The Wolf's Strange Song

Arrival

Unknown POV

Sliding my hand down my face, I let out an exasperated breath. I had just got back from visiting another pack and the workload piled up quickly. On top of that, my parents have been on me about finding my mate, yet again. I am not just going to take anyone as a chosen mate. I want to wait for my fated mate just like them. They act like I am 40 years old and need to desperately find someone before I die. I am only 21 years old. I have plenty of time to find my mate and plenty of work to keep me busy in the meantime. I am not the Alpha yet, as my dad still has the position, but he wants me to get used to the work. So, he offloads most of the work to me and my Beta.

To make matters worse, I am being forced to go to another party to possibly find my mate. I don't mind going to parties, in fact, I enjoy the break. I just know going to this party will pile on more work I will have to do when I return. This time, it is to a pack most Alphas avoid if they can. If we didn't need to find our unmated pack members their mates, we would never go. All the packs in the area are no strangers to accepting people who snuck out of that pack, looking for somewhere better to live. There are rumors of how the previous Luna died and how the Betas children act. Every investigation done though, comes out with nothing. The new Luna is also pretty freaking annoying. Every gathering of Alphas and Lunas ends with gossip of how insufferable their Luna is. I don't even remember her name. That pack is newer in pack terms, and will probably crumble under its arrogance one day. Many packs like theirs have fallen before. They get a lot of money from one good business, rise to the top ranks financially, get a big head and cocky about themselves, then mistreat their members, before they slowly crumble to nothing after everyone leaves them.

I, on the other hand, come from one of the oldest packs in the United States. We believe in taking care of our people as if they are our family. No job is less important than another. No pack member is treated poorly based on their rank. We do have rules to follow and have our limits based on rank. That has not hindered the kindness my people show towards each other. It makes us sad when we hear about some of the crueler packs that get away with treating their people like their personal slaves. Some Omegas turn rogue rather than stay in those packs. Being a Rogue has its dangers, but it is sometimes better than staying where they are. When we find them, we take them in and get them on their feet again.

Knock Knock

Sandy blond hair pokes through the door attached to the grinning face of my Beta. He strolls in and takes a seat on the couch before turning to look at me with his cool green eyes.

"What do you want Mace?" I groan out in annoyance at his obvious excitement. Knowing he is going to mention the party we are going to.

"Just seeing if you need help, Grey." My friend since grade school says.

"Bullshit. You came to geek out over going to the party, aren't you?" I glance up at him as I say this. His sheepish reaction says it all.

"Alright fine. I can't help but be excited. We haven't gone to a party in a while and I also want to find my mate one day too." My mighty Beta pouts, like a sad puppy. He is right though. As much as I don't want to go, him and the other unmated wolves deserve to have a chance to find their mate.

Sigh. " Look, I am too swamped in work right now to be excited. With the rogues being their usual dickheaded selves and the Supernatural Council Meeting coming up, I am just exhausted. It would be nice if you and the other unmated wolves get mated though. So, I am excited about that. As far as my mate, I feel hopeless at this point. I am tired of getting hopeful to just be let down. So, sorry if I don't want to join in on the excitement. Also, it is with THAT pack, so it will be even more unbearable than normal." I state as I tidy the piles of stuff on my desk. "Look we have to leave in the morning so I am going to pack up and call it a night. It is late as it is. You should get some rest as well. We have to be out the door by 5 tomorrow morning. It is a 5-hour car ride."

My Beta just nods and we both make our way to our rooms to get ready for the trip. I take a long hot shower after I pack and head to bed. Exhausted and not looking forward to tomorrow, I let my eyes slowly close and I drift off to a very short and restless sleep.

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A blaring noise wakes me from my too-short of sleep. It is stupid early and I am not happy about it. I open my eyes anyways to the red glow of my alarm and swing my arm out to turn it off. It is about 4 in the morning, so I trudge to the bathroom to get the day started.

