Under The Full Moon

Zara’s POV.

“Zara! Wake up! We have a hunt to get to in 20 minutes!”

I rolled my eyes at the sound of my dad's voice. I had been up for hours already. As I stood and stretched I felt my wolf stir.

“It is going to be so exciting to be out for a hunt! We haven't shifted for weeks.” I thought.

I smiled knowing how much I was going to enjoy stretching my legs. There was a knock at my door, my dad and twin siblings came in.

“Are you ready?” My dad asked.

“Yes, Father I am.” I replied in a bored tone. I was always ready to go before them. I wake up at two A.M every day to pray to the moon goddess, and to send or respond to letters. I have been talking to Flame of the fire dragons for years, but we have had a lot more contact since Flame had taken over as Dragon Lord. My family all headed down the stairs and through the sitting room to the front door. As we passed the fireplace to leave the house I smiled at my mother's picture that was on the mantel. I always did this. I missed her so much more on pack hunting nights. I thought about my mother and her death while my family and I walked down the forest trail. It was muddy and slippery from the rain. Today was the first day without rain in two weeks. The twins were goofing off behind us on the trail. They were smacking wet, mossy branches together like swords. They pay no mind to anything other than each other.

“Ah... Lucious... Zara.. What a pleasure to see you.” I rolled my eyes at Dexter Volk, as he spoke in a very snarky tone that dripped with false politeness. Dexter's family were Alphas from another pack that had been wiped out in the last great war 10 years ago. His grandfather joined our pack to save his bloodline. My father didn't care about The Volks family attitude, and was thrilled to see his favorite warrior.

“Dexter! How are you this fine evening?” My dad said, proudly. He never sounded like that speaking to me, even though I am the future Alpha, and much stronger than Dexter in so many ways. My dad always wanted a son as his firstborn. That's why he treats Dexter and the twins as if they’re royalty.

“I am doing very well, Lucious. Thank you for asking.” Dexter turned to me and spoke in a soft malicious voice so only I could hear him “You haven't said anything. Why so quiet little pup” I glared at him and turned away. I would not let him get me locked up tonight. The last two hunts I had been put in confinement because of his taunting. Finally everyone got to the pack's rally point. We all began to shift. The intense burning began as my bones began to crack and pop. Fur sprouted from my skin and there finally after long anticipation I shook myself adjusting to my wolf's body and the heightened senses. I howled in excitement as I took off into the trees. The crisp morning air filled my lungs and whistled in my ears as I bounded and leaped through the forest. I slowed and began to gently walk through the forest looking around.

“I am not hunting tonight. I want to go to the river. "I thought as I took off into the trees again, howling with joy. The run to the river always takes forever, but it is definitely worth it. I enjoyed the run but it was hard to keep hidden because in my wolf form I am white with black paws and ankles. They remind me of what humans call socks on horses. After the long thirty minute run I made it to the river. Panting, I took a drink of the cool fresh water. The sun had started to rise, birds were singing and chirping, The water fae had begun to start their day and I watched as the tiny creatures flew over to a nearby berry bush and began picking berries. I sat down to relax and continued to watch the fae. Soon I had laid down and was drifting off in the cool morning sun.

****

Crack! I woke abruptly to the sound of a snapping branch. Blinking in the bright early morning sun and looking around I sniffed the air to see who or what was there. An amazing smell filled my nose and filled me with a sense of passion and need. I could smell campfire and cinnamon. It smelt so good. “That's weird,” I thought.

“Zara?” I jumped and spun around growling in anger and fear at the unknown speaker’s voice. Dexter's dark brown wolf emerged from the tree line.

“What do you want, Dexter?” I growled. Dexter came closer and sniffed me. He looked at me with hurt eyes. I froze as the amazing scent hit me again, stronger. More feelings of warmth and passion hit me like a sledgehammer. I wanted to run into his arms and stay there forever!

“Mate?” We both said at the same time. Dexter nuzzled me and went to nibble my ear affectionately. I shoved him away growling.. “The absolute audacity this bitch has,” I thought. I was furious with the moon Goddess for pairing me with the nastiest meanest man I knew. I didn't want him as my mate. I wouldn't take him as one any time soon. He needs to prove to me he can be a better pack member to myself and everyone else. Dexter whined and tried to nuzzle me again. I growled and snapped at him.

