~Victoria~

"Happy 21st birthday!" My pack members voices echoed through my territory. Everywhere I walked no matter where I looked.

Everyone gathered around the paved streets of the pack territory. I couldn't help but smile, at the fact that my pack actually cared about my aging. That smile started to fade at the thought of me being alone for another year. I can't take care of this pack all alone anymore. The pack has been hard enough to handle after my grandparents passed. They are starting to become restless. They want an Alpha and me as their Luna.

"Ehh, it's just another year, but thank you" I shouted back. I waved them off as I continued to stroll through the territory.

"Alpha Victoria, still no mate yet?" Asked Beta Jake, my second in command, as he ran up to me. He's always asked me this. It's quite annoying really, he never knows when to stop.

Jake was a tall, muscular guy. I feel like a dwarf next to him half the time, he is 6'6", a foot and 3 inches taller than me. His chestnut brown hair and tanned skin is nothing compared to his amazing sapphire eyes. He looks and acts like he is five years older than the majority of the time, but really he is only a month older. Well I should stop drooling over my beta. What I really should be telling you is what he does for the pack. When I'm away from the territory or sick, he leads the pack for me. Occasionally if the alpha never finds their mate or can't have pups, the beta's child will become the next alpha.

"Why is it any of your concern?" I huffed and crossed my arms. Trust me if you had to hear this like every day you know my pain.

"Well, I'm worried about you." His gaze was genuine.

"Well you shouldn't be, I'm perfectly fine." My eyes started to water. I really need to stop putting up this facade around him. He's my best friend I can tell him anything.

"No you're not, stop trying to be the ruthless alpha." He sighed and pulled me into a soft hug. "Your around your pack, let go of the cold hearted alpha." He knows me too well, but I can't just let all of my feelings flow.

"And become soft?" I forced a laugh and pushed him away. "That's the last thing I'll do." I've taken over one of the strongest packs led by a woman. I can't let my emotions get in the way of me being alpha.

I turned away, ending the conversation before he said another word. I had my mind set on one thing, making my pack stronger. I started to walk towards the training grounds where my Gamma, my third in command, would be.

When I neared the training field, the sounds of medal clashing and grunting filled the woods. When I entered the field, everyone stopped to nod at my presence. With a slight hand gesture from me they all continued to do what they were doing. Some were shifted into their wolves, others were practicing hand to hand combat. The edges of the field were lined with workout equipment, most of which was being used. A large platform, which is three feet off of the ground, is at the center of the field. Women were doing yoga or stretching, at one end of the platform. Young children were practicing their sword fighting with sticks on the other end.

At the very center of it all was my gamma, Charlie. He was too busy doing push ups to notice me. His dark skin was covered in sweat, I couldn't imagine how he manages to work out as much as he dose. His jet black hair clung to his scalp as his body lowered down on the mat, he still didn't notice my presence. He was the most muscular wolf in my pack, to add on top of the he is only 23. He still towers over me like everyone else in the pack, he is about 6 foot. He's often shirtless and he usually wears basketball shorts, always showing off his amazing abs.... Can't he just look at me with his amazing hazel eyes? Oh God, I'm doing it again! I need to stop obsessing over how good my pack mates look. Well unlike my beta, my gamma would handle intruders, prisoner, and everything war related and if you didn't notice training as well.

I cleared my throat and he immediately turned his head, his full lips cracked a smile. "Sorry Alpha, when I train I usually never get destracted." He paused. "I'm sure if you stayed silent I would have never noticed you."

I laughed at his last comment. "Don't be sorry, it's wonderful to see that you actually get something done out here while you make sure everyone else is training."

"May I ask you something?" He asked as he jumped off of the platform.

"Ask away."

"Why are you so sweet around me and not so much like the ruthless alpha who took over this pack?" He was obviously pointing out how I treat him differently from the rest of the pack.

"Well..." I trailed off. "You see..." I tried stalling but he gave me the 'stop-taking-forever-and-just-tell-me' look. "It's hard to explain." I falsely admitted.

Well actually its not that hard to explain, when I was 16 I met him at school. We both lost our parents at a young age, and I've always felt a connection between the two of us since. I always get butterflies around him, and I honestly thought that we would have been mates. It's been four years since the Moon Goddess decided that my mate would be revealed to me. I haven't felt the bond between us so obviously it's not him. I'm half glad that he isn't, I'm too close of a friend to him. Then there is the little burning ember inside of me that wishes that I will forever be his, but do I dare tell him that I think that way though? No! Do you know how humiliating that would be?

'Oh really it's hard to explain?' My wolf Jess decided to chime in.

'Do you really want to argue about this right now?' I retorted.

'Your lying to your pack mate." I could just imagine her narrowing her eyes and crossing her arms.

'You know your a pain sometimes.' I responded, hoping she would leave me alone. She huffed at my response before closing off the link.

"Earth to Victoria!" Charlie yelled.

"Sorry, Jess was distracting me." I paused and turned my focus on Charlie. "More like being a pain, like she always is," I laughed.

"So, am I not aloud to know why you act the way you do around me?" He smirked and crossed his arms, purposely making his muscles flex.

"Show off." I murmured under my breath. "So, about that small pack." I paused to admire is muscles. Jess was filling my mind with awkward thoughts so I tried to have her mind on something else. "When can we invade?"

He obviously heard my 'show off' remark because he kept flexing and smiling. "By next week Friday."

I could feel my face becoming warmer by the second. "You are dismissed." I simply said before turing away an heading back to the pack house. Which is where I live, with, my beta and gamma and the other high tiered wolves. It gets annoying half the time, living in one house with about 8 other wolves. Not to mention this house has five floors, not counting the basement.

