"I'm sorry for your loss, Aryn. I know losing your mate must be hard," my father politely says to the Alpha of Vengeful Star. I sat in a chair behind them and my mother, barely paying attention to the conversation.
"Do you know how she died?" Lyall, my mother asks.
"My pack and another were meeting when she took the younger women and teens out for a walk. My beta was with them to protect Maybelle from harm." I rolled my eyes as the Alpha clenched his fists. "Only he came back along with some girl! He said the girl was responsible for the accident!"
"How could a girl be responsible for your Luna's death?" I ask harshly.
Aryn glanced at me and said deathly soft, "She provoked the attack. The rogues. Her idiotic behavior for messing around."
I looked to my father with a sigh. "May I please step out for a minute?"
Knowing I didn't like this pack very much, my father nodded before turning his attention to Aryn. "Do you remember what this she-wolf looked like?"
"Same as Maybelle's, only her fur was a light tan instead of a golden, and her body weak while Maybelle was strong and beautiful."
I groaned and stepped out of the room, seeing my friend and confidant Klyn waiting nearby. He smirked. "You look like someone threatened your mate?"
"If I had one!" I growled, walking outside into the sunset. "He's blaming his mate's death on a girl's behavior. And rogues being aggravated by a girl? Come on?"
Klyn shrugged and let out a heavy sigh. "Is he pressing charges?"
"Probably. But, he only knows what her wolf looks like, not her human form. And the chances of a Himalayan wolf being near here is damn near impossible."
"Do you know which packs are bordering his southern side?"
"Whisper Eclipse, a peaceful pack who keep well to themselves unless necessary. My father's never had trouble with their Alpha."
Klyn shrugs again. "Maybe the girl moved far away? It's highly possible if she found her mate. Wolves move all the time because of that."
I nod, still deep in thought when my wolf starts growling at me to run. When I ask him why, he mutters one word that has me stripping down to shift so he can take over. "Mate!"
Klyn is on my heels in seconds, not asking any questions, knowing he'll eventually find the answers soon enough. Though, my surprised and desperate expression probably clued him to what it could be. We were heading to the southern borders, Whisper Eclipse boundaries. Confusion rakes my brain because I've passed this territory and never has my wolf acted upon a female's scent. He sniffs and I smell the most amazing aroma I have ever experienced: cinnamon and flowers. Sweet and spicy perfectly balanced and intoxicating my senses like never before.
Klyn mind links me to ask, "Considering your abrupt departure, I'm going to guess this is important enough for your father's wrath, right?"
My wolf grins, showing teeth. "More than important! It's a necessity I must find!"
That was all Klyn needed as he gave me a nudge to go faster. Klyn was my Beta to be. Once I was Alpha, he was to be my second in command and help me and my Luna protect our pack. I had other friends, others strong and openminded, but Klyn had this way of seeing and understanding what I was trying to explain, therefore giving me ideas on how it was bad or good, and even some suggestions on how to improve. He's my best friend since freshman year, which was less than a decade ago, but still…he gets me better than my father sometimes.
My wolf stopped at the border, whimpering for some way to reach our mate and let her know who we were. She hadn't been near, but her scent carried on the breeze, along with four others who were already past. We sensed she was getting closer and closer, a kind of strength we could sense driving her forward that was incredible. But something was slightly off…and my wolf couldn't tell what. She was different, he knew, but didn't know how.
Pulling back and staying low to the ground behind some bushes, Klyn and I watched, waiting for her to burst into our sights and give us relief. I didn't think she'd be in this pack.
I shook my head a little in amazement. Neither did I. Been near here plenty of times in the past few years and never caught a whiff.
Suddenly, a tiny wolf appeared and jolted to a stop, sniffing around like it had just found something. My wolf narrowed his eyes, completely taken aback by how small this female was. She could fit under him twice! She was like a pup, only she had the elegance and grace of a full-grown she-wolf. He pictured her fitting right underneath his chest, his forepaws on either side of her, his body protecting hers effectively. Our spirits rose, but still we did not move because her movements—although beautiful and elegant—were perhaps off somewhat.
"Is that your mate?" Klyn asked with slight awe and confusion.
"Yeah, but she's…" I tried finding the right words to describe what was different. Not wrong, because damn nothing could be wrong with her, but different. "I don't know…"
Klyn and I watched as she rose her muzzle to the sky and howled her beautiful song. I closed my eyes and fell in love with her voice, her beauty. I could only imagine what she looked like in human form. "Lykaon, she's a Himalayan!"
My happiness was broken at Klyn's words because he was correct. She was a Himalayan which put her in danger of being the girl Aryn claims is responsible for his mate's death. "Of course, she is," I sigh.
"I won't lie, Lykaon. She'd make a wonderful Luna and mate!" Klyn observed.
I had to agree. I knew she had the beauty of a Luna, but I could sense her strength as well. She was strong, though small, and carried herself with confidence and prowess. Her ears went flat on her head, disappointment rolling off her in waves. "Must go!" my wolf growled.
"No! We aren't welcome on her territory. We must be invited first!" I reminded him.
He whimpered. "She wants us. She's calling for us."
"I know."
We stayed watching her for five minutes, pacing and whimpering softly before she sulked further into her territory, tail between her legs and head down.
Klyn whimpered softly at seeing his future Luna so sad. "You need to tell your father, Lykaon. You can finally take your place. He can finally retire and take care of your mother by giving her happiness. We need to get your mate!"
I stood and started walking back to Aryn's. "I know we need her, but if Aryn found out what her wolf looked like, he'd try to get to her before I do. I can't do that."
"He's going to get to her no matter what. But at least if she's with you, she'll be better protected."
My wolf took an instant liking to that comment, and so did I. Klyn was right. I would be able to protect her if we brought her back with us. If she was my Luna, she'd be protected by the whole pack who'd love and adore her. The only problem was how do we get around Aryn?
When we arrived back at the house, we didn't shift because my father was already waiting for us with a curious, yet annoyed expression on his face. I didn't give any hints just in case Aryn was paying close attention. So, we said our goodbyes and my father, Klyn and I, plus our other six guards started home north. My father took the lead until we were past Aryn's borders and onto our land before slowing down to run beside me. "Want to tell me why you were near the Whisper Eclipse Pack border?"
I gave him a grin. "I found her! I finally found her!"
His gold eyes light up with pride. "Did you meet her? Who is she?"
At his questions, I give a small whine. "I don't know who she is, other than a Himalayan."
My father's ears darted forward in attention. "Lykaon… He trailed off, seemingly in his own thoughts now."
"Where's mother?"
"Home. She left right after you went to find your mate." He stopped running and so did I. "Lykaon, I understand your reasons for not liking Aryn, but if she is responsible—"
"She isn't responsible, father! She's not even big enough to be considered fully grown! She's like a pup! And she's so innocent!"
My father's eyes turned pained and sympathetic. "I'm sorry son."
"At least let me meet her!" I begged. "Let me meet her and learn her history. Maybe she'll tell me the truth."
"A wolf who has killed a Luna will not want to share those details." His voice was firm and full of warning, then turned soft as he said, "But you may try. I will not deny you the privilege of getting to meet with her."
My wolf smiled and leapt around my father's wolf happily. "I can't wait!"
"I will send out a request for you to enter their territory tomorrow morning. We should receive an answer late afternoon to early evening. Do not, however, go looking for her until then."
I nodded, acting like a pup again whenever we were told to go run around for some fun. I was going to meet my mate! I finally going to know who my mate was and see just how gorgeous she truly was! It was only a matter of time…