~~

I watched standing a few meters away as Sabrina was about to grab Eleanor's hand to commence the Luna ritual to become Luna and become my mate, when they were interrupted by the sound of a girl's voice.

"I challenge for the position of Luna as the first blood daughter of Rosalyn Everson!" Shouted a female voice below, coming from the crowd.

I turned shocked and surprised at the announcement made by someone from within the crowd. It was a female figure wearing a black large jumper with a hood over her head, shadowing her face. But I had a feeling who it was straight away.

Lara

A deep feeling of hurt, betrayal and anger bubbled up inside me.

How could she?! She promised.

She obviously couldn't be trusted anymore.

The crowd started to become unsettled by the deceleration of a challenge.

"QUIET!!" Eleanor roared using her Luna tone to command her pack to be silent

"Stephan take her away! She has no right to be here." She ordered. Stephan who stepped out of the crowd and made his way to Lara.

I watch as she removed her hood and revealed her face to everyone. However I could tell she was avoiding eye contact with me.

"I have the right to be here!" she shouted.

She pointed to the crowd. "They deserve the truth. Tell them Eleanor. Go on. Tell them how you killed my mother. Tell them how you killed Rosaline."

The crowd gasped.

I had little knowledge of their pack's history but I had heard of Rosalyn. I knew she was meant to be the next successor but then rumours spread that she had disappeared or ran away.

Paul spoke up, "Hold on, are you the daughter of Rosalyn Everson?"

Lara was now a few meters in front of me and I was staring at the back of her head as she spoke.

"Yes." she replied

She lifted her jumper and shirt up to reveal her strange marking on her left hip.

"A full silver moon marking?" he said surprised. I knew what that marking meant I had learnt about in when reading about the history of werewolves.

No It couldn't be.

"But how? Only the great True Luna's posses that marking and we haven't had one in hundreds of years. Are you the True Luna?" He Paul asked.

This time her eyes started glowing confirming what she was saying. "Yes I am. It is also my birth right to be the next successor of my pack."

"She's right, Eleanor. The girl is the telling the truth. Before me stands the True Luna and daughter of Rosalyn. Your rightful leader."

I watched unsure what to do in this situation. This was their pack's personal problem, I would feel as if I was intruding if I said anything. So I kept quiet and let the events unfold. I had to find out the truth. I had to find out who Lara was really.

She seemed to be a girl with lots of secrets.

A frustrated and angry ear piercing screech filled the air, "No! I am meant to be the Luna. You ruined everything, you bitch!!" Screamed Sabrina angrily. I hadn't seen her this angry before.

"You don't deserve to be the Luna, not when you and your mother both have blood on your hands. A real Luna would not let her pack members die.... A real Luna would not be working with the vampires!" Lara growled, dropping a bomb shell.

This situation had escalated very quickly. I looked at my father, who was also very shocked. If this was true Eleanor was breaking wolf laws.

So this was what she meant by she had "discovered something that could threaten Eleanor's right to be Luna" I thought thinking back to when we where in the dungeons.

"We will no longer listen to you, Eleanor!" Nick, the one who we had saved earlier, shouted. He looked in a much better condition compared to earlier.

"Stand down, Eleanor." The person in charge of the warriors added. Rick I think his name was?

A few mummers of agreement from the crowd followed him. Soon the crowd was beginning to protest as angry shouts and cry's for justice for those pack members who had died, were being demanded.

I could feel my pack feeling confused and worried. I tried emitting them Alpha energy through the bond to calm them down.

"Eleanor I will have to take this up to the council. Conspiring with vampires is against the wolf law. I cannot go forward with this ceremony." Paul announced.

"NOO". She roared frustrated and angry, ripping her jacket off as she prepared to shift.

I felt a strange protectiveness feeling towards Lara and was about to step forward as I could sense things about to get ugly.

I had never seen this side of Eleanor and it didn't sit well with me. And then she said the next few words I was not expecting to hear today.

"You wanted to challenge me... well I accept your challenge for position as Luna!!" She roared.

