Thirty minutes later, after a short tour of the pack village, Lillian found herself face to face with a shy young man around her age. 

Robert wasn't built like the warriors she'd seen, but his lean body still towered over her. His hair was the deep red of sunset, long enough to brush smiling blue eyes. Dirt smudged his pale cheeks and clothes, and a pair of yellow gardening gloves hung from the pocket of his jeans.

Robert was responsible for the sprawling garden that provided the pack with the produce they needed. Noah had dropped her off in the garden- which was near the lake, a small distance away from the pack house- and gone on his way without even introducing the two. Rude wolf.

Fortunately, Lillian never had a problem warming people up to her. Although her teenage years would be an argument against that. But those times were what shaped her into what she was now. 

Back then, her history and her background were the only thing her peers saw. No one bothered to look past what she had no control over. In many ways, leaving school and the orphanage and having the twins was the best thing that happened to her as a person. It made her decide who she wanted to be as a person without the influence of her past.

In a few minutes, Robert and she were already on a first name basis.

"So you had your own garden?" Robert asked. His voice was low and soothing. Coupled with his sweet nature and disarming smile, Lillian felt at ease with the young male.

"Just a small one. Nothing as extensive as this." Lillian waved her hand around. "It truly is amazing what you're doing here all on your own."

Robert's cheeks tinged with red. He shrugged, pushing his hands into his pockets. "I do my best, but it was getting difficult the last couple of years after Brenda left to her mate's pack- Brenda worked here with me."

"Well, I'm not an expert, but I do have a green thumb." Lillian wiggled her fingers with a grin. "Or so I was told."

Lillian pushed back the pang of hurt and guilt. Lydia had always told her that. Being sad every time she remembered the old woman wouldn't do her any good. Lydia wouldn't have wanted that for her.

The twins had cried to sleep the night before when Lillian told them they would not see Lydia again because she had gone to a better place. She didn't know how to tell them she died, how to explain it to their young minds. She did her best, held them until their tears dried and sleep took over. Then she took a long shower and surrendered to the rush of tears and heartbreak, smothering her sobs under the spray of hot water.

She'd never forget the person who'd shown her kindness when she most needed it, the woman who helped her find herself anew. So Lillian would live her life the best way she could in honor of the fallen woman's memory.

Robert walked her through the garden, pointing to a greenhouse at the far end, next to a shed. "We start the seeds indoors around February. We wait until Mars or April to transplant, depending on the plant. But most of our work keeps going from February to around October."

Lillian nodded, her fingers fleetingly touching the delicate greens. The buzz of excitement at the task ahead fluttered in her stomach. She was glad she'd have something to do. She never did well with void.

Robert tested her knowledge with a few basic questions she had no trouble answering. She'd always enjoyed gardening, often found herself most at ease when her hands were buried in soil.

"You can come in tomorrow morning." He scratched his head. "Alpha said you had to attend some classes?"

"Yes. With the little ones. I need to know more about ... everything" she waved her hands around.

"Okay. We can work out the rest when you get your schedule all figured out." Robert chuckled. "I still can't believe we have a human in the pack."

"How do you think I feel?" Lillian smiled, shook her head looking at the blinding water of the lake. "It's like a dream. Though I'm not so sure everyone likes having me in here."

"It doesn't matter." Robert said. Lillian looked at him. "It's the alpha's decision, there might be some wolves who don't agree with it, but they'll embrace it with time."

"It's kind of weird how the alpha gets all the power."

Robert laughed, then nodded to a bench shaded by a great tree. Lillian followed him there. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."

Lillian sat down beside him. "I mean, the alpha could just do whatever he feels like, even if it puts the pack in danger? There's no accountability?"

"Ah," Robert said. "Alpha wolves, at least normal ones, are so dominant that their protective instincts overtake any other urge when it comes to their pack. But when there's severe displeasure about an alpha, it usually ends with a challenge."

"A challenge?"

Robert nodded, the motion sending his hair down over his eyes. He shoved it back. "A wolf challenges the alpha to the position. Usually it's a wolf inside the pack, but on extreme occasions, the council may intervene."

At her questioning look, Robert explained, "The national council of wolves is composed by all the alphas in the country and their seconds. It has the right to make a decision concerning a pack when its alpha is deemed unfit for leadership. Though the council rarely interferes with packs' internal matters. Most packs prefer to solve their own problems."

"When you say challenge...?" Lillian asked. She had a vague idea, but needed confirmation from Robert.

