Chapter 2

SASHA POV

"Happy Birthday Ethan," the group of pre-teens yell as I sip my lemonade.

I watch my baby brother blush, and I smile. I can't help the love that fills my chest as I watch him open present after present. Although I am jealous of his life, I love him more than anyone. He is the sweetest boy around. While many of his friends act ashamed of their sisters, my brother typically follows me around like a lost puppy. He constantly asks me to train with him, and he includes me when he plays video games.

He is such a handsome kid too. He already has a following of females, and it is so funny to watch. He never knows how to respond when one of them compliments him. He is tall for his age, and he looks like our dads, but he has mom's blue eyes. Outsiders always think we are full siblings since mom can pass for my biological mother. I have the same color of blonde hair as our mom, and our faces are similar, but I have my father Jackson's eyes.

Ethan's eyes meet mine, and I hold up my drink in a fake toast. He rolls his eyes at me but smiles. When he looks away, I look down at my healing hands. After my blow-up in my parent's office, I ran outside and destroyed an oak tree that was the same age as my dads. If Luis hadn't drug me home afterward, I would probably be in wolf form right now.

Realizing you have no purpose in life is a massive slap in the face, especially when you have been trained your entire life to be a royal. I thought I would have some grand purpose. When I was a child, I felt that my purpose was aiding in the war. But after my parents defeated Stefan, my thoughts shifted. I figured I would be the temporary queen until my brother found his mate. But now I realize I am like a piece of China. Something someone has but never uses. I will be up on a shelf gathering dust until I die of old age. Accomplishing nothing!!

I sigh loudly as a strong scent of pine mixed with honeysuckle and apple pie sits down in front of me.

"What father," I ask, not looking up.

"Sasha, look at me," my dad orders, and I growl a little.

I look up to see my eyes staring back at me.

"I'm sorry," dad says in a sincere voice. I don't move, and I don't change the irritated expression on my face.

Dad sighs and drops his gaze down to his hands. He closes his eyes, and I know something big is coming. Dad Jason and my mom have always been more emotionally open than my Father. But when he does share his feelings, it is always like this. Difficult.

"Ever since Helios pulled you out of that panic hole, you have been my number one priority. Not my mates and not your brother, you. The thought of losing you eats at me every single day Sasha. Because no matter what, I will lose you one day. Unless someone is able to kill me before you pass on, I will lose you. You will die. No parent should have to watch their child age while they stay frozen in time," Father says before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"I have kept you locked away, and that was selfish of me. I admit that I was overbearing, and you should have gotten to experience the same childhood that Ethan is getting now. The only excuse I have for being so overprotective is the fact that the thought of losing you terrifies me. I want to prolong your life for as long as possible, but I also have to let you experience life, and I haven't. For that, I am sorry. I am so very sorry," Father whispers while meeting my gaze with a broken expression.

I sniffle and nod. Father grabs one of my hands in his, and we both sit in silence for a moment as we process our thoughts.

"I never think about your immortality, but I can see how those thoughts would affect you," I say in a low voice while glancing at my Father's young face.

He nods as his eyes flick over the celebration happening all around us.

"I don't expect you to. In your eyes, we are still normal but just wait until you turn forty. When you appear older than your own parents," Father says, looking at me with knowing eyes.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I contemplate my own mortality.

"My life may seem short to you, Father, but it is the only one that I will have. I can't not live it because you are afraid," I say, and he nods along with my words.

"I understand that now, Sasha. That is why I am apologizing. Jason and Amelia talked some sense into me. They came up with a suitable task for you, and while I hate the idea of you leaving Riverstone, I must say it fits you," Father sighs as he watches my anticipation grow.

"What task," I ask eagerly, hating every single second that he stalls.

"Well, as you know, through the great war, the treatment of females was not the best. It has been over six years since any royal has toured the packs and made sure females are being treated with respect. So your mom feels like this would be a great task for you. You are one of the strongest female fighters, and you know the laws. You will start in White Crest, where cousin Ben can get you started, but after that, you will work your way back down. You might even run into your mate," Father says, and I jump out of my seat.

I run around the picnic table. Father stands, and I slam against his massive chest. I squeeze his large frame as hard as I can as he wraps his long arms around me.

