The White Wolf

Chapter Sixteen

~Payton~

All of our days are seem the roll into one, we spend our day's training, Jamie even takes over some of the training when Nick is home to look after the girls. The Packs that visited have sent 10 people each to train with us, we trained them to train others while they were with us, to help train more people quickly. They were good fighters, strong and had stamina so we just improved technique and taught them how to fight vampires more effectively. We also taught them to shift during a fight. Brix was sent to train with us, she said that from our last meeting she researched white wolves and that my behaviour matched that of one wolf that froze her heart, she also found the cure. I explained my frozen heart to her, how it happened, why I wasn’t ready to feel just yet. She said she understood. She never mentioned again. The time she was here though, we had become good friends, she had also become good friends with Elizabeth and helped me get closer to her. Elizabeth was always in Jake’s stories of his children, but I never really got to know her. She was funny, friendly, and really smart. She had studied at university, she always downplays university, but she graduated highest in her class. Sometimes I have been doubting why I keep my heart frozen; I know I would have been really happy with being close to Elizabeth and Brix. Jake watched me from a distance, and when called for, he took part in the training.

I trained with Magic at unusual times to hide it from the newcomers and managed to successfully hide Jake’s scent and take down the Ice wall. After much debating Jamie and Jake thought I was ready to kill Sebastian. I told Jake that it was likely they would want us to be Alpha to the shadow pack, he said that if they do, we will find a way of making it work, I said about moving the two packs together ensuring the survival of both. I did say that I will give them their freedom to choose their Alpha, like any other pack he agreed that it was best to give them the option. We made plans for when the trainee’s go home.

We watched the news, even the human world had gone to pot. The crime was up, especially murders, then there were disappearances of humans making the news, no bodies found so either a really good killer or these people were just walking away from their lives. We suspected that vampires were killing or turning humans and hiding the bodies.

We planned on how to get to the castle to do the deed. Jake wouldn’t allow me to go on my own, Jamie wouldn’t leave Zoey, so I begrudgingly allowed Jake to go. It was a long journey, and I couldn’t drive it all on my own. We planned to leave the following day, going over the plan constantly. I get a good night’s sleep, by the look of Jake, he did not get a good night. We stopped sleeping in the same room, so it was probably his wolf that was restless being away from mine. Jamie and Nick pack the car, put an inflatable bed in the back seat of the car. So, what I and Jake could sleep without leaving the car. I wouldn’t need on concentrating on hiding our scent or us being found out. We planned to take it in turns driving and the other one could sleep. Claire has packed loads of food, more than enough for us for the journey there and back, 3 times over. Jake packed an IPOD that Elizabeth had loaded music on too, I sang along to the song I knew. When we were both awake, we talked about the pack, how he was excited to be an uncle, he asked if we could go shopping for a present after all this. I agreed. Elizabeth, Marc, and Josh were preparing to do the spell on me when I return. He asked why I had agreed, I told him that being frozen and watching everyone else be happy in their lives makes being frozen hard as I want to care. Its weird situation, I guess. He was happy that I had agreed to unfreeze my heart.

It took a while and many shifting of seats, but we finally got there. We park up, fifteen minutes outside of their patrolling line. We change into our breaking in outfits, they weren’t anything special. Mostly camouflage, although once in the compound it won’t be much help. We block the pack link from our minds, we didn’t want any distractions. We gear up, putting knives and guns in holsters. I also call the elements to me; I ask them to be close in case I need them.