"Fight to submission or death, depending on what the winner chooses."

Lillian sucked in a sharp breath. She nodded, eyes wide. There was so much she didn't know about this world.

What surprised her the most was how much the werewolves were organized and structured. The image portrayed by the human media painted shapeshifters as feral beings, nothing more than animals who could take human shapes. While Lillian had no misconceptions about their viciousness and ferocity, she could now see they were much more than humans liked to think.

Robert walked her to the class she was supposed to attend with the six to ten years olds. On the way there, Lillian froze, her eyes wide.

"Lillian?" Robert looked at her with a confused frown. He followed her gaze and chuckled. "Don't tell me it's the first time you see one?"

Lillian wordlessly nodded, her gaze trained on the enormous gray wolf trotting to the pack house. It was her first time seeing an adult werewolf. She'd known they'd be bigger, but not that big.

The wolf was at least five feet tall, all corded muscle and strength underneath a gray coat. Lillian wasn't afraid, but maybe it was because she was a good distance away from him- or her.

Upon reaching the pack house's door, the wolf shifted in an effortless leap from fur to skin. A blink of an eye was all it took. Then a man stood in place of the wolf. A very naked man. Lillian squealed an inaudible note and covered her eyes.

"Oh my God, he's naked," she said in a loud whisper. Robert's cough was suspiciously close to a laugh.

"Um, that's the norm here," he said, a smile in his voice. "You should probably get used to it".

"Is he gone?"

At Robert's affirmative, she peeked between her fingers. The coast was clear. Robert was barely holding in his grin. Face red, Lillian punched his shoulder with a mock glare. He burst out laughing.

Shifting back and forth between wolf and human forms made nudity an issue for her and the twins. But she'd thought the adults would be more discreet about it. Apparently not. Now she felt silly for always scolding Elijah and Ezra.

Lillian couldn't hold back her own smile. Robert was basically tearing up, hands on his knees and freckled cheeks pink.

She shook her head with an exaggerated sigh when he straightened up, wiping his eyes. "Right. Laugh at the poor human."

"Sorry." His voice wasn't in the least apologetic. She stuck her tongue out at him.

Her eyes caught a light brown gaze, framed with lush black lashes. A small, curvy brunette just emerged from the trees a good distance away from them. Short black hair, straight and glistening under the morning sun, fell to her shoulder and complimented the rich brown of her skin.

A warrior, Lillian guessed from her clothing, build and the direction she came from. Lillian smiled at her. The woman smiled back. Her gaze shifted to Robert who went still at Lillian's side. The woman waved at him, her smile gaining an unexpected warmth.

Lillian looked between the two. Her future coworker waved at the brunette, his cheeks red.

The woman turned her head when someone called, that was the only reason they broke eye contact. Lillian had a hard time stifling her curious streak.

"Who's that?" she asked Robert. He had his eyes on the woman's back, startled when Lillian spoke. His cheeks flamed even hotter, almost matching his hair.

"Jasmine." He scratched his cheek, smile a little shaky. "She's a warrior."

Before she could further question him, Robert walked ahead of her. "Let's go."

Lillian followed behind with a barely concealed smile. She had a feeling she'd be getting along with Robert extremely well.

*** *** ***

"Are you a student, too?"

Lillian crouched in front of the six year old girl. Dark brown eyes bright with curiosity looked her up and down.

"I hope so," Lillian replied. "Do you mind having me in your class?"

The child giggled, her corkscrew curls bouncing as she shook her head. "I don't mind. But you're too big!"

Lillian grinned at her. "Even if I'm big, there's a lot of things I don't know."

"Tara! What are you still doing here? The next class is about to begin."

The feminine stern voice held an accent Lillian couldn't identify. Its owner, a slender brunette with creamy skin and dark eyes, crossed her arms while looking down at the child.

Tara's grin disarmed her teacher. The woman melted and bent down to kiss the child's forehead before she skipped outside.

"Hey. Alpha told me you'll stop by." The teacher held her hand out to Lillian. "I'm Anna, one of the teachers."

"Lillian." Taking her offered hand, Lillian smiled. "I hope I'm not bothering you."

Anna ushered Lillian inside the room. A still blushing Robert had escorted her inside to the correct classroom before he fled.

"Not at all." Anna dragged a chair to her desk and gestured for Lillian to take a seat. It wasn't noticeable because of Anna's oversized sweater, but the woman had a slight baby bump.

