~Tristan~

The meeting with Alpha Andrew had been uncomfortable at best. We all know the rumors that surround this pack, even as secluded as our pack is, we still keep up with the outside world. We even have internet and cell phone service. Granted we had to pay to put in the lines and towers ourselves, but we have it. We live more simply than most packs, but we still run business and various trades to fund our pack.

I listened absent mindedly as Victor and Titus spoke briefly before Victor wandered off to go find his room. I was a little envious of him right this moment. The girls in this pack had already been making eyes at me once they found out I was the Alpha’s son. Our pack members were mingling with theirs at the pack house, probably in the hopes of finding their mate, or in many cases just having some fun, but I wasn’t like that. I had watched too many of my friends sleep around and have it come back to bite them in the ass. Nope, no thanks. I’d pass.

Titus and Victor were staying in the packhouse with the rest of our pack members. Father, Kami and I were staying in the manor. I wasn’t particularly thrilled by this arrangement as I didn’t like having our leading pack members separated, but it did give us more eyes and ears around questionable wolves.

I was glad my sister was still too young to find her mate, not that it had stopped some of the male wolves from staring at her, but at least we wouldn’t have to leave her here. Personally I hoped none of the females from any of the attending packs found mates in Red Moon, there were too many rumors of questionable practices.

“Father, I’m going to escort Kami to her room, she’s looking rather tired and could probably use some rest. Then I’m going to explore a bit myself. See if I can locate a good place for a run. It's a full moon tonight, but I believe Andrew said he had called off the pack run tonight due to preparations for tomorrow.”

“That’s fine son. I will go make sure Alpha Andrew doesn’t mind us running his land. I’m sure as a gracious host he won’t deny us.” my father chuckled a bit.

“Alright, I’ll let you know when I find a good spot. Come Kami, let’s get you settled.” I turned, gripping Kami at the elbow. She didn’t need me to look after her, she was more than capable of taking care of herself, however the condition for her coming with us even though she was too young for a mate, was that she would behave and let us look after her while we were here.

Kami glared at me a little but nodded and came along with me anyway. I know she wasn’t happy about it, but a deal was a deal, “I can walk on my own Tristan!” She hissed at me.

I grinned down at her, letting go of her elbow, “I know you can, but you never let me take care of you anymore. Frankly,” I lowered my voice as we reached the top of the stairs and headed down the hall, “I don’t trust anyone in Red Moon, you’ve heard the rumors, don’t even deny it, and none of the other packs have arrived yet.” I murmured in her ear.

“I know, I know. I’ll be careful I promise. Besides, I’m pretty sure I can take any of these wolves with my eyes closed.”

“I have no doubt, but just while we’re here, can you let me do my job as your big brother. Please?”

She sighed, her blue-gray eyes softening a little when I said please, “Ok, but if you try to go over the top like you did last year I will hand you your ass.”

I laughed, “Oh my dear sister, I would like to see you try sometime. You are tough, but not tough enough to take me down.”

She grinned at me, “One of these days I’ll show you, Tristan. Also, what is with all these she-wolves looking at you like a piece of meat? You’d think they have no respect for the mate bond, or themselves for that matter…”

“Maybe they don’t. The males are no better. I’ve had to glare at more than a few looking at you the same way. Promise me you will be careful.”

“I promise, Trist. I will even keep my blades on me at all times if it makes you feel better.”

I nodded, my sister was an expert with all types of knives and most types of smaller bladed weapons, “It would make me feel a little better. Not going anywhere without an escort would be ideal, but I know better than that.”

We stopped in front of the door to her room and I kissed her forehead, “Go get some rest. I will come get you for a run once I locate a place, ok?”

“Alright. I’ll see you later.” She hugged my waist and then slipped into her room. I waited until I heard the lock click into place and then headed out of the manor to search the woods a bit.

It didn’t take me long to find some trails that headed north east into the woods, ending at a lake that would be a great place to rest at the end of the run, I opened the mind-link to my father, *Ask Alpha Andrew if we can roam the north east woods without causing any trouble. There’s a lake a few miles in. It would be a short run, but it’s better than no run at all.*

*I’ll go ask him now, head back this way so we can all leave together in an hour if Andrew gives permission.* There was a hint of amusement in my father’s voice.

*I’m sure he will. I’m on my way.* It was not common for people to tell my father no unless there was a very good reason. He was intimidating. He stood at 7’2” and had the muscle and power to go with the impressive stature. In reality he was a giant teddy bear most of the time, not that anyone other than Mother will tell him that to his face, even bears have claws and his were swift and sharp. I headed back to the pack manor, arriving just as my father came over our link, “Andrew says we are welcome to roam the entirety of his territory.”

*Wonderful, I’ll get everyone together, let’s meet in an hour? 10:30, at the back door of the Manor?*

*Alright. That sounds like a plan.*

My father was still Alpha in charge, but I was set to be taking over just as soon as I found my mate, so he tended to let me act as Alpha on many things. I was already 21, and knew I would need to find her soon before it started affecting my temperament and behavior. It was one of the biggest reasons we had made the trek to this pack. I needed to do everything I could to find her.

I pushed away those thoughts for now and headed inside to gather everyone and give them the basic directions to the lake. Victor and Titus I called via mind-link, relaying information to them as they made their way over. Next I needed to get Kami, bounding up the stairs and down the hall to her room, tapping on the door, “Come on Kami, time for a run!”

I heard a pillow hit the door and laughed, “Come on, you’ll hate yourself if you miss a run, and Scarlett won’t talk to you for a week!”

I heard her grumble as she started to come alive, “I’ll be out in a minute! I hate that you’re right.” she yelled at me through the door.

“Ok, I’m gonna get Father and then we’ll meet you all down stairs at the back door.”

“Mmhmm.”

I walked away laughing, heading for my father’s room. Another 20 minutes and we were all assembled in the yard behind the manor, “Alright, there’s a lake a few miles into the woods to the north east. Alpha Andrew has given us free roam of his territory, but I don’t want to wander too far with our younger pack members here. So let’s stick to the lake. It’s not huge, run laps around it if you need to burn more energy. I’ve put clothes at the lake and here at the back door just in case. Now, let’s go!”

They all nodded at me, even my father gave me an approving look when I explained why we weren’t running around all willy nilly. We shifted and headed for the woods, yipping and growling at each other in good fun as we raced toward the lake.