Lunas Wildfire

Running the Pack

The morning sun peeked over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the training grounds. I stood in the center of the clearing, hands on my hips, sweat trickling down my back. My chest rose and fell with every deep breath, the familiar burn of a hard workout coursing through my muscles.

I thrived on this. Training wasn’t just a routine for me; it was a way to channel the restless energy that came with being a wolf. Some wolves dreaded the drills and exercises, but not me. Whether it was sparring, endurance runs, or learning new techniques, I was all in.

“Again,” I said, motioning to Sam, one of the pack’s warriors.

Sam, a burly wolf with a no-nonsense attitude, hesitated for a moment. “You sure? That last one looked like it hurt.”

I smirked, brushing a stray curl from my face. “Oh, come on, Sam. You’re not scared of a little sparring, are you?”

His lips quirked in a reluctant grin, and he launched himself at me without another word. I ducked under his swing, twisting to land a solid kick to his side. He stumbled, but I didn’t let up, pressing my advantage until he was on the ground, pinned beneath me.

“Point goes to me,” I said, grinning as I helped him up.

“Yeah, yeah,” Sam muttered, brushing himself off. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

I laughed, wiping the sweat from my brow as I grabbed my water bottle. Across the training grounds, other wolves were going through their drills under Aaron’s watchful eye. He was a natural leader, barking orders and giving pointers with an authority that came as easily to him as breathing.

With Carter away for alpha training, Aaron had stepped into the role of acting alpha. It had been almost two years since Carter left, and though the pack functioned well under Aaron’s leadership, his absence was still felt. Carter was the heart of the pack, a leader who inspired loyalty with his strength and compassion. But Aaron? Aaron was the spine, the one who kept everything running smoothly when things got tough.

I wandered over to where he stood, arms crossed as he watched a pair of younger wolves spar.

“Nice form,” I said, nodding toward the pair. “You’ve been drilling them hard.”

Aaron glanced at me, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Someone has to. They don’t all have your natural talent.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I teased, nudging him with my elbow.

He chuckled, but his eyes remained focused on the training ground. “What are you and Lily planning today? Or should I ask what kind of trouble you’re planning to cause?”

“Trouble? Us?” I said, feigning innocence.

Aaron raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

“Well, if you must know,” I continued, “we were thinking about sneaking into the archives. Lily swears there’s a book in there with details about rogue sightings near the southern border.”

Aaron’s expression darkened slightly. “Rogues aren’t something to mess around with, Emmy. If you find anything, tell me or one of the other enforcers.”

“Relax,” I said, waving him off. “It’s just some light reading. I’m not about to go chasing them into the woods.”

“Good,” he said, his tone firm. “Because the last thing I need is you getting yourself into trouble while I’m handling the rest of the pack’s chaos.”

I smiled sweetly. “Oh, Aaron, you know me so well.”

With a shake of his head, he turned back to his work, and I headed off to find Lily.

Lily was waiting for me at the edge of the training grounds, her blonde hair pulled into a messy braid and her expression alight with mischief.

“Took you long enough,” she said as I approached.

“Sam needed a reminder of why I’m undefeated,” I replied with a grin.

Lily rolled her eyes. “You and your training. You know, there’s more to life than sparring and drills.”

“Like sneaking into the archives?” I shot back.

“Exactly!” Lily said, her grin widening.

The archives were located in the pack’s main hall, a sprawling building that housed everything from meeting rooms to records dating back generations. Most wolves avoided the dusty old room, but Lily and I loved it. It was full of secrets, stories, and just enough mystery to keep us coming back.

As we slipped inside, I felt the familiar thrill of breaking the rules. The room smelled of old leather and parchment, and the dim light filtering through the windows gave it an almost eerie atmosphere.

“So,” Lily said, pulling a book from one of the shelves, “are we actually looking for rogue reports, or are we just here for the fun of it?”

“Can’t it be both?” I replied, flipping through a stack of old maps.

We spent the next hour poring over documents, whispering and laughing as we stumbled across outdated laws and bizarre records from centuries past. But the fun was cut short when the door creaked open, and Aaron’s voice rang out.

“Emmy! Lily! What the hell are you two doing in here?”

We froze, caught red-handed. Lily shot me a look that said, This was your idea, and I bit back a laugh.

“Research?” I offered innocently, holding up one of the maps.

Aaron stepped inside, his expression equal parts annoyed and amused. “You two are impossible,” he said, shaking his head. “Just don’t burn the place down, okay?”

“No promises,” Lily said, grinning.

As Aaron left, I couldn’t help but smile. This was my life—chaotic, messy, and full of adventure. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.