Chapter 9: The Shadowridge Pack

Aaron's POV

The moment that my father told me that I was to attend Ambersky’s yearly festival was the moment that I wanted to laugh right at him. A part of me in no mood to play such childish games when I had better things to do with my time.

Things such as taking over my father’s pack. The Shadowridge Pack. A pack that had been mine since my birth right.  Ever since I was 12, yet my father keeps denying me of it. Claiming that I needed my Luna first before he’ll hand over his pack to me.

Ha. As if. I would rather turn Rogue then take on a weak, pathetic Luna. Lucky for me, my father doesn’t know that I’ve already found my Luna and rejected her due to her being a weak Omega. An Omega, what a joke. No Omega could ever be my Luna. And if I was to take on a Luna, I wanted someone strong, like me.

But to please the old fool, I agreed to attend the stupid festival in his honor.

‘You know, if your lucky enough, you could find yourself a chosen mate’ offers Hyde, my wolf, who was clearly enjoying my displeasure of taking on a Luna.

‘Not you too. For the last time, I don’t need a mate, nor do I need a Luna. They only slow you down’ I growl, clearly not happy with either of them at the moment.

‘Even if it’s a wolf without a scent?’ asks Hyde as if knowing something that I didn’t.

‘What do you mean, a wolf without a scent? There’s no such thing’ I tell him, partially curious as to what he could be talking about as I’ve never heard of such a thing.

‘You mean you don’t know?’ teases Hyde almost smugly.

‘What are you talking about? Just tell me already’ I snap, now annoyed with his games.

‘Rumor has it that there’s a child who was born within Ambersky and that this child was born without a scent. Making this said child less than desirable among the pack itself, including the position that they hold as the future Gamma. For a wolf without a scent brings nothing but bad omens among many who don’t wish to venture further’ answers Hyde.

‘So how does this help us if there scentless? It just means their less likely to be found. Completely useless and weak to boot’ I grunt, not liking this one bit.

‘Weak maybe, but useless, I think not. Think of all the possibilities we could have if we train them to assassinate for us. Moving undetected would be a win-win for us if you ask me.’

Humming softly, I move to think about what Hyde just said about the scentless wolf. A piece of me curious about them then I truly wanted to admit.

‘We shall see. I’ll look into when we go to Ambersky’ is all I say to him as I move to get myself ready before my father could come looking for me.

\-Ambersky-

When arriving over at Ambersky, I almost wanted to turn right around and go back home. The pack a complete and upmost opposite of my own. Currently decked out in fairy lights and paper lanterns, the pack relatively decent compared to many yet smaller compared to mine.

My green eyes now scanning those within the pack, a part of me hoping to put familiar faces to those I might know from all my years of training with my father, of learning everything that I needed to learn only to hear laughter. My eyes now following the sound until my eyes land on those of four boys. Three of whom I instantly knew as Jake, Zak and Alex.

The next Alpha, Beta and Delta and my rival. The other in whom I wasn’t familiar with, but based on how he carried himself couldn’t be any older than 14. A pup to most, yet something about the way he handled himself among Jake and his friends spoke volumes.

My eyes still glued on the boy. His amber color eyes and short auburn hair drawing my attention. A curious need to go and see the boy up close and personal now calling out to me. His scent strange which only added to my curiosity.

Who is he? I wonder, my feet slowly drawing me closer. My ears listening to the voices of Jake and his friends as they continue to speak and fool around.

“Tori, are you having fun?” asks Jake, a smile on his face as he watches the boy carefully.

“Yeah, thanks to each of you” admits the boy I now knew as Tori, a small smile dancing on his lips and I instantly wondered if he’d smile for me too.

“Good. We’re glad then”

“But… Won’t your father be mad at me? You three are supposed to be looking for your mates, not hanging out with me, the freak of the pack.”

Feeling the subtle shift in the air, I’m suddenly curious to see what they’ll say to him. Knowing that this was one of the many reasons this year. To help unmated wolves, like me, find their mates, as per the direction of the Elders.

‘We need to speak with him. There’s something off about him and we need to get closer’ whispers Hyde as if sensing it too. His smell.

‘Working on it’ I move to say back, trying not to alert them of my presence just yet.

‘Work harder’

Resisting the urge to growl at him, do I instantly hear another voice approach us. An older voice as he moves to approach the four boys who stood before me.

“Jake! What are you three doing here? Your supposed to be looking for your mate along with Zak and Alex, not hanging out with Tori. You three boys have a duty to this pack and as future rulers its your job to mingle with other potential mates” reprimands Alpha Dawson to his son, a smirk rising along my lips as I move to see Tori shrink away from his Alpha’s tone.

“But dad, I…” tries Jake only to be silenced.

“NO! You three go and mingle now!” orders Alpha Dawson before turning his eyes on Tori. “And you, Tori. I know your close with Jake and his friends but as future Alpha, Beta and Delta it’s there responsibility to focus on tonight’s task. They need to find their mates, so I’m sorry, but they can’t be with you tonight. And as future Gamma its your responsibility to help your father.”

Biting his lip does Tori move to nod his head, his eyes low as he focuses on the ground as he attempts not to cry.

“Of course, Alpha.”

Lifting his gaze, his eyes moist does Tori move to look over at his friends before speaking yet again, his eyes hiding his true feelings from those currently present. “Alpha Jake, Beta Zak, Delta Alex, thank you for tonight. Please, don’t let me keep you three here any longer than I need to.”

Then, before anyone else has a chance to speak does Tori turn and run away. A perfect opportunity to follow him now rising. A Gamma huh? This could be fun, smirking to myself, I move to follow him, not caring about the Alpha or his friends.

“TORI! WAIT”

“Leave him be. He’s got to learn now while he still can. You’re the next ruler of this pack, Jake. You need to find your Luna. Tori is just your Gamma. He needs to learn to fall in line like the rest of them” remarks Alpha Dawson to his son.

“No dad. Tori isn’t just my Gamma, he’s more than that, you’ll see” snaps Jake before he too moves to storm off, both Zak and Alex moving to follow him as they attempt to find Tori.

Trusting in my instincts, I move to follow after the last known direction that I saw Tori flee in, not knowing that it would be a lot harder to do as he was also the one without a scent. The one who would eventually call out to my curious nature as I try to unravel the mystery that was Tori.