After they hit the age of eighteen years old, the alpha children were sent to a special summer camp that was located at North Ridge Forest, right where the Werewolf Council Headquarters was. It was widely known as Alpha Camp.
There were a few reasons to support this yearly gathering. One was to foster bonds between future pack alphas against the external world. The second one was to find worthy mates to maintain the purity of the alpha bloodline.
Although there was no guarantee that a union between two alphas would result in alpha pups, the probability was still quite high.
Back then, they were all innocent children. Youngsters who were drunk on the concept of fated mates and bonding romance. They did not know about the struggles that came later once they reached adulthood. In a war between packs, they might end up killing each other or each other's family members.
As Lucien Clearwater sat inside Kinnon Youngshaper's car, he could not help but feel like a prisoner. His pack had been utterly defeated in a senseless fight. If only the Alpha picked reason over pride.
But then if he did, he might as well hand over the Alpha position to someone else in the pack. Pride was a huge part of a werewolf's world. Maybe that's why Lucien was not destined to be an Alpha.
Even without his strange afflictions and Landon's abandonment, he was not fit to be an Alpha. He was a disgrace. Not only to his family but to his own pack.
And now Kinnon was taking him back to Blue Hill City. Back to the Silent Walkers Pack. Lucien had both his hands on his lap, rubbing his fingers against each other in hope that his uneasiness would dissipate. A large hand reached out and landed on top of his hands. Lucien looked up and his eyes met with Kinnon's warm, dark eyes.
"Worried?"
Lucien's automatic response was to shake his head, but mid-way that headshake turned into a curt nod. He was no longer in line for the Alpha position. He was not even considered an alpha anymore so why bother sticking to the alpha pride?
Kinnon squeezed at Lucien's hands. "Don't worry, I am not trying to make things difficult. I have a proposal to make to the Silent Walkers Pack, and I hope that you will agree."
Lucien stared at Kinnon. "You give me too much power. Whatever proposal you have shall be discussed with the Luna after the Alpha's demise. Or maybe the Beta," Lucien added thoughtfully.
If he was not mistaken, the Luna was rather timid in nature. Also, her mate just died. She might not be capable of dealing with political talks as of now.
Kinnon flashed Lucien a mysterious smile that contained a lot of unsaid words. "You will understand why your presence is necessary later on."
He patted Lucien's head fondly. "Rest a little. It takes a while before we reach Blue Hill City."
Lucien leaned back against the upholstered seat and closed his eyes. He was unable to sleep well the previous night, so he fell asleep not long after. He only opened his eyes again when he heard Kinnon's whisper in his ear.
"Lucien, we are here."
Lucien opened his eyes. The car door at his side was open, revealing the Pack House he was born and raised in. It was early morning. No one had risen from their bed yet.
Lucien gingerly stepped out of the car and stared at the dilapidated stone gate that was in a half-destroyed state, presumably due to lack of maintenance, or maybe it was done by the Night Prowler Pack? Lucien cast a side glance at Kinnon, who immediately put up his hands in defense.
"It is not us, I swear."
Lucien stepped into the huge front yard. The surrounding was very quiet. Lucien faintly remembered that it was the same as it was seven years ago. It only felt foreign because he had not visited even once after he left the pack.
A series of banging sounds were heard, and a moment later a woman with a face that was very similar to Lucien appeared behind the Pack House's entrance door. She clasped both hands across her mouth and started to cry.
"Lulu...! Lulu...!!!"
Annalynne was not usually a crybaby. As an Alpha's daughter, she had been told that she must be strong. For her pack.
For her brother, who might one day become an Alpha. Her brother never became an Alpha and the pressure on Annalynne only grew after that. She never again shed a tear in front of others. Seeing Lucien stepping a foot into the Silent Walkers Pack House was all it took to turn Annalynne into her childish self. The siblings ran toward each other and fell into a tight embrace.
"Anna, I am here," Lucien whispered while pressing a kiss on the top of Annalynne's head.
Annalynne put her arms around Lucien and cried loudly. A soft groan escaped Lucien's lips when Annalynne's touched one of his wounds. The woman froze on spot. Other than her brother's scent, she also smelled blood on him.
"Lulu, you are hurt...?"
Lucien was not in the mood to explain. "Long story. Let's talk about what happened here first."
Annalynne cast a worried look at Kinnon, who stood some distance away, watching the exchange between the two siblings.
"Don't mind me," he said with a smile. "I shall come back tomorrow morning to discuss my proposal. Until then, enjoy your reunion with your family, Lucien."
Kinnon Youngshaper left right after. Lucien furrowed his brows. "I thought he was staying in our Pack House?"
Annalynne shook her head. Her thick red-blonde hair, similar to Lucien's, swayed around her gracefully. "No, the Night Prowler Pack set a camp nearby. They come in the morning, do some stuff, and then they go back to their camp."
"Do what, for example?"
Annalynne wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Getting data about our pack and then checking our storage house..."
Lucien pulled his lips into a tight smile. They lost the war after all.
"How is Mom?"
"Mom is still at the mourning hall. Deacon has been buried yesterday in the pack cemetery."
Deacon Clearwater, the deceased Alpha of Silent Walkers Pack, was Lucien's cousin.