The soft breeze rolls past me ruffling the heavy gown dawned on my small frame as I stare out into the field of moon flowers. The forest is alive with the sound of the creatures of the night. Quiet but still expressing the life it held within. A soft touch moves my attention to the long golden hair tied with a ribbon as a smile graces my lips. Finally he is mine. The full blue moon illuminates the sky as I lean in to kiss the man I love…

My eyes quickly open as the dream still fresh in my memory haunts me. The gown that women wore with the corset bodice and flowing layers of fabric is something from a long, long time ago. One that I would normally see in movies or costume period drams. I sigh, thinking how I have been having these dreams since turning eighteen two years ago. How a woman and a man would appear under the moonlight and silently display their love. How the woman in my dreams has my silver hair that flows down to her knees and the man with long golden hair always tied out of his way. I wonder what these dreams mean and if it has something to do with The Run.
I can’t help but to turn my head towards the window beside me. The moon staring back down at me as if mocking me. It’s as if the Moon Goddess is watching what I am doing knowing that it will soon be the week of the blue moon, the week for The Run. I hated it, dreaded it. An event created over a thousand years when the first werewolves were created by the Goddess herself. An event for wolves to run through a forest and be claimed and mated. But the truth is its just a way to approve of rape under the disguise of mating and growing a pack’s strength.
In a few days I will be sent to the Moon Goddess’ forest when the full moon turns a brilliant hue of blue. But the truth is I did not want to run through a forest of wolves, the females dodging males as they run for their freedom. I did not want to be forcefully claimed like my mother was. Never knowing if the male that took me as his mate - a male who just finished rapping me in the Moon Goddess’ forest - is going to be good to me and will give me a life of pure happiness or will abuse me and create an even worse hell than I already live in.
I want a chance to fall in love. I want to go on dates and build a future with someone deserving. I want a male who would bashfully smile at me before leaning in for my first kiss and holding me close for the rest of our life. I want my life to be mine and to have love that would last forever.
"Grace?" I snap out of my thoughts of self-pity and turn to look at all the wolves in the room, realizing that the Alpha is directing his statement to me. His eyes held annoyance at the fact I had stopped paying attention to him. If a male had done this, it would have been fine. But I am a female. I have to sit quietly and listen to the males as best as I can in this pack.
"Sorry, I dozed off." It isn't a lie since snores from other wolves – male wolves- echoed the quiet room in this long meeting that the Alpha, the Beta - my father- and the Theta –our third in command- called forth for the mate-less wolves eighteen or older in Silver Birch to remind them that they will be taking part in The Run and the rules we are to follow.
"As I was saying, The Run is filled with multiple threats.” My father continues, sending me a glare. I suppress the snarl rising in my throat and try my best to pay attention as the other wolves snicker behind me.
“Eli the head of the Vampire Coven in that area already alerted every Alpha that rogue fledglings have escaped before being welcomed into the coven and will be hunting for fresh blood to drink. He asked us to pass this message along to our members so when you all are in the forest keep your eyes alert.” He announces, a frown on his face as he looks to the Alpha. Closing my eyes for a moment, I think back to my father ranting on about Vampires and how they should be killed still in one of his drunken stupor. Vampires were once our mortal enemy as they were created by the Sun God out of boredom. It led to the goddess creating us wolves to keep the Vampires in check and protect the balance between supernatural and the mundane world. Wars raged on for years with many lives being lost. The most tragic event being the Salem Witch Hunt where anyone deemed unnatural by the scared humans were hunted and killed whether they were Vampires, Witches, Werewolves, Fae or Human.
It wasn’t until a temporary treaty was signed over one-hundred years ago. Things still happen between our two species that cause much uproar – including the Vampires instigating the humans to cause a war for the Vampires to enjoy an endless buffet – but we have been able to keep our races hidden from the humans thanks to the treaty. Unfortunately for us with the Fledgling escaping there will be some trouble ahead. Fledglings especially rogue ones, poses a threat to both our species. This year’s event would be even more dangerous with Fledglings running wild at night. All species will need to keep an eye out for them just in case they escape and make their way to a human city. We do not need a repeat of the Salem Witch Hunt scare.
“Let’s not forget about the faeries that live in the Moon Goddess’ forest either. If you run into one stay still and listen to them until an opportunity to escape arises. Faeries are known to teleport wolves into traps or into the arms of un-mated rogues like the Raggers if you anger or upset them in any way.” Mitchel the Theta continues the warning making those around me nervous while I scoff and roll my eyes. Faeries - or Fairies as humans call them - are known to cause trouble for Werewolves, Vampires and Witches. They are mischievous and childish and come in many forms from Human like fae, to pixies, to halflings. If you angered one at all it would spell your doom. I am lucky that I never had a problem with them. A coven of faeries lived just outside my grandfather’s pack – Ocean Heart – in Newfoundland. I grew up learning from the Fae and even met their Princess many times due to their close bond with Ocean Heart. I remember running into the woods one day out of boredom and stumbling into Pixies, their butterfly like wings mesmerizing me as a pup. To me the Fae are my friends, and after a year of friendship the Princess had given me a token when I turned eleven; a gold earring I wear in my cartilage that is inscribed with a Fae charm of protection. They even gave my friend Amelia the same token as she too came to befriend the Fae during her visits to the pack with me as pups when her father wanted my friend out of the way. I will be safe from the Fae hidden in the forest when I enter The Run. I just hope that Amelia has managed to find a way not to be sent into the Goddess’ forest with me this year.
