1 Getting Ready

JULY

Mika sighed once more for the hundredth time. Or so it seemed.

Her mother and father were hunters of the Crystalleaf pack. They were never home, so she was alone tonight, the night before the most important day of her life.

Again. She still loved them dearly though. Who wouldn't? They were important members of Crystalleaf. They brought all the food back after all.

Her sweet sixteen had been wonderful and important. So had her graduation.. This though was so much more important. She was nineteen going on twenty, and old enough for the Alpha Run. She could be finding her possible mate.. Move out of her hometown.. Into a new pack as a Luna..

The thought alone scared her. All of her life she had believed she was just some regular pack member meant to be with a normal guy. But, here she was. Almost twenty, mateless, going into the biggest mating event for alphas ever made. She shuddered at it. Not really because of the cringe factor. More like the terror.

Honestly she should have gone last year, but her birthday was just after the event. She didn't make the age cut. Mika couldn't use that to her advantage anymore though.

The Run was scary. Mika felt anxious, like the pit of her stomach was dancing with fire. Oddly enough, this fire wasn't entirely uncomfortable. Almost as if her body knee something she didn't. Still, she didn't really want to leave her life behind. Her parents. Her friends. She never thought of herself as alpha mate material.

Who does?

Well...

Okay so some specific, head up their asses, females did. Some guys too.

The thought of having so much responsibility was nearly unbearable, but if it was her destiny then it simply was. She would have to do her best to help the new pack. She would be determined to.

In a way the thought excited her as well. Ugh, why couldn't she sort out her own feelings? Was she nervous or was she terrified?!

A Luna... a young lady, or young man in some cases, picked by the moon goddess to help the alpha take care of their pack. She couldn't help but be awed by the thought. They were so important.. Not only did they take care of the pack, but she had witnessed her own Luna calm the alpha down enough to keep a war from happening. Such beautiful and powerful beings.

She would never make a good one.

Would she?

After making a rather small dinner, Mika did what little chores she had for her parents, and decided to take a bath. The laundry had helped busy her mind. Picking herbs and flowers with the other girls had put her In a state of peace. Herbs and scents of flowers could do wonders for the body. Foraging was always fun in Crystalleaf. .

She wanted to be presentable tomorrow, because first impressions on over bearing alphas were normally important. She was covered with dirt, leaves, and mud. Not only that but she smelled like one of her favorite plants. Gardenia.. Mika sighed contently to it's scent. She grew them herself, and couldn't help but nap in them from time to time. They were all around the pack. She personally tended to them, and the sweet pea as well.

She scrubbed her grimy skin clean, and the scent went with it sadly. Though, it wouldn't matter much if she was clean or not. Not this time at least. Everyone would be dirty after tomorrow's Run.

It was a rainy, summer, night in South Carolina. Mid Summer. To be exact, July. From what she had heard through the grapevine it was also raining in No Man's Land. It would make The Run muddy tomorrow.

That was going to be a sight. A lot of girls her age hated the rain because it ruined the way they looked. To her it was actually kind of fun. It cooled the hot Summer time air, though you had to pay for it with the mugginess soon after. Still, playing in the rain was fun. The way it stung when it hit her skin never failed to send shiver through her entire being.

Still, a good bath never hurt though.. it soothed her building nerves a little. Even if very little. She eventually managed to make herself crawl out of the warm water, and go get ready to go to bed.

Mika tossed and turned, laid different ways, went downstairs, and had a small snack. She tried everything. It was just hard to fall asleep. Eventually she was able to will herself to sleep.

