Pride Amongst Wolves

Chapter 2

Athena's POV

After reading my essay I decide to go to the training grounds to work out my frustration from what my father decided to tell me today. Training is what has helped through a lot of growing up, see I have always had a weird crush on my best friend and I have never been able to figure it out. I am hoping that the moon goddess can bless me with knowing soon if this is who I am destined to be mated to. As I approach the training grounds, I can see someone had beaten me there, make that two someones.

"Hey Zeke, Andie, fancy seeing you both here." As if on cue, Andie smiles this big smile, her aura changes to a pinkish color, and her face turns a red that is five shades darker than her normal.

"Hey Thena, Alexanderia and I decided to work out some after school. Since we are approaching our 17th birthdays and there is so many unknowns." Zeke has told me on more than one occasion he wants a mate who is strong, independent, but still needs him to protect her. I just know he will love whoever he is mated to, he is the most loving and caring person of all. "We just felt the need to work out to forget about some of the unknowns." I stopped listening when I turned to look at Andie, she was wearing this bright pink crop top with very short spandex shorts. Her long brown hair pulled up into a high pony with some scrunchies to match her outfit. That is when I spaced back in to Andie speaking.

"I felt the same way, Zeke. Thena, what did you think?" After I heard Andie speak up, I realized I had zoned out for a while.

"I'm sorry, what were we talking about? I was thinking about some stuff my dad told me earlier." I did not really want to get into that right now, but I know it is inevitable. Andie scrunches up her nose as I say that and, with a face like that, how could I not spill the beans.

After explaining to them about how my parents died and the weird note which I intended on leaving out, but I cannot hide anything from these two, Andie is the first to speak. I can feel her sadness and I swear I heard her say something in my head before she started talking, but I brushed that off.

"I am so sorry to hear that Theen, you deserved to have known that sooner." She is the only person who calls me Theen and it always makes me smile. I cannot explain why.

"It's okay, Andie. I still love my parents. I understand they were trying to protect me from knowing the truth of what happened, but now I could be facing the same fate." I shudder at the thought of me getting ambushed on a run and make a mental note to always have someone with me, either Zeke, Andie, or Duncan.

"Now Thena, you know how strong you are, you have been working and training since you were old enough to walk just like me. If anyone our age is ready for a fight, it is us." After I thought about it, I knew Zeke was right. If anyone is prepared, it is me.

"Thank you guys. I cannot imagine my life without you two in it. Say, why don't we let out our wolves and go for a run?" This is just the distraction I need, plus Ashina hasn't been out in a while and I can feel her pacing in my head.

As we go to the woods to change, Andie and I disrobe and shift behind the same tree and Zeke changes behind his own tree. As I turn around to give Andie some privacy, Ashinia almost whispers in my head to look at her, but I restrain I love her to much to invade her privacy. Once shifted, Ashinia does a big forward stretch and then makes her way towards Aspen. Her chocolate brown fur is as mesmerizing as her bright green eyes. Ashinia, who towers over little Aspen, gives her a head bump and we make our way towards Asher. You can spot him a mile away, his bright orange fur and bright yellow eyes. He gives a nod to the North and we all start running.

It was not supposed to be a race, but every time Aspen got in the front, Ashinia would be in my head saying run faster, we have to be in front of her. Then Asher would go to the front and this went on for 4 hours. As we continued running north, we came to a clearing none of us had found before. It had a big pond and an even bigger waterfall, it was so beautiful I looked over at Andie to see what she thought.

This place is beautiful. I link with her.

It is, isn't it? She linked back

I thought she was going to say something else, her eyes sparkled and it was as if she was looking into my mind. That's when Zeke spoke up.

Why don't we go for a swim? That was when he disappeared to shift back and change back into his other clothes. Andie and I decided to do the same.

Before we shift, Aspen comes over and gives me a nuzzle and goes to get shifted and I am left confused by what just happened but, decide to shift and change back into just my sports bra and shorts. Andie did the same.

We all swam there for what seemed like minutes but turned out to be 3 hours. I heard my father through link first and panicked.

