Wolven Rising: Untold Stories

GR-18: We are One

Alana

We're back. Are we all clear to come back to the packhouse? Mason's voice entered my mind. I almost cried with relief at the sound.

Thank Goddess. Is everyone alright? I said, halting in my pacing.

Yes...listen, I have someone with me that I need your help with.

Who? I asked, already going to the door of the darkened Beta suite, where I'd been hiding out.

His name is Wade. We rescued him from rogues, Mason explained. Could you get a room ready for him in the staff wing? He needs a shower and some clothes. And to stay hidden until we figure out a story for his sudden appearance.

On it.

I flew down the stairs and entered the staff wing. One of the things I liked to do to help out was to work in the staff wing, since the way I saw it, they gave so much to the pack to keep it running smoothly, the least I could do was return the favor. Because of this, I knew it well, and knew that there were currently two empty rooms that could be used for somebody new.

I quickly made up the bed of the room at the very end of the hall with fresh sheets. What size of clothes does he need? I asked Mason. I had no idea how old Wade was, or if he was tall, short, fat, or thin. I wanted to make sure I got something that fit.

Um, he's kind of small.

How old is he, Mason? I asked impatiently. Small meant nothing. Small for an adult? Or a small child? Men.

Teen. Hasn't had his wolf long, Mason said grimly. Think skinny.

Okay.

I went to the store rooms and rummaged through our stock of athletic clothes. I found a few sets that I thought might fit, then went back to the room and put them in a neatly folded pile along the bed. Then I grabbed some towels and washcloths for him to use. Once I finished that, I ran up to the kitchens and put together a container of some hearty varieties of food. If he was small and skinny, he would probably be hungry, too.

Where are you? Mason linked.

Bedroom, at the end of the hall in the staff wing, I answered.

A minute later, there was a soft knock at the door. I opened it wide, ushering them in. Mason looked a little worse for wear, with a cut healing on his cheek and streaks of dried blood marring the front of his shirt. Wade was a scrawny, malnourished yet gangly person. I knew he wasn't that much younger than me, since he had his wolf, but he seemed as though he were only a boy, terrified and making himself as small as he could by cowering in the corner of the room. He looked grimy, as if he hadn't been able to wash properly in a long time.

"You must be Wade," I said warmly, hoping to put him at ease. "My name is Alana. I heard you're going to be with us for awhile. I've gathered some clean clothes for you, along with some towels for you to use. Mason, will you show him where the staff shower is?"

"Uhhhh," Mason said, clearly unfamiliar with this part of the packhouse.

"Never mind, I can show you," I told him.

"You should come straight back here when you're done in the bathroom, and stay until one of us comes to get you in the morning," Mason said. "Do you understand?"

Wade nodded. "Yes, I promise I won't be seen."

"I left some food for you on the shelf there," I said, pointing to it. "It's probably best if you shower now, while there aren't many people here, and eat later. Is that alright with you?"

"You got me food? Wade said, his eyes wide. "And you're asking me when I want to eat?"

"Things are different here, man," Mason said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Provided your story checks out, you'll come to see that."

Wade gulped. "Okay," he whispered hoarsely.

"I'll take you to the showers, then?" I asked. He nodded tentatively, and both he and my brother followed me down the hall. "This is where the showers and bathrooms are," I said, pointing to a door. "The left is for women, the right for men."

Wade nodded. "I promise I'll be quick."

"There's no rush," I said gently.

"Well, maybe a little," Mason grumbled. I gave him a look, and he relented. "Just make sure you get clean, okay?"

"Okay," Wade nodded again. "Thanks. I'm really grateful for everything you're doing for me."

"Good deal," Mason said gruffly, patting him awkwardly on the shoulder.

Wade shuffled his feet, then disappeared into the staff bathroom. Once we heard the sound of a shower starting, Mason started back down the hall, gesturing for me to follow.

