The Opal Wolf

Chapter Six

**Andrews POV**

As the sun rises, I mentally prepare for another whirlwind of both Alpha and pack duties. I had been up long before the sun, not really sleeping well as of late, but enjoying the peace that came with waiting for the sun to wake. Rising out of my bed, I head to the bathroom to take care of business. Switching on the shower, I turn to let the water warm and take a good look at my reflection. Soft chocolate curls fall to my shoulders, ratty from tossing and turning all night. Glimmering hazel-gold eyes, stubble that is bordering on a short beard and taunt muscles for days all down my body. I wasn't body builder huge by any means, but my physique was something I was proud of and worked hard to keep in place.

Stepping into the shower, I relax as I feel the hot water beat down on my tired muscles. A shower always helps after a rough nights sleep, but what would help with the lack of said sleep is if my wolf, Shane calmed down. The past week he has been pacing and howling in my head, not really able to explain what is wrong with him but feeling as though something is going to change and what ever it is, he says it is going to be big. We both have a feeling that it might be our mate, but we don't want to get our hopes up. We have been trying to locate her since we took over as Alpha at seventeen. Now at twenty eight, we have been disappointed time and again when any female we came across was not her. An Alpha needs his mate like he needs air to breath, it is not in our nature to rule alone for long. For me, it has been too long.

Stepping out and drying off, I head to the closet to get ready for the day. No doubt my sister Marney is already wanting to pull out her hair with how demanding being the stand in Luna is. Marney took over as I did once our parents were killed, knowing I would need some help until I found my Luna. She took to the role like a pup to its howl, but she didn't expect that she would be helping for the next eleven years. The poor thing is only 23 and has truly done her best, but I can see that she is ready to start her own search for her mate, putting it off to help her pain in the a** big brother run his own pack. I'm such a d**k.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

That's got to be her I think. She always greets me in the mornings, filling me in on what I may have missed. Marney was an early bird, up at four o'clock every morning. I on the other hand, was not. Reaching my door, I open it and, as predicted, my baby sister is on the other side. She stands at 5' even, with her raven hair cut into a pixie style. Huge blue eyes meet my hazel and the glare I receive could peel paint.

"Now you listen to me Andrew Fredrick Briggs!" She shouts. She was the only one who could yell at me like that and not get put in her place. "Don't you jump on the 'I need to be a better brother' bandwagon this morning! How many times do I have to tell you that I swore to mom if anything were to go wrong on their scout mission, I would fill in for her until you found your destined?" She c***s her head at me and pops a hip. The sass on this one was out of this world, but like me, she had a heart of gold where her pack was concerned.

"You're right Marmar." I use her pet name that drives her batty. "I'm sorry sis." Wrapping her tiny frame up in my arms, I give her one of my trademarked bear hugs. Just then, I feel the tickle of someone trying to mind link, so I let down my walls enough for them to come in.

Alpha, we have a situation. Erins voice chimes in my head.

What's going on, Erin? I respond.

Do you remember that girl I never shut up about?

Yes, of course. He always rambled on about her, so she was hard to forget. Selene right?

Yes, sir. He confirms. She was attacked by a rouge yesterday. She is fine but she was turned as a result of the attack. Drew, rouges this close can only mean one thing.

Yes. I glower. They are the reason so many human women are going missing. Bring her here to the safety of the pack. Being freshly turned, she is 24 hours away from turning for the first time. She will need our help.... and our protection.

Yes, sir. He says and I feel him cut the link. The council is going to have to be told this news. Not only was a rouge wolf attacking innocent humans, they were turning said humans. What for has yet to reveal itself but it was against almost every council rule we had to change a human. Not only is this rouge changing humans, but he's doing it against their will. Humans were changed somewhat regularly but it was only under very specific circumstances. One of them was that the human had to have a wolf as their mate. Once this was discovered to be the case, the council pulled them in and discussed with them what their options were, what it meant to become a wolf and the responsibilities they had to their mates and the pack once they did. If the human chose to turn, only a member of the council was permitted to change them. Not even their mate was allowed. We all possessed the power to do it, it is just not the way things are done.

"What's up, Drew?" Marney interrupts my thoughts. "Who mind linked?"

"Erin." I answered. "He has a freshly turned female with him who needs help. She is his friend, Selene." Her eyes go wide at the news. Marney knew the laws as well as I did.

"I know. Please have an omega prepare a room for her close to Erin. I know she is technically an unmated female and should be placed in one of the lower levels, but I have a feeling being close to Erin will do her some good." Being in close proximity to those you have grown up with can do you a world of good and all though she has not known Erin as long as I have, they were much closer than my Beta and I.

"That means she will be in the room right next to you." My sister winks at me, a grin that could only spell trouble plastered on her face.

"That has nothing to do with it Marney, strictly for her comfort. Now, let us prepare for our impromptu guest and get this day rolling. I have a sneaking suspicion it is going to be a long one." Groaning internally, I vow that once I find my mate, we are taking a month long hiatus from the pack. I need a damn vacation. We may even bring Marney with us to give her a chance in locating her mate. Here's hoping it's soon, because I know both of our nerves are fried.