Amira

I wake up and glance over at my clock, groaning when it already says 8:48. We are in the beginning of the summer months right now, and my apprenticeship at the school doesn't start again until November, so basically my days are full of nothing to do. Thankfully, Jade doesn't start her apprenticeship at the hospital nursery until late August, so we keep each other company. Today she has to help her dad out at his firm though, so I'm alone and it's only nine o'clock. I thought I'd be able to get myself to sleep in at least a little bit longer. After about thirty minutes of debating with myself, I finally decide to walk to town and go to a few shops.

I get out of bed and slide on some shorts and a light pink t-shirt that flows around my waist. Tying up my brown sandals, I grab my bag and walk out the door, deciding that my first stop will be the coffee shop.

The town center is just behind the first perimeter of houses, so my walk isn't far. Many people are already out this morning, buying fruits and vegetables, coffee, and whatever else they need to get through the day. The closer I get to town the more voices and noises I hear. I breathe in and smell the captivating aroma of fresh brewed coffee and immediately change my course in that direction.

Just after I order my drink the noise in the streets stops and I turn my head to see what is happening. I can barely hear the pounding of feet from far down the street. The barista hands me my drink and I say thank you before cautiously walking out of the small building.

The Obsidian Pack has a warm climate and thick pine forests. Trees can even be found in town, surrounding the buildings and tents. Sadly, our pack is not warm and tropical, like the Whitefire Pack down south, but rather warm and muggy. A lot of the time the air seemed almost sticky, although I've grown used to it by now. Because of our climate, a lot of our shops are either tents or open buildings with protective screens that roll down into walls, to protect against the decent amount of rain we get.

I try to push my way through the thick crowd of people blocking the exit of the coffee shop.

"Excuse me," I ask politely, but no one moves. I ask again, but I get the same result. Annoyed, I start to push people out of the way as I make my way to the road. Apparently being polite doesn't work with the people in this pack.

"Watch it," someone snaps at me as I push past them, but I ignore it. Where did all of these people suddenly come from? The town is still and, for the most part, silent.

"For the love of the Moon Goddess, will you just move?" I am stuck behind another stubborn pack member as I try to escape the crowd. Suddenly someone shoves me from behind and I fall forward onto my hands and knees, my coffee flying across the open street. I wince as the grains of sand from the street cut into my hands and knees.

"Amira?" Suddenly my bleeding hands and knees are the least of my worries. I slowly glance up and my eyes are pulled into the icy pools that belong to my Alpha. He was not the one who addressed me, Brayden had. Caine just stares at me.

"So that's the proper way to greet your Alpha?" his head tilts as he stares me down, the look on his face is serious, almost angry. I glare up at him with narrow eyes. I know he is my Alpha, and I'm supposed to respect him, but he is so full of himself it drives me nuts. He's such a jerk. I look back down on the ground, beginning to grow terrified of his cold look.

"I'm sorry," I look back up at him through the hair falling over my face, "Alpha." My jaw is clenched and the words are clearly forced. His lips raise up into a slight smirk before he wipes it off of his face again. My eyes finally break free of his hold and glance behind him to see endless rows of our newest soldiers, probably on their way to training. So that's why the town had suddenly grown silent. Apart from our Alpha and Beta, the soldiers are the most respected wolves in the pack, so it is only reasonable for people to part for them as they make their way through town every morning.

"Get up." My eyes dart back to Caine's and I have to refrain from dropping my jaw.

"I'm sorry?" I feel bold as I give him the chance to rephrase his wording, but why would he do that for someone like me? He crosses his arms and continues to look down at me.

"Get up."

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Caine

I love that brazen side of her. She doesn't like when I tell her what to do, but I find so much joy in seeing how far she'll go before she stands up to me. Of course the Luna of my pack needs to have a fiery side, I'd be embarrassed to rule with anything less.

No wonder I couldn't and still can't smell her. The overabundant scent of roses floods my nose every time she moves. Not many wolves use scented body wash, as it is not really needed and covers natural scent.

I try to avoid scrunching my nose at the pungent smell that radiates off of her, my senses still slightly sensitive from my Changing.

She still stares at me with those chocolate eyes, the blue flecks dancing in the sunlight. Anger and frustration travel across her features. She is still on her hands and knees. I wouldn't mind having her somewhere else in the same position...

"When an Alpha gives an order, Amira, it is meant to be obeyed," I say quietly enough for only her to hear, although from the look on Brayden's face I can tell he heard it, too. He moves slightly and reaches a hand out to help her up, much to my displeasure. My face contorts into one of disapproval, but that doesn't seem to stop him as he helps her to her feet.

"Thank you," she smiles lightly at him and jealousy emerges within me, consuming me like a fire. I yearn to touch her skin again like he is, to feel those sparks travel from my fingertips to hers. Brayden smiles at her, his hand still wrapped around her wrist and his arm around her waist as she brushes the sand off of her bleeding knees.

"That's enough," I growl. After hesitation, Brayden moves back to my side. I watch Amira bow to me, an action my whole pack practices.

"Alpha," she gives me her goodbye before rushing out of the clearing and disappearing into the crowd. Everyone is still silent and as I continue to walk through the lines of people each one bows as I pass.

"Could've been a little easier on her. It wasn't her fault," Brayden mumbles to me once we reach the training grounds in the forest and the soldiers begin their routines.

"A good Alpha shows his power," I blantaly say.

