One

[Three weeks ago]

No one had heard from the Ouma or her pack for many years. All invitations to annual ceremonies have been sent back with a polite but brief decline.

No one is really surprised. The Silver moon pack has always been secretive and well...different. However, everyone was surprised when the Silver moon pack suddenly reached out.

Everyone is curious, everyone is talking and rumours are flying around like a storm. After more than 25 years, The Silver Moon pack would not only be making an appearance, they were inviting another pack onto their territory.

The Silver moon pack was different from other packs for many reasons. Folklore is that the pack was predominantly female all of whom were chosen to join the ranks except no one has been chosen to join the ranks in at least two decades. Then there was the fact that their leader was the Ouma; a high priestess or elder (depending you talked to) who had the divine link to the moon goddess.

Daniel, the soon to be Alpha of the Hellhound pack, took it all with a pinch of salt. Besides, he had much more important things to concern himself such as finding his mate. Because without them, Daniel could not take on the mantle as Alpha and that put the pack in a dangerous place. He had been contemplating choosing someone. They had a few females who were as tough as the males and would no doubt see the role of Luna for what it was. If he chose the right one, they could continue the Alpha line easily. While the thought was compelling, Daniel found himself hesitating and putting off making a decision.

One thing was for certain, being the next Alpha meant he had to travel up to the Silver moon pack with his father. He wasn't looking forward to it. He didn't mind the politics but he did mind the idea of being stuck around a bunch of hippies trying to play nicely. He was a Hellhound. They weren't the largest pack but they were the strongest. Their reputation meant they were often called upon to deal with the nasty work. They were a tight pack with specific rules and no qualms about killing.

It was in the midst of imagining how boring and tedious the meeting was going to be that Daniel's nose twitched at the scent filling his senses and bringing him back to reality. His dark blue eyes opened, adjusting to the winter sunlight and the sight around him. 

He had decided to take a break from the ruckus at the packhouse and found himself, cigarette in hand, sat in the training grounds. It was a natural clearing in the forest not far from the packhouse or garages, trees lining the whole space. In the summer, their leaves were a pallette of different greens, breaking up the golden rays of the sun and dancing in the breeze. Now though, the trees were naked, their spindly branches uninviting. It didn't look as inviting, not that Daniel cared.

He turned his head slightly just as his brother-in-law stepped into the clearing. 

"Alpha wants to see you." Joe spoke up, his black eyes narrowing against the sun. 

Daniel nodded and dropped his cigarette onto the wet grass. Using the heel of his boot to crush it out, he followed the other man back to the packhouse, shoving his cigarette packet into the pocket of his pack vest. 

Inside Daniel was instantly greeted by music blaring in the den and the chorus of laughter and curses as some of the omegas drank and huddled around the pool table. He heard his nieces and nephews running around upstairs and his sister, Leah, yelling after them. Nothing in the packhouse had quietened down despite the fact the Alphas and Betas were riding out tomorrow (if Made, Daniel's own Beta showed his face). Then again, it was rare that the packhouse was ever really quiet. 

Joe and Daniel parted ways at the door, Daniel heading to his father's office and Joe to help Leah corral their children. Just because Joe was one of their fiercest and most loyal wolves didn't mean he could get away from the duties of being a father. 

The Alpha's office was situated at the back of the house, away from the noise but with a perfect view of the lot and garages. Leaving the thumping of music and roar of playful competition behind, Daniel knocked on his father's door before stepping in. 

"You wanted to see me?"

Slade grunted, his dark eyes lifting from the paperwork in front of him. The Alpha was a big man and wore his years as top dog with pride. His face was usually stuck in a grumpy frown, his big hands covered in thick rings. His pack vest held the coveted Alpha patch, a patch that Daniel was ready to add to his own vest. His hair was dark blond but greying and the years of leading and aging showed in the creases around his eyes. 

"Gotta ride out earlier than expected." Slade huffed, standing to grab a bottle of bourbon and two tumblers before returning to his seat. "Just received word the Ouma wants to see us sooner than was planned." 

"Since when have you ever done what another Alpha has told you to do?" Daniel frowned, taking one of the drinks. 

"Since your mother would have my head if I disrespected the Ouma." Slade snarled. 

Daniel never understood why the older generations were so wrapped up in some old woman no one had seen in over 25 years. He didn't believe that some Goddess blessed this woman with the gift of hearing her. It all seemed a bit far fetched. But he wasn't dumb enough to tell his mother that. There were just some things best left alone. 

"Look," Slade leaned forward in his seat, his biceps bulging in his leather jacket as he rested his elbows on the scratched and worn surface of the desk. "Before the Ouma and Silver Moon cut themselves off they were a good ally of ours. It would be good to get that alliance warmed up again. They are good at pretty much everything and their land is sort after."

"Alright." Daniel nodded and finished his drink. "Let me know when we leave and I'll be ready." 

"Six am tomorrow." Slade replied as Daniel got up to leave. "Don't be late and find that fucking Beta of yours!" 

"Yeah, yeah." Daniel grumbled as he left the office and headed off to find Kade.

---

When Eshe announced that a pack would be coming to visit, everyone was surprised. It had been over 25 years since they had any contact with the world beyond their territory and for many, they hadn't been alive when it last happened. 

Soon though, a low hum of excited energy began to spread through the pack.

Eva was personally curious but not just about meeting wolves from another pack but also curious about why the Ouma had suddenly decided it was time to open their doors again. Nothing Eshe did was without reason. 

The old woman's demeanour had changed around the same time summer drew to a close. She had become distracted but also glowed with an otherworldly excitement, her onyx eyes twinkling mischievously like a child's. She was certainly hiding something...at least that was what Eva thought.

