I could hear the bustle and excitement as I stood just outside the ballroom with the other four potential Luna's and the she-wolf who'd led us all downstairs.

I could see the nerves on those around me, the tanned and green-eyed contender couldn't stop shuffling on his feet and picking at the skin around his nails.

He'd worn some white shorts and a white see-through shirt, his dirty blonde hair mused into beach waves, his tanned skin maybe even a shade darker than before, or it was just all the white he was wearing.

The other tall and slim blonde kept pulling at his clothes and hair, he seemed more excited than nervous, almost giddy even, his blue eyes were glued to the entrance to the ballroom and he'd lean to try and see into the room. He wore high-waisted flared trousers and an open white jacket that only went to his sternum.

The largest of the three however seemed stoic, he had this blank expression, something I'd noticed he was always wearing. His clothes were a long tunic down to his knees with white leggings underneath, each curl of his white afro coated in product and defined, looking almost wet.

Soon it was time to go in, we lined up and I slipped behind the short blonde with green eyes, not wanting to be the one to enter first. I swallowed thickly, my stomach feeling like it was full of hummingbirds rather than butterflies, I felt almost sick with nerves.

Growing up I never actually believed anything would come of my mother's dream, all that hard work she did to make me who I was, all the sleepless nights organising and planning, and all the restrictions on my life. I'd hated her for a short while, I was fourteen and resented all the limitations, that I couldn't go to school and had no friends. She'd controlled what I'd learnt, what I had access to, my father just in-forced my mother's decisions, if she said no then so would he.

I'd accepted my fate sooner or later, I still never truly believed I would get here, that I'd get this far, part of me thought my mother was delusional in believing I had a chance, but here I was, one of the final four.

I'd always bounced between wanting and hating being chosen, something had to come of all my sacrifices right? But then what about all the other contenders, hadn't they gone through something similar? Sometimes I hated all the constrictions, hated that someone would choose me, hated that nameless, faceless person, I wanted to be free. Other times I was comforted by the strict rules of my life, it gave me direction, I was almost scared of what would happen next if I wasn't chosen, what would I do then? Who would I be?

I was scared of being chosen too, even though I'd been trained for this all my life I didn't feel ready to become Luna, but I guess no matter how much I prepared I'd still feel that way.

I'd read books on Luna choosing's, due to my mother it was a censored version but I could guess what would happen tonight, it wasn't like I hadn't heard wolves from this pack speak about it as I walked by, and my mother had asked me to clean everywhere. I'd gotten more than enough hints, I knew if I was chosen I'd share the alpha's bed from this night onwards, I wasn't completely naïve to what that meant, I won't lie I was freaking terrified, my lack of knowledge certainly didn't help. I knew it was called sex, I knew it made pups, it was the parts I didn't know that made me wary.

And the alpha... he wasn't like I thought, but then he was, I'd met my pack alpha before, quite often since my father was his beta, I knew what an alpha aura felt like but... his was different, his scent, his presence turned me into a boneless puddle, his eyes burned my flesh, he broke my wolf just being near, all he wanted to do was submit, go as low as he could and act like a hyper puppy.

I should be scared of him, he was tall and broad, intimidating and strong, but I'd never felt fear in his presence, not once.

The she-wolf walked into the ballroom and we closely followed, I could feel the eyes of everyone on us, the visiting guests and the pack. The former was a little less than yesterday, some hadn't stayed when their children hadn't been chosen but some had stayed to see the outcome, the ballroom was still really full and it went quiet at our entry.

I thought about my training, poise, elegance, smile, back straight, don't hurry. I remembered all the times my mother had made me walk from one side of the garden to the other, perfecting my walk for this moment, my limbs felt like jelly with nerves but I never faltered, muscle memory kept me steady.

Like yesterday we'd be served a feast, the smell filled the room along with all of the werewolves, like before a scent dominated them all, only getting stronger the longer I walked.

The red carpet across the marble was soft and spongy beneath my bare feet, the walk felt like miles, the ballroom was long, but not that long, I kept my eyes ahead, my heart beating wildly in my chest, my breaths fast and shallow. I wanted to squeeze my hands until my nails dug into the skin, I wanted to bite said nails, energy bubbled under my skin, the urge to run or dance filling me, but I kept on going, never breaking form.

