Over the next month, wolves came and went at the Shadow Valley pack. Akela would see visiting ambassadors arrive as wolves and be guided into Ezekiel's office before being fed and sent on their way. Sometimes she would be allowed in and the visitor would stare at her before shaking their head with a comment about there being too much North blood in her to be sure.

The human newspapers were full of dubious reports of an influx of wild dogs in the area. Farmers were fearing for their animals and parents worried about their children. It calmed down when Ezekiel, on behalf of the fire station made an announcement that the town was safe and that the sightings were mostly firedogs on search-and-rescue-training.

Wherever Ezekiel and Gerry sent deltas out, the word would spread and far off packs would send ambassadors, in the hope that maybe Akela was someone they had been missing. Pups would sometimes get lost, youngsters would sometimes go rogue and form new packs, and sometimes a Lycan would choose human life.

The Estuary pack, a pack of tree-dwelling lycans who built homes in the trees around the great river, even sent their Alpha Heir.

Akela was on the back patio, reading up for an exam at school when both Abel and Zion arrived, out of breath and looking stressed out.

Abel's deep, subsonic growl emitted from his wolf shape as he circled Akela as if protecting her.

Zion immediately sat down opposite her at the picnic table and studied her closely.

She frowned and stared back at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

"Has he seen you yet?" Zion asked.  The look in his eyes was a part worry, part fear.

"Who?" Akela asked with a frown.

A fancy rental car had arrived a few hours earlier and four men had disappeared into Ezekiel's office. Akela had not paid them much attention. They would be gone in a few hours anyway. But something in Zion's eyes made her straighten her back.

"The Estuary heir... He's looking for a mate," Zion explained with clear hesitation.

Next to them, Abel shifted into human form and pulled on a pair of sweatpants.

"And he thinks you might be suitable," The fiercer brother snarled.

Akela looked between them.

"Another pack where bond is not required?" she asked carefully.

Zion nodded, not looking up.

"And you are here... because...?" Akela frowned.

"He can forget about taking you!" Abel grumbled.

Akela whipped her head up towards him with annoyed fire blazing in her eyes.

"What the he'll is wrong with males of this damned species? First Preston thinks a cage will keep Kira, and now some asshole thinks I would just go with him. And don't get me started on the pair of you, showing up here and being all fired up! So what if this stranger thinks I might fit into his pack? So what if the two of you are bonded to me? It's still my choice!" Akela nearly growled out towards Abel.

The Connor Beta cowered at the anger and lowered his gaze. Akela's eyes stared at Zion, defying him to say something.

"Don't you dare try that innocent look on me! I sense your emotions. You did not come down here for a social visit!" She hissed.

Abel began pacing again.

"We just thought..." Abel started.

"You just thought you could decide for me," Akela hissed.

"Protect you!" Abel argued back.

Akela stared into Abel's eyes, refusing to budge. Her face was tight with anger.
Across from her, Zion tried to hide a proud little smirk.

"It's bad enough that I have to share a bond with my brother. We just didn't want to see you choose a black mark," Zion shrugged.

"And what is wrong with choosing a black mark if the guy is kind and loving?" Akela challenged.

"But... I thought you wanted your white mark?" Abel grumbled.

"I do... which is why the two of you are still not rejected!" Akela replied with a dry voice.

Behind them a soft chuckle interrupted. Akela turned to see a tall man in a formal business suit.
He was tall, taller than Zion, with his hair immaculate and the brightest green eyes Akela had ever seen. The even features and well maintained body made him even handsomer than Abel. Akela looked at the two Connors, subtly observing their intimidation.
This guy looked good. He knew it and the Connor boys were very aware of it.
Akela looked back at the stranger, suspiciously meeting his confident smile with a frown.

"I was told you were resilient," the stranger chuckled and stepped closer to sit on the bench next to Akela, where he unashamedly studied her every feature.

"Alpha Zeke wasn't lying about your strong head, but he neglected to tell me how pretty you are," the stranger smiled with a hand held out for a polite greeting.

Akela sighed in resignation and offered her own hand in a polite handshake.

"I am Alpha Heir Salomon Waters, heir and future Alpha of the Estuary pack. We live with humans and believe in choice over bond," the man smiled with an overabundance of confidence.

