Luna Sky

  Chapter One  The grass was cold under her feet. The cool night air swept through her long chocolate brown hair. She knew the way. She had been this way before, many times. She reached the edge of the lake sooner this time. The reflection of the moon gave the quiet lake a magical glowing effect. She took a step closer and peered into the surface of the water. Staring back at her was her wolf, Aria. Her dark brown fur shimmered in the water. Her brilliant blue eyes seemed to glow. As always, the water next to her reflection began to change. Slowly the face of a wolf as black as night began to take form. She watched as the hauntingly beautiful emerald green eyes came into view. Those eyes, she was indeed under the spell of those eyes. She knew she would follow them anywhere. They seemed to look into her soul. Without realizing what she was doing, she reached towards the face.            BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! Sky slapped her alarm, hard. Every time she said with a groan, every time. She had that dream many times. Recently, it has been becoming more vivid. She was fourteen when she started having the dream years ago. She wondered if her eighteenth birthday approaching was causing it to be more frequent. She did not want to stop having this dream. Those eyes, those emerald, green eyes hypnotized her, and she did not want it to end.            “Come on, sleepyhead! We are going to be late! Again!” Daphne, Sky’s best friend, announced as she jumped on Sky. They had been friends since they were born. They were both born on the same day in the same hospital. They would both turn eighteen in a few days. Their mothers gave birth only a few minutes apart. Sky was older by three minutes. Daphne used this information to decide Sky was the oldest, so she had to be the one to keep them out of trouble. “Sky, Let’s go!” Daphne called through the door.            “I am coming,” Sky answered. She pushed the blanket aside and threw her legs over the edge of her bed. Today was going to be filled with preparations. All the pack members would be preparing for the Mate’s Ball. Her pack, the Moon Storm pack, was hosting the ball this year. The Mate’s ball brought the wolves, who were eighteen together, to try to find their mate. Four packs took part in the ball as well as taking turns hosting it. The packs included the Moon Storm pack, the Eclipse pack, the Lunar Light pack, and the most notorious, the Moon Warriors pack. The Moon Warriors pack was as mysterious as it is notorious. They came to the ball every year but did not become involved in the festivities. They sent their young wolves as well as a few adults to watch over them. This year, Alpha’s son was turning eighteen. He would be coming to the ball to find his mate and Luna. He was supposed to find his mate before he could become Alpha. The Moon Warriors pack was one of the only packs that had not abandoned the tradition.            “Sky!’ came Daphne’s voice breaking through her thoughts. “I am going to break down the door if you are not out here in two minutes. Evan is waiting for us!”            “OK, I am coming!” She put on her favorite pair of faded jean shorts. They hugged her hips and made her feel like she was wearing PJs. She threw on her black sports bra and her favorite pink tank top. Daphne always told her it made her boobs look good. She swept her dark chocolate brown hair into a messy ponytail while opening the door. Daphne was standing there, arm raised, ready to knock again. She put her arm down as she gave her best friend a look.            “Sky, don’t you want to dress up a little? At least change shoes. Please. For me, your best friend in the whole world,” Daphne asked, batting her eyes. “We are going shopping, not training.” She let out an exasperated sigh.            “What’s wrong with my boots? I love my combat boots! Plus, what if I need to fight someone while we are out?” giggled Sky.            Daphne gave her a look. “If you were running around in the woods, or running through mud, it would be fine, but to go shopping? Please wear heels or at least cute sneakers,” pleaded Daphne. “I know you have your own style, but we are shopping for the Mate’s ball. This is special”. She flashed Sky the same pleading look whenever it came to asking Sky to change something.            “Fine, but you are only getting sneakers. If I were heels out shopping, my feet would fall off.”            “DEAL!” squealed Daphne, clapping her hands and smiling excitedly at her best friend. Sky giggled. She never understood why Daphne worried so much about what she wore. Daphne had a superb sense of style. She was taller, 5 foot 8 to be exact, with long perfect legs that went on forever, a slim feminine build with perfect curves where they needed to be, and long wavy blonde hair which gave the illusion she had spent the day at the beach, her hazel eyes were full of mischief and guys could never say no to those eyes.  Sky was not as tall. She only stood 5 foot 4. She had always been told she was pretty. Her wavy dark chocolate brown hair fell to her waist. She had high cheekbones, full pouty lips, and an average build. One night, Evan said she had roller-coaster curves that would make any guy want a ride. He still did not know she had heard him. Her legs were shorter but more muscular than Daphne’s. Her eyes were her best asset. The striking blue color was brighter than a sapphire. When she was born, her mother said, “her eyes are bluer than the sky”. That is how she got her name.            A car horn shattered the silence. Both girls looked at each other and giggled as they ran out the door of Sky’s room. Evan was now knocking on the front door. He had grown up with them even though he was a year older. Bounding down the stairs. Daphne reached the door first. Throwing it open to reveal Evan looking suave as usual. “Where’s Sky?” He asked.            “Hello to you too” quipped Daphne.  “I am right here!” squeaked Sky, opening the door wider. “Sorry I took so long. Are we all ready to go?” “Lead the way,” Evan said, stepping back from the doorway. He watched Sky walk towards the car. “Close your mouth, you are drooling, again” Daphne snickered. “She still has no idea you like her, but she will if you don’t keep your tongue in your mouth.” Daphne gave him an annoyed look. “Ok, ok, let’s go” he replied pulling the door shut behind him and heading to his black BMW.            Sky was in the front passenger seat; Daphne was in the back, right behind her. They were talking about the Mate’s Ball. Evan slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “To the mall ladies?” he asked as if he didn’t already know they were heading there. He did not wait for an answer. Backing out of the driveway, he put the car in gear and sped off towards the mall.            