I was staring out the window when the door swung open, it was my older brother Liam. He was grinning widely, as he adjusted his hair like it wasn't going to get ruined soon anyway.

"Ready to get your ass kicked Aela?" He smirked

"I'd like to see you try" I said standing up returning his grin

"Everyone's making their way down. Hurry up" he said leaving me alone.

Every few months, our pack held a competition where wolves fought each other, not to the death though and it wasn't compulsory. Liam and I had made it to the finals, people were excited.

Our parents were the Alpha and Luna, Liam was to be father's successor as soon as he turned twenty one in a few weeks. Liam had undergone all the necessary trainings growing up molding him into the future Alpha. Myself on the other hand have always been more reserved than Liam but father still trained me hard in private and mother was the kindest and sweetest person I'd ever met.

Pack members talked and shifted in anticipation as they filled the training grounds. Liam and I were now facing each other in the ring. The two offspring of the Alpha as finalists certainly boosted the excitement.

A hush fell upon the crowd as the Alpha and Luna made way to their seats and they bowed slightly.

"Today, we witness our two finalists fight until the other submits. Honestly, I don't know who I'd bet on" father chuckled making many in the crowd laugh "good luck"

Another wave of silence passed through the crowd as Liam and I circled each other slowly

"Remember, no shifting till I say so" father reminded us

I waited for Liam to make the first move, his speed was usually undefeated but he sometimes made rash decisions and lunged early, I was relying on that. He seemed to be eyeing my left leg and he made his move, predictable as always, I smirked dodging and kicking him with my other leg. He took a few steps back before attacking me, I managed to block a few hits before he finally landed a punch. Pissed, I tackled him and twisted a bit making him lose balance, my legs were wrapped around his neck now as we lay on the ground. I tightened my grip and was rewarded with a bite making me flip us and kick him away.

We growled at each other aggressively when we heard father's voice again "Shift!"

Simultaneously we shift into our wolves and lunge at each other. We clawed and snapped at ourselves, as soon as I got the chance, I sank my teeth into his hind leg making him yelp but I didn't notice his other leg that was coming fast to my face. The force of it threw me away from him, in a flash he was on top of me, teeth holding me down in submission. I could feel the dominance oozing out of him, I rolled my eyes mentally, it couldn't work on me; I had Alpha blood in me too.

"Submit Aela" . Liam mind linked me

I scoffed mentally and my eyes drifted to mother, her gaze locked on mine, I knew what she wanted me to do. In annoyance, I submitted to him and shifted back to human form.

People cheered for Liam as he had won. I left the training grounds and headed towards some trees where I had stashed clothes. When I was back, mum was waiting for me she gave me a smile and I hugged her.

"What you did was brave" She said through the mind link

"You asked me to"

"The choice was yours anyway"

I smiled as father came towards us his hand rested on my shoulder "You did well Aela" he said proudly with a knowing look

"Thank you Alpha" I chuckled bowing slightly.

The pack just needed an excuse to party and of course Father let them. Liam was the center of attention that evening, he grinned nonstop and several she-wolves flirted him. I rolled my eyes, some of them were rank climbers.

"Aela!" My best friend's voice rang out as she approached me, her blond hair was in a ponytail.

"Hey Lexa" I smiled as we took an empty table, Our plates filled with food.

"Your brother is gonna be Alpha real soon. I wonder if he'll find his mate" said Lexa

"I know. At least he's still hopeful she's out there." I shoved a forkful of salad in my mouth.

"You're turning eighteen in three days. Aren't you excited?" She squealed "You'll finally be able to find your mate and live happily ever after"

I shook my head laughing, Lexa was always a hopeless romantic, she would turn eighteen two months after I did.

"Maybe it's Jake, who knows?" she giggled

"Jake? No way. Have you seen your brother eat?" I joked

Jake is Lexa's older brother, their father is the Beta of our pack. They basically grew up together with Liam and I. Jake would take his father's place as Beta when Liam becomes Alpha. On queue, Jake and Liam were at out sides in a second with drinks in their hands.

"Good match today sis." Liam winked

I gave him a smack on the shoulder "you know what really happened right?"

"You got distracted and I won" he smirked "A quick victory"

"Whatever you say"

Hours passed and everyone left for their houses. Only a few pack members who didn't have families or omegas who worked, some warriors, the Delta, Gamma, the Beta family, Alpha family stayed at the pack house. Everyone else had their homes throughout the territory.

Our pack was called DarkMoon Pack, our territory covered thousands of acres, we were one of the top five packs on our continent. BloodMoon Pack was at the very top, then others like FireMountain Pack, RedRiver Pack, MoonClaw Pack and my pack DarkMoon followed.

My mum, the Luna was planning a ball in honor of Liam becoming Alpha, it would be an opportunity to meet people from other packs. Maybe I'd find my mate then.