The Silver Adder

“Run, Ume Run!” Lasaya was shouting at me, but she wasn’t in my head, she was running beside me. It was dark, we were in the woods but there was nothing familiar about them. My legs were aching, I was gasping for air but Lasaya was still screaming for me to run. 

“I can’t, Lasaya.” I gasped, falling to my knees. Lasaya stopped and leaned down, putting her snout in my face and licking my cheek.

“Get up, Ume, we have to get out of here.” She barked. I pushed myself up to my feet, taking a look behind me. I didn’t see anything but something felt off. I was scared out of my mind. Then I heard rustling from the bushes. “Go Ume.” Lasaya shouted, then took off. I started running behind her, ignoring my body telling me to stop. I needed to rest, I needed a drink, but I couldn’t stop.

I followed Ume into a clearing with a beautiful lake. She came to a stop and I stood beside her, both of us looking into the forest we had just escaped from. “Now we have to fight.” he said. I nodded to her, trying to steady my breathing. I waited, watching the trees sway, someone or something was getting closer.

“Ume!”

I shook my head and opened my eyes, looking at my father. I was panting and covered in sweat. “Where am I?” I asked, a little confused. I looked around and noticed we were still in the car. We had been driving for what seemed like two days and I was utterly exhausted.

My father wiped my forehead with a towel. He was standing outside of the car at my side with the door opened and leaning in. Kreon, Jessy and Liam were still in the back seat watching what was happening. “I think you were having a nightmare.” He said. He closed my door and walked back around to the driver's seat while I straightened myself up and grabbed a drink of water.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Like 10 hours.” Liam answered from the backseat. “Are you okay?” I turned around in my seat to look at him. I noticed Jessy was already back to relaxing in Kreon’s arms.

I gave them all a small smile, trying to brush off the fear I had experienced in my dream. “Yes, I’m fine. I think we’ve just been in this car for way too long.” I give a light-hearted chuckle and my dad gives me a worried look but starts the car and drives off again. “Sorry for worrying you.”

I relaxed a little in the seat. Looking out the window, it looked to be about sunset, and way more hot outside than when we were farther north. From what I did know was that the Silver Adder pack was about a three-day drive from our pack lands, there was one pack between Silver Adder and Lunarflare and that was a pack that I knew very well. Father seemed to be bringing us straight north to south and I wondered if we would meet any of our western alliances.  “How much longer until we arrive?” I asked my father, turning my attention back to the car.

“Soon.” He answered, looking deeper out the window and toward the sky. “Probably right before dark, less than half an hour I would say.” He added, straightening himself up and leaning back in the driver’s seat. I wish he would allow me to drive so he could have a break. His lack of sleep is worrisome.

Jessy leaned forward on the seat over my shoulder. “Have you been to the Silver Adder pack before?” She asked seemingly to my father and I at the same time.

I shook my head no, as my father answered. “Not since it was taken over by their new Alpha.” He said sternly.

“Have you met their new Alpha before?” She asked, this time turning her attention to my father.

“I have, briefly. Pack leaders were summoned to meet him after he took over to see if we wanted to retain our alliance with Silver Adder.” He said.

“I don’t remember this.” I added, turning to look at him.

“Your mother and I went alone. We met on neutral territory west of here, then afterwards we continued our vacation to California last year. You should remember that.” He answered with a sly smile.

“That I do remember.” I replied, rolling my eyes. “You could have told us.

“It didn’t really seem to matter, Ume, we all knew going in we would retain the alliance if that was Silver Adder's wish and it was, it was simple as that.”

“Even knowing that he killed the former Alpha and Luna, friends of yours?” This time it was Jessy who spoke.

“I wouldn’t call them friends.” My father answered her. “The former Alpha was a pathetic excuse for a man, the only reason we remained in the alliance was because of his territory's location. It was only a matter of time before one of his warriors overthrew him. Even if it was an incompetent idiot.” My father rolled his eyes and I chuckled a little. “But I do expect all of you to be respectful, do you understand?” 

“Yes Alpha.” We all chimed in unison. 

“Well, I am looking forward to our visit,” Kreon said. He was now leaning forward to chime in on the conversation. “It’s not every day a pack warrior takes down an Alpha. Luckily, you two will never have to worry about that.”

“And what makes you so sure about that?” My father asked.

“Well,” He answered, thinking a little. “You’re a great Alpha and Ume will be just as good. She learned from the best.”

“That may be, but not everyone can be trusted, though I do trust all the wolves in my pack. Just remember that people can change, all people, even Ume and me.” Was my father's answer, but I didn’t ever see this happening. My father had always been fair and just and I wanted to be just like him.