The first floor is mainly, an open living space with a large fire place, a large kitchen with top notch appliances, and a giant dining room. The second floor contains, a library, an art studio, because I need my drawing space, a storage room, it's pretty much full of stuff that we can't part with. I wish Jake would let that stupid picture of the crying clown go... It scares me... Well back on topic, the third floor is where the all of the offices are, along with a meeting room. The forth floor holds all of the rooms for the high tiered wolves, such as, the Head Assassin, my most valuable Guard, Head Spy, and three experienced elders who joined my pack. The Fifth floor is for my beta, my gamma and I. Oh I almost forgot, the basement, no it's not a torture chamber, it's a game room.

I received more 'Happy Birthdays', I mainly tried to ignore them. The constant reminder that I was alone for another year, made my heart ache. Im not defendant on a guy to keep my happy, I just don't want to be alone all my life. Knowing my pack members at the pack house, I would be greeted with a chorus of 'Happy Birthdays', so I scratched the idea of going back to the pack house.

I quickly turned on my heel and headed in the opposite direction, toward the forest. Maybe I could actually relax. I could lay all pack my duties on Jake for a while.

'Hey Jake?' I questioned through the link.

'Yes Vic?' He seemed annoyed.

'Can you watch the pack for a while?'

'Why?' He didn't respond for a while. 'Well I guess I have to since your probably leaving the pack territory.'

'Thank you.' I paused. 'Are you mad about earlier?'

'No, I'm over it.'

I didn't respond. All I could think about was, if our friendship ended. I needed Jake as my beta, no one else could compare. I'm tough on him for many reasons, 1: I'm an alpha. 2: He is closer to me than anyone else, even Charlie. I've told him everything, including the way I feel about Charlie. 3: He was actually my first love. We actually dated for 5 and a half months, during my freshman year of high school. He was literally the only guy who I can talk to about everything. Other than that, he is strong and knows how to treat a pack.

'Hey, don't worry we will always be friends.' He spoke up.

'Stop invading my thoughts!' I growled.

'Well it's kinda hard when you talking through the link.' I could tell he was smirking.

'Just watch the pack for me.'

'Will do, Princess.' After his remark, I huffed and closed the link.

My mind became blank, and my limbs went numb, the only thing on my mind was shifting. I relaxed my body as much as I could, taking in deep breaths. My face elongated into a snout, my teeth met at a point, like miniature daggers. My ears grew to a point, becoming much more aware of my surroundings. My arms and legs became strong enough to support my weight on all fours. My hands and feet morphed into paws, my nails elongated into claws. A long fluffy tail sprouted from my tail bone. My body was engulfed in a thick layer of pure red fur, unlike any other wolf. My full height was about a foot more than my normal height. Shifting is the most wonderful thing for a wolf, well that's if you haven't found your mate.

I'm my mind my wolf was gorgeous, my red fur really contrasted with my vibrant emerald eyes. I'm more at home in this figure, it was just... Words can't describe how I feel.

I let out a howl to let the guard wolves know I was coming to the territory line. I started walking at a slow pace, it started to quicken as I neared my guards. I stopped in between two wolves, one with light blond fur, and one with grey fur.

'Greg. Max.' I nodded.

'Good morning Alpha Victoria' Max chirped, he was the blond furred wolf.

'Happy Birth-' Greg started.

'Please don't finish.' I pleaded.

'Have a nice day.' He continued, his tone made him seem nervous.

'Howl if you need anything.' Max nodded as I started to run off, dismissing them.

I planned on just taking a run, when Jess started to freak out. Normally she just sits in the back of my mind, or wherever she usually goes and waits till. She come up with a smart comment.

'Hold it.' She shouted. 'Now!'

'What do you want now?'

'I want to take over.' Her voice was demanding.

'No, you go crazy when you take over.' I snorted.

'Im going to take over, and your going to let me.' She used her alpha tone with me.

'You did not just use that tone on me.' I growled.

'Of course I did.' I could tell she was smirking.

Jess took me to an area that seemed familiar, yet I could barely remember it. It took forever to get to, over hills, through a cave, and through a thick swamp like forest. She finally stopped to admire the beautiful sight. A huge willow tree, sat in the middle of a small island. A shallow wading stream started at one end, split to surround the island, then rejoined its self at the opposite end. The glistening midday sun made the water sparkle. That's when the memories hit me like a truck.

My mother had brought me here when I was little. She would sit under the trees with me sprawled across her lap. I would take naps here, listen to my mothers stories, and just listen to nature with her. The memories were the best in the world, but one thing turned them terrible. My mother, she was no longer around.

I started to whimper, I couldn't take it any more. 'Jess get me out of here!'

'You can have control.' She sounded terrified.

'Why would you bring me here!' I wimped as I darted out of the area.

My mind was set on leaving, I couldn't go back to the pack. They would think I've gone soft, and walk all over me. I wasn't about to mind link, Jake or Charlie, I can handle myself.

'Vic I'm sorry.' Jess's voice was quiet.

'I don't want to talk to you.' I growled.

'My senses begged me to go that way.'

'Yea so you could torture me with the memories of her?' I scoffed.

'Vic, I wasn't trying to do that.' She paused. 'Its been four years, I'm getting anxious, I needed to check it out.'

'At this point I don't care, you can suffer.' I growled.

'Don't you want to have your other half?'

Do I really want my other half? He hasn't come searching for me, or at least I don't think he has. For all I know he could have rejected me before I even met him.

During my thinking process, I tripped over a large tree root. I started to tumble down the hill, hitting multiple rocks on the way down. When I finally stopped, I lay motion less on the bottom of the hill.

'You'll be ok.' Jess whispered.

With all the strength I had left I shifted back, my bare motionless body lay there. I quietly groaned at the pain, my head was pounding, and the rest of my body felt like bunch of people threw stones at me.