Saying goodbye was the hardest thing she ever had to do. Her mother and father couldn't come with her, to drop her off, send her off to her new home. Her brother, Sebastian, would be with her. Only for the day. And then he would leave her in the hands of wolves she'd never met in her life.

She had no one to blame but herself for this. She had agreed to it, for her pack and the Night Walker pack. Not for herself, not to let go and move on, but for her people.

Madeline had been sitting in the car for an hour or two or more. She had lost count of the time, as she thought only of her family and pack she had left behind. She already missed them so much even though they had only parted not even a day ago.

She leaned her head on her brother's shoulder and sighed sorrowfully. She turned her face so it was hiding in his shoulder. She felt his arms wrap around her shoulder and his hand brushed her hair back. Her eyes closed at the feeling.

"You could still change your mind, if you want to." He said, even though he knew that she wouldn't.

"And you know that I can't. I have to do this. The alternative isn't one that I will accept." She murmured against his shoulder.

He sighed. "I know."

He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. It only made her turn more into him and seek comfort from him. Madeline's arms wrapped around his waist. The moment they arrived at their destination, she would let go and raise her head high. But for now, she would enjoy the comforts of her brother. Perhaps for the last time.

***

The stopping of the car caused Madeline's eyes to open. She raised her head off her brother's shoulder and blinked. She hadn't meant to fall asleep.

She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, careful of her makeup, and ran her fingers through her hair to rid of any knots.

She tilted her head to face her brother, who was smiling sadly at her. She returned the smile and kissed his cheek. She placed her hands in his and squeezed. "I'll be okay." She said softly. "I promise. And I'll call whenever I can. And I'll come and visit when I have the time."

Sebastian said nothing. He just leaned forward and pressed his lips to her brow. He gave her one last sad look before stepping out of the vehicle.

Deep breath in. Deep breath out. She told herself, and with that, she got out of the car.

Her breath caught as she saw her surroundings. Her new home.

It much different in many ways and same in the others. There were the same infrastructures. The schools, the training yards, the Pack House, the marketplace, houses along the territory. But the way they were built, the material that used, no matter that it was midday, they truly were night walkers as their pack name implied.

The people themselves resembled those who walked the night. They all had dark hair, whether it be raven black or dark brunette. Many had skin shades of fair. Those with a tan skin color were those of the Epsilon, as they lined up at the car, others guarding the magnificent Pack House.

The sound of giggling children caught her attention. A pack of the small little children came racing towards and past her. It made her smile, that though they were in a time of crisis, the children could still find joy. However, one of them caught her attention. More like the shiny object in his fingers caught her attention.

Her eyes widened at the child running with scissors. She quickly took the few steps towards him and caught him in her arms before any harm could come to him. She pried the scissors from his hands before setting down the child and letting him run to join his friends.

She handed the scissors to a man that had approached her with his hand out. She placed them in his hand before returning to the side of her brother. Just in time it would seem, as a young man of great authority and an older man who looked to be his father approached Madeline and her entourage.

One look at her brother told her that the young man was the Alpha, and her soon-to-be mate. The older man was indeed his brother.

The handshake between Sebastian and Alpha Emerson was tense, and it did not go unnoticed by Madeline and the others. The relationship between the two packs had been strained. Especially since they were the reason they had gone to war. And the reason she had lost Lucas. Many had lost their lives. Mystic Peak had suffered tremendous casualties. Despite this, they had remained the Night Walker's closet allies.

And that's why Madeline was there. To be offered up to mate with the Alpha and be the Luna of a collapsing pack in hopes to save it. It was worth it, because they would help her pack. Help protect them.

Though she felt as if her heart was going to beat out of her chest, she took calm, collective steps when Sebastian gestured for her to come to him. She meant to look her arranged mate in the eye, and show that she was not afraid. But the intensity in his eyes, the burning rage, caused her to look elsewhere. Anywhere, but him. Her eyes settled on his father, the previous Alpha of the Night Walkers.

He was easier to look at, smiling down at her, a hopeful glint in his eyes. She clasped his hand, giving a firm squeeze before letting her hand fall to her side. She returned the smile, bright and lively.

"Welcome to the Night Walker pack." The former Alpha announced. He focused his attention on Madeline. "The last time I saw you, you weren't even to my knees yet. And now look how much you have grown."

His voice, his attitude, his body language made her feel welcome and warm inside, unlike the Alpha. However, she could tell there was something off about Benjamin. She just couldn't put a finger on it.

"Yes, well, it has been almost twenty years. One does grow up in that amount of time." She replied.

Madeline discreetly watched Alpha Emerson out of the corner of her eye. He had changed since she last saw him five years ago. Though it was brief, she still remembered what he was like. Less scars adorned his body, he had less muscles, his hair was swept in a youthful manner. And there was this glint in his eyes. This hopeful, carefree glint. One that gave off the impression that he was happy.

And now that glint was gone.

