Run! The Black Wolf's prey.

Chapter 4 - A feisty little wolf

They had spent hours of talking, their discussions mainly focusing on the threat from the northern packs, and John was starting to get restless. With the Northern Pack War still haunting their memories, a blood-stained war that lasted a decade, they were all eager to find a solution on how to handle the northern packs’ aggressions, however, John thought it was all empty talk, not coming to any conclusions.

“We must cherish our peace and not take it for granted,” Eyvind had a serious face as he turned towards John. “Your parents ended the Northern Pack War, but time goes, and it seems like some of the northern packs are starting to forget. Their communication is getting more and more provocative, and they have started testing our defenses.”

The Emerald Lake pack resided in between the northern packs and the lands of John’s pack, officially called the River Valley Pack even if most people still called them ‘the Black Wolves’, and this made the Emerald Lake pack even more vulnerable to some of the northern packs’ hostilities. Eyvind and Astrid acted as peacekeepers. However, they were eager to get assurances that the River Valley Pack would send help in case of need.

“Of course,” John replied impatiently. “But we still haven’t agreed upon a strategy.”

John was, as Warren’s eldest son and the future pack Alpha, committedly engaged in the discussions and he could clearly see the need to build a strong alliance with the Emerald Lake Pack. However, he was annoyed by the fact that every time someone said they needed to send a message of the strength of their alliance, they were glancing at him and at Freya. John was not stupid! He could clearly see what was going on, and he was not happy about it. The girl didn’t seem to mind, though. However, she was obviously bored, sitting with her eyes glued to her phone, scrolling through social media, only once in a while looking up, searching for John’s gaze.

“Shall we take a break and get some refreshments? I will call on our omegas,” Rebecca stood up and smoothed out the creases on her dress.

“Good idea!” Warren thundered. He raised with some effort, his right knee hurting. It had been badly injured during battle a week ago; rouges had attacked one of the western packs and the River Valley Pack had come to their aid. His leg had been fractured at several levels, and his knee had been totally displaced! Usually, werewolves healed incredibly fast and well after an injury, but with age, healing took longer time and became less effective.

“I’ll go talk to Luke and the others,” John stood up. “I need to check on some things and tell them to start practicing with the Emerald Lake fighters”.

“John, can you please take Freya with you?” Rebecca smiled innocently.

“Mother,” John objected, “I need to go talk to the squad, regarding what we just discussed here. I don’t have time to babysi…” He was interrupted by Warren, who was looking at him challengingly.

“John!” Warren said, the tone of his voice telling him to obey. “Freya needs some fresh air. You show her the premises.”

Freya immediately stood up.

“I’d love to” she smiled and linked her arm with John’s.

John was furious! It was totally unacceptable how his parents had just treated him... He was a grown up man, 27 years walking the earth, had a higher education and was earning his own money. He was a well-trained warrior, an impressive wolf who was highly respected among others, and the future Alpha of this pack! He did not like to be bossed around like he was still a little pup.

As he stepped outside with Freya on his arm, two sweet-looking omegas came carrying a tray with cold drinks. They eyed him insecurily, noticing his bad mood, and he nodded to them appreciatively as he took one of the glasses of lemonade, making sure they understood he wasn't mad at them. Freya, on the other hand, eyed the tray disapprovingly.

"Don't you habe anything more... exciting?" she quirked up a brow, but finally ended up taking a glass of fresh apple juice.

The omegas had just moved on inside with the trays as Freya suddenly squeezed his arm and leaned towards him to whisper in his ear.

“I’ve heard you’re a big bad wolf,” she murmured, her blue eyes glittering. The heat of her body pressed against his and her scent with a hint of bunchberry flowers made his inner wolf rumble with sudden interest, and his mood improved a little.

“Oh, really?” John was amused. She was a feisty little wolf, he gave her that! But this was not the time nor the place to give in to his wolf's desires, so he kept his face neutral.

“Uhuhm” she smiled and bit her lip.

“Freya!” a familiar voice suddenly shouted. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

Freya gasped, swiftly turning around.

“Chloe!” Freya threw herself into the arms of John’s little sister and the two girls started twirling around, laughing.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” Chloe exclaimed, hugging Freya again and turned towards John.

