Her Life Her Wolf

Chapter 3

*Jeremiah POV*

I sigh and rub my eyes, shuffling the paperwork in front of me. I met with my Beta Abel, my Gamma, Mack, and ten of our warriors selected to participate in a warrior training exchange with the River Growlers, an allied pack in the southern US. I was supposed to have a virtual meeting with their Alpha, Eric, in about 45 minutes. I wanted to ensure that my warriors fully understood the program and how they were expected to comport themselves while they were in Virginia. “As you know, you ten have been selected to participate in the warrior exchange program. The purpose of this meeting is to outline this program's benefits and remind you that even when you are in the States, you are still representing The Silentclaw Shadows Pack. I will accept nothing less than glowing reports about that representation. Are we all clear?” I boomed. “Yes, Alpha!” They all answered in unison. Nodding appreciatively, I said, “Perfect, I’ll turn the floor over to Gamma Mack, and he will give you a brief history and timeline for events.”

"Thank you, Alpha,” Mack said. For those unfamiliar, the Warrior Exchange and Alliance Ball were traditions that allied packs participated in for centuries. They fell out of favor and stopped about fifteen years ago. The oldest of us present remember hearing about them. However, I don’t believe we were old enough to participate in one. The briefest explanation is that the ten of you will go to the River Growlers' pack lands and train with their warriors. This is to expand our own skill sets, as well as notice any deficits in knowledge. Ten River Growlers warriors will also come here, training and learning with your fellow warriors and me. At the end of the three weeks, each pack will hold an Alliance Ball. This is to reaffirm commitment to peace and an opportunity for the unmated wolves from both groups to see if they find their mate.”

A blush crept across Mack’s neck at the mention of finding a mate. It was no secret that he and I had yet to find our mates. I had doubts that we would find them in a pack so far away, but stranger things had happened. I’d taken over the pack shortly after 18 and had spent the past five years entirely focused on securing my reputation as a fierce and dedicated Alpha that was not to be trifled with. I’d made many inroads and secured a lot of alliances since taking the reigns. Having one of the largest packs in North America, my father had taken a more isolated approach.

On the one hand, his concerns weren’t entirely invalid. There was a possibility that we would spread ourselves too thin, which could expose us to security failures. However, when we closed ourselves off, the communication breakdown gave us the reputation of turning our backs on our own. It had taken a lot of hard work to rebuild community and trust while still being respected as a leader and commander.

It wasn’t as known in the broader community of wolves, but our rates of finding mates had fallen over the years we stayed in isolation. When I opened our communications and allowed the pack to reopen the shops in our nearby town, the number of mates found began to rise again. Hopefully, the reinstatement of these Alliance Balls would raise morale for our pack and all of our allies. Perhaps next year, we could have a large ball planned for all of the packs to come together at once. Focusing back on the meeting at hand, I nodded to Mack.”

"Yes, thank you, Gamma,” I said. “I have every faith that each of you will make me proud. Before you’re dismissed, do you have any questions?” I asked them, looking out at their faces. “No, Alpha.” They answered. I dismissed them and looked at Abel and Mack. “I think that went well,” I said. “Yeah, Alpha, I don’t think they’ll be any trouble, but I do hope that if they find their mate, it’s not during the training itself,” Abel chuckled. “Why, Beta?” Mack inquired, that’s where you met your mate!” he exclaimed. “Yeah, exactly! You gave me hell all week for being distracted, and I wasn’t allowed to miss even one training session!” Abel retorted. I chuckled at their banter. “Abel, why don’t you mindlink Hannah and get her to send some dinner here for us. I haven’t had a chance to eat, and I don’t think we can run out and be back before the meeting.” Abel nodded, and his eyes glazed over while he mind linked our request. I flipped through the pages once more, and satisfied I was prepared, I called Alpha Eric.

