Chapter 1
The morning sun set over the pack grounds, the sight was beautiful to the eyes as the sky was filled with the beautiful hues of colours pinks, purples and oranges melding together as the sun began to rise above the trees. I had been sat in the middle of the surrounding forest of Red dawn packs grounds, lost in the silence of the forest wishing today would be the day I would hear that my mate had been found, it had been three months since the battle, since his disappearance, since I had found out I was carrying my mate’s pup, yet every warrior, every scout that came home had not found a trace of him.
The hardest thing for my wolf and I was not being able to feel his presence, not being able to feel his touch, his warmth, even through the pack bonds, or the mate bond we could barely feel him it was almost like he never existed, every effort to find him had felt futile, at first I had searched high and low with the pack members, but as the weeks went by I began to struggle until I could no longer shift into my wolf being too far into my pregnancy, now I could only rely on the reports of the search.
Beta Cody and Gamma Chandler have been helping me run the pack under the councils watch, we had utilised every alliance, every connection we have in hopes someone would know something but my mother has out done herself, my only solace is knowing he was still alive, no matter how far, no matter how many blocks were up between us I knew Amber and I would know if he was still alive or not.
Today, my father and brother were coming to check on me as they have since the battle, I knew they worried for me as the longer it took in finding him the less likely it would be that he is alive, the mere thought of me scared the most, I barely felt alive as it was, stuck feeling numb and cold with no warmth, Amber my wolf has been quick to turn to rage the minute someone implies our mate is dead, leading to bursts of my flames blasting the curtains and book cases on fire, my father has had to help me control them as my emotions were not helping the control over them.
Time seemed to move slowly and fast at the same time, every second seemed to tick loudly to me, as I sat at a clearing with the loud rushing waters of the beautiful spring water pond before me, the grass green and vibrant as summer begins, with birds hidden amongst the array of tree’s singing their morning songs, it would have been relaxing if I was not so worried for my mate.
A rustle of footsteps behind me had me whirling round to be met with Beta Cody’s worried face, his brown eyes glimmering with the protective need to console me, as I say “Beta Cody, sneaking up on me is not wise right now my wolf is becoming harder to control”, my voice holding a warning as he chuckles lightly before saying “I know sorry Luna, I wish I could say we found him but the warriors and scouts have still not found a single lead for us to follow. I do know that the pack and I firmly believe he is still alive and as long as you have hope we will too”, his voice filled with determination and hope.
Humming my agreement my hand goes to the protruding bump of my pup, I now had two months left to my pregnancy yet I couldn’t feel any excitement, if it had not been for the packs omegas and for my father and brother I would not of started preparing, it felt hopeless without my mate beside me he was my strength in times of need and now he was suffering because of me, I just wish there was a single piece of news or sightings of him to give me something to hold onto the councils pushing me to find a new Alpha for the pack but I have been reluctant as has the rest of red dawn.
Lost to my thoughts, I jump as Beta Cody places a firm hand upon my shoulder and says “It is okay Luna we will find him I promise you, I know you are blaming yourself but it was not your fault, your mother used underhanded tricks we did not see coming and the pack all know you are doing every little thing you can to find him, ignore the council it is only a few of them pushing for his replacement and as far as I know the king has not ordered for it”, his voice soft and wary as a deep growl rumbles from my chest at the mention of the council.
Standing to my feet sighing heavily, I struggle to find my balance on my swollen feet as Beta Cody steps forward and helps me steady myself. Holding my protruding bump I say “I just hope we find him before my mother kills him, I know us not being able to find him is her way of mentally torturing me and she must know I am pregnant, I am thinking she may have eyes on us, I am also wondering if the council or some of the council could be working with her, I find it hard to believe that not a single pack or council member has not found him, my mother must have connections somewhere, ask Gamma Chandler to return to moon mountain pack, go through their files and search for all information regarding my mother we may find something there, I’ll be in my mates office please can you send my brother and father there when they arrive”, my voice barely above a whisper as we walked through the forest surrounding our pack.
As we breached the forest treelines the hustle and bustle of the pack grounds reaches my ears, pups running around without a care in the world as the parents rushed after them in a hurry as they prepare for another day ahead, the smallest of kicks comes frommy womb making me clutch my bump in an effort to feel the pups presence, wishing once again my mate was here to experience all of this with me, sad eyes of pack members lowered to the ground as I walked by, their worry for me ringing loud and clear through the pack bonds as I pass them with a small nod and a weak smile plastered on my face as I struggle to hide the longing for my mate’s return from them.
