The Tasks of the Moon Goddess

Chapter 1

Author's note: The picture is Joyana.

My name is Joyana Winters. I'm an average teenage girl except I am a werewolf. What I don't have in strength, I more than make up for in intelligence. You'd never know I am a seventeen year old princess, next in line for the throne.

My parents are ready for retirement so they are sending me out to find my King. So far, I have been to six different all-werewolf schools in my search. I've come across a variety of potential partners finding no one I felt a connection to. They were either too ambitious, too arrogant or just not into me. My title, sure. Power, of course, but no one saw me.

I wish I could find someone like my father. He's so smart, funny and he truly cares about people. He treats my mother like the Queen she is, always making her smile, laugh and he supports all of her decisions. My mother sure was lucky when she found him.

The only person I wanted to choose was my advisor, Simon. He was so dreamy with his ice blue eyes, wavy blond hair he wore to his shoulders, a bit of a snub nose with bow shaped lips. He's six feet tall with a swimmer's body. He is funny, sweet and always knows just the right thing to say in all matters. At twenty years of age, he was highly educated in history, specifically with customs and traditions of all the packs in our kingdom. It's just too bad he isn't into women because we had the best relationship.

With him not being an option, I have one more year to find a partner before my parents convene the council and pick my King for me. With my luck they'll probably pick some 160 year old Alpha with "the proper experience" to be my King. I did not want that. I wanted someone my age who can learn and grow with me. There hasn't really been a need for the Royals aside from settling interpack disputes since before me parents' reign. Experience is not necessary in my opinion.

My next stop is the Shadow Moon pack which is run by Alpha Viktor Murphy with his Beta Liam Stevens. It's a rather large pack whose school contains a whopping six future alphas. Alpha Viktor's father, Alpha Lucien, united the surrounding packs placing them under his protection about fifteen years ago. This alliance made it the perfect place to continue my search with so many prospects.

If I fail to find someone in three months, I will have to find a new pack to continue my search. It is my last year after all. Simon handles all of the logistics. No matter what, I will not be beholden to the council. I will find my King on my own. That is the best chance for happiness I can see.

Simon would be joining me on my search along with my best friend Sofia, my cousin Gabriella and an assortment of bodyguards and warriors. Needless to say, my entourage will make me stand out. My final task before leaving is to convince my father that I do not need that level of protection on this trip. I want to be incognito. I want to be seen as I am and not the princess searching for a husband.

With that in mind, I left my room climbing the stairs to reach my parents' suite. Knocking, I heard a soft "enter" and proceeded into the suite finding my mother in the living room, as usual.

"Mom, where's dad?" I asked.

My mother was sitting peacefully working on some crochet project. My mother was on the short side standing at five foot two. She has light brown chestnut hair, like me. Her eyes were bright green. She has a small button nose, like mine and full, pouty lips also like mine.

"He's in his office," she said, not taking her eyes off her project.

"Is he alone?" I asked.

My father would not appreciate being interrupted if he had someone in there.

"He is. Don't worry," she said.

I walked down the hall until I reached his office. I knocked but received no reply. I knocked again. Receiving no answer, I opened the door and peeked my head in. My father waved me in as he spoke on the phone.