Author's note: this is from Zoe's point of view

- - -

​​

I was relieved that the intimidating werewolf is not her partner. If he is Alpha, I could imagine our future filled with fear. Seraphina's included. But what about the other man?

"So, is the older gentleman…"

"That's my father.", she cut me off.

"I apologize, Alpha."

She smiled. "Stop apologizing. It's OK. And don't call me Alpha."

"But…"

"My name is Seraphina.", she cut me off again. "As for anything else, we will figure it out later. OK?"

'Zoe, come and help with the cleanup, will ya?', Ash's voice sounded in my head.

"I'm needed there…", I said to Seraphina before leaving.

'Guys…', I spoke to Luca and Ash through our mental link. 'This is a great opportunity to leave a good impression. If Seraphina sees that we are useful and obedient, it is more likely that she will not abandon us.'

'So, what's the plan?', Ash asked.

'We postponed our deaths.', I responded.

'Is she our Alpha now?', Luca asked.

This was a tough one. 'She said to call her by name, so let's do that. We will follow her and see what happens. In the worst case, we will run.'

'You really want to follow her?', Luca asked weakly.

'I don't know…', I responded honestly. 'But right now, we are minors, and we can't do much. I don't want to return to the Dark Walkers.'

I was glad that Luca and Ash agreed.

'Without the protection of the pack, we will need to choose if we will join another pack, stay in the forest as rogues, or move into the city and try our luck among humans. Going into the city is risky because our shifting is not stable. If we expose ourselves, we will be hunted by humans and the hunters. Do you guys know of any pack that is better than the Dark Walkers and is willing to take us in?'

I paused to see both Luca and Ash shake their heads. I knew the answer because I did my research. There are packs in better shape than the Dark Walkers, but none would be willing to risk an open confrontation for measly three teenagers.

They might fight for land or other resources, but kids without skill or trade are of no value.

The only thing that allows amiable transfer of werewolves between packs and no one can stop it, is in the case of a mate bond.

All three of us are minors, so it doesn't apply to us. We are too young to feel the bond.

'That leaves us with an option to follow Seraphina. We need to buy time until we are in control of our shifting and urges. I was planning to run away from the pack after my eighteenth birthday and manage on my own.'

'Your plan is to be a rogue?', Ash asked in disbelief.

'No. But I don't want to stay with the Dark Walkers pack. There is a reason why females leave, Ash…', I didn't want to talk about it, but he knew what I mean.

Werewolves have big sexual appetites, and in a pack where women are a big minority, they end up being shared between men. Sometimes against their will. The only ones spared are females with the status, like Luna, and the ones who are underage.

Of course, an Alpha could establish certain rules, but the Alpha of the Dark Walkers pack is not strong enough to make his men submit, and he fears that if he denies them certain liberties, members will rebel.

'My plan to leave after I'm eighteen is valid even with Seraphina, but if conditions turn bad, I will leave earlier. I still didn't decide if I will stay in the forest or try my luck among humans. That will depend on how strong my wolf is.'

'Don't leave me…', Luca pleaded.

'Stupid. We will leave together.', I responded.

'What about me?'

I was surprised by Ash's question. 'Sure, you can tag along.' I tried to sound cool about it and I hoped that he didn't see me blushing. Stupid teenage hormones!

After denouncing our pack, I lost the mental link to the pack members. It's not that we could communicate over such a big distance, but I felt like a part of me went missing.

Werewolves are social creatures, and the bigger the pack is, the more we thrive. That is why rogues usually turn out to be violent bad guys, solitude drives a werewolf crazy over time.

During our walk away from the campsite, Seraphina was asking questions about us. We answered honestly. There was nothing worth hiding, anyway.

We grew up in the Dark Walkers pack which has just over twenty warriors. The Alpha was eager to add more warriors, so they adopted a practice of starting us early. Normally, rite-of-passage would be done after our eighteenth birthday, which is considered adulthood for werewolves.

By our eighteenth birthday, our senses sharpen and most of us are capable of fully communicating with their beast.

I glanced at Ash secretly while wondering if by my eighteenth birthday my wolf will tell me who my mate is. Will it be Ash?

The stories go that not everyone is blessed to find a mate, and it will not happen before the eighteenth birthday. My mother never found her mate, but she told me that her sister did and that before my Aunt confirmed that the boy was her mate, she had a crush on him.

"You can't communicate with your wolf now?", Seraphina asked, genuinely curious and I dispelled useless thoughts about a mate.

It will happen if it's destined and if it's not… I can get marked by someone who seems decent, or maybe I will stay single.

"We are aware of another presence inside our head. This vague feeling usually starts at seven or eight years old.", Ash responded to Seraphina's question when he saw that I'm spacing out.

"It was at nine years old for me…", Luca interjected.

Seraphina also asked about our shifting, so I explained, "That is related to the connection with our wolf. Shifting takes a lot of fine-tuning to make it smooth and painless because we need to agree with our wolf on which part of our body will transform first. It's like I need to release control of my left arm and she can take over…"

I was nervous that Seraphina didn't accept us, but it didn't seem like she will abandon us, and that was a good thing. Hopefully.

- - -

Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

- - -

The good part of this otherwise horrible evening was that I was able to control my pheromones. After all that relentless practice, it came to me naturally, without trying. It's a complete success and now I can venture into civilization.

Of course, I will continue practicing, but my goal of not leaking pheromones without control was achieved. Too bad that the violent images from this evening are ruining the celebratory mood.

On our way to the helicopter, Aldus and Lazarus walked in front, talking in hushed voices, probably about the attacks on humans that are happening on Lazarus's territory.

I decided to focus on youngsters and the information they provided. Chatting with them helped to distract me from the bloodshed I witnessed earlier.

They spoke to me about their lives in the pack and the challenges that teenage werewolves are facing.

The stories were sad and fascinating, and I was glad that the youngsters were answering my questions eagerly. It was obvious that they were trying to leave a good impression on me.

Gil was the name of the werewolf who attacked Aldus. He was the leader of the warriors in the Dark Walkers pack.

It was not unusual that youngsters from smaller packs join for the rite-of-passage ceremony, and that is how the fourth teen (now deceased) ended up in their group.

Due to their young age and Gil wanting to ensure success, he took a few experienced warriors and performed a live demonstration (aka killing the campers and harvesting their hearts and livers) before getting kids to do it on their own.

After watching Gil and his men kill four unsuspecting campers, the kids were so shaken up, that Gil told them to stay on the side until they calm down because he couldn't stand their cowardice. They sat behind a bush and kept quiet, and that is when I found them.

Based on my observation, among the three, Zoe is the leader. Luca is following her as a younger brother and Ash seems to have a crush on Zoe. I saw Ash stealing glances at Zoe and I'm quite positive that it's mutual.

It reminded me of Duke and me in high school and I couldn't prevent my lips from stretching into a smile.

After a short helicopter ride, we landed next to Lazarus's villa.

It was dark, so I couldn't see it completely, but it was obvious that it was a massive cabin-style villa, nestled in the forest and partially hidden among the towering trees.

One maid ushered kids upstairs, to their rooms. "You are to take a bath and change before dinner. Clothes are arranged for you…"

I found it cute that Zoe, Luca, and Ash looked at me, and only after I confirmed with a nod, they followed after the maid.

"When can we talk?", I asked Aldus with urgency as soon as the teenagers were out of sight.

"After dinner.", Aldus said after a brief pause.

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