Chapter 1 Commotion

My father stood before me under the ceremonial tree, reciting the words his father had recited to him, and his father before that, and every other outgoing Alpha had said to the incoming Alpha at their ceremonies all throughout history. I couldn't believe I had finally made it to this point after fighting off decades of traditions and bigotry. Something felt off though as I glanced around at my pack. It was kind of like when you have tunnel vision, you're there but you're not there and you're only half focused on what is actually going on.

I found myself toning my father and his words out as suddenly, screams tore out throughout the crowd. Huge, black wolves were tearing through the pack, taking down everything in their path as they entered the sacred circle where my father and I were.

"This is what happens when we change traditions. People get angry and they retaliate." Jones, one of the council members of our pack said solemnly. One of the black wolves made eye contact with me before bowing down to me in submission as the carnage continued to surround me. After the other wolves took down all the council members, the rest of the wolves began bowing down to me as well. What was that about? I thought, looking around to see who had all survived. It seemed as though the black wolves had only taken out those who challenged my leadership abilities along with the others that had been standing nearby them as collateral damage. The largest black wolf began to shift back into his human form when, suddenly, I was jolted awake by my best friend.

"Hello! Earth to Lucy!" Alexia, who everyone calls Lexa, was screaming as she shook me violently. "You were thrashing around and screaming in your sleep. Plus, it's time to get ready! You're almost late for training." She exclaimed, continuing to shake me. Lexa was my best friend, the only daughter of the current Beta, and my future Beta if I had anything to say about it. We were born only a few months apart, so every single milestone has been celebrated together. Plus-Lucy and Lexa are very similar names, so it seems even the moon Goddess wanted us to be friends.

"Shit-I was having a nightmare and must have overslept my alarm. I'm the future Alpha-I can't be late for training! Everyone already lacks faith in me, I don't need to give them another reason to believe that I won't be a good Alpha!" I said in a panic. I shot out of bed and started rummaging through my dresser drawers trying to find clothes appropriate for training.

"Luc-relax! Everyone that matters has faith in you as Alpha. The council full of old men stuck in their traditional ways are the only ones that disagree with you taking over for your father-I promise! You should really have more faith in yourself." She chastised me as I threw on a sports bra and a pair of leggings.

Oh yeah, I should introduce myself. My name is Lucy, and I am the only daughter and child of the Alpha of my pack, Red Moon. Normally, when the current Alpha retires, his eldest son takes his place. But my parents were unable to have any children after me, making me my dad's heir. Those that actually know me personally believe in my ability to be Alpha even though I am a girl, but the council of Elders that are in our pack and sit on the National Council over all of the packs says that we should stick to the olden ways of male alphas. They think that my future mate should be Alpha and I could be his Luna. I think that is a load of crap because being Alpha is my birthright. Some random male that may not even be from this pack should not be able to take it away from me. I have been dreading finding my mate because of this, even though I have always dreamed about finding my mate one day. Now it just seems like a curse that will take my dreams and aspirations away.

"Yeah yeah, whatever." I sassed her as I pulled on my shoes. "Do we have time for breakfast? I'm starving!"

"If we hurry. They haven't started cleaning up yet but we have a few minutes to sit down and eat something." Lexa responded, physically rushing me by pushing me out the door and slamming it shut behind her.

"Race you there!" I yelled before taking off and running down the hall.

"Oh-you're on!" Lexa called, running after me.

We both skidded to a halt as we entered the dining hall. Luckily, most of the others who were leaders of our pack were still sitting at a table, finishing up their food. Lexa and I grabbed a plate and piled it with as much food as we could find and rushed over to a table. We were stuffing our faces with food, not taking time to talk to each other in order to have more time to eat, when a commotion erupted at the entrance to the cafeteria. A pack member had come running in yelling about something on the training grounds, but there was so much panic in her voice we could not hear her clearly. Everyone else in the cafeteria took off running and we followed, after throwing away our trash. Our pack's cooks were great, so we tried to make their lives easier by cleaning up after ourselves. Once everything was cleaned up in the dining hall, we ran to catch up with everyone else. I wondered what was happening to cause such a commotion?