Chapter 2

My grandfather was waiting for us at the door of the cottage where Ricky and I had basically grown up. It was a rough looking home, stark against the backdrop of the rumbling mountains which had been both our playground and training field.

Grampa had begun training us from the moment he moved us to the mountains, terrified that the murderers of his son and daughter-in-law would return to finish off Eric and myself. He had given up everything for us - his position as Beta of Red River, his beautiful pack home, his friends - all for my brother and I. We would never be able to truly express how much we loved and appreciated him.

"So younguns? Where are you off to?" He wiggles his bushy eyebrows at us as we tumble passed him.

"Dark Moon." Ricky declares, flinging his bag onto the sofa before grabbing a glass of water.

We'd trekked up the mountain to our home as no vehicle could navigate the harsh terrain. Grampa had said it was better that way, not letting anyone or anything sneak up on us.

I grab the glass from Ricky's hand, draining the last of it before adding, "Any background that could help us?"

Grampa taps his chin thoughtfully.

"I don't know much - they've always been rather secluded themselves. The alpha in my time was Nikolai Fletcher, although I hear that his son has recently taken over. He was a hard man, Nikolai. Quiet and ruthless, cold to the core. I'm sure his son may be the same."

Great. Another hard-ass to contend with. Ember muttered to herself.

Ricky and I quickly throw various necessities into duffle bags before standing in front of Grampa.

"I have taught you all that I could, now you must show the world your worth." He pressed his forehead against each of ours, looking deeply into our eyes before he continued his speech via mind-link. "Be safe and remember to stay true to yourself."

We hug him briefly before we grab our bags and hike back to the Ford. I feel emotional, like I was abandoning the old man. Like this was the end of the road for our path with him. I think deep down, I knew that our lives would never be the same.

###

The drive to Dark Moon was long and boring. We took turns behind the wheel of old Betsy so that we could continue non-stop. Ricky was determined to get to the pack with plenty of time to spare so that we could familiarise ourselves with the land. Rule 1 in Grampa's handbook is "know your environment".

"Almost there." Ricky announces as we turn off the highway and through a quaint town.

I can smell that some of the inhabitants are lycan so clearly this was a town under Dark Moon protection.

A few miles South of the town we cross onto pack land, spying two wolves sitting in the middle of the road. Ricky pulls out our identity cards from the travel packs we had been given and holds them against the windscreen for the wolves to see. Slowly they move out of the way and we continue down the road.

The pack lands are immaculate, houses nestled against clusters of trees on each side of a massive wooden Pack House, three stories high. We are told to head toward a cluster of cabins on the edge of the settlement where we would find the Beta.

"Welcome to Dark Moon." A man with grey hair and a scraggly grey beard welcomes us somberly as we get out of Old Betsy and stretch our legs. "I'm Beta Harris, the coordinator of this training program. If you have any problems or questions, either address them to myself or head trainer Jaydon who you will meet later."

We learn that there are twenty recruits who have been assigned to Dark Moon, twelve guys and eight girls. Ricky and I are assigned our cabins and quickly get settled. As soon as I enter my cabin, Megan launches herself at me, almost bowling me over.

"Natalia! You guys took FOREVER to get here!" She laughs, tugging me towards the bunk bed where she had been sitting. "I saved you top bunk but we can swap if you want."

I smile at her, a bit overwhelmed by her genuine delight to see me.

"Nah, top bunk is perfect. Thanks Megs."

She gives me a brief hug before helping me unpack my bag into the locker beside the bunk. Two other girls walk in as we're busy and introduce themselves as Ashley and Amy, identical twins from the neighbouring Midnight Storm pack.

"We were here early so don't mind us." One of them laughs casually, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Had to get out of the house before our mother signs us up on the next online dating site."

"That's not fair Ash and you know it." The one I now know is Amy replies, folding her arms. "Mother just wants us to find our mates, settle down and provide her with hundreds of grandkids to fuss over."

Megan chatters with them as she continues to help me while I silently observe the interaction. I'm definitely out of my league here.

