After the fight the guys had insisted on escorting Winter towards a motel. She woke up passed noon, exhausted from the emotions of the past couple of days. Her mind wandered back towards home.

Would Aster be alpha by now?

Would Charlie be his beta?

Her wolf roared at that thought.

'I know, he is not worthy of our thoughts and our time.' Winter tried to calm her.

She got herself out of bed and walked over towards the shower. As she stripped in front of the mirror, she took a look at herself. Her fingers traced over the scar; it had finally stopped growing. She followed the spiral starting from her heart and unwinding over a part of her belly beneath her breast back to her side. She would be reminded of Charlie's rejection for the rest of her life.

Tears formed in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She didn't want to cry anymore, she wanted to move on even tough that would be a hard thing to do. The hot water rolled over her body and washed a bit away of her sorrows.

She needed to be careful. In the company of Jack and Luke most wolves had left her alone. But if she would go out alone, she wasn't sure that would be the case. As she came out of the shower a calming thought settled on her, she would survive even if it was all alone. She was determined to survive to start over.

She grabbed a fresh top and applied her make up as Jenny had shown her. She needed to find a store to gather some supplies, she would stop by Jenny's shop to ask where she got the lipstick.

Winter smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, she was almost unrecognizable. You had to look hard to spot the sweet Winter from the White Moon Pack. She already looked the part, now she needed to feel the part.

Winter had stopped by at Jenny to ask for directions and information. Turned out that there was a big shopping mall in the next village. It was a two-hour drive but Jenny assured her they had everything.

Winter knew she needed to be careful, since it was territory of another pack. But if she used her car, she hoped that they would only smell her by the time she left again. And the best part of it was, that her Nana's compound was on the way over. So, she could easily make a stop to look at the place. It would be in bad shape, so Winter needed to know what the state was.

After a long drive she finally reached the mall and felt exited. Her father had always restricted her access. It had been too long since she had been in a mall. Winter looked at the shops and felt excited. She needed to remind herself that she had to be quick and only could make the necessary stops.

First order of business was make-up supplies. She went in the store and searched for all the products Jenny had suggested. As Winter was looking for some lipstick, she felt a booming presence behind her as if someone was watching her.

She carefully looked over her shoulder but didn't notice anybody. She paid for everything and went on to buy some food. She grabbed some basic supplies but didn't fancy a decent meal so she tossed a pint of Ben & Jerry's in her chart.

As she made her way over towards the register she still felt as if someone was still watching her. She looked around but couldn't identify someone. She smelled however that someone was near.

'A pack wolf.' Her wolf said restless.

'Can we fight him?' she asked.

'I rather not. It will draw too much attention to us. But I promise you some action soon.' Winter replied.

Winter rushed outside and tossed everything in the trunk of her car. As she stepped around towards the driver seat, she opened it quickly. But before she could get inside someone smashed it close again. She felt trapped, the booming presence had caged her between his big arms.

"Turn around." He hissed in her ear.

Winter slowly did as the man said.

"Who are you?" He said.

"Winter."

She answered without hesitation, she knew that this was not the time nor the place to play games.

"Do you know who's land you are standing on Winter?" he asked.

He closed the space between them pressing her against her truck. Winter studied him for a second, he was around the same age as Aster.

"Isn't the cavalry coming?" she asked as she saw how he looked around.

"I don't need cavalry to deal with you." He answered.

"You are trespassing the Opal Storm pack territory. You will need to see our alpha for doing so."

"I rather not." Winter replied.

He grabbed her hand in a firm hold.

"I don't think you have a choice. You are just a weak rogue wolf; you will do as I say. We have a firm policy for trespassers. Let's just say that not many live to tell."

Winter felt how he send some beta waves her way, making her obey his command. He towered over and yet she smirked at him, she was an alpha and much stronger than him for that matter. His waves had zero effect.

"Get your hands off me."

Winter commanded using her alpha voice and the guy let go of her arm.

"Be a good boy and step back." She said stern.

"What's your name boy?" she mocked him.

He couldn't refuse to answer her question.

"Josh, beta from the Opal Storm pack." He replied meek.

"Well Josh, tell your alpha I said hi. Or maybe don't I am not sure he would like that."

Winter said with a smile and entered her car. As she exited the parking lot, she saw that Josh still was startled as he looked at her disappearing truck.

Winter needed to make a stop at the compound from her Nana on her way back. She drove on an abounded route, which was in poor shape. The route went deeper inside a forest, Winter felt how the peace and silence washed over her as she went further away from the habited world.

The stories from her Nana had done justice to the place she realized. She could see why her Nana liked it out here. As she drove further down the road a big building started to take shape on the horizon, a square farm appeared. Her Nana had told her multiple stories about this magical place.

The farm was constructed on the former outbuilding of an old Abbey, whose origin dated back to the 13th century. The farm was surrounded by 22 hectares of adjoining land, surrounded by the woods. Winter parked her car and looked around.

The place was magnificent, it felt like home. A majestic driveway went all the way to a gate at the entrance of the building. Winter fiddled with the keys but she finally managed to open the doors. As she stepped on the courtyard her breath faltered the place was magnificent and in far better state than she could have hoped.

Winter saw how an old man approached her.

"Winter Whitefortis, is that you?" the man shouted to her.

Winter nodded and started to walk in his direction.

"Yeah I am nice to meet you." She said.

"That took you long enough. Your Nana died three years ago; I was expecting you way sooner. Even though she never specified when you would arrive."

"You knew my Nana?" Winter asked.

"Off course I do, she was my mate." The old man responded.

