Dancing the night away was all Lena wanted to do.

She was wild, reckless and free and not an ideal mate for anyone except for her boyfriend, Carl.

Carl was hoping since they'd passed the 19 year mark that they weren't mates to anyone,but the twenty-first year was approaching.

Carl was even less of an ideal mate. Both of them were poor, rebellious betas and not proper...oh not in the least.

Lena didn't love Carl, though, and he knew it so they simply had fun together as best friends.

"Excited for the coronation?"

Carl winked at Lena as she crawled away from him, her naked body beautiful to his awestruck eyes.

"Not at all, but we'll be drunk so who cares?"

"Smile for the camera!"

Lena kissed Carl before turning to the cameraman at the half-moon ceremony.

"You two look great!"

Lena rolled her eyes, "Yeah, we know."

Carl watched as his lover whisked herself away to be with the crowd.

"Feisty one..."

A voice behind Carl startled him.

"Jack Havoc. Pleasure to see you here."

"Certainly, Mr. Millens. You sure you're going to get a leash on her?"

Carl chuckled, "Touche."

Jack followed Lena as she made her rounds, the bubbly brunette certainly knew how the cause a scene.

"She's getting shit faced," Jack chuckled, "Untamed and broken."

Carl sneered at the Alpha.

"Make your move."

Jack shrugged, "I don't have to. The judges have reined in the verdict."

Carl was stunned to find out that he wasn't mated to anyone, but it didn't bother him either.

He was happy for Lena who seemed oblivious to the fact that she'd been mated to Jack.

"Well, she seems dissociated."

"That she is," Carl snickered as he watched his former lover dancing and carrying on, "Did you ever meet her before tonight?"

"I haven't," Jack said, taking a sip of mead, "I will have to tame this wild one."

"Oh, boy! Good luck with that!"

"For an omega you certainly don't handle alphas well."

"I've heard you're no brute and I am sorry if I crossed the line," Carl said, "But that one over there? Lena will always cross the line."

Lena was casually flirting with other Alphas when Jack spun her around and took her into his arms.

"Mate.."

"Mate.." she said, this time with a little more softness, "I hope you don't mind. The bond means nothing to me until it's fully driven."

"You're...different."

"Yes, and I plan on staying such."

"This is going to be harder than I thought."

"Think about it as a nice challenge you Alphas love so much. Everything's gotta be complicated to you."

"For a Luna, you've got a mouth."

"Wouldn't you like to know what else I can do with it? Or has Carl told you?"

"There will be no more talk of your past consorts."

"Oh, I like a jealous Alpha mate..."

"You believe me to be jealous?"

Lena smiled, "Of course you are," she said, "You wouldn't be pestering me about Carl."

"Carl..." Jack nodded, "I don't feel threatened by Carl."

"Oh, Carl isn't a threat when it comes to fighting, " Lena admitted, "But...if I reject you.."

"You won't."

"So sure of yourself..."

"I'm an Alpha, you're my Luna and I have to put up with you somehow."

"We're going to have so much fun," Lena said, "Should we mate now or later?"

"Gods.."

"The oracles HAVE spoken," Lena rolled her eyes. "Come on! Take a run with me then!"

Lena took Jack by the hand, both of them feeling the mate bond almost immediately.

"Well," Lena shuddered, "That's..intense."

Jack smirked as they both shifted into their wolf forms, with Lena as a beautiful red wolf and Jack in his majestic black form.

Lena took off in the direction of the forest with Jack following closely behind.

Jack raced after his mate, barely catching up until he realized where she was going.

Straight into DireWood Forest...

"You're a fool if you think I'm going in there," he said, shifting back, "I will not!"

Lena smiled, "Then you aren't my mate."

"That's not how this works."

Lena shifted back into her wolf form and fled into the forest.

Jack didn't lose sight of her as he made his way to her side.

"Do not leave me."

"Afraid to lose me already?"

"Of course, I am.."

Lena allowed the conversation to stay where it was and smiled to herself.

Perhaps the gods had truly blessed her this time around.

Jack was no coward...on the contrary.

He fought many wars throughout his life and endured danger beyond one's wildest imagination.

The witches, some good and some not so good, made their home in the forest, and just recently, the rumors flew of dark magic being used.

These witches were turning against the entire Red River Territory.

