OLIVIA - Present Time

“Harder, Olivia. I know you can be better than this.” My brother Matt with the demanding tone of a teacher.

Trying to satisfy him, I kick the bag harder and faster and do a series of mixed-up kicks and hits. Looking behind me, I see him nod approvingly.

“Much better. Come sit down.” And I walk over and sit down next to my classmates.

It’s Friday, and every Friday, he tests us. Sometimes like this where we show strength on the boxing bag. Other times we fight him or each other. My brother is an awesome teacher, but he is also trained by our dad, just like I am.

Our dad is one of the best warriors in the pack, and for him, it doesn’t matter if you are a boy or a girl. Saying we live in a dangerous world, he thinks that every wolf should be able to fight, at the least, to protect themselves. So since I was a kid, I had been trained solely by my dad until I was old enough to join the first training program.

Many say that dad is the best warrior, but when the old head warrior passed away, Alpha chose a close friend of his instead. Dad had said nothing and just went on with his life as usual. Taking care of Matt and me after our mom died from Wolfsbane, how she was poisoned no one knew.

Being Friday, our Alpha, Alpha Colton, came by to see how training goes. I had started to become very uncomfortable whenever Alpha was around. Because of everything, I would find him following me around with his eyes. And when I caught him doing it, he would wink at me.

Some packmembers say that Alpha has started going insane after his mate and Luna was killed doing a rouge attack. They say he has become unpredictable and has ordered many women to his bedroom, where some of them didn’t leave from there alive. Everyone thinks he should retire and let his son Carter take over, but he refuses and says his son isn’t ready.

Carter was okay, not someone I had ever had a whole lot of contact with, but he seemed fair and friendly with everyone in the pack. He was 22 years old and had yet to find his mate.

I sat here, lost in my own thoughts, and a big shadow suddenly covered me. Looking up, I saw Alpha Colton looking down at me before sitting down next to me.

“You are a very skilled fighter, Olivia.” He said as he looked me over, his eyes checking out my curves.

“Thank you, Alpha,” I answered, trying to hide, but it was hard since I was wearing shorts and a sports bra.

“And very beautiful. You look just like your mother.” His eyes checked me out again, making me want to crawl out of my own skin and hide.

Before I can answer, my brother comes over and respectfully greet our Alpha before he tells me to go home for today. I jump up, grateful for being told to leave, and hurry out after saying my goodbyes.

Entering our little house, I go straight to my room and strip out of my training clothes before I enter my bathroom to take a shower. After the shower, I get dressed in ice-colored jeans and a tube top. I don’t usually use a lot of makeup, but I add a little mascara and lip-gloss.

Tonight is the eighteenth birthday of wine from my class, so there will be a party tonight where everyone will wait and see the girl shift for the first time and if she finds her mate within the pack.

Finding your mate is a huge deal. Your mate is your soulmate, the last piece of yourself. We can sense our wolves when we turn sixteen, but our wolves are not able to shift or recognize their mate before we turn eighteen. It does happen that a guy will sense his mate even though she is not eighteen. But most times that this happens, the guy waits without saying anything.

It also happens that mates reject each other. For the one doing the rejection, it means he or she won’t get a chance of a second chance, mate, which happens mostly if someone loses their mate. But not everyone gets a second chance.

We also don’t communicate with our wolf fully before turning eighteen. So we don’t talk all the time. Our communication is by emotions, which can be a little distracting if you get a sassy wolf.

By dinnertime, I went downstairs and had dinner with my dad and brother. But unusual go how we always talk and have fun. It was quiet and tense. I didn’t ask why assuming dad must have had a stressful day.

“Olivia?”

“Yes, dad?” I looked up at him.

“Tomorrow, I want you to pack a bag. We are going to visit your grandparents at the Blood Moon Pack. And we leave Sunday, so make sure to pack anything important you wouldn’t want to leave behind, as we will be gone for a while.” He tells me, making me look at him.