Winter looked confused at him; this couldn't be true. Her grandfather had always been her nana's mate. She had never met him, but she had heard about him in so many stories from her grandmother. Maybe the old man was becoming senile.

"Thomas Darville. I see you are confused. You look so much like her." He sighed.

He walked over towards a big building and started a tour of the house.

"The main building forms a quadrangle and mainly dates back to the 18the century. It has been completely renovated in accordance with its history and original materials." Thomas said.

The house has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and four garages. Winter walked through a big hall with large pillars.

"Perfect place for the pack hall." He said.

He walked further into a big kitchen big enough to provide for an entire pack.

"Thomas, why did my grandmother leave this building to me? And why does nobody know about it?" Winter asked.

"Your Nana was forced to leave me here; it wasn't her choice. She loved this place, but she didn't want it passed on to one of her greedy children. The first she saw fit to live in this place was you and from what I heard about you I agreed. We started the renovations when you turned sixteen. Your Nana was convinced that one day you would need a place to start your own pack. She wanted it to be this place." He said.

Winter looked startled at the man. She had so many more questions. Thomas showed her several more rooms they all were beautiful and verry impressive. Until he finally stopped at one room.

"This room belonged to her, she wanted it to become your room. It's the most beautiful room inside the whole compound." Thomas said.

"Aren't you staying there?" Winter asked.

"No, after she was forced to leave, I couldn't stay here, it reminded me too much of her." Thomas said.

Thomas opened the door to the room but never entered. Winter stepped inside and knew immediately what he meant. The room was big, beautiful and full off light. The back of the room was filled with big glass windows, leaving an indescribable view over the estate. Winter smiled and thanked her Nana for taking care of her.

Thomas showed her further around the compound.

"There are different stables and barns that can be turned into suiting living areas." He said.

He pointed towards a tiny house that lay a bit remote in the field.

"That's my house, if you ever need anything you can find me there." He said.

Winter looked at the old man.

"Thomas why did my Nana leave her mate?" Pain filled the old man's eyes.

"I think that's a story for another time."

He answered with a week smile and walked away. Winter felt so confused as he left, why did her grandmother leave her this property and why did she mean by her pack. Winter was no longer part of any pack. It was her and her alone.

Winter drove back to the town and as she parked near the bar, she noticed how Enrique, the man who let them in the building last night was harassed by four other wolves. She quickly made her way over towards the side where they had pushed the man in an alley.

As she approached them Winter overheard a part of their conversation.

"You said they wouldn't be there. And yet they both showed up. Do you have the money at least?"

One of the wolves threatened the man.

"Hey." Winter waved enthusiastic to the group of men.

"There you are, Jack has been looking everywhere for you."

She quickly approached the group and the man recognized her. The four backed away a bit from him and Winter saw her chance.

"You know how he gets when he needs something. Are you coming?"

"No." One of the wolves roared.

"We weren't done talking."

"From my point of view, you don't want to talk." Winter replied with a smile.

"Baby you better leave now, things are about to get ugly." Another wolf said to her.

She responded with a smile.

"Isn't it rather pathetic that you need four wolves to attack one guy?"

"There is really no need, tell Jack I am coming." Enrique whimpered.

But Winter wasn't backing down. One wolf approached her and he licked his lips.

"Baby you heard the man, you can go. We don't want to scratch your pretty little face."

The wolf said as he tried to brush a hair lock out of her face. In a swift motion she grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm in a deadlock. To endure the pain the wolf had to bent down and Winter just starred at the other guys, still holding his arm firm.

"I think the conversation is over, he is coming with me."

They looked at her anticipating what she would do. Since nobody moved Winter pushed the arm of the man further until a loud snap was heard. She had broken his arm while never breaking eye contact with the others.

"Look we don't want to have a fight. I think we can have this talk another time."

One of the other wolfs said as they released Jack's man. He hurried himself over towards Winter.

"I could protect myself." He said stern.

"I didn't look like it." She answered.

The wolves picked their friend up from the ground and walked away.

"Why did you do that? Why did you help me?" The man said.

"Because you are a friend of Jack and I didn't like the numbers."

Winter said without looking at the man. She turned around and started to walk towards the bar.

"Why didn't you defend yourself? You are a wolf after all?" She asked.

"I can't fight." Enrique answered.

She nodded her head and pushed open the double doors of the bar.

"Can we not tell Jack about this; I am trying to fix the problem. I don't need him to worry about it." He answered.

As Winter walked inside, she bumped against a hard chest. As she looked up Jack steadied her with a huge smile.

"Honey, it's good to see you."

"Jack, nice seeing you again." Winter answered.

He smiled down at her as he removed his arms from around her waist. He looked from her over to Enrique next to her.

"Now do enlighten me, what can't we tell Jack?" he asked.

She saw how Enrique instantly got nervous.

"He has offered me a fighting position in the team." Winter said without hesitation.

She knew that he had no choice then to back her up.

"What?" Jack said confused.

Enrique looked startled at her.

"He was harassed by a couple of wolves and I chased them away. They were rogues going for his wallet. I said I was looking for a job and he must have been impressed by my skills since he offered me one on your team." Winter answered with a steady breathing.

"No way." Jack answered stern.

"Why not?" Winter asked.

"I am not letting my guys beat up a lady." He answered.

Enrique was still silent, not knowing what the outcome would be.

"Your numbers aren't that great. You need the money. Having a she-wolf fight will bring in tons of cash." Winter said confident.

"You will have an exclusive fighter."

"I am not letting my guys fight against you. You could get hurt."

"Or your guys could." Winter answered with a smile.