Finally, we reached the marble steps, the she-wolf silently guiding us up and getting us to stand in a line in front of the alpha's table, this time both of his parents were to the left, the space to his right empty, the redhaired man I'd seen him with on the other side of the empty seat, where one of us would sit.

I sank to my knees as did everyone else, bowing our heads, my curls fell forward and obstructed part of my view, I kept my back straight and tucked my hands in my lap, sitting back on my heels.

I heard footsteps to my left, the rustle of paper before the same older man as yesterday spoke. "Hundreds have become four, and those four will become one. Elias Hugo of the Tryesta pack, Aban Daulton of the Penchant pack, Imani Bahati of the Solanga pack and Carnet Larkin of the Keel pack. Each of you has done your packs proud, but none will remember those who almost became Luna of the Stentorian pack." the man turned towards the alpha's table from the rustle of fabric. "Satish Alder of the Stentorian pack, your Luna kneels before you." from another swish of fabric he must have bowed and then I heard his footsteps receding.

The room was dead silent, I heard a chair getting pushed back and the quiet sound of bare feet on the marble, I didn't need to see, I could feel him getting closer, his intense presence full of dominance, masculinity and strength washed over me in waves, ever-growing as he approached. His scent also grew stronger, with each breath more of it filled my nose until it was all I could smell, for all I knew it could just be him and I in this room, all other scents were overpowered by the sheer dominance of his. It was musky, it smelt like wet earth, pines, and leaves green; the forest just outside, his health, prowess, and virality were held in his scent, forcing submission and making even the most capable warrior feel inadequate.

My skin came out in goosebumps and I shivered, the need to drop completely to the floor coming from my wolf, my bones wanting to go slack, a whimper in the back of my throat. He turned me into a puddle every time, I remembered his touch... the static... the warmth of his palm as his fingers brushed through my hair, his presence over me, pinning me down, the sound of his growls.

I only noticed he was in front of me when I saw his feet come into view, my wolf purred as his fingers threaded into my hair, my body was ready to melt. The digits tensed, his hand gently tilting my head back and I let it fall, seeing him dressed in traditional brown, the robe long with heavy-looking sleeves. Part of his chest was on show, firm muscle shifted under skin, the swell of his pecks and the defined collarbones, his trapezius muscles were large, making his broad shoulders look even larger, standing out against his weathered tanned skin as it connected to his neck. He'd shaved, his braids were neat, beads placed carefully in them, they'd been redone.

He tilted my head back until his silver eyes met mine, his gaze akin to bare flames kissing my face. He simply stared for a few seconds before moving on to the next contender and I let my head drop as his fingers slipped free from my hair, my wolf yearning for him to come back.

Once he'd gone to each contender he came to stand in front of us all and the whole room seemed to be holding its breath.

It seemed like minutes before he made a move, my breathing grew heavy with nerves, and anticipation, there's no way he'd pick me right? All the other contenders were beautiful in their own way, people had told me I was beautiful but their opinions didn't matter now, only the alphas.

My mother was going to be so disappointed, she'd be heartbroken I know, I don't think even my father would be able to conso-

A warm and heavy weight settled on my left shoulder, I hadn't realised I'd squeezed my eyes closed. I pried them open, seeing a hand outstretched, the skin of that hand was weathered and tanned, I could see callouses, and scars, the hand was large and male.

I looked up, seeing the alpha standing right in front of me, it was his hand.

No way...

My hand must be shaking as I lifted it and placed it in his, warm dry skin engulfing my hand, gently tugging me up.

I came to stand in front of him, staring up into his silver eyes, a certain softness about them at this moment, his arm slipped around my waist as if he could tell how weak my knees were. Our fronts pressed together and he leaned down, I barely heard my mother's cheered screams mixed in with the roar of his pack, I think I was in shock, a buzzing sound filled my ears but his voice sounded clearly in my mind. "My Luna." his deep voice rumbled by my ear and my eyes fell closed as he ran his nose along my jaw, gently nuzzling the sides of our faces together.

My fingers fisted in the fabric of his robe between us, holding myself up, but also so I could feel he was real. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe he'd chosen me, me, from an insignificant pack, I wasn't anything special, I wasn't drop-dead gorgeous, I was just... me.

I felt him pull back, I could feel his breath on my cheek, feel his fingers thread into the curls at the back of my neck, his shadow blocking out the light of the room. He got closer and my breaths seized in my chest when I felt his lips against mine.