Unchained: Blood Rune Pack #1

Serenity knocked on the large, wooden door leading to the meeting room and called out in a timid voice, “Dinner’s ready.”

Grunts of acknowledgement responded from inside the room, so she turned, climbing up the stairs, to the main level of their home. Back in the kitchen, she rejoined her mother, Elizabeth, Luna to the Mystic Shadow wolf pack, preparing to serve the feast they’d been working on for most of the day.

As they carefully carried the dishes into the dining area, placing them upon the table, men begin to filter in. Serenity’s father, Gabriel, took his seat at the head of the table and when Eli stepped through the doorway, his piercing blue eyes caught hers, and her cheeks flushed at the attention. A smile spread across his face as he took his seat on the right side of Gabriel. Elizabeth would be seated to his left with Serenity to the other side of her.

Once all of the food was placed and ready to be served, Elizabeth and Serenity took their seats. Waiting for all other pack members first, the ladies were last to fill their plates. Everyone seemed in good spirits and the positive energy flowed around the table.

“We’ll be hosting some guests tomorrow, so I need you and Serenity to prepare the guest house and plan for a party Saturday night.” Gabriel told Elizabeth who nodded in response.

“How many shall we prepare for, ather?” Serenity asked, wondering why the short notice.

Planning for a party in two days was unnecessarily stressful and she preferred more notice to make sure it was elaborate and to her father’s standards.

“Our pack plus four visitors,” Gabriel responded, before taking a long sip out of his wine glass.

“Yes, father. Any requests?” Serenity asked as she continued to eat the small portions on her plate.

She may be the daughter of the Alpha, but she was expected to perform like a servant, act like a lady and be seen, not heard as much as possible.

Even her mother, Luna to the pack acted more like a servant. She was not involved nor included in any pack business and was expected to take care of the pack house and prepare food to feed several members of the pack on a daily basis. This was the role in which Serenity was training for but yet some part of her craved more.

“If all goes according to plan, it will be an evening of celebration, so plenty of good booze and a cake or whatever you girls think is necessary to celebrate.”

Elizabeth nodded. “Who are our guests?”

“Alpha of the Blood Rune Pack.”

“Oh,” Serenity said, inhaling a small gasp, her heart thumping in her chest with nervous anticipation.

Eli caught her gaze and gave an encouraging smile from across the way. The rest of the pack members seated around the table were listening intently. While their pack was one of peace and mostly free of violence, the Blood Rune Pack was known to be quite viscous and ruled with a heavy hand.

Although a new Alpha had taken over within the last year, they weren’t sure how he ruled and if those traditions remained.

“Serenity, you will show them respect and attend to their every need, and you will do so happily, do you understand me?” Her father scolded.

“Yes, father.” Serenity dipped her head, embarrassment coloring her cheeks.

Finishing her meal quickly, she retreated to the kitchen to begin cleaning up. Serenity’s embarrassment began to fade, but she sure hated when her father put her in her place in front of the pack. If she were to be Luna one day, she needed to show strength and leadership. She couldn’t afford to let emotions slip through in front of them. Most importantly she couldn’t show fear.

Although she was barely twenty, she hoped to be mated before she turned twenty-one. She’d been spending a lot of time with Eli and as Beta to her father, it was a perfect pairing. They would be a power couple, taking over when her father decided to relinquish the reigns.

As werewolves, they lived a much longer lifespan and often Alphas ruled for several decades and only relinquished the reigns through a challenge or when they decided to step aside. If they survived the challenge or if they stepped aside, they were then the elders of the pack, around to impart wisdom and advice for their successors.

Eli was planning to approach her father to ask his permission in becoming her mate and Serenity was growing anxious. Her heat cycle was growing near and she hated being locked in her room for a week. It was forbidden for an unmated female to roam freely, unaccompanied during her heat cycle and she refused to take the suppression injections as there was a possibility of making one sterile. She wanted to mate and have pups, and this could be difficult enough without any undue influence.

Average werewolves went through one to two heat cycles a year whereas more powerful bloodlines and females in a more powerful position could see up to four heat cycles a year. Their most fertile years were between the second and fifth decade of life. From there, fertility drastically declined and most took a mate in their early twenties for that reason.

