Call to the Wild

Peppermint...

In the next few weeks since I came back to Dylan, I spent most of my time training. Dylan was needed else where doing Alpha stuff. There was a big meeting between all of the western pack's, where they'd discuss boundaries, alliances, and the new Alpha's. I found out that the party was supposed to be for me, he had planned it just to introduce me to the more prominent members of the pack. Safe to say I made a pretty unique first impression.

Dylan had just recently taken over his pack as Alpha, when a Alpha's eldest child turns twenty-one he would be allowed to duel his father for leadership. It was more of a show, he explained, they didn't fight to hurt one another, but they did use all their strength. It was very rare for the previous Alpha to refuse to give up the pack to his heir. He was an only child, as his mother died when he was very young and his father never choose a new mate. That was common, most werewolves mated for life, there wasn't many who choose a second mate. I learned a lot about them and their pack, it was called the Crescent Moon Pack. 

My wolf Sapphira was still blocking itself from me. I'd told Dylan all about the dreams, he was shocked, he didn't understand why I had those dreams. He'd never heard of a child receiving their parent's wolf spirit.

“Hey what’s up!” Called Axel, one of the pack members I’d become friends with. Since I couldn’t shift by choice, Dylan felt I needed a bodyguard. He had recommended a few different people, but Axel was the most easy going guy of the pack, and most of the she wolfs seemed to dislike me. Not that there were very many of them. I’d noticed that about this pack, it seemed to be three quarters make. Not very many children either. Dylan said that was normal when a new Alpha stepped in, once we had our bonding ceremony in a couple of weeks the others would naturally begin finding their mates.

“Hi.” I said as we both started jogging, I jogged every night before dinner. It was one of the few exercises I didn’t detest. Working out and training so much was just leaving me sore. 

“How was training?”

“Brutal as always.”

“Well that’s Caleb for you, he’s the best though. He’ll have you fighting like a pro in no time!” He laughed.

Axel wasn’t much taller than I was and but he was way faster, he always claims to be the fastest runner of the pack. Sometimes it was nice being a part of the pack,  but this pack could be weird too. I had noticed no one ever spoke about Dylan’s father, but he was there Alpha just last year, why wasn’t he around? I had been working up the courage to ask Dylan, but maybe I’d get more from Axel?

“Hey Axel can I ask you something about Dylan?”

“Umm okay.” He already looked like he wanted to run away, this wasn’t going anywhere I could tell.

“Where is his father? He was the old Alpha right?”

“He’s around.”

“But why haven’t I met him?” I was watching his face as he contemplated how to respond, everyone here was always on guard when I asked anything about Dylan or his family.

“I don’t know have you asked Dylan?”

“He just kinda beats around my questions like you are right now.” I said as I stopped at a bench. I just didn’t understand, everyone here, well almost everyone here was really nice, but I felt like there was something big going on that I didn’t know about.

“Can you tell me why Dylan has been leaving the pack everyday?”

“Alpha stuff.” He said shrugging his shoulders.

“Why does it feel like everybody’s hiding something from me here?”

“Look.” He started, he had a worried look on his face. “This pack has been through a lot. When Dylan’s mother died, his father shut down. The pack members could no longer find their mates, it almost destroyed the pack. Only a handful of hopeful pack members stuck it out waiting for Dylan to succeed, he’s got a lot on his shoulders.”

“I get that, but..”

“Just talk to Dylan about this stuff okay.” He said pulling me back up to run.

That’s how just about any conversation about the pack went, ask Dylan, they all said.. Wr ran a few more laps around the pack lands then headed into the main house for dinner.

“I hope everybody’s hungry, I made my famous million dollar spaghetti!” Called Opal, she was the oldest member of the pack and she made dinner every night for anyone who wanted to come eat. 

There were already quite a few people sitting down, about a twenty people, looked like I was the last one here. A few of the older pack members would look up and acknowledge me. They always come to dinner, with their children who were all around Dylan’s age, maybe a few were older like in their thirties. I guess it was to show unity and respect or something. Most of the pack had their own homes scattered through out the pack lands, there were only about a half dozen that actually stayed in the pack house. There was Alex who was Dylan’s beta, Sage and Blaze the red haired twins they were Opals grandsons, Opal who pretty much ran the main house,   Axel who was part of the guard along with Jake, then Caleb of course who was the packs main trainer and head of the guard.  

After dinner I returned to my room, I took a shower, and later down wondering when Dylan would get back. It was only seven, but I was feeling beat. That night I had the same dream that had plagued me for years. Except this time my wolf stopped at a lake and stared at her reflection in the waters.

“Get out Ayla! Get out of there while you still can!” She shouted...

Suddenly I smelled peppermint. Was this the dream?

“Ayla, are you awake?” He called out in the dark.

I opened my eyes and peeled around the room, it was Dylan. He was getting undressed. My heart was pacing from the dream, but being with Dylan always helped me calm down. I watched him take off his shirt and then his pants, he was just in boxers now. Sometimes I think he got dressed super slow just for my enjoyment. 

“I’m getting in the shower just in case you’d like to join.” He said with a wink before going into the bathroom.

I giggled, but stayed in bed. I’d though about it, but the dreams were just getting worse and sometimes I thought things were going to fast. In less than two weeks we’d have a bonding ceremony which was basically like getting married. Except there was no divorce for werewolves. The bond would be for life, I’d never even had a real boyfriend. I went on a date once when I was seventeen. 

As I started to drift back off I could here the shower and a strange noise kind of like a voice. It was muffled...

“Ayla.”

As I fell asleep a new dream started. I was running through the woods, someone was after me. 

“Ayla listen!”

Suddenly I was standing in the woods in a long purple dress, the wind was swirling around and the dress was shredding into long strips of ribbon until I couldn’t see anything except purple.

“Ayla hear me!” Ayla you’re in dang-“

Oooof! Something bounced onto the bed disturbing my nightmare. Peppermint hit me again, it swirled through the air.

“Sleeping well.” He asked as he wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Not really.” I mumbled without opening my eyes.

I didn’t understand what was wrong with me? What was wrong with my wolf?

“I can make it better.” He said kissing my first on my forehead, then on my cheek, and finally on my lips. Mmmm. He was a good kisser...