Once Upon A Wolf Moon (The Shadow Pack Chronicles Book 1), page 1
Copyright © 2021 Tasha Creed Books
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN:9798784745699
Cover design by: Wolf Girl Designs by Tasha Creed
Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Books In This Series
Chapter 1
Leia
Being the oldest daughter of an Alpha was a pain.
Being the runt of his seven children that all have alpha abilities was an even bigger pain.
My five-foot-three height wasn’t that uncommon. We vary in heights just like everyone else, but to be an Alpha’s child and see this petite girl, I didn’t strike fear in many hearts in human form.
Of course, I am the butt of a lot of jokes when we have visiting Alpha’s which doesn’t help matters. I am the shortest out of all the Alpha’s children we know. The only other alpha daughter that is on the shorter side, is in our closest neighboring pack, Sunset. She is very timid though considering she is one of the Alpha’s children and still taller than me by two inches.
To make matters even worse, I am the only one with red hair out of all my siblings. They have varying shades of browns and blondes, and not even a red tint to be seen. So not only do they make jokes about my lack of height, but they also throw in jokes about my hair.
Being the oldest, it’s not like I can hide in the shadows like my younger siblings. I have to be present for all the meetings and of course, keep my youngest siblings in line. My brother Dakota is the actual Alpha heir, but I’m more dominant than he is, and I think my father hopes that my mate will transfer into this pack instead of me leaving to be with him. That way I can help my brother and continue helping the pack, not that any of us think he will have issues leading.
The one thing I had going for me was my wolf. She is pitch black and rather massive compared to the others. The first time I shifted, I was thirteen and someone was messing with my brother Dakota. Even though we are just a year apart, I had my wolf, and he did not. Not only did I protect him, but I almost seriously injured the boy who was picking on him by about ripping his arm completely off. My parents were baffled as to why I’m so short in stature as a human but am a powerhouse of a wolf.
“Leia, are you ready yet?” Speaking of the devil himself.
“No, Dakota I’m not ready.” I try to straighten my hair another way. Today is the night of the full moon and we’re having our monthly get-together with all the other pack Alpha’s.
Every month it’s the same thing over and over. We all meet up, have a feast of some sort, go on a pack run, and hope that our wolves find mates. My father hopes that by having a meeting each month, we’re covering all the bases and giving each wolf a chance to find their mates between packs. I always ask him why it happens each month though because it’s not like we have newly shifted wolves every single month. It keeps the alliances and peace he says. You just never know when it might happen. I think they’re all crazy for traveling from all over the states to come to Montana to do these runs. I guess that’s why all the packs have jets.
“Seriously, Leia hurry it up or Dad is going to get mad.” Dakota whines.
I finally open the bathroom door. “What Dakota? What is so special about this month that I’m being rushed. It’s not even time for me to make my appearance yet. I got like two hours.”
“Leia, the Shadow Pack is coming. Dad is in a tizzy. They finally agreed to join the alliances with all of us. Family meeting, now.” Dakota takes back off downstairs before I can even ask him questions.
The Shadow Pack is a very rough group, and that’s only a minor fact. Their Alpha, I wouldn’t say, is heartless, but he rules with a stern tone is a nice way of putting it. More like an iron fist, teeth, and claws. They’re ferocious in battle and, as far as I know and have heard, have taken out every opponent that has challenged them.
Nobody messes with them, so for them to show interest in joining our alliance is a little alarming. It’s quite intimidating, but I know that with me there, it should run smoothly.
I finish up and make my way downstairs. I get this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, but try to shake it off.
It can’t be that bad, can it?
Maybe their Alpha isn’t as bad as everyone says. This could be good for everyone. I have to keep positive thoughts of my wolf is going to be very tense and make every uncomfortable. When am I tense? I’m always happy to go lucky dog-o.
I feel her sheepish grin shining through. She should behave herself, but I know she won’t. I always behave!
I roll my eyes and silence her in the back of my mind. Right now, I don’t need her commentary going through my mind twenty-four seven.
I walk in to see all my siblings and parents standing in the dining room. My Dad has this look on his face that I’ve only seen a few times. He’s worried about what this could mean.
“I’m glad you all are here together, so I can just say this once. Shadow Pack Alpha Jerome has contacted me. They want to join our alliance and want to attend our meeting tonight. I have approved this on a probationary period. If they act right and everything goes smoothly, they will return each month. I do not want to start a battle with them, because I’m not sure if we’d win just yet. He will only bring himself and five others tonight. With everything going on in Tirana, I just want to keep things going as smoothly as possible.”
