Calliope's Wolf - Book 1

A few weeks pass, and Calliope finds herself on the way to the Royal Moon Pack palace. But for the first time, it wasn't for the Moon Festival. No, that was canceled for this year. Instead, she was heading with her parents, Nova, Riley, and Asher, to the memorial for the Grand Luna.

The memorial wouldn't be a full-on event like the festival. So, only the Alphas, Lunas, their children, and any direct line of descendants of the Grand Luna were attending. The children of the Alphas and Lunas typically would not have been invited either, but Theo added the children to the memorial invites to conceal why Calliope was there. Nova, Asher, and Riley were direct descendants, tracing their lineage to Gianna's early children.

When Calliope's wagon came to a stop, a guard was outside to meet them. He pointed Nova, Asher, and Riley toward the pack house. The descendants were meeting and staying there. Wyatt, Evelyn, and Calliope entered the palace where the other Alphas and Lunas stayed. Josiah was inside waiting on them.

"I've been asked to take you to your room," he said as he smiled at Calliope.

"I'm surprised," replied Wyatt as he handed off one of their bags to Josiah. "I didn't expect you to be away from the Great Alpha."

"My job is to serve Theo and, by extension, Calliope," Josiah said softly. It isn't like anyone else was nearby, but you couldn't be too careful.

Josiah took another bag from Wyatt, carrying one in each hand, and led the way to the guest wing of the palace. They had a room on the second floor, and before they could get near the door, Calliope began to walk faster than everyone else. She went to the last door at the end of the hall and opened it.

"Calliope!" Evelyn called out. "You don't know that's our room. Don't go in there."

"That is your room," Josiah said as Calliope went in.

Wyatt and Evelyn couldn't tell, but Theo was in their room, waiting, with his scent masked. But of course, Calliope could tell he was in there. She could sense him from the other end of the hall.

Calliope and Theo embraced each other, happy to see one another after a few weeks apart. Going two years without seeing one another somehow felt different than this. There was still sadness and grief in their embrace. They comforted each other.

Wyatt and Evelyn gave a quick bow to Theo and looked at their room. It was a large guest room with a large bed for them. There was another bed under a large set of windows for Calliope. On the bed was a small black box with a white bow.

When Theo was content, he led Calliope over to her bed. He gently picked up the box and handed it to her. Calliope smiled and opened it. Inside was a necklace. It was a blue moonstone sitting on a plate of intricate gold. The gold was diamond-shaped, with small flowers and leaves designed on it. Sitting in the leaves were several small diamonds sparkling in the light.

"This was something my mother wanted you to have," Theo said as he took it from the box. The chain on the necklace was gold but also long, longer than normal. "It is one of the many pieces passed down from Great Luna to Great Luna. Typically, you are given the pieces after being marked, but she insisted I give this one to you now. It was a favorite of hers and one she wore often."

Theo didn't even have to unclasp the chain; since it was so long, he could easily slip it over Calliope's head.

"I had it put on a longer chain so you can tuck it under your dresses and not worry about people seeing the pendant itself. Do you like it?"

Calliope lifted the pendant and took a good look at the moonstone. It looked like the colors were swirling, and she felt something comforting.

"I love it," she answered. "Thank you. I will wear it every day."

Theo smiled down at Calliope. He gave her cheek a gentle pinch before looking at her parents. He gave them a quick nod and left, followed by Josiah.

Wyatt and Evelyn decided they needed to rest from the two days of travel before heading for the memorial that evening. Calliope tucked the pendant under her dress and looked at her parents.

"Can I go walk around?" she asked.

"I don't think it's a good idea for you to wander the palace," Wyatt answered with a shake of his head. "You could get lost."

"But I know where everything is. I know the palace," Calliope insisted. "I promise not to go in the Royal's wing or anywhere I shouldn't go. And I'm not going to seek out Theo. I just want to walk. Please?"

Wyatt sighed. "I need you to promise you won't do anything any other child shouldn't be doing."

"I promise, Dad!" she said, offering him her pinky.

Wyatt locks his pinky around Calliope's. "I want you back here when it's time to change, right? When the clock bell rings six times."

Calliope nodded and headed out of the room. She walked around the halls, looking at things she had seen through Theo's eyes. There were paintings she wanted to get a closer look at and rooms she wanted to see more of.

Where she went, she didn't come across other Alphas or Lunas. Instead, she would meet some of the faces she had become familiar with. The members of the Royal Moon Pack would greet her with a bow, and she would stop them to ask their names. She wanted to try and remember who everyone was.

She made her way to the kitchens. She probably shouldn't have gone to it, but only those who worked in the palace went there. She had seen Theo go here at night and make himself some food. She had always wondered why he ate late, but she learned he would be in meetings or training throughout most of the day. He just never had time to eat on a regular schedule.

Everyone in the kitchen excitedly greeted her. The head chef went up to her.

"What can we do for our Great Luna?" he asked with a toothy smile.

"Do you have any candied orange peels?" she asked.

"I do!" He said as he went to a cabinet. He opens it, takes out a jar, and shows it to Calliope. "Do you want some of these? I can make you fresh if not."

"I'll have just a few of those, please," Calliope replied happily. "I love anything orange."