"Save me from the witches, Jack!"

"What are you doing?"?

"What do you mean?"

Jack fumed as he shifted out of his black wolf form, "You know damn well what I mean! You can get us killed."

"Are you afraid of the witches, Jack?"

"I'm not. I have fought them before, but why should I risk our lives now?"

"For fun."

"Fun..." Jack rolled his eyes, "Great! I get stuck with the crazy luna!?

Lena smiled, "Jack, you are so very sexy when you're angry. Our pups are going to be cute."

Jack seethed as Lena purred against him and shifted, "Come on, Jack. I'm going to be,-"

She stopped and stared into the distance, "What? Do you see something?"

"I don't know.." Lena stepped closer to him, "Is it too quiet out here?"

Jack listened - there wasn't a sound to hear except for the beating of their hearts and the gentle breathing, "Witches.."

Lena grabbed his hand, "Well, tell me why we aren't heading out of here."

"I thought you wanted to live a little," Jack huffed, but in a low voice, "Now...let's get back to the party before we become coats for the hags."

"Tell me what happened."

"Later."

"Now.."

"They killed my parents and my sisters when I was little," Jack told her, "I...listen, don't go doing something stupid just because you're my Luna, alright?"

"What would I do?"

"I know what you would do. I already feel the bond so deeply with you now."

Lena held him close - this wasn't like her, but she'd never been mated before so all of it was new.

"I can't promise anything," Lena said, "Not when it comes to my mate."

Jack smiled as they made it safely back to the party where others had eventually made their way outside.

"You two! Come here!" Fiona, one of Lena's friends, beckoned them over, "Is it true? Are you mated?"

Lena squealed, "We are! Can you believe it?!"

Fiona smiled as Johnny, a beta from the pack strolled over, "We're both shocked, but happy for the two of you. Are you alright?"

Johnny nodded to Jack who extended his hand, "Johnny, good to see you again."

"And you, Alpha," Johnny smiled, "Congrats!"

"We're to be married quickly, I suppose," Lena said, "Even in my world, that's inevitable."

Jack shook his head, "I feel like I might have been cursed."

"Oh, hush!" Lena scoffed, "The best thing that's happened to you is ME."

"She's serious," Fiona laughed, "Johnny...I'll see you later?"

Johnny smiled, "That's a promise, little lady."

Fiona hugged Lena and skipped off to spread the news that Jack and Lena had returned.

"Well, let me go and handle some business for the pack," Johnny nodded, "Let me know if you need me for anything."

"I might," Jack said, "Witches are close."

"Fuck...again?"

"Unfortunately."

"Alright," Johnny said, "I got you, alpha."

They watched him hurry off to deal with beta business as Lena's mother and father approached.

"We thought you'd eloped!" Mariana smiled as she hugged her daughter, "The nuptials can be as soon as the two of you would like. Alpha Jack..it's a pleasure to call you my son already."

"And mine," Raul said, shaking Jack's hand, "From one alpha to another, I am with you and you definitely have our blessing."

"Thank you, Alpha Raul. She's in good hands.." Jack said, "Even though I know I have my hands full."

"Oh, you do!" Lena said as she danced off in search of the seamstress who would have her dress ready by the end of the night, "Get ready for the night of your life."

"I don't need to hear this," Raul said, "Come, darling. Let's go get set up. Jack.."

Jack nodded as he was left to his own thoughts - staring out into the distance as Dire Woods came into view.

"I'll kill all of you one day," Jack thought, "You will pay for what you've done to me."

"And do you, Alpha Jack, take Luna Lena to be your mate?" High Priestess Lee smiled as she looked to Jack for his answer.

"I do.." Jack said, "You're beautiful.." he whispered to his mate who was gushing over her own mate's appearance.

"And do you, Luna Lena, take Alpha Jack to be your mate?"

"Hell yes!!"

Laughter and snickers from the crowd only made Jack smirk, but Lena didn't notice.

She'd been made up to look like a beautiful queen - and he'd treat her as such.

"By the powers vested in me by the oracles and the moon goddess, I now pronounce you husband and wife.. You may kiss your bride."

Lena - knowing that it would be their first kiss - shook her head.

"I want this to be special," she pecked him on the cheek and he pecked her on the forehead, "No one gets to take that from us."

