Kenna Rose, daughter to the Alpha of the Opal pack, sat atop a moss covered boulder in an open field of wild flowers. Just below where she sat lay a bed of wild roses. The white petals reminded her of moonlight.
This was her sanctuary. Where she came to think and get away from all the chaos of the pack house. This week had been more chaotic than usual with all the preparations for the upcoming council meeting and her birthday.
All of the North-East Pack Alphas and Elders met yearly to discuss important matters. This year she had been invited to join her father at the meeting.
It was her 21st birthday this month and despite the fact that she had yet to find her mate she would become leader of the Opal pack. There had been much debate over the last year about it between her father and the Elders. Seeing as there were no female Alphas and had never been any. It had been a hard sell to the Elders but there were no laws stating she couldn't be.
She was the only child of her father and had the respect of her entire pack. Not to mention she was stronger than most of the male fighters and had been even before she got her wolf on her 18th birthday.
Kenna sighed heavily as she thought of what the future held. She brushed a strand of her strawberry blonde hair away from her face as a light breeze blew through the field. The trees at the edge rustled their branches and cracked in protest. She inhaled deep and let the smell of damp earth calm her nerves.
"What are you so worried about?" Her wolf snarled at her.
Kenna closed her eyes and could see the wolf in her mind. She was pure white except for a black patch of fur on her chest in the shape of a crescent moon. She had piercing emerald green eyes that were unusual for a wolf.
"You know damn well what I'm nervous about, Clover." Kenna sneered at her wolf.
"The council meeting. Ugh, all we're gonna do is be bored and have to listen to the Elders bitch and moan about us becoming Alpha again." She flopped onto her side dramatically.
"They bitch because technically the highest ranking female is the Alpha's Luna not the Alpha themselves." Kenna sighed. She was not in the mood for Clovers theatrics.
"Semantics. It's just because no female has ever been as special as us." She huffed and Kenna knew this conversation was going no where.
Just then the smell of oranges wafted over to them and Kenna's eyes snapped open as arms reached from behind to grab her. She immediately sprang up and off the rock narrowly missing the patch of thorny roses at her feet.
Kenna spun around and snarled at the man now leisurely sprawled across the top of the rock. His thick blonde hair fell forward over his eyes which were the color of storm clouds. A sly smile rested on his naturally good looking face which was clean shaven without a blemish in sight.
"What the actual fuck, Dean." Kenna snapped.
"I almost got you this time, Kenna. You're losing your touch." Dean sat up straight and pushed a hand through his hair. Kenna couldn't help but take stock of him. He wore a tight black shirt that showed off his muscles arms and jeans that seemed to fit him perfectly. He was what all the females drooled over, except her of course. To her Dean was more like an annoying brother as they had been raised together in the pack house. He was her Beta and a dammed good one at that. When she assumed her role as Alpha he would be her second in command. The Elders had hoped they would be mates but thank the moon goddess they hadn't. What a cruel trick that would have been.
"You're an ass. What are you doing out here?"Kenna growled and Dean suddenly became serious with her.
"All joking aside, your father sent me to get you. You guys are set to leave in an hour to travel to the Rune Pack territory."
Kenna sighed heavily and Dean jumped down off of the rock.
"Great. I forgot we were leaving today." Kenna waited until Dean was next to her and they started the short walk back to the pack house.
They walked mostly in silence for the first few minuets but that didn't last long. One of Deans not so charming qualities was that it was hard for him to be quiet for long.
"So what do you think this Council meeting will be like? I think they are gonna try to pawn you off on one of the other Alpha's so they don't have to make you one." Dean started to babbled and Kenna did what she always did, tuned him out.
Instead she thought about where he had said the meeting was taking place. The Rune Pack. She had never been there. As a matter of fact no one had been much. Their Alpha was pretty secretive. Word had it his line was descended from the very first werewolf and that he was more beast than man.
"Hello, earth to Kenna. Have you even been listening to me?" Kenna looked over at Dean who had a frustrated look on his face.
"I'm sorry what we're you saying?" Kenna smiled sheepishly at him.
"You're lucky those dimples make you so cute." He huffed, "As I was saying, I think Alpha Sigurd is allowing the meeting on his territory because he's looking for a mate."
"Why do you say that?" Kenna asked suddenly very interested in what Dean had to say.
Werewolves didn't just choose who they mated with. The moon goddess chose for you. They were kinda like soul mates. Once you found yours no one else mattered. I had heard of some that for some reason or another never found theirs and chose their own but they never seemed happy.
"He's 24 and still hasn't found one. I think he's going to allow the Elders to choose for him."
Kenna shook her head. "Why would anyone allow those crusty old wolves to choose a mate for them?"
"Beats me," Dean shrugged, "but I'm sure they have been pressuring him to find a Luna for his pack."
"Kenna! There you are. We are almost ready to leave." Kieran, Alpha of the Opal pack stood at the door to the pack house. He smiled at his daughter warmly.
"Morning, Dad." Kenna hugged him and took note of his rich earthy smell. He smelled like pine needles. It was one of her favorite smells and made her feel instantly better.
"Has Dean filled you in on where we are headed to?" He patted Deans shoulder and smiled. The corners of his eyes showing his age with small wrinkles.
"Yes and I'm ready to leave when you are." Kenna nodded.
As the three of them loaded up into her fathers keep Kenna felt like she was being watched. She looked out into the deep forest that surrounded the pack house but saw nothing. She scented the air and thought she caught the faintest whiff of wild roses but then it was gone. Shaking her head she closed the door to the vehicle and smiled at her dad.
"You got this baby girl." He patted her hand like her could tell she was nervous. She nodded and then they started their drive to the most mysterious pack in the entire northeastern part of the United States. The Rune Pack.