Akela kept her neutral facial expression as she ignored how his thumb stroked her hand while he shook it.

"Akela James, delta of the Valley pack and firm believer in the bond," she replied.

The stranger gave her a satisfied, warm smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Akela James. It's refreshing to meet a beautiful female with a mind of her own," he grinned with a predatorial glint in his eyes and a nod of unspoken approval.
Akela studied the confident male model. He was handsome, no doubt. And he exuded the same air of concerned kindness that Alpha Zeke always surroundead himself with. Judging from the link she had with him through the handshake, she knew he would be kind and generous. He just didn't have that sense of belonging that she felt when toucing the Connor brothers.

To her side Abel, still with his sweatpants riding just a few millimetres too low for comfort on his hips and a bare chest displaying every smooth, sculpted muscle to his very best advantage, puffed himself to maximum size, before he reached a hand out to the stranger.

"Abel Connor, Beta of the Shadow Mountain pack and bonded to Akela!" he announced.

Solomon stood up and took the hand with a polite grin towards the younger peacock-wannabe.

At the table, not even bothering to stand up, Zion gave a simple wave.

"Zion. Connor. Beta of the shadow Mountains and Brother to that baboon..." he shrugged and returned his attention to Akela who was busy trying not to blush at the proximity of Abel's naked skin next to her face. His hip was touching her shoulder.

"These are the two you are connected to, am I right?" Solomon asked, adressing Akela again.

She released a slow huff of exasperated breath before looking straight at the handsome stranger.

"Unfortunately, yes," she huffed.

"Would you be willing to consider what I might have to offer?" Solomon asked, flashing a smile designed to send any woman in a mile radius swooning at his feet.

Akela shook her head.

"As I was trying to explain to these two, I want a white mark," she shook her head, her eyes steely with annoyance that he would even ask.

Solomon nodded in understanding.

"That's a shame. I was hoping for a strong, beautiful Luna," he grinned.

Behind Akela, two men suppressed grumbles in their throats.
She turned and shut them both up with a pointed look to each of them in turn.

"Until my twin is safe, I will not be anybody's anyththing more than a friend!" Akela stated firmly before she demonstratively tapped her finger on her book.

"If you'll excuse me, I have an exam coming up," she said, adressing the visitor with a curt politeness that would have given her a talking to from her mother.

The visitor laughed quietly. It had a pleasant melody to it. Akela looked at him to see his hand outstretched for another shake.

"Well. In that case, I offer my friendship," Solomon grinned with a cheeky wink.

Akela shook his hand, a sense of unity flushing through her from the visiting lycan.

"And if the relationship with these two don't work out, I'll be more than happy to build a... friendship. I like your fire," he mindlinked.

Akela laughed at the unhidden flirting and the confident grin on his face.

Abel's face darkened with carefully restrained anger, whereas Zion's hands were clenched on the tabletop until Solomon sauntered into the house again. Both Connors were tensed up until the sound of retreating tyres on the gravel road was heard.

"For fucks sake!" Abel muttered.

"Who does he think he is?" Zion growled.

"My future mate if the two of you don't grow up," Akela muttered, hiding a smirk at how the two of them in a flash turned all their attention on her.

"Akela!" Zion gasped painfully.

Akela almost regretted her statement when she saw the look of unfiltered pain in his eyes.

"No. Nope. Not a chance!" Abel chanted to her side, but her eyes were glued to Zion's.

"Please. If it's not me, please say you'll choose Abel!" Zion whispered and Akela's moth went dry when his fear of rejection surged into her.

"You pair of idiots!" Akela mumbled through the sudden thickness of her throat as she slapped the book shut and stormed off into Grange's guest room, and the solitude she needed to keep her calm.

Ten minutes later she had calmed down enough to focus on her book again, but the look in Zion's eyes was burned into her mind, causing her focus to slip. With a deep sigh she stood up again and left the room to see Abel in the Kitchen, reading one og Grange's knitting Magazines. He was still shirtless and the sweatpants were still precariously balanced on his hips.

He lifted is eyes to look at her with a mix of apology and accusation. She stood there, just looking at him for a long time until he took a couple of steps forward wrapping his arms around her. His bare chest came in contact with her hands, and Akela cursed her stupid hormonal reaction at the proximity. She lifted her face to look at him, expecting to see a knowing smirk at her reaction, but all he did was sigh.

