Yesterday felt like years, all the preparation, the first stage of the Luna Choosing, the dinner.

I sighed deeply, looking up at the ceiling, my arms tucked behind my head, the sheets slipped down to my waist, barely covering my nakedness.

The balcony door was open, cool, sharp, early morning air refreshing on my bare skin, succeeding in waking me up for yet another long day ahead.

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed staring at all those young virgins, but sometimes there was little to keep me interested, I had to choose five though, as is tradition, as hundreds of years ago there only used to be five packs, and the Alpha was required to pick one pure wolf as a contender for the next Luna. It was like an offering back then, paying homage to the most powerful pack and its Alpha. The Stentorian Pack has been the strongest for many generations and I never intend for that to change.

The Luna Choosing isn't as simple as you might think, sure, looks are important, but the Alpha's expected to have a dashing bride, to showcase his wealth and importance. Genes are also important though, heritage, whatever pack my Luna comes from will gain a lot of notoriety, it wouldn't be good to give it to the wrong one.

I'd had to study all of the contenders' files, the hundreds and hundreds of them, trying to put the files to their names so I knew something about them when they were presented to me. I kept a list in front of me with names, those I was considering, those I wasn't. I'd had to make a show of looking at them anyway, even if I intended on saying no even before I'd seen what they looked like.

All those I was considering had to be whittled down to five, now I wouldn't say I was picky but less is more as the saying goes, choosing five was difficult. It was such an important decision though, one of those five I would be stuck with for the rest of my life, they would carry my pups and birth the future Alpha. I needed to be able to stand them, which was what today was all about, getting a glimpse of their personality, I very wasn't optimistic.

A knock sounded at the door before it opened, revealing my Beta, who was also my cousin, his name was Jan. "Morning Alpha." he greeted me respectfully, but he was smiling cheekily in a very friendly fashion. He was my best friend and we'd grown up together, I trusted him with my life, I listened to his council, he was my right-hand man after all.

"Hi Jan." I groaned as I stretched, sitting up slowly and slipping out of bed, letting the sheets fall off of me, revealing my birthday suit and the heavy morning wood that swung between my legs. I didn't care about being naked around others and Jan was more than used to it, he didn't bat an eye. "How long till breakfast?" I asked and he checked his watch.

"Hmm... about half an hour, they should be bringing the lucky five down soon, god I hope there's a cat fight," he told me and I snorted. The five wolves were put together for a while on purpose, it was good to see what they were like when they thought no one was watching, it really gave insight as to their personality and not the façade they put on, I really don't want to get stuck with someone with a vile personality who was all gentle smiles and batting eyelashes on the outside. I couldn't get a divorce, once a decision was made that was it. "But such pretty princesses they are," he added in a feminine voice, putting a wistful expression on his face.

I shook my head at his humour, he was a character, but I liked that about him, he made my day lighter and easier to swallow, more palatable.

"So, which one would you pick?" I wondered as I headed to the bathroom, stepping into the large and spacious shower, the glass perfectly clear. Jan leant on the doorframe, continuing to talk to me over the sound of the shower as I quickly washed the sweat from my sleep off my skin.

"Honestly I don't know," he admitted.

"I mean just from appearance." I elaborated and a contemplative look came onto his face.

"Hmm... well the leggy blonde was pretty hot, but he reminded me of a stripper for some reason, he oozed sex appeal, which doesn't make sense if he's a virgin." he started. I got that feeling as well, all contenders were required to stay pure, not that you could tell with guys, not humans anyway, but wolves could smell so much with their noses and werewolves were no different. You could smell the pureness in their scent, today would allow me to get closer to them, to make sure they all are truly pure.

"Training maybe?" I put it out there and he nodded slowly, considering the idea.

"But that's not a requirement, being able to give a lap dance kind of pulls away from the whole innocence thing." he voiced, which was true, not that I wouldn't mind a lap dance, but the animal side of me wants to defile its mate, corrupt them and make them mine, destroy their innocence. Someone who oozed sex appeal didn't really come across as innocent, but he was a stunner and came from a decent pack, he didn't have any hereditary problems in his family and was in very good health, so I'd picked him as one of the five.

"And then there was the one in the booty shorts, his skin was so flawless, I bet he bruises beautifully." Jan continued and I couldn't help but agree. He was the second one I picked, his looks a little more subdued but definitely there if you looked, I couldn't fault him. The milky white skin, the rich dark curls and those large amber eyes. With all that skin on show and those painted-on leather shorts, I'd got an eyeful when he turned around, making me happy that I'd nodded at him.

That was before he kneeled before me, bowing. It didn't seem planned or a kiss-ass move, his body just glided down, his posture and movements smooth and alluring. He was in perfect shape, the soft curls of muscle and firm but gentle six-pack, his lean legs, and slightly sloping shoulders. He had a picturesque face, masculine, yet delicate. Unlike the leggy blond he oozed innocence, his movements not sexual but alluring in their own way, he was just gorgeous.

"Don't really know why you picked that green-eyed twink though," he admitted as I turned off the shower, wrapping a towel loosely around my waist, using a smaller towel to gather the moisture from my skin.

I walked passed him and over to my closet.

"I mean I know he's from the Penchant (pon-shon) Pack and he's cute, but I just don't see him as Luna material." he elaborated.

The Penchant Pack was the second strongest pack in the world, from France surprisingly, not that I have anything against the French. Jan was right, he wasn't my type, too small and thin, I'd be afraid I'd break him, but a pack with such standing needed at least one contender to be picked, it just ended up being him.

Sure he was adorable with his baby face, his flawless tan and very vibrant green eyes, but I'm not one for being gentle, I'm an Alpha, dominant and full of testosterone, his frame wouldn't be able to take it, and I kind of hated the alpha of the Penchant pack, he was an ass.

"What about that dark beauty?" I questioned, tugging on some black jeans, no boxers, I went commando most of the time, makes shifting easier and I liked the extra bit of space it gives.

"He's definitely something, exotic and shatteringly attractive. The biggest out of the five," he added.

He was pretty tall and bulkier than I would generally go for but his beauty was something I'd never seen before, it was refreshing. His skin was shockingly dark, his almond eyes a bottomless pit, that seemed to absorb the light. His lashes and hair were a pure white, his tamed afro seeming weightless. His body was shapely, his shoulders sweeping, hips curving, he looked like a work of art. He was from the Solanga Pack, which comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the pack was mysterious, their numbers not known, they kept to themselves.

"The final is from the Tyresta Pack right, in Sweden?" Jan correctly recalled and I nodded in affirmation.

I picked out a deep red shirt, shrugging it on and starting to do up the buttons, slipping my feet into my favourite pair of boots.

He was tall and slim, another blond, but a light, almost platinum blonde, unlike the other two. I believe he was the oldest, but still a little younger than me. His eyes were a soft blue and upturned, naturally darker, slightly red skin and a very symmetrical face, very attractive nose, sounds strange, but yeah. His body was very lean, he reminded me of a swimmer, very elegant and poised.

A knock sounded at the door before it opened, a she-wolf from my pack stood there with a respectful smile. "They're all waiting for you Alpha," she informed before excusing herself, closing the door softly, almost soundlessly.