“Dad, you can’t be serious. All we ever have heard about them is that they are brutes. Even with this newer Alpha, that’s been in power twenty years? They’re rough and not just around the edges. What if they find mates in our packs? What about those innocent females? Wait, what is going on with Tirana?” I had to be the voice of reason. Even though I’d never be Alpha, despite being the largest and most dominant of my siblings, I wasn’t the male heir.
What was concerning and got my attention abruptly, was the way dad mentioned Tirana. Even though we have never lived in our home realm, our High Alpha pair did, along with a lot of our packs. We were one of the few who could live in the human realm to keep the peace among supernaturals.
Regardless of what was going on there, I still cared for the packs and didn’t want to see females go to uncaring and ill-mannered mates.
My Dad tensed. “Don’t you think I’ve thought of that? I know Leia. I know more than you realize. Females always go to their mates’ packs. It’s how we keep the peace and get fresh blood into packs. I get your concern and I also realize we could have females from their packs transfer to ours as well. It’s a lot. I do not know how tonight will go. Tirana, let’s just say the High Alpha pair has a lot going on right now. I’m not too concerned about that right now and we can discuss that later. What matters now is about the Shadow pack coming.”
I look at my family. He’s right. We need to focus on tonight and not everyone else around.
What if it was one of us? What if the Shadow pack found females in our pack as mates? This needed to be our focus.
I don’t have to worry about my three brothers because their mates will transfer into ours, but what about my sisters? What about me?
I shudder at the thought I’d find a mate in that pack, but I haven’t found mine so far. With all opportunities you think I would have by now, each month came and went with no success. I take one long look around at my six siblings. Thankfully only three of us are eighteen and over, including myself, but if this becomes a regular thing, the others could find theirs in that pack.
Dakota and Izzy hadn’t had any luck with their mates, but they were even younger than me. Shadow pack was the only other pack though living in the human realm and we haven’t been able to establish an alliance with them until now, so this could change that for us.
I glanced at the clock and saw it was still about an hour and a half before everyone would arrive. I looked back at my family.
My Dad stood with his fists on the table. My mother rubbed his back. I understood the toll this took on him. Even though our family wasn’t as high up as saying the High Alpha’s, my dad still was an important figure for the wolf packs living in the human realm. They looked up at him and he guided them.
“I’m sure everything will go fine. Maybe none of our females will find mates in the group.
Suddenly, before anyone commented, doors were shutting.
“Was we expecting someone?” I look around and across all my siblings before finally landing on my mom.
She looks up and locks eyes on me. “They’re here.”
I understood in those two words she meant the Shadow pack. They’ve come to meet us before the meeting.
My stomach just dropped further. I inhaled deeply and tried to calm my erratic nerves, but my deep breathing was not helping matters.
That’s when I smell it. Something smells so divine. I keep telling myself the cooks must have started already, and it’s just the food, but something deep down knows that’s not it. It’s more like someone smells wonderful.
“Everybody in their place. Leia, you know your spot.”
“I’ll be beside you all the way.” I always ran the defense because of my dominance. No one ever expected it from me, either. I was less intimidating than his Beta as well, so it had its benefits. Everyone knew my brother was the heir, and though most knew my wolf was very dominant, not everyone had figured out I was the most dominant. So, I became the secret weapon. The only thing they knew for sure was I was larger than all my siblings in wolf form, which freaked something of them out, to be honest.
We walked to the door to our home and opened it.
I stood beside my parents as they stepped out. My siblings all surrounded behind us, with my brother Dakota standing beside me, dwarfing me in his tall stature.
My eyes scanned the group of wolves from Shadow Pack. I automatically noted he only brought five people with him, just as he had said. So far, so good.
My father extended his hand to shake hands with Alpha Jerome.
“Good to see you, Alpha Nathaniel and Luna. Sorry for running a tad early.” Alpha Jerome’s voice is deep and somewhat startling.
“So glad to have you join us. Please introduce yourselves?”
“Gladly. As you all know, I am Alpha Jerome. The five I brought with me tonight for our trial run are Beta Jacob, my son and heir Garrett, my second-born son Zane, Delta Lupin, and lastly Omega Maverick. My other son, Daniel, has just turned eighteen and will stay home this evening.” He points to each as he speaks, but once he reached Garrett, all-time had frozen.
Our eyes locked and hadn’t moved since. He is what smelled so good. I inhale a sharp breath and all I can smell is pine, warm and manly pine. That is all mine.
He inhales sharply and I realize he must know what I do.
We’re mates. I stiffen my looks and try not to breathe too deeply. I tell myself to not show emotion. Of all the nights and my luck, of course, I’d be mated to his son and Alpha Heir. Garrett smirks at my reactions.
Finally, I flick my gaze away back to Alpha Jerome, and he eyes me curiously. Well, crap, there goes my plans. He must know.
