POV Darien Standing by the Alpha and Luna we all awaited further instructions. The patrol members are noticeably on edge but taking some comfort in how relaxed the Alpha and Luna are. Alpha Aiden voice comes through. “I need you, a few trusted patrols and a good tracker to stay behind. Quietly, Luna and Eric have enough going on without worrying what we are up to. Gather by the crossroads and stay hidden. I will meet up with you when Eric is safely on his way back.” “What are we up to Alpha?” “This girl didn’t just fall out of the sky, she came from somewhere and as young as she is I doubt she traveled here alone.” Our territory is over 100 miles from the next pack making attacking us inconvenient but not impossible. Mostly rogues and the occasional scholar seeking Miss Evens for lore and knowledge came across our boarders but this area makes everyone nervous. Wandering through the waiting pack members I gave a few of the worriers orders on whe
The Cave The entrance completely hidden by thick bushes, the opening only a few feet wide. All the wolves had to crouch down to avoid hitting their heads. Alpha Aiden shoulders scraping for the first few feet even though he was crawling on his belly. Nicolas wouldn’t go back in, he could barely stop gagging long enough to point out the opening. After ten feet or so the tunnel opened up widening into an oval shaped chamber the size of a car. A dozen small animal carcasses lined each side of the chamber. A path through the remains leading to a smaller opening they followed the trail of bile. All but one female omega had to shift to get through the second opening. This channel shorter than the first, only a foot to squirm through before it opened. The second chamber massive compared to the first. Heaving trying to catch their breath from the tight space of the tunnel the smell hit them first. Unlike the first chamber littered with animal bones and hide. This chamber smelled strongly
POV Eric The drive to the clinic took what felt like hours. We were less than ten minutes away once we hit town but every time her breathing became labored I realized I was holding my own. Braxton had been searching for her for days, only now having her frail body across my lap did I feel the urgency he had been feeling. Her limp arm dangling off my lap, swinging at the elbow and hitting my leg whenever the truck maneuvered or hit a bump. “Can’t this thing go any faster.” I pleaded with Brent. He looked at me with soft eyes, choosing his words carefully before he spoke. “Young Alpha, as you know this truck is quite loud and being just after three in the morning we don’t need any unwanted attention. Considering there’s a naked child on your lap who looks like she’s been through hell, I feel it’s best to obey the speed limit.” Brent gave me a shy smile. “I’ll give it hell once we reach the border, I promise.” True to his word, no sooner had we passed through the
POV Aiden Moving the flashlight from one side to the other and back again. I tired retracing my steps. Had I went to the right or more straight, maybe a little of both. Cherry black dots became visible on the ground increasing in number and size as I moved forward. Leaning down I ran a finger across one. “Blood.” Juxes confirmed. This was not like the small pools of dried blood in the first chamber, this was older. Following the increasing drops and streaks of blood my flashlight found the object my foot had earlier. At first I couldn’t make out what it was, moving closer I bent down. It resembled a wet brown paper bag that had been sprayed with dark red dye. Reaching to pick it up my heart sank upon realizing what was in my hand. This is a piece of hide ripped from the flesh. The fibers that used to hold skin to muscle sticking to my fingers as I turned it over chocolate brown hair on the other side unmistakably werewolf. Not much bigger than a piece of paper
POV Aiden Running my thumb over the raised emblem, turning the silver dollar sized coin over and over in my hand. The worrier who had given it to me asked, “What is it Alpha?” “It’s a betrothal pendant.” I said not looking up from the charm. “I don’t know what that is.” He said brows furrowed. “Traditionally the Alpha can claim a mate for their first born son, next in line to be Alpha. It dates back to the first pack, few packs that I know of still honor the barbaric tradition but there are still some out there. It’s meant to purify and keep the bloodline strong. There’s even records of siblings being betrothed to each other when no suitable mate was found. Ignoring the mate bond in hopes of breeding stronger wolves. This pendant isn’t a request, it’s a summons. One of these girls was claimed. Could very well be why they were hiding out here.” “How do you know all this? I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Looking up from the pendent, directly in
POV Eric The last 24 hours have been excruciating, the doctors going back and forth. Disappearing into the windowless operating room with very few updates. Braxton has calmed down which is a relief. Having had a major meltdown when he couldn’t feel her anymore. I started reading up on the different kinds of wolf bonds in hopes of finding some answers for him. One of the books Miss Evens gave me goes into elaborate detail on what’s called a veil bond. Where two or more wolves trapped in the veil can feel each other. Shifting to early is often painful, causing the others still in the veil to share the pain. Braxton seemed satisfied with that answer. Considering he could no longer feel her and she was safe. Fascinated by the lore and legends he pushed me to keep reading. Flipping through the most recent book she had given me “Rare and Mythical Werewolf breeds” a full page drawing caught Braxton’s attention. “What’s that?” He asked. The drawing d
POV Eric Dr. Stevenson walked into the room looking disheveled. “Luna, young Alpha. She’s stable but still unconscious. Alpha had the remains from the cave sent to the morgue. I’m going to head out, get cleaned up and then get started on the autopsies.” He said. “Do you think she will be ok.” Joann asked. “She is holding strong, her wolf is working quickly to heal her now that we have the infection under control. The rest is up to her.” Dr Stevenson replied giving her a knowing look. He continued. “Physically she is going to recover but we can’t know the psychological damage until she wakes up. From the Alpha’s reports, I can only imagine how traumatic this was for her.” “Thank you for all of your help Elijah.” Joann grabbed his hand, with a squeeze and a sad smile she dismissed him. “We should return home. Not much we can do here and I’m anxious to know what your father has found out.” She said as she started packing up the few items
POV Eric The next morning everything almost seemed normal. I could hear mom singing to herself in the kitchen and in the office dad was pacing, making phone calls and running his fingers through his hair in frustration. I sat down across the table from mom and started dishing up a plate. When my father came in and sat next to me I was surprised but chose to blow it off. He usually sat at the head of the table. “I just don’t understand.” He said after a few minutes of silence. “What’s going on?” I asked him. Not expecting a response. “We found the cave she was hiding in, along with 3 shifted and disfigured bodies. I have this feeling that the male is at least a Beta. I’ve rang every pack for hundreds of miles, an Alpha or Beta doesn’t just leave without someone noticing. They are all adimit that everyone in their pack is accounted for.” “You think they ran away from their pack?” I asked. “There was a betrothal pendant where the child was hiding. I gave it and all the emblem