Magic and Wolves: Book 1 of West Mountain

What's Troubling you

The sun was starting to set as Cecilia and Oscar walked through the woods to the pack meeting. Franny was already there, meeting with the other Omegas.

Oscar glanced over at her as she sighed, lifting her plain long shift dress to step over a log. Her hair was flowing down her back, lifting, and moving softly with the wind. He wore only a pair of loose gym shorts. Clothes easy to get out of or replace when they shifted.

Oscar could tell she was troubled they had been friends almost their entire lives.

"What's troubling you CeCe?"

She sighed again and stopped walking, her arms wrapped around herself, and she looked down at the ground as if it were going to answer all the great questions of the universe.

"I don't think I'm ready Oscar. Either I lose and goddess knows what Zachariah will do to you all or I win, and I'll have to lead." Her voice hitched as she struggled to maintain her composure, "I don't know if I can. "

"I know you can CeCe. It is what you were born to do, you are an Alpha, we can all feel it. You're my Alpha, ever sense that day at Briar Rose." Oscar chuckled softy, "I've known you since you and Ceenan were born. I've been with you through everything from learning to shift to the time when your father caught you with a merman and you almost outed your twin, and when we did a sleep over in his room the night you two found out he was an Omega, and you were the Alpha. We lost our family together and I've seen you grow from a girl avoiding her father's legacy to a wise and powerful Alpha."

Cecilia smiled slightly at him, letting him talk, it was rare, but he could really give a pep talk when needed.

"CeCe the fact that you aren't sure you want the position but are willing to take it because it is what's best for the pack is why you're a true Alpha. You're not after power, you only want to protect your pack."

He gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze before walking on slowly, letting her have a moment to collect herself. It wasn't long before she caught up to him. They walked in silence for a few more moments.

"I had forgotten about the merman." She laughed and nudged him playfully, "Isn't that the first time our fathers tried to arrange a mating between us?"

Oscar chuckled, "I'd never seen you or the Luna so mad."

Cecilia's smile faded slightly, "Do you think it's strange we both found our mate in the same place? So far from our home?"

Oscar shrugged, "I've said it many times CeCe, I don't try to understand fate or the Moon Goddess's plan."

"I wish I could have the same faith that you have."

They continued to walk in silence, making their way to a large clearing in the woods. Most of the pack seemed to be there, with a few still walking up. East Mountain wasn't a particularly large pack, around 200 wolves all together out of a town of around 20,000, it wasn't that large.

Zachariah stood in the middle of the clearing, speaking quietly to his appointed Betas. They were all strong wolves, but Oscar knew he and Cecilia were stronger. She came from a long lineage of Alphas, Oscar from Betas, there were bred to lead a pack.

Oscar's nose twitched as the smell of honeysuckle and wildflowers hit him and his eyes quickly scanned for its source. He spotted Franny on the edge of the clearing huddled together with 9 other wolves. They were all similarly built, none were over 5'6 even the men, all slim with pale pearlescent skin. Compared to the other wolves they all looked like pre-teens.

They kept themselves at a distance from the others. Things had improved for Omegas as society changes and life became less about pure survival and physical strength. Omegas have been able to become more needed in the packs, using their intellect rather than brute strength. But the attitude toward them wasn't always warm. Prejudices will always exist in some people.

Oscar never understood why Omegas were treaded so harshly. They may not be as strong but with the right training they could fight like any other wolf. They were also the most nurturing, kind, and warm wolves. They gave off calming auras that can help to maintain peace in the packs. Most of them ran a huge daycare for the town caring for most of the children during the day. A few were also accountants, Franny included, she dealt with the shops financials as well as booking appointments, orders, and anything else the shop needed.

However, because they were not as strong as other pack members and were physically weaker some considered them a burden to the pack and felt they should be treated more as slaves than equal members.

Oscar pulled his mind back to the moment. He watched as Cecilia interacted with the wolves around them. Listening intently to each one and offering advice. She may not see herself as a leader, but Oscar did, and he knew the pack respected her.

The pack finished arriving and circled around Zachariah. Oscar and Cecilia stood at the front. Zachariah's eyes sought them out and his lips stretched into a sneer when he spotted them.

"WE HAVE A TRAITOR AMONG US!" Zachariah's voice echoed through the clearing, startling the pack into silence. He waited for a few moments, allowing his words to sink in.

"I was attacked by two members of our pack. There were trying to ambush me and claim this pack as their own. I say it is time to do with these rouges what we should have done when they were first brought to us 3 years ago." Zachariah turned his cold brown eyes on to Oscar and Cecilia, "It's time we go back to the old ways, the ways of the wolf."

He looked around at the stunned and silent pack, sneering. "This pack has grown weak and lazy. It is time for a change, starting with killing the two rouges who would try and steal my pack!"

The pack murmured and shifted nervously unsure of what to do. Very few liked the idea of going back to the wild and savage ways of the past, but he was the Alpha, where Zachariah led, they followed.

Next to Oscar, Cecilia scoffed, rolling her eyes, Zachariah's speech hardening her resolve.

"Enough of this," Cecilia strode forward, into the center, she stood tall and proud, power radiating off her. "I've heard enough!"

Zachariah smirked, thinking he had the upper hand, "You see how defiant she is! Clearly, she and that mutt she brought with her have no respect. How do we even know the story they spewed about their so-called fallen pack is even true? More likely it is a web of lies, weaved by two rouges who tried to take over a different pack and failed. Now they are here trying to play the long con on us. It's time to put these dogs down before they can harm any of us."

There is a sharp intake of breath from the pack, calling a one of them a dog or mutt is a steep insult among wolf shifters.

Oscars fingers twitched, longing to chock the words out of Zachariah. He glanced at Cecilia, hoping she could keep calm. Instead of anger her face was the picture of calm. She turned her back on Zachariah and looked out at the pack.

"This has gone on long enough; I will not stand here and allow this sociopath to continue." She pointed at Zachariah. She never raised her voice, but every wolf was silent, listening intensely, "Oscar nor I have ever attacked anyone from this pack unprovoked. Zachariah stormed my home and attacked my mate."

A low rumble of growls ripped through the pack. Attacking someone's mate was one of the worst things a shifter could commit. Mates could feel the others pain and emotions and if their mate dies a shifter could go insane or die.

"I was willing to overlook Zachariah's actions and his unhealthy obsession with forcing me to be his mate, despite it being well with in my right to kill him."

Cecilia paused, allowing the pack to settle once more. Oscar felt a surge of pride, she had grown so much from the nervous girl afraid of the burden of her birth and legacy. The woman in front of him was an Alpha. Strong, wise, and fair but not afraid to kill if needed.

"But now, hearing the ramblings of a crazed, power hungry, mad man, I will not sit back anymore. I will not allow this lesser wolf lead a pack who has become my family into madness."

She turned now, facing Zachariah, and slapped him across the face. The impact of her hand cracked in the silence of the clearing like a thunderclap. Zachariah's eyes flashed with rage and shock but before he could react Cecilia spoke again.

"Zachariah Ozmet, you are unfit to lead this pack. I, Cecilia Rose Lawson, last Alpha of the Briar Rose line challenge your claim as Alpha of the West Mountain Pack."