Thinking about Amelia, I look around the room, the desks lining the hall like a class room filled with three wolves each as I try to find my friend. To my surprise, I find her missing from the meeting and my I wonder if her father has her locked away before we are meant to leave for the event. Goddess knows how much he dislikes her free-spirited attitude and the fact she fell in love with someone before entering The Run.
“Now I have one main point to finish this meeting. Many of you pups have expressed your dislike to The Run” The Alpha states his voice causing my attention back to the front of the room where I find his gaze landing on me.
“But it is a tradition since the first Werewolves were created by our beloved Moon Goddess.” He continues with his tone holding no room to dispute him.
“Either you wolves go willingly to The Run or we will force a shift on you and cage you till it’s time for the event to start and the chase to be mated is in full swing." His eyes stay glued to my sapphire ones, his brow raised as if waiting for me to object him. To the top ranking wolves I am a nuisance, the one she-wolf that always voices my opinion about this barbaric event made to make females submit to a male and bow down to the rules set by their new mate and their packs. I can’t help the snarl that rise past my lips as I hold his stare with my own. Hate and disgust radiating off of me in waves as I stand abruptly and slam my fist to the table in front of me, a crack forming down the center and I am thankful to be the only one sitting here.
"Who do you think you are?” I ask with rage seeping out of me. I can feel my blood boiling as I continue to stare at my Alpha.
“Do you think you have the right to play with our lives like some puppet master?” Firing another question, I watch as his calm eyes narrow into slits and a warning growl escapes his lips. I have just challenged his words.
“I am your Alpha, Grace. What I say goes.” He states eerily calm.
“Yes, you are the Alpha for now but we wolves deserve a chance to find love on our own. Not be sent to this barbaric event.” I shout out, my body shaking as the power of an Alpha boils inside me. I can see my Alpha slowly growing displeased by my outburst, by my challenging his words. I know he wants to skin me alive now, to make an example of me, but he wont harm me with The Run being close to happening. I catch my father glaring at me, his own fuming rage barely being controlled as I embarrass him in this meeting.
“You will do as I say Grace.” The Alpha bellows out, his anger imbued in his words.
“I will not! I am a woman of the twenty first century and demand the right to choose my own path.” I declare, wanting to rip the man before me to shreds.
"Grace Harvest sit down!" The Alpha yells at me with a command in his voice. The hushed whispers quiet down till only a pin drop can be heard as the tension between the Alpha and I thickens to the point it can be sliced with a knife. Being born with alpha blood from my mother - the only daughter to two powerful alpha wolves - gives me the ability to be on par with any regular alpha I meet. I can withstand any command as long as I do not see an alpha wolf before me as my Alpha and can even challenge them if I so desire due to their disrespect. The only exception being the Alpha King.
"I will not sit down.” I state calmly, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I am the heir to the Beta position of Silver Birch as well as the best warrior in this pack and I demand the same respect as one of the top ranking." My voice is clear as I speak my words, no wolf daring to refute me. They all know that I am just below the Theta in terms of power. I am the best warrior this pack had seen and Mitchel always requests me for missions involving taking down rogues or transporting the Alpha and Amelia to other packs for meetings and treaty signings. My father and the Alpha snarl at me, Mitchel just letting out a scoff as he leans against the wall. My rage is growing with every breath, my claws extending from what once were my nails. The Alpha and the rest of the wolves can feel the challenge as I slowly begin to walk towards the wolf my eyes are locked onto. My feet stop just mere meters from him, enough room to attack the Alpha before me but also enough to keep space between us. I can see the thoughts swirling behind his eyes as he calculates a way to get out of this challenge, one I will gladly issue if it weren’t for the fact his daughter is my chosen sister; a sister that I consider my Alpha and will follow her command without a second thought.
"If you want to be treated like any top ranked wolf in this pack then go to The Run and win your freedom.” His voice is strained as the Alpha holds in his boiling rage and peaks my interests.
“If you can make it to the lodge by the end of the week where I will be waiting then I will no longer send wolves who do not want to participate to The Run and will give everyone a choice." It is an offer I could never refuse since this gave everyone a choice. Made she-wolves an equal in this one topic and will give them a chance to reject going to this event. Every wolf in this room stares wide eyed at the Alpha and I, disbelief making the smirk on my face grow. I know that my father is not happy with this arrangement - this bet – but since his Alpha spoke it he will have to obey.
"Fine, I accept this bet but if I win my father and you will also have to step down for Amelia and I.” I uncross my arms and wait for the Alpha to speak. He knows the chances of me winner is high. I see him think things over, his eyes glossing over as the Alpha links someone, most likely Amelia, before nodding and stretching his right hand to me. Before I can hold out my hand to shake his and confirm the bet the scent of an omega reaches my nose. My body turns on reflex to dodge but I am not fast enough as a needle is shoved into my shoulder, the liquid inside entering my blood stream and acting fast. My bones begin the snap as a forced shift is placed upon me, fur sprouting through my skin agonizingly until I am left on the floor in a ball of pain.
"I accept your terms and I'll be waiting for you at the lodge Grace. Make it there un-mated and free and you win the bet, but if you do get mated by the time you make it to the lodge then I continue forcing wolves to go." The Alpha states as he prowls towards me, his posture already triumphant when he comes to a stop before my frame as omegas carefully carry my silver furred body to a cage that will hold me until The Run.
"Until then, enjoy the Run." His voice is menacing and I growl with the anger still coursing through my body at the realization that an Omega had snuck up on me. This must be who the Alpha had mind linked seconds earlier. He must have given a few Omegas sprays to conceal their scent in case a powerful wolf spoke out of line. Go figure he had a plan set.
Soon darkness creeps along my vision as the pain of the forced shift causes me to fall into the dark slumber of unconsciousness.