Chapter 1 Lunar creek (the beginning)

Lunar creek always had a silence that took over its forest each night. One could only hear the whooshing sound of the wind and the sounds of bats as the moon cast its shadow. The forest seemed to grow more silent as Damian Blackwood made his way through the bustling vegetation of the Lunar creek forest. His massive black wolf form cast a large shadow as the moonlight hit his body.

His paws barely made a sound against the forest floor despite his big size. The moonlight caught in his brown fur, casting a large shadow on the forest floors.

As Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, Damian's reputation preceded him. Elders told stories of his ruthlessness in battle to the young wolves. Somehow these stories made their way to various campfires across werewolf territories. Some said he killed his first enemy at sixteen, others said he faced three rival Alphas at once and emerged victorious. The fear his name brought was real.

Damian paused, because his sensitive ears picked up the faint sound of a deer's heartbeat. In a single move, he changed direction, his muscles coiling beneath his fur before he steadied himself to ambush his prey. The terrified deer didn't stand a chance. Within seconds, Damian's powerful jaws hit its neck, ending the deer's life in seconds.

The kill was quick and clean. Most importantly it was necessary. Just like everything Damian did.

It wasn't like he enjoyed killing, but he understood why he had to. In the world of werewolf packs, strength wasn't just respected, it was required for an Alpha. His father had taught him that lesson through blood and pain before he was old enough to speak.

"Damian you need to know that the pack looks to the Alpha not just for guidance, but for protection." His father had said. " The moment you show weakness, you'll be torn apart."

Damian had never forgotten those words. They were the very words he lived by as the ruthless Alpha of the most feared pack in the northern territories. His warriors respected him, his enemies feared him, and no one questioned his authority.

No one except Selene.

The thought of her softened fierceness within him, a weakness he allowed himself in the privacy of his own thoughts. Shifting back to his human form, Damian stooped beside his kill. The transformation pierced through him. His bones cracked, muscles reshaped, fur turned into tanned skin, until it was a man where a wolf had been.

He was naked beneath the moonlight, his large body bore the marks of many battles. There was a big scar across his left shoulder from a rogue's claws, a deep cut from a silver-tipped arrow, and the ceremonial Alpha markings on his back. They were ancient patterns of overlapping lines that signified his bloodline and strength.

He lifted his face to the moon and its rays of light showed his strong jaws, his straight nose that had once been broken, his eyes like the colour of pure steel that could pierce an enemy through or melt into those of a child whenever he saw Selene.

Damian carried the deer on his shoulders and began trekking back to the pack lands. The Blood Moon territory was large . It stretched for miles, covering dense forest, high and rugged mountains, and a lake fed by icy mountain streams. The blood moon lands was a wealthy territory,though it was won through blood and kept through strength.

By the time Damian reached the pack compound, the moon had risen well enough above the compound. The compound had dozens of cabins that surrounded his own cabin. Werewolf guards posted at strategic entrances straightened as he approached. They bowed and offered respectful nods, all of which he acknowledged with a single nod.

"Alpha," called Marcus, one of his strong and young warriors, as Damian passed through the main gates. "The council is waiting in the lodge."

Damian hid his subtle anger. The council of elders was made up of the oldest and wisest wolves in the pack. He was angry because they had been pressing for meetings as the Lunar Bonding Ceremony approached. Their constant concern about tradition irritated him.

"Tell them I'll be there soon," he replied. His deep hoarse voice showed command. "And have someone take this to the kitchens."

Marcus hurried to take the deer, doing so carefully to avoid direct eye contact. Direct eye contact was a sign of challenge in wolf culture. "Yes, Alpha."

Damian walked through the compound, he knew all eyes were watching him. Their stares carried respect, fear and curiosity. He felt them all but didn't care. The pack members he passed bowed their heads, as a sign of submission. All did so except the children, who watched him with pure fascination before their parents pulled them in.

He simply smiled at their innocence. The children weren't afraid of him and he felt peace about that.

He soon approached the central lodge, it was an impressive structure made of timber and stone. As he approached, a slim figure came out from one of the smaller cabins. It was the healer's quarters.

There she was.

Selene.

Even from a distance, her presence made Damian feel uneasy and fascinated. She walked with grace and elegance. The moonlight accentuated her slim figure. Her long chestnut hair fell in waves down her back. Her frame was constantly present in his dreams.

Selene wasn't afraid of his presence like the others. Her golden hazel eyes met his. She wasn't challenging nor submitting to him. She saw him as he was. Just him. Not as the feared Alpha, but as Damian.

She carried a basket of herbs, which she likely harvested during the full moon when they were most potent.

She came from a lineage of ancient healers, her hands were gifted with the ability to relieve pain and clean wounds that would kill lesser wolves.

But it wasn't her healing abilities that had stolen Damian's heart. It was everything else about her. He loved her beauty, her smile, her kind strength, her kindness, her ability to stand her ground without becoming defensive.