Chapter 1: The storm

Luca’s POV

Black. Pitch black with the darkness inked splattered on a blank canvas. Moving rapidly across acres and acres of snow like black paint dripping down on the canvas. That’s probably how it goes right? I’m not a painter. It’s kind of more like batman skidding down a road in a super-fast car.

My eyes shone like head lights in any case, looking for any signs of harm for my pack. I was a newly recognised warrior, having just gotten the last inches of grey turned black fur about a month ago. Some spots on my belly still appeared to be grey but I was in complete control regardless.

I was stuck doing patrol, it something all warrior-wolves get roped into doing. I filtered through the trees, feeling my pas hitting the hardened snow. There was nothing around, most animals hiding from wolves or in hibernation. Patrol was stupid when one knows nothing will even dare come for you.

That is… until the scent wafted into my nose. Immediately I halted, looking towards the territory which our pack had taken control of about ten years ago. We had taken control of the Hemsworth pack when I turned eleven, the final little area having become Ravenwood territory about eight years ago. No one really went into that part of the territory, it being far too creepy for anyone to go there. Not even us teenagers ventured in because you could still sense the lingering feeling of their alpha still haunting the place. Some people say the alpha’s body hasn’t even deterred yet, it still as fresh as the day Warrior Taylor had killed the merciless beast.

Warrior Taylor… my dad used to say he was full of life and laughter before his daughter disappeared. The day he had killed the alpha you could see a small part of him dying as well. That realisation that his daughter was officially, actually gone having broken the guy. Disposed. That’s the word the alpha had spat at the poor man before Taylor had ended him. Everything had changed since that day. The pack had completely shifted after the war. Everyone struggled to get back to ‘normal’. Warrior Taylor and his mate hadn’t even survived the war. I could only imagine what had happened the day he had returned to their home. How he had broken the news to his mate. How he would have come home into their house, her eyes shining with hope and then, that slowly to die out. She had been human and I think that aspect had made the loss worse.

I shook my head. I had a habit of daydreaming and that was not a good idea. Especially if that scent was still lingering. Concentrate Luca. I padded onwards, deciding to just accept that there was a creepy ghost-alpha lurking around, it probably stalking my backside. I sighed, following the scent into doom (I was becoming very dramatic, very fast).

As I went in deeper into the forest, thought, the scent became odd. Too woodsy. It didn’t come from a werewolf that was for certain. Maybe it was just a normal predator, having wandered off from the zoo or something. Wandered quite far thought. I slowed down, knowing that if it was wild, it would probably not be too keen to welcome something with the scent of human all over him.

I was correct in that instance. The scent became like a tsunami and a moment later a heavy weight landed on me, throwing me in the snow in a comically formed wolf. White fur. Like melting snow was all I saw. And then, they the eyes as bright as the sun was glaring at me. It was about the size of a warrior wolf, its back hairs standing on end and its teeth irritatingly dripping saliva into my eyes. This was definitely not a full wolf, most certainly one of my own. Probably from Hemsworth. Some of them had become rogues while others just gave in and became part of our pack. Alpha loyalty easily shifted when a pack had taken over. This wolf must have just been an exception.

Right, time to get off of me. I sprang up, hauling the wolf off of me. It fell in a heap on the ground but was quick to recover. I inspected the wolf as quick as I could. Fur was messy, leafs and twigs mangled into it slightly, hair was long but (despite the messiness) looked somewhat silky. The eyes are what struck me. They were rubies, beautiful and wild and shone brightly against the wolf’s pelt.

Before I could further inspect, it pounced again, throwing me once more on the ground. This time it didn’t waste time to dig its teeth into my side, blood splattering on the snow. Bloody hell… no! I tried throwing it off, tired of its games.

“Cease now!”

The teeth unlatched, the wolf’s eyes big as my sudden thoughts filtered into its brain. It shook it’s head, his face morphing back into anger and snarls erupting from its mouth.

“Not a very happy wolfy are you huh?”

In response, the wolf growled, wanting to move to me against but this time I was ready. Countering the attack, I threw it back once more, this time it hitting a dead tree and effectively snapping it.

O shit…

I ran forward, grabbing the wolf by the side and throwing it to the side as the tree’s snow came barrelling down along with is splinters. The thud echoed through the forest, birds moving away from the mess. The wolf looked up at me, shock portrayed on its face and then, just as I thought we were save, I heard the howls.

A fluff…

The wolf in front of me let out a whimper, scampering back up to its feet before spinning around, disappearing into the trees. I wanted to chase after it but knew if I did, I’d just get in a heck of a lot more trouble. Sighing, I started to move back to the area I was actually supposed to patrol.

Upon returning I already felt dread seeping into my skin. He always knew… ALWAYS. He was sitting by a tree, him probably knowing this is the place I’d make my appearance again. Next to him sat a lot smaller wolf but somewhat more dangerous than the one glaring at me.

“Luca, explain what you were doing going into another territory? NOW” he somewhat growled, his voice vibrating in my brain, filled with authority but luckily no command. He never used commanding on me, I didn’t know why.

“I caught a scent, I wanted to see what it was”

“And what was it?”