Stronger bloodlines procreated easier than those of weaker ancestry. Miscarriages were common among werewolves and often, a female would experience at least of few miscarriages before being able to carry a pup to term. Serenity had heard about a time in their distant past when it wasn’t as difficult to get pregnant or carry a pup to term, but no one knows what changed.

Serenity finished clearing the table, placing everything on the counter and was standing at the sink, washing the pans, when a hand slid over her shoulder. She spun, facing Eli, as she studied his face – his smile – Serenity grew warm inside. Pushing a strand of her pale hair behind her ear, Eli leaned in and gave a small peck on her cheek making her heart thump wildly in her chest.

She desperately wished he’d kiss her, but he refused until he received her father’s permission. He was five years her senior and odd that he had not yet been mated, but being Beta took up much of his time and it wasn’t uncommon for men in power to wait to take a mate until they were into their third decade of life.

“Have you asked him?” Her voice came out as a broken whisper.

“Not yet. Not to worry, darling, as soon as our company is gone this weekend, I will speak with him and then…” he grazed his fingers over her cheek, and she leaned into his touch.

“Eli…” her voice trailed off.

“Yes, darling?” His thumb stroked her cheek.

“Meet for a run later?” Serenity asked, looking into his eyes hopefully.

“I can’t tonight, tomorrow?” He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.

“Okay,” she said, trying not to let her disappointment show.

“No going out alone, you hear?” His hand slid under her chin and he held it between his thumb and forefinger, looking at her seriously.

“Why? Has there been another attack?”

“Nothing that concerns you right now. Just promise me, you’ll stay inside,” Eli asked, his eyes peering into hers.

“I promise,” she replied, disappointed. She continued to hope that once they were mated, he’d talk to her more and that they would have a different relationship than her mother and father.

Eli ran his hand down her side and let it settle on her waist. Leaning in, he kissed her cheek again, lightly dragging his lips across her skin and stopping at the corner of her mouth. Heat soared through her at the anticipation of the kiss and she was filled with cold disappointment when he moved away.

“Back to business, darling,” Eli said as he grabbed two twelve packs of beer out of the fridge and headed back down to the meeting room leaving her to stare after him.

It wasn’t uncommon for the boys to drink after dinner while discussing business. The Alpha house was shared by the Alpha’s family, his Beta and any family they may have, and a few others. Since his Beta was his second in command, it only made sense to have him close along with those in training, as they needed to see how everything operated.

Gabriel also liked having some of the enforcers, scouts and trackers all under his roof and at the ready for his commands. Of course, Serenity heard rumors that not all packs operated this way, and some had much smaller Alpha houses. She thought that must be awfully lonely.

Growing up, Serenity was taught the ways of being a Luna. Her mother along with Greta, the previous Beta’s mate, kept the house running. Frederick stepped down from the role of Beta after a particularly nasty attack left Gabriel vulnerable.

Frederick decided he wasn’t enough for the role anymore and stepped down, despite Gabriel’s protests. Eli had been Delta at the time and was tested thoroughly before being promoted to Beta. The house was then left to Serenity and her mother and it made her nervous, yet excited to think about being the lady of the house.

Once Serenity was done cleaning up the kitchen and dining room, she joined her mother at the guesthouse to ready it for their guests’ arrival. They moved in silence, having done this exact task many times together and once it was completed, they met back at the entry way.

“It’s ready,” Serenity said, her mother nodded approvingly.

“Yes. You stocked the fridge with beer?” Elizabeth asked, turning to look at her daughter.

Serenity was a spitting image of her mother. Elizabeth was taller, but not by much and Serenity’s ash blonde hair was a shade lighter than Elizabeth’s.

“Yes, mother. It’s stocked and ready for guests. Do you know anything about the new Alpha?”

“Of course not, dear. You know I’m not privy to any such knowledge.” Elizabeth leaned closer, whispering, “Rumor has it that he is quite the wolf to look at,” while offering Serenity a wink.

“Mother.” She gasped, shocked that her mother would say such a thing. She’d never heard her speak about any man other than her father.

“Just a rumor. We’ll see for ourselves tomorrow,” Elizabeth said, shrugging her shoulders.

“I wonder what sort of business they are coming for,” Serenity said aloud, more wondering to herself than anything as she knew her mother wouldn’t know.