"We will keep that in mind, Great Luna," the man said as he wrapped a few peels in a piece of cloth. "If you desire anything else while you are here, please let us know!"

Calliope took the wrapped orange peels and nodded. She continued her stroll around the palace while nibbling on her candies. She entered the main hall and passed by some sitting areas where some visiting Alphas and Lunas were talking.

From what Calliope overheard, some of them think that with the Grand Luna dead, the new Great Luna will be coming. A few thought they should search for girls born the night Gianna died. Others think that it would be a child who was conceived the night of her death instead.

Calliope smiled to herself as she continued walking. They didn't understand, or perhaps just didn't know. To her, it sounds as if they think the new Great Luna will have the same wolf spirit as Gianna. But that's not the case; it never has been from the histories she has read. She popped another candied peel in her mouth. It was sweet and tangy. It made her face pucker for a moment.

She eventually found her way to the room where she met Gianna twice. She could hear a fire crackling behind the closed door. She gave a gentle knock.

An older woman opened the door. Calliope recognized her as Gianna's companion, Ava.

"Come in," Ava said to Calliope.

Calliope walked in and sat in one of the two chairs. It was the chair Gianna sat in, and something drew Calliope to sit in this one rather than the other as if she had always sat there.

"I wondered when you would come here," Ava said as she closed the door. She sat in the other chair and smiled when she saw Calliope had some candied peels. "I see you made your way to the kitchen?"

"I did," nodded Calliope. "I had a small lunch in the wagon, but I'm still hungry."

"Hopefully, it won't be much longer, and you won't be making that 2-day journey anymore," Ava said with a small smile. "When you can shift, you shall permanently move here."

"Oh yeah, I remember my parents talking about it years ago. But no one has said anything to me."

"I think they are just scared; you are different than them. You won't shift like everyone else on your 18th birthday. No one knows when you will shift, but it will be earlier than 18 for sure."

"When did the Grand Luna think I would shift?" Calliope asked curiously.

"Gianna and I took bets on that," Ava said as she pulled out a small bag with coins. She set it on the table between them. "I said you would shift at 13, and Gianna said you would shift at 15."

"Why those ages?"

"I thought 13 because you're going to be a powerful Great. Your gifts have come through early, and we were told you had trouble with some gifts because of your wolf. I think your wolf spirit is itching to be free. So you'll shift early. Gianna said 15 because she thinks you will shift ten years to the date of your meeting, Theo. 10 years from when your wolf first came forward."

"What are you going to do about the bet now?" Calliope asked as she pointed to the money bag.

"Well, since part of Gianna is now in you, my bet is now with you. That is, if you choose to continue in Gianna's bet?"

Calliope thought to herself. Ten years from the date of her first time meeting Theo...

"How old was Theo when he first had powers to when he first shifted?"

"He was 6 when his masking ability came about," answered Ava. "And he was 16 when he shifted. Ten years and five days from when they first noticed his gifts."

Calliope thought some more. She was similar to Theo in how she came about her gifts. She was always told they would be in sync as mates, as rulers.

"I'll continue her bet," Calliope said with a nod.

"Good," Ava said as she pushed the money to Calliope. "You hold onto the money. If I win, mail me the coins. I will know what it means. If I don't hear from you in 3 years, I will assume you didn't shift."

"Wait, are you not staying here?" Calliope asked as she took the money purse.

"No," Ava answered as she shook her head. "I have a daughter who would have taken my place as a companion, who left this pack to be with her mate in his family pack. I intend to join them and my grandchildren. I have my first great-grandchild on the way as well. I intend to spend the rest of my years amongst my family."

"After all those years of service to the Grand Luna, it is only fair you get to spend your retirement in peace," Calliope says with a smile. She looked down at the money and began to think to herself. "What did you mean by saying I'll be a powerful Great? Everyone says that, but why? Why do you think that?"

"It's your wolf," Ava replied. "Other people may say it's because you came into your powers early or your powers seem strong and unique. I say it because of something I can't sense, nor can anyone else. Only Gianna and Theo can sense...feel your wolf spirit. Gianna told me she could feel you coming from miles away before meeting you. The wolf spirits that the Greats get are all intertwined in some way. They were created by the Moon Goddess, all together, at once. There were stories amongst the first Greats that they could remember memories, almost like a dream, of being in wolf form, protecting the Moon Goddess herself. Gianna told me that her wolf had flashbacks of memories when you first touched her. Your wolf being the first created."

"Gianna wondered if your wolf might have been meant for the Moon Goddess herself, as her own wolf spirit." Ava continued. "Hearing Gianna talk about what she and her wolf spirit discussed amazed me, shocked me. Gianna was awed by your wolf spirit. I'm sure Theo is mesmerized by her. But by how Gianna talked, you have to be a powerful Great. You will be different than any other Great Luna before you, but only time will tell how."

Before Calliope could ask more questions, she heard a clock start to chime. She quickly stood.

"I need to go get ready!" She said hurriedly. She thanked Ava, hid the money purse, and returned to her parents.

That night, under the light of the full moon, Gianna, wrapped in ceremonial cloth and flowers, was set on a large pyre. Her body was lit, and the embers and her ashes floated to the Moon. Everyone approached Theo, sharing their condolences. The memorial ended late into the night, and all that remained when the fire died was an air of sadness.