1
As a child, I remember running down the hall, playing with other children, but being reprimanded by my mother. I remember thinking I had done nothing wrong, however, she'd gone on and on about how a Little Luna should not behave this way. I remember slouching slightly in my teenage years, it's what all the girls were doing, but by then my mom had taken to inconspicuously pinching me, or subtilely slapping me. Always with a same look a look that said. "Your Spine is Your Lifeline, little Luna, you always have to sit up straight." I remember, during my lessons, flirting with the palace boys, but my mother has eyes everywhere, she told me "Palace boys are below you little Luna. You are made for bigger and better things."
Growing up, I'd taken her lessons for granted. I'd followed all of them, but not without wondering, why me, not without question. Now. I see she was preparing me, for what was yet to come. And that thought alone was enough to scare me.
~~~~~
I sat in my room by the large floor to ceiling window. I was sitting on a rather large chair. One that my father had made for himself when he found out I was being born. Thinking I would be a boy, he had this chair made in hopes of putting it in the nursery so he could sit with his beautiful boy. Imagine his surprise when my mother turned to him and announced I was a girl. Me and my father weren't close, because he hadn't had a heir. So he adopted one. And I was okay with that, because as my mother had said, I was made for bigger things.
I sat in front of the window. In my white dress watching as hundreds of carriages approached. It was against wolf nature to do really, anything modern. They hated cellphones, cars, and a lot of other things. So today was the day my fate became known. I was not born out of love, I was born to complete a deal. A deal with the strongest alpha this world would ever see at the time. Until he had his son, Ares. If my father had a boy, his first boy would go and take the place of beta in Alpha Ares Black's pack. If he had a girl, she'd take the place as Luna. Today. I would be taking that place as Luna. Thor Black was just making sure his son would have the right allies when he took over as alpha.
As his name implies, he is a man of war. Taking over any and all land he saw fit. His pack wasn't the largest, but they were warriors. I won't call them barbaric, because they aren't, but they were ruthless and if a situation called for it, they were most certainly deadly.
I'd personally never met them. I wasn't allowed to leave pack territory. I was only allowed to attend meetings that were held here. The Silver Eclipse never attended any of the meetings held on this territory. And rarely attended ones held on others.
"Aria. It is time," my mother tried to be composed, but I could hear the undertones of excitement in her voice. I stood, nodding at her as I passed her out the doorway. As I approached the ceremony hall, I could hear the loud chatter of the people. Mostly my people, I noticed as I entered. His people were dressed in their battle attire. Heavy looking chest pads and long pants made of weird material and boots, steel toe. My people were adorned in formal attire, suits and dresses and high heels. As I entered my mother entered behind me and we offered both sides nods of our heads in respect. I looked up, finally to the platform I was meant to stand at. My breath caught in my throat, but I hid it well as I continued to approach.
Why is he so huge? He was literally like 6'9. I would stand right under his peck. He also had on battle attire, armor the whole 9. His arms were on display, and his bicep was bigger than my head. He was a nice tan color, probably from training in the sun. Scattered across his skin were white scars. I found my eyes now trailing to his face. He was handsome to say the least. He had a jawline sharper than the tip of my favorite knife. His eyes were a hard brown that reminded me of dark chocolate. He had dark brown hair that fell around his face in dark chocolate waves.
My father cleared his throat and I turned to him, face warm at having been caught checking out my future.
"Quiet." My father attempted to get them quiet, and although he was an alpha. He was married into his position and he was a weak man. He was only Alpha because my mother chose him to be. This was her pack not his. And my people made sure to let him know this everyday. I watched as Alpha Black quieted his side with a look while my father struggled, so I simply turned around and raised an eyebrow at my pack and they shut up. My dad glared at the back of my head after I turned around, but didn't say anything.
"Today is a ceremony of peace and offering between two packs. Many moons ago, in order to protect our pack, I made a deal with Alpha Black. To protect us, he wanted something in return. Aria." I looked at my father as if he was stupid. He made it sound like Alpha Black wanted me, oh no, my father offered me. "Aria, may the moon goddess accept the bond that is to come, and may she watch over you for many moons, be safe my child." And then he made a show of hugging me. "Alpha Black, in offering and in completing the deal I made with your father, I give you the packs pride and joy. I give you Aria." He then passed Alpha Black a knife, who then cut his on hand I held my hand out to him, and he then cut my hand. Watching me to gage my reaction, I didn't flinch. He then held our hands together, my right hand, his left.
I could feel the change, feel the shift. Feel a slight pressure in my head until it steadily built into a dull pain that was slowly getting worse and worse. I knew I kept my face impassive, but I was starting to see black spots, I had felt my bond with my last pack snap. And I heard their gasp. But the pain just continued to rise steadily. I felt myself stumble and a warm hand on my back stabling me. When it was over, I found myself standing with my eyes closed as thoughts that weren't mine flew past my brain in rapid succession. I inhaled slowly, and blocked all of the thoughts putting up a mental block and then I opened my eyes. I could feel it. My new packs disdain of my presence. I turned to Alpha Black with my head down. I let down my block so I could mind link him.
Do they know?
His reply was instantaneous
No
This was bound to be a bumpy ride.
