"You should put some jewelry on," my mom states as she looked me over. She had driven to Mountain Rise to bring me a dress for tonight. Her sad face had cracked me open. I couldn't say "no" to her after all the hassle she had raising a growing she-wolf. Even more so when dealing with one with a broken heart. "I told you. I'm going in and going out. I don't want another mate and I certainly don't want to go to this function," I mumbled as I looked in the mirror to check my makeup. I was shooting for presentable so it was just the bare minimum. "Just remember to smile. That's how I swiped up your dad," my mom said and I rolled my eyes. It was times likes these that I wished she knew what it was like being a wolf.

When Derrick and I marked each other, our souls melted and became a whole. When the semi-truck hit our car, I felt his soul tear away from me just as violently back in our apartment. He had been going to get some groceries while I studied for an organic chemistry exam. He was supposed to be gone for thirty minutes. It was only a five minute drive. As the 10-ton trailer hit him, my stomach turned inside out all over my notebooks. My entire body crumpled as I heard his scream in my ears and felt his blood on my tongue. The mark burned and felt like it was being cut and ripped off me. My skin felt too tight and I couldn't stop the feeling of falling no matter how hard I gripped the carpet. Vision blurred as I got flashes of his final moments. Sitting in the car, looking through a broken windshield, his body bleeding from injuries that would have killed a human instantly. Lungs filled with fluid before he passed out from the pain. Three days later, I woke up to Markus' red-rimmed eyes as he tried to explain to me what happened. He had been so worried I would die from the pain of losing my mate. "You're my brother's mate. The best Luna we could have hoped for," he said before sobbing. It wasn't just a husband and wife relationship like my mom and dad. A wolf's connection to their partner goes to the very core of their being. When it's a potential Alpha and Luna, it's a connection with the whole pack.

I was brought out of my thoughts from my mom fixing my hair and giving me a hug. "I appreciate you trying. I know I don't know what having a mate is like but I do want you to be happy," she said, her hair was softer than any wolf's as she embraced me tightly. I returned her hug, making sure to be careful. Ever since my wolf made an appearance, I had to be careful not to hurt the parents who raised me. "I love you mom," I said grabbing my purse. She held my hand as we went downstairs to meet the Luna for one final inspection. It wasn't the first time I wasn't deemed presentable to an event and had to change or redo my makeup.

"You look lovely Quinn. Just remember, you don't have to choose anyone," the Luna said as she cradled my face gently in her hands. "I know Luna Warren. My mom said it would be good for me though," I admitted. Derrick's mother gave me a half hearted smile and a small hug to my mom. "Karen is...probably right. It might be good for all of us for you to start looking. I couldn't imagine going through what you are going through. It might help your wolf in the long run," the Luna said but I could tell she didn't believe her words. My mom seemed to pick up on it too.

"I know I don't know much about your wolf bonds but Quinn is strong. You helped her learn to be strong and about being who she is when you didn't have to. It won't be easy. If I ever lost Harrelson I don't think I could find someone else either. You just do what you think is right," my mother said before embracing us both. "Karen you and your husband did a lot more heavy lifting raising this she-wolf to be the beautiful person she is," the Luna said. "Thank you Clarice. I'm sure things will work out. I should probably go. I have some chicken thawing in the fridge. Whatever happens, call me," my mom said before heading towards the door. I smiled at the ploy. Most wolf packs had an engrained distrust of people, including Witherstone. My parents knew it would be better to not be seen during inter-pack functions. The Luna and my mom exchanged one final. Take care of my baby, my mom's look said before she walked out the door.

I could see in their eyes that they didn't want me to find someone else. I wasn't mad at them for their thoughts. Especially the Luna. I was her daughter and the thought of me living in another pack made her want to hold me tighter. I wasn't supposed to be leaving.

I knew my face said the same thing, if I chose a wolf here I would have to go back to Witherstone. The thought of losing me, without any power to insure my safety was hard on the Luna. Since the day I was marked she had prepared me to take over her role. Her attachment to me had been close to equal with my mom. When I was marked, she told my mother that I would always be just a 5 minute drive away from home. I would always be safe.

"Are there any protocols I need to remember during this. I don't want to embarrass myself or you," I asked with a light blush. It was always embarrassing when I had to ask Luna what was socially acceptable in wolf situations. I may be a wolf but I was raised with humans. Try as they might, humans and wolves had completely different forms of etiquette.

The wolves of Mountain Rise had been patient with me. The females around my age taught me acceptable behavior when it came to male and female wolves. A few had thrown me into the ground when they felt Derrick and Markus's scents were a little too strong on me. Even if their lessons seemed harsh, I knew it was necessary. Other packs wouldn't be easy on me so they wanted to make sure I knew better too. Hell, once Derrick proclaimed me as his mate they were the ones to help me understand etiquette for inter-pack social gatherings. What clothes and dresses were acceptable and which colleges were wolf friendly.

"Nothing you don't already know. I'll introduce you to the prospective males as my daughter. The females are already in the banquet hall. The ones chosen will eat with their mate for the first time. The ones that are not can choose to stay or go. I knew a few of the females are just here to support you," she said as she took a hard swallow before closing her mouth.