"A good Alpha helps his pack members in need," Brayden says back sharply and I cringe. He is right, my first priority should be protecting my pack, not showcasing power.

"What is she to you?" I turn to him, but he does not meet my gaze.

"I don't know what you're asking."

"Well you did dance with her at the ball, didn't you?"

"As did you," he meets my look. "You forget how well I know you, Caine, and you forget about my gift. I know who she is to you, so why are you wasting your time?"

"You know how I feel about you violating my thoughts," I look away from him, angry that he can read me so easily. He just ignores what I said.

"Here I am worried that neither of us will find our mates and grow strong enough to defeat Trenton, and you've been hiding the fact that you've already found yours."

"You know more than anyone that I don't want my mate."

"I don't think you understand that you don't have a choice." Sometimes my best friend annoys me. My sense of vengeance and anger tend to overrule my logical sense of reality. That's why Brayden is the perfect Beta for my reign as Alpha, although I hate how he's right all the time.

"I don't think this is your business, Brayden."

"You're right, what happens between you and your mate is not my business, but what happens to this pack is," he raises an eyebrow at me, emphasizing that he's proven his point, before walking away to help improve a soldier's technique. I groan in frustration. Of course he is right, most of the time he is.

But that doesn't mean I want to accept it.

***************************

Amira

I take another sip of water without removing my eyes from the book I am reading. Many people find history boring beyond belief, but it interests me. I like knowing what happened in the past, I'm able to learn from it. I was always the top student in history in my classes when I was younger, and now I am the current history teacher's apprentice.

I'm reading about the Malignity-Obsidian War that took place five hundred years ago, when werewolves had first become the dominant species. Some humans still exist today, but it's rare seeing them around here. They stay confined to small islands far from larger continents in fear of us. They tried to fight us at first, but they either died trying or fell in love. The former greatly exceeds the latter. A wolf and a human being mated together is beyond rare.

There is still tension between the Obsidian and Malignity packs from the war. It caused both pack to diminish to half their original sizes. Both alphas and betas had been killed, leaving the Lunas to run the packs until the next heir had changed. Because of this, it acquired the name 'The Luna Era'. Luna Margaret was the Luna of the Obsidian Pack at the time, and I dream to be like her. She was so independent and confident with her decisions; a perfect role model for any young she-wolf.

My head abruptly lifts up when I hear a knock on the door. I groan and set my book on the arm of my chair before getting up to answer whoever is banging on my front door.

"I'm coming! Jeez. If you would just wait two seconds I'd be there. You impatient, annoying-" I get cut off as I open the door and my eyes go wide.

"Handsome, powerful, Alpha?" Alpha Caine finishes my sentence with a smirk. He leans casually on my door frame with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He has on jeans and a black jacket zipped up to just below his collar bone. It is getting late in the evening so, even in our warm climate, it is chilly enough for a jacket. His tousled hair is still wet, probably from a shower after training, and I can smell the scent of pine rolling off of him. Black leather gloves cover his hands, which confuses me, because it's not quite chilly enough for gloves to be required.

"A-Alpha! What are you- I mean, umm.. come on in," I look up at his towering figure and step to the side. He grins at me with an amused look as he steps into my small home. His arms fall to his side as he glances around. "Can I get you anything?" He doesn't answer, just walks into my living room and picks up the book I had been reading, making himself right at home.

"The Luna Era?" He raises an eyebrow at me and I nod.

"I have an interest in history."

"That's actually what I came here to talk to you about," he closes the book and sets it down. I mentally groan to myself for not marking my spot in the book. "I heard you're the history mastermind of the pack. I need your help."

I look at him with a surprised expression on my face. "You need my help?"

"Yes," again he crosses his arms and my eyes wander to his bulging biceps before I catch myself and look back to his face.

"What for?"

"That's confidential until you agree to help me."

"Well how can I agree if I don't know what it is?" I cross my arms right back at him and catch him slightly smirk at my sass, to my surprise. Sick Mr. Alpha probably thought I am trying to be seductive. We stand in silence for a few seconds before he gives in.

"I need you to help us avoid another war with the Malignity Pack. Considering our past with them, I thought we could use history to help us in the future. I was pointed towards you for guidance." I scrunch my brow suspiciously.

"By who?" I still haven't uncrossed my arms and look up at him with what I hope is an intimidating face. I'm pretty sure nothing can intimidate him, though.

"Ms. Carmichael. She speaks very highly of her apprentice," he flashes a smile at me, trying to win me over.

"What do I get if I help?"

"The satisfaction of helping your pack and your Alpha," he jokes, but when he sees I'm not buying it he adds, "and $150,000." My eyebrows shoot up in shock, much to my disapproval. I stick my hand out.

"Alright, Alpha. You have a deal." He smirks as he shakes my hand.

"I'll give you a few minutes to get packed."

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Well we are going to need to work together a lot, so it will be easier if you stay at the Alpha's mansion. I have already informed your father earlier today where you will be staying."

"Oh," I shake my head, "that's not necessary."

"Oh, Amira," he smirks and leans in, speaking in a quieter, more seductive tone, "I insist," he says with a wink.

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Hello all!

Let me know what you think! What do you think about Amira so far? Caine? Brayden? Don't forget to vote and comment! I like hearing what you all have to say!

Poll time: Caine or Brayden?

Hope you like the book so far!

Alia Gayl