“Isn’t she absolutely gorgeous, brother?” she smiled cheerily, holding her arm around Freya’s waist.

“She is indeed," John nodded. “So, the two of you know each other?”

“Know each other?” Chloe laughed. “Hell yes, we're best friends! We met at the Future Luna Summer Camp last year. You know, the one that's only for girls like us, with royal blood,” she winked at her friend, and both girls started giggling.

“Perfect,” John smiled. “Then you can show Freya around? I have work to do.”

A quick look of disappointment swept over Freya’s face, but then Chloe tugged her arm.

“Come Freya! Let’s get you a bikini and we can go bathing in the river. We can watch the fighter squad's training session from over there,” she grinned.

Freya gave John a quick glance, and as he nodded approvingly, the girls ran off.

“Wow, that girl is something,” a voice chuckled behind him.

“Which one of them?” John smiled wryly as he answered his friend and future Beta, Luke.

“Both!” Luke laughed.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” John shook his head. “So young. But not so innocent.”

“Too young?”

“She's way too young,” John nodded. “I can’t believe my parents are trying to hook me up with her.”

“She's very attractive.”

“True. But still too young.” John affirmed and sighed. “This whole bringing alliances by setting up marriages between the packs just feels so… medieval.”

“Yeah… But still, John. You need to find your future Luna,” Luke stated plainly. He ran his hand through his dark brown hair before putting his hands in the pockets of his worn-out jeans.

John knew Luke was right. He had already made the pack wait for quite some time, making excuses for not fulfilling his duties as their future Alpha. But before taking over the responsibilities of his father, he needed a Luna – a woman who was strong and confident, but also graceful and skilled in tactics and diplomacy. A woman who could lead together with him! But most of all, a woman who he could love and cherish for the rest of his life...

It’s not like he hadn’t tried. Usually, the Moon Goddess takes care of these things. But as he didn’t find his true mate during late adolescence, he had been on several trips over the last few years, visiting packs from north to south, east to west, to find the woman of his dreams. But apparently, she wasn’t anywhere to be found! And it would be a lit to sat that he wasn't disappointed with the Moon Goddess for denying him the experience of finding his other half... Those who did find their true mates developed the strongest bonds after marking each other. Like Warren and Rebecca; it was easy to see why the Moon Goddess had chosen them to be true mates. They complimented each other and were an extremely strong and successful couple.

He was, of course, not the only one not finding his true mate. A lot of wolves never did! Most probably because they couldn’t travel far or didn’t try hard enough, but also it seemed like the Moon Goddess was granting fewer and fewer people with this gift. People tended to go for “chosen mates” instead, another wolf who one would love and start a family with, but the bond between the couple would never be as strong as the one between true mates... The biggest problem, though, were the instances when true mates suddenly met, sometimes after many years of mating with someone else, and then things got really complicated.

“Your parents probably thought she could be the one,” Luke shrugged his shoulders as they were walking over to the fighters’ training area.

“I’m not too sure of that,” John glanced at Freya and Chloe as they came out from the main building in their bathing suits, Freya now with her red locks in a loose bun and Chloe’s long velvety black mane in a high ponytail. The girls were holding each other’s pinky fingers, swaying their hands back and forth as they were walking playfully towards the river.

“I think they’re just getting desperate to find me a suitable mate, and I have a hunch that Chloe also had something to do with this.”

“You can’t blame them, though. It’s time John.”

“I know. I know, okay?” John snapped. “I know that I am supposed to take over here as soon as I’ve found a Luna. I know I have responsibilities. But it’s a huge decision, Luke. It’s not like going grocery shopping. And I still haven’t given up the thought of finding her. My fated one.”

“But you need to think of the pack as well.” Luke remained calm. He was never intimidated by John’s temper like many of the other fighters! John found this sometimes a bit annoying, but also one of the reasons why he liked Luke so much. They had been friends since early childhood, and John thought of Luke as his brother... He trusted him with his life, and he trusted him more than he trusted Nicholas.

“And the pack needs its new Alpha. Everyone is waiting for it. And you know what happens if Nick finds a mate and they get pups, and you don’t,” Luke continued.

“Well, he hasn’t yet, so no need to talk about that,” John scowled at him. “Now, let’s go see the others and talk battle strategies instead. And where the hell is that guy? Marcus? He should have been here by now...”