A small female with blonde curls walked through the hallway. "Hello Luna. I'm sorry I am running a little late. I thought it might be time," Tia said in a small hoarse voice. Even a pup could smell the lie in her voice as she averted her gaze. "You don't have to do this. I'll be fine," I said before my throat could close. "No. Really. We were just in the powder room touching up our makeup. I-uh we will just head to the banquet hall with the others. I'm fine," she said as two other females followed her. All of them bowed towards the Luna before hurrying into the hallway. Even I could see the look of sadness in their eyes as they scurried away.

I knew Tia had been adamant on being true to her one and only. She had lost Michael three years before me and they had only known each other for a month. The other two had lost their mates when they escaped an abusive pack. I tried to swallow but my throat closed. My wolf whined inside me. She didn't want her pack mates to suffer just to support us.

"They all made a choice. If nothing happens then nothing happens," The Luna assured me as she dabbed a handkerchief on my tears. I nodded as I raised my chin. "Okay. I'm ready," I said with less of a croak in my voice.

Luna Warren led the way to the front doors. I followed a few steps behind her. As the second highest ranking female it was my duty to introduce our guests into the home. Alpha Warren was just finishing his introduction when we opened the doors. A crowd of males, both Mountain Rise and Witherstone, bowed their heads to Luna. I gave a small smile and nod to the crowd. My eyes searched for Markus in the crowd or the Witherstone alpha. I didn't see the new Alpha anywhere among the plethora of hopeful faces before down-casting my eyes. This was so much harder than I thought it would be. My throat was dry.

Alpha Warren smiled at his Luna before a look of sadness overtook him when he gazed at me. I managed a small smile before Luna took over. Alpha Warren swallowed hard before returning to his composure. "Gentlemen. I am Luna Warren and this is my daughter Quinn Warren. We will lead you to our banquet hall where each of you will introduce yourselves personally to both Quinn and the rest of our available females," Luna said before clapping her hands together. "Now. Please follow us to the banquet hall."

Alpha Warren quickly took both of our hands in his and we walked back inside. My stomach did flips inside me. I could hear the males walking behind us. Their sound made me feel as if I was marching to my execution instead of a possible salvation. This whole situation irritated my wolf. She didn't want another mate. She had her one. Derrick was it. Not ours, she seemed to growl at me. "Breathe Quinn. If nothing happens then nothing happens," Alpha Warren whispered lowly. I took a deep breath and kept walking.

I saw the other girls gathered in a crowd on one side of the room. I quickly made my way to the wall with the rest of the females that had lost their mates. The other females created a small wall in front of us unknowingly as we all took a deep breath. Tia grasped my hand as a Witherstone female gave me the once over.

"It's a shame you lost your mate, Warren. Now the Mountain Rise second born will have to step up to the plate with a female less than you," she said. "River, hush," another Witherstone female said with panic in her eyes. Insulting a member of a pack you were visiting showed she had little discipline and questionable judgement. "You should listen to your pack," I answered, my eyes staring at her pointedly. River gave me a disgusting smile before continuing. "Now that you are making yourself available, I'm sure there are plenty of males eager to meet you," she continued. Her pack mates all took a step away from her. They bowed their heads in my direction, River took no notice. "Are you finished, River," I asked slowly.

"Since you are a Luna-destined with no Alpha mate. You could volunteer to give our Alpha a strong heir," she continued before my wolf snarled within me. She spoke to me as if I was simply a vessel for pups and not meant to be a true leading member of a pack. A womb for her Alpha's seed but not her Luna. She smiled cruelly in my direction before tossing her long wavy brown hair and gave a small laugh. The tendrils bounced softly and her pack members took another step back. I felt my nose curl and fangs sharpen to points. I was no one's breeder bitch.

"I should remind you that I am the Luna's daughter regardless of my mate's presence." Grabbing her hair, I forced her to her knees. River cried out as her knees emitted a cracking noise on the hardwood. She clutched at my hands that were wrapped around her hair. I extended my hand out and Tia handed me a knife from the dining table. "Do not think I won't tear open your throat for disrespecting Alpha Warren's family," I whisper yelled. I did not want any of the wolves outside the door to interfere. This female was mine to discipline, my prey. The knife grazed along her throat. I could feel the skin beneath its teeth pull as the first layer was sawed open. A bloom of pink followed the blade.

She cried out in fear as I played with her. None of the other wolves interfered. River was a visiting member and didn't seem like a highly ranked member to begin with. She had insulted the daughter of the hosting Luna and would suffer the consequences of her actions. My grip on her hair tightened before I slid the knife between hand and scalp. River dropped to all fours shaking. Her hair was a choppy mess with only a few stragglers making it past her shoulders. She was lucky it wasn't her head that fell to the floor. Tears dropped onto the wood, her head drooped with her hips drawn in like a wolf with its tail curled.

"Stay in that position. If your mate is here, he will know you insulted his Luna's daughter," I growled out. River muttered an affermative as she settled into position. The other wolves averted their eyes from me, a few Witherstone wolves glared at their fallen pack mate. "Please don't think we're all as undisciplined as our sister wolf. Some of us were coddled in our youth," a Witherstone said before bowing to me in respect. I nodded and leaned against the wall. I just wanted this day to be over.