"What happened?" I asked, now that we were alone.

"Nothing," Mason lied.

I ran in front of him and planted my feet. "Mason Hoffman, you stop right where you are and tell me what's going on!"

Geez, bug, calm down, Mason linked me, his eyes wide.

I will not calm down, you left with everyone else and left me alone to cover for you. I deserve to know what's going on! I yelled at him through mindlink, Zusa growling in agreement.

Mason looked quickly back and forth down the deserted staff hall. "Fine. But not here," he muttered. Then he sniffed the air. "Have you been drinking?"

Images of Fletcher's drunken face flashed through my mind. "No," I said flatly.

Mason gave me a look. "You reek."

"That's harsh, and untrue," I argued.

"Well, maybe you don't reek," he conceded a little, walking to the stairs. I followed, albeit at a distance. "But I do smell it, there's no mistaking that. Are you afraid I'll tell mom or something?"

"Look, I didn't drink, okay?" I said irritably. Mason was the last person I wanted to tell about Fletcher's inebriation-induced advances. I was sure it was just the alcohol making him forget himself. At least, I hoped that was it. "We were at a gala with lots of alcohol around, you even smell like it a little."

"I guess," Mason said, reaching the fourth floor. "The blood overpowers it, though."

"Right, I said, following him through the door to our family suite. "About that. Spill."

Mason heaved a sigh. "Not a word leaves this room, got it?"

"Got it."

"The Wolf Stone was stolen."

I gasped. "Oh my Goddess! Who took it? Where is it now? Is everyone else okay?"

"Bug, you're going to have to chill if you want me to ever finish telling you what happened," my brother said tiredly.

I crossed my arms. "Fine. Proceed."

"Initially, only Rowan and Kendria went after it," Mason explained. "But then more rogues showed up, so Rowan mindlinked me for backup. That's why we left. To go help them."

I sat down on the couch. "Wow. So Wade is...?"

"He was helping them, at first. But it was under duress. According to Kendria, at least," Mason muttered, obviously not happy with that decision. However, the look I saw in the boy's eyes earlier made it only too clear that he was a pawn, robbed of a proper childhood and adolescence. I was with Kendria on this one.

"Wow," I said again. "So you guys got the Wolf Stone back?"

Mason nodded, and I sighed with relief. "We got there in time, luckily." He looked at the clock on the mantel. "Whoa, bug, we have to get ready."

I read the time. We only had ten minutes before we had to be in the clearing for the ceremonies and the pack run! "Ah!" I exclaimed. "Okay, changing now. See you there," I flew across the floor to my room. "Oh, Mason?" I said as I opened my door.

"Yeah?"

I pointed to my face and stroked my cheek. "You've got a little blood, just, right there. Don't forget to wipe it off, it's not makeup!"

Mason threw one of the couch pillows at me.

---

Shasta

I couldn't believe we were somehow standing here right now, as though nothing happened. There was an excitable buzz in the field, which was teeming with not only all of the Gathering delegations, but also the majority of Harvest Moon's pack members, awaiting the passing on of their Alpha's title to his son with anticipation.

Alana looked gorgeous. She had changed out of her fancier gown from the gala and now wore a simple wrap dress in a hunter-green color. She was beautiful either way, but this simple look suited her and allowed her natural beauty to really shine.

She wore a dress the color of my name, Hunter piped up. I could practically feel his tail wagging.

Don't you remember what she said to us earlier? I scolded him. She's not sure she wants anything to do with us anymore.

Shasta, Hunter said seriously. Tonight is a very important night. We're about to forge a new pack, and be blessed as its Beta. I know the situation with Alana is up in the air, but can you get a little excited about what else is happening here?

I sighed and forced myself to turn away from Alana and join Kendria and Harlie. The ceremony that would transfer Alpha Rhys's powers to Rowan began, and they clasped arms and touched the cuts on their arms made from their silver pack blade together. A whirlwind kicked up around them as the unnameable magic that the Moon Goddess bestowed upon our kind flowed through their bodies. It was without a doubt one of the coolest things I'd ever witnessed, since all the ranked members in Blue Hills had been established before I was born.