"Zion went for a walk. He thinks you'll reject him," Abel said seriously.

Akela's eyes widened for a second before they started tingling with a sudden ache.

"I know you won't. Because you promised not to, but he is used to rejection," Abel whispered.

Akela felt her throat tighten and only nodded.

"You done studying?" Abel asked.

She shrugged.

"Come with me for a swim in the lake?" Abel suggested, his face shaped into one of his adorably, irresistible smiles.

"I don't know..." Akela hesitated.

"It will take your mind off all this chaos going on," Abel said softly.

***

Zion heard laughter through the trees and arrived at the lake to see Akela splashing water in Abel's face.

"Uh-oh!!" He thought.

Abel had never liked beng splashed. Not even as kids.
But this time, he laughed out loud, sounding really happy before stalking through the water towards Akela.
To Zion he looked like he was prowling, ready to attack, but Akela was smiling and giggling with her hands ready to splash him again.

Suddenly Abel roared and jumped on her, pulling her under for a few seconds before they both emerged, dripping wet and laughing.

Zion sat down on the grass with a weird mix of jealous possession and happiness.
It was so good to hear Akela laugh after all she had been through.
She had been so stressed lately.

And he couldn't remember hearing Abel's laughter for years.
He couldn't deny that they looked good together either. Her dark blonde hair and blue eyes were a stark contrast to his black hair and brown eyes.
But his heart...
His own delicate heart.
He hated seeing her playful smile towards Abel and the happiness in his brother's eyes.
Guiltily he watched as Abel held her close for a second, saying something before giving her a begging pout.
Akela nodded and a second later Abel was kissing her. Gently, carefully and with devotion.
Zion's heart crumpled.
He would never be able to kiss her like that.
And make her smile like that for a simple kiss.
A second later, Akela pushed Abel away with a laugh at his disappointed frown and shot out of the water while shifting.
A few moments later her white and blonde husky looking wolf was running circles around Abel's dark beast.

To Zion's surprise, Abel tucked his tail and bowed down for her.
Abel didn't even bow to Gervais, but here he was kneeling down and licking the edge of Akela's jaw in a sign of surrender.
When she pushed him off with a paw he followed her and that's when Zion realised that his brother was falling in love.

Abel's wolf rolled on his back, offering his throat to her in complete submission.
Akela stopped and stared at him for a moment.
Zion felt his throat close and his heartbeat stop.
If she licked his cheek and gave him permission to pursue her, she would be claimed. If she bumped his nose with hers it would be her asking for time.
Either way, Zion's heart was crushed..
How could he lay claim to the female Abel so obviously loved?
And if she refused Abel...
Zion didn't dare hope.
Next to Abel he was always second best.

Mesmerised by Akela's next move, he felt his eyes widen before his brain realised what was happening.

Akela opened her jaw and closed it over Abel's throat.
Zion didn't know what to make of it, but she shook him gently before walking off to a bush, emerging a moment later in human shape dressed in a t-shirt and shorts.

"But... Why?" Abel asked, sounding hurt.

"You know why," she replied.

"You're choosing Zion?!?" Abel asked.

Akela closed her eyes for a moment before opening them, full of tears.

"I don't know, Abel!" She breathed.

"But you kissed me?" Abel said, his voice more broken than Zion had ever heard.

"Because I needed a kiss... I wanted the touch, not because of making a choice!" Akela replied and walked away through the forest.

She stopped not far from Zion with her head hung low.

"I know you're there Zi. I felt you... " she whispered before walking on towards the pack village.

Zion got to his feet and practically sprinted after her.

"Why did you do that? Why didn't you accept him?" He asked.

Akela stopped and shot him a look full og sorrow and pain.

"How am I supposed to accept a mate who might not even be my true match when I know Kira is abused and carrying a black mark? Excuse me for not being in the mood to mate!" She nearly snarled and left him on the trail.

Abel quickly followed, stopping when he saw Zion's hurt face.

With a shrug the younger brother continued his journey back to Ezekiel's house, leaving Zion in the woods to wonder what would happen next.