Chapter six

Amber's pov

The next few days went by in a blur. Brian came back on Tuesday and I filled him in on the visit of Alpha Axel. He suggested to leave for the weekend, Axel might recognize him as well.

He couldn’t stay away for the whole two weeks, but that first weekend would be most important to skip. Usually when Alpha Drake had guests, he would invite them over to his Mansion for dinner and would show them around town the next day. I guess Brian was scared of what Axel might do if he found out he’s been living with the Alpha’s ex and their secret love child.

Brian had helped me when I needed it the most, but he was not a brave or strong man to be honest. Years of using alcohol to numb his senses, made him slow and he skipped out on training most days. He wouldn’t stand a chance against an Alpha. I actually felt relieved, not having to worry about Brian this weekend. My mind was busy enough with worries and thoughts about my old pack.

 

Suddenly it was Friday night, the day before Axel, sorry Alpha Axels arrival. I didn’t even know Alistair had died, that must have been very hard. He might not have been a nice man, but he was still his father. I wonder what changes he made to the pack.

I thought about my parents and sibling, most of my brothers and sisters moved to neighboring packs after they found their mate. I couldn’t blame them, I took the first chance to leave as well. My parents still probably lived there, finally living their best life as empty nesters.

I didn’t want anyone to find me, I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble. When we left for the Cold Lake pack, it was in secret. Alpha Alistair must have felt out our pack link break, I didn’t have a wolf back then so I was not yet able to mind link anyone. When we arrived at the Cold Lake pack we had a quick pack-joining ceremony, we didn’t want to wait too long and alert Alpha Alistair of our betrayal. Breaking a pack link could be because someone has died or because they have become the members of a new pack.

Most members of the Crimson Moon pack knew that Brian had lost his mate, so they would probably assume he took his own life.

I was a nobody, but some might have noticed I was gone. My parents were too embarrassed of my pregnancy, I’m not sure they would tell anyone. Would they have thought I died when the pack link broke? I was living a pretty rough life in a shed in the forest for a few weeks. But they would have tried to find my body I hoped.

Ugh, why am I even thinking of my old life. I have a new life, a new family and a new pack. I’m better off without them. Although I did miss my sister Claire sometimes. She took care of me, for most of my childhood and she was probably wondering what had happened to me. I could have tried to find her when I was kicked out, but I didn’t want to get her in trouble. How would she explain my child to everyone? A child that clearly resembles Axel. 

I needed to get some of these thoughts out before tomorrow. I couldn’t be a nervous wreck at work. I had to be alert and focused if I wanted to avoid Axel. I didn’t even know if I wanted to avoid him, but I knew that if I was going to meet him for the first time I didn’t want to be an emotional mess.

I had a life here and I wasn’t a love smitten teenage girl anymore. I could take care of myself and I didn’t need him. I could feel my wolf agree. She always gave me confidence if I needed it, letting me know in her own way that I was worthy. That I was wanted. I should reward her. I looked outside and saw it was cloudy and was going to rain. Perhaps I could let her out for a bit, at the outskirts of the forest. No-one ever went there during the day, they mostly went to the side of the lake.

The Cold Lake pack was known for their beautiful lake, in the middle of the forest. It was big, very deep, the water was clear and full of fish and wild life. But it was so freaking cold most of the year, only during the summer months some kids would dare to swim it. It was nothing like the small lake Axel and I used to visit on our secret meetings.

But it was a beautiful sight in the night, the moon would reflect on the cold lake making a mirrorlike image of the whole forest. The outskirts of the forest were dark and left to nature, the plants and trees grew wild and it was harder to run through, without hitting a branch or tree. But it was better than nothing.

Elias was already on his sleepover, I would have to start early tomorrow to help prepare everything. I walked to the forest and waited until I was far enough to shift. It could feel myself calm down and my wolf thanking me. I ran around aimlessly, trying not to bump into branches while jumping over roots.

Suddenly I heard something rustle a few feet away from me. My wolf started to get excited, like she smelled or saw something she liked. Perhaps it was a rabbit, she often felt the urge to hunt and kill rabbits while she was out. Not my favorite activity to say the least, but I couldn’t refuse her that bit of fun when I kept her locked up so often.

But when I heard the ruffles again, I noticed two blue eyes staring ay me through the forest.

Crap, it was another wolf! It was still pretty cloudy, but I only needed a bit of moonshine to make me stand out.

I tried to run away,  but without my special abilities I was just as fast as a regular werewolf. I could feel the other wolf catching up with me and out of the blew I landed on the ground. The wolf had tackled me!

I felt anger, but my wolf felt a sense of peace and home, while the other wolf was pinning me down with his paws. He wasn’t there to hurt me, he didn’t use his claws and wasn’t using much force. It was just two wolves playing around. Something my wolf had little experience with.

I slowly looked up to see who was on top of me. I noticed his blue eyes from earlier staring down at me, his fur almost gold and he was big. Really big, I hadn’t seen a wolf that big, the only one that came close was Alpha Drakes wolf.

He smelled great like Eucalyptus and Sandalwood. He slowly moved his paws and stood up, still staring at me. I didn’t realize why until it was too late. Some of the clouds had disappeared and I was glowing.

I looked down and ran as quickly as I could. While the wolf could easily catch up to me before, he couldn’t match my speed when I was charged by moonlight. I shifted back as soon as I was near the forest line.

I ran home and quickly closed the door behind me. Shit, I went outside to clear my head, but left with something and someone else to worry about.