It was a short drive to the mall. He parked the car and got out. He ran around to the passenger side of the car. First, he opened Daphne’s door. Then he opened Sky’s door and held out his hand. “Always such a gentleman,” she giggled.            “Why thank you, madame,” he said with a faux British accent and his typical sly grin. Sky smiled up at him. Evan was easy on the eyes, to say the least. He was 6 foot 4 with a muscular build. He had a body that modeling agencies fought over. His sandy blonde hair fell carelessly in his eyes. His sun-kissed skin and dark brown eyes matched perfectly with his strong features. He easily could have been a model. Evan was nineteen and going to the Mate’s Ball again this year. He had gone to last year’s Mate’s Ball when he was eighteen but had failed to find his mate. This was not uncommon. If one mate had not come of age yet, the other mate would have to wait. Usually, if the mate had not been found by the time the wolf turned 21, scheduled visits to other packs would be made to look for the mate. The Moon Goddess always gave wolves mates. It was her gift to them. Sky wondered what Evan’s mate would look like. She would be a lucky girl whoever she is.            The piercing Emerald Green eyes from her dream flashed across her mind. Thinking about the Mate’s Ball always made her think of the handsome wolf with those amazing eyes. Was he, her mate? She always believed the dream meant something. She felt a warm hand gently intertwine fingers with hers. She looked up at Evan. “Ready Lovey?” he asked, gently pulling her towards the mall entrance. Sky giggled, looking up at Evan, “ Yes, let’s go.” Evan smiled and gave her a wink.            Daphne had reached the door first. She was excitedly bouncing back and forth while holding the door open for them. “DRESSES!” We have to find dresses! Once we find the perfect dresses, everything else falls into place.” Sky groaned. Daphne looked good in everything, but Sky was more self-conscious and was never sure if it was right or not. Evan was watching her with a strange look that she could not decipher. He knew what she was thinking. Leaning in close to her, he whispered “Stop worrying, you look amazing in everything.”            He always knew what to say to put her at ease. She was not sure this boutique would have what she was looking for. Suddenly Daphne reappeared with her arms full of gorgeous dresses. “Come on Sky, half of these are for you! Let the fun begin!” Daphne’s excitement was contagious. Sky flashed Evan her beautiful smile and skipped off to the changing rooms with Daphne.            Evan was sitting waiting. Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. His wolf gave a low growl which resonated deep in his chest. He turned to look out the shop window. His eyes scanned the area before falling on the source of his discomfort, Caleb, Gideon, and Dash. They were from the Moon Warriors pack. Caleb was the son of Alfa Dean Mason. Dash and Gideon were at the Mate’s Ball last year. Both had failed to find their mates. He recognized Caleb as he bore a striking resemblance to his father. He had already begun to get a reputation as being just as cold and ruthless. Caleb was tall, built, and oozed confidence. He had jet-black hair, which accentuated his olive skin, perfectly sculpted, a strong, perfectly chiseled jaw, but what made him stand out the most was his deep-set emerald, green eyes that gave the illusion they were glowing. He got those from his mother, the Luna of Moon warriors’ pack. Luna Cherub was stunning. She had an old-time beauty that could be compared to Marilyn Monroe. She was indeed a classic beauty with eyes that added an extra bit of wow when you looked at her.            Evan had never met Caleb, but Dash and Gideon had been so rude and obnoxious that he assumed Caleb possessed the same demeanor. As the threesome walked, the girls stopped to stare, and some turned to follow the trio. Evan couldn’t help but think the girls following them seemed like lost puppies. Maybe they were good-looking, but looks were not everything.            “What’s wrong?” Sky asked, gently touching Evan’s arm. He jumped. “Sorry, I was just… wow,” Evan stammered “You look absolutely stunning.” He could see her blush. She looked breathtaking in the tight-fitting black mini dress. The halter top allowed her perfectly sculpted shoulders and arms to show as they moved. It accentuated her petite frame so perfectly that he would have believed it was made especially for her. “I guess you like it?” Sky asked, still blushing.            “Yup, I did it again!” Daphne stated as though she was a top fashion pro. “I knew that one would be perfect! And on the first try too! Damn, I am good.” Evan rolled his eyes at her. “Who is that?” she asked, looking past Evan into the mall corridor.            Evan turned to look. Caleb had stopped and was now staring at Sky. His friends had stopped too but were busy talking to some swooning girls. Caleb was ignoring all of them but continued staring intently at Sky. He was scanning her body with a hungry look on his face. He licked his bottom lip before taking a few steps towards the shop. Sky was mesmerized. She could not tear her gaze away from the green-eyed man standing across the corridor from her. “I think you found your dress,” Daphne said, breaking her trance. “Yes, I think so,” she answered her friend. Looking back at where Caleb had been standing, he was gone. Sky and Daphne paid for all their things, then as they walked towards Evan, Sky noticed the agitation on his face. He looked like he was ready to attack someone. “Hey, Evan, are you ok?” Sky asked the worry obvious in her voice. He had been very quiet since noticing Caleb watching her. She knew he was very protective of her, but she didn’t think someone looking at her would make him so upset. She worried that he was starting to develop feelings for her. She had thought maybe she was imagining it because he hadn’t found his mate yet. Some wolves dated before finding their mates. Sky was not one of them. She was holding onto all her firsts so she could share them with her Goddess Given mate. Her first kiss, her first time, and her first and only love. She knew it would be worth the wait. Everyone wanted to find their mates. She could never say she didn’t love Evan. She did a lot. She loved him as her friend and as the big brother she never had. She did not love him the way he seemed to love her. She slowly let out a sigh, realizing how hurt he would be when she found her mate.