PROLOGUE

The entire pack stood stunned as the Alpha body argued with the Moon Goddess. The land around them had been destroyed, nearly every house had severe damage and the pack houses fire was only now starting to die with the rising of the morning sun. The remains of more than half their pack members filled the large field around them. The rogue carcasses having been gathered into a pile to be burned. So much of their family, now dead. They didn't know exactly how many had perished in this pointless battle, but the small group of twenty that had gathered to watch the Moon Goddess deliver her judgement knew that the numbers were greatly depleted.

"I'm not sure how you have grown to have as little compassion as you do." She murmured sadly after he rudely told her that she should have given him a mate fit for an Alpha.

"Even the pack members didn't care for her, because she was human." A sorry attempt to deflect attention from himself. Only a few in the pack had issues with her being human, those being his friends. "Humans can't be trusted, we've known this. We have had to protect ourselves from them since the very beginning and you thought it was smart for me to have a human mate? With all the wars and rogues and other packs that could potentially see it as a weakness." He was backpedaling now, trying to use history as an excuse to shun the Moon Goddess' gift.

Her hand whistled in the air while she brought it to impact across his face. He fell to his knees and cupped his cheek, he kept his head lowered in deference to her, when she spoke he looked up at her face. There was blood coating his lip and a bit of fear in his eyes. Now he realizes that he can be punished and there's nothing he can do about it.

"You accepted a human mate and proceeded to degrade her, belittle her and when she was no longer any use to you and your little plan to take over the western region, you rejected her." She paused for a moment just staring at him with a malice that the pack members were always so sure she would never impose. They were her children. "I had hoped the pain you caused - that you felt from her death, because you did bond with her - would show you how very wrong you were. All you have succeeded in doing was suppressing the instincts I gave you, which only proves to me that you have no use or business having those instincts."

She lifted her hand in the air again and brought it down in a sharp arc. When she came to the bottom, the alpha was writhing on the ground, his wolf's whimpers could be heard coming from his mouth. The skin on his back seemed to ripple with movement from underneath, then the wolfs snout protruded from his back, fighting against bone, skin and muscle to release itself. The process looked to be very painful, but more for the alpha. Sweat had broken on his skin and he began to wheeze and cough, his hand coming away with specks of blood. When the wolf stood on his own, the Moon Goddess addressed him.

"You and your counterpart have not been working in tandem." His head lowered so far, his snout grazed the blades of bloody grass. To everyone's surprise, when he spoke, they all heard the growly voice in their heads. Clearly he was still the alpha.

"I told him not to reject her. I knew she would be good for us." He let out a sorrowful howl at the loss of his mate. The pack had never heard him grieve for her, his counterpart had never let him. The others gathered bowed their heads in respect.

"I know. I am so very sorry. I would do something a bit unprecedented if you agree." It wasn't a question, but he looked up curiously. "I watched him use you for his benefit, then put you away time and time again." She glanced at everyone. "I didn't create werewolves for humans to use them at their whims." She bellowed and everyone took a collective step back. "You work together for the good of everyone. I believe you deserve a second chance. I normally do this with a mate, but I don't think he's learned anything that would help either of you with a new mate. I think you should have a new counterpart instead." The wolfs ears perked up and he plopped down on his butt in front of her.

She closed her eyes in contemplation and nodded. "Yes. This could be good for all of you. You cannot lead a pack without a human counterpart and without someone to lead you, and all of this destruction left, all of you would be left as rogues. This way, everyone won't suffer the decisions of a few." She turned back towards the wolf and ran her palm over his head, petting his fur. "If you head toward him now, you might be able to catch him by tonight." The wolf tilted his head in confusion.

"You'll know where to go, your instincts will guide you. He won't know what's happening and he'll need all of you to help him, but he will be better for you; and you will be able to lead as you were meant to."

"This is MY PACK!" The human counterpart found his footing, now standing tall.

"YOU, will live the rest of your human life. With no memory of ever being here or knowing anything about the supernatural exists. You will live and die as the human you have proven yourself to be." He opened his mouth to speak, but she snapped and he disappeared from sight.

Another collective step back from the gathered pack members. "Run now. The humans won't be able to see you until you have bonded with your counterpart. Start south." She said with a wink and he looked toward what was left of his pack.

Howard stepped forward with Quest by his side. "We will take care of things here in your absence." The alpha's head dipped low in acknowledgment and he took off running toward the south end of the woods. No one knew where he was going, but they all hoped he would be safe and trusted when the Moon Goddess said things would be ok for them. They turned back to formally thank her but she was gone and the destruction of the night remained; illuminated now by the morning sun.