The sun now beaming down, the heat of the summer now stifling, I take slow steps towards the tall proud building of our packhouse. Members of the pack rushing past me for the morning training session, as the omegas placed the morning breakfast preparations across the long dining hall table for pack members to help themselves to as they all commune together before and after their training.
As I enter my mate’s office, his faint scent of musk and fresh forest earth filled the room, faintly offering me some comfort as I sat myself behind the large hand carved oak desk, its papers piling up for me to sign in my mate’s absence. Beta Cody leaving me in the silence of the office to follow my orders set out, causing me to flop back in the large wing backed seat feeling exhausted from the lack of sleep I had been getting since the battle.
As I scan the folders, signing my approval before piling it up to the left of me, a border scouts voice comes through the mind-link as he says “Luna, a councilman has arrived and wishes to speak with you”, his voice gruff and tense which I understood, the councils presence has put us all on edge and their arrivals becoming more and more with each passing weeks that goes by is now unnerving to everyone, sighing in frustration I mind-link back saying “Send him to the office, then please find Beta Cody and explain his presence is needed”, my voice commanding and stronger than usual as Amber becomes alert in my mind’s eye, her barely controlled rage spiking at the mention of the council being here once more.
Sighing, rubbing the temples of my head in an effort to soothe the headache that was building from internal battle of control with my wolf I say to her “Calm Amber, trust me I won’t back down”, my voice strained and demanding through our link as she grumbles in response but eases off as she allows me full control.
A loud knock on the office’s door had my head snapping in the direction, a growl building in the back of my throat scenting the arrogant council man’s scent on the other side the door I say “Come in”, my voice strained as I struggle to hide my disgust for the man, he was short with a round belly almost as big as my own, his black hair peppered with silver as his old age has begun to show, his face twisted with a fake ass smile that almost looks mocking as he strides in with the air of owning the room making me skin crawl, as his dark eyes round on my belly before my face.
Not liking the look upon his face, my hands fist on top of the papers of the desk in an effort of control the building rage I felt in seeing him, the man who has been in persistence since my mate first disappeared to replace the Alpha, gritting my teeth I say “Council man Dickson, what may I do for you today?”, my voice tense as the man’s dark eyes glimmer with a look that had my back straightening as his snarky voice says “Luna Ember, it has been three months now, no sightings of Alpha Braxton the time has come for him to be replaced, I understand how difficult this is for you to accept and if you refuse the Alpha King will have to force you to relinquish your title as Luna, I am sure you would not want this humiliation in front of red dawn pack, I have prepared a list please get back to me by tomorrow so we can prepare for the ceremony”, his voice becoming more gleeful as he sees my face contort with my emotions, my eyes now glowing as Amber forces control just as Beta Cody enters the office with a bow before rushing to my side where I now stood trembling with my aura growing darker by the second.
The surrounding air in the office became stifling as the crackle of power seeping from me surrounded the weasel of a councilman, his body tensing as the power coming from me hits him at full force. Beta Cody stands protectively by my side, his eyes turning dark as his wolf Bruno surfaced sensing and feeling the rage coming from me, moving forward in a predatory manner, my steps careful and calculated causing the trembling man to back away, his back hitting the bookshelf behind him almost toppling the shelves over I say “Do not come into my home, my pack and order me. I will say this one final time I will not relinquish my control over this pack, my mate is alive and he will remain as Alpha. If you do not agree then please go to the Alpha King, have him deal with me until then I will remain Luna and I will remain in control of this pack until it is proven my mate is not coming back or he returns. Do I make myself clear?”, my voice as cold as ice as my florescent orange eyes glowered at him as he whimpers seeing the flames ignite in my balled-up fists.
The conniving man stood tall putting up a front of strength as he attempts to shake off the fear that I could scent rolling off of him in waves as he says “Very well, Luna expect the king to be in touch he will be displeased with your abuse of power and for disobeying order’s”, his voice filled with a false confidence as a cold laugh passes my lips. The man’s dark eyes narrowed on me as he turns his back and swiftly leaves the office slamming the oak door behind him.
Beta Cody moves closer to me, his worried eyes scanning my trembling form, my hands still bawled up at my sides with the flickering flames of my power ignited as a growl of frustration falls from my lips as I breath heavily trying to calm my racing heart. A heavy silence hanging between us as he rubs my aching back carefully, as I threw my head back and closed my eyes trying to centre myself as the kick to my ribs from my pup had me hissing at the force of the kick as I rub my bump soothingly.
