Chapter 1
It was around 1:30 in the morning when I got a phone call. I struggled for a minute to turn on my lamp and find my phone, which had fallen onto the floor at some point during the night.
“Hello?” I grumbled my greeting, resting the phone on the side of my face, laying back down.
“Narah,” The voice of my best friend Ari came through the phone, strained. “Can you take my spot in the 2 am patrol? I’ve been throwing up for the past hour.”
Instinctively I sat up, more alert now. I grabbed the phone before it could fall off of my face, “Of course I can. Will you be alright? Do you need anything before I head out?”
“No, I’ll be alright. I think it’s just a stomach bug,” She complained, pausing to take deep breaths as if she was trying not to throw up.
I bit back a pity laugh, “I’ll make sure to check on you in the afternoon.”
“Thanks, girl.”
“No problem,” I said and as I hung up I could hear her throwing up again.
I looked back at the clock and groaned, rubbing my face. Personally, I think that the 2 am patrols are the worst. We don’t even usually have them but father got tipped off by a friend that a small group of wolves was headed our way. So of course patrols doubled far more than usual. Patrols are more of a habit than a necessity but it helps everyone become and stay close-knit.
The locals hardly ever give us any trouble, they know to stay off the park after hours but we don’t want someone where they shouldn’t. Then with the added threat of unknown wolves in the area, I shivered at the thought of the scenarios that could emerge.
Quickly I put on a hoodie and shorts before leaving a note on the kitchen counter. I wouldn’t be back until 6 am but all of my family are all early risers. Opting to go barefoot, I quietly slipped into the backyard that led right out to the park, which technically was owned by my family.
Within ten minutes I arrived at the patrol exchange spot, a tiny clearing right next to a huge boulder, which resembled a wolf. It was a popular spot for people to take pictures. Mason was already there waiting and as I arrived his brow knit in confusion.
“What happened to Ari?” He asked with a frown.
“Stomach flu or something,” I told him before nudging him playfully in the shoulder. “Come on Mason, don’t look too excited to see me.”
“Can’t you tell? I’m positively shaking with excitement,” His voice dripped with sarcasm but in seconds we were both laughing.
Our laughter was broken by the arrival of Michelle and Liliana finishing their 10 pm to 2 am patrol. They both looked dead on their feet and like they couldn’t wait to get home and sleep.
“How was it?” I asked, mostly out of courtesy.
“Pretty uneventful,” Michelle yawned, rubbing her face.
Then Liliana added, “We thought we heard some kids pulling up but that was a few minutes ago and figured we’d let you guys check it out instead.”
“Of course, giving us all the hard work,” Mason grinned, failing miserably at pretending to be angry.
“Aw, you’re a big boy Mason,” Michelle teased him, making her statement funnier once you realized she towered over him by 6 inches. “You can handle it.”
Before Mason could think of a good response, I intervened, “Don’t worry about it, you guys go and get some sleep.”
“Thanks Narah,” They both said gratefully before going back the way I came.
I turned to Mason, “Ready?”
“Set… Go!” He finished and tore off into the tree and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at him before I went after him, shifting as I ran.
Describing shifting is extremely hard because until you’ve done it, you can’t possibly imagine what it’s like. The best way that I can think of even beginning to describe it is like a rippling sensation starting from my belly button pulling and stretching outward and over my body. Your body is shedding another layer of skin in a sense and then suddenly everything is in a stronger clarity and I’m in my wolf form.
At first, it’s disorientating for anyone who can shift. You’re physically changing shapes and gifted with your strength, speed, sight, and scent all enhanced. Naturally, it’s hard to pay attention to things around you but with practice you can truly enjoy every minute detail, in every sense.
Such as the wind and how it combs your fur as you run, prickling your skin with excitement. The feeling of the strong, gentle Earth beneath you and the connection that runs between you two. All of the smells, the pine and sap, the sleeping wildflowers, the clay dirt, and each individual animal that lives there. Being able to pick out a beetle on an oak tree almost a mile away or the individual grooves on an owls feathers. Every part of it is completely exhilarating. So, within seconds Mason and I easily found the scent of the teenagers Liliana had mentioned, picking it up a bit away from the parking lot.