Tomorrow was the beginning of a life changing day.

~~~~~~~~

The morning came all too soon. She found herself wanting to run away, and not participate in this run. Yet, if she did, she could be caught and put to death for it.

Or worse.

You didn't mess with Alphas, and there were many going to this event. Mate or not you could get seriously punished for running away. No one within the age requirements were exempt unless the situation was dire.

Soon enough someone would be coming to get her, and escort her there. A precaution to make sure potential mates didn't run away on the way, and were protected. Cold feet was no excuse to skip the run. Only a very serious medical condition could really get you out of it. Werewolves didn't have serious medical conditions.

Not normally.

She dressed in something simple, a grey tank top and some thick black leggings. They at least didn't make her butt look like it was eating them, and would keep her warm until she shifted. She was glad they fit her well. She had seen too many girls wearing them a few sizes too tight. Gag. That didn't make you look attractive or mature. It made you look trashy.

Her clothes were good enough for her, tomboyish or not. She wasn't really aiming to stick out much.

She never bothered too much with her hair either, and she wouldn't need to. A wolf with prettied up hair? Nah. No makeup.. She hated the stuff. Just a personal preference. Mika didn't have anything against it. It was more like she had never seen the need for it, or been taught to use it. Her mother didn't use it either, and she thought her mother looked beautiful.

She might have came home a bit bloody, and disheveled every now and then... But, what huntress didn't? It was a part of their pack's way of life. Simple as that.

She had a pretty enough face, long lashes that set off her blue and green eyes, and wavy brown hair that fell to her mid back. One thing she frowned at though, was her body. She wasn't a skinny bean pole, and had curves.

Often she wondered if guys really liked holding a pole at night or in a hug.. nothing to really cuddle up to if you asked her. Still, it didn't stop her from wishing she was just a little skinnier.. maybe a few pounds off her belly? Take the stretch marks away?

Every time she found herself wishing for it though, something told her she was beautiful as she was. That something was Nina.

Her little wolf buddy.

Spirit. Nina was a wolf spirit. Every werewolf had one.

You didn't want to mess with Nina. Her temper would snap In a heartbeat and she'd chew you out without thinking. It often kept boys away from her, and for that she was grateful.

Anyway, You couldn't change things about yourself like that suddenly. Plus Mika liked food way too much to give it up. She pulled herself away from the mirror. " Now or never..."

"It's now. " Nina huffed quietly.

Mika rolled her eyes, and tiptoed downstairs to check on her parents. She made sure not to let her bags bang down the wooden stairs, so she wouldn't wake them. Her entire life was being pulled behind her. She'd never really held onto much. Many would call her boring. She preferred the flowers over things.

Poor things.. They were sleeping soundly together. They hunted non stop for the pack. Made trades in other towns. Sometimes even with the few humans that knew about werewolves, and were trusted by them.

It was nice to know some people didn't judge something they didn't understand. Some people. However not everyone felt the same way. Some humans despised weres because of what? Power? The wolf? It wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Not by a long shot.

Who wanted to constantly shift? Your bones cracked, and changed positions. You spirited fur, particularly tragic if you were most younger females, and claws. You got to run wild and free yes, but there were so many rules involved. Not to mention all packs varied. Some had more rules than others.

Being a hunter/huntress had to be an exhausting job. She smiled softly at them, and went over to her mom. " It's time for me to go.. I love you guys.. If I don't get to come home, know I love you, and I'll try to get in touch. " She started to walk off when her mother took her hand.

" Good luck sweetheart. We love you very much.. Don't be afraid to kick whichever alpha in the butt a few good times my strong little girl. " Minny gushed softly to her daughter, " Your father and I understand what happens when you become a Luna.. And if you don't find your mate, we'll see you in a few days. I'll help you redo your room and everything." She kissed her forehead.

Mika stood there for a while. Tears threatened to spill over in her eyes. She felt close to breaking down. Honestly everything seemed like it was happening too soon. Her life was being ripped right out from under her.

Her father snored softly behind them. Her mother walked her out of their room, into the kitchen. They hugged for what seemed like years before she sighed. Mika took the time to memorize her features. It wasn't hard. Almost like looking in a mirror. Only she was a good bit older, and her hair was starting to get a few silvery streaks. Maybe a bit lighter than her own.