Once we were ready, I concentrate on covering our scents. We leave the car and head to our entry point on their patrolling line.  We use the forest for cover, ensuring we make no sound. We keep out of sight as we near. Once we see our opening we dart through, making our way to the castle wall. The only way in and out is the main gate, but when this was remodelled, the Alpha was paranoid that if anyone could get in, there was no means of escape, so they made an escape route out. Thankfully for us, Sebastian had been lazy on the upkeep of the moat and he dried it out. The escape route came out underneath the bridge, it would have been an underwater cave back in the day, and I think I might suggest they refill it with water and traps. We watch wolves patrolling the bridge, there wouldn’t be a way for both of us to get under the bridge without being seen, so I use the air to cool them down so they huddle by the fire to warm up for five minutes. We shift and run under the bridge and into the cave, we watch for a minute to ensure no one saw us. Then we head in, back in the day we would swim up, but we are going to have to climb. Jake gets out the climbing gear, and once we’ve reached two thirds, we find a ladder which makes it easier. Once at the top we get our torches out and follow the walkway through a maze, thankfully Jamie and I used to play in the tunnels once we had discovered them, so I know how to navigate them. Once we get to the top we listen for voices or footsteps. This leads to the old servant's passageways, so I doubt they are in use. Once we are both happy, we head out. Then using the passageways, we head to the Alpha’s quarters. Once there, we will need to swap over to the other side of passageways. We listen and no one is in the room, so we quickly dart over to the other ‘door’. I push the panel and Jake signals someone is coming we manage to just shut the door in time for the ordinary door to open. We wait and listen. I wonder if they know about us, or if Sebastian knows about us. It was one of the maids, talking to her friend about bedding the Alpha, while his mate slept in the other room. That would have been murder for my mother, but now I could smell the fact he had cheated on her with several other wolves. She was not the only one. She was bragging what it was like, how amazing it was. I would have killed her if I hadn’t frozen my heart. Jake tugged on my arm. The other girl was ohh-ing and ahhh-ing at the right places, but you could hear she wasn’t really interested. Her voice sounded familiar. The girl was complaining about how he came to see me, then he’s been hiding and he wouldn’t tell her where. She complained about not sleeping with him for months, not seeing him. How she was fed up waiting for him to come out of hiding. She was happy he killed his Luna and got her out of the way, but how the pack was sad about the Luna she knew he wasn’t. The fear around the castle was high, normally you could smell it near but even though we were using the corridors that no-one else did, we could still smell it.

I decide to leave then, we head down the stairs, following his scent from the only time he came his way months ago. He has a camera outside the room, which is weird as he doesn’t have any leading here. I know the door can only be opened from his side.  I sit on the bottom step, out of the side of the camera, I call air water and fire. Air moves through the locks, gaining the weak points, where would be best to hit, then I send water in, water freezes the locks. The fire rapidly heats the weak point of the lock. The lock shatters and the door swings open. I thank the elements for their service but don’t completely send them away.

“Daddy, I’m home,” I say more as irony as, as I was a child, he insisted that I called him dad, Jake is hot on my heels as I enter into the room. He stands from the chair in the left-hand corner. “My god, you put a shower down here, you should have used it,” I say wrinkling my nose. “You should have allowed me to kill you on the day you” emphasis on you “killed my mother. Instead, you bring me here, why? So I could smell how you betrayed my mother before she had died, how you had tortured her?”

“What happened to your eyes Payton?” he questions, not with any interested more of fear.

“Oh these, do you like them?” I c**k my head to the left slightly.

“Not really, they are kind of unnerving.” He shrugs.

“My heart froze, you took my mother from me. My heart couldn’t handle being betrayed like that. I literally stopped caring like a switch. If you thought you could appeal to my caring side, you were mistaken.”

He pulls out a gun of his own and shoots at Jake. I use air to stop the bullet. I then use the air to suffocate him. Then I use water and I dump it all over him, then I use the water to freeze the air around him. He stops there shivering.

“You see Sebastian, I would have been your weapon if you’d handled me better, but instead you were too concerned I would take the pack from you. I could have found Jake, moved his pack here, where you could have ruled over both of them, then you could have used me, instead you treated me and my mum awfully. It’s a shame really, you could have been the top Alpha” I say shrugging.

“How did you….?”

“Learn all this?” I shrug. “The goddess taught me pieces. we researched pieces but really your stalling for time, don’t worry I want your pack to see you fall. I hope they bring that pathetic little girl that was in your room with them, so she could see her Alpha fall.” I look into his eyes, he knew, he hoped they didn’t.