“Why? Is something wrong?” I ask.

“Your grandparents are getting old, and they miss you two. So we agreed we would go there for a while. It has all been agreed to by our Alpha to go visit some family and also the Alpha of the blood moon pack.” He explains.

“Okay, dad. I will pack tomorrow.” I answer, and he smiles.

When we are done eating, I help with cleaning up and then hug dad before I go to be at the party. Matt is joining me because maybe she-wolf could possibly be his mate, and he is becoming anxious about finding her soon.

After being at the party for an hour, we saw the girl find her mate among one of the newly shifted guys. And it is amazing to see how their souls pull them together in a warm embrace full of love. I want that when I turn eighteen in a month, to find my true mate whom I will share my life with.

Again I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t see the person approaching me before sitting next to me. And I am a little shocked to see Carter, the Alphas’ son, sit down next to me.

“Hello, Olivia.“ He greets me.

“Hello, Alpha Carter,” I answered respectfully.

“Ah, I am not the Alpha, so just Carter.” He says, smiling, and I smile back

“I hear you and your family are going to visit some family from another pack.”

“Yes, we are,” I confirm.

“That is great.” He says, still smiling, and after a little while, he stands up and mingles with the many teens here.

After another few hours, Matt finds me, and we agree to go home. As we were leaving and on our way, we heard someone call our names, and someone came running toward us. Turning around, we are shocked to see it is Carter.

Matt, Olivia.” He greets us before continuing.

“I wanted to talk with you.” He says and looks at us.

“What can we do for you, Alpha,” Matt says, taking charge.

“Please, Matt, don’t call me Alpha, and I want to help you.” He says, and we look at him, me unsure about what he wants to help us with.

“When you go visit the other pack. Don’t come back, especially you, Olivia. Stay there, where you can be safe.” He says.

“What do.” I begin, but Matt cuts in.

“It is all under control Carter,” Matt says, looking at Carter, that looks back at him and nods.

“Good, know I am sorry and trying to end it. I wish you all safe travels.” With those words, he left.

OLIVIA

Matt had refused to say anything about what Carter had said and what he had answered him and just said I would understand soon. Dad had been asleep when we got home, so we went straight to bed.

When I wake up, the house is quiet, and I look at the time and see it is already 9 in the morning. This makes me wonder because usually, dad would have had us out running like we do every morning. Before going downstairs, I get out of bed and find my sweatpants and hoodie.

Halfway down the stairs, I hear dad and Matt talk.

“She knows something is up, dad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Carter came to us on our way home and told us not to come back and stay at Blood Moon, where she would be safe. I don’t think he meant any harm, though, but just wanted to help.”

“Carter is a good boy. He never liked the way his dad acted enter his mother’s death.”

“Yes, but now Liv is suspicious. I don’t think she actually knows what is going on with Alpha. But it’s clear she has been feeling uncomfortable.” Matt says.

“I will talk to her when we have left here and are safely in Blood Moon.”

There is no answer to dad’s words, and after that and they begin to talk about other stuff. I know something is going on, and this something has something to do with me. After a little I move again and enter the kitchen, seeing both of them sitting by the table where breakfast is served.

“Morning, Muffin. Did you sleep well?” My dad asks

“Yes, we not going running?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.

“I thought a day off was okay, so we have time to pack so we can leave in the morning.”

“Okay, dad,” I say without showing he is hiding something.

After breakfast, I go back to my room, find my biggest travel bag, and pack almost all my clothes in it. And in my smaller bag, I pack my personal stuff and a few items I have from my mom. I have a feeling that I will not be coming back here, so I want to be sure I have all the most important things packed.

After I am done, I walk downstairs again to find dad. I find him in the kitchen talking on his phone, so I sit down and wait for him to finish.

“That’s great, thank you. We will see you all tomorrow, probably in the late afternoon.” Dad says before hanging up.

“That was your grandma. She can’t wait to see you and Matt. Did you finish packing?” He asks.

