Aurora

Chapter 4

  Unknown POV

  Laughter and music boom all around me as we celebrate the end of our senior year. Dozens of us are spread out all over the private pack beach, enjoying the party. A few of us that turned 18 before the party already found their mates, they all snuck off when it hit midnight. One of those lucky bastards is my twin brother, Jakob. We're a year older than our peers since we were born in the middle of the winter; we didn't match the education enrollment schedule and had to wait. Jakob found his mate during breakfast on our birthday, it turned out to be the meek kitchen omega with glasses. I'm happy for them; they don't know it but I caught their flirtatious glances before they realized they were mates. 

Dad was really angry that our goddess bestowed my brother with an omega, but, he came around after arguing for a while. Our dad can be a real prick, but, you only get one dad I guess. My brother and I are the heirs to the Blood Moon Pack, our father being the Alpha. Dad keeps grumbling that I better have a high status mate or he's going to lose it, we just roll our eyes at him. I sip my mead as he continues to complain, genuinely plucking my last nerve. I don't care about finding my mate because then, there's a 50/50 chance I'll have to take over this pack. We're all one big family, but, I feel sick at the thought of ascending. Our pack has dark history, blood on our name that cannot be washed away. 

A loud, sudden howl sounds from afar. We all snap our heads towards the sounds. Only those of us that have experienced our first shift can understand the message behind it. It's full of pain and fear, leaving goosebumps across my skin. I don't know this wolf, I think they're AWOL. A couple warriors come straight to Jakob and I, ready for the drill. "Okay, I haven't heard this wolf in our territory before. They don't sound aggressive and it wasn't a war cry. I think they're hurt, but, don't let your guard down. Find them, bring them back to our hospital, but keep them restrained", They nod in recognition, me following closely behind.

"Hey, Ashton! What makes you think you make the decisions around here?", my dad yells from behind me. He sways slightly and I glare at him. "You're obviously drunk, stay here. You get too aggressive when you drink." He growls at me, attempting to stumble my way before our beta blocks him. He looks back to me and nods his head for me to go. "Thanks, Cedrick."

                                                                                                           *

We arrive in the woods where we thought we heard the howl. We maintained our shifted forms as we scan for the AWOL wolf, wanting to be prepared for anything. A resounding thud comes from the brush ahead of us. We stalk over, keeping our noise to a minimum as we creep up to the brush. An intoxicating aroma overtakes my senses. The smell of cold spring rain in the dense forest, the kind of smell that feels like a breath of fresh air. My paws move for me, inching closer to the brush without caution. I can't control myself, I have to follow it. The others are taken by surprise by how careless I became, rushing up to stop me. I leap into the clearing beyond the brush, my eyes laying on a beautiful woman laying in the moonlight, out cold.

Minerva's POV

 It's the beeping that comes to me first. The stinging smell of antiseptic and alcohol invade my nostrils as I start to stir, not ready to wake up. Wait, I can't move my body. My eyes fly open to see leather belts with steel buckles restraining me to a hospital bed. Panic sets in as I try harder and harder to break free, becoming more distressed by the minute. "Try as you might, you won't get out of those", says a male voice ahead of me. I look up to see a man in a doctor's coat, writing something on a clipboard. I try to speak, but, my throat is on fire. All I can muster is cracked croaks. He looks to me with pity and sighs before exiting the room, leaving me alone. How did I get here? 

  The doctor returns shortly with a big cup of water and four men trailing behind him. The second man to come in the door gives me a look I don't recognize. But, I can't focus on him. The first man to walk through is a man I have never seen before, but, he strikes immense amounts of fear unto me. I feel myself shake as he grows closer, anger bubbling beneath the fear like a dormant volcano. Who is this man and why does his presence upset me so much? Each of the men take a seat on the couch and chairs to my left, my eyes never leaving the first man who entered the room. The doctor hands me the cup of water; I sip lightly as I continue to bore holes into the first man. The cool water is like the first season's rain in the desert, that relief turns light sips turned into greedy gulps. I finished and hoarsely asked for more. The doctor scurries away with my cup, leaving me with the four men. "What are you doing in my territory?", the first man growls. I continue to glare at him intensely; he shifts in his seat before another man clears his throat. 

"You mind answering him, young lady?", my eyes turn to the man sitting beside him. He looks to be in his mid 40's, gray hair peppering his hair and beard. Sitting down he doesn't seem that big, but, he seemed very tall. His soft green eyes were looking to me for an answer, so I spoke, "I have no idea how I even got here. What do you mean your territory? How did I end up in someone's territory?", he felt much more comfortable to speak to, so the questions just flooded out. My questions left them confused, looking to each other with their eyebrows raised. "You aren't aware of the lands you're on?", he asks.

"No, I'm just as confused as you. Where am I?" He sighs before chuckling, running his fingers through his short hair. 'Doll, you're in Blood Moon Pack territory. How did you get past security?"

Wait, did he just say Blood Moon Pack territory? ,"Pack territory as in werewolves? I ran into werewolves?" That question got all of them to laugh at me except for the first man, he continued to glare back. "Yes, you ran into werewolves. I take it you're supposed to be human?", the man says back. Huh? , "Supposed to be? What's that supposed to mean?", I ask, confused. I can see a flash of pity in his eyes before he answers, "I know you may think so, but, you aren't human. I can smell it all over you, you're one of us."