"Thank you, Father. I will make you proud," I say against his shirt.

He squeezes me gently and smells my hair.

"I love you, Sasha," Father says before placing a kiss against my head.

"I love you too," I say back as I step out of his arms.

We turn back towards the celebration just as Ethan opens his last present, which happens to be from me. I smirk as the paint bomb I created goes off, and Ethan is covered in pink paint.

The entire crowd goes silent, and my booming laugh rings out loud and clear. Ethan wipes his face off and jumps from the small stage they have him sitting on.

"Sasha!!!! I knew you would pull a prank," he yells as he begins to run towards me.

The crowd's silence breaks as I begin to sprint away from my paint-covered sibling. Laughter fills the air, and I smile. I have always played pranks on birthdays, and this one is no different. No matter how upset I was earlier, family tradition must be upheld.

"I'm going to get you this time Sasha," Ethan shouts before his clothes tear and his young lycan feet hit the soil behind me.

I laugh loudly once again.

Sasha- are you ready, Natalia

Natalia- always

I leap, and my body morphs into my large grey wolf form. Natalia digs our claws into the earth as she bolts forward.

We bark out a laugh as Ethan growls from about fifty yards back.

Jason- alright, kids

Amelia- let them play

Jackson- let us all play

Jackson- Riverstone, anyone who wants to join us in a pack run, please do so. The Royal family is currently heading west.

Hundreds, if not a thousand howls, fill the air. My wolf and I smile. We love it when the pack runs together. It is our only social time. I slow down, and Ethan joins me on my left. I fill the shift in the pack's bond as more and more wolves enter the forest.

Our territory is massive-the largest in the world. White Crest is the second largest after my father's uncle combined three packs. But ours is five old packs put together. We can run for hours and still not make the entire loop. Although humans know about us, I bet if they witnessed the entire Riverstone pack in wolf form, they would have a panic attack.

Ethan and I slow our pace even more so our parents can catch up. Eros catches us first, but Helios and mom aren't far behind. We spend the next two hours running through the forest. Different pack members brush against my fur, and I brush against them as we weave in and out of trees. By the end of the night, our bonds have grown stronger, and we are all tired.

Tomorrow I will ask more about my tour of the packs.

ALPHA BEN POV

( AFTER AMELIA AND JASON CONVINCED JACKSON THAT SASHA NEEDS TO TRAVEL)

"Alpha Ben speaking."

"Ben, it's Jason. I need a favor."

"Long time cousin, what's up."

"Well it's not really a favor, per say. Sasha has cabin fever. Amelia and I have finally convinced my stubborn brother to let her off pack lands. We are thinking she can tour the North American packs while checking on she-wolves. We want to make sure they are being treated equally and we think she might locate her mate on the trip. But we were wanting her first stop to be White Crest. We know your females are being treated right; it's just for her first stop we would like her in familiar territory. Kind of like a test run."

"Yeah, sure. How many are visiting, and for how long?"

"We want her to stay in each pack for two weeks. She will have her guards with her. Roland is unmated and Luis is widowed. All three are mateless, so maybe the males will find mates as well."

"You know Roland's mate is probably dead, Jas."

"Don't sound so negative, Ben."

"When can I expect Sasha?"

"Is Monday too soon?"

"No, we will pick her up at the airport. Send her flight information to me."

"Will do. Talk to you later."

I end the call and press my fingers to my temples. My gut turns, and my wolf whines. Mates. Jason is crazy if he truly thinks that male will find his true mate. Most mates died during the war. Male wolves thirty and above should accept that their mates are probably dead or human, just like my mate.

I growl as I stand to my feet. I stomp my way out of my office and down to the kitchen. I need a drink. I constantly battle myself on whether or not I should give up hope. At the age of 31, I am old for being unmated. Most males my age have already given up and accepted that their mates didn't survive the war.

You could say I have given up, but I haven't. I still refuse to sink my teeth into anyone that isn't my mate. But that doesn't mean I don't have a Luna.

Ben- where are you?

Chelsea- coming back from training. I am about to be home. What's wrong?

Ben- nothing, Love. I was just wondering where you were.