‘They are here.” Jake links to me turning his back on me and watching the door.

Once the best of the pack reaches us, Sebastian shouts, “Kill them.” I laugh.

“You know they can’t.” I then shift into my wolf. My beautiful, snowy white wolf. This pack had never seen my wolf, they know what the white wolf means. They freeze.

I shift back, “Your Alpha has been lying to you, for years, since I was sixteen in fact. Did none of you wonder why he locked me up in a tower? I wasn’t just my mother and fathers child, I became the pack child, the one you all had a hand in raising me. He came to my pack the one who accepts me and cares about me to bring me back here when it didn’t work, he killed my mother. Those of you who passed through the Alpha’s chambers would have smelt the onslaught of women he had in that room, torturing your poor Luna.  I came here for my revenge; he shouldn’t get to live while my mother is dead. I will kill him; I will free you from his reign. I will give you free choice, you can choose your next leader. Hopefully, you will choose wisely.” As I finish my speech he shoots and hits my shoulder. Everyone freezes, Jake cries out for me. He should have aimed for killing me, I smile over at him. I instantly call air and start to suffocate him while I shift leaping at him, and push him down snarling, he shakes me off and we begin to circle, this space is less than ideal, it’s small, especially for two biggish wolves. This will work in my favour.

‘Don’t worry I got this’ I send to Jake hoping it makes him feel better, he is hovering in the doorway, the front of the pack moves closer, Jake moves so they can see better. ‘I will survive’.

I close my human eyes, and allow my wolf full control, Wolf, do your thing, I will call the elements to support us, we will then shift once I can gain control of them. I breathe in slowly and out, then I open my eyes, I use water to freeze so he slips, I dump cold water all over him too, I withdraw air then force it back in, all the time he has to fight my wolf when he thinks we are cornered, he lunges in for the kill, I but down the ice, and shift, sliding right underneath him, I get my knife as I slide I hold it up, essentially gutting him. He whines as its happening, he’s cornered now, I shift back, closing my human eyes and tell my wolf to finish him however she saw fit and she did deliver. It’s not just our human halves that are connected and emotionally tied to our mothers, so are our wolves, he didn’t just kill my human mother, he also killed my wolves, wolf mother. My wolf is annoyed she no longer has her mother.

I turn and head back towards the pack which had backed up, I shift back to human as Jake reaches my side.  

“Shadow pack, I wasn’t lying, I am giving you free will over who your next alpha is, but you need to know, Sebastian kept you in the dark of how dire the wolf community is in. Wolves are dying in the thousands each week. They have lost their Protectors and they do not have the ability to know how to protect themselves. You need to choose a leader that will not just protect you but protect all of the wolf kind. Black wolves, white wolves are not above other wolfs, we are all wolves. We all need protection and the only way to do that is to protect each other.” I say, taking Jakes hand.

“Oh Payton, we will still choose you, we knew you would be our Luna, we didn’t know the white wolf and don’t appreciate that being hidden from us. From the day you were born, before you could talk, you just had this natural ability to calm people down. You’ve trained harder than any wolf here, you studied harder than anyone of us did. You freed us from his tyranny, not to take it for yourself but to give us free will, and with that, we still choose you.” said Valerie as she steps forward giving me a massive hug. I froze for a minute. She was always my favourite, she’s in her late thirties, she took second in command young. She trained hard with me, she made sure I got extra helping in food, she ensured I had my own place when I turned 18, she arranged for my training with this pack doctor. She was strong in her own right. She was a dam warrior. As she knelt, so did the rest of the warriors. “I’ve called a pack meeting at the front of the stairs,” she says.

“Valerie, did you know what Sebastian did to Jamie?”

“Jamie?” she said frowning, “didn’t he run away with you?”

