Standing high on the mountain edge, my eyes scanned the wilderness of Kings Peak, home to me and my kin.

A crack of thunder rumbled in the distance as several silhouettes stood out in the outline of the trees to the west of me—Wolves. Two stood almost statue-like while the others surveyed the area. Patrolling our lands.

My claws lengthened, digging into the earth below. The wind whistled around me, greeting my fur, lifting, ruffling. It's song stirred my emotions, turmoil being most dominant and for once the freeness of its caresses did nothing to calm the raging storm about the break the dam inside my mind. 

Where the fuck was she?  And how had I let this happen? 

It was my job to protect her, and yet I hadn't seen this coming.... Ha, hadn't seen it coming.  Good one Wolf!

I shook my head, cursing my own fucking arrogance.

The 'she' in particular—my sister, Willa. I'd had no contact with her for the past two days. In all of her nearly twenty-one years of being on this earth, she had never left our territory. 

And worse still, I couldn't sense her, not sure if she had cut our link deliberately or something had happened to her. I feared the latter.

Guilt tightened like a hangman's noose constricting air to my throat.  I should have listened, been more open to her request. 

But no, I had to be my usual pig-headed, stubborn self. I closed my eyes as our last conversation from four days ago played on repeat.

Four days earlier.  

Willa had stormed into my pack house study, slamming the door behind her.  "Shift, Cassius. We need to talk!"  She was the only one, apart from my parents to use my birth given name or I let talk to me in that manner.  I'd maimed and killed for much less. 

Growling, I stretched out my paws, clawing the sofa beneath as I lowered myself to the floor.  My whole body shook as howls vibrated the walls as I shifted.  The cracking of my bones loosened, re-shaped.  Fur receded as scarred human skin revealed itself.  The sting of the cold air brushed my scorched stretched skin.  The change was taking longer than usual as I hadn't shifted in days... weeks? I couldn't be sure when.  Standing, raising to full height, I cracked my neck, opening my eyes to nothing but blackness, as I inhaled as much air my human lungs could accommodate.

"Here!" She threw my jeans, the sound as they travelled toward me lifted the tiny hairs in my ears, as I raised my hand and caught them.  Willa waited for me to dress.  My skin burned as the harsh cotton material slid across my thighs.

Her short, sharp breaths alerted me to where she stood.  Although it wasn't hard to figure it out as she flopped down onto my sofa, where I'd been content a few moments prior to her intrusion. 

"Ewe, it stinks of wolf in here.  Can you please at least try to act like your part-human Cassius?"

"Is that what you wanted, dear sister—to chew on my ass like a bone regarding my study's cleanliness?"

She ignored me but huffed loud enough to show me how pissed off she was.  "I need to find him, Cassius.  Orion said he'd help me; I won't be going alone. We can be there and back in three days... tops!"

Not this again.  I would have words with our dear brother, Orion.

My fingers were my eyes, tracing the outline of the enormous oak table in my study.  My leg brushed up against the chair.  Pulling it out, I sat down. 

"It's not up for discussion, Willa.  Until you reach your next birthday, and they return all your powers, it's not safe for you outside pack lands. You already know this."  Her heartbeat picked up speed.  In my mind, I knew her eyes would be narrowed, glaring at me.

"You're being unreasonable and stubborn, Cassius.  But unlike you, I'm not afraid."  She paused, and I knew what she would utter next.  "I know where she is too, I've seen her."

I gripped the leather arms of my chair. "We are not doing this again, Willa.  The last thing I need is a mate.  You, this pack and upholding up the traditions are my priority.  They tasked us with responsibilities Willa.  Responsibilities that require focus— sacrifice."

She bristled. "You do realize, she completes you, Cassius."

"And you realize, I'm perfectly happy the way I am."

"Are you brother?" she scoffed.   "Tell me you're happy that you are blind when you sit here in your human guise?  And don't think I haven't noticed you have spent an entire month as your wolf." 

She sighed. "I know it pains you, that you can only see when you're him, but you're risking him taking over completely. I've heard the whispers Cassius; everyone is worried for you.  And the more you give him control, you become hot-headed and—" She halted, rubbing her hands together, choosing her next words carefully.

"You're frightened, brother."

I snorted; this was new—I'd give her that. "Frightened of what, dear sister? Please be my guest and enlighten me." My mocking tone only aided in rankling her already pissed off mood.

I almost heard the snapping of her head, the burn of her eyes on me; knowing it would stretch her lips in a defiant line. She growled out her barely contained anger.

"That she won't want a mate who is blind, Cassius."

Slamming my hand on the hard, smooth wood. "Enough, Willa.  This conversation is over." My keen ears heard her mouth slam shut, and I calmed myself by resting my head in my hand, breathing deeply. 

A few moments later, her hand came to rest on my shoulder as she kissed the crown of my head.

"I know you don't want to hear this brother, but soon, you will need her and you mustn't go against what draws you to her.  She's too important to you, Cassius. And I fear the worst will need to happen for you to truly see what is right in front of you."

"You don't think I'm strong without a mate?"

"Honestly Cassius, you're the strongest wolf I've ever known, nothing holds you back or stands in your way.  The whole pack respects and adores you.  But don't deny yourself what is yours."

I hadn't told her about the dreams I'd been having... about my Dark One and how she consumed me, body and soul.  Shaking those thoughts from my head.  I stood and pulled her into my embrace, inhaling the scent that was so familiar to me, part of me.  They'd tied us together, bound us both in physical and spiritual, whether or not she liked it. 

