TM [Complete ✔️]

13.

Zane's P.O.V

My friends, my family, had been little more than blurry figures the last time I saw them. Now, there were roads, woods, lakes, and miles of distance between us as I stepped out of the car, my head pounding.

The warriors from the rest of the cars stepped out after me, circling me as they nodded their heads respectfully.

"It was an honor, sir!" One of them said, making me nod back.

"Blood Moon will be forever thankful for your service!" Said another.

"Thank you!" I nodded once more, watching as they slowly dispersed back to their cars and drove off, leaving me amidst the huge crowd of supposedly every member in the Silver Claws' pack.

I took my daughter's car seat out of the final remaining vehicle as its driver set our luggage down before disappearing as well.

Everything else would already be in Beyla and I's new house, set up and waiting as if we'd been here all along.

The wolves stared as I watched them right back. Their expressions varied from curiosity and hopefulness to straight disdain, causing me to bare my teeth, every inch of me on edge.

Two wolves - a man and a woman - cautiously stepped forward, the she-wolf halting in her steps as the two got closer.

I pushed the car seat behind me, ready to protect my daughter should they turn on me, though I doubted there was anything I could do without my wolf against an entire pack, or judging by the size of it, what I hoped was an entire pack. Anything more and I was already a sure failure.

"Alpha!" The male stepped in front of me, a fake smile on his lips. There was something very familiar about him - as if I'd met or seen him somewhere already, though I couldn't quite place it. His hair was a flaming red, freckles adorning his pale skin, and light stubble growing atop his sharp jaw. His eyebrows, as red as every strand of hair on his head, were bushy and wild, but not in an unkempt kind of way. No, in fact, the wolf looked as if he took good care of himself, based on the confidence he radiated and his expensive clothes. "Welcome to Silver Claws!" The sharp wind blew his curls, drawing attention to his freckles and nose.

Oddly familiar, he seemed.

I tipped my head in thanks, not wanting to speak until I was sure of his, of their, intentions.

After all, I was a rogue until tomorrow night.

My gaze went back to the crowd, shifting rather uncomfortably in the silence filled only by the redhead, but remained on the she-wolf that had started walking towards me along with him but was gaping like a fish out of water halfway through, instead.

Her mouth was open, twisted in what seemed to be... horror. Pure terror lined her eyes as well. The dark brown eyes that were stuck on me, unblinking.

"My name's Julian," the wolf in front of me brought the attention back to himself, an edge to his voice now, "I'm the son of the previous Alpha, Cedric Collins." I snarled, my gaze spitting daggers at him as I tried my best not to pounce.

I was weak, I hadn't been before, but I was now, and I'd do well to remember that. Perhaps if my little girl wasn't around, I wouldn't mind throwing myself into a battle I knew I couldn't win, though now that it was just the two of us, I couldn't afford any mistakes.

The man stepped back, baring his neck in submission and lowering his gaze.

"I did not support my father in betraying his allies, nor did I have any part in it besides doing my best to stop him!" He promised. "I'm very sorry I failed, and especially that your family had to bear the consequences! Please, accept my protection as an apology!" I assessed him, wishing more than anything I could rip him apart, but set my temper aside and made my voice as unwavering as I could before muttering, "No!"

Julian raised his gaze and neck.

"Please, just give me a chance, Alpha! This pack was meant to be my own soon enough if my father hadn't let us down. I've grown up here and since he was my only family, my, your, pack is all I have left! Give me a chance to prove myself and if you wish I go, become rogue or even kill me, I'll accept my fate."

The crowd shifting again got my attention. Most of them had either fearful or hopeful expressions on their faces as they awaited my decision, the she-wolf who had still not taken her eyes off of me, too.

Her tanned skin glistened in the sun, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead as she removed her gaze from me only for a moment, to bring it upon Julian, then looked at me again.

"Fine," I answered, watching as the she-wolf exhaled in relief. "But make no mistake, I will be watching you closely!"

"Of course, Alpha!" He nodded, relief evident on his face.

Julian turned, signaling for the woman to come closer, her eyes growing impossibly wider as if they hadn't looked terrified already. She took small, shaky steps towards us, Julian keeping his gaze on hers, concern swimming in his eyes.

Finally, the she-wolf and her shoulder-length hair, bouncing with each step, stood in front of me, yet still a safe distance away.

Both their eyes glazed over as if mind linking for a moment before she at last spoke.

"Alpha," she gulped, "welcome to Silver Claws! My name is, um, my name is Sofia," she stuttered, the redhead's gaze growing from concerned to confused, "I will be showing you around the pack house and you are to meet me and Julian for a meeting about the ceremony tomorrow, um, after you've rested." I nodded, sending a nod to the rest of the wolves as well before silence enveloped us once more.

