The Ordinary Luna

Chapter 1: Pilot

The dense forest around the Crimson Night Pack's central clearing was alive with the chatter of the pack members.

They had gathered for a pack meeting.

"Woah," Felicia dropped her jaw seeing how many people had gathered there. She felt like a mouse amid cats. Even though they were all of the same pack and her late father was a respected member of the pack who served the previous Alpha, Felicia is dubbed "The wolfless wolf" for her inability to transform.

Most children awaken their wolves between the ages of 12 and 15, while prodigies awaken between the ages of 7 and 10. Felicia, who was 18, had lost all hope of awakening her wolf.

Why were the pack members gathered here today? It was because of a life changing declaration that was about to be passed.

Lector, the pack's Beta, stood on the raised platform, his stance firm and his face serious.

The Beta's role was to represent the Alpha's decisions and announcements, and Lector did this with confidence and respect.

As the last of the evening's chatter died down, Lector raised his hand to call for silence. "Attention, everyone!" he shouted. The murmur of the crowd faded into a respectful hush.

Lector took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the sea of eager faces. Among them was Felicia, an orphan whose past was marked by loss and service. She stood on the edge of the crowd, her posture tense and her eyes fixed on the Beta. Felicia's parents had served the previous Alpha faithfully, and their memory lingered in the pack's history like a quiet shadow.

Lector's voice broke through the silence.

"Tonight, I have the honor of sharing important news. Our Alpha has chosen his mate, and the bonding ceremony will be held under the next full moon. This is a significant moment for our pack, one that represents unity and strength."

A wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Whispers of curiosity and speculation spread quickly, as the Alpha's choice of mate always attracted attention and had a big impact on the pack's future.

Felicia's heart pounded. Her life had always been closely tied to the pack's history, but she kept her distance, staying out of the spotlight.

Now, she couldn't help but wonder who the chosen mate was and what it would mean for her.

Lector's voice rose above the buzz. "And now, let us welcome our Alpha." He stepped aside, and the crowd parted respectfully.

The clearing grew quiet, except for the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of nighttime creatures. Every eye turned toward the entrance where Alpha Tyrus would appear.

Alpha Tyrus stepped into the clearing, his presence commanding attention. He was a large, strong figure, his dark fur streaked with silver that gleamed in the moonlight. His powerful aura demanded both respect and awe.

Tyrus walked confidently to the center of the clearing, his eyes scanning the pack members. Without hesitation, he lifted his head and let out a powerful howl, a sound that echoed through the forest and bounced off the trees.

The howl was a sign of his leadership and his deep connection with the pack.

One by one, the pack members joined in, their voices blending into a powerful chorus that filled the night air. The howls were full of pride and excitement, celebrating their leader's news.

As the howling died down, Tyrus's intense gaze briefly rested on Felicia before he turned back to the pack. Felicia felt a shiver run down her spine at the Alpha's glance, a mix of nervousness and curiosity filling her.

Lector stepped forward; his voice clear. "The Alpha has spoken. We look forward to the bonding ceremony under the full moon. Until then, let us prepare for this important event."

The pack members began to leave, their excited chatter filling the night. Felicia stayed behind, her mind racing with questions and emotions.

The upcoming ceremony promised to be a turning point, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her own story was about to change in unexpected ways.

As the last of the pack members departed, Felicia looked up at the moon that bathed the clearing in its soft light. She could feel that change was coming, but what that change would bring was still unknown.

With a deep breath, she turned and walked slowly back to her quarters, the weight of the evening's news heavy on her shoulders but also tinged with a hint of hope.

The clearing was quieter than usual as the pack members gathered, their faces filled with curiosity and a bit of nervousness. The night air was cool, carrying the earthy smells of the forest and the faint sound of leaves rustling. The full moon hung high above, casting a soft light over the gathering below.

Tyrus, the Alpha, stood at the center of the clearing, his strong figure outlined by the moonlight.

His expression was serious as he prepared to speak. The crowd grew silent, knowing that tonight's announcement was important.

Tyrus began to speak, his voice strong and steady. "Last night, I was visited by the Moon Goddess," he said. The crowd reacted with awe. It was rare for the Moon Goddess to appear, and everyone knew it was a big deal.

Tyrus paused, letting his words sink in. He looked out at the pack members, his gaze steady. "Before she left, she showed me the face of my fated mate."

A murmur of excitement spread through the crowd. People started to whisper to each other. The idea of being chosen as the Alpha's mate was both exciting and daunting, and everyone was eager to find out more.

Tyrus raised his hand, signaling for quiet. "My fated mate," he continued, "is somewhere in this crowd right now."

This announcement caused a lot of chatter among the pack members, especially the girls, who looked at each other with excitement. The thought of being the Alpha's mate was a dream for many, and now that dream seemed possible for one of them.

Amidst the noise, Felicia stood a bit apart, her face calm as she watched. Her best friend, Rwanda, who had been with her since childhood, leaned in and whispered with excitement.

"Felicia, can you imagine? How amazing would it be to be chosen as the Alpha's mate?" Rwanda's eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice barely heard over the crowd's chatter.

Felicia shook her head with a small smile, but her eyes were distant. "Rwanda, don't get too excited. It's just a dream. I don't want to get my hopes up for something that might never happen."

Rwanda's excitement faded a little, but she quickly tried to cheer up. "Come on, Felicia. This is real imagine if one of us gets chosen!"