“Do not touch me. You have not earned the right. I have no idea what games the moon Goddess is playing, making YOU my mate but I am not participating in them. You have been awful to me since you joined our pack. Fuck off.” I spat the last two words at him with as much anger as I could muster. Jumping across the river to the other bank I began to run full speed away from Dexter. “I know I need to run fast if I am gonna get away from him..” I thought to myself. Behind me I heard Dexter's howls of desperation and pain as he ran after me.

“I got to get home.” I thought as I ran full speed through the trees. I howled for help. Hoping deeply that my father or my brothers would come to my aid. I knew that if Dexter caught me I'd be in trouble. His instincts had taken over and he'd mark me even if I didn't want it. I slipped in the mud, a burning pain filled my paw immediately from the strange landing. I panicked as I heard Dexter gaining on me. I was stronger but my wolf was smaller than his and I was hurt now, if he tackled me he could mark me before I could get him off. Dexter was right on my tail about to jump and catch me when I saw my brothers, Felix and Alix, leap on him from the trees above. Their large black wolves tangled with Dexter's brown one. I skidded to a stop, panting and gulping for air. There was a searing pain in my side. Alix and Felix growled and snapped at Dexter while he tried to get to me.

“What is going on here!” My father yelled as he ran up to us. He had come to see what all the noise was. His large ash-gray wolf made everyone but my brothers look small. Despite my brother's young ages, their wolves were huge. I growled at Dexter. My wolf longed for him desperately. But I was determined to ignore those feelings if I could. I turned away from the group of wolves, marching away into the trees, I began to fear what today would bring. I waited until I got to the front porch of the pack house and shifted back.

I ran inside and up the stairs quickly turning into my bedroom. “I hate living in the pack house” I grumbled to myself as I went to shower. I scrubbed the mud and sweat from my body, while thinking about what had happened. Dexter was my mate, that part was weird and annoying. He was perfectly into it as well. That part was confusing and obnoxious. He has been awful to me for years. I stepped out of the shower lost in thought and grabbed my towel, as I wrapped my swollen wrist up, there was a knock on my bedroom door.

Zara’s POV.

“Who is it?” I called.

A rough and angry yell answered back. “ You seriously had to start shit with him again? Do you have no self-control, girl?”

Rolling my eyes I yelled back through the closed door, “I have every right to run away from a mate who tries to mark me without permission! All I did was leave the situation! I didn't start anything!” There was silence for a minute and then my father's response came in another shout of anger.

“How dare you make up such lies! You two are not mates! There is no way a powerful warrior like Dexter is mated to YOU.” My father spat the last word out. I stared at my door in shock, I knew my father liked Dexter a lot but this was too far. Tears began to run down my face as I shouted back.

“Oh for Goddess sake! Leave me alone! I hate that I am his mate more than you do! Let me suffer in peace!” I walked over to my closet and got dressed, Ignoring my father's shouting. I put on my favorite black jeans and white tank top. As I sat down on my bed and began to lace up my leather combat boots, my phone went off. It was my best friend, Jade, sending me a message about our swim team meeting later today. “I need to get the twins to training.” I thought to myself as I stood up and grabbed my hoodie off my desk chair. When I opened my bedroom door I paused to hear the hushed voices down the hall. It was my stepmother and my father talking about Dexter and I.

Ignoring them both, I walked down the stairs and started to cook breakfast for us all. Felix came down the stairs and started to set the table when he heard me cooking.

“Father is being ridiculous Zara.. Don't listen to him.” Felix spoke in a hushed voice in case our father was listening. I shrugged, signaling I'd heard him but giving no vocal response.

“Thank you for stopping him Felix..” I whispered. Felix only heard because he was taking a juice pitcher from me. He smiled and nodded silently. As I cooked the fried eggs and bacon I thought about Dexter and how he was when we were younger and still in high school.

***

*Flashback, 3 years earlier.*

“Dexter, Stop! You're hurting me!” I screamed as he grabbed my wrists and held me down. Dexter was a year older than me and he had been trying to take me on a date for weeks now. He had arrived only a few months ago and since the beginning he had been horribly mean. He made advances when we were alone and bullied me around others. I had been ignoring him and trying to be left alone, to no avail. Dexter had one hand holding both of mine above my head and one fighting its way up my skirt.