"Well," I urged, just wanting to get to my room, where I knew my bean would be safe and away from prying eyes, where I could unpack my stuff and have at least one familiar scent and object around.

Where I could fall apart.

"Yeah, right," Sofia snapped out of it, leading the way as the crowd parted to let us through.

"I'll see you later, Alpha!" Julian called after us.

The she-wolf and I walked in silence, the only sound breaking it that of two warriors as they carried the luggage into the pack house.

"I'm the pack's main gardener," Sofia spoke, perhaps squirming under the awkwardness. "We mostly produce our own herbs, vegetables, and fruits, to consume and sell."

"So, why is it you showing me to my room, then?" I asked, not meaning to sound as sharp as I did but the edge of the day getting the best of me.

"Well, I was the former Luna's best friend, so I helped with interior and... stuff, whenever I could. When she left, I took up most of her workload for Alpha Cedric, and now that our pack was left in shambles..." She didn't bother finishing her sentence and yet I still understood.

Perhaps understood more than I'd wanted to because shambles... I had no idea, and I believe neither did Knox, that things were bad way before Cedric partnered with that Lord.

And the Luna, what had been so bad that she just... left? Where was she now? Was she alive?

"You said the Luna left?" I questioned, Sofia halting again.

"We're here - the Alpha suite!" She grimaced, the action meant to be a smile as she handed me the keys. "The code has been cleared, so you're free to set in a new password for the suite whenever you wish." She explained, leading me inside and pointing to doors as we passed them, "The living room, kitchen and dining area, two main bathrooms," the she-wolf suddenly stopped, almost making me bump into her, "this is the master bedroom, and that right down the hall," she once again pointed at a door, "is the room I had prepared for your daughter, next to the other rooms, should you want more pups." She said the last part with great difficulty, as if speaking it burnt her tongue.

"Are you to be my assistant, then?" I asked.

"No, Alpha," she shook her head, "my place is in the gardens, navigating the others and plucking weeds, but I'm here to answer any question you may have and show you around until you no longer need me to." I nodded. "I'll be going now, the meeting we told you about is at six, before dinner." And with that, and no other word from me, she was gone, the heavy front door to my new suite, which was honestly more like a whole floor, shutting loudly behind her.

I finally picked Beyla up, hugging her close.

"Guess it's just you and me now, bean!" I murmured, her small eyelids fluttering shut again after my distraction from her nap.

Still holding her, I walked around, uninterested in the main parts of the floor but some part of me stupidly pulled to see the empty rooms.

"Your siblings were meant to live here," I told my pup while assessing the white walls and stale smell, despite them obviously being cleaned for my arrival.

I doubted anyone really came in here, the previous Alpha also having just one pup.

Closing the door behind me, I made my way into Beyla's nursery. White panels covered the wall that held the door, to the right of it a wooden dresser with a changing mat on top and white drawers. Above it were three pictures of baby animals - a raccoon, rabbit, and lamb. On the other wall, right next to the dresser was an oval crib, which's wood matched that of the dresser, beige and white triangles forming a pattern on the sheets. As decorations, there were two pillows, a light pink and a grey, as well as a little stuffed toy I couldn't tell if it was a bear or dog. The wall, unlike the one with white panels, had wallpaper with trees and their hanging leaves.

At the corner of the wall stood a comfortable-looking grey-white chair with wooden legs, a green blanket and light pink pillow laid atop it, and wooden shelves full of books and decorations above the chair.

There was a window next to the chair covered with a curtain that was yet another shade of beige and white. The rest of the walls were a plain green.

"What do you think, bean? Worth moving for?" I scoffed. I liked the room, I couldn't lie. It looked cosy enough for my little girl to want to sleep, and eventually play in as she grew older, but I couldn't help but miss the nursery she already had.

The one her mom had put together, full of love and anticipation for the pup she never got to meet.

That one had pink walls and accents, a lavish chandelier, crib canopy, and looked like it was done specifically by my Rosie.

This one, I couldn't help but notice, was specifically created for a father - almost no pinks or girly details, even though I wouldn't have minded one bit.

I sighed and closed the door shut, concealing my longing within it. If I kept the door closed then maybe I could pretend that once it was opened I'd walk into the nursery I was used to.

Too exhausted, mentally and physically, I entered the master bedroom, setting Beyla on the bed, and plopped myself down with her, trying and failing not to let my thoughts spiral.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! Pictures of both nurseries are up in my group, Let me know which one you like best!