Chapter 2

Vivian's Pov

A brown-haired woman was running in my direction with arms outstretched. I wasn't the kind to shy away from physical contact, but after spending so much time sitting in a plane, you start to feel filthy and unclean. which, at the time, was how I felt

"Hey Lily," I replied as I hugged her, aware that I was kind of trying to keep distance but that it was impossible to ignore because of how tightly she was gripping me.

"Wow, you've grown so big since I last saw you" she said, startled. Given that any girl would not want to hear that. My eyes rolled at the idea. Nine years separated Lily and I in age. She had long brown hair that was controllable and fell in gentle waves about her face. Her thin lashes framed her dark brown eyes, and her high pointed brows gave the sense that she was quickly astonished. She also appeared younger due to the crinkled wrinkles around her eyes, but her fuller cheeks did not help. She stood five feet five inches tall and was surprisingly stunning for someone her age.

"Oh, wow, thanks. And after such a lengthy flight, yes, I'm OK," I retorted sarcastically.

She gave me a sorry look and then snatched up one of my bags. "Vivian, you understand what I mean. I didn't call you fat . You seem to have gotten a lot taller, that is what I was simply saying." She said angrily, putting her free hand in front of her throat as if to defend it, "No need to rip my throat out". I grinned at her showy behavior. After leaving the airport, we went to her car and loaded my bags in there. Lily climbed into the car and started to take us where we needed to go.

"You have your packing list, right, kid?" She hummed and kept driving in quiet while I nodded in agreement. Throughout the entire ride, she kept turning to look at me before eventually saying what was on her mind. "Now, don't be worried, but Cusco's pack land has a little more security. I'm not permitted to explain why, so don't worry, just pay attention and follow the rules." Since i am new, this wasn't really concerning. I gave her a glance but didn't ask. I had my doubts about this being their method of being vigilant for assaults.

Each wolf was aware that it was improper and could result in more issues than it was worth to try to get information about another pack. When on another pack's territory, a foreign visitor was required to have identification, display their pack birthmark, sign a paper from a high rank, and abide by any rules and regulations that were issued. These days, alphas took security and trespassing very seriously.

Lily entered a route in the forest that was straightforward for those who knew the way but difficult for others. My wolf became calmer the further into the forest we went. Although the setting was unusual, it was familiar to her. Ten minutes later, we came across a sign that said in large, bold letters:

Private Property. Do Not Pass. Will Be Shot on Sight.

That would have been enough to stop them for any human, but the majority of wolves understood that it was only a warning to humans. Before they were even a mile from the formal pack grounds, werewolves who chose to pass would be halted. Two powerful men with firearms suddenly appeared a few feet away from the car, as if to prove my point.

Before them, Lily rolled down the windows and slowed to a stop. It was alarming because I had previously visited, but one strolled slowly to the car while the other stood in front of me with his hands poised to draw his revolver should I make a mistake.

Lily said gravely, "Lillian Grey, born on Cusco soil and still a member." The man who was standing next to her window gave us a curious glance before inhaling deeply to smell us. Lily smelled like the countryside, whereas I probably stank of Humans.

He said in a rough and wary tone, "What about her?" That was my cue, I thought.

"Vivian Grey, a native of Defluo and a current member. Permission was given for a visit to discuss family issues." With my hands shaking a little and my pulse pounding hard in my chest, I said, "Documents in check," as professionally as I could. Even though I had done this numerous times, it was a little nerve-wracking.

"documents, a mark, and an ID" he asked and I nodded as I pulled my paperwork from my backpack, looked through my wallet, and pulled out my ID. He got them from me. After reading them, he scanned the ID and me, as if I had changed in the two years since I had taken it. He gave them to me again. I still had brown eyes, a little baby fat, and brown hair that was cropped to my shoulders.

"Mark?" he inquired. I grabbed my hood's zipper and pulled it open, lowering my shirt's left collar to reveal my mark.My pack's markings was identical to those of the others: three claw slashes with a line running through the middle and two exact circles underneath. I zipped up the hood but left my collar unzipped.

He briefly displayed blankness before giving the all-clear with a nod to the man in front of him.