Never say Luna

16

Seven years later
"Hey, Tasha, you're almost ready for your first shift!"
I look over my shoulder and laugh. "I know, and I never thought I'd get to it."
"How do you feel? I remember my first shift," my friend giggles. I smile. "Obviously. It happened a day ago, Andria."
"Well, I mean, duh."
"Yeah, sure," I answer, rolling my eyes. "I'm due at the training station in five minutes, want to come?"
"No sh*t, Sherlock," she replies, gasping. I give a mock faint. "You're too smart for me!"
We giggle together as we make our way to the training station. Once there, I straighten up and salute to the trainer. "Maria."
She nods at me. "Tasha."
We stare at each other for five seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Shut up, shut up!" Maria gasps, fanning herself. "Whew! Go to your position and run around the territory five times, maintaining a distance of five yards between the people in front and in back of you."
"Yes, Maria," I say obediently, smirking. "I'll do that."

Thirty minutes later, I am panting as I return to Maria. When running, we are not allowed to run in wolf form; instead, human form is mandatory to strengthen us.

"You're out of shape," she notices. "Every male in the rival pack can probably beat you," she adds angrily. I nod respectfully. "Sorry, Maria."

"That's fine, just-"

"Alpha!" I gasp, looking over her shoulder. I am still very fond of the Alpha, possibly due to the fact that she saved my life seven, almost eight, years ago. I'm not very worried about what Maria says because we both know I'm still the strongest female in the pack apart from the Alpha for some reason.

But for some reason... she glares at me. Eight years. Every year! She's done the same thing. I don't know what I've done!

"Young one," she says coldly, stalking past me. I gaze after her helplessly. What have I done?

Maria sees my despairing gaze and reassures me, "She treats every new one the same."

"I'm not new anymore!" I hiss. Maria reasons, "Alpha will probably accept you once you have shifted."

"But why- she accepted Andria," I pointed out. "And that was right after she was saved!"

"Well, I suppose-"

"I'm going to go and talk to her," I interrupt. "May I?"

"If you think you'll get any more out of her than last time, then sure." Maria shrugs. "Just don't come back to me wailing."

"Fine!" I snap, following the trail of my Alpha.