“No Valerie, he got caught and was tortured to the point of losing himself in his wolf.” I quickly add after seeing her face “but he’s ok now, he’s found his mate, and got babies on the way.” I look at her with sad eyes.

As we head out, two men came and got a dead Sebastian. The whole pack was there, waiting, Valerie stepped out in front of us all. The two men threw Sebastian’s body on the floor in front of her. Looking annoyed with having to touch him.

“Today is a good day, Sebastian is dead. We have long suspected Sebastian’s evil doings, today they have been confirmed. He kept the fact that his stepdaughter, Payton Saunders, was in fact a white wolf. He killed Payton’s mother, his wife, and our Luna. He also tortured Jamie Adler to the point that Jamie lost himself to his wolf.” There were a few gasps. The people closest looked so sad and hurt. “Payton, however, found a way to save him. Payton from the day she was born has been saving us, she’s the calming influence in a storm, she tempered Sebastian’s nastier side. When she left, do you remember what it was like? We raised her, we trained her, we guided her, she is the protection of our pack. She gave us the freedom to choose our own Alpha. She did not come to take our power for herself, she came to set us free and ask for our help in defeating the evil that is coming. For this, I believe we should make Payton and her mate our Alpha, however, if anyone would like to come forward and put themselves forward as Alpha, then we will listen.” No-one spokes works, maybe they mind linked her. Nope, they knelt, one by one they knelt raising their hand's palm, the last one to bow to us was Valerie. Looking out at the pack that had raised me, I came overwhelmed with pride, with happiness that I could make their lives better. I started to feel dizzy, Jake caught me, as always. I could see their pain and suffering, it was written all over their faces, but one thing that stood out the most was their strength and their hope.

“My mate, Jacob Arendelle and I would like to accept, however, us accepting would mean you accepting another pack. Jake and I are Alphas to another pack, the Moon Pack. I can see your pain and your suffering, but I also see your strength and hope. I can’t guarantee that you will be safe, but I will tell you, Jake and I will protect you to our last breaths. There is a great evil coming I have been visited by the Goddess herself who told me that it was coming. A long time ago, black wolves were revered. We were part of packs, after the last grand battle, our forefathers decided to hide here. Those packs need us once again, they need us to protect them, to teach them to protect themselves, without you, they will surely die. I cannot do it alone. I won’t be easy, but we will do it together because that is when we are strongest.” I shift into my wolf, my snowy white wolf standing at the top of the stairs, met by Jake’s midnight black wolf, I rested my head on his shoulder blade. Members of the pack start shifting, sitting, and bowing in wolf form. We sit for a few minutes. Then we shift back, Jake and I shifting with clothes on. “Those that reported directly to the Alpha please meet me in the office, everyone else gets back to your lives, we will meet again for a grand dinner.” I smile at them then walk into the castle. I head for the office with those in charge following me. Jake takes my hand and is looking around.

“I need a minute with Jake” turning to them but speaking to Valerie.

They nod and wait in the hallway, Jake follows me into the office.

“What happened to you? Why did you get dizzy?” I can see Jake’s puzzled look on his face.

“We don’t need to do the spell Jake,” I walk over to him, crossing the few spaces between us in a heartbeat, jump and wrap my legs around him, bringing my lips to his, he wasn’t responsive at first, still processing I guess, then he growled lowly so only I could hear and pushed me up against the wall, I drew him in closer.

“not now” he grumbled, “I am so glad your back, we can celebrate later,” he said with a wink. I opened the door to the office and one by one those in charge of various sections of the pack came in.

“Let me introduce my mate, this is Jake. Jake this is, Valerie,” I point to each person, “She is head of training and second in command. Next is Maximus, or Max for short, he is third in command, in charge of kitchen staff, in times of war he is the guy who sorts food out for the pack. Then this is, Owen, he is in charge of the grounds, so that maintenance and in times of war or an attack he is in charge of our ground strategy. This is Bree, she is in charge of the castle, so any housekeeping, shopping, or money expenditures, and visitor stays, this is your girl, and lastly Althea or Thea, for short, is in charge of medicine, she is a doctor and has trained doctors and nurses that she in charge off, we have a medical wing that we keep well-stocked, there is always a doctor and nurse on staff. In times of war or an attack, our medical staff are pulled from the fight and set up medical tents.”

