Chapter 21

Alexandra:

It feels weird going back. I honestly never planned on coming back here, but sadly it's necessary at the moment. I groan to myself as I open the door to walk into the pack house.

"Alexandra. How can I help you?" I don't know how to address Cassie's father anymore. He isn't my Alpha. It seems rude to just say his name. Yeah, this kinda sucks.

"I need a favor...Mr. Black" I just blurt out, trying not to worry over formalities right now. "Where is Nick?"

"He's at school. He might be a Beta, but he is still in high school. Also, you could just call me Rudi. I'm sure you didn't know what to say after so long." He looked at me smugly, and I was just annoyed that I obviously had a face that everyone could read.

I just nodded my head, and Cassie's mom walked into the room. Now Mrs. Black, I loved. "Oh, Alexandra dear. What are you doing here?"

She walked around to where I was standing to give me a hug. She pulled away but held me an arm's length away to scan me up and down. I'm sure she approved because she gave my arms a pat and smiled as she let go of her hold.

"Being with Cassie seems to have done you some good. You're a lot more fit since you left." I couldn't stop the face-splitting grin on my face.

She was partially right. Finding my mate and my place in my new pack had a lot to do with it as well. However, it's something I'm going to have to explain when trying to convince them that I need Nick for a while.

"Yes. I had to leave recently, which is why I'm here." My statement got the attention of both of them.

Instead of waiting for them to ask the question that was silently in the air, I decided to just answer them and explain exactly why I'm here.

"I am mated now, to Mason. He's got a challenge coming up, and I'm trying to get him ready." I start looking to see if they are following along.

Neither seems confused or lost, so I continue, "Avery and I are trying to get him ready, but I'm sure you can see that even stronger and with more muscle, I'm nowhere near the size of an Alpha. This brings me to why I'm here."

I fully expected Mr. Black to be a little more annoyed at this point. He has to know what I'm asking for, and I'm sure he doesn't like the idea of sharing his son and future Alpha with a pack he hasn't come to a peace agreement with.

"So you need Nick to help with his training?" He asks, completely calm. I'm not going to lie, a calm Mr. Black is terrifying. "Yes."

Waiting for a reply seems to take a lifetime. Mr. Black looks to Mrs. Black, and I can tell they're mindlinking each other. Mrs. Black raises her eyebrows in complete shock before looking back at me. Is that a good thing or bad? Can they just tell me already?

"As long as Nick is willing to do it, I'm okay with it," he states matter of factly.

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't shocked. Mr. Black noticed my mouth open from shock and laughed. "Expected a no?"

I nodded my head, just now being able to close my mouth. Mrs. Black laughed as well. She came back and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "You were one of us, so we trust you. This is an opportunity for both Nick and Mason to get stronger and build a strong bond and ties for future ties."

Now it makes perfect sense. It's like a business transaction when it comes to the heads of packs. Although I am considered a Luna, I'm new and have much to learn. In this instance, I have to agree with everything they say. I have strong ties with Nick already, thanks to Cassie and the battles we have fought.

"Do I want to know why you're here?" I quickly turn around to see that Nick has walked into the house.

He slings his backpack off his shoulder and throws it on the couch. "I know Cassie is fine because her mood swings have been in check for a couple of weeks. So," He trails off at the end, waiting for me to fill in for him.

"Yeah, this is for me. I mated with Mason and became the Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. So I came here to ask your help for training."

Nick just smirked to himself before he looked up. "The baby trainer is asking for my help. Why?"

"I just need your size and speed honestly. It will be mine and Avery's techniques." Mr. Black cut me off before I could say more.

"Which is why we think it would be good for you as well. It's better for Alphas to train together, and you won't get this chance again. Having Avery just makes it that much better."

Nick scoffed, and I could see why. He just wanted Avery. He was the PE teacher here, and he obviously has a lot of respect for him. I wonder how that arrangement came to be.

"If you weren't the Luna, I'd say no," Nick says and then walks up the stairs to his room. "So is that a yes?" I ask his mom and dad.

"That's the closest you will get to a yes from him. We'll be sure that he's there when you need. Just leave the details." Mr. Black tells me. I nodded, not knowing what else to say.

"You need to come for dinner one of these days." Mrs. Black says, and I nod. "As soon as we get everything settled."

I give my final goodbyes and make my way back to the woods to run home. Thankfully our old pack is close enough that I don't have to drive.

With a final wave to Cassie's parents, I shift into my wolf and begin the quick run home. I try to run different ways when going back because I need to learn all the lands around where we live.

While running, I take in a deep breath and stop in my place. There are wolves that don't belong to either of our packs. There are four, no five, wolves that are making their way towards me. I look around, trying to find them. From their smell, I know they aren't circling me. Which means they don't care if I escape.

Since they don't seem to want to capture me, I stay and wait for them to approach me. Soon the five wolves come into view and stand in front of me. Then a male in human form walks up in between them.

He was taller than Mason with a considerable amount of muscle. He had a dark copper tan and dark muddy brown eyes. His hair was as golden as the sun, and he wore a sinister grin on his face.

"Ah, so you are the new Luna to the Blue Moon Pack. How's Mason doing?" I didn't move or make a sound. I also had no intention of switching back to my human form. He laughed to himself, throwing his head back. I didn't find anything funny.

"Where are my manners? I'm sure you're wondering who I am." I was wondering exactly that. He knew I was mated with Mason, but he didn't know my name. So he couldn't be that close. "My name is Austin, and I'm going to take away your pack from Mason."