Just as I took two steps to help my father put his hand on my shoulder holding me back.

'Don't. You know you can't interfere. There is nothing we can do now but watch.' huffing, I shook his hand off frustrated. I clenched my jaw trying to control myself.

However a part of me was curious about this girl. She seemed to hold a lot of secrets and surprises. There was something about her.

Eleanor let out a murderous growl as she sprinted towards Lara snarling. Eleanor lunged midair towards her with lightning speed. I watched as Lara shifted into her wolf form before tumbling down the stairs with Eleanor.

That was when it all happened. My eyes widen.

The moment I had been waiting for my whole life.

The person I had been searching for like crazy for two years.

An immense feeling of happiness filled me.

I had found her.

My mate.

Seeing her wolf form had triggered the mate bond.

Lara was my mate.

I was so surprised at the revelation.

I clenched my fist to my chest as I started breathing heavier feeling like I couldn't get enough air in.

"Son, are you alright?" my father asked, slightly worried.

"Yes I'm fine." I said quickly. "Father, S-She's my mate."

My father didn't say anything.

"Are you talking about Lara?" He said in a low voice. I couldn't read his reaction by the tone of his voice. So I turned to look at him.

"Yes" I studied his face. He looked at me and then towards Lara.

"Are you sure of this? You're not lying to me to get out of the agreement between you and Sabrina?" He said this time looking at me.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He knew I didn't want to get mated to Sabrina but why would I lie about something like this?

Was he not happy?

"Father does it look like I'm lying." I snapped.

He let out a sigh. "This can't be happening." He muttered to himself as he looked away.

I looked at him confused and he continued. "It's just son that I'm worried for you. Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes, why do you say that?" I said getting frustrated at the way he was acting. Like he knew something I didn't.

"Son it's just that in all our werewolf history, it has never happened where a True Luna was blessed with a mate and since she is one, then I don't know what this means for the two of you."

"I don't understand where are you going with this? Aren't you happy for me." My wolf was becoming unsettled and frustrated.

"Son of course I'm happy for you! It's just that if a wolf of her kind is blessed with a mate it won't end well for the two of you."

I was so confused with what my father was trying to say and a part of me getting worried and anxious. "What do you mean it won't end well?" I said in a low voice.

"As you know when a True Luna is born it's because there is an unbalanced in the supernatural world which means her purpose in life is to restore that balance and when that is achieved the True Luna is no longer needed.." he paused as he hesitated before continuing "..which means the spirit of the True Luna leaves her body, killing the body in the process."

My eyes widened in shock. "Are you saying that if she completes her purpose she will then die."

He nodded sadly. I felt like I had been stabbed in the chest and it felt like I forgot how to breathe. I took a step back. I couldn't believe this.

This couldn't be true. I had only just found her and now I was told I was going to loose her?!

My thoughts where interrupted by the sounds of Lara yelping as Eleanor bit into her side.

I was using all my strength to hold myself back and not jump in but I couldn't do that.

Instead I just tried to calm my wolf down my taking in the new presence on our mate bond in my mind.

However something didn't feel right. If Lara was now my mate it meant that I could mind link her through out mate bond but I felt like I couldn't reach her. It felt like I was being blocked out by something.

Maybe she was just focusing on her fight? Get a grip Kian you shouldn't distract her. I said mentally slapping myself.

I watch as her body moved with such strength and agility. Now that I studied her I hadn't noticed how large her wolf was. It was the same size as mine and mine was very big. I could see the rage in both Eleanor and Lara's eyes, there was a mutual need to take revenge. They seemed to be speaking to each other through their pack bond.

Lara fought so incredibly good, I was astonished. I could tell she had been trained very well and I was impressed.

She seemed to be radiating a type of dominating energy I had never felt from any wolf before. She had this aurora of power which must of been coming from her True Luna side. I could sense the other wolves could feel it too. It almost made my wolf feel weirdly submissive which made my Alpha side feel nervous and slightly uncomfortable.

