Hidden Secrets

Chapter 7: Weeks to Months

***** 6 months pass****

Damon's POV

Following the Moon Goddess's instructions to follow the morning moon. I took the plane west toward the USA and not surprisingly there are a s**t ton of wolf packs. I also followed my father's instructions to learn what I can from all the new wolf packs that I can, but holy f**k I just want to enjoy myself. All the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, AND Omegas are throwing their daughters at me. I have tried to have s*x with a couple of them but the same thing happens: shadow screaming in pain leaving me with the aftertaste . I haven't had s*x in over 6 months. I'm nowhere close to finding my mate and I still have that dream with the moon goddess and her telling me to hurry… find her. I'M GOING CRAZY!!!

Dude can we please go for a run.

We aren’t even at our destination, can you wait until we get there?

Ugh how much longer?

God shadow you are like a kid in the backseat.

Please let me out. I’m going crazy just the same as you

Just hold on man we are landing in California in about an hour, and then we have to drive to the blood howlers. We can go after we meet with the Alpha.

Really man? Also who came up blood howlers makes them sound like they are hell hounds.

Yeah most of the US names are weird as f**k but thats not my problem.

How much longer is this game of hide and seek?

Ugh, shadow… Sleep, Land, Food, Alpha and then run….

Fine….

Hide and seek is only fun if you have an idea where they are hiding.

All the packs are blending together, and the next one has a rep for just being assholes but plain normal. The only reason they are in the top five packs is because of the town they are close to. In order to narrow down the packs I started at the top of the list and will slowly work our way down. The first pack I went to was in New York close to the Canadian border, The Oasis Healers, they are the largest and mainly known for their healing abilities. I learned a lot about how to get Shadow and I more in sync. The Alpha was truly impressive but nothing or no mate was there. I couldn’t feel anything, and so I moved on to the next pack. They were in Virginia, The Moonvalley Pack, their pack was deep in the heart of some dense forest. They wolves were extremely skilled in fighting and using the woods to their benefits. I learned more fighting skills in wolf form. Third largest was in Montana known as The Silvertails pack. I know I’m crazy but they take it to a whole new level. With all the mountain terrain they train with the environment but they can shift back and forth from wolf and human so quickly and painlessly. I couldn’t get to that level but I have some training exercises that the Alpha gave me. Now the Last pack is in California… The Blood Howlers. I have done my research on them, but there is literally nothing about them. They coexist with humans freely and without any issues. Even if humans have forgotten about the world of magic it's a risky thing to do.

I’m sleeping when I feel the plane jerk and bounce, stirring me awake. I look out the window and see the black asphalt and the warehouses for the private planes. The plane comes to a stop and the doors open to the stairs. I greet the warm sun and when I’m at the bottom a line of cars pull up and out jumps an old man. He smells of old Axe spray and trash, he looks like he has been through the ringer. He is completely unkempt like he hasn’t even taken a shower.

“Hello Sir Damon, my name is Beta Marcus from the Blood Howlers,” He said bowing at his waist

“Where is your Alpha,” I asked almost holding my nose when I get closer

“He had a family issue come up, and has sent me in his stead,” he said to the ground slowly lifting his face we make eye contact, “Welcome to the area,”

“Sure,” I brushed him off and started walking away from the cars, “I told you all that I would meet you at your pack house,”

“Yes sir, I understand you did and I only thought that you would need a guide around our beautiful town,” He panicked and rushed toward me and I peeked over my shoulder and that's when I noticed a small girl standing at the cars. Her clothes are too small and it's almost like she is wearing nothing. Her makeup is from a halloween collection making her look deathly pale. I look back at the man and he's about to open his mouth when I hold my hand up.

“Stop,” I turn toward him and the girl, “I have a phone, and gps, I don’t need your skimpy daughter to try and show me around, when I am a grown ass man,”

I look at both of them gaping like a fish out of water

“I have a car waiting for me already and I will meet you at the pack house when I am ready,” I turn again toward the warehouses and I only hear him yelling and I can only imagine it's a grown ass man throwing a tantrum like a child.

I mean she has to be one hell of a girl if she is causing me this much trouble. I have called my mother every day and according to her my father is starting to get really sick. I have talked to my brothers also and they think that our father has been poisoned by one of the other council members. My money is on the vampires and dwarfs, they have never really liked us much. They were also one of the votes against our families rule, but with my brothers still there they are still safe.

I walk around the corner and I see a parked white jeep truck throwing my bag into the bed I make my way into the driver side seeing the keys already in the ignition. I shut the door and slam my face into the steering wheel… f*****g hell.

Fuck man… They really just throw sluts at you like candy at a parade

I know it's almost too much sometimes, it wasn’t half bad when I could get it up or not have you scream in my head.

Not like I can help that man… Food?

It's going to be a long as day isn’t?

Stella's POV

It's been 6 months of pure happiness ever since I left the pack house. My life has been so much better. All the bullying has only happened at school, and they never really questioned why I left. The Alpha and Beta came by trying to drag me back but was quickly stopped by Stefanio and the law stating that I was 18 and I was a legal adult. Stefanio and Sophia have been the parents I have always wanted; loving, caring, and a little overprotective. Last month I got called into the principal's office stating that I was eligible for early graduation. I’ve applied to a couple of colleges and community colleges with heavy scholarship offers, but I want to study in Italy. Sophia and Stefanio tell me stories about their family over there and what it's like over there and it just feels like the perfect place to be. I still don't have any friends nor have I found my mate, but I think right now I’m ok without them. I’m finally learning to love myself and with River we aren’t really alone. Rivers' connection with me has grown strong, and I haven’t been able to let her out when I can but she hasn’t complained once.

I'm walking back to the restaurant from school when I feel a sudden wave of dizziness. I brace myself on the nearest car, but it didn’t do much good. I feel my head and eyes steady themselves only for a second. The next second I feel River start to shiver and then she breaks into a howl of pain. I can feel the knife's digging into my stomach and head. I'm in a silent scream with myself and River. The pain is almost too much to bear, but it just stops suddenly like nothing happened.

Should I be concerned by what just happened?

In all honesty, I couldn't tell you... It just happened

Yeah... okay

I pick myself off the ground and dust myself off and continue to walk. Thinking about what could have happened, a cold sweat sliding down my back.

"HEY! I'm home!" I yell into the kitchen.

"We are back here , come help prepare for the dinner rush," Stefanio yells

We worked together in the kitchen and the earlier pain washed away. They still pay me to work there even though I don't want them to. I mean I live in a house rent-free, and they still give me a paycheck... I don't know where I would be without them.

"You know there is a lunar eclipse tonight," Stefanio said stuffing the ravioli, "Why don't you take tonight off and just hang out,"

"I want to help you guys, and I know you guys are booked tonight, but if that's the case can I work the upstairs patio tonight that way I can see it?" I asked

"Of course, but are you sure you don't want to take tonight off?" Sophia asked taking my face in both hands

"Yes I'm sure and your hands are covered in flour," I smiled, throwing some flour back at her, which was a big mistake because it started a flour war I couldn't finish.