“Please! Get off me! No! Stop please!” I begged Dexter to stop, tears streaming down my face. He didn't. There was a burning sensation as he forced his fingers into me roughly.

***

*Present day.*

“Zara! You foolish girl! Can’t you even cook eggs properly?" My stepmother, Genie yelled. I jumped. I had been lost in my head and had burned several eggs.

“Damnit! Sorry Ge-Luna '' I caught myself quickly hoping she hadn't heard me almost call her by her name. Out in public My father and his Wife were Alpha Lucious, and The Luna. For Genie, this wasn't just in public, it started at the breakfast table. She was obsessed with being in a position of power and wanted everyone to remind her of that power.

As I was serving my family breakfast I watched my stepmother fawn over the twins and their mediocre training scores. They were doing great, but that didn't stop me from getting rather annoyed as she celebrated the big red 59% on their papers. But scoffed at my 97% saying “That's it?” in a bored voice. Felix and Alix looked at my score and let out joyous cheers.

“Woah! Ninety-seven percent? That's insane, Z!”

“If she's so good, why did you have to go save her ass this morning from Dexter?” Genie sneered at me..

“Ma, You do realize that her strength isn't enough to fight off a mark bound male way bigger than herself, right? Especially if she's hurt.”

“Yeah, Genie. You should know that.” I made a point to look at her neck where a blotchy concealer patch tried to hide a mark she had received forcefully when she was very young. The mark never goes away when it's done too early. “How dare you! You little bitch! Do not speak to your Luna that way!” Genie shouted. I rolled my eyes hard while I started to move towards the front door. “Where do you think you are going? You have a punishment to serve.” Genie was trying to get my father to come downstairs and yell at me. But I was already waiting for the twins in my car before he even made it to the top of the stairs. Alix and Felix climbed into the car and as we backed out of the driveway one of them said “Hopefully Dad doesn't hear about what you said..”

I laughed saying, “Both Dad and Genie can suck it. I am over their bull shit.”

When we pulled up to the Wolves United campus, I grabbed my bag and climbed out of the car. Alpha college sucked, and sharing a campus with all of the other grades was awful. The grades were indeed separate but only in the buildings. Outside the school's 16 buildings was an absolute clusterfuck. The k-12 buildings, the gym then the two Alpha college buildings. Each building had its own training ring as well. The gym was available to all students 15 and older. I was so happy when they closed it down to younger people. The younger children were destroying the gym equipment and everyone's workouts. I headed off to my first class of the day, War Tactics and Strategies. I despised this class but it was required by all who were going to be warriors, Alphas, betas, omegas etc. There really isn't anyone who wouldn't take it. I walked into the classroom to Mrs. Cherry, the witch who taught the class, waving her wand at the chalkboard. Immediately the chalk began gliding across the board writing the day's entry question on the board. I sat down in my normal spot and pulled my war plans out. They were the semester project, I was almost done. The project was that you were assigned a great war that werewolves or Lycans had lost and then you had to draw up and write war plans to try and see if you would win. It was a rather simple project. I was pretty confident in my work, I had gotten the Moondust Pack's great war against the goblins. Which they only lost because of Alpha Rodrick's pride. All he had to do was swallow his pride and take the witches' offer to help win the war. Unfortunately Rodrick couldn't do it and they lost. That whole pack was wiped off the face of the earth. One descendant of Rodrick and his Luna lives today, but they aren't any good at war.. “Maybe it runs in the family” I chuckled at this thought. Class was long and boring. I spent over half of it doodling on a corner of my notes. I can't wait to go swimming after this. The pool is always fun.

****

Dexter’s POV.

My heart ached as I remembered my mate running from me in fear and anger. The alpha college buildings and gym were huge. I searched for Zara the entire first class. Finally after the 2 hours of class were over I found her walking down the hallway to the locker rooms and the pool in the gym building. I ran over to her and pulled her into a hug. I held my mate and inhaled her scent. She smells amazing. She smells like vanilla.

“Dexter! Get the fuck off of me!” Zara shoved me away from her. She looked at me, her piercing blue eyes flashing with anger and fear.

“No! Zara! Please!” I ran after her, as she stormed away. Desperate to hold her against me again. To feel the zap from her touch and to inhale her scent.