Lillian smiled, remembering her own pregnancy. It had seemed that the twins simply grew overnight. She had gone from a barely there bump to waddling like a whale in no time at all.

Posters and maps covered the classroom walls, a blackboard, the teacher's desk and chair, and individual tables for the children. The tables were organized in a u shape, the teacher's desk at the opening.

"I don't know if you're aware but I'm also not a werewolf," Anna said. Lillian had guessed as much, the teacher's presence felt similar to Karina's, though the other witch felt somewhat darker than Anna. "I'm a witch, my mate is a senior warrior here."

"I didn't know there were non wolf pack members," Lillian said, interested in the woman across the desk from her.

"In this pack? Not many. Maybe one or two others. But you could find more in other packs. Definitely no humans, though." She said with an impish smile.

"Yeah, guess not." Lillian grinned. "So you moved in with your mate?"

"Yep, four years ago, I think?" Anna said. "I was with a German coven."

"A coven?"

"Like a pack, but of witches." Anna paused. "Mhm, maybe that's a stretch. A pack is more of a social community, it's based on familial structures and bonds, whereas a coven is more of a congregation of witches, with a leader and a board. Only witches can adhere to it. To be honest, it's more of a business arrangement."

Lillian nodded slowly. "There's so much to learn."

Anna chuckled. "It's okay, we have time. Alpha said you were okay to attend the class with the pups, but I had other ideas."

Anna opened a drawer in her desk, retrieved a couple of books and put them in front of Lillian. "I thought it would be more effective for you to have individual sessions with me. That way you can learn things that the pups already know, or that are urgent for you to learn when it comes to pack life.

"If you have time on your hands in the evenings, start reading these books. They contain generalities about immortal history and origins. If you have any questions, you can come to my cabin, or wait until we have a session".

Lillian gave the books a closer look, then held them to her chest, elated with the prospect of learning again. Her thirst for knowledge had been her constant companion when she was in school. She loved learning new things, opening her eyes to new truths everyday. But all that had been wrenched away from her in one night.

She adored her babies, and wouldn't change anything when it came to them. But that didn't mean she didn't feel the loss of what could have been any less.

"So," Anna said. "I usually finish the morning classes at around eleven, depending on the pups' mood. How about we meet then. Would it suit you?"

Lillian considered before nodding. "Robert is okay with whatever schedule I come up with. And the twins don't finish their lessons until noon. So it should be fine."

"How old are they?" Anna said with a fond smile.

"They turned five not long ago."

Anna's smile widened. "Twin boys, huh. They must be a handful."

Lillian laughed. "Oh, you have no idea."

"I'm waiting for one myself," Anna said, her hand caressing her belly.

"Congratulations. How far along are you?"

"Eight weeks. I can't wait for him to arrive."

"You know it's a boy?" Lillian asked. She couldn't remember well, but eight weeks should be too early to tell.

Anna nodded. "Johnson- my mate- swears it's a boy. He can smell it."

Lillian leaned back in her seat. "Well, that's... handy."

"Yep, perks of having a wolf mate." Anna laughed. "They have acute senses, even among shapeshifters. Their sense of smell is especially strong."

Lillian put the books on the desk, and leaned her forearms on them. "Are there all kinds of shapeshifters? all animals?"

"No. I think there's a pack of leopards in Arizona, and a flock of winged shifters in Canada. Though the winged shifters are more of a sub-race."

"Why?"

"They can only shift parts of their body, that is the wings. Other than that, wolves have the biggest population of shapeshifters in the U.S.. There are other shapeshifters across the world. Lions, tigers, bears, foxes, deer, and I believe there are more we don't know of."

Lillian's mouth was hanging open when Anna finished speaking. "I thought only wolves existed, and maybe some sort of feline."

"Mhm, some races prefer to keep their presence a secret even among immortals. Compared to us, the human public isn't well informed, but I do know for certain that human governments all over the world have more information compared to the average citizen.

"But, even among shapeshifters, wolves have the largest population. There are packs all over the world. They're the most widespread and the most visible when it comes to dealings with humans. That's why most humans think only wolves exist."

An hour passed in a flash, Lillian drinking in Anna's knowledge and asking questions of her own.

She had to head out for lunch after picking up the twins, a million other questions burning in her mind. So much to know, so much to learn. She couldn't wait to sit down again with Anna. Meanwhile, she consoled herself with the books in her arms.

After their lunch in the cabin, the twins joined the rest of the pups outside. Anna had told her that pups were given most of their day to play. It was one of the foundations of pack life. It helped them develop bonds with their peers and strengthen the ones they had with their own wolves.