You see, now I had a problem. I was bad at lying and he knew that. He was good at picking up when people lied to him. And if I said it was a possibly-rogue werewolf, he’d be obligated to kill it. The pack didn’t allow rogues are any other werewolves to enter the pack-lands due to security. It was a bit messed up, but it was the protocol.

And currently, I couldn’t figure out what to say. For someone who often got into heaps of trouble, one would think my lying would have gotten better. My father was the leader of the warriors. He was like the most military-rule-abiding person out there. Anything out of order and you were bound to be in trouble. I blame it on the war but Mom says he’s always been like this.

“Luca!” his voice thundered into my brain, waiting for a response. The smaller wolf next to him, nipped his ear, signalling for him to give her a chance. O goodness no. His turned towards her, they having a mind linked conversation before the bigger wolf let out a huff and stormed off, leaving me with the actual scary one.

“Your dad says if it’s a bunny, you’ll be running till morning”

“It wasn’t a bunny’ I sighed, getting up from the snow which was making my butt soaked.

“What was it then?”

I groaned, trying to move past her but a mum was a persistent thing.

“Okay let’s see, if you pin me down, we leave it. But if I pin you, you tell me”

“Mom, if I pin you, Dad will have my head”

“See, so win, win”

“For you”

I walked past her, knowing that it would make lying easier if I wasn’t directly looking at her.

“Lucas Christopher Johnson! Tell me!”

Full name… no getting out of that one.

I groaned as I turned towards her. Her eyes flashed with anger and worry.

“It was a dear” I mumbled, looking away from her and hoping she didn’t pick up on the lie.

I groaned, starting to head back to our house. We lived right by the edge of the forest so that Dad could be close to the territory. We were about twenty minutes from other houses which made it a big hassle when I still had to trudge to school. But that was luckily only when I got grounded that I had to walk to school. The sad thing was: I was always grounded.

“Well, it’s not a bunny”

My mom came to trot next to me, too overeager for life. Mom had this ability to be annoying as hell as well as be super sweet at the same time. She was like a Telly Tubby. I moved out of the woods, seeing my sister sitting by the porch of our house with a book in her hand.

Along with an overly annoying mother, I had also gotten stuck with a sister. She was sixteen now but could give anyone a headache. Everyone except my dad. And my father was the most temperamental person in the whole world. I shifted back, grabbing a pair of pants that hung from the tree and walked towards the annoyance who had a smug smile on her face.

“Dad asked me to tell you to do laps until the sun comes up. He also muttered something about a deer but goodness knows what that’s about” My head snapped towards my mom, a guilty look on her face.

“Sorry Lukey” she gave me a sympatric smile, “I’ll go talk to your father, go sleep”

“I am NOT giving in this time” his voice came barrelling through the window which made my mom roll her eyes.

“Oi grumpy pants! Get over yourself!” Mom ran into the house, making me roll my own eyes. Maybe it was a good thing we lived twenty minutes away from everyone. I turned towards my sister, she throwing my jacket towards me before I turned blue.

“So what happened?” she asked, putting a strand of curly hair behind her ear and it almost immediately leaving its spot. My sister and I had both gotten inky black hair that curled all over the place. My sister had taken her braids out two days ago and the effect had left her with a short afro. We had gotten our mom’s brown catlike eyes, my sister’s almost identical to hers.

“Nothing” I said, she just rolling her eyes.

“Dad wouldn’t react like that if it was nothing”

“Stop fishing Madison”

She shrugged, picking up her book as she headed inside.

________________________________________________________________

TO: [e-mail]

FROM: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: Training

_______________________________________________________________

Hereby we remind you of your return for training at the warrior camp on the 3^rd of November. It is most suitable that you shall arrive at 15h00 where training will start immediately. You are to attend the Northern Training Camp in subject to protect the newer territories. Busses shall do pickup from 5h00. A schedule is attached for pickup as well as if you are subjected to be picked up.

You have been placed in room 4B along with Henry Adams, Finn O-Neil, Ethan Matthews, Peter Flemington and Ross Hemming. The room is equipped with bedding as well as the training schedule. Please arrange everything else you may need.

As a second year participant in training, the work will become more intense and there will be required of you to take part in patrol-duty as well as –when the full moon occurs – to take control of the new-comers. Same rules do apply as last year

Kind regards

Northern Warrior Camp

__________________________________________________

It was too bloody early to stand outside letting snow fall on you, yet here I was. Waiting in the biting cold for the bus to take me back to hell. As least back at home, my mom could bottle some of my dad’s frustration. Now, now it was just me and my dad. That and like a hundred warriors that could annoy the shit out of him.

He always came home the weekend before I left for camp, just to see the full family together before it was just me and him. Mom loved it when he came home, my sister as well. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my dad. He was a kind guy but he was the most uptight human being in the world. He saw everything in black and white and I was the grey-type of child. I had gotten my mom’s rebellious streak in me and he was too overprotective over Madison and I to allow for rebellion.

I sighed, peering into the street for something resembling a bus. The other warriors were lounging behind me, none of them really keen to start a conversation with me. They were all a lot older, making me feel like a pup. Dad had driven up on his own when I had left for the bus. He had offered me a lift but I had declined. No way was I going to drive in with my dad.

