Present Day
Freda Pov
"Luna Freda has a nice ring to it don't you think."
I smiled at my reflection in the water basin. My friend Cassie stood behind me braiding flowers into my hair for tomorrow's ceremony. Tomorrow I would officially become Alpha Urdon's matemy entire life would change.
"It sounds perfect," Cassie said. She tied off another braid. "I still can't believe you're marrying the Alpha. Half the pack has been in love with him for years."
"Well he chose me," I said. My cheeks felt warm. "I don't know why but he did."
"Because you're kind and smart and beautiful," Cassie said. "Any wolf would be lucky to have you."
I wanted to believe her but part of me still felt like this was all a dream. Like I would wake up tomorrow and find out Alpha Urdon never really wanted me at all. That someone like me could never actually become Luna of WolfTrail Pack.
"Are you nervous," Cassie asked.
"Terrified," I admitted. "What if I mess something up during the ceremony. What if the pack doesn't accept me as their Luna. What if I'm not good enough."
"Stop," Cassie said firmly. She put her hands on my shoulders and met my eyes in the reflection. "You are good enough, Alpha Urdon knows it. The moon knows it, ow you need to know it too."
I took a deep breath and nodded. She was right. I needed to stop doubting myself, Alpha Urdon loved me. He chose me, that had to mean something.
"Come on," Cassie said. "Let's go watch the preparations. It'll take your mind off things."
We walked through the pack grounds where everyone was busy setting up for tomorrow. Wolves hung garlands from the trees and arranged stones in ceremonial patterns. The older pack members prepared the traditional foods that would be served after the mating.
"Luna Freda," one of the elders called out. She was a gray wolf named Marta who had been with the pack for generations. "Come here child. I need to speak with you about the ceremony traditions."
I walked over to her. Cassie squeezed my hand once before heading off to help with the decorations.
"Yes Elder Marta," I said respectfully.
"Tomorrow you will recite the Luna vows," Marta said. Her voice was serious. "These vows are sacred. They bind you not just to the Alpha but to the entire pack bloodline. Do you understand what that means."
"I think so," I said. "It means I'm promising to protect and serve the pack, means more than that," Marta said. She looked at me with strange intensity. "When you become Luna you take on everything that comes with the Alpha bloodline."
Something about the way she said history made my skin prickle.
"What kind of history," I asked.
Marta opened her mouth like she was about to say something important but then Alpha Urdon appeared beside us.
"Elder Marta," he said smoothly. "I hope you're not overwhelming my future mate with too many details."
"Just explaining the traditions Alpha," Marta said. But her expression had changed and closed off.
"Good," Alpha Urdon said. He put his arm around my waist. "Freda has enough to worry about without you filling her head with old stories."
There was that word again. Things the pack didn't seem to want to talk about directly but kept mentioning in vague ways.
"I should get back to the preparations," Marta said. She walked away quickly.
"Is everything okay," I asked Alpha Urdon. "Elder Marta seemed like she wanted to tell me something important."
"Everything is fine," Alpha Urdon said. But his jaw was tight. "Marta is just old fashioned, she thinks every ceremony needs to come with a lecture about the ancient ways."
"Maybe I should know about the ancient ways though," I said carefully. "If I'm going to be Luna."
"You'll learn everything you need to know," Alpha Urdon said. He kissed my forehead. "Don't worry about it tonight, just focus on tomorrow and how happy we're going to be."
He was right. I was probably overthinking everything because of nerves. Tomorrow I would marry the wolf I loved, that was all that mattered.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of final preparations. By the time evening came I was exhausted. Cassie walked me back to my den.
"Get some rest," she said. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."
"Thank you for everything," I said. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'd be fine," Cassie said. "But I'm glad you don't have to find out."
She left, I curled up in my sleeping spot but even though I was tired I couldn't fall asleep. My mind kept going back to Elder Marta's words, the bloodline and history. The way Alpha Urdon got tense whenever anyone mentioned old laws or traditions.
Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just anxious because of the ceremony.
But as I finally started to drift off I heard something. A whisper so quiet I almost thought I imagined it.
"Little wolf."
My eyes snapped open. Nobody was there. I was alone in my den.
"Hello," I called out softly.
No answer. Just the sound of wind in the trees and distant pack members still working on preparations.
I shook my head. I was definitely more nervous than I thought if I was starting to hear things.
I closed my eyes again and tried to relax. Tomorrow everything would be perfect, i would become Luna Freda. I would stand beside Alpha Urdon. I would finally have the family and purpose I'd always wanted.
But as sleep finally pulled me under I felt it. A presence, something ancient and cold watching me from somewhere I couldn't see and somehow I knew it wasn't just watching.
It was waiting.
When the moon rose that night I felt it. Something old was watching me and it knew my name.