It took everything I had to wake up and get ready on time for my morning duties for the pack. It wasn't my favorite idea, letting my dad decide I was going to take over for one of my brothers. But, I was more than capeable of protecting a boarder. After all, I was trained by my father. I really hated leaving Brendon... as funny as it was. He was just so warm and hard like a rock- and I loved that about him. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before I left. He didn't even notice I left his side. He was completely out of it- and it made me almost believe he crossed over to talk to Luna himself. I drove to the pack house with a bag of clothes to change into later and some supplies for the shower I'll take afterward. The pack house had a Girl/Boy showers for after runs. Something cleverly invented by a pack architect. Of course there were seperate showers for the genders. I parked my car in the front entrance- not even bothered to take a shower/ get properly dressed before coming here. It was early and half the pack was asleep. The only ones awake were the pack members coming in from the late night border patrol shift and the ones coming to greet and change over with them. I was unfortunately signed up to be a greeter. I didn't bother locking my car up as I left the keys in the ignition- car off.
I met my father, Niall, and Mal along with a few unfamiliar faces as we lined up by the field. My father greeted another older male that came out of the forest and watched as they exchanged a few words - all serious talk about how quiet it's been on either side of the borders. Then the fair mention of last night's excitement. Turns out my father and Niall had met the man while they were escorting my other two brothers out of the territory. "Well," the man speaking to my father said. "Let Luna and Fate be with them. Hopefully they'll bring your youngest boy back safely. Let me know if there is any new developments."
"That is Niall's father in law," Mal whispered to me. "Donovan."
"What?" I chuckled. "I forgot Niall was mated," I mumbled and looked at my older brother. He seemed to be enjoying watching his own father and father in law bonding over border control talk.
"You really don't do social media, do you?" My brother asked softly and wrapped an arm around me. I knew then he wasn't doing this out of brotherly affection- but because one of the wolves coming in from the patrol was staring right at me with lust. "Tell Brendon he better hurry up and mark you if he's planning on it," Mal grumbled in my ear. "You're like a fresh baked ham on thanksgiving day." I elbowed him in the side and scowled.
"If Arwen was awake, I'd let her eat you," i joked and leaned my head into his shoulder. The male from across the field stopped looking at me and I got a feeling Mal sent him a nasty look. Something like 'I'll eat you if you touch my sister,' which is probably not a good look to be pulling right now around me. I stepped away from Mal as I noticed my father coming over to us.
"Okay, you two are going to be on the same trail as Niall. I know it's been awhile since we went over protocal training with you. So, stay alert out there. Border control is not a game. You may come across intruders. Rogues. Hungry Alphas. Whatever you see or hear, report to Niall, your captain. BY ALL MEANS DON'T GET LOST," He warned us. We nodded and bowed our heads in respect. Father took his work very serious. But if he invited us to stead in our older brother's places... that means he held us high in his mind. After all, we were supposed to take over these duties as soon as we got home.
"Yes, father," we said together. He gave us a smile before lifting his hand and stroked Mal's cheek. He looked worried for a second before giving him a proud smile.
"It's good to have you home," he whispered. This was just a bland reminder... Mal was the love child of my father's only soulmate. He seemed hesitate as he leaned in and whispered something low to him, "You look just like her everyday. So, if you scratch that pretty face out there, I will NEVER let you outside again." A shiver ran down my spine as I watched Mal gulp and nod his head. My father... He truly was overprotective of his favorite son. WE had to pull his teeth just to get him to let Mal go to college. My father's eyes landed on me with a warning look.
'Don't create anymore trouble,' he warned me through our faint mind link. Now he was showing his true colors at Six in the morning. I stepped away from him in anger and transformed into my wolf form. The clothes shreaded off around me and made me immediantely regret changing so fast. But I ran towards the edge of the forest. I only looked back to meet him in the eyes. Niall and Mal followed thereafter. Niall could tell Mal and I wanted to get away from here as soon as possible.
It didn't take long for Niall to get in front of us and lead the way. We all communicated through a mind link, thanks to the moon goddess' blessing. Telepathy was one of the first gifts our pack recieved through generations. Family had a stronger bond with it. So it was a good idea, father made us three run together. But, along with that, we had an understanding of wolf's tongue. So if you couldn't comunicate via telepath there was still the option of speaking wolf's togue.
The further we got from the clearing the more the woods darkened and thickened. We were running fast... but I could easily keep up with them. They were actually slow runners in my opinion. The more time went on the more I barely begun to notice how the scent changed. But eventually we found ourselves where the scent of our pack ended and the unknown smells began. There was nothing new to pick up on of any importance. It was all old scents. I wasn't sure which part of the border we were on until we reached the third 'old bridge'. It was a structure a road use to take out of town. But the road was closed off a long time ago when they put up a nearby highway. The road was now overgrown and forgottten. It was one of our mysterious boarder markings. We were very close to the side of the territory I never spent much time in. Because it was on the oposite side of the turf from where I lived and I'd have to go past the pack house to get to it- and I was a lazy teenager.