“Let’s not concern ourselves with things that don’t matter to us.” Elizabeth opened the door and they headed back to the Alpha house together. “Now, this party, any ideas?”

“Lots of booze…” Serenity started and they both laughed. “Father really liked the variety we had at the last gathering. We had pig, duck, turkey and there was one more…”

“Rabbit.”

“Oh yes. He really enjoyed the rabbit appetizers. I’ll work on putting together a menu so we have the necessary ingredients on hand.” Serenity replied, already starting to make a list in her head.

“Excellent. Now, get some rest. We’ll go over everything in the morning.”

“Good night, mother.” Serenity nodded in agreement and went upstairs to her room, grabbed her notebook, and started working on the menu and any special ingredients they may need.

Laying across her bed, she tried to concentrate on the menu items, but she found her mind wandering. Hopefully this time next week, she’d have permission to be mated to Eli and she nervously wondered how that would change her life. His round face forced itself into her mind and she admired his rusty brown hair, wondering who their children would take after. Her pale hair or his darker coloring. What color coat would their wolves have?

Her mind drifted back to his deflection of her when she asked about another attack. They’d been experiencing them off and on beginning with Frederick, although the attack on him had been the worse thus far and the closest call for the Alpha. Gabriel thought there was a band of rogue wolves wanting to take over their territory in Mystic Woods. Elizabeth thought it was the couple that had disbanded from their pack about a year ago for being “too peaceful”.

Serenity slammed her notebook shut, bored, with no one to share her time with. Looking out the window, she swore she saw a wolf at the tree line. Dark eyes met hers and she knew it was a wolf. She felt a pull to protect her territory and she raced downstairs and out the back door.

Running across the lawn, she shifted into her wolf form, and when she reached the area where she’d seen the other wolf, she sniffed at the ground. Taking in the scent, it was foreign to her, so she started tracking it. Knowing she was being reckless, and this could be a trap, she continued her pursuit to discover who this wolf was and ultimately who was behind all of the attacks. Serenity was tired of being helpless and left in the dark.

Stalking through the woods, Serenity wondered what had come over her tonight with the overwhelming need to protect her territory. Knowing she really ought to head back to the house, she found she couldn’t as some obsessive compulsion drove her forward.

Unsure of how deeply into the woods she’d gone, she began to ponder how this wolf made it past their sentinels who ran the perimeter of their territory at night.

Stopping a few miles from the edge of their territory, she knew she’d gone much farther than she should’ve. Sensing something wasn’t right, she perked up her ears as a low rumble sounded. Turning, she bared her teeth and looked directly at the wolf.

His dark brown eyes and muddy brown fur were unrecognizable as a current or previous pack member signifying, he was indeed a rogue.

Growling louder, he pounced on Serenity, trying to bite her neck. She dodged him and stood on all fours, facing him. She growled with every ounce of authority she had as the Alpha’s daughter.

The wolf lowered his head, then his body in submission, and she let her guard down for just a second, but it was long enough for him to take advantage of. When he jumped on her, clamping his jaw down on her side, she let out a squeal of pain.

Serenity was able to get away from him and struck back, sinking her teeth into his hind leg and shaking her head from side to side. Bone crunched in her mouth and she let out a satisfying grumble. She’d never been in a real fight before and her adrenaline was spiking making her entire body tingle. Letting go of his leg, she caught his flank and as blood flowed into her mouth, she felt a sick sense of satisfaction.

He tackled her to the ground, and they ended up rolling in a tumble of limbs, biting and scratching. They came to a stop with Serenity pinned beneath him. Looking up at his snarling muzzle, she wasn’t scared, she was mad. She attempted to throw him off balance enough to get out from underneath of him, but he was unmovable.

Just as his teeth were about to clamp down on her neck, another wolf joined the fight. He was a black majestic wolf, strong and by far the biggest wolf she’d ever seen. He took down the rogue wolf with minimal effort before setting his sights on her.

When the new wolf turned toward her, she held his gaze, his fiery amber eyes burning into her. She felt as though she should bow down in submission, but this was her territory. Blood dripped from his canines and she found it eerily erotic. Desire coursed through her and she moved closer, wanting to clean the blood off of him. Her wolf liked what she saw of the dark wolf and she wanted to be unleashed.