Hannah POV
One thing I must for sure appreciate during my stay here is the woods.
The pack's territory is so beautiful; the clearing, the lake, the trees, and the wooden houses of pack families are scattered around the territory. I can feel at home here.
Every morning since I came here, I've gone for a walk. It helps me clear my mind, it helps me concentrate later, and it helps me put myself together every morning. I miss the time that Dad, Maddie, and the boys spent in the woods. We took Rosie on her first trip when she was half a year old. Daddy was carrying her in his backpack. Maddie was going first in her wolf form. She usually was in wolf form when we were in the woods; the boys loved snuggling into her, and so did Rosie and me. And it was safer with her wolf form; she was better at detecting danger. We have never encountered rogue, probably because boys were too young to attract predators, and Maddie's scent wasn't strong enough.
Mikkeli keeps telling me that my parents were stupid and we were in constant danger out there, but I've always felt safe with Dad. He taught me to be tough and to be brave, but he also taught me that sometimes you have to make tough decisions and that it's OK to ask for help.
After what happened yesterday, as much as I don't want to admit it, I don't feel so sure that I don't need any help. I don't feel confident knowing what I'm doing with the boys. And Hayden cares about them, maybe even about Rosie. Or maybe I'm just deluded and should run away with them as far as I can.
I can hear a slight noise behind me. I don't have to turn around to know that it's him. I smirk, thinking I made a friend without knowing his name.
It happened exactly on our 4th day since we came here. I took Rosie into the woods and to the lake so that we could relax a little bit. She had slept on my lap pretty soon, and I was enjoying the silence when I saw him.
He was huge, much bigger than Maddie's wolf, so my guess was that he must've been relatively high-ranking in the pack. His fur was almost gold with very beautiful specks of brown in his pelt, and he was so beautiful. He was standing at the edge of the wood looking at us, and I have no idea why but I smiled at him, and he jogged a little closer.
"Are you here to make sure we won't escape?" I asked, looking straight into his eyes.
I remembered that Maddie warned me not to look into the wolf's eyes directly, that it could be understood as a sign of challenge, but for some reason, I had just felt so safe with him.
I've kept seeing him almost every day since then. He had always known when I was alone in the forest or at the clearing, and he was always there every time he came closer and closer, and we used to spend some time in silence. Sometimes he was trotting around me, sometimes just lying very close and allowing me to pet his fur. Once or twice he licked me, and it was extremely comfortable.
The funny thing is I have no idea who he is, and I didn't try to ask Kyle, Rose, or Tony because I didn't want him to be in trouble with the Alpha.
If his task was to watch me and he got caught on, it was so early I didn't want anybody to know. I didn't want him to be in trouble. I've seen how strict Mikkeli has been with his warriors, and I saw what he had done with Andrew in my house, and I didn't want to have to see that again.
As always, he trots in my direction and sits near me, whimpering a little bit and trying to put his head on my lap. I allow him and start petting his head.
"Do you want me to feel better?" I ask, looking at him and smiling. "I wonder what your name is? Don't answer. I know you can't, my forest friend. And don't worry; I'm just a little bit sad today, but only a little bit. It's so beautiful here; your pack's territory is indeed amazing." I lay my head on him, and I close my eyes.
Low snarling it's what wakes me up. I open my eyes and see that my forest friend is extremely tense. He sniffs around and, for some reason, seems extremely agitated.
"What's wrong?" I ask and slowly stand up; something is wrong.
In a moment, he's in front of me in a protective stance. In a moment, I can hear it; it's like some kind of chase. I can hear howling, snarling, barking, and the sounds of a fast run. I know that many wolves are coming, and I'm not wrong.
Soon a group of wolves breaks from the forest; some of them have red eyes, rogue's eyes. I can see that all wolves are fighting, biting, and jumping at each other. I can see the blood and hear terrifying noises. I can't move. I'm scared to move.
My wolf runs in their direction almost immediately, and one of the wolves, a grey-black one, slowly withdraws from the fight and takes his place as my protector. This new one starts nipping my leg, so I look at him. It's clear that he wants me to sit on him. He's not very huge, but still huge enough not to have any problem with carrying me. I quickly follow his lead. Another thing my dad told me is if you can't help, you don't argue, and you don't disturb. As we leave the clearing, I see my wolf snaps his canines in one of the rogue's neck.
When we arrive at the packhouse, I can see that everybody is on high alert. Kyle is waiting for me near the entrance to the house.
"We are under attack," he screams. "You have to come with me!"
I quickly follow him as the wolf who has brought me here turns around and runs back into the forest. Kyle takes me to the basement, where I can see a very massive door with a code lock. He quickly types it, and we enter; we're in some sort of safe room, I think; many pack members are sitting here, mostly children and elders. I quickly notice Rose with Rosie and run to them.
"Where are the boys?" I ask, taking my sister into my arms and trying to take my shaking under control.
"They were with Hayden at the training grounds, there is another safe room there, and I'm sure Hayden took them there," she replies.
Kyle sits next to us, and for quite some time, nobody says anything.
"You know, it's the first time they got so far into our territory," he says
"Does it happen often?" I ask, slowly waving Rosie in my arms.
