It was nearing eleven in the evening, most of the pack had gone home for the night the only people who were left were high school students and people who weren’t mated. Raven and Ella were somewhere around probably chatting with others. I just sat in front of a bonfire, holding a styrofoam cup full of hot chocolate in my hands to keep them warm. For a September evening, it was quite chilly. I keep my eyes on the blazing embers, losing my thought. The crackling of the wood-burning soothed me. I was pulled out of my thought when someone sits on the log right next to me. I jump slightly and look at the intruder, who had turned out to be Onyx.

“Hey kiddo,” She sighed.

“You are aware I am older than you.” I looked over at her laughing.

“Very aware,” She huffed out a laugh.

“Well, what brings you over here?” I asked her.

“I’m really exhausted from talking to a lot of people I don’t even know that well.” She says turning to me. “I mean I feel like I’ve sweated buckets because of tonight, do you think I did alright during the ceremony?” She questions.

“I think you did perfect. I think Alpha Alexandre is going to be a great leader, you're going to be a great Luna.” I nudge her with my shoulder, smiling.

Someone sits next to Onyx and I notice it’s Alexandre and my head automatically goes down in submission. “I’m glad you think so little Omega, but I still have a long way to go.” Alexandre lets out a breath, the heat of his breath making a small cloud. His breathing was heavy as if he had just got done running, which was a big possibility because tonight being the full moon. Both Alexandre and Onyx were in their normal clothing and out of their ceremonial wear.

“Did you not transform?” Onyx asks me.

“No I don’t really feel like doing it tonight,” I mumble under my breath, the lie came easily.

“Really, it’s the best night to do it!” Onyx looked up to the moon. “I love the feeling of the moon goddesses blessing.” She hugs herself, closing her eyes with a big grin on her face.

“I do as well, I’m just feeling a little unwell still from what happened earlier this week.” I hoped that they would drop the topic of transforming into my wolf.

“Makes sense,” Onyx shrugged. Suddenly the air fills with awkwardness.

“So how did y’all meet each other?” I asked, trying to break the ice.

“Our parents were best friends and well the rest was history, now we’re just waiting until Alex turns 18 and then we’re going to mate.” Onyx joyfully said. “He used to be a little shit to me though, I remember there was one time when I was like 6 and he was almost 8 and he put worms in my shoes. I swear my dad almost strangled him.” She laughed, Alexandre wrapped his arm around Onyx hugging her to his side.

“Um, let's not forget the time you put Nair in my shampoo and I was bald for a week before my hair decided to grow in a little.” He smiles at her, looking her in the eyes.

“Oh PA-LEASE, what about that time you put itching powder in my bed and I had an allergic reaction to it.” She shoves him away.

“Hey, I’m still sorry about that love. In my defense, though you put spiders in my bed.” He put his free hand in the air in a defensive manner. “You did look quite funny with a swollen face though, I’m not gonna lie.”

“Oh the big scawwy Alpha is afraid of spiders August, use that to your own discretion.” She starts turning red with her laughs.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone little Omega.” He looks at me, I again avoid eye contact. “At least I wasn’t afraid of Furby's until I was 14.”

“Oh no the fuck you didn’t, you said you wouldn’t tell anyone that.” She whines.

“Hey, you said you wouldn’t tell anyone about the spiders, but here we are,” Alexandre says in between laughs. His laugh was dry and joyful. I could listen to it all day. I once again snap out of the thought of that. What on earth is wrong with me tonight?

“Now you have to tell us something equally embarrassing to even it out August.” Onyx looks at me. “Gotta even out the score here.”

“Uhh,” I say, not knowing anything too embarrassing that I do. I mean, the worst thing I do is sleep with the same blanket from when I was a kid. “I mean I sleep with my blanket I’ve had since I was a kid.” I shrugged not really thinking of something that could really be more embarrassing other than that.

“That’s not embarrassing.” She pouted at me. “That’s really freaking adorable.”

“Gotta admit that little one that is pretty stinkin’ adorable.” Alexandre rests his head on top of Onyx’s.

“Hey, Onny,” Someone shouts, approaching us from behind. I feel cold liquid run down my spine as someone hugged Onyx from behind. They smelled strongly of alcohol, making me scrunch my nose up. I looked up at them, it was one of her friends that were supposed to come and help us with the food and help her get ready for the ceremony. “You did fuckin’ great.” Her friend slurs.

“Jess you’re drunk what the fuck.” She shrugged Alexandre’s arm off of her shoulders and stood up. Alexandre looks up at the clearly plastered girl, and he raises an eyebrow. He then looks at her arm that still had the empty cup in it that had been poured down my back. “I’m sorry Alex, I’m going to take her home, I’ll see you in the morning.” She sighs, giving Alexandre a peck on the lips. “I’m sorry she spilled her drink on you Aug.” She hugged me tightly, she then grabbed her intoxicated friend's arm and started dragging her out of the woods.

A shiver runs down my spine when the wind blows, hitting my back like a whip. Of all nights that this had to happen it just had to be tonight. “Here little August.” Alexandre breaks me out of my thoughts. He’s holding out his jacket for me.

“You’ll just get cold,” I said shoving his hand back. “I’ll be fine, I’m just waiting on my friends to regroup and go home. They shouldn’t be too long anyway.” I state, blood rushing to my face.

“August,” His voice was deeper, he was using his Alpha tone. My head bows into my chest. “Take the jacket, I’ll be fine I’m an alpha, my blood runs hotter.” I grabbed the jacket from his hands and I put it on, obeying his order.

“Thank you,” I say. The jacket was warm, and the scent of whiskey and oak hit my nostrils, the scent slightly intoxicating. Alexandre and I sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the only sound was the crackling of the wood.

“So, will you tell me the real reason why you didn’t let your wolf out?” Alexandre says in a hushed tone. I look up at him catching his eyes, he holds his gaze to mine. My eyes widen and teeth chattering, I’m pretty sure I look scared at the moment to him. “Please don’t try to skip around the truth, you sounded upset earlier when you said you didn’t feel like doing it.” He says with a stern voice.

I looked around us, knowing I could trust the future Alpha know what was happening. Seeing as Kathy would make me tell Alpha Kent about Winston going AWOL if he wasn’t back by the next full moon, which fell the week after Halloween. No one was close enough to hear our conversation even if they were morphed into their wolf.

“Since I was attacked by the rogue a few months ago Winston has tucked his tail and doesn’t want to come out. I’ve tried everything before you start going down the same list as Kathy.” I state, resting my head in my hands.

“That’s not good little Omega,” Alexandre states. “Maybe we can try training your body to be stronger to hold him.”

“Nooo thank you.” Exercise and I do not belong in the same sentence, to be honest. “He’s there, I can feel him there, he’s just MIA. If that makes any sense at all.” I frowned.

“We’ll keep this between the two of us but if he doesn’t come by the next full moon we’re going to have to do something to get little Winston to cooperate.” I nod hoping Winston stops being a stubborn bitch and comes out of hiding by then. I hear what they do to make the wolf come out, it’s not pretty either.

Our conversation was cut short by the sound of someone wailing. My ears reacted to the sound, my head snapped in the direction it had come from. On the ground was Ella clutching her chest and an older man, that looked like he was in his early 20’s, standing before her. He turned on his heel, transforming into his wolf form, his wolf was whining as he ran away. I jumped to my feet and ran toward my friend who was sobbing on the ground. Something was wrong.