“Ok, I am sorry it might take me a while to learn it all,” Jake says shaking hands with each of them.

“Oh, don’t worry, you don’t have to learn right away, Sebastian was in charge of this pack for years and didn’t bother, he has a list of who we are and what we do in the top draw. He even laminated it” laughed Thea. “you can tell how much we meant to him.” She said rolling her eyes.

“I am so sorry; I should have honed my skills here and then killed him before he did more damage,” I say to them.

“No, he would have killed you, Payton. You did the right thing; we knew how to handle him. We are glad you returned to us.” Owen speaks.

“Without being rude, you are already Alpha’s to another pack, what is your game plan?” speaks Max.

“Well, due to what’s coming I don’t think packs will be much of problem, I think it will keep us separated and easier targets. Our two packs, I would like to move them here, to start with, we will keep the two packs routines separate, with the hopes we can integrate making one, better pack. What do you think?”

“We don’t know what’s happening in the world, so we will follow your lead,” Valerie says.

“Thank you, tomorrow we will head back to the Moon pack, we will discuss this with them, then we will ring to let you know the game plan, while we are gone, we would like you to do the jobs you are so good at, anything that you would normally take to the Alpha, please discuss amongst yourselves, if not, then do not hesitate to phone or mind link us, don’t we need to a ritual for that?” I say as more of an afterthought.

“Yes, we will complete it after dinner tonight, then you can rest for your long journey home,” Thea says.

“Thank you. It’s going to be hard, and I know not everyone will like having another pack move in here. I honestly think that it will be safer for everyone to do that. We can’t be split between two packs. I would like any families living outside of the castle grounds to be moved in here, then if Bree and Valerie could allocate rooms to our moon pack that would be great. Vampires and rogues have been working together, to steal pregnant women, they are also attacking packs, killing members. The only pack that we’ve not locally been in contact with is the crimson pack. This place is the best place to protect us from if we can refill the moat up and open up the river again that would be nice. Keep us a bit safer. Does anyone still work outside of the pack?”

“No mam, Sebastian ordered them not too,” Says Max.

“Ok, once everyone is in and the dam allows the water to flow again, we will keep the bridge up, only lowering it when we need too, to allow people to go shopping and other things. We also know a spell to ward off vampires so we will give that you are too. Max, if you can start ordering and stockpiling food, Bree, toiletries and other necessities and Thea medication, that would be grand. I feel like this is the long hall. We will get there but we need to ensure the safety of all members. To transfer the moon pack here we will travel across the country in buses, I think that will be safer, I can also deter any unwanted attacks through my magic. The next coming months will be hard on the shadow pack, it is our job to make it easier. I am happy to be home.” I smile at them as they leave, I give them a big hug and Jake shakes their hands.

Once the door closes, Jake turns to me, “Payton, do you think having two-packs under the same roof will be a problem?”

“yeah it will be, but I have a feeling that eventually, we will end up with all the wolves under this packs protection. It is a fortress, you saw how hard it was to get in here, we will have to be creative in how we handle this situation. I feel for both packs, and I feel back for asking your pack to move, I just feel that it will be the safest option for both packs now.”

“I know,” he picks me up and buries his head in my neck, I wrap my legs around him to stabilise myself, and return the hug. “I have missed you so much. I love you.”

“I love you too,”

We stand there for ages, his legs much of ached, his smell, his strength and his love kept me from ever wanting to be put down. I just wanted to be wrapped up in his arms forever.

“I am sorry for putting you through my frozen heart thing. We should really phone the pack.” I say to Jake,

“Yes, we should, they will be getting worried now.” We turn to the phone in the office, Jake dials the numbers, we put them on speakerphone and Elizabeth answers.