Since she had the afternoon to herself, Lillian curled up in a chair in the front yard of her cabin, one of Anna's books in her hands. The pups' loud voices and laughter kept her company.

Every once in a while she'd catch herself looking up in a scare, her heart lurching in her chest at the thought of her children playing outside. Then she'd remember that it was okay, that they were no longer in the human world where she had to watch over them every second when outdoors.

The book told stories of races Lillian recognized and others she didn't know existed. Brief introductions to each race contained illustrative pictures or sketches. It was clear the book was meant for young minds, children a few years older than her boys. But Lillian enjoyed it nonetheless. She was enthralled, captivated by a world of shapeshifters, trolls, witches, vampires, Fae... Her parched mind eagerly absorbed the knowledge.

Lillian felt as if she had been imprisoned in a tiny cell all her life, her grasp of the world not even a drop in the ocean.

Shadow. She blinked, her eyes strained, only now realizing the lighting had changed, darkened. Noah stood in his half naked glory, basketball shorts hung low on his hips. His frame looked imposing against the twilight.

"Don't you own any shirts?" The question escaped her lips before she even understood her thoughts. As her mind caught up with her tongue, her cheeks flamed up. Clearing her throat at his stunned silence, she closed the book with a snap, forgetting to dog-ear the page.

"I have the information you need," he said, dark eyes slowly moving over every inch of her face. "Law enforcement was notified of the murder after they checked in with a neighbor who heard gunshots. The official story is that you killed the woman then disappeared with your kids."

Rage. Hot, red fury seared Lillian's blood.

"So they covered up their crime using us," she said through gritted teeth. She stood up, abandoning the book on the chair, and paced in front of her cabin, aware of Noah crossing his arms and watching her with a riveted gaze.

The sense of betrayal was illogical. Those people had chased her and her kids down a cliff, so it wasn't like they had any good intentions to begin with. But at the same time, she was human. Now people from her own race labeled her as a murderer.

She shook her head. It wasn't like she'd be going back to live with humans again. But being a murderer had taken any chance she had of even visiting any human settlement in the future. Oh well, it wasn't a big loss.

She stopped, looking up at the darkening sky. "They know I'm here?"

"Yes," came the reply of the scarred alpha. "Human officials contacted us this afternoon, actually. To hand you and your kids over if we have you."

Her eyes met his. She was standing only a few feet away from him, and had to stretch her neck to look at him. "You won't."

It wasn't a question but he answered anyway. "No."

"Could there be consequences if you don't cooperate with them?" Lillian asked, rubbing her arms against the sudden chill that spread through the air.

"Humans are no threat to us," he said matter of factly. "We have no obligation to accede to their demands."

Lillian dragged a hand down her face. The tightness in her chest increased at the thought of Lydia. "Was she buried? a funeral?"

Amber burned in Noah's gaze. "A small ceremony with a couple of neighbors."

Lillian nodded, swallowing the knot in her throat. Guilt consumed her. If she hadn't been in Lydia's life, would the old lady be alive now? Did she bring death to Lydia's doorsteps?

Lillian's heart broke all over again for Lydia, another person who left her.

*** *** ***

Noah watched Lillian drag her feet to her cabin.

She'd thanked him with a smile that did nothing to hide the broken blue of her eyes, picked up her book and went inside. Her shoulders hunched under an unseen weight.

His wolf jerked at the reins, wanting to go after her. He had almost taken over when her voice thickened with sorrow as she asked about the old human woman.

Gritting his teeth against the urge, he went to the training grounds. His wolf was on edge, even going on a hunt hadn't mollified him. For the first time in Noah's life, his wolf's growling and snapping didn't make any sense to him. Though it was related to a certain woman, Noah didn't know the reason why. Only that with each passing day, his wolf was growing more irritable.

"Alpha!" Jake's call made him whip around.

"What?" Noah replied curtly.

Jake's eyes widened before he and Phoebe, who was with him, dropped their heads and bared their necks. Only then did Noah realize his wolf was too close to the surface, fur springing on his arms and the back of his neck, fangs protruding and eyes no doubt glowing. His dominance was shoving outward.

Fortunately, he was deep in the wooded area surrounding the pack village, so no one else witnessed his momentary lapse of control.

Reigning in his power with a deep breath, Noah unclenched his hands. Warm blood dripped down his fingers, his claws having punctured the skin of his palms.