Jack smiled, "And I thought you were untamed?"

"Oh, trust me..I most definitely am."

Jack carried her over the threshold as Lena squealed.?

"Is this your place?"

"Where the hell do you think we are?" Jack laughed, "I can't wait to tear you up."

"What a gentleman."

He placed Lena gently on her feet and cupped her cheeks, pulling her in for a sweet kiss.

"Let's take this to the bedroom.."

"You read my mind.."

The two made love - their bond growing stronger, their bodies molding as one.

"That was impressive..." Lena smiled.

"Just impressive?"

"Oh I am sure we can teach other a thing or two," Lena said, "Come! Dance with me!"

She hopped off the bed and danced in the nude to a beat Jack couldn't hear.

"Come on, mate!"

Jack joined her as they danced around the bedroom when suddenly they heard a commotion outside.

"What is that?!"

Jack pulled on a pair of pants and went to investigate.

He thought he saw someone familiar.

"Gretchen?"

"Who's Gretchen?" Lena asked, joining him at the front door with a robe on.

"My dead sister.."

"Well, you're seeing things," Lena said, "Perhaps you're just missing them. I am here for you.."

"Thank you,"Jack smiled, "Let's go to bed."

The next morning, the two strolled the forest and ended up next to a brook.

"How many pups do you want?"

"At least an army's worth."

"An alpha WOULD say that!" Lena laughed, "I guess I do too. I never thought I'd find my true love."

"Here I am!" Jack teased. He sensed something watching them, "Come, we must go. I don't,-"

He turned to see where his mate was, but she was gone.

"Lena!! LENA!!!"

"There's got to be an explanation for this," Fiona said as she, Johnny and Carl gathered in Lena and Jack's home, "We're going to figure it out."

She lingered in the doorway to keep watch as Johnny and Carl developed a plan.

"We'll get the pack," Johnny said, "We'll.."

Fiona rushed through the door and squealed, "She's nearby! I can feel her!"

Jack stood up, "So can I...You stay here.."

Jack shifted and ended up where he last saw Lena...now all he saw was a witch's wormhole and his mate trapped on the other side.

"LENA!!!"

Johnny, Carl, and Fiona ran to his side, "Witches.."

"Carl, you go back and get help!" Johnny ordered, "Jack, you need to get in there and be with your mate so she's safe."

Jack was already on it, but Carl wasn't having it.

He'd pretended to leave, hiding behind a tree all the while.

"I will have my Luna and the Dire Woods once these three are gone!"

"Jack!!"?

"Lena!!"

The two embraced as Jack tossed himself into the portal.

He told her of the goings-on on the other side, but realized they were in grave danger.

"He's going to kill them," Lena said, "You sister told me."

"My sister is dead, darling.." Jack said.

"I know she is! Her spirit came to me!"

They looked at each other briefly and turned back to face the portal opening where Fiona and Johnny were watching them.

"Oh no!! It's Carl!! Look out behind you!!" Lena tried to motion for the two to be ready, but Carl was able to take Johnny down - only to have Fiona jump on Carl in a flash while she shifted.

"We have to find a way out of here.." Lena said, "We must fight with them."

"Looks like we don't have to!" Jack said as other members of their pack came barreling through the forest and pummeling Carl as he tried to run away.

They watched as Fiona and Johnny told Raul and Mariana about the portal and took them to seek it out.

"We need a witch for this," Mariana said, "Or they will be stuck on the other side forever."

"A witch did this!"

"A hag did this!" Mariana said, "Go get Girdie."

"Girdie?" Fiona asked, "That little old woman,-"

"Yes! Now!"

Within the hour, Girdie hobbled back to the worm hole, quick to eye Carl who was now being detained and Lena and Jack who were pleading from the other side.

"Stand back as I do my magic!" Girdie said as she spoke a few enchantments and twirled her hands in the air, "A few more...a few more...and...yes!!"

Lena and Jack fell to the ground as the portal closed and they were now on their side.

"Mate.."

"Mate.."

"Is this the type of adventures you're going to put me on from here on out?"Jack asked, embracing his wife.

Lena smiled as they dragged Carl away for detainment, "That was a lot of fun, my love. We're just getting started."

The End of Book 1--I will be adding on as the month goes by. These shorts are for fun and I simply enjoy writing!