back out of pure anxiety, but without her wolf she wasn't strong enough to fight it. Her mind caved in to the Luna's tranquility. Soon Autumn was getting out of the car and carrying the Luna dress towards the teepee to get ready. Calm or not she was sweating bullets.

*****

Autumn stared at herself in the mirror. There were large lanterns illuminating the tent inside giving it a warm and cozy feeling and gave off a fiery glow. She couldn't believe her eyes. She, Autumn Elise Fairbanks, was in her Luna dress. She spared a small peek at her Mom and saw tears glistening in her eyes. When she looked back at the mirror the tears reflected in her own. She never felt more beautiful or more full of purpose until this moment.

Autumn's dark auburn hair cascaded down over her shoulders and back in long waves. She wore no makeup. Only her sun kissed skin and light freckles across her cheeks. Natural was the way that the Goddesses intended her to be. The dress was made from the elkskin that was once native to the preserve. It went just slightly above the ground. The entire top portion was covered in small beads and then shaded from white to deep blue symbolizing the sky meeting the ocean. It had small sleeves that covered only half of her biceps. The neckline was modest tracing from one collar bone to the other. The dress was made similar to a robe so that when she shifted it would be easy to remove and not damage. The belt across it was made from the underbelly of an alligator skin. It was white, and delicate and powerful. The bottom of the dress had feathers from every local bird that ever was or is living on their lands. And she was barefoot so that she could feel the sand beneath her feet when she pledged her life and loyalty to the Moon and Water Goddesses and her pack. Autumn was beaming with pride for her pack and for the Lunas that came before her. At that moment she vowed she would never let them down. She would always remain loyal to their traditions.

All of the fear she had before this moment washed away the second she saw herself in the Luna dress. She felt her wolf stretch inside her. Briefly she watched her eyes shift from blue to a golden sunset color. Her wolf was waking up in the presence of all of the elder Lunas before her.

"Hello Autumn." Her wolf spoke to her calmly, almost seductively. Drawing her in.

"I'll see you soon Princess."

Then her eyes flashed back to ocean blue. Autumn turned and looked at the female elders, mothers, and daughters and then she nodded.

"I'm ready."