The car made a right turn onto a bridge that was over a huge body of water. I could only barely make out the end toward the setting sun. “The Silver Adder territory is surrounded by a river and this lake. It makes it one of the toughest packs to infiltrate, but it doesn’t go without its rogue attacks. As you can see, the bridge in and out isn’t heavily guarded,” my father explained.

“Why don’t they have any guards, or patrols either?” Liam asked. Being a warrior himself, I am sure he could spot the gaps in security better than anyone. That was his main job at Lunarflare, to maintain security. 

“Young Alphas.” My father answered. “They have a need to prove themselves and seem to always welcome a challenge.”

“Why do men always think they need to prove themselves with brutality?” I asked, giving a little eye roll. 

“It’s just how we are wired, Alpha.” Kreon answers me by stretching out his arms and looping one around Jessy’s shoulder. “How else are we going to prove to our mates that we are strong and able to take care of them?”

Jessy blushed and I made a gagging sound. “We don’t need men to prove they can take care of us, women are very capable of taking care of themselves, Kreon.” I spout back, crossing my legs in frustration. 

“At least they have a gate,” Liam said, pointing to the front window. I turned my attention back out the front window as we approached a large wooden gate similar to the one at Terra Firma, with lit torches. The only difference is that this one was open.

There were a few guards around the gate as my dad pulled up and stopped. He rolled down the window and one of the guards approached. “Lunarflare pack I assume?” he asked. My father nodded and the man motioned us forward. After my father pulled through the gate, he stopped again, causing the guard to return to the window. “Try not to linger on the bridge.” He said with an attitude. “Just follow it to the packhouse, find an omega to help you.”

My father drove off and I looked at him questioningly. “Well, he was rude.” I spat, folding my arms across my chest. 

“Don’t judge Ume, you know not all packs are the same.” My father scolded me.

“Yeah, maybe, but all packs should have manners. Their Alpha will hear about this.” It made me really angry when my father was disrespected. 

I folded my arms on my chest as my father continued to drive down the road. Liam, Kreon, and Jessy were all leaned up in their seats just looking out the window as we drove up to the pack house.

The house was a big white mansion, just like usual pack houses except the grounds looked unkempt, the grass was beginning to get a little overgrown and all the flowers were wilted, there was also loud music seeming to come from inside the house.

I looked over and gave my father a questioning look. He parked the car and we stepped out. There were no Omegas to greet us which seemed highly unusual. “Some packs are just different, Ume.” My father said again, answering my questioning look.

Liam was the first at the door and just shrugged and knocked. We all waited for a few moments with no answer and he knocked again. After about twenty minutes or so of standing there, the door finally opened. A young man stood there and just glared at us. He seemed to be in his late teens. After an odd pause, he finally smiled at us. “Alpha Gabriel?” He asked. He was wearing jeans and shoes and had dark spiky hair. “I’m Jensen, our Alpha is waiting on you guys, what are you doing standing out here?”

He smiled again, he had a wide cute smile with dimples on his cheeks. He was a pretty attractive boy, my sister would probably have been tripping over herself to get his attention. “It’s nice to meet you Jensen.” My father answered, extending his hand. Jensen took his hand and gave it a light shake. “Do you mind showing us to your Alpha?”

Jensen rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “Sure thing, just come in and wait here for a minute, I’ll see where he wants to meet you.” We all walked in and Jensen ran off toward one of the side rooms.

The music was loud, that was one of the first things I noticed when I entered, and it was a mess. There were clothes lying around, beer cans everywhere and ashtrays. The room was heavy in smoke but I also caught faint hints of peppermint.

The music turned way down to where we could barely hear it now. “What is going on in this pack?” Lasaya said to me. “It looks more like a frat house.” She added, I could feel her roll her eyes in my head as I still took everything in. If the house was clean, it would probably be beautiful. It appeared to be a very old mansion with detailed crown molding and wooden banisters, the floors were cherry hardwood and there was a crystal chandelier in the middle of the room that pulled everything together.

Jensen burst back through the door he disappeared into. “Alpha Gabriel. They are just having a little party out back. Come with me and I’ll show you. Can I get anyone a drink or anything?” He said and I assumed he was referring to the cans of beer that were lying around.

“Not at the moment, Jensen, thank you.” He answered and we all followed him through the door. I decided to just look at the floor at the back of the line as we made our way through what looked like a sun breakfast room with big windows. 

‘

We went out through a double door where I heard the music a little louder. The smell of peppermint and pine engulfed my senses. I didn't mind much because those were my favorite scents. I had a bad feeling so I didn’t look up and almost ran into Liam’s back when he stopped in front of me. Why did it smell so good out here?