He even dared to smirk. Wow, like father, like son.
My father continues to welcome him and his entourage into our home to wait for the rest of the activities to begin as a sign of good faith. I knew he introduced us, but at this point, I was just trying to process what was happening.
I also can’t keep thinking about how I’m going to rid the house of his smell afterward. That glorious pine smell that part of me never wants rid of. No, I refuse to be mated to him. I know I don’t know him, but nope, fate can kiss my tush. I am not doing this.
As my parents walk inside, my brother’s mind links me. Weird much, sis? You’re going to freak them out before anything ever begins. Your wolf is surfacing.
I can feel her rushing across the surface to the point some fur is sprouting, and my canines lengthen. I try to take a deep breath, but with his scent all around me, it’s making it hard for me to control her. She whines when I shove her down hard.
I mind link him back quickly. Hey, that might be a good thing? If that doesn’t work, I can fully show them my wolf. That will scare them away.
I snicker as we shut our links back off and smile. Scaring them away seems like an outstanding idea, though I’m not sure that would even work.
I watch as Alpha Jerome walks in behind my parents with one of his sons and then his Delta and Omega. I notice Garrett hanging toward the back.
My siblings follow behind them and then me. I can’t wait for tonight to be over. Then my wolf sneaks her feelings in, and now I never want to be away from him. Oh, I’m in for a long night.
As my dad explains what all goes on during our meetings with Alpha Jerome, I can’t help but notice that Garrett is slowly making his way over to be near me.
My siblings are all engrossed in conversations with the others to even notice my silent plea for help. I try to mind the link, but all of theirs are closed. Oh, how convenient. How could they do this at a time like this?
“I never caught your name.” I notice a little too late that Garrett has finally ended up beside me to make a casual conversation.
“It’s Leia,” I say blankly. I wish tonight was over. Why is it me that gets a mate in their pack?
“Well, nice to meet you, Leia. I’m Garrett.” I have the urge to roll my eyes.
“Your father already introduced you and us as well.” I keep things short, hoping he’ll get the drift I’m not interested.
“He did, but I figured I might as well talk to you about the situation at hand. I should get to know you, don’t you think?” He smiles a thousand-dollar smile, and part of me wants to swoon.
“That won’t be necessary,” I reply dryly.
“And just why won’t it be necessary?” He huffs and I inhale too deep at the wrong moment. My knees go weak, and I have to hurry to pull myself together.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but knowing you isn’t required.” I gather what strength I have and walk away. I don’t chance a look back because if I had, I doubt I’d be able to do what I needed to.
I will not be a Shadow Pack female.
Chapter 2
Leia
I look up at the moon tonight. It looks extra bright for the December moon. The vapor rose as I let out a breath.
I finally pull my gaze from the moon and look back to all the packs having a good time. There are a few new couples tonight. None of which contains the Shadow Pack. Thank goodness.
I have avoided Garrett for the last couple of hours. Once the other packs arrived, I offered to be an excellent hostess and take care of things. I usually do anyway, so it didn’t look suspicious at least.
So far, he hasn’t told anyone that I can tell, except maybe his father, considering he smirked at me shortly after we had locked eyes.
I’m not sure what my dad would think if he knew. I just don’t know how much longer I can hide it. It’s not like mates can fight the attraction of the mate bond. I’m stupid to even try. I know how this will all end, but I would hate myself if I didn’t at least try to fight back.
Like clockwork, I look around and see Garrett in my line of sight.
Every time I move to another table or talk to more pack members and think he isn’t there, lo-and-behold there he is. Sometimes he even smiles at me and all I can think is how he has some nerve trying that with me.
“Leia, you look irritated. What’s going on?” Dakota finally has noticed my quietness and avoidance of the Shadow Pack.
I eye behind him to the ladies he has attracted, but of course, my brother is blind to it and pays them no attention. They love his blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes; his height doesn’t hurt matters at all. He has filled in nicely after gaining his wolf about six years ago and has been a girl magnet since.
“Me, irritated? No, all is good. It’s all great. Looks like dad had nothing to worry about.” I smiled and hoped it didn’t look as fake as it felt.
“I’m not buying what you’re trying to sell. Yes, everything is great and running smoothly. It’ll make dad feel better, but what is going on with you? You’re acting weird and you’ve avoided Garrett after he tried to speak to you earlier. They seem okay. Reel in your wolf. She’s going berserk. I can feel her dominance coming in waves. It’s not uncomfortable yet, but it could be if you don’t get it in check.” He looks over my head and eyes our surroundings.
I try not to roll my eyes. If only he knew what I was hiding, then he wouldn’t be all coy with me about not speaking as much to them.
