The Luna's Contract

3. White Day Banquet

(CAMILLA)

Seven years ago, war ripped from my chest the two most precious people in my life. As the days, months, and years passed, the wounds healed. The memories still come back like a short film, flashing warm moments. From that day onwards, I vowed to myself to follow in my parents' footsteps, to make them proud when they looked down on me from heaven.

"Camilla, are you ready yet? It's time for us to go. Enough with the bath. Today is a special day." Aunt Mirabel's voice echoed from the first floor.

The scissors rustled all around, long yellow strands of hair falling on the dark brown bathroom tile. A blue gaze drifted towards the mirror, and a proud smile shone on my face. I looked completely different; the long golden hair that once reached my waist now draped messily at my shoulder.

Mirabel is not wrong, today is indeed a special day. The heart is pounding impatiently in my chest and my thoughts are a little worried. Today marks exactly eighteen years that I have walked this earth, breathing in the fresh air. That is not the only thing that makes me happy, there is a big celebration in the city that we are already late for.

Soon my fingers found the handle, a few steps towards the narrow wooden staircase leading to the first floor. Two dark brown eyes stared at me, surprise shining brightly in them, as my aunt looked at me.

"You look beautiful, my dear." Mirabel smiled broadly, her hand covering her wide smile in surprise.

A blush broke out on her cheeks, but it was barely hidden by the sheer make-up she was wearing. I walk down the stairs, feeling a warm summer breeze greet me as I walked through the door. A grey pebbled path led to a wooden gate leading to a small courtyard with rose bushes by the fence. With the jingle of keys in my aunt's hand, I make my way out of the yard, unlatched the gate, and walked along the path leading to the main street.

The sun shone high in the sky, sharing its warmth and rays, not a dark cloud in the clear sky. As I stepped forward, my heart danced the waltz in my chest, today I will finally be fully inducted into the Snow Pack Battalion Military Forces. Yes, I am Lieutenant Camilla Heins. For two long years, my assignments have been inside the pack, from this day on things change. Werewolves who can't change their form are not included in missions outside the pack.

My dear parents held high military positions, which is why I decided to follow in their footsteps. Fighting, determination, and adventure are in my blood. It's a bit silly that this pack only appreciates two types of werewolves: healers and warriors. Everyone else living here is poor and does what they know how to do. Living here, everything seems civilized, normal, the schools, the shops, the various machines. Although on closer inspection it seems that the Alpha position is occupied by primates who are all about wars, land, power, and honor. For ordinary inhabitants, the boundaries are very strict. Only soldiers, healers, and those bearing the Grey name and belonging to this bloodline can leave the confines of this pack.

"Camilla, are you worried?" Mirabel's voice shattered my thoughts.

I shook my head, giving my aunt a smile. My mother's sister Mirabel took me in, not wanting to leave me alone when I was eleven. According to the pack rules, orphans who lose their parents are pushed out of the pack and left to live alone. This woman saved my life. Mirabel is a respectable age, fifty-four, but she surprises me with her enthusiasm and energy. She lives in a large house, is a nurse, and has been doing this work for thirty-five years.

A narrow bend to the left, with a wide road ahead, leads directly to the base of the Snow Pack building, otherwise known as the "Dome", where all the important meetings, reports, legislation, and news take place. The whole road in front is decorated with huge red vases with white roses. A few familiar faces smiled pleasantly in silent greetings, everyone here knows each other, we are a friendly bunch. The most familiar faces are the werewolves from the same dignitary position, on my side, it's the warriors from Aunt Mirabel's nurses and doctors. All the others in lowly positions live in districts further away from the center. Today it doesn't matter, we are all equal and that puts a big smile on my face.

"Do you think you might meet your mate today?" Mirabel gently put her hand on my shoulder and her light honey brown eyes turned to my face.

"I'm not sure. My she-wolf shows no sign. I guess I'll have to wait for the night, after the first transformation there's a better chance of meeting my future husband." I shrugged my shoulders, casting a calm glance in my aunt's direction.

Mirabel blinked, then shook her head, disagreeing with my opinion. The corner of her lips lifted as she looked at the white walls of the main building, which was finally visible in the Horizon. Step by step the number of people around us grew, finally forming congestion, so many members of the community wanting to relax, celebrate and be free from the rules. First, there were a few words from the Snow Pack Alpha, who rarely appears in the public eye, then drinks, alcohol, dancing, and the main event a shared hunt allowing everyone to enjoy themselves.

The pace slowed down as we moved forward, Mirabel clung to my arm, not wanting to get lost in the crowd of people which grew with every step.

"Camilla." A familiar voice rang out somewhere ahead.

I followed the direction of the sound with a glance, a wide smile instantly appearing on my face. This girl keeps all the secrets of my life, laughs together until we burst into tears, and pulls all sorts of pranks. Light brown hair, green eyes, and sun-kissed skin. I met her a few years ago when I joined the army, and she is my brigadier general.

"Miss Grey, I will leave you alone. Have fun girls." Mirabel winked as she raised her hand in farewell.

