Chapter 3

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise in time with the flame I saw licking across the pack house roof. No, no this couldn't be happening, why? I smelled blood in the air, heard the howls of the pack and knew we had trouble on our hands. Shifting into my wolf quickly I ran toward the sounds, and where the smell was the strongest. The woods smelled dirty, musty and my paws pounded the solid earth in rhythm to my escalating heartbeat. I was dreading what I may find as I got closer and the stench of blood grew stronger.     I skidded to a stop as I broke through the last of the trees before the clearing. The pack house was alight as well as the surrounding structures, everyone was scattered, fighting. I saw Jay barrel through a tangle of wolves, Christian hot on his heels, both sinking their teeth into anything in their way. Nick and Toni were picking up attackers smaller than them and throwing them back into the fray. I heard a loud howl and recognized my father calling out, throwing my head back I answered, letting him know I was here and, for the moment; still alive.   

  It was all a blur, the tangle of fur, teeth, snarling. I felt blood splash on me as I bit down on a wolf who was attacking me. That was when I saw him, glaring at me but not moving, like a statue. Had he been studying me this whole time? Waiting? I circled him, he reeked of Alpha, his dark fur shining, he did not move but stood completely still. He was too young to be the current Alpha, was he perhaps the next? And why wasn't he attacking, but appeared to only be defending? I continued pacing in a circle around him, his eyes trailing me as far as possible. I gauged him, he was tall for a wolf, slender, he may be able to outmaneuver me, but unless he tried I couldn't be sure. The ground was already soaked in blood, and if this Alpha wasn't going to attack I didn't want to either.     

"Why aren't you attacking me?" I asked quietly, just loud enough so he could hear. His eyes widened, startled by the sudden question.     

"Because you are an Alpha, and a female, and deserve that respect. I have no desire to fight you until the current Alpha's finish." His voice was low, baritone, sweet like honey and just as thick. I stopped pacing. 

    "Then could you please stop glaring a hole in my head? I've had that enough tonight and I am sure so have you." I said in a completely casual tone. He snorted a laugh.     

"Aren't you interesting? Fair enough Alpha." He almost grinned, at least that is what it looked like. 

    Jay came up beside me, bumping me slightly, then he saw the other wolf. I saw both of their hackles rise, giving them what almost looked like a mohawk down both their backs. Jay's big grey wolf growled menacingly and was answered by the almost black wolf in front of us.  

    "Who is this?" Jay said under his breath.    

  "That is a good question" I muttered, kicking myself for not finding out. I swished my tail, irritated. I addressed the other Alpha "care to tell us who you are?"

      "If he takes a step back and agrees not to take off my head yes" he said wearily, his hackles slowly coming down. Jay shot him the side eye, and when I nodded took a step back. The other wolf did the same, putting more distance between us.     

"I am Zach, son of the Alpha and next in line for the Red River pack." Startled Jay and I looked at each other. The Red River pack had gotten their name for their brutality, and making rivers run red...with blood.

      "What business do you have with the Blue Moon pack?!" I choked out, terrified that this was who we were dealing with.   

  He made a motion that could only be interpreted as a shrug "I have no business with you, however, my father thinks differently."   

  I felt Jay lunge forward and latched onto his tail with my jaw, attempting to pull him back. He was much bigger and stronger than me, so I succeeded in slowing him down a bit. Not before he had managed to bite Zach in the side, with a yelp he danced sideways.  

    "Stop this" I yelled around a mouthful of fur. Jay grunted, and sat down.

"You can't be serious?! He is the next leader, we need to kill him now! Or else he will kill us."   

  "I have no intention of spilling anymore blood tonight" Zach intoned softly, "despite what you think of my pack not all of us are bloodthirsty monsters."   

  "Just most of us" said a silken voice. A smaller wolf had come to stand beside Zach's huge wolf. This wolf was slightly more built than Zach, not quite as tall and a burnt orange color. I raised my head to look at him, his blue eyes danced, intelligence clear in his gaze. I started, this wolf was an Omega! Omega's did not belong in battle, ever, yet here one was. Not just that he was standing beside the Alpha, almost as if he had his back.    

  "And who are you?" Jay ground out. Obviously hoping to use his Gamma status to intimidate the newcomer. The wolf just smiled, and did not give an ounce of indication that he was concerned whatsoever by my Gamma.   

  "I'm Mike. An Omega and this asshole's brother." I felt my eye twitch, that wasn't possible was it? I looked at Zach who nodded in affirmation.  Not knowing what else to do, I sat down and laid my head on my paws. No more surprises today please I pleaded with whoever was listening.