“Yes, all packed and ready,” I confirm.

“Great. Then rest here at home today so you won’t be too tired to travel.” He tells me, and I nod my head. I know that in those words was a hidden message. Don’t go outside today.

“Okay, dad.”

I was so bored being here at home, so I wore my air pods and turned on my music app, and before I knew it, I was singing along. Dad didn’t leave the house either, and Matt was also home.

-

LOGAN

I was sitting in my office when someone knocked on my door. I told whomever it was to come in. The door opened, and my Beta Luca came inside the office.

“I talked with the Jones, they talked with their son-in-law, and he will try to get them here by tomorrow.” He informed me.

“Okay, get a house ready. See, if not, there is one close by the Jones family.” I tell him.

“Will do. I also informed the warriors doing patrols for the next few days, just to be on the safe side.”

“Thank you, that’s a good idea.” This is why he is my Beta, he always thinks ahead, and I don’t have to tell or remind him of things. And also he is my best friend.

We do a little small talking and talk about what to expect. A few days ago, I had a visit from Nina and Michael Jones, two highly respected members of my pack. They told me about how their Son-in-law had contacted them, asking for help. He told them that his pack Alpha was showing an unhealthy interest in his underage daughter, which worried him a lot, especially when his Alpha called him to the office. Offering him the role of being the pack head warrior if he would willingly give him his daughter to make his mate.

The Alpha had lost his mate years ago, and now he had set his eyes on this young girl. Not only was she not eighteen, and she was a month away from her birthday. Not only is the Alpha in his 40s, but that is in no way acceptable to try to force someone to become their mate. So I had told them they were all welcome here without thinking much about it.

For some reason, my wolf was restless with this news. But his being restless is not something new. I don’t let him out as often as I should. Because I know he frightens most of my packmembers. So I usually only let him out when I know most packmembers are sleeping.

While Luca and I were talking, the door opened again, and before I knew it, I had my little Rose jumping up to sit on my lap. She is three years old now and turning four in 10 days.

“Hello, daddy.” She says happily.

“Hello, my little Rose. Are you ready for dinner?”

“Yes, daddy.”

We walk to the big dining room where packmembers can choose to come and eat. After dinner, I took her up to my floor, and we spent time playing and later watching Beauty and the beast. She fell asleep before it was done, and after making sure she was sleeping deeply, I left the house to go on a little run. So I would have a good night’s sleep myself.

OLIVIA

The day had been so boring, but because I didn’t want to worry my dad, I had not left the house all day, and eventually, the evening came, and I went to sleep.

“Muffin, wake up.” I opened my eyes, startled, and I saw my dad sitting on my bed, nudging me gently to wake up.

“Dad? What time is it.”

“2:40, we have to go, Muffin. The car is packed. Get clothes on and come downstairs.” He got up and left me to get dressed.

I was confused. Why were we getting up in the middle of the night just to leave now? But I got up and dressed in sweatpants and a hoodie. I wanted to feel comfortable while we traveled. I could feel how Skye was feeling anxious and nervous, and that made me nervous because I had never felt emotions like these from her.

Coming downstairs, it did slip my trained eyes that Matt packed some weapons in a bag. And as wolves, we never use actual weapons. We are a weapon ourselves. So it did not ease my frustration and nervousness to see him pack them.

“Weapons?” I ask, and he looks up, trying to smile but failing.

“To be on the safe side. Dad is in the car. Let’s go.” He tells me.

We walk outside and see dad in the car but with the lights off. We get in Matt in the passenger seat, and I sit in the back. Dad slowly drives away from the house, and I get the feeling that I will never see it again. When we reach the border of our territory, two patrols step forward, together with another tall figure we first can’t see who is. As we get closer, I see it is Carter, and dad rolls his window down a little.

“Mr. Moore. Good to see you got here undetected.” He greets dad, who nods at his words.

“Thank you, Alpha. For everything.” Dad says.

“I am not Alpha yet, so it’s just Carter. I wish you safe travels and a future.”