And it was about to happen to me.

Mason's Beta ceremony was next, power flowing from his father, to his Alpha, then finally to him. I knew my own ceremony wouldn't be quite like that, but it would be similar.

Harvest moon gave a collective shout for their new leaders, and then it was our turn.

Kendria stepped forward and met Elder Kara in the middle of the clearing. Elder Kara said some opening remarks, then began the words that would call upon the Moon Goddess to bless our new pack. "Kendria Warner, do you accept the position of Alpha for Lonely Haven of your own volition, with clear knowledge of the responsibilities of said position?"

"I do," Kendria said solemnly.

"Do you swear to uphold the values of Lonely Haven as you make decisions and exact justice?"

"I do."

"Do you swear to honor, serve, and protect Lonely Haven to the best of your ability?"

"I do," Kendria said fervently.

"Now, it is time for you to mingle your blood with that of Ahio and the other founding Alphas," Elder Kara said, presenting the Wolf Stone. "You will take a silver blade and cut your own arm, then press it to the Stone."

Rowan held out a box, and Kendria lifted a silver dagger from it. I could smell a hint of fiery heat and oil rubbed wood that went into its construction. She cut her forearm with the dagger and gingerly touched the Wolf Stone.

The whirlwind was much bigger and faster this time. It whipped around the clearing, with Kendria in the eye of the storm. I blinked as the wind blew dust into my eyes, but tried to stay focused on the creation of my Alpha.

It may have been minutes or only seconds, but suddenly, it was over. "Long live Alpha Kendria!" Elder Kara shouted.

"Long live Alpha Kendria!" I bellowed along with everyone else. After all these years, she'd finally done it. We'd finally done it.

After Kendria exchanged a few words with Elder Kara, she started walking over to us. "YES!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, swept up in the excitement.

We allowed ourselves a few celebratory moments, then our Alpha called us to order. "Okay, are you ready?" Kendria asked us. We circled around her so we could all become official members of Lonely Haven.

She turned to me first. "Shasta? It makes sense for my first pack member to be my Beta. Are you ready?"

"Um, Shasta," she started out a little uncertainly. "Do you accept the position of Beta for Lonely Haven of your own volition, with clear knowledge of the responsibilities of said position?"

"I do," I said with conviction.

"I don't think I have to do the rest," she said, looking at Elder Kara to confirm. Then she picked up and wiped the dagger, and I braced myself for the ritual that would bind us together.

She cut first my arm, then hers, and we clasped each other as we had seen the Harvest Moon ranked members do. I immediately felt a surge of energy flow from her arm into mine, spreading quickly throughout my entire body. I felt my blood wake up and sing a thrumming tune in tandem with it, until I couldn't tell one apart from the other. A small part of my mind recognized that there was only a little bit of wind around us compared to what had surrounded Kendria earlier, but it only served to make me appreciate what Kendria had gone through minutes before when she touched the Wolf Stone. This was about all I could handle.

The thrumming in my body settled, and our cuts healed. How do you feel? Kendria asked me via mindlink, for the very first time. Hunter howled with happiness, finally able to interact with another wolf the way we were meant to.

I tried out my own mindlink. Whoa, this is so awesome! Hunter is pumped to be able to connect with another wolf while we're still in human form.

Kendria laughed, then laughed again when she realized nobody else heard our exchange. "Line up everyone, let's do this!" she said to the rest of our delegation.

I felt the rest of them join the pack, one by one. As a Beta, I knew that any time someone joined or left the pack, I would feel it, just a little bit. A thread of a new bond formed or, in unfortunate cases, broken. Hopefully, soon, I would feel the rest of our pack up north join what we had just become.

We were finally one.