Thirty minutes later I am cleaned and dressed, so I head down to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. I scarf down some eggs and toast and get my coffee to go. Mace is at the door ready for me, gesturing out the door. The driver just finished putting in our luggage that was carried down as we entered the back seats of the vehicle. Pulling away from the pack house we start to head out on our journey to Hushed Moon pack. A bus full of sleepy or sleeping unmated wolves follows behind us.

Just under 5 hours we make it to the small town nearby. We get ourselves and our members checked in to our hotel. Once our stuff is in our rooms, my Beta and I take some time to rest. As do the rest of the pack members we brought with us. After a few hours of sleep, and a short dinner, we get ready for the party that starts at 8. Why so late, I do not know. I brought two warriors with us to go meet the Alpha. It isn't much later that we are approaching the pack borders. I am pulled awake by my Beta who is shaking me. I didn't even realize I was asleep, so I straightened out my clothes and sit up tall. MY Wolf, Duke, starts pacing in my head. I ask him what's wrong but he just blows out some air and shakes his head. Then he is back to pacing. I shrug it off and get prepared to face this Alpha.

After getting through the gate we pull up to a familiar site. It is not uncommon to have Alphas mimic our pack lands out of admiration or jealousy. This is by far the closest layout to our pack out of them all. Even the mountain is shaped like ours in a way it almost hugs the pack inside. It would be more creepy if this didn't happen to be a natural accuracy and people can't help how nature makes itself. But, the pack house was almost a spitting image of the one back home. Now that is creepy.

Once we stop in front of the pack house, we noticed there is no one there to greet us. Typical of this shitty pack I think to myself. My wolf snorts in agreement. We get out of the car, thinking that someone would be out in a second, but that did not happen. While we look at each other in confusion I get the faintest smell of the ocean drifting past my nose. Someone must have a candle lit in an open window somewhere, because we are nowhere near the ocean. It is a pleasant smell though. I wouldn't mind a candle in that scent. It is almost calming. When I come back to reality, I see that I followed my Beta up to the door as he went and knocked on it. This is a horrible first impression on a guest. Typical for them to try to make us feel like they are higher than us because we are on their land. My Beta and I should be staying here in a guest room, but they have us in a hotel. These people are out of their minds.

The door slowly opens to reveal the revolting Alpha couple. Both are dressed to the nines, which is odd for just a moment of greeting guests before the party later. Alpha Cas is rather short for an Alpha, standing at maybe, 5'11. He is pretty in shape, but you can see his beer belly a bit under his flashy suit. Next to him, Luna Claire is eyeing me up, I guess trying to be seductive as she looks me up and down. She has shoulder-length mousy brown hair and dull brown eyes. I have no idea what that Alpha sees in her but she is nothing to write home about.

"Alpha Grey! It is wonderful to have you visiting our pack for the party today. It starts in a little bit, so please come in and get comfortable." Alpha Cas says with one of the fakest smiles I have seen on a person.

"Thank you for inviting us here today. This is my Beta, Mace. The Warriors will bring the rest of our unmated pack members in a bit. They wanted to freshen up after the drive." I say as nicely as I can.

The pair turn around beckoning us to follow them to an area to wait. When I step into the lobby I am hit hard with that ocean scent again. It was mouth-wateringly good and strong in this area. They must have burnt the candle in here and the smell leaked outside a bit. My wolf is wagging his tail in my head at the smell. As we walk through the building towards the back area the smell disappears a bit. We step out onto a large patio that has been lit up with string lights and candles. There are tables scattered everywhere and an area to dance. On the far right, there is a bar that looks to be full-service. For people who are trying to impress others tonight, this setup is a little underwhelming in my opinion. We head to the bar and get a beer each. Not long after we sit down, the unmated pack members of this pack start flooding in. Other Alphas and Lunas come in with their respective unmated wolves.

"Grey, our members are just pulling up out front. They will be in here soon." Mace relays to me.

"Ok. Thank you. Make sure they get in without any issues. I am going to go mingle with the other Alphas." I tell Mace as I stand up and walk to a few Alpha friends of mine.