Father once told me, 'this is the weakest side of our boarder, so if you ever guard it... stay alert. Go with strong wolves... and never wonder over there alone." He must really trust Niall to be letting Mal out over here. I heard Niall humming happily as he wagged his tail.
"So, now that we have some time to talk- little siblings," he said playfully and turned around and pounced on Mal, barreling him into the ground as we came to a stop. I was on guard for a split second until I heard them laughing. "I think it's time to say how much I've missed you," he said into Mal's ear. He was speaking in wolf's tongue. The two played tug- a- war on each other's ears until Mal gave up at let Niall win their game. Niall looked at me with a pleased smile. "Vivienne~! Are you planning on becoming Luna?" He wondered allowed. I gasped and shushed him. How could he be asking this so close to the boarder?! "Oh- relax, there isn't anything out here." He told me and snorted.
"Well," I husked. "I don't know..." I trialed off shyly. "He did say he wanted me to..." I explained. I had to switch this conversation. I can't think of this right now. "Mal said your Donovan's son in law. So, how come you never brought the lucky lady to meet us?" I asked and Mal stuck out his tongue. Niall chuckled as we began to sniff around and spread out a little ways.
"Lillith, is the lucky lady... and I knocked her up first time we made eye contact. So, you'll get to meet Lowell, our son sometime tonight for dinner. Mother was going to tell you but probably forgot to mention the dinner plans." I can't beieve I have a nephew and no one told me.
'You really don't like reading emails,' Arwen yawned out sleepily to me. I chuckled and shook my head. That's about as close as I get to anything involving technology. Honestly, if it wasn't for us sharing our father it would be hard to tell we were family. Mal was the closest thing I had at the moment and he was a stone's throw away from being an actual brother to me. At least he could pretend to care. That sucker probably took drama classes.
One of the pack's many rituals while running these routes was to mark our scent and refreshen it. This usually kept away unwanted guests. Of course, the strongest way to mark the forest was to pee in it. So, as we natrually traveled and marked everything in our path... I kept wondering what Alpha Fang was trying to warn me about. Lamia... Never in my life did I ever hear the term Lamia. Who or what is it? But it was coming... If Alpha Fang really was real.
"Do you know anything about an Alpha Fang?" I asked them curiously as we met back up from our markings. Mal looked intrigued.
"Why do you ask?" Niall asked me curiously and chuckled. "Have you been doing research?"
"Do you know?" I asked eagerly.
"I sure do. Alpha Fang, was the great Alpha of the Night Hunter's pack. They Joined the Scarlet Moon pack and together they were reborn as the original Scarlet Nightwalker pack, our pack. He's also dad's like- three great grandfather's father?" I felt my legs lock up.
'Say what now?'
"It's true, exactly what I told you. Father gave me a history lesson since I'm technically next in line to own the manor when he passes." Niall bragged away.
But, I couldn't help but wonder. How did I dream of Alpha Fang without knowing of him?
I had to have met him while on the other side, there's no other explaination.
'I have to cross back over and find him, Arwen. Ask him what he meant, if it was him,' I whispered softly to her in my mind.
"Do you think it's possibe I would have met him even if I was away from the moon goddess on the other side?" I asked.
"No, once you depart from a goddess and your wolf, you are transported back here. Don't be silly, Vivienne." Well that wasn't helpful at all. He's not as open minded as I thought he'd be. "Besides, Alpha Fang would have no reason to wish to speak to you. He doesn't speak to any of his relatives. Father tried years ago and so have I."
"Is that all you know of Alpha Fang?" I mumbled. It still doesn't explain why he was so big.
"It's all that matters," he told me boredly. "Alpha Fang's arrange marriage to Scarlet Moon pack is all I can remember father telling me. I don't see how any of this is important though. I just remember it was exotic of two wolves being in an agreed arrange marriage- what with fate and all."
"What? You mean to tell me, they didn't just merge packs but they forced a wedding between alpha and alpha?"
"Well it was the Alpha's daughter, but yes. She was his only living heir. So, Alpha Fang accepted the proposal. The two packs joined and now we have a big and powerful land to watch over and members to feed."
"Wait..." I trailed off.
"No you're not related to Alpha Brendon. The two never had children. Alpha Fang died before conception. From then on our houses have always remained- unmixed. Our house loyal to their house."
"So did Alpha Fang... have children apart from his marraige."
"Yes, he had a soulmate too. She died at Lamia's hand durring the great battle of Lamia."
I froze as my heart pounded.
"Lamia?" I whispered curiously.
"The vampire battle? Don't tell me you forgot... The reason the packs joined together..." his voice was fading out as I heard the pack's reminding chant of Lamia. "To fight off Lamia Dragavei? The vampire queen that has a taste for werewolf blood? She killed our ancestor's mate and drank her blood in front of him? He was barely able to save his child from that beast. Which is why he arranged marraige to form a strong bond with another powerful pack. He died on the battlefield... but his sacrifice was not in vein because the pack was able to run Lamia and her evil kind right out of our terrtory. We have been free from vampires for centuries now."
My breath was catching.
I have to warn Brendon.
I have to tell the pack.