*One Year Later*~Zahara~ I concluded Alpha training a few months ago. I feel Lennox and I learned a lot over the two years. I’m 20 years old now and will be 21 in three months. I will officially take over the pack from my father when I turn 21. He and I agreed to wait because he isn’t in a rush and wanted me to feel comfortable. He would feel better if I were taking over with my mate, but I haven’t met him yet. I have been taking classes online the past two years, but I still have a way to go. I’m studying Psychology. I feel that would be useful as an Alpha. I will have to deal with other packs as well as rogues and it would be helpful if I can gain insight into other mindsets. We have been called to the Wild Tail Pack and I have no desire to go. It will be my dad, his Beta Simeon, myself, and my future Beta Lennox. The new Alpha of Wild Tail specifically asked for us to visit and dad is thinking that he and I may be able to come up with an alliance. Our packland
~Cory~ Everyone is running around, crazy this morning. Well, actually, it’s been the past week. Laslo has been on a mission to get everything looking brand new and shining bright. From what I’ve heard, there is someone he is eager to impress. They will be on packlands, at his request, and it is like a ‘one shot’ type of thing. I can’t imagine anyone turning Laslo down, so I’m sure he has nothing to worry about. I continue to be the punching bag for the family with no one in this pack to help me. Well no one except for the Beta, Cyrus Franks. He was always loyal to my father and did what he could once he died. He is very limited on what he can do, unfortunately. We found out really quickly that Gunner Barlowe, the Gamma, is very much on the Luna’s and Laslo’s side. Any help I get from Cyrus is extremely discreet and not much. I can’t complain though because any help is better than none at all. Cyrus has been helping me with school and I was able to get
~Cory~ I can’t believe Zahara is here, standing in front of me. I have thought about her so much over the past two years. I have had dreams of her. I don’t know what it is about her. It’s probably the fact that she was the only one to take the time to talk to me and get to know me. It has been so long since anyone took an interest in me; since anyone ignored the consequences and spoke to me. It made a major impact on me and I didn’t want to let it go. Most of my recovery was spend with Zahara on my mind. I take in the sight before me. Zahara doesn’t seem to have much on her face, letting her natural beauty shine through. I like that she still keeps the braids in her hair because it is a good look for her. This time she is wearing red and that seems to make her skin glow. Her light blue dress is hugging all of her curves and I’m loving the sight. I slowly stand up and take a step towards Zahara and she takes a step towards me. “Hey Zahara. You are the
~Zahara~ I enjoy the sparks that are erupting on my fingers, but the look in Cory’s eyes is not what I expected. His eyes went from excited, to scared, and now sad. I can’t imagine what it could be that would make him feel so many emotions. Cory, gently, removes my hand from his face and looks away. I’m starting to get a bit nervous since his behavior is changing so drastically. Cory stands up and faces the fountain with his back facing me. “Maybe you shouldn’t have told me we were mates. We could have, definitely, remained friends.” Why wouldn’t he not want to know that we were mates? What is wrong with me that he wouldn’t want what the Goddess has blessed him with? Cory turns and faces me. “I don’t want to ruin your future. You are an Alpha and you need a mate that has strength. I wish that were me, but it isn’t.” Cory drops his head and I can feel Aria getting restless in my head. “There is only one thing I can give you.” Cory looks in my eyes. “I, Cory Willi
~Laslo~ I knew I should have never given into Nikki, but she was always available for me at any time. She has always liked me and I will admit that I freely took advantage of that. Why wouldn’t I? I’m young and single. Being the future Alpha and not having a mate leaves me open to do as I please with whomever I like. Now that I’m Alpha, there are a few women who would love nothing more than to be named my Luna and Nikki is at the top of that list. I have never encouraged her, but you can argue that I didn’t really discourage her either. I will not tolerate anyone treating my chosen in such a manner. She is meant to rule with me and be worshiped by all. Nikki is looking at me with fear in her eyes and she should be scared. It will take nothing for Nero and I to end her life simply because of how she treated Zahara, but I acknowledge that now would not be a good time for that. “You need to make yourself disappear. I don’t want to see you for the rest of the day a
~Zahara~ I knew he would try something, but Laslo as my chosen? I would never and that would be the same even if my fated had died. That brings my thoughts back to Cory. I tried, in vain, to search for him while we were on the tour. I didn’t want to make it obvious, especially after Laslo’s offer, but I wanted to find him. Unfortunately I didn’t catch sight of him anymore. The meeting next week doesn’t help me either because he doesn’t seem to be in a leadership position. That means that I will not be able to see him on my territory. I have to figure out a way to get to Cory and pick up where we left off. Well, not pick back up at the rejection that is. “Penny for your thoughts?” “Why couldn’t I find him, Lennox? I find my mate and then he disappears.” Lennox is sitting next to me and I can feel his eyes on me. “We will figure out how to get to him, I promise. It will become my priority.” I sigh and reach out for Lennox’s hand. I give it a squeeze and
~Laslo~ I head past the packhouse to the row of houses along the East border. I see the light on at the home I’m going to and a silhouette of a woman out front. I take my time walking toward the house, replaying the last few hours. *Start of Flashback* I let Nero take over and we are bounding through the woods. I’m running into branches and trees, but I don’t care. I’m trying to shake off the anger that is consuming me. How dare she not take me up on my offer. How many Alpha’s would extend such an offer anyway? We would both benefit and we can combine the packs. We make it out to an open field where we plop down. Our head is laying on our front paws and I’m willing us to calm down. I hear twigs crack behind me and I wonder who would be bold enough to walk up on me. I turn quickly and growl at the person walking up to me. “Al…..Alpha?!” The voice is shaky and low. I take a good look at who it is and my mood does not improve. I growl again, causing Ni
~Zahara~ We have been running for a while now, through the brush and the trees. I can’t remember ever being this fast before. Aria and I just knew that we had to get to Cory as soon as we could. I can feel his vitality getting weaker by the minute. I try to push my worry out so I can focus on getting where I need to be. I can feel Lennox behind me the entire run and I’m grateful to have such a great friend and Beta. We run out of our territory and into the neutral territory that borders it. I continue to follow my connection to Cory and I can faintly detect his scent in the air. As I run, the scent gets stronger and stronger. I can smell his scent mixed with the metallic scent of blood. Someone hurt Cory and that riles Aria up in a way I have never experienced. Mate is dying. No, Aria. We won’t let him die. We will get to him and we will save him. Aria grunts in response and pushes us further so we can get to him as fast as possible. I see a lump on the groun