~~~~~~

Her mother's head shot up, and she walked her over to the door. She must have sensed the car coming. " Oh! Be careful sweetheart! " Minny pulled her into a bone crushing hug before letting her go, and pushing her out or the kitchen door.

The car pulled up just as her mother shoved her out of the house her bags in tow. She was just enthusiastic about her daughter finally having a new chance to find her mate.

The Lady in the car got out, and helped Mika with her things before stepping back and giving her mother a bow. She was dressed casually, but had a formal attitude. Relaxed, but formal. Respect was always given to the families, and Mika guessed it was a normal attitude to have being around so many Alphas and families related to them.

Her mother bowed back showing the same respect, which seemed to surprise her driver.

It wasn't necessary, but it was a gesture the lady had not expected. That was clearly shown on her face before she straightened herself up and helped Mika in the car.

Ugh. Cars.

The ride was going to be a long one. She lived on an outside territory in South Carolina, a pack named Crystalleaf. It was going to take quite a few hours to get to no man's land where The Run would take place. About eleven hours honestly. She tried to relax to no avail. The only good thing was that she didn't have to share a car with anyone from the pack. No one would be gossiping, and she wouldn't have to try to make much small talk. She would be the only girl participating this year from Crystalleaf.

The bad thing, it was extremely quiet.

Plenty of time for her thoughts to take over, scare the living hell out of her, and send her on her way.

~~~~~~~

They arrived later that day. The ride took around eleven hours as she thought it would, and she had slept on and off. It had rained on the way again, so the trails through the woods and running ground were going to be extra wet and muddy.

She smiled a little. This would be fun. She liked to get dirty and have fun. So, this wasn't supposed to be fun per say ,but still it would be. She could see it now. All the girls holding their hands over their heads In a vain attempt to stay dry and get under the canopy of the trees or tents.

" You chose a good set of clothes Miss Mika. " the driver smiled. She had interrupted her thoughts, " Most girls would have tons of makeup running down their cheeks when they find a mate. Or would have messed it up already sleeping on this ride." she chuckled softly, " And not to mention with frilly clothing full of mud and grass. Make up seems like a bad choice for this particular event... Raccoon eyes everywhere.. " She ended in a whisper cracking a smile.

The two parked the car, and got out.

Mika laughed a little, and smiled brightly. It was the first time since she left home really. " Yeah, I don't like to be too girly.. There just isn't much reason to be honestly. At least I haven't had a reason to be girly. Childish maybe. Plus it's been raining for a few days now.. No need in being dressy when all of that work is just going to get ruined. . " she answered with a playful shrug as they walked around to get her bags out of the trunk.

" At least you are thinking. Surprisingly this Run is still being held today. We left around four this morning, and it's almost eight at night.." She bounced chipper like trying to help Mika with her things.

" Trust your instincts girl.. They will steer you in the right direction. I'll take your things to the tents. Belongings are collected at the end of the run by their owners or the Alphas. You are the last to arrive, so you better head off to be briefed on the rules to situations you might encounter. " She shooed Mika off to the Blue tents with a wave of her hand, and took the girl's things away. In a few moments she would be all checked in.

The Alphas were elsewhere.. She assumed already in the woods watching and waiting for the girls to shift and run. Or.. as some had in the past.. just run.

Like a crazy person into the woods..

Those girls looked like wild women who lived in the woods all along. An entertaining sight.

The Alphas would be able to get a lay of the land they would run to find a mate. Even watching who arrived, who stood out, sniffing for faint traces of scents.. Hell, some probably made stupid bets about which girl they would end up with. Or whose scent was stronger.

She felt a sudden chill that went up her spine. She felt it already.. A pull so strong she wanted to walk into the woods, and not the tents. It was almost intoxicating. Almost. Mika had heard stories about this pull. The pull of a mate, and a rather strong one at that.

Stories were passed around about the pull of an alpha. The strongest could sense his mate almost twenty miles away. Smell them in at least ten. Or so they said. She didn't smell anything, but this feeling was gut wrenching. Beckoning her to come closer. Submit. Telling her to abandon what she was supposed to do.

In other words Mika had to be who she was. A strong headed, don't mess with me, girl. Mika huffed unhappily. She wanted to go. She was about to go.

She hesitated before entering the tent anyway. " Dammit. " she sighed softly.

She was a freaking Luna wasn't she?