“Thank you, Carter. You’re a good man.” They shake hands, then dad starts driving again, and soon we are out of the territory, and dad turn on the lights on the car when we hit the main road.

Four hours after we left the territory, dad held into a gas station at tank gas. When he was done and had come back inside the car, he turned to look at me.

“Muffin, I am going to ask you to do something very difficult, and it will make you feel weak for a while until we get to the Blood Moon Pack,” Dad says and looks at me.

“Do what, dad?” I ask him.

“We have to denounce our place as a packmember of the Dark Forest Pack. But it will just be until we get to Blood Moon Pack, then their Alpha will invite us into his Pack.”

“But why? You don’t have to do that just to visit another Pack.” I say, I know something is up, and I want to know.

“We have to leave Dark Forest. Alpha is not in his right mind. And he is interested in you, Dad tells me, and I feel disgusting.

“But he is so old. How can he think I would want to do that.” I ask.

“He doesn’t care about that, Liv,” Matt says, using my nickname.

“Your mother’s parents talked to their Alpha, and he has offered us a place there. He is a young Alpha but very, very strong. We will be safe there, and you will be safe there.” Dad says.

“Okay.”

“We will talk more when we are there, okay?” Dad asks, and I nod my head. And then we all denounce our place as a packmember of the Dark Forest. First dad did it, then Matt, and then it was my turn.

“I, Olivia Moore, daughter of Klaus and Nora Moore, denounce my place as a packmember of the Dark Forest Pack and choose to become a rouge.” It hurt so badly to feel the pack link break and the feeling of belonging somewhere disappeared. I gasped in pain for just a second.

“I know it hurts, muffin, but it’s for the best.” Dad soothes me, and I nod my head.

After it was over, Dad started driving again, and then the sounds of a phone rang. Matt looked at dad’s phone.

“It’s Alpha Colton.” He tells Dad. And he let it ring out, but then his own phone started ringing, and when it was left unanswered, mine announced an incoming call from a number I didn’t know.

“Don’t answer. Save your pictures and anything else important to the sky, then turn off your phone and throw it out the window so that they can’t trace us.” Dad says, and we do as he is told us.

“But doesn’t he know where we are going?” I ask as I throw my phone out the window.

“Not entirely. I told him we were visiting some of your mother's family. And he knows she has two sisters that both moved to other packs when they found their mates. So it could be anywhere that we go too.” Dad tells me. And I nod

I realized that there must have been so much planning put into this. And I knew it was not an overreaction, I mean, I had noticed how Alpha Colton always seemed to put his eyes on me, and it always made me feel so uncomfortable.

After another 3 hours of driving and one bathroom break, we left the main roads and came into an area with the most amazing forest I had ever seen. And on the horizon far back, I could see big mountains shoot up and a waterfall, I think. None of us said anything for a long time, and I just looked out of the window, rolling it down and taking in the fresh air. I gasped when I saw something huge move fast between the trees, and a scent of pinewood and caramel hit my nose, but before I could properly see it, it was gone.

After a bit of time, dad stopped the car in the middle of nowhere, and just as I was about to ask why we stopped, four big men stepped out onto the road. Two of them were clearly warriors, but the last two were even bigger, one being bigger than the other.

The two warriors stayed where they were, but the smallest one of the two others began walking towards our car. Dad looked at us, told us to stay in the car, and then got out. They shook hands when he met the man in front of our car. They talked a little, and dad walked with him to meet the other man. I tried to get a good look at him, but it was like he avoided looking our way. And soon, dad returned to the car and smiled as he got in.

“That was the Beta and the Alpha himself. We were out for a run when he sensed us. We will follow the Beta while the Alpha returns to the pack and waits for us.” He says.

“He is one big wolf, isn’t he?” Matt says.

“He is, and I have never felt a power like the one coming from him, so be respectful.” Dad answer and starts the car to follow the big gray wolf that the Beta shifted into.