"My answer is still no, Willa."

She stiffened and pulled away.  "You can't control everything, dear brother. We need her."

We?  She had never said, We before.

As I opened my mouth to question her wording, she turned and stomped away from me; the door handle turned, but she stopped. 

"—And Cassius."

"Yes, Willa?"

"Take a bath, you stink."

I threw my head back and laughed.  "As you command, sister."

~ ~

'Alpha.'  My Beta, Seth snapped me from my trance of echoing memories.

Turning, his worried wolf's eyes greeted mine.  'You have news for me, Seth?'  We spoke through our mind link.

He offered a curt nod. 'I spoke with the head of Wolfe Industries.  He knew of whom you spoke, and she will be here before three moons pass, Alpha.'

So, Willa hadn't been wrong, not that I doubted her gifts.  I returned my attention to the landscape and restrained myself from growling.  Frustration running laps through my guts.

Three moons?

Fuck—that was too long.  My sister might not have three more days.  'Couldn't you have returned with her, this Pearl Du-Ponte?'

'She's not from an American pack Alpha.'

Well, that surprised me. 'Where?'

'London, Alpha.'

What the fuck?  London?

Little surprised me, but this nugget of information did.  If I had been interested in meeting my mate, which I wasn't—How in the goddess's name would I have ever met her if she was in London? 

'London, England?'  just to confirm I hadn't misheard.

'Yes Alpha.'

I couldn't wait, I would need to act on the whispers that had come to our attention.  'Did you arrange for the Blue-Night Pack to prepare for a visit?' 

Many times, I'd had to visit this unruly pack and instil justice, brutal but swift. They were situated to the North, bordering Canada.

'Wolf, I don't think...'

My head turned so quick I almost gave myself whiplash.  'You dare to question me, Beta?'

He pawed the ground, stepping backwards, lowering his head but tilting it slightly to offer me his throat, a clear sign of his submission.

'We start with them, Seth; they are stupid enough to try... and not because they know anything—just because they are that fucking stupid.'

'Forgive me Alpha.'

'Instruct Orion that he will need to keep his lazy ass out of bed and oversee the pack whilst we're away and I'll meet you on the runway.'  I took off down the mountain, heading through the woods.

Before I headed to the airstrip, my wolf needed to hunt, then fuck and I was in the mood for some Elk and whilst I had the pick of every female in pack—mated or not. For past few months I'd offered extra attention to an attentive she-wolf, Bella whom my wolf happily looked forward to indulging his primal cravings.

~ ~

Darting through trees, distinct scents caught my attention, but not the one I was seeking. 

There!

I felt it before I smelt it.  Stopping, I raised my nose, sniffing, letting the wind feed me.  Lowering my stomach almost touching the hard ground beneath me, I waited for the familiar scent to get stronger.

Vibrations through the ground ran through my enormous paws, it was coming closer.  The crunch of leaves shattered the silence as confident hooves slowed.  A potent mixture of adrenalin and anticipation raised my hackles.  It was almost time.

From the tree line, a large male elk shifted its gaze in my direction, its nostrils flaring as it tracked the air for my scent.

I listened as its heartbeat danced in my keen ears.  It was now.  I pushed from my hind legs; the chase was on as birds scattered and the Elk took flight across the forest floor.  Six mighty bounds and a last thrust forward as I lunged for its hind-quarters. It kicked out to stop me latching on.  But today its life was fated to be mine. 

We both went down as it turned its large head to face me, its front legs clambering to pull itself free.  Releasing its leg—I lunged for the throat. 

Against my speed and weight, it was quick as my large canines' slice through fur, flesh and the welcome heat of blood flooded my mouth.

I stilled as I once again tuned into its heartbeat, slowing its dance, until the music ceased.

My kill was clean, quick. 

It quenched our first urge.

A short while later, my nose skimmed across the stream's cold water.  I stood at the edge of the clearing; the water lapping my paws as I drank heartedly.

The parting of bushes and the flight of birds pinched my ears; she was here.

Twisting my enormous head.  The chocolate colored she-wolf held her head high and proud.  She scraped the dirt with her paw.  My eyes fixed on hers, she lowered her gaze.  Returning to the water, I lapped three more times before I heard her impatient whimper.  Turning my gaze, my lip curled. A low growl carried on the wind. 

She lowered her head, took a step back, tilting her throat, offering her willingness to show obedience.

Huffing, I finished drinking.  Lifting my nose, I scanned the air for any alarms before I would draw my attention to her.  Nothing pricked my senses. 

My wolf was impatient as he pushed through my mind. He wanted nothing more than to sink his teeth into this female and fuck till he'd had his fill.

Keeping her head lowered, she made her way towards us. Her head may have been low, but her tail swished, puffing up by the second. 

Someone was eager today.

Allowing her to approach, she nudged her head against ours.  We didn't move.  As his primal urges clouded my mind, we turned swiftly and bit her on the back.  She shunted back, snapping at us, baring her teeth, her snarl low.

Growling, baring our teeth, we lunged for her throat, a whine escaped as she stilled, her throat between our jaw. She relaxed against my grip as we released and nipped along her back as she remained still.

As we approached her rear, she turned, her eyes fixed on ours as we mounted her.  She lowered slightly, her nose dusting the dirt, and my wolf and took his fill, our scents mingling and growls filling the air.

Giving him full control, my own mind slipped into the blackest corners of my mind, sheltered to him, to anyone... the place where she waited... my dark one.

Releasing a howl.  It quenched his urge, sure our third was in reach.