Dumb kids always make our job harder.
Follow the trail, I ordered using our wolf chat. Technically it’s just telepathy so we don’t have to communicate entirely with body signals but wolf chat has a better ring to it.
You got it boss. I’ll take left, He responded and we flanked each side of the trail they had left behind.
Just from the scents I picked up 5 teenagers and the worst part was that I knew all of them. They all went to my school. It didn’t bother me or anything since they won’t even know that it’s me but still, it’s annoying to have to chase your lab partner off of a mountain.
We easily found the little camp they had set up. They already had built a fire and were chatting, laughing, eating, and of course drinking. I recognized them all, Sophie, Lulu, Jennifer, Jackson, and Cole. Mason and I circled them a few times, quietly, so they wouldn’t notice us before meeting in the middle.
Hmm, I mused thinking.
Standard protocol is to get them off the property in any way that won’t harm them, us, or the land. So like calling the police or escorting them off ourselves. I didn’t feel like calling the police because that would mean my parents would also get dragged into this. I don’t think either of them felt like getting up to talk to the police about dumb kids. So I always go with the second option. Call me melodramatic but I enjoyed their fear when us wolves came out. So I made my decision pretty quickly.
Let’s do the usual scare tactic. They won’t fight us. Then we’ll escort them off,” I decided, giving him my game plan.
I was surprised when he didn’t reply with a witty comment, jumping to the task. Instead, he was silent for a few moments before very quickly saying, Do we have to?
What? I asked incredulously, unable to keep the shock out of my voice.
They’re just having some fun, I mean let’s just leave them be and keep an eye on them. There was a pause before he added, I won’t do it.
My reaction was something I’ve never felt before, pure rage. I could feel my body shaking, my fur raised, and my teeth were bared snapping at him
You will do as I say, don’t forget protocol and if you think I’m going to ignore it because you don’t want to do something, you’re wrong. I am the alpha and my word is absolute. I pulled the alpha card on him because that is one order he cannot refuse, but I was so angry my order also came out as a snarl.
“Did you hear that?” Sophie, who was the closest to us, suddenly asked as she looked around.
“Hear what?” Cole asked stupidly, he was generally dumb but the alcohol seemed to make him worse.
“No, I heard it too…” Jennifer added trailing off, looking into the trees.
“It was like a snarl from an animal,” Jackson finally announced after a long pause.
I pointedly looked at Mason, expecting his answer, before I heard him say, Fine, his tone angry in my head.
The two of us began to circle them, not as quietly due to our growls and snarls.
“Holy shit,” Cole whispered, finally catching on as Lulu cowered in his chest.
“I fucking told we shouldn’t have come!” Jennifer hissed looking at Sophie.
“Shut up,” Sophie muttered, looking around.
They all began to huddle together, all of them reeking of fear. Simply because Mason didn’t want to do what I said, I wanted to mess with them more now. The scent of their fear only added to the rage bubbling inside of my body.
Stop behind them, make quiet noises, I told him, my voice filled with authority and he didn’t dare disobey.
“Guys, I think it’s behind us,” Lulu said, her voice shaking.
As they slowly backed away to where I was positioned, I emerged out of the trees, teeth bared, with a growl, standing at my full height.
I admit it, I’m a bit melodramatic and while it might be a little funny to see their faces, I can’t blame them for being scared. A normal person would be freaked out just by seeing a regular wolf. However, being a shifter and an alpha, my size is considerably larger. So their terror was a completely natural response.
Come out, I commanded and Mason obediently came out from behind them. A deep growl rumbled in his chest but I could tell that it was only half-hearted.
However, it did what I wanted it to. Jackson was the first one to react by saying, “I’m so sorry we came on your land,” his voice breathless.
“As you should be,” I snarled, my voice deeper and more foreign. I sounded nothing like I did when I was a human. I hated using my human voice as a wolf, it always gave me a sore throat. “You know the rules, no one is allowed in the park after hours beside the pack.”
“We-we just thought,” Sophie began to stammer but I cut her off, pacing in front of them.