Good luck with them, girl. I can hear Ember laughing in my head. They're going to talk your ears off by dinner.

"Are we allowed to go for a run?" I interrupt the teen-girl bonding session. "It's been a long drive and I need to stretch my legs."

Amy nods enthusiastically. "Yeah! We can all run down to the lake and back before we have to go to the training centre to meet Jaydon. We'll be having an introduction dinner before we launch into training tomorrow."

The girls quickly change into shorts and sports bras and I force myself to join them, not used to having to be comfortable changing in front of others like they are.

"Woah! Neat tattoo!" Megan exclaims as I finish dressing.

She points out the tribal ink on my outer thigh that I had used to hide the massive scar that used to dominate the area… better something I liked than the reminder of my trauma.

"Thanks Megs." I smile at her, subconsciously running my hand over the scar marks I know are there.

We file out of the cabin, letting the twins take the lead down to the lake. Ricky and a few other guys are already there, tossing a ball around.

"Who is that hottie?" Ashley basically purrs as she eyes Ricky, his shirt nowhere in sight letting his muscular form glisten in the sunlight while he pushes his beach-boy blonde hair back with his hand.

I let the twins drool for a second, watching their faces as Megan stifles a giggle.

"My brother." I finally announce, trying to keep my face neutral at their shocked looks.

Megan loses the battle and giggles aloud, drawing Ricky's attention.

"Nat! Megs! Come meet my bunk mates!" Ricky urges, waving us over.

Steven, Daniel and Matt, all decently looking guys, smile slightly at us as Ricky throws his arm around my shoulders.

"Guys, this is Natalia. The chick who has known me from the womb."

I roll my eyes at his dramatism and extend my hand to shake the guys' hands.

Ooh, sexy! Ember croons in my head.

We join the guys for a while, tossing the ball around and letting off some steam. A faint woody smell wafts past me and I drop the ball that was launched in my direction, distracted by the tantalising scent.

No. He can't be here. I tell Ember, feeling her excitement. There are thousands of wolves out there, the scent can't just belong to him.

I glance around me but there is no one there. Silently I pray that my mate isn't one of the recruits in the pack. There's no way I'd last six weeks in his presence, let alone a full year!

"Hey! Earth to Nats!" Matt calls out to me, grabbing my arm. "We need to get ready for dinner."

We run back to the cabins and the girls and I take turns to wash ourselves in the tiny shower in the cabin bathroom. I have a feeling I'm going to have to get used to being scantily clad in front of the girls.

"Goodness, I'm nervous!" Ash said with a laugh, combing her hair with her fingers.

We'd all dressed in the uniform that had been provided for us - black leggings and a black t-shirt… it seems as if Dark Moon was somewhat against the use of colour. We decided to plait each other's hair except for Megan - her flirty brunette bob unable to hold a plait. Then, arm in arm, we made our way to the training centre.

Long tables were set up to accommodate all twenty of us recruits, another table in the front seated Beta Harris and another man who I could only presume was Jaydon. He was a lot younger than I had thought he would be, probably only in his mid-thirties. Jaydon's hair was completely shaved off, adding to the series of tattoos which spread down his ebony arms and up his neck to create the ultimate picture of danger. He looks mean.

"Good evening recruits." Beta Harris welcomes us as we all sit down. "Welcome to our first debriefing. I would like to formally introduce Jaydon, one of Dark Moon's most experienced warriors and your trainer for this phase of training."

Jaydon stands up and nods to us, not saying a word before he sits down again and lets the Beta resume his orientation. A series of rules are explained - curfew at 10pm, no entering the pack house without permission, compulsory training attendance… the usual stuff. He then handed out bracelets with the Dark Moon emblem featuring on a central disk.

"These bracelets will allow you to mindlink with your fellow recruits as well as myself and Jaydon. Never take them off." Beta Harris explains sternly. "Now, let's get to know each other and enjoy our first meal together. "

We all slip the bracelets onto our wrists and once again, the woody smell tickles my nose. I sniff at the bracelet on my wrist and smell it.

Maybe this place just has that scent. Ember guessed.

Perhaps.