During our conversation, we hashed out the final details of travel arrangements and discussed the official list of warriors. I couldn't help but sense that the Alpha was distracted, and I wondered if everything was alright there. "I'm sorry, Alpha Eric," I interjected, "not to be too forward but is everything alright? You seem distracted." I heard him sigh deeply through the phone, slowly letting the air out. "Nothing is wrong exactly, Alpha Jeremiah, but you are right. I am distracted, and I was hoping that I may speak to you privately about it after we finalized the warrior exchange information?" Dismissing my Beta and Gamma, I told him that I could give him a call when I got to my office, so that I could ensure we were undisturbed. With the promise that I'd call in a few moments, I disconnected the virtual meeting and gathered the remaining papers.

As I went upstairs, I heard someone call my name. Stopping, I turned to see Crystal sauntering towards me. I groaned internally. After I became Alpha, certain female pack members pursued a relationship with me. I had politely declined all of them, fearing it would cause unnecessary problems within our community. I did not want to see any competition or fighting for my attention from the pack. I felt that if the Goddess wanted one of them to be the Luna, she would have made her my fated mate. Most of the females in my pack understood and supported my decision. However, a few felt it was a challenge to try harder. Crystal was the most persistent, despite being politely turned down on multiple occasions. “What did you need, Crystal? I have a meeting I need to get to.” I said brusquely, hoping to deter her from trapping me in a long conversation. “Oh, nothing, in particular, Alpha,” she purred at me seductively. “I just haven’t seen you around in a while, and I’ve missed you.” Putting her hand out, she placed it on my chest and leaned closer; her blue eyes darkened with lust, “Haven’t you missed me, too?” she asked.

Removing her hand from my chest, I gently pushed her back to arm's length away. “Crystal, we have discussed this before. I do not engage in this kind of behavior with my pack members. You are not my mate, and I am not your mate. I’m flattered by your offer, but it is a no,” I said firmly. She stomped, visibly miffed, “I don’t know why you even have that stupid rule! You know as well as I do that I would make a great Luna, and you can’t keep going on year after year without one!” she exclaimed. Feeling my irritation begin to rise, I said, “Crystal, I am your Alpha. I do not need nor want a chosen mate to be my Luna. I hope that my politeness has not been confused with interest. I am not interested, nor will I be interested in the future. The Alliance Ball will be taking place in a month. Perhaps you will meet your mate there. I do not want to have this conversation again. Do you understand me?” I said, with a hint of irritation evident in my voice. “Ugh, fine!” she groaned as she stomped off.

Rolling my eyes, I headed to my office and locked the door behind me. Calling Alpha Eric, I waited for him to answer and explain what was going on. Nothing would have prepared me for his revelation. There hadn't been any Potentials for years. The last time there was, dangerous shifters had tried to claim that power for themselves, resulting in the War of the Broken Mountains. My wolf began nervously pacing in my head. "What's going on, Finn?" I questioned. "You need to go to Virginia. Something big is happening, I don't know what, but you need to go to the River Growler's territory and meet the girl yourself," Finn said adamantly. "Well, I can't just go, Finn. We have responsibilities here." I replied. He grunted. “Get the Beta in here and tell him you have to go. You need to go." Sighing, I apologized to Alpha Eric for my sudden silence. "My wolf demands that I come to you and meet the girl myself," I said.

"Honestly, Alpha, I was hoping you'd offer to come when the warriors come. I think she is safe and settled now, but she had a scent of an unknown wolf on her and was being tracked by her parents after she escaped their home. Some human police officers put in order of protection for her. I have my son and Gamma scanning all her belongings for hidden tracking devices at a different location. I know she isn't part of my pack, but I must protect her. She's already been through a lot and having grown up in a small town full of only humans, she knows nothing of the shifter world. My Luna is beside herself with worry, and we could really use the assistance." I considered the Alpha's words carefully. "Well, Finn, It looks like you get your way after all," I said through my connection. "Alright, Alpha Eric, I will accompany the warriors in three weeks to meet this girl and see if I can assist with any additional security measures. See you in three weeks."