“You thought what? That you could come onto a sacred land, burn a fire, and drink? Our land is not a place for you to revel in foolish desires,” I paused glancing once at Mason who refused to look at me. “Since this is your first offense, you will gather your belongings and we will escort you back to the parking lot. I will write your names down and if you ever dare come here again illegally there will be harsher actions. Am I understood?
“Yes!” They all said and scrambled to pick up everything. When Cole went to gather the beer and vodka, I put a giant paw on the bottles. I thought he was going to piss himself.
“I will personally watch you pour these bottles out in the trash can down below,” I said and he just nodded, not daring to say anything.
As soon as they were packed up Mason and I walked them back down the bath, me on the left and him on the right. After a few minutes down a steep decline, we were on the path back to the parking lot. Lulu had been shaking in Cole’s arms the entire time and he would console her. The rest of them were silent, Sophie seemed to be embarrassed, Jennifer was pissed, and Jackson was unreadable. It was an uncomfortable walk, especially with my rage lingering beneath my skin.
There was only one car in the parking lot, Jackson and the girls put their things away as Cole did what I said. I watched him pour every single bottle out and even recycle the bottles. All of them stood around awkwardly until I said, “Please never come back here again like this, come only to enjoy nature during daylight hours. Now go.”
They all hurried to get into Jackson’s car and the second they were out of sight, I turned to Mason, struggling to keep the rage I still felt under control.
What the hell was that? I demanded but I didn’t use my alpha command, I hoped that he would just tell me. As friends.
Although he was in a submissive position, body crouched down, his ears flat, and his teeth not showing, it was obvious he wouldn’t tell me without me using my alpha command. I looked at him for a long time, not trusting myself to say anything I’d regret. Finally I managed to say, Fine, don’t tell me. However, if I get one whiff of anything like this again, you will tell me. No matter what.
Without waiting for any response from him, I turned around and began to go back to their campsite. Mason would follow me, as it was a rule that we stayed together during a patrol, even if the last thing I wanted right now was to see him.
Back at the campsite we put out the campfire and returned the area to its usual state. Usually, we would do this with laughter and in sync but now we were silent and disjointed, him always a step behind me. It was so bizarre and unnatural but neither of us moved to fill the gap that had been created.
As soon as our task was done there, we set out to patrol the borders of our land. My pace was faster than it usually would be because I wanted to pound out the emotions coursing through me right now.
I’d be lying if I said I really enjoyed all of the parts of being who I am. Once you start shifting, all of your emotions are stronger, more intense.The anger that pumped through my veins drilled a headache in my head and made my body shake. There was also the anguish that seeped from my chest and felt just as jarring. Mason and I had known each other since birth, granted we weren’t as close as Ari, but we’d never had secrets from each other. Still, what could’ve made him act this way?
Neither of us spoke for the rest of our patrol until the end. Usually, given what had happened tonight with the teens, I would give a full report of what happened tonight to the next people about to go out on patrol. However, since it was daytime the next patrol is some older members of the pack who work as park rangers in the little office down by the parking lot. To any person they looked like regular, human park rangers hired by the pack to mandate hiking areas, knowing which ones are open, and helping visitors.
Usually I would go tell them everything, who the kids were, let them know where the fire was, and call the police if necessary. They would be in the office by now, however, I was worried that I would lose it there.
So when our patrol was finally over all I said to Mason was, “Go give them the report and tell them where to find the campfire,” before I went home.
He didn’t argue.
All of our running had helped me deal with and lessen my emotions. However, Mason’s disobedience had awakened something inside me. My alpha side.
When I got back, I couldn’t help but slam the back door shut. I paced the kitchen for a minute before opting to grip the granite counters, focusing my eyes on the bananas. It took me another minute to realize that I wasn’t alone. My older brother, Westley, was leaning by the coffee machine in the corner, watching me with curious and amused eyes.
“What happened?” He finally asked, watching how heavily I was breathing.
“Mason said he wouldn’t follow my order while we were out on patrol,” I paused, closing my eyes, before continuing. “Some kids were out there and I said we should just escort them off. However, he said that he wouldn’t do it.”
Even just telling him a brief explanation had me on edge again and Westley let out a low whistle.
“Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Your first order denial,” He said, almost sounding like he wanted to laugh. “The rage is the hardest part. You want to go back and rip on into him, don’t you? So how’d you handle it?”
I opened my eyes looking at him again. He was smiling and a small wave of calmness washed over me. It seemed like my brother could turn any situation instantly better.
“I pulled the alpha card to finish the job. Afterward, I tried just asking him why he said that and even though he was submissive, it was clear he wouldn’t tell me without me using a command. So I left him with a warning but if it would happen again he’d have to tell me.”
He nodded thoughtfully, stirring his freshly made coffee, “Honestly, you handled that situation extremely well. The hardest part as alpha is remembering that your pack does have a human side. We are all complex and unique. It’s our human mentality and our wolf strength that makes us so formidable,” He paused taking a sip of his coffee. I didn’t say anything and he continued. “Don’t confuse your anger as a dominance dispute, it isn’t as simple as that. It’s more protective. As an alpha, your job is to make sure that everyone comes home safe. So, having insubordinate members could put everyone at risk, no matter how small the order. But don’t worry, Mason is feeling just as bad but he's feeling guilt. It’s hard to say no to an alpha.”
By the end of his lecture, my brother had become serious but his tone was warm and comforting. I found myself not gripping the counter anymore and more relaxed. I have no clue what I’d do without him. Especially in moments like these, where my duties as an alpha overwhelm me.
Technically, my brother was supposed to become the next alpha, not me. However, his accident made him denounce his claim and the title was passed down to me and he became one of my mentors. Just thinking about what he was meant to be and what happened is still just as painful now like when it first happened.
“So what should I do then?” I asked him realizing I’d have to see Mason tomorrow at school, if by some chance not later today. The pack is pretty close and often we all have activities overlapping with each other. “Do I just pretend it never happened or try to do it out with him?”
“That, my dear sister, I leave up to you,” He suddenly broke the atmosphere with a smile and began pulling out ingredients to make breakfast. “See what he does first and follow it from there. You’ll know what to do when the time comes.”
The anger that had been pounding into me but was nearly gone and as I opened my mouth to thank him, a small flurry of brown hair tackled me.
“Narie!” My youngest sister Cassia shrieked using her nickname for me.
“Well, well, well,” I laughed as I picked her up and swung her around. “If it isn’t the little wolf pup. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes! I had my first dream as a wolf!” She boasted, lifting her head proudly, grinning.
Westley and I were both instantly just as excited as she was, having her tell us all about it.
As children, we don’t have the ability to phase when we want. We are forced to change during a full moon, no matter the age but we don’t remember it and aren’t conscious. Once we hit our preteens we are aware of ourselves phasing and can remember it. The first sign is when we begin to dream about it. Once we hit puberty then we can start phasing whenever we choose to. It’s a big rite of passage among wolf packs.
Westley and I worked together to make breakfast, specifically a high protein and carb one, as Cassia prattled off to us about her dream. It was a standard, chasing rabbits dream and as soon as she was finished my mother, father, and youngest sibling Roman entered the kitchen.
“Good morning,” My mother greeted giving us all a kiss on the cheek. “What are you two making for-”
Before she could finish, Cassia interrupted her unable to hold in her excitement anymore, “I had a dream where I was a wolf!”
“No way,” Roman scoffed, staring at her. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, it’s true,” Cassie huffed, crossing her arms and launching into retelling her dream again, making it a bit more exciting than the first time she told it. As soon as she was finished, she and Roman had begun a teasing war.
My mother came to help Westley and I cook while my father kept a watchful eye on Cassia and Roman as he set the table.
“It’s crazy to think that she’s growing up so fast,” My mother sighed thoughtfully, putting a frying pan of sausage and ham on the stove. She was a beautiful woman, her soft eyes glowing with love and warmth and her hair falling down in a mixture of waves and curls.
“Speaking of growing, Narah had her first order denial while on patrol,” Westley informed her but it was my dad who was most interested.
He was on me in a second, launching his questions, “What happened? Who was it? What did you do?”
I explained everything to them, with more detail this time. I wasn’t as angry anymore and instead, it left me with confusion and anguish.
