"Today's the day! Are you nervous? Are you excited?"

Jamie looked at me, a weary expression on her beautiful face. Today, she turns 18. My first born is an adult. "I'm very nervous, mom, why did the law have to change?"

"I guess it was because too many people weren't finding their mates and the old Alpha and Luna's were beginning to get old."

She sighed and turned around staring out the window, watching our pack members set up chairs for tonight outside.

When I became Luna, the laws were different. When the next in line Alpha found his mate, that was when he can take over the pack from his father and mother. Chance had to wait until a few years after his 18th birthday until he could take over this pack.

Over the last few years, many Alpha's have not been finding there mates in the time frame of 18-25 and the old Alpha and Luna's were getting older and it was becoming harder for them to run their packs. So, the changed.

The law now states that the next in kin must become Alpha on their 18th birthday, even if they didn't have a mate yet. It was going to be hard for Jamie because she is technically running this pack herself, but Chance and I aren't officially stepping down. For the first few months we are going to help her and show her the ropes of running the pack. I even told her I will host parties and invite members from other pack in hopes of her finding her mate. So far, she has had no luck.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?" I questioned, looking at Jamie.

"You zoned out again."

I half laughed. "Well, after having four children, your brain kind of goes crazy sometimes."

Jamie smiled at me and then her smiled dropped. "Jace still isn't talking to me, mom. Am I doing the right thing?

The law states that the pack goes to the first born child but it is very rare for the first born child to be a female. Jace thinks he deserves this pack and for a while, so did Chance. Chance came around but Jace, not so much.

"Honey, you are. Jace will get over it, I promise you. You are going to be an amazing Alpha. Jace is your brother and he loves you very much. Give him some time."

"I have been giving him time. It's been five years and the most I get from him is a grunt every now and then. He hates me."

I shook my head and went closer to Jamie, wrapping my arms around her. "He doesn't hate you. You know how stubborn Jace is, he gets that from Dad. You are becoming Alpha tonight, okay? This is what you have wanted since you were nine! You've been training for this for years, you got this. Jace has been training as well, but for different things. You know how well of a fighter he is He is going to become the leader of our army one day, you know that. This is what the Moon Goddess wants."

Jamie game a weird look and shook her head, looking out the window again. "I don't know mom. Our family hates me. Jace doesn't talk to me. Ben is on Jace's side and Lily only talks to me because I'm the only other girl sibling. She would rather Jace become Alpha. Mom, if I do this, what if I lose them forever?"

Jamie kept her back towards me and I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Deep down, I knew the answer to her question and she did as well.

***

"Hey mom!"

I turned around from washing the dishes and saw Jace come running towards me.

"Hey, how was football practice?"

Jace was the quarterback of the football team at the local high school in the pack. He has football practice three days a week and training with the warriors the other four days.

"It was alright. Coach worked us pretty hard today. I got a 98 on my history final."

He showed me the paper and I smiled, wrapping my arms around him. "See! I told you that you could do it. All that studying paid off."

He nodded. "I'm going to get a quick shower. When will dinner be ready?"

"In about twenty minutes. After dinner you have to get ready for your sisters ceremony."

Jace flinched at that last part but quickly recovered, putting a smile on his face. "Alright, mom. I'll be quick."

He kissed my cheek and ran up the stairs. Ben, my third child who is now fourteen, came in the door next. "Something smells so good, mom. What are you making?"

I put the rag down and checked the homemade pizza in the oven. "Something quick and easy. I made the four cheeses pizza."

Ben smiled wide, "That's my favorite! I'm going to go and shower. I'll be down soon."

Ben kissed my cheek and ran up the stairs, to the other bathroom in the house. Ben smelled of sweat and had grass stains all over his body. Ben is on the soccer team. It's his favorite thing to do.

Turning back tot the oven, I took out the pizza and placed it on top of the oven, letting it cool. I heard the door open and voices filter into the room.

"Mom! Guess what? I got the part in the play as Annie, the main lead!"

I turned around and saw Lily, my fourth child come running into the house Chance following slowly behind her. She is twelve now and my little drama queen. Technically, she is my sixth child but when I was pregnant with her and her two brothers, I gave birth to stillborn. Lily was the only one that made it.

"I'm so proud of you! I told you that you could do it!"

She hugged me tightly and I kissed her cheek, proudness oozing off of me. "Alright, why don't you go and get ready for dinner, alright? Maybe take a quick shower. After dinner, we all have to get ready for Jamie's ceremony tonight."

Lily nodded and ran up the stairs. I turned towards Chance and my heart instantly swelled. Everyday, I fell in love with him more and more. He always knew how to capture my heart.

"Hi, beautiful."

I smiled and went into Chance's open arms, letting him wrap his arms around me. "Hi, handsome. How was your day?"

He kissed my mark and made my wolf howl, "It's going better now since you're in my arms."

I kissed the side of his mouth. "I missed you."

He nuzzled his nose into my neck. "I missed you more."

I kissed him on the lips and just like the first time I ever kissed him, the sparks were still there. I wrapped my arms around his neck and felt Chance lift me up a little bit, bringing me over to the kitchen counter where he placed me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him closer to me.