Felicia waved off her friend's comment. "I appreciate you being excited, but I don't see why I should dream about something that's probably not for me."

Chapter 2: Took My Shine

Alpha Tyrus continued addressing the pack, his voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd.

"I will now descend from the stage and reach out to my fated mate," he declared, his tone full of authority. "She will be the new Luna of our pack."

The pack members watched in anticipation as Tyrus stepped down from the raised platform. The excitement in the clearing was electric, with every eye fixed on the Alpha.

As he made his way toward the line of girls, a wave of whispers and giggles erupted from the crowd. Dozens of young women stood in a row, each one hoping to be chosen.

The girls squealed and exchanged hopeful glances as Tyrus walked past them. His gaze was steady and unyielding, and despite their excited efforts to catch his eye, the Alpha simply walked by without pausing.

The chatter grew louder with every step he took, as the girls tried to guess who might be the lucky one.

When Tyrus finally stopped, it was in front of Felicia and Rwanda. Rwanda's eyes widened, and her face turned bright red. She had always considered herself the prettiest among her peers, and she couldn't help but think that Tyrus had come to choose her. The thought made her heart race with excitement.

Felicia, standing beside her friend, shared in the excitement. She leaned in and whispered a congratulatory message in Rwanda's ear, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and encouragement.

"Congratulations, Rwanda. I knew you had a chance."

But as the seconds ticked by, the anticipation in the air grew thicker. Tyrus, standing directly in front of them, reached out his hand. The crowd held its breath, waiting for the moment of truth.

Much to everyone's shock, Tyrus's hand was not extended towards Rwanda but towards Felicia.

The gasps from the crowd were audible, their collective surprise echoing through the clearing. Felicia's heart skipped a beat.

She stared at the Alpha's hand, unable to believe what was happening. The whispers of the crowd grew louder, filled with astonishment and curiosity.

Rwanda's face fell as she realized what was happening. Her earlier excitement turned to confusion and disappointment. She stood frozen, her mouth slightly open as she tried to process the unexpected turn of events.

Felicia blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. She looked at Tyrus's outstretched hand and then at his face, which was calm and resolute. The reality of the moment began to sink in. She took a deep breath and reached out to take the Alpha's hand, her fingers trembling slightly.

As Felicia's hand met Tyrus's, the crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and murmurs. The surprise was palpable, but there was also a strong sense of approval and excitement as they realized who the new Luna would be.

Tyrus gently guided Felicia to stand beside him, a proud smile on his face. The atmosphere in the clearing shifted from one of tension to one of celebration, as the pack began to accept and embrace the new Luna.

Rwanda clicked her tongue, "This cant be right."

The crowd's reaction was nothing but welcoming.

The pack members stood in stunned silence, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. The moonlight illuminated their shocked faces, as they watched the scene unfold.

Felicia, who now stood beside Tyrus, felt the weight of the pack's scrutiny.

She had always been considered ordinary, lacking the striking features and powerful presence that many of the other girls possessed.

At eighteen, she was still unable to transform into her wolf form-a fact that marked her as different and, in many eyes, lesser.

Rwanda, who had been confidently expecting the Alpha's choice, was frozen in place, her face flushed with a mixture of surprise and humiliation.

She had been so sure that Tyrus would select her, given her early transformation at the age of ten and her lineage-her grandfather had once been the Alpha of the pack.

The stark contrast between her own impressive credentials and Felicia's perceived ordinariness made the situation even more bewildering.

The other girls, who had been eagerly hoping for a chance to catch the Alpha's eye, watched in stunned silence. The whispers among them grew louder, filled with disbelief and confusion.

"Did you see that?" one girl murmured, her voice filled with incredulity. "He chose Felicia. How could he?"

"I don't understand," another girl whispered. "Rwanda is practically royalty. Why would he pick someone like Felicia?"

"She can't even transform," added a third voice. "And she's so plain. It doesn't make any sense."

The murmurs continued to grow, a wave of discontent and bewilderment spreading through the crowd. Felicia could hear the whispered comments, their voices a backdrop to her own swirling thoughts. She tried to focus on Tyrus, who was now standing proudly by her side, but the murmurs of the crowd made it difficult to stay composed.

Rwanda, trying to regain her composure, managed to mutter to Felicia, her voice laced with bitterness, "I don't know how this happened. I thought for sure-"

Felicia, still trying to process the situation, cut her off gently but firmly. "I'm sorry, Rwanda. I didn't choose this. I'm just as surprised as you are."

Rwanda's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and hurt. "This isn't fair. You don't deserve this."

Felicia's voice was steady but quiet. "It's not about deserving or not deserving. It's what the Alpha chose."

The crowd's murmurs continued as they tried to make sense of the unexpected choice. Some pack members exchanged glances, their faces showing a mix of confusion and disappointment.

One older wolf, who had witnessed many such ceremonies, finally spoke up, trying to bring a sense of order to the situation. "We should respect the Alpha's choice. There must be a reason behind it, even if we don't understand it right now."

The decision made by Alpha Tyrus lead to a divide between those who accepted the decree of their leader and those who were against having a wolfless as their Luna.

Tyrus led Felicia towards the center of the clearing, the cheers and applause started to pick up again, howerever, one could easily tell the congratulations and applause was not genuine.

The scene shifted into a mix of celebration and confusion.

Felicia tried to hold her head high. However, she kept having the same question – 'Why me?'

'Something tells me, my life will never be the same again.'