“Good afternoon, this is the moon pack residence, Elizabeth speaking, how may we help you?”

“Elizabeth, it's Jake. How is the pack?”

“Jake” she squeals. “oh, everything is fine here, did you win? how’s Payton? What happened? How was the drive? We were so worried.”

“Hey, it’s Payton, we won, everything is fine, except we are now Alpha’s of two packs, I gave them their freedom and they chose me anyway. Oh, and I won’t be needing the spell you found either”

“Why not? do you not want your emotions back? your ability to feel?” she says, kind of sulky.

“No, you miss understand, I don’t need it, it happened all on its own.”

There is just a whole load of squealing, and then movement.

“Hey, it’s Jamie how can I help?”

“It’s me, Jay. Everything went to plan.”

“Oh, that’s good, I’m so happy, when are you coming home?”

“Tomorrow morning, the thing is Jay, they made us Alpha’s to this pack too, and do you want some good news?”

“You kill Sebastian and being the new Alpha, isn’t the best news?”

“Nope, I won’t need Elizabeth’s spell,” I say almost excited.

“Ohh, that’s a relief, I wasn’t sure it would work anyway.” He sighs, “anyway I need to get back to training, will see you tomorrow morning, I will hold a meeting tonight to explain everything to them tonight.” He hangs up.

“Did you know that we would become Alpha here?”

“I knew it was a possibility, and I did tell you that during our many planning sessions.”

“Yeah I know, I just feel like I’m cheating on my pack like I’m power-hungry or something,” Jake says, sitting down in the office chair.

“Jake, it is perfectly normal to feel like that, it is how I felt joining your pack, but this isn’t for power, it is for the survival of the wolf race, we need them, and they don’t know it yet but they need us too. They survive that’s what they do, but they do not know how to live, that is where your pack is superior. I love this pack, they are all truly amazing, but I also love your pack, and I am hoping we could one big lovely pack.”

“Me too.” I sit down on Jakes lap, then there is a knock, and a voice carries through the door that dinner is ready.

We attend the great hall, always kitted out for dining the whole pack. The whole pack was here, we make our entrance, and they all bow, we get to the ‘grand’ table,

“Thank you, everyone, for attending this special dinner tonight. We are proud to be your Alpha and Luna and we will do best by this pack, with you is the future of this pack. I will be showing Jake around after the ceremony, then we will stay the night and return to our other pack, there we will discuss moving them here. I am not lying that there is evil out there, the wolf kind is in danger and you, all of you, will be the wolf kind protector, you will be how we survive, not as cannon fodder like in our history, the reason we formed our pack, but we will teach these wolves how to protect themselves, we will pass on our wisdom, I have lived outside these walls, it is terrifying, but with your backing your wisdom and your courage, we will be able to do that with ease. This pack isn’t about black wolves anymore, it is about all of us, Jake and I will not reign with an iron fist, but with understanding, with flexibility and with kindness. You are now freer than ever before. I do recommend every pack member living within these walls, and Bree is going to contact each of you to do so. If there is an attack and they attack you outside these walls, we may not be able to get the pack to you in time. The heads of each section will hand out your jobs, in preparing this place, if the other pack decide to move here, they will be trained as you were, they will take jobs as you do. Thank you for your acceptance.”

We eat dinner and after before the ceremony pack members come over and introduce themselves to us. A few of my friends before I shifted came up and said hi, my old maid came over and asked how I was doing since she last saw me, I introduced her to Jake as Luana and asked if she wanted to be my maid again, she said that a few of them wanted to travel back to our other pack. Gertie, her full name Gertrude, Mason, and Elijah all wanted to come too. I said we would have to clear that with the others, but we didn’t mind. Most of our wolves hadn’t been outside the pack. It would be an experience for them.

