The North has always had a cold weather, which something Gavin truly loved. He loved the cold air that kisses his skin every morning, painting his cheeks with healthy blush, the still cold air despite the high sun during midday and the wind that grows progressively colder the same time as the sun’s descent. He loves it. He actually wishes the pack had thinner clothes so he could feel the cold more since their tunics are made from materials meant to withstand the climate. But at the end of the day, it’s for protection so he cannot really complain about it.Now, the winter season is coming and the place is just getting colder and colder, and Gavin is living for it. Living in the South before, winter season was such a rare occurrence, if they were even lucky enough to have one. They only had two permanent seasons, the wet and dry, which Gavin really disliked. The wet season leaves his nose feeling stuffy, while the hot season makes him sweat profusely. So, when the rare cold season comes
Gavin scraped his bowl of food, licking his spoon clean. The pack almost always serves the same kind of food every time, he thinks it has a schedule as it changes from time to time, but for some reason, the food tastes so much better today. Well, Nana cooks really good food, as always, but something about today’s meal is different—it’s giving. And Gavin is not complaining. Though, he wishes the serving has bigger portions because now, he wants a second serving.He looked at Ainar who is sitting beside him, the alpha holding a casual chat with Nana who stayed to watch them eat. His food is also already finished, it’s not a surprise since the alpha is a fast eater, but unlike Gavin, he seemed content with his meal, spoon already resting on his empty bowl. Gavin’s gaze shifted from his own bowl, to Ainar’s bowl to the alpha’s face, contemplating. He had never gotten a second serving before, but he’s considering it now. Should he?He continued to shift his gaze between his empty bowl, the
Gavin’s eyes are drooping. The elder’s den is warm, the alpha underneath him is warm, the arms around him is warm, even the breath hitting his forehead from where he’s resting it is warm, basically, Gavin is incased in so much warmth that he can’t help but feel sleepy. Plus, the pheromones. The room is filled with shifters of different ranks, it’s only natural that their scents are mixed in the rather large space, Gavin should even be suffocating by now, but Ainar’s scent is overpowering everyone else’s, making it all so bearable for him. Gavin’s nose is buried against the alpha’s neck, just shy of where his scent is the strongest, saving him from whatever ounce of shame still left in him. He’s still quite aware that they’re in a room full of other shifters, and not in the privacy of his shack or the alpha’s cabin. Although Ainar said that it is something that he should not be ashamed of, he still does not feel comfortable showing vulnerability, aside from his alpha. His brain is fuzz
For the past two days, the Moon Valley pack was busy with arrangement for their upcoming journey further up the North. Pack members are running back and forth, regardless of the fact whether they are joining the journey or not, and are all helping to work things faster. On the second day of preparation, a medium sized wagon arrived in the pack. Everyone stared at it in wonder, the sight of a wagon obviously unusual to a pack of wolves who can just easily travel in their animal forms, except for Gavin who already knew what it was for. Murmurs of wonder surrounded the small crowd who saw the wagon being pulled by few shifters. And Gavin, more than anyone else, wanted the ground to swallow him whole at that point.It was obviously for him. The Pack Alpha proposed the idea at the second part of the gathering (yes, Gavin was able to actually listen). Since Gavin was the only wolf that could not shift among them, and he could not really ride on Ainar’s back the whole journey to the North, (
The night of the new moon came with the sun slowly descending in the horizon, signaling the start of their journey. The whole pack gathered at the edge of the pack territory, all bundled up to battle the cold night breeze, a few of them carrying torches more for warmth than light. They gathered to bid their farewell to the ones leaving, all hoping for a safe journey, especially for the Pack Alpha.Elders are lined up in their respective positions behind the Pack Alpha and his Luna, most of them Gavin cannot recognize, but the Pack Delta is one of them. Pack hunters stand behind them all, all in protective formation. Gavin’s wagon, which stands in the middle, will be pulled by two wolves. Within the two days of preparation, everything is set for them. They brought food that would last the entire journey, with hunting as their last resort just in case, but even their consumption of food is planned so hunting would least likely to happen. They a
Tundra turned out to be everything Gavin imagined, but better. The place was nothing short of beautiful, if not hauntingly regal. Everywhere Gavin turns his head to, all he sees is white. The surrounding is covered with snow, the high sun reflecting on its surface making him squint his eyes, but it did not stop him to look around more, almost too eager as he drinks the sight around him. They pass by a busy street. Tundra is a big pack, so it was understandable that there are so many shifters. They mill in and out of what seems to be cabins, and small kiosks. Gavin wants to look further into them, eager to explore, but he knows they still have things to fulfill, so he settled on just gazing at them for now, in the safety of the wagon. What surprised him is the people, mostly. They’re dressed in grey tunics, and their hairs are in similar color. The members of Tundra have really pale skin, as what is expected for living in such a cold place, their hair similar to the wolves of Moon Vall
Before going out of the palace, Gavin and Ainar went somewhere first to request a change in Gavin’s cloak. “I swear I’m fine with this!” Gavin insisted, both hands holding Ainar’s right arm in an attempt to steer him off of the direction he is aiming to.“I don’t mind the long cloak!” Ainar, despite Gavin’s protests, just sighed and continued walking. Letting the omega pull his arms as it’s not really doing much to him. Eventually, when Gavin continued to whine, he sighed again and halted in his steps, the omega quickly following. “It’s too big on you,” the alpha said, turning his body to look at the omega. They’re in a middle of a hallway somewhere in the palace. Gavin was not able to keep track of all the turns they took with all the whines and protests he had been doing. “It’s not!” the omega quickly denied. Ainar only shot him
The center turned out to be the place they passed by earlier. With its busy alleys bustling with pack members, open cabins, kiosks, stalls and many more displayed on the road. The walk was quite long from the palace to the center, they had to pass by the big gate again to go out but it was all worth it. Gavin’s mouth is agape, his blue eyes shining with wonder as he scanned the place. He had never seen such a busy place. Well, of course, he had seen how busy packs can get every time there are occasions that require it, but this is just different. Gavin is suddenly feeling overwhelmed again. He’s excited, eager to explore, but just like the selection of food laid in front of him earlier, he doesn’t know where to start. So, he slowly turned his head to look at the alpha beside him. Ainar, the ever-attentive alpha that he is, of course, is already looking. He has a small fond smile on his lips, eyes swimming wi