The kiss deepened when my hands ran through his hair and his hands ran up and down my sides. We haven't had sex in so long because either of us is too busy or working late in the office so all this pent up energy and sexual frustration was driving myself and my wolf crazy.

"Hey, mo- OH MY GOD!"

Chance pulled apart from me quickly and I jumped down from the counter, fixing my shirt and patting down my hair.

"I am dead. I am blind. My eyes are stinging. Please tell me I did not just see what I think I saw?"

Jace had his hands over his eyes and was breathing hard. I had to keep back my laugher. I looked at Chance and he looked like he was fifteen and just got scolded for having sex.

"Well, honey, you see, there's this thing called kissing. It happens when you fall in love and it happens when you find your mate. Your father and I happen to love kis-"

"Alright! Stop, I can't hear this anymore nor unsee what I just saw. I cannot eat at that counter anymore."

Jace sat down at the kitchen table and Chance and I looked at each other and laughed.

Through our bonded mind link, Chance sent me a message, You, me, our bed, tonight?

I bit my lip and nodded, my wolf going crazy. She's been craving some of Chance and his mate for a long time now.

"Jace, we're sorry and it won't happen again."

He nodded "It's fine, mom. Let's change the topic. Is the pizza ready?"

I nodded and went over to the oven and cut four slices. I put them on a plate and handed it to Jace. I also got him a cup of milk, his favorite thing to drink with pizza.

"Thanks mom, you're the best."

I smiled and looked over at Chance, who was seated in his usual seat at the table. "What about me? You're not going to get me food?"

I shook my head, "No, you're a big boy, you got this."

Chance grumbled and muttered something under his breathe but he still pushed his chair out and got up, getting himself a few slices of pizza.

I smiled, because there was no where else I would rather be right now.

***

It was almost nine at night, which meant the ceremony was almost starting. Our entire pack was here and waiting for the new person to take over. Lily and Ben were sitting on the chairs on the stage. Jace was still no where to be seen, as well as Jamie. I was beginning to grow worried.

Chance touched my arm and I felt myself calm, "Stop stressing, you're making my wolf restless. Jamie is going to show and so is Jace. I had a talk with him right before we all came out here."

I nodded, but I still had a bad feeling in my stomach.

Simon came up, our pack warlock. "Hi, love. I can see your aura all the way from here. Why are you so stressed?"

Simon was here to transfer the ties from Chance and I to Jamie. He was going to physically bond her to this pack, like he did was Chance and I all those years ago.

"Jamie and Jace are no where to be found."

Simon furrowed his eyebrows, "They'll be here, I promise."

I looked up at Chance and felt my chest tighten. Simon stood off to the side, talking to a few pack members.

I smelled Jace before I even saw him. He came around the corner of the stage and up the stairs. He saw me and I felt him grow worried.

"What's wrong. mom?"

"Jamie is no where to be found?"

Jace frowned, "Jamie? She has been wanting this for ten years, why would she even get cold feet now? This is all she has ever wanted."

I knew what he also meant, this was all he ever wanted. I felt my heart break for him.

"She isn't here yet."

Jace ran his fingers through his hair. "Want me to go to her room and see if she's there? I can maybe talk to her?"

I felt my eyes widen, "You'll go talk to her?"

He nodded and bounded down the steps and back to our house. I looked up at Chance and he smiled. "I told you, babe, he would come around. Going and talking to her is the first step."

A few moments later, however, Jace was back. He had a scared look on his face and a piece of paper in his hand. "I swear, I never wanted for this to happen. If I only had talked to her, maybe this wouldn't be happening right now."

I took the letter from Jace and Chance read it from over my shoulder:

Mom, Dad, Jace, Ben, Lily, and Pack Members,

I am so so sorry that I had to leave. You see, I have always wanted to run this pack and make everyone happy but there was one person I was making unhappy, my brother Jace. Jace means everything to me. We used to be so close and he was always there for me but because of some law, I have to take his happiness away. I'm not running away, I'm just walking away. Jace will be 18 in eight months and so since I am not here, he can rightfully take this pack over. I know it was what he always wanted and what some of you wanted as well.

I would rather lose becoming an Alpha then lose what matters most to me; my family.

Hey, maybe my mate will be an Alpha and I can be a Luna, just like my mom.

Anyway, I'm sorry for taking the weak way out but this is what has to be done. I hope you all don't hate me and Jace, I'm sorry. I hope this will make you forgive me.

With Love Always,

Jamie.

I could feel the tears in my eyes and my heart breaking. She was willing to give up everything just to make her brother happy?

Chance crumbled up the letter and I could tell he was mad, mad at who, I am not sure.

Jace stepped forward, "Dad, mom, I didn't want for this to happen. I was just mad. Jamie deserves this pack. Deep down, I didn't even really want it. I want to be the leader of our warriors, of our army. I want to run that. I want to protect our pack. Mom , I don't want this. Dad, I know you wanted me to be the Alpha but this isn't right. I never really wanted it and this has been Jamie's dream for years."

Chance nodded, "I know, son, we talked about this. You told me everything you were feeling and what you wanted. I accepted that. We need to find her."

"And what if we don't? What if we can't find her?"

I looked at Jace and felt like my world was crashing. "We have eight months to find her and if we don't, then you're becoming the Alpha, Jace

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