Sapphire’s Second Chance

The decision

Starlight growled gently deep in he throat. What is it Starlight?” asked Sapphire.

Starlight hesitated for a while, then she spoke slowly and carefully, picking her words with care. “I think we have a duty to our pack, to our pack brothers and sisters, to our kingdom and to the moon goddess. We have failed them all, we cannot just go now. We have to be prepared to fight for all that is right, no matter what the cost. We already know what the cost is to us if we don’t fight and it could hardly be greater. We have nothing left to lose my love and much to gain. I know it will be hard but we have each other. We can fix this. You are stronger than you know and so am I. We need this chance to be as we should have been to heal.”

Sapphire smiled weakly “you are so wise my wolf. No wonder I was so lost without you” her eyes filled with tears. She paused “if you heart is in this, then mine must be too. I am with you. We are a team. I won’t fail you again.”

Sapphire hugged Starlight to her.

The two figures watched them.

“Are you sure my children?” asked the Moon Goddess.

“Yes” they said clearly and together.

“Then you will go with my blessing” the Moon Goddess walked towards them, almost blinding them with the ethereal light that came from her. She bent over them and kissed each of them on the forehead leaving a slight silvery mark. “This will help protect you.”

The man studied them for a moment. “You are brave” he said “to go when you know what may lie before you. My sister has given you all that she can but let me give you this.” The Moon Goddess looked surprised as he raised his hand then seemed to throw a small ball of light at each of them.

It felt hard as it hit them and then seemed to disappear inside them burning slightly as it did so. “You don’t need to worry” he said, “it may help you in times of need”.

“Go now my children and be strong, bring peace to your world.” said the Moon Goddess and before Sapphire or Starlight could say or ask anything further everything went black for what seemed to be a long time.

Then there was loud cheering “oh no” thought Sapphire. There she was again in her beautiful red mating ceremony dress, standing on the platform with Darin in front of both their packs. The anticipatory knot she remembered in stomach was still there, now worse than she remembered. She looked at Darin who stood by her side smiling at his pack, his face seemed crueller somehow, but that was probably just because she knew exactly what he was now. She had no illusions about her chosen mate. She felt sick.

Now what Star? she whispered to her wolf inside her mind.

Now we do things differently came the confident reply we need to be an Alpha, we need our own pack.

How? Sapphire asked, then Darin grabbed her hand and said to the crowd” Now let’s celebrate” as he pulled her back down the aisle with him into the packhouse where she knew there would be a feast waiting and many hours of congratulations and dancing to come.

“I just need a moment” she said to Darin as they entered the pack house, flashing him a smile and pulling her hand out of his. He barely looked at her as she quickly slipped upstairs to the spare room where she had got ready for the mating ceremony, a lifetime ago. Her old clothes were there as if she had only stepped out of them, which in a sense was true.

She needed a moment to think, she needed a plan, one that would avoid Starlight being chained forever. Was Starlight right? Did she need to be Alpha? How could she do it? Women weren’t Alphas but maybe there could be a way…

The room was a large guest room decorated neutrally in shades of white with large French windows opening out onto a balcony that overlooked the beautifully maintained pack gardens. Sapphire collapsed into one of the large overstuffed chairs looking out of the windows thinking furiously, and slowly she began to smile.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts “come in” she called.

Her father walked in “How are you my Little Wolf. I thought I’d find you here.” He was so handsome, tall, well built with black hair streaked with silver and grey/green eyes surrounded by laughter lines. You could tell by looking at him what a kind man he was Sapphire thought.

Sapphire’s heart felt full to bursting, in her last life he had died shortly after the mating, attacked by rogues. It left their old pack weak and Darin had competed for the title of Alpha and had won, joining their packs fully together. Life with Darin got a whole lot worse after her dad died. How she’d missed him, it felt as if he was the only one had ever really loved her. She jumped up and flew into his arms. “Daddy Wolf” she used her childhood name for him unconsciously, if only she could avoid his death too…

He hugged her tightly back. “I love you Little Wolf, now is the start of your big adventures. I am so proud of you. I can’t wait to see the magnificent Luna you will become. Don’t hide up here. Come down and celebrate with your pack my Little Wolf.”

“Dad” she began hesitantly “ I thought this was what I wanted, marriage to Darin and to become his Luna but now I’m wondering if it is really for me?”

“It’s been a big day Little Wolf, and I can understand that it has been a little overwhelming but just give it a chance. Darin is a good Alpha and I am sure he will be a good mate too.”

“But what if he isn’t Dad? What then?”

“He will be Little Wolf and don’t forget I’m here for you.”

“Dad….I’ve been thinking maybe I could take over as Alpha in our pack after you?”

“Little Wolf, I know you can do anything, but I don’t think you are as strong as a male Alpha. That’s why female Alphas tend to just have a Luna position.”

“But what rule says I can’t Dad?”

“There isn’t one Little Wolf, it’s just biology. You won’t be able to compete with a male Alpha, I know Starlight is exceptionally just as big but as fighters you aren’t as strong.”

“But what if we could be Dad, what then?”

“Well then..” he paused …”I suppose you could be” he said doubtfully.

“Dad, I’ll take that, could you put something in our pack rules to say that if there is an Alpha challenge the strongest wolf, male or female, can take over as Alpha?”

“I can Little Wolf, but how will that help if you’re not strong enough?”

“Well that’s down to me, but as least if I am there will be no block.”

Her Dad laughed, “Ok Little Wolf, anything for my girl.” He hugged her more tightly, “come on, let’s go back down you need to be at your own party.”

He held the door open for her. “Good work Saff” said her wolf. “Step 1 of the plan Star, partially complete. We will do this.”

She followed her father down the stairs thinking about Step 2 of the plan she had hastily put together. Maybe it could work…