Wolf Spirit Awaken, The Summoner Series

Chapter 8

POV Tessa

~20 months later~

It’s April and Ella, Jonah, and I graduated from warrior training today. I was top of my class overall. In hand-to-hand combat, I was even better than the boys. I couldn’t be prouder of what my friends and I have accomplished together. We grew even closer, if that were possible, once I told them my secret. They were able to help me find places to shift in the forest that surrounded my house. The first time I showed them my wolf, they were both in awe and amazed at my size and eye color. They have been my support system as I tried to figure things out and helped me keep my secret. Marissa also sent me a masking scent to help other wolves in my pack from detecting my wolf.

It had been a long journey, but things were about to become a lot different. I will turn 18 years old in a month. This would mean I would get my wolf for the first time, or so pack members would think, but since my wolf was so powerful and different, I wouldn’t be able to shift in front of the pack. Usually, the next full moon after someone’s 18th birthday, the pack does a run in their honor to recognize them for becoming a full werewolf. I wouldn’t be able to get this honor.

These past two years, Justin, the future Alpha, has become meaner at school and bullied omegas often. Our school is highly ranked in the area, so other packs will come to our high school to learn. Any ranked member who attended, he targeted and bullied to assert his dominance over them. It usually results in bloody fights. He is going to be a horrible Alpha. No teachers dared report him to Alpha Lorenzo since he was next in line, and they didn't want to be punished. The way he targeted other ranked wolves and omegas, just tells me that he would not accept me and that it would be dangerous for me and maybe even my family.

Usually, the Alpha turns the pack over to their heir once they are 18 years old and graduated. Typically, the ceremony for transition into the Alpha position is the next full moon after high school graduation. So, he will become Alpha in a month and a half, which coincides with the same full moon that I would run with the pack after my 18th birthday. I think it would be best to leave the pack before my birthday. This would eliminate any questions and remove me from ever becoming a target or I could try to fake having no wolf, I ponder. Due to my power, the potions from Marissa are becoming harder to contain my scent.

I honestly hate the idea of leaving the pack. I know my family will stay since they have honorable positions, but since I am just a warrior, I do have more flexibility. It isn’t uncommon for some wolves to continue their education by attending university. This requires them to leave the pack, but they don't need to sever pack ties. I, however, would need to sever the pack bond. I will become a rogue once I do this. Joining another pack is not an option. I don’t know any other packs that wouldn’t see me as a threat to them. I’ll need to speak to my parents. Maybe they can lend me money to buy my own land where I can live in the forest. This way, I’ll be by myself where I won’t be disturbed and my family, Ella and Jonah can visit me whenever, without restrictions.

Jonah is close in age to me, and he turned 18 years old last month. He hasn’t found his mate and luckily it wasn’t me. That would have been weird, I chuckled to myself. He will make his future mate very happy one day, but he is perfectly good as just my best friend and nothing more. As soon as I got my wolf at 16 years old, I would have been able to detect my mate, if they also had their wolf. Luckily, I haven’t found them in my pack since I am planning on leaving.

I just need my parents' help to get Alpha Lorenzo to release me from my pack. It is possible he might say no; a young female warrior leaving that is unmated. The possibility that he thinks I could be leaving my mate behind since I’ll be asking to leave before my 18th birthday. I am hoping for my parents' relationship with Alpha and Luna will appeal to them. He won’t need to know I am going rogue just leaving. He should be able to trust my parents' words.

As my parents worked on getting permission from Alpha Lorenzo, I was working on finishing my school and assignments to expedite an early graduation. My parents also were willing to give me most of their savings to buy several acres north of the Pine Creek Pack. The land I was looking at was about 50 acres. It was an hour's drive from here and the land already had an accessible road into the heart of the property. The land did need some work, like clearing trees out to accommodate a house and yard. Honestly, at this point, all I had was time to work on building a property that suited my needs. I could also frequent the human world more, but I would need to avoid areas that werewolves frequent. I don’t want to end up on anyone’s radar.

