Dina emerged from the dressing room, stretching her limbs. It had been a long time since Lily had given her full control to run freely. Surprisingly, the usual pain that accompanied the shift during the Full Moon was absent this time.
'Why didn't it hurt?' Lily asked, curious about the unusual absence of pain.
'It's a special night tonight. The Moon Goddess has blessed us,' Dina responded, her voice filled with awe and wonder.
Dina shook her fur, her senses heightened, and her muscles tingling with energy. She could sense that Lily understood the significance of this night as well. As Dina made her way towards the running trail, Tiffany launched herself from a nearby tree. Dina swiftly dodged her, narrowly avoiding crashing into the snow.
"You will eventually let me groom you, wolf," Trixie chuffed, playfully teasing her.
Dina, surprised by the ability to communicate with Trixie, asked, "How can you speak with me? Telepathic links can only be established once an individual joins the pack or pride."
"Sweatonion was put into our drinks. It temporarily allows us to communicate telepathically," Trixie explained.
Dina pondered, "I wonder what else they put in our drinks."
"Time will tell if this night ends in debauchery or chaos. Either way, I am excited," Trixie said before rubbing against Dina in greeting, their feline and lupine energies mingling in a display of friendship. Dina didn't mind Tiffany's presence, but she cherished these rare moments when she could interact with Trixie.
Suddenly, Dina felt a distinct presence attempting to establish a telepathic connection with her. It was a male voice, unfamiliar yet strangely intriguing.
"Good evening, little wolf. Your fur looks beautiful in the moonlight," the voice greeted her.
"Thank you," Dina responded, her thoughts transmitting to the mysterious male.
"You shouldn't be all by yourself, little wolf. Your mate should be by your side. Any male would be lucky to have a she-wolf like yourself," the voice complimented.
"Well, I'm mateless," Dina replied, her thoughts reaching out to the mysterious male.
"A pity. Anyone foolish enough to reject you doesn't deserve you," the voice responded, a hint of sympathy in his tone.
"Who are you? Identify yourself," Dina demanded, eager to know the identity of the mysterious voice.
The voice chuckled softly at her command before replying, "You think you can command me, little wolf? Intriguing. I will reveal myself to you in due time. Patience is a virtue, especially on a night like this. We will have our chance to meet soon enough."
Before Lily could inquire further, the telepathic connection abruptly ceased, leaving Dina with a lingering sense of curiosity. "Some male just reached out to me," Dina informed Trixie.
"Wolf or cat?" Trixie asked.
"I don't even know. But a werefeline wouldn't be interested in me," Dina responded.
"Us felines are less discriminatory when it comes to choosing mates. Not all of us are as lucky as you, blessed by the Goddess with a mate. Garrett and Berric better get their acts together before someone else claims you both," Trixie added.
"I keep trying to tell Lily that. We are more desirable than she thinks," Dina agreed.
As they ventured deeper into the trail, Dina finally began to run, with Trixie right beside her. Other wolves joined in, their howls and voices flooding her mind, exhilarated by the start of the run.
The mysterious voice reached out to her again, his tone playful. "You are full of surprises, little wolf. Starting the run all on your own. Lead us to the waterfall, little wolf."
The voice broke the connection before she could ask any further questions. Dina obeyed and let out a howl that was echoed by others, creating a symphony of howls and roars.
Together, they continued down the run trail. Eventually, they reached the waterfall, where Lily paused to drink water. As she did, she couldn't help but notice the lingering gazes fixed upon her. Whispers rippled through the air, carrying murmurs of admiration and awe.
A brown wolf approached Dina, her gray muzzle indicating her age. They greeted each other by sniffing, and Dina could sense that she was a Luna of a pack she wasn't familiar with. Concern bubbled up within Dina, and a few other wolves with similar fur encircled them and the Luna yipped in excitement.
"It can't be. You can't be Abigail's daughter. You were supposed to be lost with her in childbirth," Luna said, her voice echoing in Dina's mind.
"I'm sorry, Luna, but I think you have mistaken me for someone else," Dina responded, confused by the Luna's words.
"No, there's no mistaking it. What is your name?" the Luna insisted.
"Lily Bray," Dina replied, her confusion growing.
"Bray... you're the daughter of Alpha Kenneth," the Luna stated, her voice filled with anger. "That lying bastard. He said you had died."
"Luna, I..." Dina began, but the Luna interrupted her.
"We've been searching for you for years, Lily," the Luna explained. "Do you know this name: Abigail Dawson?"
"No, ma'am. My mother died during childbirth, but..." Dina's voice trailed off as she realized that neither she nor Lily knew their mother's name. It wasn't a matter of forgetting; Alpha Kenneth had never told them.
"I would recognize Abigail's daughter anywhere. You have the same reddish-brown fur, the same silver eyes. You are her daughter," the Luna continued, her voice tinged with sadness. "This must be why he lied and never told you the truth."
"I'm sorry. I don't know who you're talking about," Dina said, her confusion deepening.
"You're a red wolf, a rarity. It's said that it is only possible once in three generations, but here you are. It's said that red wolves possess a special connection to the spirit realm. Just like your mother, you are blessed, my dear," the Luna explained, her words causing a mix of emotions to swirl within Dina.
"Who are you?" Dina asked, feeling Lily's urgency to shift back into their human form.
"My name is Debra Dawson, Luna of the Ash Dawn Pack. I am your grandmother," the Luna revealed, her voice filled with both sorrow and joy.