~~~~~~~

She shook it off, and listened once inside. The rules: No escaping from No Man's Land, No attacking the Alphas, No trying to steal an alpha, and No attacking another girl.

Each rule was punishable in it's own way. Alphas didn't have much tolerance when it came to their mate being harmed. Nor did they like it when you ran from them. Attack them? Hell. No. You'd be dead in a heartbeat. Steal the alpha? They would laugh you away. So, embarrassment, getting mauled, or death. Not something any girl wanted.

She sighed softly, and crossed her arms... The Run...

The Run was only established because too many territorial alphas wouldn't travel. Lunas weren't being found in their own packs anymore. It was kind of sad. People started to fight. They lost trust in each other. People stopped communicating or leaving their own lands because they simply didn't trust each other.

Eventually the elder alphas saw reason. Packs needed Lunas. They needed their leaders mates. Power, healing, and so much more could come from a Luna.

The elders came together with their sons, and the eligible girls ages nineteen to twenty-five, and had them run together. Pairs started to come out of the woods. If the young alpha didn't find a girl, he would participate the next year. Simple. Easy. Peaceful enough.

No rejections had happened involving an Alpha and Luna yet. Though some had come close. Elders thought girls started to apparently lose their value after twenty-five...

Bullshit.

Still, she was of age now.

Yay.

Fun.

Terrifying.

The one thing she wanted to hear was the presentation. . .

They all gathered in a place the packs called "No Man's Land. " Rouges knew to stay away from this place. It was the safest place to be during a war or the run. It was a large open circle of a forest standing tall and proud. Many considered it to be the Moon Goddess' forest since so many mates came from it with little to no issues.

Honestly, it was a beautiful, lush forest. Mika loved the way it looked. What she would give to live in it. Explore it. Learn its secrets, and maybe see the moon goddess herself. Who knew what mysteries it held?

The presentation was about to begin, and the lighting inside the tents faded down to a low dim glow. Several tents were pushed together to make one giant tent, and it had a large crowded screen in the middle.

It was her first run, and she was eager to listen to the fabled history of the Alpha Run. Others... Not so much. They leaned against the unsteady tent poles or sat on the ground talking.

Everything changed when the screen lit up. It was deathly silent. That was apparently an unspoken rule. Who knew so many people could be so quiet you could hear a pin drop on grass?

She perked up; paying close attention.

" Many moons ago, Alphas stopped trusting each other. Peace meetings met with gruesome ends. Wars broke out. Our race was perishing. It seemed, there was no hope for us in the states.

Elder Alphas came up with an idea. Everyone would separate. No alliances. No traveling. No trading. Absolutely no mating from other packs. Communications were cut off, and we began to die quicker than ever before.

Eventually few tribes remained. None of them were strong. Disease, famine, and death ran wild. The Elders of the remaining peoples came together once again. They realized distrusting one another, and turning their backs on each other, had caused the downfall of Werewolves.

An idea was mentioned at the meeting. The young alphas would be at least nineteen when they took over. Some young alphas were as old as twenty-five. Though, today's alphas can be much younger. Why not have them come together in a place of meeting, and have them mingle. It didn't seem a bad idea, but it had its problems.

The young had their disagreements. Where would they do this? What about the shy ones? Some girls were too afraid to approach Alphas. The belongings of the girls would be a nuisance. They would have to acquire new ones or travel to get them. Some Alphas came from territories far away across the states. Then the problem of girls running away came up.