"Recently not. It used to happen a lot at the beginning when Mikkeli became Alpha. When there is a change of power, the allies usually try to take advantage of the new leadership, and rogues try to use the new Alpha's inexperience, but Mikkeli managed to take control over it very quickly, and after that, we are rarely challenged."
I can see that he is quite worried, but I can also see that none of them seems to be terrified. They are all quite confident that their defense is strong enough. I sure must count it as an advantage for Mikkeli, and his pack trusts him a lot.
About half an hour later, one of the warriors comes to the basement and tells us that the fight is over. Everybody hurries upstairs, but I still can see no panic. I'm sure it's their mindlink that keeps them updated about what happened. Well, I don't have this advantage. I'm not a member of the pack, and I don't know how big damage has been done. I can see people going into the Infirmary, families finding in each other. I decide to go with Rose and Kyle to the Infirmary where we help the pack doctor; I think his name is Gideon, patch up all cuts and bruises.
"You handled yourself pretty well," a woman whose claw marks I'm cleaning smiles at me. She looks like she is in her early 30s; she has dark hair, dark brown eyes, and a good body shape. She looks strong. "I was quite sure you would panic at the clearing."
"Were you the one who brought me back to the packhouse?"
She nods, and for a moment, we don't say anything. I'm concentrating on the marks on her arms; she seems deep in her thoughts.
"My name is Becca," she finally says. "I am one of the head warriors, and you are quite a good warrior material."
"Thanks."
When I finish helping her, her eyes glaze, and she quickly goes outside, and I follow her. In front of the packhouse, I can see Mikkeli and Tony, who both are covered in blood but don't seem to be bleeding. Probably it's not their blood; the last one of them is holding someone on the ground. He looks wounded, probably the prisoner, maybe one of those who attacked us, but there is a problem. I know him, or at least I have seen him before.
I look around, and I can see boys running toward me, and I feel so much better knowing for sure that they are safe. Hayden also comes close to checking on me.
"Hayden," I say, and he looks at me. "I know that guy. I've seen him before."
Now he looks much more worried than before.
"Come with me to Mikkeli's office."
I think he might link everyone he thought should be present because we are all in Alpha's office in a couple of minutes. Mikkeli is here, and so are Tony, Becca, Jack, four other guys, and one woman who I often have seen talking with Tony or Hayden.
"Becca, tell me precisely what happened? says Mikkeli.
"There were three groups with twelve to twenty members each. We spotted the first on the north border, and we immediately directed additional backup. They started the fight but soon backed off. The same was the situation with the second group on the east border. We also sent there additional backup. The third group, the one which managed to reach the clearing, must have come from the direction South, which means they had to come across Full Moon Pack territory, but we weren't informed about the danger, and as we all know, this can be seen as a violation of trust since we have an alliance with them" she states coldly.
"Which gives the conclusion that Full Moon Pack is suddenly a bunch of idiots who cannot detect rogues or our alliance means nothing to them," Mikkeli growls dangerously.
"The problem is, why did they come? They were for sure outnumbered. They didn't seem in rage. I think it was planned, but why?" she looks at him.
For a moment, there is only silence, and then Hayden speaks:
"What if that was checking? Maybe they were just trying to see if they could enter our land undetected. I think they were checking our defense, but Full Moon Pack is a problem. The alliance is now in question. And additionally, Hannah told me she knows the guy who we caught."
Now suddenly, all eyes are on me, and I don't want to taste their patience and quickly say.
"Two days before my parents' death, my dad had a barbecue with his colleagues from his job; it's like a family gathering. Each man who works with him at the station brings his family, sometimes friends, and lots of beer. The guy you caught was brought to the gathering by Simon. He was one of my father's co-workers. Simon introduced him as his cousin from Portland. I think he said the guy's name was Steven. And pretty much it, but the guy seemed fishy, and Maddie seemed very uncomfortable around him. Dad quickly took us home that day."
"This Simon guy, have you known him very well?" Tony asks.
"Not really, he was working with my dad for around two years, but my dad didn't like him. I think he said once that Simon has some problems with gambling. They were both at my parents' funeral, but I didn't think much about it because many people were at my parents' funeral."
Mikkeli stands and starts pacing the room, Hayden growls lowly, and the rest seems deep in their thoughts.
"All right," Mikkeli breaks the silence. "Tony, make sure you will get all the necessary information from our Stevie friend. Hayden, establish the meeting with Full Moon Pack. We must talk in person. Becca, make sure that the southern border is patrolled more frequently. Hannah, give Hayden all the necessary details about this Simon so we can do some background checks on him, and no more walking around pack territory alone. Am I clear?"
I try not to roll my eyes; I do, but there is no point. I do roll my eyes, and I can see that everybody else in the room is a little bit tense. Yeah, I've challenged the Alpha... again.
"This is only for your protection...." Hayden starts, but I stop him.
"I know that it's not about what he says; it's about his attitude, but I promise I will do as I'm told."
After that, I join my siblings in the living room. I know from Kyle that there were no casualties on our side this day, which means that my wolf is fine, whoever he is.