“No. Dexter please.” Her voice cracked as she began to cry. “Leave me be..”

“Zara, please let me explain myself. Please give me a chance. I can be a good mate. I will be good to you!” As I spoke, Zara shook with anger. Her voice cracked as she held the tears in.

“If I give you a chance, will I get my virginity back?” Her voice was cold and angry.

“Zara.. please. I'm so sorry”

With a snort of anger, Zara stormed off yelling over her shoulder.

“Rapist!”

*****

Zara’s POV.

I stormed off down the hall away from Dexter. How stupid does he think I am? Why is he lying to me? Just to mate with me? Disgusting. He is disgusting. I hate him. My wolf was angry with me. My wolf wanted our mate more than anything. But I was not going to give in. Not now..

“Zara! Come on! We've got to get dressed.” I was yanked back into reality by my best friend's voice. Jade and I had been friends for years. Many people who didn't know us assumed we were siblings, which always confused us. We both had Black hair, sure, but she had deep green eyes, Mine were a shocking blue. I was curvy and kind of chubby with a fair complexion. Jade was rather skinny with olive skin. We didn't look like siblings to me. I smiled knowing it was going to feel amazing swimming after this morning's long and exhausting run.

“Sorry, Jade. Lost in my head.” As Jade and I pulled our swimsuits on I whispered that morning's events to her.

“So wait a damn minute.” Jade spoke in a hushed tone as we walked into the natatorium to begin stretching before our swim meet. “Dexter? The guy who you have hated for years and has always made you uncomfortable, HE is your mate? Are you kidding me? What games is the moon goddess playing on us? First Dexter is your mate, and then I find out in first class that Damien, his brother, is mine? Are you kidding me?” Jade's voice was filled with exasperation.

“Wait! What!” I was shocked to hear that our mates were the two men we hated most.

“I know! Damien spent all of first class staring at me. And then I had to leave class with Becca and Mr Roberts because he wouldn't leave me alone! It was infuriating.” Jade stood up as she stopped speaking and glared across the pool.

“Oh my Goddess! Zara! Damien and Dexter are coming in here, and they are in swim trunks!”

“What are you talking abou-” I cut off mid-sentence because as I turned around there they both were. I groaned as Jade growled in anger.

“Just come on, we will leave and come back tonight to practice. I don't want to be around them.” As Jade nodded in response and we turned to go, our coach, Miss Swan, yelled for us.

“Damnit, she saw us.” Jade whispered. Grudgingly we turned around and walked over to our coach.

“Hi, girls! I'm excited to introduce you to our new team members! I was hoping you could train them up on our routines and the stretches. This is Damien and Dexter.” Coach Swan smiled warmly at Jade and I.

“Wouldn't it be better if you did that coach? Zara and I are far too advanced for two beginners. We do not know how to teach them.” Dexter locked eyes with me as Jade spoke. There was a lurch in my stomach as I yearned for his touch. His scent filled my nose, it teased and taunted me. I shook my head hard. “No. He is a gross, nasty-”

“Zara?” I jumped as Coach Swan touched my shoulder, interrupting my thoughts.

“Yes, Coach?” I asked, still holding eye contact with Dexter.

“Jade is right, I will coach these two today, You and the rest of the girls are free to go.” Coach Swan smiled and waved to the rest of the swim team as they turned around to leave.

“Oh Goddess! I can't believe Damien and Dexter Volk are on our swim team now. They're so sexy!” Jade and I rolled our eyes at Stacy and Beck fawning over the two brothers.

Alice and Amber laughed loudly from the showers. Alice called out to Stacy and Beck.

“You stand no chance! They both found their mates! Angel wouldn't tell me who it was for either of them though!” Jade and I froze, looking at each other with wide eyes.

“We are leaving. We can change at my house, come on.” grabbing Jade's arm as I spoke I started to pull her to the door.

“Zara, You left your phone here!” Alice called me back as she got to her locker to get dressed.

“Coming!” I called back. “Wait here, Jade.” Ignoring her squawks of protest I doubled back and grabbed my phone. As I turned to leave, Alice caught my wrist in her hand.

“It's okay, I am keeping it secret, Zara.” Alice smiled warmly at me then went back to pulling her jeans on as if nothing had happened.