The Silver moon pack was all 25 year old Eva knew. Her mother was the pack healer and aide to the Ouma. Eva hadn't followed in her mother's footsteps though. Instead she had spent her life training to be one of the warriors. She took after her father in that regard but recently she has been forced to step down.

"Eva, sweetheart? The greens aren't going to wash themselves." Her mother's gentle voice pulled Eva from her thoughts. 

She took a deep breath as her day dream broke. Green-Hazel eyes looked down at the colander full of dark green leaves and the gushing stream of cold water coming from the tap. She was meant to be making dinner for them before her mother headed out to attend her evening rounds but Eva found herself daydreaming yet again. 

"Sorry mum." Eva smiled apologetically. "I think dinner is going to be a little late."

"That's okay." Nora smiled and kissed the side of her daughter's head, giving a motherly concern look. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'm just a bit tired. It's been a busy day." The younger woman nodded and turned the tap off, shaking the water from the greens. "But I'm fine." 

"Okay good…" Nora didn't seem convinced, her brown eyes lingering on Eva as if waiting for her to break. "Have you done your exercises?"

It had been a year since Noah was killed and Eva lost their baby. Eva still remembered it like it was yesterday. The elders always warned them to be wary of silver and wolfsbane but no one could have foreseen a car crash killing one of their own and injuring three others. Eva had been in the front seat of the old range rover with Noah at the wheel. In the back were their friends, all of them laughing and telling stories, reminiscing about their childhood. 

The crash hadn't even been their fault. It had been dark and stormy for much of the day but everyone had gone about their business as usual. Humans were preparing for the festivities season and that involved parties. Parties involved alcohol and on this night, alcohol meant drink driving and smashing into the side of an old range rover at 90 miles an hour and ruining everyone's lives. 

The minute the car rolled to a stop Eva had known Noah was gone. Glass and blood was everywhere. Noah was slumped in the driver's seat, his head tilted to one side. His eyes were open, calm and blue but empty. The light was gone from them as his blood gushed out of the large wound in his neck. 

Eva still remembered her own screams as she tried to shake life back into the man. But he was gone. Her mate was gone and she was left with a raw wound where their bond once was. Sure, they weren't destined mates but they were mates nonetheless. It destroyed Eva. She hadn't come out unscathed either. Her back and pelvis were broken and she suffered a ruptured spleen, internal bleeding and punctured lung.

It was a few days later that the cramps started. The last link to Noah died inside of her and Eva was left to mourn again. 

If she wasn't a wolf, Eva would have been dead. It still took a long time to recover and even now, Nora still refused to sign Eva off as fully recovered.

"Mum, I'm fine." Eva spoke up when the silence stretched on. "Go do your rounds. Dinner will be ready when you get back."

"Alright, alright!" Nora held up her hands, grabbing her coat and medical bag. "Stay out of trouble." 

"You too!" 

The old wooden door to the stone cottage slammed shut with help of the wind and suddenly Eva was alone in their small cottage. She stood doing nothing for a moment before feeling her phone buzz in her back pocket. 

Maria: So, did Nora sign you off to be part of security tomorrow?

Eva: That's a negative. I am stuck being an aide to Eshe still

Maria: Seriously? How boring! 

Eva: I know. I'm seriously climbing the walls. I am not built for this political aide crap.

Maria: Well maybe when the welcome party is over we can sneak off and go and train. Take some of that frustration out on Duncan! 

Eva: Sounds like a plan. 

Slipping her phone back into her pocket, Eva got back to preparing dinner, still a bit sore that Nora had refused to let her join the security patrol tomorrow. Eva knew she wasn't fully healed. Her back still gave her twinges but the healers were in agreement that would go soon enough. It certainly wasn't enough to stop Eva from carrying out her duties as part of security. At least that was what Eva thought. If she could shift (which she could) then that was all that mattered. 

Still, Nora had the final say and none of the senior ranking wolves were going to argue with her on the matter. Not even Eshe it seemed. 

At least dad will be home tomorrow. She thought, feeling a small flutter of excitement. 

Axl had been on patrol in the remote regions of the pack's territory for three months. Only a few of the security team headed out that way and it was only for three months but whenever Axl was gone, everything seemed quieter. Eva knew her dad didn't mind the months away. Neither Eva nor Nora would ask him to give it up as they knew this was his nature. He favoured the wolf life over their human side a bit more and this role allowed him to have a balance that kept him happy and kept his family happy. 

He had insisted on being there when the pack welcomed the Hellhounds into their territory. Axl didn't speak about it often but he had once been a Hellhound. He knew their ways and Eva suspected he was looking forward to reconnecting with old friends. His patch was proudly displayed in the living room, encased in a display case and hung above the fireplace for all to see when they came in. He might be a Silver Moon now but Nora and Axl always made a point of never forgetting their pasts. 

However Eva was skeptical of their guests. Sure she had never met them before but the pack name hardly instilled trust. Additionally, just because she hadn’t met them didn’t mean their reputation hadn’t reached her. They were dangerous and ruthless. Their Alpha wasn’t known for his diplomatic approach to threats and his son, Daniel allegedly wasn’t much better. It was like the pack couldn’t decide if they were werewolves or a lawless motorcycle gang. They ruled with an iron fist which was so very different from how Silver Moon’s leadership worked. 

That wasn’t to say Silver Moon were weak. If they were they wouldn’t have survived as long as they had without support from other packs. They just didn’t go in guns blazing and claw everyone to death just because of some minor dispute. If the Hellhound pack thought Silver Moon would roll over in submission, they were wrong.