My wolf growled at what he said. I was trying to keep my cool, but she seemed to be super protective of our new pack. Austin just laughed in response.

Before my wolf could pounce against my will, four more wolves came running and dove in front of me. It was Mason, Blaine, Paul, and Avery. Mason quickly shifted into his human form and walked right up to Austin, standing in his face. "Stay away from my mate!"

***

Mason:

Seeing Austin with his smug smirk irritates me to my core. There is nothing I want more than to fight him right now, but I could literally feel Alexandra yelling at me. I take a couple more moments and realize that she is yelling at me through mindlink.

"Mason! Don't let him bait you into a fight right now! We have more work to do. He obviously feels threatened by everything that we are doing."

This all makes sense, but my wolf is having a hard time excepting anything but his head. I take a few breaths to get back in control so I can confront him with a level head.

"Such a temper. I was just saying hi to the new Luna. Congrats on finding a girl who would put up with you." Every word he spewed out of his mouth was laced with sarcasm. I couldn't wait to shut him up when the time came.

Ignoring what he just said, I questioned him myself. "What are you doing here?"

"Aren't I allowed to come back to my pack?" He questioned.

"Not until the day of the challenge. You know that." I spat back at him.

Austin shook his head as he took small steps to the right. He put his balled-up fist under his chin and looked towards me. "Well, I think you getting mated is obviously an exception. Also, I'm technically not on our territory. I'm on the Blue Silver Packs territory."

I freeze, realizing exactly what he was getting at. "Oh, so you realize. You can't do anything. Especially since you have no treaty. Attacking another wolf here would mean declaring war with the Blue Silver Pack."

I hate to admit it, but he played this extremely smart. I look to Alexandra, who didn't ease from her fighting stance. Instead, both she and Avery walked in front of Paul and Blaine.

"You would think two packs with similar names would get along. I mean Blue Silver, Blue Moon, it's like you were meant to get along." I don't say anything, not knowing what to do in this situation.

I hear a howl not too far, and I can't believe I'm glad to see him at this moment. The wolf stops 25 feet short of us and changes into clothes before walking up.

"Sorry, I prefer to be clothed." Nick holds out a pair of shorts to me and looks to Austin.

Austin seems a little less smug now. I don't think he expected the Beta from the Blue Silver Pack to make an appearance at this meeting.

"So, someone fill me in. Why are there five wolves here that don't belong to my pack or the pack we just made an arrangement with in my territory?" Nick might be the Beta, but he sounds like an Alpha right now.

Even though Nick is younger than both of us and not fully matured, he is just as big as both of us. It shows the size he will be when his time to be Alpha comes.

Meanwhile, Austin seems to be lost for words for once in his life. He doesn't answer and seems to be trying to think of a way out of this situation. Just when he seems to be against the ropes, yet another wolf comes to interrupt.

"Beta, sir, wait!" It's a female wolf's voice that rings from behind Austin's group.

When she comes up to stand next to Austin, I roll my eyes. This has to be a joke. It's Veronica. Of course, that snake would be in cahoots with Austin.

She walks up in front of Nick and bows her head down in submission. "Sorry, Beta, this is my boyfriend. We meet here on the outskirts because of the situation that is happening next door."

I don't know if Nick is buying it, but he seems to be over the situation. "Fine. Get out of my territory and don't come back. Veronica, you'll have to either wait until he figures things out or be a rouge with him."

She just nods her head while still keeping it down the whole time. A few seconds pass, but no one moves. "I said to leave!" Nick used his Alpha tone and made all of Austin's wolves runoff.

Austin just looked at me before smirking. "I'll see you again soon."

Then he shifts and follows after his wolves. I look to Nick, and I know I have to apologize. "Sorry, I didn't mean to come and—" Nick cut me off. "It was to protect Alexandra, right?"

I nod my head at him. "Then it's fine."

He quickly turned back the way he came and shifted to leave. I look to see Veronica lifting her head up finally.

"Well, look who was smart enough to make an agreement in time?" She asks in my direction.

Before I know it, Alexandra is in front of me. "Listen, you fake red-haired bimbo. We all know about Cassie beating you before she even hit puberty. So, if you like your face, you'd stop now."

Veronica almost turns as red as her hair. "Just you wait until the next time."

She huffed in Alexandra's direction before running back off into the woods. Seeing her disappear made my mood feel much better.

"Why did you guys come?" Alexandra asked in mindlink.

"Why did you come to have a talk with them alone? What was it even about? Look what happens when you go on your own. You're a warrior, but you're also a Luna now. You have a target on your back." I know I was ranting, but I don't like her running off on her own.

"I know, but this was my old pack. I knew I'd be safe here. Plus, now we have Nick to help you beat that asshole." Hearing her call Austin an asshole just made me feel a whole lot better.

I laugh as I walk towards her and pull her close, kissing her forehead. She squeezes me back and lays her head on my chest. "One more thing," I say.

She pulls her head back to look up at me. "Maybe not shift with no clothes in front of Paul next time. I think he's about to die from embarrassment."

She looks over and sees that Paul has laid down and put both of his paws over his eyes and snout.

She quickly lets go of her hold on me and runs over to Paul. "Oh my God, Paul, I'm so sorry!"

"You're not helping!" I yell to her.

This girl is the biggest reason I have to beat Austin. How he acted today means that Alexandra was right. He is worried.