THE FIERCE LUNA

Stranger In The Clearing

Sat in the middle of a muddy patch of clearing in the forest was a wolf he had never seen before, surrounded by six much larger wolves. The biggest of which was a deep shade of brown, leaning over the rogue. Alpha Charles walked forward more into the clearing and took another look at the scene before him. He realised it was like no normal scene he had come across when rogues were in their territory.

The dark brown wolf was Beta Max, Charles's Beta of the Red Moon Pack and his lifetime best friend. Max who normally makes quick work of dealing with rogues wasn't tense and wasn't showing any signs of attempting to slay the wolf before him. The rest of the pack stood around were a few feet back and all starring at their Beta not sure what to do.

"Max?" Charles mind linked him questioningly as he approached him, feeling a little frustrated by his Beta "Why has John asked me to come here for one rogue? Why haven't you disposed of the intruder?"

Gammar John linked back to him, as Beta Max didn't respond. "Max has been stood over this wolf and they've been just starring at each other since we found her. Neither one of them have moved or took their eyes away from each other."

"Is she your mate?" Alpha Charles asked walking to stand just behind his Beta.

Max still didn't respond to Charles's question or even acknowledge his approach.

Charles went to step in front of Max to see the rogue, when Max suddenly turned and stood in a full defensive body stanch, growling at his Alpha! His eyes were black and Charles could tell it was Trevor in control, Max's wolf.

"Trevor!? Why are you acting like you are going to attack your Alpha!?" Gammar John thundered as he slid in front of his Alpha. He knew his Alpha could defend himself but both of them were his best friends and he has no clue as to what was happening here and didn't want them to fight.

"What ever is happening you know we are here for you both Trevor! Let Max return and speak to me." Charles commanded in his Alpha tone.

Alpha Charles took in the tense stand Max was in and managed to keep his own wolf Leon at bay, for it was not ordinary for another wolf to stand against an Alpha . Trevor couldn't disobey his Alpha and so his eyes turned back to brown and Max was back in control.

"Max, I mean no harm to this wolf at this moment in time if it is you are mates or if you know her. Please explain to us brother what is happening? John has told me you have been here for awhile now and nothing has been said or done?! We can only assume that this defending of the she-wolf is because you and she are mates? Is that what is going on here? If so, you know we will welcome her?"

Max's body relaxes a little, he looked at Charles and John stood before him concerned for their best friend, their brother in life if not in blood.

"Alpha Charles, Gammar John I am so sorry! I did not intend to turn on you like that! She is not my mate no, but I feel like I have seen this wolf before and I can not recall where or when! I still can't! She hasn't moved since we found her, she hasn't gone back to her human form either to speak to us. I don't know what's going on Charles! I can't kill her or let any else kill her, I can sense I'm supposed to protect her! I have a feeling I know her from somewhere!" Max quickly links back to them in a hope they understand him even though he doesn't understand himself right now.

Alpha Charles looks at the wolf behind Max thinking back himself if he has ever seen a wolf like her. "Max, I'm going to try to talk to her see if she will communicate with us." Max nods in acknowledgement as Charles runs back to the edge of the clearing and finds a tree where they have shorts stashed all around the forest. He heads back towards the group, trying to think where Max could have seen this wolf before. His Beta is normally the one he goes to when he can't remember someone's name, he is never one to forget anyone or anything. To see him so puzzled, yet so protective of a stranger is very strange indeed.