Bloodmoon Claim

Chapter 1

Lyra's POV

I woke up with the dawn, feeling a surge of energy and determination. I had a long day ahead of me, and I was ready to tackle it head-on. First things first, I needed to get cleaned up. I headed to the bathroom, the cool water refreshing my skin as I washed away the sleep. After my bath, I made my way to the training grounds. The familiar scent of sweat and earth greeted me as I arrived. I was no stranger here; in fact, I was a regular. The pack warriors knew me, and they knew not to go easy on me. I was the alpha's daughter, after all, and I had a reputation to uphold.

As I began to warm up, a few of the pack warriors approached me. "Hey, Lyra! Ready to get your butt kicked?" one of them joked.

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Bring it on, Liam. I'm not going down without a fight."

Liam, a tall, muscular warrior with a mischievous grin, chuckled. "We'll see about that."

We sparred for a while, our movements swift and precise. I was determined to prove myself, to show them that I was more than just the alpha's daughter. After a few rounds, another warrior, a quiet, brooding man named Thane, approached us. "Lyra, can I have a word with you?"

I nodded, curious. "What's up, Thane?"

Thane hesitated, his eyes scanning the surrounding area before focusing on me. "I'm still sad about what happened at the mate ceremony. I was really hoping you'd find your mate."

My heart ached at the mention of the ceremony. I had been hoping to find my mate too, but it hadn't happened. "Yeah, me too," I admitted. "But it's not the end of the world. I'll find my mate when the time is right."

Liam nodded in agreement. "You will, Lyra. And when you do, we'll be here to support you."

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards my fellow warriors. "Thanks, guys. That means everything to me."

Thane spoke up again. "We were all rooting for you, Lyra. We wanted to see you happy."

I felt a lump form in my throat at their kind words. "I appreciate that, Thane. It means a lot to me."

We continued to spar and train, our movements fluid and synchronized. I felt alive, connected to my pack and my purpose. As the morning wore on, I knew I had to wrap it up. I had to get back to the pack house, clean up again, and change into fresh clothes. I couldn't show up to the rest of my day looking like I just rolled out of the training grounds.

As I made my way back to the pack house, I felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. I was getting closer to my goal, and no one was going to stand in my way. Not even my own father.

I wrapped myself in a warm towel, feeling the softness envelop my skin as I stepped out of the bath. My mind was already racing with the tasks ahead, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Another night, another failed attempt to find my mate. I pushed the thought aside as I made my way to my father's office. He was already seated behind his desk, his eyes warm with concern as I entered. I strode over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"Hey, kiddo," he murmured, his voice soothing. "I'm sorry about last night. I know how much you were hoping to find your mate."

I pulled back, forcing a smile onto my face. "I'm fine, Dad. Really. I'm just focused on getting things done around here."

My father's eyes searched mine, but I knew he wouldn't push the issue. He nodded, handing me a stack of papers. "Alright, let's get to work then. We've got a lot to cover."

I dove into the task at hand, my mind whirling with pack politics and logistics. It was easier to focus on this than the ache in my heart. Four years had passed since I'd turned eighteen, the age when most wolves found their mates. But not me. I'd begun to think I was the exception to the rule. I pushed the thought aside, shoving it into the recesses of my mind. I had work to do, and I wouldn't let my personal struggles get in the way. But as I worked, a small part of me whispered that I would find my mate soon, and everything would fall into place.

As I worked alongside my father, our pack's alpha, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and purpose. Despite the pack elders' reservations about my future leadership, I was determined to prove myself. I poured over the papers, analyzing our pack's resources, trade agreements, and security protocols.

My father watched me with a warm smile, his eyes shining with pride. "You're a natural, Lyra. You'll make a great alpha one day."

I smiled back, feeling a surge of gratitude towards him. He'd always believed in me, even when the pack elders didn't. After a few hours of work, I took a break to grab some lunch. As I walked through the pack's communal dining area, I exchanged nods and smiles with the other pack members. They seemed to accept me as one of their own, even if the elders didn't.

As I sat down to eat, one of my best friends, Allison, joined me. "Hey, Lyra! How's it going?"

I shrugged, taking a bite of my food. "It's going. Just trying to stay busy and ignore the whole mate thing."

Allison nodded sympathetically. "I know it's tough, but you'll find him when the time is right. You're an amazing wolf, Lyra. You deserve all the happiness in the world."

I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest. Allison had found her mate two years ago but had always been there for me, offering a listening ear and a supportive shoulder.

As I finished my lunch, Allison and I chatted about our plans for the rest of the day. I had a few more hours of work with my father, and then I was free to do as I pleased. Allison was heading out on a hunt with her mate and some of the other pack members. After we parted ways, I returned to my father's office, feeling a sense of determination. I was going to prove myself as a capable leader, no matter what the elders thought.