He stroked his beard, nodding occasionally as I told the story, “I agree with your brother. Not only did he explain what an order denial means to an alpha accurately, but you also responded in the best way,” He paused and smiled. “I know some alphas who still struggle with that. You’re growing into an amazing alpha.”
It kills me when he says things like that because I shouldn’t be getting praise for my accomplishments as an alpha, my brother should. Still, whenever I look at my brother I know he doesn’t feel any resentment or jealousy, only pride, and happiness when it comes to me but still, my heartaches.
“It’s surprising that this came from Mason,” He admitted. “I expected this to come from a younger member, someone who you aren’t as close to.”
“Ya, me too,” I muttered, looking out the window before adding in a louder voice. “It’s just, I don’t understand why he felt like he couldn’t tell me, we’ve never held secrets from each other or told anyone our secrets.
My father patted my head for a second, a human version of a wolf nuzzle, “Just give him some time, he’ll come around.”
His smile was so comforting, I wanted to cry but before I could even think of doing so he added, “Speaking of time, where is Seth? He’s usually up by now, will you go wake him up?”
I laughed, “Sure can do,” and my family began piling the humongous breakfast on the table.
Seth was the only one to have his room on the ground floor since my mother and father, Cassia and Roman’s rooms were upstairs. Mine and Westley’s are downstairs. However, Westley is 22 and while it’s natural for werewolves to stay home with their families till they find a mate, I can’t blame him for leaving after what happened. To be honest, I’m surprised he stayed this long. However, Seth was excited because once Westley moved in the next month or so, Seth would take over his room.
“Yo Seth, you up?” I asked knocking on his door. There was no answer. “Seth?”
When he didn’t reply for another minute, I opened his door, bursting in just as he was climbing in through his window. We started at each other for a moment, me halfway through the doorway and him halfway through the window before I came in, closing the door, and he fell through the window onto his bed.
“Oh you are so dead,” I laughed, crossing my arms with a smug look.
He scrambled to his feet, his complexion stuck somewhere between red with embarrassment and white with fear, “Don’t you dare tell mom or dad,” He warned.
“Uh-huh and give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
He stood there, running a hand through his wavy, blonde hair, obviously trying to come up with an answer. Seth is only fourteen but already becoming quite a looker. His bright hair was long on top, his facial features were becoming more sharp and pronounced. However, the obvious change was his body, he’d grown several inches now making him 5’10” rather tall for his age and any baby fat he might’ve had was gone and starting to be replaced with lean muscles.
“Okay, how about I take over your next 3 patrols and give you thirty bucks,” He offered in the end. I don’t know if he’d been sneaking out before this but this was his first time getting caught.
“Deal,” I accepted his offer uncrossing my arms. “However, I choose the patrols you cover for me and instead of giving me the money you tell me where you were.”
He looked instantly relieved and admitted to what happened, “Darryl, Grant, Owen, and I went out to a concert and then stayed out a bit to see if we would meet any girls. It got really late so I crashed at Darryl’s is all.”
I couldn’t find a trace of a lie but I knew that he didn’t tell me the whole truth. The more he talked, I could now smell the smoke and alcohol rolling off of him. I sighed, “And you clearly drank and smoked.”
“Shit,” He cursed. “I ate like 5 mints and sprayed myself with Febreze.”
“Ya, mom and dad will smell that before you even enter the kitchen. You underestimate our sense of smell,” I rolled my eyes at him and he groaned.
At this point, I wanted to tell my parents about this. Sneaking out is one thing but drinking and smoking? Those were two things I did not want to see him doing at fourteen. However, I am a woman of my word. So instead I said, “Okay, you take a shower right now and wash those clothes ASAP. Better yet just burn them. I’ll cover for you.”
“Thank you so much, Narah,” Seth exclaimed reaching over to hug me but I moved out of his way.
“How about you hug me when you don’t smell.”
“Oh ya, that’s smart,” He agreed with a lopsided smile and I quickly left his room, once again shaking my head. I had no idea what I was going to do about him yet. What I did know is that I had my plate full with Mason and Seth. So Darryl, Grant, Owen, and I would be having a chat soon and luckily for me, they’re all in the pack.