Thena, where are you, Aleexanderia, and Zeke at? You guys have been gone all night and we are worried.

Oh boy. Sorry dad, we went for a run and came to a pond so we took a swim. We will head back now. We are about 4 hours north of the training grounds if you want to send someone to accompany us on our run back.

"Hey guys, my dad just linked and they want us back now." As I speak I hear him again.

Thena, if you guys are that far north, stay put. I will send Omega Duncan and Beta Koa to find you guys and bring you back. We had some more strange activity at the boarder and are worried they may head that way.

"Wait, he just linked back, more strange activity. He wants us to stay put and he will be sending Beta Koa and Omega Duncan to find us. I told him how far I believe we are. Lets shift back and wait on them." I decided to link my dad before we shifted.

Okay dad, we are gonna shift back and let our wolves get a drink before they get here.

We waited in wolf form for what felt like 10 hours before we heard through link Beta Koa's voice.

Guys, we believe we are close. Can you howl so we know we are headed in the right direction.

We all started howling, then we saw them. Koa was first. We saw his giant gray wolf come from the woods, then we saw Duncan's blue wolf emerge behind him.

Guys, let's go. We are far from the pack house and it is getting dark.

We sprinted as fast as we could. Aspen is a small wolf, so I tried to stick close to her to keep her safe. She is strong for her size, but I had a feeling she would be the one they would choose to pick off first. Luckily, on the run back we didn't see anything strange nor smelled anything strange. I did have a strange voice that I didn't recognize link me.

Your little brown wolf will pay for what you and your parents have done.

I tried to link back but it was closed off. I am not telling anyone about what happened. The last thing I need is to have someone with me or worse, Andie, at all times. She feels so small compared to the rest of us, hence why she trains extra with me or Zeke almost daily so she can be strong for her size. She is only 5' 9" compared to myself being 6' and Zeke being 6' 3".

Andie's POV

I look over at Thena who is changing back next to me. She has been my best friend since we were 5 years old. I remember it as if it was yesterday.

We were at school, it was before the bell rang, and all the bigger kids our age were bullying me for being so small. That was when Thena came out of seemingly nowhere and yelled at those kids. She called herself the future Alpha of the Mystic Pride pack and she did not appreciate the way these kids were talking to a pack member. This school is made up of 4 local packs and these kids were from a different pack. I believe they were from the Blue Moon Pack or something of that nature. She turned to me and in the sweetest voice she asked "Are you okay?" I said I was and thanked her. I went to run away because why would the future Alpha want to be friends with me? But she grabbed my wrist and said "I haven't seen you around the pack house. What is your name?" I responded "Alexanderia, what's yours?" She responded "Athena, but most people call me Thena." I responded speedily "Well thank you Theeny, I have to get to class." And I ran off before we could continue the conversation. To my shock, she was in my class and, as they all say, the rest was history. We have been inseparable ever since, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

"Hey, Theeny?" I haven't called her that since we were kids and it feels so right.

She smiles brightly before responding, "Yes Andie?" Goddess, I love it when she calls me that.

"What happened back there? I saw your face change and you began to look worried. Was it about the note? Did they leave another one?"

She sighed before looking around, pulling me close, and whispering to me "Someone linked me, I have no idea who, but I have reason to believe they are coming after you. I tried linking back to tell them that you have nothing to do with my parents but they blocked me out. Please do not go out alone, have me or Zeke go with you. I know you are capable of holding your own fighting one wolf our size, but I am scared it would be multiple." To be honest, it hurt she thought I wasn't capable. I know I am small but I am a great fighter and of all people she should know that.

"I promise, but can my personal body guard be you?" I don't know why I said that but it felt right.

She blushed and smiled, saying "Of course," before wrapping me in the biggest hug ever.

"Does this mean I will need an escort home and to school everyday?" To be honest the thought of being walked home and to the bus stop with Thena made me so happy.

"Probably, I will walk you home tonight. Maybe this weekend we can have a sleep over in the pack house so I can keep you safe. Also, this conversation never happened. I do not want a ton of people knowing I was linked by a random person."