I saw Jake admiring the grand hall, it was beautiful in here, there was like a staging area, that was slightly raised that we and the other leaders where sat. Then in front of us was rows upon rows of tables all setup, people sat on them in any order they wished. There were loads of tables free even though there was a full pack here. our numbers had been slowly dwindling since the last white wolf. There was about 200 in this pack, it was feared amongst the wolf kind, however, there was less than 100 now. There was gold artwork on the ceiling about wolves, and there was wall art along the sides. There were several entrances and exits, one being towards the kitchens. Once everyone had eaten and the tables had been cleared, we always cleared our own tables, putting the plates and glasses in stacks by the washing machine, which would likely be on most of the night. Pots and pans are cleaned during the cooking stage with the industrial dishwasher. Once we could we were guided by the pack to the clearing where our ceremony is taking place. We aren’t ones for grandness, so the pack circled is, with those in the highest rank first. I took Jakes hand, I smiled up at him, they each spoke their name, and blessed us, sprinkling us with water with rose petals in it. The last being Valerie,

“As a pack we accept you, we will allow you to guide us, to rule over us, and to show mercy and wisdom where you see fit. I, Valerie, second in command, accept your time as Alpha’s and bless you in the name of the goddess” she bows, then they all do. Then they shift one by one, Jake and I are the last to shift. Turning into the White and Black Alpha’s of this pack, here we lead the pack into our first run as Alphas. We head out towards to forest that starts on our territory. We run for miles, enjoying being wolves, we have played, as wolves do, we investigate each of the pack members, sniffing them and learning their scents, as we did, they also presented their name. Then we were hit by vampires. The bad kind. Well, there doesn’t seem to be a good kind anymore, or if there is, they are in hiding. They didn’t manage to kill anyone, although they did try to steal a few women. I send everyone back to the castle and fought off those trying to attack those fleeing, Jake was by my side throughout it all.

‘They must have known that Sebastian has fallen.’ I say to Jake through our link, while I growl at them as they cut me and Jake off, they didn’t touch any of those retreating, thank the goddess. A few of the strong fighters were protecting those retreating,

‘Roll calls them all Valerie, I want to know every man, women and pup is safe.’ I mind link to her in the newly established pack link.

‘Everyone is safe but you two.’ She links back after a few minutes.

‘Let everyone watch this, they need to know what we can do, Jake are you ready?’

‘Let’s do this’ he replies.

The main vampire was bragging about getting us alone, how he could kill us, I snorted in my wolf form, it was the closest I would do to a laugh. I and Jake had been practising in many different ways to work together. Jake had come up of ways for us to protect each other and work in a pair like Jamie and me. We tried Jake coping Jamie, but Jake wasn’t Jamie, so it didn’t work. Plus, Jake and I are both Alphas, so we didn’t think it worked that way.

Jake and I spin so we are bum to bum, and we jump at the nearest vampires, taking out a fair few. Ripping their heads off is the easiest way for a wolf to kill them. I allow my wolf to do what she does best, which is fighting the ever-growing horde of vampires. A few getting bored of waiting to fight us would try the pack, but they were ready and killed them without hesitation. I close my human eyes and think of the sun. Remember the heat from the sun on a hot summers day,

‘ready when you are’ I link to Jake who promptly stops fighting and put his paws over his eyes. We worked out that other wolves can not be near me when I do this, but as long as Jake’s eyes are protected, he is safe. Jamie theorised that it was because we are mates. I release the power I was storing up in me, killing the vampires instantly. A few that were at the back, where shielded from the full potential straight away, tried to use their vampire fastness to outrun the sun but got caught as their comrades were turned into dust. I thank the sun powers and fire for allowing me to have them. I really need to find a way to repay the elements for always catching me. I walk over to Jake and rub my head over his shoulder, licking his paws. He gets up and instantly plays jumps me, I shift roll under him and shift again the other side, my front down and my bum in the air, tail wagging. We head back to the castle side by side still in wolf form. As soon as we walk into the courtyard the pack descend on us, sniffing up. They start to shift and thank us for protecting them, how awesome me burning them was and how I only cared about the pack. My heart stopped for a split second, these people, my people didn’t know true kindness.