I hung up and sighed. I needed to run. I mind-linked Abel and told him to meet me at the front of the packhouse to go stretch our paws. Although he often joked around, Abel was a solid Beta that took his job seriously. While I was gone, he would be in charge of pack duties and responsibilities. His mate, Asli, would likely have additional duties as the Female Beta to consider as well. I wasn't concerned about his or her ability to keep the pack running smoothly during my absence. Still, I was worried about gossip and rumors, especially if this information about a Potential being found got out. I was still deep in these thoughts while waiting for Abel on the porch. "Hey there, boss, you alright?" Abel asked quizzically as he joined me. I nodded. "Yeah, let's go run," I said without any further explanation and stepped off the porch, taking off my clothes. I let Finn take control, and I shifted into my wolf within seconds.

Finn paced around, waiting for Abel to finish undressing and shift, too, his large black paws accentuating his impatience. After Abel shifted into Forest, he looked toward the path leading to the lake. I nodded, and we took off, racing through the woods. I focused on the wind rustling through my fur and the ground on my paws as I ran like a blur, jumping over fallen logs and weaving between the trees. A flash of brown on my right side told me that Forest was keeping pace as we reached the field of wildflowers that led to the lake. An unspoken understanding passed between our wolves, and we raced full speed to the lakeshore. Forest and Abel were fast, but I was faster, and Finn wouldn't readily accept defeat. Beating him to the water's edge by a few seconds, I told Finn that we needed to shift back so I could converse with Abel.

Returning control, I shifted back into my human form and grabbed a pair of shorts from a nearby clothing bin. We kept these at various points around the territory since carrying a change of clothes in wolf form wasn't always practical. I sat near the lake's edge and looked over the field and water. This was one of my favorite places to go when I needed to think. The quiet solitude of nature and the way the lake reflected the moon in glistening ripples as calming to my soul. Joining me in another chair, Abel waited for me to speak. I looked around to make sure that no one else was present that would overhear. Werewolves had notoriously good eyesight and hearing. This story was not information I wanted everyone to know.

Speaking in a voice barely above a whisper, I leaned in and said, "Alpha Eric has located a Potential." Abel looked at me stunned, "A Potential, are you sure?" he hissed at me. "Alpha Eric seems quite sure that's what this girl is. He has requested my presence personally, fearing that she may be in danger. I'll be going with the warriors down to the River Growlers Packlands in three weeks to evaluate this situation for myself. According to their Alpha, the girl had just turned 18, escaped her parents' home under unknown circumstances, and was covered in bruises. I don't know what assistance I can truly provide, but Finn is absolutely beside himself demanding that I go." I gave a breakdown of what I had learned and how I was processing it.

Abel's face was contemplative as he said, "What if she's your mate?" I laughed dismissively. "Come on, man, I doubt it." Abel's face grew more serious. "Why? Your wolf wants to get to her, and there's no reason for that reaction either, potential or not," he said decisively. I did have to admit he had a point. "Finn?" I said through our connection, "Is that a possibility?" he growled in annoyance at me. "You know as much as I do. Of course, it's a possibility. All I know is that we have to get to her. I just sense that something big is happening." I looked at Abel, "Yeah, alright, maybe it's a possibility." I said. "Either way, you and Asli will be in charge of keeping this place running while I'm gone. I don't think we need to alarm the pack with talk of Potentials right now, though, and we definitely do not need to tell them she might be my mate. If anyone asks, we will just say that the Alpha of the River Growler pack has requested an in-person meeting to discuss the logistical planning of a future event."

Abel stood up. "Sounds like a plan to me, Alpha. I'm going to head back now and talk it over with Asli. Are you coming?" I waved him off with my hand. "No, you go ahead. I'm going to sit here for a little longer. I'll see you tomorrow morning." After a quick nod of acknowledgment, Abel shifted back into his wolf and headed towards the packhouse. I looked up at the moon, wondering if this was what the Moon Goddess had in store for me all along. Why be mated to someone so far away? Why a Potential? What if they chose to reject me? If she was, how was I going to convince a human girl on the run from her own parents that she should not only trust me but leave with me?! "How, Finn?" I called out into my mind. He snorted, "If the Moon Goddess wants you to be the mate of this girl, then there will be a way." he responded cryptically. I shifted and headed back to the packhouse with more questions than answers.

Hopefully, I'd have those answers soon.