Now what stood before her was a brutal man. One that had packed on enough muscles to almost be unattractive. His hair was shorter now, and had lost that boyish look. And all that remained in his eyes was fury, and hidden behind it, sorrow.

She knew that fury, that sorrow. She saw it in her own eyes every time she looked in the mirror.

It suddenly became almost difficult for Madeline to breath. Her chest tightened and every breath she took brought searing pain to her lungs.

Not now. Not now. Of all the places, she couldn't have a panic attack here. This arrangement would fall right through if everyone saw her as weak and unstable.

So she forced herself to take a deep breath after another. To just breathe. And slowly but surely, she was able to calm down before anything else could happen. Before anything could be ruined.

She looked up to see Alpha Emerson's eyes on her and she tensed. Did he see? Would he think less of her now? Would he object to this? Right here, in front of the pack?

Breathe Madeline. Nothing is going to happen. You're just over reacting, said the reasonable voice in her head. She listened to that reasonable voice in her head and stopped worrying.

A little bit.

Kind of.

Sort of.

Not really.

She should at least get points for trying. Unfortunately, the only person keeping score was her inner self, who was disappointed in her so she wasn't scoring any points.

"Oh, what a terrible host I am. I haven't even invited you in." Benjamin drew her attention away from her thoughts.

Madeline forced that smile back onto her face and followed them in.

Her eyes widened. The Pack House was.... grand. There was no word better suited to describe it. It was just grand.

A chandelier hung from the ceiling. Crystal clear, at least three feet long. There was this grand staircase that split into two. To left, there was a parlor. T the right was the living room, large enough to fit at least a hundred wolves (though they would have to be cramped in). there was a kitchen beyond that. There were other rooms in which she assumed there were multiple offices and meeting rooms.

The several floors above were housing mostly unmated wolves, she was told. The top, and fourth floor consisted of the Alpha's Wing. Where she would be staying from now on.

Madeline didn't dare look at her future mate, afraid of what she might see. And because she was scared of his fury being directed at her. So, she kept her head forward, watching his father instead. He did not attempt to converse with her. He only looked straight ahead, his face yielding no emotions. But he didn't have too. His eyes said enough.

At the end of the tour, Benjamin looked to Madeline and Sebastian, who had also remained silent at her side. "Any questions, concerns?" He asked.

Sebastian had opened his mouth, to say something that could make things worse no doubt, but Madeline cut him off. "Could I possibly be introduced to some of the pack members? Informally of course, if I'm assuming correctly that the ceremony is where I will be formally introduced."

She had expected the former Alpha to answer, but it was Emerson who spoke, for the first time since they had met. "Of course."

His voice was low and almost rugged. Husky even. She turned her head to him, her eyes had widened in surprise for just a moment. Her breath caught. Though he had said only two words, he affected her more than it should have. Enough to make her feel guilty.

Some of the anger seemed to have left his eyes, and caution was in its place. She couldn't blame him, for being cautious. She was a person that he really hadn't ever met and now she was going to help him rule over his pack. She would be cautious if she were in his place. She, herself, was cautious.

Benjamin beamed with glee. "Yes. Yes. Emerson, take Madeline dear around the pack and introduce her to some of the members. Sebastian and I have some things to discuss."

It was clear that Emerson was not happy about this. But none the less, he turned on his heel and walked out of the House.

Madeline barely had time to say goodbye to her brother. She had to jog to catch up to him, as he walked at such a fast pace that she fell behind.

She fell in step next to him, taking larger steps to match his pace. She didn't dare look at him again. Instead she watched the ground. Today was not the day to wear a pencil skirt and flats it seemed.

She so focused on not stepping in anything and making sure her skirt didn't scrunch up and flash everybody, she hadn't realized Emerson had stopped walking. That was until he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to his side. Her head snapped up and she blinked several times. Her cheeks flushed and she muttered an apology.

He said nothing but knocked on the door in front of them.

Madeline took note of where they were. And the building before them seemed to be a day care center. Otherwise, this pack had some real issues if there were only officials working in a building with a smiley sun and colorful childlike flowers.

Thankfully, she was correct in her assumption as she heard the laughs and voices of children when the door did open.

The woman who opened the door went wide eyed and blushed as she saw who was before her. "Alpha Emerson. We weren't expecting you."

Yes, Madeline could see that, as the woman's clothes were rumpled and there were children's painting all over the floor. Toys were abandoned, and the children were running wild.

"Don't worry about Edna. Madeline here wanted to meet some of the pack." He gestured to her and she smiled and waved kindly, but awkwardly, to the woman. "So I thought meeting the little kids would be a best start."

The woman, Edna, looked more relived after he had finished speaking. "Yes yes. Of course. The children love it when people come to visit."

She ushered them in.

"Children." At the sound of her booming voice, all of them stopped and looked to her. "You have visitors."

They all stood there, blinking for a moment, before rushing towards both Madeline and Emerson.

***