So this is the True Luna energy. Since they are the most powerful supernatural of all wolves, they have this sort of powerful and majestic yet calming aura.

I watched as the people below us started circling them, trying to get a glimpse of the fight.

I could sense Lara was loosing a lot of blood, which was affecting her healing process.

At one point it looked like Eleanor had the upper hand as she pinned Lara down but then somehow Lara got a sudden surge of energy and pushed her off.

The next few seconds went by in a blur. One minute Lara was throwing Eleanor with great force across the air and the next she was ripping her head clean off.

The sound of cheering, clapping and wolves barking and yipping filled the air.

I studied peoples expressions and all of them looked relieved and happy that Lara had defeated Eleanor. They mustn't have liked having Eleanor as their Luna.

The Luna blood began to course through her veins as Lara stood howling in her wolf form.

Other fellow pack member's who were in wolf form, howled back to her in response to their new leader.

Her True Luna energy was powerful as she emitted energy waves. Her pack bowed down at her. When she shifted back to her human form I could see the Luna blood still pumping through her veins. She seemed to be in shock and as her eyes clouded indicating that she was mind linking someone. Lara glanced at an older looking woman wearing a cloak, concealing her voluminous white air. The woman had a small reassuring and pleased smile. Very mother like.

Witch. My wolf instincts echoed.

I flicker of surprise and panic filled me. But then I noticed Lara relax a bit in response to the woman's gesture. A part of me had a sense that she was good. It was rare for witches to mingle in wolf packs. I wondered why she was here.

Paul walked up to Lara and held her right hand up in the air.

"SilverMoon pack, I give to you your rightful True Luna!" The crowd burst into happy cheers and whistles. A feeling of relief flooded through me.

I finally found my mate. After all the searching and to think I was about to go through with being mated to Sabrina.

I never wanted to do it but my father wanted me to for the good of my pack.

I would have lost my chance of ever being with my true mate.

But there now there seemed to be a hovering question...

What now?

What would happen to Lara and I's packs?

Would we still unite them.

What about her mission? Did she know what would happen if she killed the vampire king?

I couldn't let her go through with it. I couldn't lose my mate

I had to stop her.

I tried reaching out to her through the mind link but I still couldn't get through.

It made me and my wolf feel anxious and agitated. Now that I thought of it. Lara hadn't once looked in my direction and she didn't seem as over joyed as I was feeling right now.

I tried to reassure my self. Maybe her mate bond hadn't been triggered yet. I mean it's not like we had physically touched or she had seen my wolf- then realisation hit me.

Wait. . . . But she had. In the alley way and in the open field.

She had seen me in my wolf form but did not seem affected or had reacted to the mate bond at all. Confusion and slight panic filled me.

Could her True Luna side have anything to do with it. Maybe their mate bond was only triggered by touch unlike other wolves. Or maybe she was pretending like it hadn't happed. I took a few steps towards her.

Suddenly a loud cry filled the air.

"Mother!" Sabrina cried hovering over her dead mothers body. I felt sorry for her, although Sabrina was annoying at times she was a nice person.

"You fucking bitch. I hate you so much. You ruined my life." She screamed at Lara as tears streamed down her cheeks. He eyes where ignited with an angry fire.

I notice something was wrong with Lara she seemed to be looking dazed and she looked like her leg where about to give way.

The True Luna power and pack bond must be draining her energy.

"You ruined my ceremony and killed my mother! I don't care if you are my Luna or the leader of all werewolves, I will never submit to you!" Sabrina shouted as she stood up and made her way towards Lara. Her anger was making her a danger. Like she could lash out any minute.

Without thinking I jumped in between them, standing protectively in front of Lara. My wolf side taking control of my body.

"Stop Sabrina. Enough." I said lacing my Alpha power into my voice.

Sabrina froze in her tracks, stunned by my sudden tone and protectiveness towards Lara.

"You're not seriously protecting her now are you?!" She remarked, hurt and betrayal visible in her tone.