Jake and Phoebe cautiously raised their heads, keeping their eyes level with Noah's chest. Smart decision, since in the mood his wolf was in, he'd take any simple move as a challenge.

"What is it?" Noah asked in a more controlled tone. His voice, however, remained guttural.

The ensuing discussion about patrol gave him a target on which to focus his energy. His wolf was in tune with him, understanding the need to protect those who were under his care.

"Keep the double patrols, and coordinate with Jensen and Benjamin's men." The two alphas shared his borders. "So far our region has been calm, but don't let your guard down."

The kidnappings have been more concentrated in the southern part of the west coast. But no one knew when that would change. And the rogue attacks, though they hadn't had one in almost a year, were always a risk.

"Benjamin's patrols have killed two rogues this morning," Jake said. "Northern borders."

Noah's territory shared Benjamin's southern border, so the attack wasn't a threat. Yet. "Still, keep your eyes open."

After a firm nod, Jake left, throwing Phoebe a look over his shoulder when she didn't walk away with him.

"What is it?" Noah asked, his wolf pushing against his skin again.

Phoebe smiled, taking a step closer. "You've been tense."

She reached with her hand, as if to touch his forearm. Noah snarled, halting her motion. The wolf's emotion in harmony with the man's. Rejection.

The wolf's message was clear in his head: they weren't hers to touch.

Phoebe had been a pack member for only a year or so. She was a transfer from another pack on the east coast. A pack Noah had visited before for the national meeting of wolves, where he'd made the mistake of accepting her invitation to her bed a couple of times during his stay.

Noah never slept with pack members. It was a rule he abided by. But he did accept invitations from willing females outside his pack. Phoebe had been one of them.

But it seemed that was a mistake, since a week after his return to his pack, he received a transfer request from a few wolves, including Phoebe.

Transferring was a common practice between friendly packs, adopted to allow wolves to find mates and gain experience outside their native lands.

Sex to Noah had never been anything but a frustration outlet. As much as that made him feel like a jerk, he'd made that simple fact clear for his bed partners, and he'd never had a problem before.

Until now, it seemed.

"Why don't you come to my cabin," she said, undaunted by his snarl. "We can have a good time, clear your head-"

"Phoebe." He growled, letting his wolf close. "Go home. There will be nothing of what you're thinking. Not now, not ever. I made that perfectly clear."

She averted her hazel eyes, her fists clenched. "Why? You haven't yet chosen a mate, I don't see why-"

"Enough," he said through gritted teeth, a growl building in his chest. "Go. Home."

She stiffened, then, sensing his control was precarious at best, retreated with a lowered head. Noah lunged into his shift, the plan to work out his tangled emotions in the training grounds no longer sufficient.

His black wolf took over, breaking into a brisk paced speed, nothing but a dark blur for anyone watching.

He ran and ran and ran, the sky darkened into night, and Noah still held the reins of the wolf, tugging him away from the direction the beast wanted to go.

The wolf snarled, shaking his head furiously. He stopped, digging his claws in the ground, and growled.

Noah was torn. He rarely went against his wolf's instincts, if ever. The beast was his companion throughout his childhood, throughout dark times that would've broken the boy that he was. He was the force that pushed him, helped him take matters into his own hands.

So Noah listened to his wolf, receiving image after image, emotion after emotion, and gave up. He couldn't deny himself any longer. Two days of holding back was already taking a toll on both man and wolf.

So the man gave up this time. The wolf took over completely, merging with the man's psyche. A fast run later, he sat on his haunches under a tree, his presence veiled by darkness and his eyes trained on a cabin. Lights poured out of the window, and his sensitive hearing picked up dull noises and lively voices of the hyped up twins and their mother.

His wolf gave a content sigh and lied down with his head on his paws, ears pricking on every breeze that carried the faint feminine voice.

And Noah understood.

He was a dense idiot. He'd been denying the instincts of the wolf for two long days. No more. I'm sorry, he sent the emotion to his wolf. They were one, but not the same. The wolf was a feral being ruled by instincts, while the man was more complex in his reasons and emotions. But they were one, the man and the wolf understood one another, made him who he was.

The wolf was ready. He had made a choice to observe, though Noah had never thought this day would arrive. The man was too bruised, too tainted. But he would do anything for his wolf.

--- ---- ---

Thoughts??

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please vote and comment. I appreciate it.

Another update will be coming the day after tomorrow (inshallah) so stay tuned!

Much love! <3 <3 <3

M.B.