One Alpha mentioned the girls should bring belongings with them. Most of them at least. Family members shouldn't be among them though. It would cause overcrowding in an already large crowd. Not to mention it would be difficult to disengage the girls from their families. Many of them were not fans of long goodbyes, and so they agreed.

The next Alpha stated that girls running from duty should be put to death to make an example. Running from being a Luna was disrespectful and disgraceful. Someone should come to the girl, pick her up, and lead her back. This way she was less likely to run, and would arrive safely. Again, they agreed.

The place they would gather would have to be a large forest that was free of rouges. They decided on such a place they dubbed, No Man's Land. No packs would be allowed to settle there. No rouges would be allowed to run free there. They would protect it with their lives, best pack members, and large numbers. Taking turns between each pack.

The borders would not matter in this grey land. Everyone would form large security details, and take turns over a period of two months each, to guard the entire border and forest. It would be kept clean from any filth, and treated as sacred.

This land spanned most of Arkansas and Missouri. It would also touch Nebraska and Oklahoma to allow the set up and maintenance of the forests. Everyone seemed okay with this. Those packs had perished long ago, and the land sat in a decrepit state.

The last problem was getting the young ones to mingle and mate. The youngest Alpha came up with an idea. Make them run together. This would alleviate shyness and fear. The girls would be forced to go to the forest. If they didn't want to be violently mated though, they could run. They could hide. They could walk. Whatever they felt. It didn't seem necessary to be so rough, but with so many Alphas they were very territorial.

Staying together would result in injury, fighting, even the possible deaths of many young girls and Alphas. Running, and dispersing into the vast Woodlands would be ideal for finding mates.

After some thoughts, suggestions and settling, a treaty was signed.

The young Alphas ages nineteen to twenty-five were gathered, and let out into the Woodlands first after being given the rules: No stealing mates, No killing unjustly, No fighting unjustly, No running away, and They must come back out of the Woodlands at the end mated or not.

Next the girls ages nineteen to twenty-five were gathered, their belongings taken, and given the rules: No stealing an Alpha, No attacking and Alpha or their mate, No running away, They had to participate even the Omegas, They had to exit the Woodlands at the end mated or not, They had to come back until the age of twenty-five. Each rule was punishable by death, or determined by the alpha they wronged. The only exemptions were serious illnesses.

At the end of the first Alpha Run, almost every Alpha came back mated. The families were elated, the Alphas mostly happily mated, and the next generations were excited to participate given they did not find their mates within their own communities.

And so the werewolves flourished."

The screen went black again. It had showed old pictures of the Alphas as they fought, famine spread throughout the United States, bodies of the lost wolves in No Man's Land, the treaty being signed, the strong beautiful women running into the Woodlands and changing into wolves, the fields of tattered clothing left behind by them and the Alphas... It even showed the first couples returning.

Truly, it was just as beautiful as the lyrical woman narrating it made it sound. Sure the rules given to each group were a little more than old fashioned and kind of wrong.. but some had changed. They were much more lenient now as well.

Mika had no clue how large this place actually was until now. Arkansas, Missouri, and parts of Nebraska and Oklahoma... it was absolutely massive!

South Carolina was pretty far away as well. She had to take a car, so it had taken a lot longer. Most states were allowed to fly. Her pack insisted on a car. It was probably because she was the only nineteen year old this year.

Her friends would be in it next year, so they would probably get to fly. . . Lucky witches. She couldn't blame Alpha Trip though. Crystalleaf wasn't a wealthy pack. It had what it needed, and everyone seemed content with it. Traveling by car was simply the best option.

Mika's thoughts halted suddenly,

" Get ready girls. You will be able to shift when the side of the tents open. " Those were the words she was semi dreading to hear.

She was excited as well though. The pull she felt was intoxicating, and it was back again. It soothed her frazzled nerves, and set them on fire as well. Her stomach did backflips. Her mind spun like crazy. She wanted to go straight into the trees, and into the arms, and safety of her mate. Finding him though, would be the real issue.

Finding him would be challenging with so many people.

Or so she thought.