Eventually, everyone went to their homes or back to their rooms in the castle, I told Valerie I was going show Jake the rest of the castle, then we would be staying in my old room, we will live in the Alpha suite when we come back but I want to redecorate before I live in there. She nodded that she understood why.

“Jake, this place is huge, I think there is a map in the office you might want to use?”

“Don’t be silly, I will learn it, just as I will learn their name’s,” Jake says, making me smile. I take his hand and lead him up to the double door entrance.

“The castle has been remoulded over and over again, throughout the need of the pack, here we eat like a pack, always together, this way we as Alpha’s can always see the pack at least once a day. To left, this door is a cloakroom, we put muddy shoes and coats in here. To the right this door is a bathroom, while the pack is here, they can use this one.” You can see the awe in Jake’s face as he actually takes in the entrance, it’s all marble, two staircases are meeting at the top with an open hallway. Directly in front of us are two double glass doors, that lead to a well-lit courtyard type garden. It was filled with flowers, such as lavender, jasmine, and others I can never remember the names too. “So to our left, this is the accommodation side, there are also out-houses that have been converted into housing too, I believe although I would need to check with Bree, most of the pack live outside of the main castle, leaving these rooms to guests. Each room has its own bathroom. The Alpha wing is the top level of that side. There are three or four ways for us to get to our wing. I would like to remodel it first. There are also seven or eight other rooms on our wing, so I was thinking your family could take the other rooms?”

“Yeah, maybe I will talk to them, or we could save that wing for just us?” he says as he winks at me. I tiptoe and kiss him.

I lead Jake to the righthand hallway, starting on the ground floor. I show Jake the library which is situated in one of the spirals of the castle. There are all types of books in this library.

“Elizabeth will love this library, it’s huge,” Jake says, peering in.

“Yes, it is, and she will, there are also ancient text’s in a vault underneath she can study. There is also a dungeon, at the end of this hallway, we won't go down there as it creeps me out, but that is where your father and Tasha will be put until you decide what to do.” Jake just nods. “There are comic books, kids books, adult human fiction, autobiographies, learning textbooks, everything a human normal library has, plus there are historical wolf books here too. Children here have a lesson on a Saturday morning to learn wolf history. That lesson is also conducted here in a side room on one of the higher floors.”

We close the door to this room and walk a little further down, I show him our office, and then the smaller office that the head of each section uses. When we look in, they are all working on stuff,

“Look see,” I smile and wave at them as I close the door. I open the next door directly opposite them, “This is the gym, swimming pool and hot tub, children have lessons on a Saturday afternoon, to learn how to swim, Sebastian also expected all wolves to work out for at least an hour each day. That’s a combination of this and fighting classes.”

“Well things will change around here then, while yes I get black wolves are almighty, they also are being’s,” Jake said in a sad voice.

“I knew there was a reason I love you,” I say as I squeeze his hand. I then show him the door to the dining room, then I go into the last door, “this is the dungeon. It is labelled.” We then head up the stairs to the second floor which is based on entertainment. I show him, where the cinema is, complete with cool reclining seats with cup and snack holders. A fully stocked fridge with drinks and cupboards full of snacks. I show him the DVD room that has DVD’s the pack requested. There was also TV shows. I also show him the gaming room, where there were a WII, XBOX and PlayStation, there were also some other older game consoles and a computer set up. I then show Jake the table tennis and foosball.  

We then head outside and cover the armoury and outhouses, Jake couldn’t believe how many weapons there were. I show him where my old apartment was, he looked around and said it, was just how I had described it to him. We shower and get into some clean clothes; Bree must have brought up some for Jake. We snuggle up in bed and chat until we fall asleep. I felt like we were closer now, I told him all about how it was like to have a frozen heart, he told me how hard it was, to have me there without having me there. I apologised for it, and for doubting him. I was still very annoyed with Tasha. We curled up and fell asleep, it was a restful nights sleep.