Freaking finally… I was getting sick of these guys muttering about me being the chief’s son. I honestly now know how Harry Potter felt when everyone kept annoying him with being the ‘chosen one’.

The bus parked in front of me and I tightened my grip on my bag, climbing up the steps in order to reveal the buzzing of overly large bees. Somewhere out there were three other busses, trudging through the snow on their way to the northern base. 

I glanced around, sighing in annoyance when I didn’t spot Ethan. Irritating, horrible Ethan. My best friend. I slumped down on a seat, watching as people past me. The bus started and the overly long ride started. Which left me stuck with my own thoughts.

And that was never a good thing. Because well, my thoughts had been about that wolf from yesterday, all morning. Who was it? What had happened to it, what was that smell?

And those eyes… those ruby red, beautiful eyes. The snow-like pelt, glinting in the night light. Its movements had seemed so precise yet at the same time, wild. As if it’s entire life it’s never been a human.

But that was just insane! You went dormant as soon as you first shift ended. And as far as I was aware, they ALWAYS ended. And she wasn’t just a normal wolf. I knew it wasn’t. Real wolves were different, smaller.

A honk from the bus made me snap out of my thoughts, me directing my gaze from the window. I must have dozed off during my thought train because oh and behold, we were close. I watched the woods starting to fade and logged walls of the camp started to show. Unlike the normal, original camp, there was no house where the leader got to stay. Instead, a bunch of cabins lined the Southern wall where they divided in half. The newbies slept in tents by the mess hall where they made even colder food then the ice that surrounded the damn place. Above the mess hall was where the leaders stayed. I knew the inside of that area well enough, my father having summoned me to his office one too many times.

You’d walk up some wooden stairs and be showcased to a hallway full of portraits and painting and laws. My dad’s office will be right at the end of the hallway along with a stairwell which led to the bedrooms. Across from my dad’s office were about three doors, one leading to a room full of books, the middle one led to a gorgeous kitchen that I KNEW made better food than the mess hall and the door closest to the entrance of the stupid hallway led to a lounge that ALWAYS had a burning fire. Elegance and snobby galore while we slummed in log cabins.

At least I wasn’t chilling in a tent this year, that was even worse. The snow used to seep through the floor and you’d wake up soaked with freezing cold water in your sleeping bag. 

The course was also a lot more intense than the original training camp due to the ice that was on bloody everything. We used to always be at the old base, it seemingly a lot less crabby place but after the war, Dad had decided the main training ground should be in a place similar to the Antarctica. 

The bus parked by the gates, the door squeaking open. Standing up, I threw my backpack over my shoulder once more before trudging down the steps. Back to hell… I absolutely hated this place. I had never been one for rules and well, this place had nothing but do’s and don’ts. It could drive your head in pretty easily.

I looked around the mass of muscle, trying not to groan. The air was filled with egos and big-talks and still no sign of Ethan. Where the hell was this gu-

A sudden mass of idiocy stampeded into me, knocking me to the ground in a big huff. I pushed him off of me, letting out a chuckle as the familiar green eyes winked at me.

“Hey idiot” I grinned, going to lean on my arms.

“Hey goodie-two-shoes” my friend smiled, jumping up from the ground. He was hundred percent his dad. If you put the two next to each other you’d struggle to tell them apart. Green eyes, blonde hair, sneaky grin. I jumped up as well, giving my friend a hug before someone cleared his throat behind me.

I spun around, seeing my dad glaring at me.

“Ethan, Luca – already starting your nonsense” the man said, his annoyance clear.

“Sorry Chief” Ethan mumbled, looking at the ground. My dad was the only person that made him stop his jokes.

“Sorry Dad” I frowned, nudging at my friend so that we could go to our rooms.

“I think he gets more aggravated every year” Ethan grumbled as we headed to the cabin.

“Try living with him”

“Maybe he just needs to get laid”

“Dude!” I pushed my friend, trying not to cringe as I opened the door. Henry and Ross were there, throwing their stuff in the cupboards while it looked like Finn had already set up his stuff. He had probably gone to call his girlfriend. The girls were in a separate camp about ten miles away. Something with them being a distraction.

“Well if it isn’t Chief Junior and Ethan” Ross grinned as he jumped off of his bed. He had snagged a top bunk and it seemed like there was only one left.

“Hey Ross” I smiled, giving him a fist bump. In the corner of my eye I saw my friend throw his bag on the leftover top-bunk, a glint of mischief and triumph in his eyes. Dork…

Henry nodded us a welcome before leaving the cabin. He wasn’t big on being social. I went to throw my bag on my bed, rummaging though it to get out my clothes and stuffing the things in the cupboard I shared with Mr. Messy who slept above me. Soon enough a howl erupted from outside and we were ushered outside. My father was already standing there, the coaches flanking him as he starred along the masses.

“Cabin 1 and 2, obstacle 1, Cabin 3 and 4 – combat fighting, Cabin 5 and 6…” he read off the list, the command seeping deep into my core. Well, this was going to be a hell of a lot of fun!