The Moon Wolf

Chapter 13 (1st Draft)

A.N.: There is some violence in this chapter. It is not graphic but it is there. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.

They did not encounter another living soul during the slow climb down to the pack house, which was situated on the edge of town. Penn kept her ears, eyes and nostrils on high alert for any sound, sight or scent of strange wolves even while in her skin. Now was not the time to let her guard down just because Anex, Beta Lucas and the wolves with them had all turned out to be quite pleasant and accommodating despite having to deal with a rogue.

Beta Lucas had explained back further along the trail that when they broke through the woods at the bottom of the mountain they would fist encounter the training grounds, which were situated at the back of the pack house. He told Penn and the pups that they would skirt around the training grounds before coming to the pack house where the welcome committee would be waiting for them.

The children had half expected to see some new faces as they passed by the training grounds and Penn was prepared to brace herself for some nasty insults, some posturing and maybe even a threat of a fight or two from some of the warriors in training. However, before they even neared the bottom of the mountain she realized she couldn't hear any training going on and she couldn't smell any sweaty wolves. In fact, she couldn't pick up any close wolf scents at all beyond their own group.

When they finally did exit the woods and passed by the training grounds, they found the area devoid of life. Not a single soul, not even a care-taker, was in the place. Penn felt a little rush of relief and the tension in her body eased up significantly. For her it meant a likely hurdle had been avoided and she was grateful.

The children were disappointed that they weren't going to witness any wolves in training. Penn didn't say anything about the lack of warriors or onlookers of any kind, as she listened with a half an ear to the children lament among themselves over the empty grounds. She suspected that everyone had been told to clear off until the pups were settled in or, more likely, until the rogue was long gone.

Having a rogue on pack territory would make all the pack-wolves uneasy - especially warriors in training who might be looking for a fight and a way to prove themselves. Emptying out the training grounds was just common sense.  Particularly since there were pups around who could be badly injured if a fight of any kind were to break out. Penn was pleased to see that the Orthos ack Alpha was a discerning wolf who thought ahead. 

But, thinking of their Alpha made Penn tense up. She suddenly wondered if the Orthos Alpha knew his Beta had invited her to stay until the pups were settled and not just for this little meet and greet? Surely, she told herself, Beta Lucas had called ahead and let the man know.

Her stomach rolled and twisted uncomfortably. She hated alpha males. Particularly, the alpha male of an established pack. Alphas were irrational, hot headed, unpredictable and violent. With the exception of Lara's mate Preston, who had treated her well because she had saved his mate, Penn had never had anything but bad experiences at the hands of alphas starting with the alpha of her birth-pack.

Penn gritted her teeth. She didn't have much hope of a positive experience with this alpha if the bulk of her past experiences was any indicator of what she could realistically expect from another pack-alpha. So, when the welcome committee finally came into view, and the children began to talk with nervous excitement among themselves, Penn stomach bottomed out and she didn't feel like being there at all.