I shared my plans to leave the pack with Ella and Jonah and they were saddened by the news but understood. Even more so now with the change in Justin over the past few years. They both knew it was for the best. When I told them that I was buying land about an hour from here, they both became happier at the thought that I was close enough to visit often. I just needed to help my parents help me leave the pack with no problems. I would like to leave cordially through Alpha Lorenzo, but if he doesn’t allow it then I’ll just have to run away and forcefully break the pack bond. This, unfortunately, means I would no longer be able to mindlink my parents or friends. I am not sure what believable story we could give to him to allow me to break the bond. I am sure he would be concerned for my safety about not being associated with a pack.

“Hi sweetie,” my dad calls to me from downstairs.

I am lying on my soft fluffy comforter. I just finished my last assignment that I will be submitting to my teacher tomorrow and then I’ll be able to graduate early. The principal has already approved my early graduation request. I bounded down the stairs in a hurry, anxious for him to tell me what the Alpha said about me leaving the pack. My dad chuckled at me as I almost ran him over upon entering the kitchen. He sticks his hands out to steady me on my shaky feet.

“Slow down, you almost took out your old man.” I now chuckle lightly.

“Dad, you look like you're 25,” I rolled my eyes. It’s true, werewolves age slowly, so sometimes it is hard to gauge their actual age. My dad is 50 years old, but he could pass in the human world at 25 years old. He has dark brown eyes, dark brown hair that is kept neatly trimmed by a few inches. He has a defined chin, strong cheekbones and no wrinkles. He is very handsome looking.

“I was just very eager to see how it went with the Alpha. What did he say? What did you tell him?” I shot out all my questions quickly.

My dad grabs for a glass in the upper cabinet and walks over to the sink to fill it with water. He sighs and then answers me, “It took a lot of convincing, and he was very reluctant to let you go as a rogue.” He pauses. “But your mother and I were able to convince Alpha that you have a human boyfriend that you want to leave the pack with and that you were going to choose him as your mate and not wait for your fated.” I stare at him quizzically.

“Well, that sounds like a good reason to put it forward. He believed it?” I asked.

“At first, he didn’t understand why you would give up your life in the pack, your family, your friends, and your warrior status. You have just graduated from the top of your warrior class. He was extremely disappointed. We just tried to convince him that you were in love and, even though we were also disappointed, we couldn’t force you to make certain decisions and that it was up to you. So, we said we agreed with you leaving the pack.” My dad pauses again as he takes a sip of water and looks thoughtfully.

“Alpha did say that if you decide to relinquish your pack bond you would still be welcome to visit since we reside here, but you wouldn't be able to bring the human since they are not allowed to know about us.” Well, that's not a problem, since I don’t have a human boyfriend, I think to myself.

I squealed loudly, jumping up and down as his words finally resonated with me.

“Yes, oh my goddess, I can’t believe it.”

I feel immense joy that I am able to get away and not be found out and probably punished or hurt by the future Alpha. As I look at my dad, his face is full of melancholy. Tears prick my eyes from the waves of sadness rolling off of him.

“Oh daddy,” I said softly while walking to him to embrace him in a tight hug.

“I mean I know you were going, and I agree with you needing to leave, but I think it all dawned on me today and I will miss you terribly, sweetie.” He squeezes me tightly in the embrace.

“But you know I’ll only be just an hour away from here and on your free weekends you can come and help build a house with me. Just think of all the new adventures we will have together.” I tried to reassure him.

“I will look forward to us hanging out and doing new activities together. You have to promise me you will be careful. Even in the human world, you will be a rogue, other werewolves will smell that, so you must be careful. Your mother and I would not be able to bear it if something happened to you.”

“I will be dad, but I think you're forgetting how strong and powerful I am. You were just commenting on my warrior graduation and how I was top of my class. It will be alright. Solitude will be good for me to practice and develop my strengths and powers. I feel myself becoming stronger each passing full moon. I feel like I haven’t even tapped into this unknown energy that I feel flowing through me. I need to take this time to learn about myself and become one with myself.”

A long journey of self-discovery awaited ahead, and little did I know that developing myself would pay off for the troubles that were coming.