"Of course, but promise to keep me in the loop, I will always be by your side and I want you to know you are not alone in this fight." She smiled at that comment before we emerged from the trees.

Thena was the first to speak. "I am going to walk Andie home before it gets too late, she still has to write her essay. Then I will be back in the pack house. I will check in with my dad before I head to my room to study for my test in the morning." Oh my I had forgotten about her drivers test tomorrow.

As we walked towards my house, I turned to Thena. "Hey Thena, I forgot about your drivers test tomorrow, whose going to walk me to the bus stop?"

Without missing a beat, she grabs my hand and says "Well me, of course, I will walk you there, make sure you get on the bus or are with Zeke, then head back to the pack house."

I don't let go of her hand as we continued our long walk to my house in comfortable silence. Once we make it to my door, she gives me a hug and we say our goodbyes and I head to my room. I have no idea where to even start on my essay.

Thena's POV

I cannot explain why but I decided to hold her hand. Maybe it was to make sure she was close to me, maybe it was a subconscious thing. I have no clue. Once we make it to her house, I give her a hug and inhale her beautiful scent. She smells of rose and lavender and it instantly lifts my mood. I told her good bye and made my way back home.

Once I reached the pack house, I went to my dad's office. I knew he would be there waiting for me. Before I could even knock, I could hear him yell.

"Come on in Thena, I have been worried."

I opened the door and started on my apology. "I am so sorry dad, I did not mean to be out that late. Zeke and Andie were training and I decided we should go for a run. It was all my fault. I am why we lost track of time. I am sorry dad, is mom still up? Is she worried?"

He gave me a hug and said "Yes mom is up, she was worried but we have explained what is going on and she is calmed down now." He grabs my shoulders and looks into my eyes, "I thought you ran away after what I had told you. I know it was wrong to keep that from you and I am sorry I failed you in that sense. But, you are my daughter and I do not regret bringing you into my family."

"Thank you dad, it is very big of you to recognize what you did was wrong. I want you to know I do love you both still as my parents and I am so happy you raised me instead of letting me be an orphan." I know how that sounds, but I truthfully feel that way.

"Honey, if you want to see your mother, she is in our room knitting for omega Duncan and his mate Kaleb. They also will be adopting a little pup from a nearby pack. His mom is only 17 and wants to finish school before her and her mate start a family."

I make my way to their room and slowly open the door. My mom is knitting the cutest little blue blanket for this new addition to our pack. "Hey mom, sorry I worried you but I am fine."

"Oh Thena, you gave me quite a scare. Your father told me what he told you earlier and I am so sorry I wanted to tell you years ago as you started to grow up and always asked why you didn't look like us. But your father thought it didn't matter we loved you as much as your birth parents, so why should it matter, but it always did to me. I wish I had been there to hold your hand and make sure you were ready for the news." To be fair, I wished she had been there too, but it's probably for the better she was not. I was not pleased with this information and I would probably have yelled had she been there.

"It's okay mom, I have to get back to my studying anyway, plus you seem busy. How big are you going with the blanket?"

"Big enough for him to use for a few years. I am about halfway done. I just hope that Duncan and Kaleb like it."

"Oh trust me mom, they will. You used the same colored yarn as both of their wolves, so it's as if they are hugging their baby all day long. Which he will need epically when he finds out he is adopted."

I walked out of the room quietly and made my way to mine. First I print off my essay, since it is done anyway, then I start on my studies. Which I didn't really need, but I figure it is for the best anyway.

It was 1 in the morning before I decided to go to sleep. As I was laying down my phone dinged. When I looked at it, it was a picture sent from someone I don't have saved on my phone. I recognized it immediately. It was Andie's house and a message "Times ticking. Come fight or pretty girl gets it." The first thing I did was link the patrol and ask them to go over to Andie's house because I was worried about her as a friend. They did so because they know we are close and I waited for them to link back.

45 minutes later I got a link back.

We have patrolled all around her house, something smells off but there is nothing here.

Okay thank you for checking for me. Say, what does it smell like?

Witches.

I decided in the morning I would let my father know of the message and the witches being close, but first I would walk my best friend to the bus stop.