1 Lyra of Cold Moon

Lyra would reach her majority in exactly two days. She had survived all these years yearning for her eighteenth birthday. If only The Moon Goddess would grant her a gentle mate to save her from her painful existence. That was her only wish throughout her lonely childhood.

She was enemy number one among The Cold Moon Pack. She spent the last 17 years paying for the sins of her father. He was a rogue who kidnapped her mother whom was beloved by all of he pack. He kept her alive only long enough to give birth to his child, and upon sighting a daughter instead of a son, killed her in cold blood.

Her father was caught and killed shortly after and Anya, the Luna of Cold Moon pack, took pity on the infant found a few meters from his body. She was taken to the pack house and cared for by an Omega named Sheryl. Though the Luna and Sheryl had a soft spot for her, Lyra's childhood was one spent being abused by those who loved her mother, the Alpha's only sister.

Today, like every day, she rose before the dawn and dressed for the day. Her chores were started as the rest of the pack slept on. She met Sheryl in the kitchen and with a slight smile and nod, began to help prepare breakfast.

As they were finishing loading the food cart to move the food to the dining hall, Alpha Shane strode into the room. He nodded to Sheryl and the curled his lip at Lyra. "You will come to my office after breakfast. Your majority is just days away and I must discuss the ceremony with you.", he said before turning and leaving. Lyra kept her eyes on the floor the entire time and then answered him softly, "Yes, Alpha."

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The digital clock on Alpha Shane's desk glowed 8:04 in red letter as Lyra stared at it and waited for the Alpha to speak. Her eyes ripped away from the clock and to Alpha Shane as his gravely voice filled the room. "You will not have the same celebrations afforded to other members of the pack on their 18th birthday. You have no parents nor sponsor to pay for it and the pack won't waste resources on the likes of you. We will afford you only your majority ceremony and you may eat with the pack on this one day, only because the Luna has asked this favor of me."

He looked at her in contempt before continuing. "If your mate is here within the pack and he does not reject you, you will be afforded the respect of a mate to his position. If he is not within the pack or rejects you, we will give you the choice to remain as a servant or to leave the pack. I would find it more favorable if you were to leave. Looking at you day after day makes me sick."

Lyra kept her eyes firmly on Alpha Shane's broad chest as he spoke, but was almost startled into looking him in the face, before remembering herself. The last time she had dared meet his eyes, he had thrown his wine glass at her and she had to pick glass out of her face for hours that night.

It was her eyes, she knew from the whispers that had always followed her. She had her father's auburn hair, but her eyes were not his dull brown. Her eyes were the exact shade of bright blue that her mother Lihanna's had been. The alpha mostly treated her with cold indifference, but any reminder of his beloved younger sister sent him into a cold rage.

Lyra swallowed nervously as her eyes darted to the floor. "Yes Alpha. Thank you for your kindness.", she said politely. He ignored her and began to pick up papers on his desk and write. Taking this as a dismissal, she bowed and turned to leave. Before she reached the door, he spoke once more.

With more kindness than he had ever afforded her he said, "I realize that I have treated you much more harshly than you deserve all these years. I will never speak of this again after today, but I am sorry for what you have had to endure. I will not make excuses. I hope that your mate will find you and take you where you will not be hated so." He sniffed and cleared his throat. "you may go."

Lyra fled his office with her mind whirring. She had never heard Alpha Shane apologize to anyone. Perhaps it was always his custom to do so privately, but she couldn't help but feel it a rare occasion. Tears filled her eyes as she walked to her room. Perhaps things would be better once she became a wolf in her own right.