"No need for formalities, it's the White Banquet today." Hazel said in a calm voice as she stood next to me.

Aunt Mirabel slowly disappeared into the crowd of people. Hazel found my hand squeezing tightly, and her green eyes stared into mine. I turned my gaze towards the building whose white columns were only fifty meters away. A wide white staircase led up to a building that looked enormous. My heart was pounding in my chest with the beauty and luxury it represented.

"I thought you would leave me alone." I glanced at Hazel, who was pacing nearby, lost in her thoughts.

"You are my priority. I promised to be there for you on your birthday, and for the first moment of your change into your wolf. You know I wouldn't break my promise for anything, it's disgraceful." Hazel shook her head, her chocolate hair dancing around.

"Did you do all the things you were supposed to do?" My eyebrow rose at the curiosity that bubbled inside my chest.

Yes Hazel Grey, this eighteen-year-old girl, my best friend and most loyal companion. A few passers-by stared at her, as if they couldn't believe she was among the common people. This is what this day is for, to be simple, wild, real. Most of the time, werewolves in increasingly high positions, or rather those who bear the Grey name, are rarely seen on the streets or in ordinary places. That is why so many of them keep glancing in our direction with a surprised look, and a little buzzing noise comes from the lips of passers-by.

A strong and warm summer wind suddenly blew, lifting the edges of my white dress and exposing my legs. Another gust, a strange smell touched my nose, and the she-wolf inside perked up her ears as if searching for something. My legs became stone, I couldn't move forward. Hazel glanced over her shoulder, a few lines etched into her high forehead and two question marks in her eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" Hazel's soft voice floated around.

The wolf in my chest was anxiously pressing forward, which is why my eyes turned amber, eagerly darting ahead as if searching for something. What is happening to me? I tore my foot away from the tiles, taking a firm step forward. As the wind picked up again, an incredibly relaxing smell reached my sensitive nose.

The scent of morning cut grass is so reminiscent of early walks in the meadows. The lemon notes mingled together and, on my tongue, I tasted a sour-sweetness similar to the honey tea I drink every morning. This scent relaxed every part of my body, my feelings seemed to be dancing the waltz in harmony. One word kept going round and round in my mind - mate.

"I can smell it. My mate, he must be here somewhere." My voice trembled with excitement, and my eyes, shining with impatience, fixed on Hazel.

"Camilla, this is wonderful. Follow the scent and keep looking, it's the only way to find him." Hazel smiled broadly as she quickened our pace.

I looked around for eyes to drown in. I stopped at every face looking in my direction or past me. I filled my lungs with air once more, and I was sure that the lemon note was still lingering around, betraying that he was here somewhere. My gaze stopped on the man standing on the stairs, it was him.

Short dark yellow hair reminiscent of a sunset, brown eyes like two chestnuts, white branded sleeves rolled up to his elbows exposing the bold tattoos. I am lost in his gaze, unable to tear my eyes away, and my heart skips a beat in my chest. My mouth was dry, my feet stuck in the tiles refusing to move forward. Thoughts resisted the image; it couldn't be true.

"Can you see him?" Hazel's voice forced myself to recover from the pull.

"Hazel, it's Alpha Conan, your brother." The silent words left my lips quivering.

Hazel's arms wrapped around my body in an instant, pressing hard against me. My body felt a little shocked, but my chest was full of butterflies at the mere thought that I had found the love of my life. As hard as it is to comprehend that this is Alpha Conan, how can it be true? But the pull doesn't fool me, the look in his eyes makes me feel free.

"Come on girl, it's time for you to meet." Hazel squeezed my hand as she stepped forward.

I could feel the muscles in my cheeks aching from the smile. How can I be part of all this? This is what my heart, the wolf inside me, and every part of my brain wants. It's pointless to resist fate, I guess. One step, the wind picked up, a million little shivers ran down my spine. A strong smell spread in the air, making my head spin pleasantly for no reason at all. A smell that was the exact opposite of the first one, a smell that was different.

The fresh smell of rain filled my lungs, and the memory of childhood running through puddles flashed in my mind for a moment. A strong note of salty seawater, restless, mingled with the freshness. The cold autumn evenings added to the combination of these scents, and the nostalgia in the air is palpable.

The corner of my lips turned up and the scent made little ants scurry around my body, relaxing it. All this smell is coming from the opposite side to my mate. Why do I smell it?

"We haven't seen each other in ages, dear." A man's low, firm timbre came from behind me.

"Brother, you're back." The words left Hazel's lips, and she turned on her heel looking in the opposite direction.

I slowly turned my head in the direction from which the masculine timbre of the voice came. My gaze locked on two green eyes, the whole world stopped for a moment, slowed, and froze. The man standing in front of me, with dark black hair, a neat beard, is clearly older. The aura coming off his body made the wolf inside me jump like crazy, my heart beat faster in my chest, my breathing quickened. He is Alpha Marcel of the Silver Mountain Pack.

Is this all a mistake? Why do both these men give off such a uniquely appealing scents? Why are there two of them?