Daniel

It was the night of the full moon ceremony. This is the night where my entire future gets decided.

As it's customary, the pack throws a party to celebrate the Moon Goddess and everyone attends it. Which is probably why the Council saw fit to schedule the hearing for today. To say that I was nervous it was an understatement!

I mean, I know I have a small chance of getting them to reverse their position, but there's nothing I could do but hope. Honestly, when you are prepared for a position your whole life, it's hard to see yourself doing anything else. And from the moment I first draw breath till my last warrior training, I knew I was born to be Alpha!

At breakfast, everybody was nervous, most especially Nate. I mean, a part from myself, he was probably the person most invested in me being Alpha. After all, Betas were chosen by the Alpha, if I don't ascend neither will he. But I honestly think his sole concern was with me, regardless of his own fate. And I loved him for it!

"Are you excited, Dan?" - He asked me while we ate.

"I'm very nervous! I mean, I have to speak before the entire pack, so that the council decides if they're going to stop me from becoming what I was born to be and have been preparing for my entire life!" - I replied, anxiously.

"I understand, brother. But we'll be right there with you, including Felix and Daphne. It's going to be their first full moon ceremony!" - Nate said, excitedly.

"Know that you're loved and supported, cariño. That's what's most important!" - Mom comforted me.

"You'll knock it out of the park, big brother!" - Denise chimed in, smiling at me.

"I'm sure you're gonna do great, son." - Dad said. His face was serene and somber as ever.

"I just hope it's enough!" - I whispered.

The pack ground was entirely decorated. There was going to be a huge bonfire at night, as we celebrate the Goddess. The full moon was peak time for werewolves, so there was going to be a lot of wolves running tonight.

We would run through the woods all the way to the waterfalls. It was a treat! Especially for first timers! The full moon is also when a young member would shift for the first time. It usually happened after you reached puberty, around 12 or 13, at the latest.

Back in my room, I called Felix to check in.

"Hi, Felix. So, are you excited for your first full moon ceremony?" - I asked him, anxiously.

"Hi, Dan. I am. I just hope no one bites me." - He said it and I laughed out loud.

"No one is biting you, I promise! There's plenty of food!" - I snickered.

"And are you nervous? How are you feeling?" - He wondered.

"I am, of course. It's only my entire future on the line!" - I said, ironically. I heard a soft laughter.

"I hope they see reason, Dan, I really do! I know how much it means for you!" - His voice was hopeful.

"Thanks, Felix. It does, indeed. I hope so too!" - I thanked him.

"See you in a bit, bye!"

"Bye!" - I ended the call and rested for a while, this was gonna be a busy night.

Nate went to pick them up for the ceremony and he also had to face Chief Ford. I mean, good luck to him!

There was an arena built in the pack ground. It was night, the entire pack was crammed within the compound. Evidently, they all wanna watch the hearing unfold. Council members were seated at their honorable place, with my father with them as the Head of the Council.

Daphne and Felix were seated next to my family, where Nate was. There was a lot to get trough tonight, so my father grabbed the microphone and starts. The Alpha always speaks first.

"Good evening, everyone! Welcome to another full moon ceremony! This ceremony is special because it's suppose to mark my final ceremony before my son takes over the pack." - Dad said and then pauses. The entire pack is hanging on his every word, silently.

"However, due to unfortunate circumstances, the Council is yet to decide whether or not he'll be your next Alpha. So for now, I thank you for the privilege that it has been serving as your leader!" - He continued. The crowd applauded.

"Nevertheless, pack law requires me to offer a chance for any mated member to challenge me for Alpha. So, if there's anyone who wish to present themselves, now is your chance!" - He spoke and waited for a moment.

"OK, so nobody wants to die today, good. Let the ceremony begin!" - He snickered, which of course made the crowd laugh. Truth was my dad hasn't been challenged in over a decade. It's not something to be taken lightly, because if you lose it, you die. No mercy!

At the hearing, a lot of people spoke. My dad is prohibited from speaking as he is the Head of the Council, which is a position that is reserved for the Alpha of the pack. And no werewolf outranks the Alpha, he can only be impeached if he abuses his power or commits a crime against the pack.

Beta Davis spoke, Delta Garcia, my mom spoke her piece, and other prominent members of the pack, it went on for hours before it was my time. Until it arrived. So, I went to the microphone and the crowd was silent, waiting to hear me speak.

"Good evening, my fellow pack members and esteemed council people. My name is Daniel Aguilar Huntington and I stand before you tonight, humbled by our laws and traditions to defend my right to ascend as Alpha when I turn 18 in a matter of weeks.

"I was born in this city and raised to believe the collective is better than the individual. I was raised to believe that an Alpha's duty is to serve his pack and that's what I learned from my father, who learned from his father, dating all the way back to the pack's foundation."

"Tradition is a great thing. We take comfort in knowing where we stand. Knowing what's have been good for us time and time again. But traditions can change. They can't be used as weapons to hold us back."

"When my great-grandfather was Alpha, women weren't allowed to pose challenges. They weren't seen as warriors. Thankfully, over time, this tradition was surpassed and now we know they can fight just as well as any men. And in case you have any doubt, I suggest watching my sister fight. She's only 16 but can take on any grown men and make even my father be thankful pack law prohibits her to challenge him."

Denise opened a wide smile. The crowd laughed a little.

"What brings us all here today is to celebrate the mother of all werewolves, our Moon Goddess. Legend has it that she created the first werewolf and so decided that whoever that wolf mates it should be her pairing. And so it has been happening for thousands of years."

"We don't get to choose our mates. The Goddess does. And though any mate she would choose for me wouldn't hold a candle to my mother, the best Luna this pack has ever seen, she did chose."

My mom smiled from ear to ear. The pack applauded her. My mom was even more loved than my dad.

"Yes, my mate is human. And yes, my mate is a boy. I don't know why the Goddess chose who she did. But we are werewolves. Punishing someone for who their mate be is the worst crime we could commit against the deity we worship. All I ask of you, dear people, is that I be given the same fair chance my father got. Thank you very much!" - I stated, tears falling from my face.

The crowd went wild. They clapped me for 10 minutes. There wasn't a dry eye in the audience. My mom, Nate, Denise, Daphne and Felix were all crying. And, of course, so was I.

While the council deliberated, we tried to enjoy the festivities. I took Felix to eat, so we can spend some time together.

"How are you liking so far?" - I asked Felix while we ate the wonderful food.

"I didn't realize it was gonna be this massive! There are so many people here!" - He replied in awe, as he ate.

"Yeah, I know... It's our biggest gathering! My dad's final! Or so I hope!" - I told him, trying for a smile. But failing.

After we ate, I took Felix to the bonfire. We stood there with Nate and Daphne enjoying its warmth as we tried to take our minds off the decision ahead. By now, the pack was crawling with wolves running around, howling to the moon. Our friends Mike, Tom, Carl and even Lauren were with us too.

As we were enjoying ourselves, we hear my father's voice in the microphone.

"Attention, all! Attention! The council has reached its conclusion!" - My dad announced.

Nate grabbed my hand. All of us gasped in anxiety. Felix is also by my side, waiting nervously.

"Whatever happens, I got you!" - He said to me. I looked at him and I could feel his nervousness. But I was a wreck!

"The council has decided that..." - My father started. And as I heard the words he was saying, my heart sank.

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