-Chapter One-
The Presenting

I stood next to Braxton, and listened on as he went through his plans for tonight.

I couldn't lie and say I wasn't worried that something bad might happen tonight, and if I was being really honest, I was also more than a little upset that we all had to be going through this mess in the first place; none the less on the night I was going to be introduced to the pack for the first time.

It's no secret Patrick and I haven't always seen eye to eye, and I get that he's apologized and I respect the fact that he's Mariah's mate, but truth be told I hated that his carelessness from his past was now effecting all of us.

Tonight should be a happy night, and my only worries should be not falling in front of everyone or someone not liking me...now I have to worry about the safety of my friends as well as my Braxton.

"You guys ready?" Braxton finally asked.

I could tell he wasn't feeling tonight either.

But as of late he's seemed worn out, and stressed, whatever the reason I hope it goes away soon because I miss the Braxton I first fell in love with.

I watched on a little jealously as Patrick gave Mariah a loving peck before we all exited the office.

Ryder immediately came around to my other side.

"Everything good?" He asked.

Braxton nodded, "everything's fine, just filling in Patrick on what I want from the Elite tonight and Vance needed to be informed on keeping an eye on the girls...some of the pack members might not take too kindly to have non Weres in the packhouse."

Ryder seemed to understand. I wished Braxton would just tell him what's going on, Ryder looked down at me and offered a soft nod of his head, it was his equivalent to a smile. "Luna Harper."

I blushed a little, "I guess I should get use to that."

Braxton sighed heavily, he seemed to have a lot on his mind. "You aren't marked yet, so no one will really acknowledge you as the Luna just yet."

My smile faltered and I nodded my understanding.

Truth is, I'm the one who's been keeping Braxton at arms length so to speak. If he had things his way I would've been marked, mated, and married and this presentation would be happening last on the list of things. But in my perfect world I'd do it all "backwards."

You see I want to know Braxton fully...and that includes him as an alpha as well as his pack before I commit to marrying him.

It's also no secret that I'm saving myself for marriage, and that's something that I have been firm on...of course there have been intimacies that have taken place in the form of exploration with hands and mouths, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually go through with actual intercourse, and for the most part Braxton understand my reservations and has never exactly pushed me toward anything I'm not one hundred percent ready for.

I respect him for that.

But...as I've held off on sex, obviously i haven't taken his mark.

And in a perfect world, I would take his mark, the defining symbol that we are one, Alpha and Luna...on the. Igor if our wedding when I give myself to him fully.

But of course life has a funny way of making things happen that you hadn't planned for.

From Elise and Vance losing and then regaining their wolves, to Patrick and Mariah's stalker situation and everything in between, it's no wonder a year has passed by quicker than we expected.

Now Braxton and I are having to rush through what should've taken place throughout the year.

But...we missed out mark.

Our year had come and gone and now we were playing catch-up and hoping the consequences wouldn't be too harsh on us...mainly Braxton.

And I can't lie, this rush has caused some tension between Braxton and I, so much so that I've moved back into my parents place.

Something I haven't exactly had the heart to tell the girls.

Now don't get me wrong, I love Braxton with everything I have in me...but everything is happening so fast that I just needed something that I can control.

So moving out was the best option for me and it's also limited our temptations as well. Because when you're trying to keep your virtue intact, but you happen to live with the hottest guy on the planet...it isn't easy.

"Gorgeous?"

I looked over at Braxton, I had been so lost in thought that I wasn't paying attention to anything that was going on.

"I'm gonna need you to be focused tonight Harper." He said slightly agitated.

I didn't like this stressed out Braxton, I get that he's stressed but don't take it out on me. "Yes sir." I replied sarcastically.

He sighed heavily before pulling me into a hug, "I'm being an asshole...I'm sorry."

I hugged him back, "just remember that you love me and I love you and tonight is about us."

He smiled and nodded, "it is, but I also need to make sure you are safe no matter what...so please please try and focus because I'm going to have to be away from you tonight and you can't even begin to understand how hard that is for me knowing there's potentially someone dangerous here."

I nodded, "Braxton"

He took my hand ready to walk us out but paused when I called out to him.

I smiled at him and looked into his handsome face, "Happy Anniversary."

His entire demeanor seemed to soften now, "Happy Anniversary Gorgeous...I'm sorry it wasn't anything romantic."

I shook my head, "we'll have time for romance when we're alone...I understand this needs to be done though."

He moved to kiss me and we finally made our way outside.

He led us through the crowd of people, he talked to them and some made conversations with me as well and before I knew it he was speaking to the entire pack and asking everyone to listen up now.

My heart began to race, it was time.

Everything from that point seemed to be happening in slow motion, every footstep seemed heavy and prolonged, every breath was labored and shaky, I found myself swallowing to make sure my mouth wasn't drying out.

I followed behind Braxton timidly, but he stopped us.

"We'll wait until Ryder's up there first, and from this point on you will always be seen as my equal, so no more hiding behind me." He said lovingly.

I nodded and he kissed my forehead, "this is easy, so don't be nervous okay."

"Easier said than done, I'm just fixing to go walk out into a pack of wolves and you're going to tell them I'm going to one day be their luna, me...just a regular old non-Were."

"No, we are going to walk out to address my pack and I am going to share with them that you are my mate and together one day we will run this pack as Alpha and Luna." He amended, his words sounded pretty and promised that everything would go smoothly.

Too bad I'm too much of a pessimist to believe him.