Shifter Everywhere - Excerpt From Lupercalia by S. K. Gregory

Chapter One


“Sometimes you don’t find your soulmate. I just don’t see what all the fuss is about.”
“How can you act like finding your mate isn’t a big deal,” I scoffed, giving Tara an incredulous look. The Lupercalia Festival was one of the biggest events of our young lives, setting us up for the future and she made it sound like it was little more than a freshman dance.
Tara paused in fluffing the pillows on my bed, a frown on her face. “Not everyone finds their mate and it isn’t the end of the world. Too many girls end up disappointed. I don’t see the point in setting yourself up to fail.”
Rolling my eyes, I took a seat at my vanity, lifting my hairbrush. “They’re not me. I’ve known for years that I’m destined to marry Hunter Grey and tomorrow night will prove it.”
Hunter Grey, the Alpha’s son, gorgeous, strong and a perfect match for me. We’d been flirting for months, but nothing had happened yet. The Alpha insisted we hold back until we were mated. That didn’t stop half the wolves of this pack, myself included, hooking up, but unfortunately, I had not had the pleasure with Hunter yet, although we had gotten pretty close a few times in the back seat of his car.
Parting my chestnut-colored hair into three sections, I started braiding it. My signature look. Mom taught my sister Sierra and I the importance of having one early on. She made sure we knew what colors complimented us too. Sierra had blue and I looked great in red. We always had to look our best, to show others that we meant business. I liked to think of it as putting on armor. Looking great meant feeling confident and if you had confidence you had everything.
“What if your wolf doesn’t pick Hunter? What if you end up with someone else?” Tara asked, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. She glanced at me, then back at the bed. Tara was a good example of someone lacking confidence and it showed. Of course as an Omega, that came with the territory.
I paused in what I was doing, staring at her reflection in the mirror as she fixed the comforter on the bed. “Is that a joke?” I demanded, because if it was, she needed to work on her material.
Tara looked surprised. “No, but it is a possibility.”
I shook my head. What did she know? As an Omega in the Dark Moon Wolf Pack, she had no hope of attracting someone like Hunter. Most of the Omegas ended up working for the richer families like mine. Tara and I were in school together, but she had worked as a housekeeper here since she was sixteen, taking over from her aunt. I don’t know why I even brought it up to her, but I thought she would be excited, since she would run too, instead she seemed to be determined to bring my mood down.
“Nothing is going to stop me from getting what I want. I mean who else in this pack would I end up with?” One of the other degenerates from school? One of the meathead Betas whose idea of fun was getting drunk and beating his friends up on a Saturday night. No, thanks!
I glared at Tara when she opened her mouth to answer. Instead, she forced a smile and headed into the ensuite to empty my laundry hamper.
Securing my braid, I moved to my bedroom window, looking out across the hills to where the Alpha’s mansion lay. With sixteen bedrooms and an indoor pool, it was a dream home. I know I’ve dreamed of living there for years, of one day being Luna. No one would ever doubt me again. I know I am built for more, to be more than what I am.
Most of the other girls thought me delusional, my parents called me ambitious. I liked to call it inevitable. Self-doubt is for losers. But…what if Tara was right? What if something went wrong at the Lupercalia Festival?
It was designed so that the young wolves of the pack, aged between eighteen and twenty-two, could find their mate. First, we feasted, then at midnight, we would shift, running into the woods. It was the wolf who chose the mate. I would wake up the next morning, hopefully beside Hunter and all my dreams would come true. Waking up with anyone else would be…I suddenly felt nervous for the first time since learning I would be running this year. What if that bitch, Tandy Ford, got her claws into Hunter? She made no secret of the fact that she wanted him too. We were both Betas, both from wealthy families, either one of us could be a match.
Tara emerged from the bathroom, carrying the dirty laundry.
Playing with my braid, I said, “What if you’re right? I mean I’m sure Hunter is the one for me, but I need to be certain.”
“I’m sure you will, but only your wolf knows for sure. Don’t listen to me, I didn’t mean to upset you.” She turned toward the door, then stopped. “Well, there could be one way to know for sure…”
She trailed off like she was reluctant to say anymore.
“Tell me!” She needed to stop screwing around and tell me what she knew.
“Do you remember those stories we used to hear when we were little? About the witch who lives up the mountain? The one who cursed children who misbehaved?”
I laughed. “Please, that’s an urban legend.”
“Yeah, the cursing children part, I’m sure, but there is an old woman living up there. People have seen her. She keeps to herself, lives off the land. I don’t know if she is an actual witch, but she has the ability to grant…favors, let’s say.”
“Favors?” Was she a witch or a mafia boss?
“She might be able to nudge you toward Hunter.”
That sounded like something I needed. If it was true. “Okay, so what does she expect in return? Money?”
“No, an offering.”
I had visions of myself having to sacrifice a chicken or something equally ridiculous.
“Define offering.”
“Food, mostly. Something to show her respect.”
“Oh, well that’s fine. I can do that.”
“You’re going to cook?” Tara asked.
“No, don’t be stupid. I’ll bring something from the kitchen that Cook has prepared.”
“Just be nice. You don’t want to anger her.”
“I’m always nice,” I shot back. “Don’t you have laundry to do?”
Tara gave me a bemused look, before leaving the room.
I would head up the mountain tomorrow. A road led most of the way up, ending in a dirt track. Then I would find this old woman or witch, or whatever she claimed to be and convince her to help me. Not that I needed it, but just to be sure.
And tomorrow night, Hunter Grey would be mine.

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