Twelve Full Moons

Chapter 1- The Wulfgars Future Alpha

Tamaska, a descendant of the Wulfgar clan, was a fine young lady. She was next in line to be the alpha of the pack her father led.

But the worst thing she had ever experienced being born a girl, was the discrimination she received from the other male alphas in their clan.

She was in her room watching the birds chirping and landing on the balcony of her room.

“Lady Tamaska-…”

Tamaska turned to look at the person who called her. "I thought I made it clear to you Nymeria that you have to call me Tammy. Tamaska is too long and please, I am not a princess to be called a lady.”

Nymeria, her bodyguard, was her future beta. They grew up together being in the same pack and clan. But Nymeria’s family belonged to the second class of the pack.

“I’m sorry, I just need to get used to it. You are turning 18 and could not be more respectable. You’re going to be the next leader of the clan and I should be at your service.”

Tammy rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to the birds. She threw some pellets for them to eat on the floor of the balcony.

“I wish I just turned into a bird that doesn’t live in a cage. Life would be more meaningful,” Tammy said.

“But you’re not, so you have to live the life that the creator gave you. In the last millennia, we have lived a perfect life because of your father, and the clan thanks him for that. You will do the same,” Nymeria said as she sat on the bed beside Tammy.

Tammy was not sure what she wanted. But certainly not the throne of her father. After so many generations, she would be the first to sit and be called the Alpha Queen for the members.

For the first time in the history of Wulfgars, a girl was born into the royal family.

Her father, Boris, was a great man. Too kind of a man to be fighting enemies left and right. He was the first alpha to venture into technology, something the old alphas were so afraid of. But Boris took the risk and built the greatest company of all time.

Tamaska Holdings, Boris named his company after his only daughter. The sole heir of all his belongings. If her father was proud to have her, Tammy was rather conscious and pressured to be the heir because she knew her gender would be the main hindrance for her to earning such respect from the alphas that would be under her.

“Would I? A female heir,” Tammy let out a fake smile, “When I was born the alphas have all concluded that I will fail as a leader.”

Nymeria knew how much Tammy doubted her abilities, and as her best friend and protector, she promised to be always there to remind her that her gender was never the problem.

“What did I tell you before?” she asked Tammy.

Tammy turned to her as she stood up and went to the balcony. The overlooking view of Mount Orion was beautiful.

“I know, it’s just that I doubt I would last a day making amends to the misogynistic male alphas that try to dethrone me.”

Nymeria chuckled. “We’ll feed them wolf’s bane if needed.”

A sudden knock on the door was heard. And both ladies stood up in surprise.

“It’s open,” Tammy said.

The door opened only to reveal the alpha of the Wulfgars, Sir Boris. He was Tammy’s father.

“Hello dear, oh,” he waved his hand to Nymeria, “Hello Nymeria, I expected you to be here. I just want to tell you, Tamaska, that you need to prepare for dinner with the Wolfgangs.”

Tammy frowned as she walked towards her father. “Why? The Wolfgangs? What do we need from them?”

Boris is not too old of a man yet, but his silver-colored beard made him look like he is already past his prime. He had been the leader of the Wulfgars' packs for a very long time and had maintained peace throughout it.

He is tall, probably seven feet, and has well-toned muscles. His perfect jawline is always the first people notice about him. But his personality always stood out.

The Wulfgars were known for being loyal and Boris created that impression to all the other packs. He did that to make peace but not with the Ulmers. Weirdly, there was this innate anger that these two families felt.

But Boris tried his best to avoid such wars against the Ulmers so he trained the Ulmers under him to be better people. No matter how bad the Ulmers were in their eyes, they should trust the boundary that Boris built to protect them.

“We’ve discussed this, my dear. You are to wed their sole heir, Rafe Wolfgang. Did I not makes that clear to you before?” Boris whispered to Tammy.

“No!” Tammy shouted.

She never knew about her father’s plan to make her marry someone she did not know.

“But father, when you asked me to be your heir when your council disagreed with that decision, I still said yes! Even when it was my birthright to be your heir and your stupid alphas want to disinherit me! But marriage?!” Tammy’s voice was undeniably loud.

Nymeria on the side bowed her head. She knew Tammy was truly angry if she shouted at her already.

Boris closed his eyes, trying to control his anger toward his child. He knew she was going to hate him about this. The truth was it was an unannounced engagement.

“Alright, but I still want you to meet him. He’s a wonderful man and about your age. He goes to your school to take the same course. So it wouldn’t be hard to get to know him,” he tried to convince her.

Tammy shook her head and pushed her father to the door. “I will think about it.”

Boris walked backward but suddenly a snarl of his wolf was heard and his eyes turned blood red. “You will come.”

His alpha wolf took over as his eyes changed and his voice roared like thunder. As an alpha of a powerful clan, he was indeed the symbol of force.

