Fangs and Eternal Bliss

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

“I can’t believe we’re moving back to Emerald Moon Pack mom. Like why?” I complain as I gaze out the window of our blue sedan. My mom sighs warily and manages to respond to me without taking her eyes of the road.

“Onyx, we’ve talked about this multiple times. You need to be around more wolves your age instead of a bunch of humans. You’re 18 and still haven’t shifted yet! I’m worried that being around humans is affecting your ability to shift,” she replies sternly, “being around wolves your age will be a good influence on you as well and maybe you’ll find a mate.” I groan at the mention of ‘mate’.

“Again with the mate talk, mom? I’ve told you before I’m just not interested in finding a mate! Guys my age are jerks to begin with anyways!” The car turns down a bumpy dirt path that is surrounded by familiar gorgeous mountains, fir trees, streams and babbling brooks.

“You never know hun. Things like mates just kind of sneak up on you when you least expect it. Besides your child best friend is here, I’d think you’d at least be excited to see her!” My mom exclaims. Cherri, my sweet, soft spoken best friend from my childhood. Damn I had missed her. It had been 4 years since we left Emerald Moon and moved to Red Moon pack.

“Mom, it’s been 4 years. Cherri probably won’t remember me and maybe she’s changed!” I sigh, thinking back to the days when young me and Cherri would sneak sweets from the kitchen and sneak out to swim in the lake at night.

“My, my always the pessimist, my dear,” my mom sighs as we pull into the driveway of my old childhood home, “at least the new Alpha was kind enough to keep our home for us in case we ever came back.”

“Oh goodie..” I mumble sarcastically then double take after hearing “new” Alpha, “wait, new Alpha?! Who’s the new Alpha and what happened to the old Alpha?” My mom cuts the engine of our sedan, sighing with a slightly annoyed expression on her face.

“Onyx, I’ve had just about enough of your attitude and yes new Alpha. Alpha Nathaniel is Alpha Emmett’s son. Alpha Emmet is getting up there in age and felt that that his son was ready to take the Alpha title.” My mom snaps, pinching the bridge of her nose between her pointer finger and thumb, a sign that she’s stressed.

“Oh so Alpha Emmett retired?” I ask, sheepishly, “also where’s dad?”

“Yes, he retired and it is well deserved! And your father? He’s talking to Alpha Nathaniel about your training schedule.”

“Training?! I have to train?” I exclaim as we both get out of the car as the moving truck pulls in against the curb, “but why?” My mother’s eye twitches in irritation.

“That is enough Onyx Sinclair Winters!” I hear my dad’s voice from behind me, “stop being a brat and giving your mother a hard time!” I jump and slowly turn to face my dad who is giving me a stern, scolding expression with his arms folded across his chest.

“Dad! Where’d you come from?!”

“Young Lady, your behavior is uncalled for! I understand that you’re upset that we moved back here but you don’t need to take it out on your mother!” My dad exclaims through our family mind-link as a pair of male movers haul a huge dresser into the house.

“Of course I’m upset dad! It’s the middle of my senior year! I’d already finished my senior project and now I don’t get to present it or get a grade on it! I worked so hard on it!” I snap at my dad, “how am I supposed to graduate from high school now?”

“For f*ck’s sake Onyx!” My dad sighs exasperated, “things don’t work like that here! You won’t need to do a senior project in order to graduate school on the pack lands.”

“Darling, we are back on pack lands so that means you’ll need to prove your strength with a spar against the Alpha at the end of the year and he’ll decide whether you get to graduate or not. That’s why your dad was setting up your training schedule with Alpha Nathaniel,” my mom explains, placing her hand on my shoulder, “your school back at Red Moon pack was blended so things were a bit different there.”

“It won’t be easy my daughter because you have a lot of training to catch up on but the Alpha was gracious enough to grant you and us a week to settle in and get used to our surroundings so your training starts early at 5am before school next Monday,” my dad chimes in gruffly. I sigh in defeat, knowing there was no use in arguing with my parents. I pull off the hair tie that I keep on my wrist and tug my long and curly tresses into a high ponytail and head to the moving truck to grab the boxes labeled “Onyx’s Room” full of my clothes, electronics, books and other items.

“Cheer up kiddo, you’ll get your old room back! You used to love drawing on the balcony attached to your room!”

“That’s true. That’s one pro of moving back here!” I exclaim and notice my parents giving each other sly looks.

“Hello Cherri!” My mom greets casually with a big grin on her face. I freeze then slowly turn and find that Cherri is standing right behind me with a potted blue passion lily that I knew she’d grown in her gardens in her hands and a beaming wide grin on her face that I couldn’t help returning.

“Onyx!” She squeals, bouncing on her toes, a sign that she is very very excited, “I can’t believe it! You’re back!” I run to hug her being careful to avoid the plant that she is holding and notice the red mark on her neck.

“You found your mate?! Oh my Goddess! Who is it?” I exclaim, unable to contain my excitement for my best friend. She blushes and returns my hug.

“I did find my mate! I found him last month! It’s Alpha Nathaniel!” Cherri sighs with a dreamy, love struck expression on her face, “hey! You’re 18 now! Did you shift yet?” I flinch and feel my face fall at her question.

“Oh no. I’m so sorry girl,” she says after I shake my head no, “you’ll shift eventually. I know you will.. just give it some time! You just turned 18 yesterday! I hope I get to shift into my wolf tomorrow!” I perk up and smile.

“Your birthday is tomorrow isn’t it? I’ll bet your wolf is as beautiful as you!” I gush, nudging her playfully, “maybe I’ll get lucky and we’ll get to shift together!” I could only hope I get my wolf at the same time as my best friend, “since your birthday is tomorrow.. how about I treat you to a birthday dinner at our favorite restaurant?” She hands the potted plant to my mom and then turns to me again with a big smile.

“I’d love that! Could I bring Nathaniel? I really want you two to meet!” She responds, bouncing on her toes.