“Mate! Ume, our mate is here.” I heard Lasaya dancing in my head excitedly. I was suddenly stricken with fear when I felt the pull. I kept my eyes glued to my shoes, my voice was caught in my throat. 

The music suddenly stopped and I still did not dare to look up. Lasaya was all but doing flips in my mind with excitement, begging me to look toward the direction of the pull. Then I heard the most intoxicating voice I had ever heard in my life. “Mine.” 

His voice was low and powerful, it made me tingle all over at the sound, but I still didn’t look up. I could feel him moving closer to me as my entire body was pulling me toward him, but I fought it. “Alpha Gabriel, had I known you would be bringing me my Luna then I would have invited you weeks ago.”  His voice was like warm butter, my body craved to hear more but I was scared, his words not even registering. 

I glanced up only slightly toward my father, though he was standing there with a straight face I could see the rage he was hiding by the way he chewed the inside of his cheek. “Alpha Jackson, the girl hasn't confirmed yet. It's late, maybe she needs some rest.” I heard my father's voice say.

I felt him move away from me toward my father. “Alpha Gabriel, are you trying to come between me and my Mate? Isn’t the number one rule in our alliance to uphold the mate bonds?” I knew he was right when he spoke.

I finally lifted my head and looked at the man who had just claimed me in front of all these witnesses. “I’m sorry, I’m just tired.” I didn’t know what to say, but when Alpha Jackson’s attention turned back to me I almost melted where I stood. He was the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on. 

His clear light blue eyes burned deep into my soul. I forced myself not to bite down on my lower lip and I looked at him, his hair was light blonde and spiked up on the side and a little braid in the front with a silver clasp on the end, his skin was perfectly sun-kissed, his shoulders were to die for, hands down my favorite part of his body. I wanted to sink my fangs into him. His abs were cut in the most perfect shape and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Why wasn’t he wearing a shirt? His jeans fit his body well and were ripped in all the right places. Wait, why wasn’t he wearing a shirt? I felt feverish.

“Why are you not wearing a shirt?” Was the only thing that seemed to come out of my mouth while he was looking at me. 

He smiled and I felt my knees want to buckle. What the actual hell was wrong with me. I didn’t ever get this way about guys before. I am too busy for this! I kept arguing with myself and Lasaya was no help at all, she just wanted me to jump his bones.

He put his fingers under my chin and lifted my face a little more to look up at him. I felt sparks everywhere he touched. He was now so close to me that I could feel the warmth radiating off and I now knew where the peppermint and pine smell was coming from. I just wanted to lean into him and take a deep breath. “You don’t like what you see? Would you rather I put a shirt on?” He asked.

“I… Well… I..” I closed my mouth and just shook my head. I couldn’t even speak. I looked over at my father, pulling away from his touch, and taking a step back from him. “I’m just tired,” I finally said.

“Ume, is Alpha Jackson your mate?” My father asked. I could still tell he was angry and I really didn’t want to anger my father but I had to answer.

I nodded my head slightly. “Yes father.” I answered simply, knowing that I had to say something. “I’m just… it was a really long drive and I think I need some rest.”

My father nodded and looked up at Alpha Jackson, who moved closer to me and I was talking to my father. “Maybe we can let Ume rest and we can talk about pack matters and you two can talk after her nap? The night is still young.” My father smiled at Jackson.

Jackson looked around the room, then I saw his eyes glaze over a little, knowing he was mind linking to someone. Jensen walked up to us and Jackson looked over at me. “She can rest. Jenson will show you where you will be sleeping and I’ll personally make sure your things are brought up directly. I’ll even bring them myself.” He winked at me.

“I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you, Alpha, just have an Omega bring them up so I can change.” I then pulled away from him again and looked at Jenson.

“This way Luna.” Jenson said, and it made me visibly cringe. I started to follow him and grabbed Jessy’s arm as I passed her. I quickly mind linked Kreon and told him I needed to borrow his mate for a bit and he said he understood. Jessy didn’t hesitate to follow behind Jenson and I.

We entered the house the same way we went. “It’s just upstairs, Luna, just follow me.”

“Please, Jenson, don’t call me Luna. It’s weird,” I said in a bit of a pleading voice.

“I would rather not be disrespectful to you or my Alpha,” he answered. I chose not to respond to him anymore as we climbed the stairs to the top and went down a long hall. Jenson stopped at a room with double doors but he did not open them. “Here you are Luna.” He bowed. “Your belongings will be brought up in a moment and I can show your friend to her room whenever she is ready.” He bowed again before walking away.

I looked at Jessy and all the color drained from my face. “Let’s go in and talk.” She said, then pushed open the door.