Chapter 5

FENRIS

"Good morning, warriors. I have called this meeting to inform you that we are receiving 6 new and probably the last generation of young wolves who will begin their warrior training from tomorrow. I expect you all to behave appropriately with these pups as they are new in this school and its rules, so no bullying around. Is that clear?" instructs Elder Aamruq to us apprentices.

"Yes Sir," we all reply together in a military-like tone.

"What do you think about these trainees?" asks my best friend Connor, sulking, and I know why he is asking about the trainees.

"You will know if you are going to find your mate, Lupe. According to what elder Raoul said our wolves recognise the presence of our mate before us. So, if your mate is one of these trainees, then your wolf must have definitely been anxious. Is it?" ask him.

"I don't know. My wolf is always sulking nowadays. Everybody here says that the number of mating has decreased due to lack of new births. I have started thinking that my mate is not born yet," exclaims Connor which makes me laugh.

Connor hits me on my head and walks ahead muttering about how I don't care if I'll find my mate or not.

I sense my mentor, Elder Raoul behind me and let Connor go ahead to face what the elder wants to ask me.

"Hello Fenris. Do you think your mate is one of these young trainees?" asks Elder Raoul being direct. I like that elder Raoul doesn't speak in riddles. There are many riddles in my life and this elder knows it thus, always comes straight to the point in a conversation with me.

"I haven't thought about finding my mate,

Elder. I am anyway an outsider in my own pack. Not knowing about my heritage is a very huge disadvantage in a world where a person's abilities are judged on the basis of their ancestors' lives." I reply back knowing very well that the Elder will understand my insecurity.

"I want you to understand this very well, Fenris, that if you are not with your mate today then the only reason for this would be that you both are not ready to take on the life of a mated wolf," says Elder Raoul.

"How are you so sure that I have a mate?" I ask him.

"Trust me pup. I know. There is a reason why I chose you as my apprentice against your wish to return to your "pack lands" and serve as a sentinel," replies the elder sardonically with a raised eyebrow while mentioning my pack lands.

"Alpha Zacharias and Luna Valentina are the best alphas. No one would have adopted a wolf pup of unknown heritage knowing that he might be a rogue's son," I reply, gritting my teeth, trying to control my anger.

"Control your wolf instincts pup. Zacharias and his mate might be good alphas but they are not your alphas. You do not know your heritage, that's why you bow down to them. You don't try to find answers regarding your heritage fearing that you may be some rogues' son," chastises Elder Raoul effectively silencing my suppressed growls.

"I apologise for my outburst Elder Raoul. May I leave?" I ask him not wanting to dwell on this topic anymore.

"Do not be upset Fenris, you have taken the decision to serve as a sentinel in your pack because you think that the Alphas have indebted you by adopting you into the pack. If you ever want to know about your lineage, wolf, you should prepare yourself to listen till the end of the story. Can you do that?" asks elder Raoul.

"Why don't you tell me now then? I want to know. Who are my birth parents?" I ask.

"You are not ready yet, pup. Control your anger. It will help you deal with the storm approaching you in the near future," replies the Elder while shaking his head.

"You are the one talking in riddles now, elder. You know how much I hate riddles. It is better if I leave now. Have a good day." I say turning to leave him.

"Have a good day son," he says, making me pause and look back at the elder. He has a warm empathetic look on his face making me feel guilty about my outburst. I just shake my head and leave him in search of Connor.

I find Connor with his baby sister, Tatiana, just outside the meeting hall and it looks like they are arguing about something as usual. It becomes tiring to become a referee in their sibling rivalry. I try to escape without being noticed but Tatiana senses me and my chances of escaping vanish into thin air.

"Hey Fenris, what's got your pants in a twist?" asks Connor, earning him a smack in the head by his sister.

"You are going to cause Connor brain damage with your repetitive smacking pup." I say ignoring Connor's question and hug Tatiana. Being the youngest of her family and also mine in an adoptive sense, she is pampered a lot.

"You convince Connor to go on a run with me. My wolf instincts are all on edge today. I feel cramped up in my human form. I need a few hours run. It can be due to the fact that I've been given a new roomie today. I don't like new people pushed onto me like that. I hope she isn't a bitch," says Tatiana, making Connor roll his eyes at her.

"Come on. Even I need a run. My wolf's on edge too. It would be better to do a perimeter check." I say and go behind one of the trees to keep my clothes and shift into my wolf form. I trot away from the trees waiting for the Lupe siblings to join me.

They join me soon and we start racing to the nearest border of the training grounds. Sniffing the air, I slow down my speed to fall back behind the siblings. A very new but amazing scent is coming from the entrance gates of the training grounds. I change the direction of my run not caring whether the siblings are following me or not and run towards the gates.

The scent of faint honeysuckle grows stronger as I near the gates of the training ground. I wonder whose scent it would be. I increase my speed and rush towards the gates still making sure to stay hidden from the one I am looking for.

As I near the gates, the guards sense me and one of them turns towards me with a questioning look. I quickly shake my wolf head indicating that there's no danger lurking around us. Being a tracker, I am allowed to wander around every nook and corner of these grounds without special permission. The guard turns back to the small group of five young wolves who appear to be filling up the booklet before their entry into the training grounds. There are two she-wolves in the group meaning one of them is mine.

I look for the owner of this honeysuckle scent which has made all my nerve endings stand at ease. I take a deep sniff of her scent and locate it to the owner and there she is standing taller than her pack mates after being the last one to fill up her form. I smile inwardly looking at my mate daring anyone to comment on her lateness.

My mate is brave!

I observe her for some time. She has hazel eyes and black hair with hints of brown in it. It is all tied in a messy bun on her head, emphasising her cheek bones and slender neck. Her skin is pale with a natural blush due to the harsh sun rays.

She seems to be wearing a man's sweatshirt and I growl at the thought of her wearing some other male's clothes but quickly suppress it thinking that it must be her brother's. The male scent however feels familiar but I don't recall where I know it from.

Shaking my head, I clear my thoughts to focus on her. I would never doubt my mate without knowing her side of the story. I shouldn't make an impression of a possessive mate to her.

I suppress my anger with these thoughts. Marcus, elder Amaruq's apprentice, leads them towards the main hall of the building. The west wing of the building is for the female wolves and the east wing is for the male wolves at the right building. I watch her walk away from the gates and me.

 The way she walks with a natural sway in her hips leaves my imagination at work. It makes me stand taller in my wolf form and growl louder with pride. She must've sensed me as she turns to look in the direction where I am standing behind the heavy foliage. I hide myself from her view. She seems to be thinking about something and quickly scurries away behind her pack mates.

Connor and Tatiana seem to have followed me as I feel their stares behind my head. I decide not to tell them about finding my mate as Connor was upset just this morning about not finding his mate. I'll first have an introductory talk with her then only inform my friends about her. The thought leaves a warm feeling inside me which I have never felt before. Soon I'll have a mate, the only one who will solely belong to me and me to her. With the decision made, I signal to the siblings to follow me and head back towards the other boundaries to complete the task at hand.