"I'm sorry about your mother's death but Lara won the challenge fair and square. You need to accept that and if you can't I suggest you leave." I could tell my voice sounded cold and my tone was dead serious.

"But Kian- What about us?" She whispered.

There was no us.

"The deal is over. We are not mates, we don't need to be forced to marry each other anymore. I suggest you find your real mate instead if you want to live a happy life."

"But I don't want my mate, I want you. Don't you want me?" she whined her eyes looking glassy.

"No, I have a mate. I don't need anyone else."

"M-Mate?" She stammered, stepping back surprised.

"Sabrina let's go. We should leave. We are no longer welcomed here." Stephan cut in pulling Sabrina back by her arm.

"You'll pay for this Lara. It isn't over!" She shouted.

I watched as Sabrina and Stephan made a run for it into the Forrest.

"Lara!" I turned to the sound of Nick 's voice coming from behind me. Through all the commotion Lara had collapsed. Rick, the older woman and Nick surrounded her.

Anger and jealousy bubbled up inside of me as I watched Nick hold Lara in his arms. Control it Kian. Control it. I told myself as I clenched and unclenched my fist.

""Lara! Lara are you OK?" He spoke to her. "What's happening to her? Her body is burning up." He asked worriedly.

The woman spoke up. "The True Luna's awakening has drained her energy and she is weak. She needs some rest."

Rick took off his button up and wrapped it around her small body.

"Head-d.. h-hurts." Lara stammered before her eyes shut and fell unconscious.

I pushed past them and knelt down beside Lara. This only caused Nick to pull her protectively towards him even more. I swallowed the growl that was threatening to come out.

"I think I know why her head hurts. It's the pack bond. Her mind is adjusting to the new connections of your pack members. It can be painful at first if the person has not been trained how to control it." I explained.

"Well then what do expect us to do?" He said. I could sense the skepticism and distrust towards me in his voice. It was obvious he didn't like me and I didn't like him either.

"Give her to me." I said

"Why, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to try help her. She she needs my Alpha energy."

"It's ok Nick." The old witch said softly.

Hesitantly, Nick gave her to me and I wrapped my arms around her holding her body in my arms. I felt the sparks of electricity of the mate bond from our touch and it felt pleasurable rather than painful. My wolf hummed in happiness and content.

'Lara' I said trying to mind link her. Nothing of course.

I put my palm against her forehead and closed my eyes. I imagined an invisible aura coming from within me and flowing into Lara. Calming her and the emotion of the other wolves in her mind. I felt her mind relax.

"Alpha energy can be very useful." I said opening my eyes looking down at Lara's sleeping face as I spoke to the others.

I hadn't notice the crowd of people that had started surrounding us, wanting to see what had happened to the True Luna. I could see everyone nerves. I had to do something.

I slipped one hand under her knees and the other behind her back to lift her off the ground.

"Everyone," I said commanding the crowds attention. "Thankyou for your time but this ceremony is over now. Everyone should go home and get some rest it's been a long day."

"What about our Luna is she going to be ok?" Someone from the other pack shouted and was followed by agreeing murmurs.

"Lara needs some rest, so there is no need to worry. She will be ok. We will let you know if there is any further news about what is to happen now." I said assuring them.

The crowd slowly started dispersing and going back to their usual daily routines.

Ben made his way to me as he appeared out of nowhere.

"Everything ok Alpha?" He said as he tried to hide his grin at his formality. It wasn't really a question, he just wanted an excuse to call me Alpha.

I shook my head at him, smiling slightly. "Yes. Can you make sure there are a couple wolves on patrol in case something happens? I doubt Sabrina or Stephan will pull something off, but it's just for precaution."

"Ai ai." said Ben as he did a salute gesture.

"I'm going to go take her to her room to get some rest." I said nodding at Lara in my arms

I noticed Ben look at Lara then back up at me trying to make the connections in his head.

I lifted an eye brow waiting for it to click. Then his eyes widened in realisation.

"Is she...?" He asked. I nodded in response.

He let out an excited and relieved laugh.

I was about to walk off with Ben when Nick blocked my path.