Tammy did not have a choice but nod at her father. It was part of the new tradition anyway. Finding one’s mate was not a thing anymore as it was already 2018.

Fixed marriage was the new trend, although also an old tradition to other families or the humans, to the werewolves it was the best option to expand power.

That night, Hollis, Tammy’s cousin, went to see Tammy in their mansion. All the other close relatives of the Wulfgars had to attend the engagement dinner for Tammy and the guy named Rafe.

Tammy wore her best dress. Her body was hugged perfectly by her red gown. Her pixie haircut helped emphasize her chiseled jawline and other strong features.

But her feminine smile was a winner plus her makeup by Nymeria emphasized her beauty.

Hollis helped her get ready for dinner. She was her only close cousin as they were the only girls in their generation. Tammy is the first-born girl and Hollis the second.

“Cousin, please smile,” Hollis suggested as she tapped Tammy’s cheek.

Tammy smiled a bit but her eyes were sad. “I do not want to get married, Hollis. You know that. Have you been betrothed?”

Hollis let out a fake smile. “ I am only 16 years old, Tamaska. I am not even allowed to be near men or boys.”

“What about your brothers?” Tammy asked.

“I do not allow them to be near me,” Hollis rolled her eyes. She was the youngest among her siblings.

While Tammy was an only child. “I cannot relate to that. The closest that I can be with men is with Nymeria.”

Nymeria rolled her eyes as she applied some eye shadow on Tammy’s eyelids. “I will pretend that I didn’t hear that.”

Tammy chuckled.

“There, cousin, wear that smile later. I heard Rafe is a nice man. I wouldn’t want some toxic man to marry you so I listened to my brothers when they talked about your engagement,” Hollis commented.

Tammy nodded. “For now, I don’t care if that man is nice or naughty. If he is worthy to be the partner of an heir, I will marry him.”

Hollis nodded in agreement. “There you go! You’re the queen we want, cousin. So be the queen we need!”

At dinner, Tammy sat beside Rafe. He was tan-skinned and had earthy brown eyes. His hair was curly and just sat as it was. But his smile was kind and humble.

“I am Tamaska, Lord Rafe,” she extended her hand to him.

Rafe blushed as he shook her hand. “Just Rafe, my lady. I see you in school. Would you prefer me to call you Tamaska or Tammy?”

Tammy smiled, humbled by his shyness. “Tammy, please, without the lady. If you’ve seen me in school then you know I am not a lady.”

“I am not a lord too,” he smiled and let out a silly face.

They both laughed the at curtsy formalities that they hated. For the first time, Tammy felt a little more connected to a man. Besides her father, this man in front of him was the second guy that she ever conversed with that made her smile.

“Well, I am glad you two are getting along,” Boris jerked his elbow on her side. “Lord Wolfgang, I hope this is the start of the good relationship between our families and packs. It’s an honor that you came here to join us.”

Rafe’s father laughed and raised his glass of wine.

Tammy glanced at Rafe and saw the embarrassment in his eyes.

“I am honored, Lord Wulfgar. Our clan will be honored to have your blood on ours.”

After dinner, Tammy and Rafe were asked to have a conversation alone so Tammy took him to the balcony from the great hall.

Rafe leaned his arms over the balcony rail. “I want to believe that you want this, Lady Tammy.”

Tammy chuckled. “No offense, Rafe, but you’re a good man. I just don’t like the idea of having a fixed marriage.”

Rafe nodded and smiled at her. “Me neither. Probably it would benefit our families but would it make us happy?

“Right,” Tammy had never thought about it if it would make her happy.

All she thought about was her refusal to marry someone she did not want to be with for the rest of her life but it did not come to her senses that if she married a stranger, it would make her miserable.

“I am sorry. I suppose it was my father who pushed this arrangement?” Tammy asked.

Rafe shook his head, his eyes filled with sadness. “I am not sure who among those two fathers. But all I see from this marriage is the power it would provide. We will merge two families who manage the biggest businesses in the world.”

“I know. Such a disappointment, isn’t it?” Tammy said sarcastically.

“It was nice meeting you, my lady,” Rafe smiled at her. Tammy felt the sincerity in his eyes.

She nodded politely. “As I am, my lord.”

The night lasted nicely. Meeting Rafe was not at all bad for her knowing he was a nice guy and they clicked immediately. It was a relief.

She stayed by her balcony and stared at the stars. In a daze, she imagined her life if she would marry Rafe for real. But she shook her head immediately after.

Tomorrow would be another challenge for her. The whole werewolf community was going to know about this news. Living amongst humans was another story but most of her schoolmates were werewolves.

Ever since a new era had risen, werewolves remained in disguise, and secretive about their true identity.

Living in 2018 was scary if they found out you are supposed to be a mythical creature. So their kind remained a secret.

But as she went to a school filled with wolves, they would keep her awake with all the congratulations she would receive.

“Oh my lord,” Tammy whispered in frustration.