I was up by 05:00 a.m. and decided to go for a run. Now that I'm here I want to let my wolf out, she has been locked in for eight years.

As I change into my yoga pants and gym t-shirt, I look outside the window and realize it's still partially dark. That would be good for me, as the last batch of patrols would have already left, and the perimeter checks won't start until six.

I quickly head out of the house and follow the route that Ethan and I would take as kids when I used to go running with his wolf. Sometimes I would get tired and then he'd have to carry me on his back while we returned home. I smile as I reminisce those days when It all used to be fun and games for us.

As I walked the trail I, reached a huge tree with a hollow in it and decided to change there. I neatly folded my clothes and called my wolf forward, she seemed shocked at first as she had practically been locked up for years. As the transformation begun, I began to feel an immense pain as my bones snap in place. I really need to transform more so that I can get used to the pain, but I will have to do it discreetly and away from prying eyes.

I'm now fully transformed and start to feel the power surge through my veins, I push my thoughts and doubts backwards, giving my wolf partial control and rush forward.

Having changed just once before in my life, I never fully appreciated nature through the eyes of my wolf. Everything is amplified, the smell of the forest, the earth, the dew, scents from the flowers, even my hearing was amplified. I could hear the humming birds singing, the insects chirping. It was all so surreal.

From a distance I could hear noises, guess the pack members must have started waking up. ''Time to change back'' I thought, as I neared the tree where my clothes were nestled. I turned back to normal, which was just as painful as before might I add. I quickly got dressed behind the tree and turned to leave when I collided on something hard, or rather, someone.

''Oh, hey there, sorry I didn't see you'' He says.

''Axel, hey bright and early this morning I see, it's nice to see you,'' I reply chirpily.

"It's nice to hear your voice first thing in the morning,'' he responds.

''Ohh when did you get cheesy Cooper?" I elbow him playfully.

''Oh.... you know...just...uhhh,'' he starts rubbing the back of his neck, a thing I noticed he does when he's nervous.

''I'm just joking Axel, relax,'' I laugh.

''Oh cool,'' he breathes a sigh of relief and he smiles. I notice a dimple appear on his right cheek.

'he's cute I think to myself and tear away my gaze from him before he catches me staring. "So I'll see you at breakfast then?'' I ask as I start to walk toward the direction of my house.

''Uhhh yeah sure, see you then...'' He replies. I get a feeling that he is not done, so I purposely slow down.

''Hey Athena?'' he calls making me turn around almost too quickly.

"Yes?" I respond nonchalantly.

''Wanna like umm....I mean if you're not too busy that is.......we could hang out maybe, and I can uhhh, make you those ham and cheese sandwiches that you really like?''

''Oh my God, you remember!'' I exclaim. 

''I'll always remember,'' I hear him murmur.

''Sorry I didn't quite catch that'' I say. 

''Oh it was nothing, so what do you say, want to hang out?''

''Yeah sure, that'll be cool,'' I answer casually. 

''okay umm, how about tomorrow evening?''

''Sounds great,'' I reply as I jog back to the house.

By the time I reach home everyone is awake and I can hear mom shouting. ''where is this girl, we have to be at the pack house in the next forty minutes, we are the alpha family for moon goddess' sake, we are supposed to be there in time, what kind of example will we be setting if we arrive there late?''

I notice her running around the house. Most probably looking for me.

''Chill mom, I'm here. I'll be ready in fifteen minutes,'' I say as I walk up the stairs to my room.

"Hah! fifteen minutes. Said every girl ever and then comes back ready after an hour,'' Ethan teases me.

"Watch me brother," I say as I strut to my room upstairs.

"I'm timing you Athena, a second more and you owe me one." He shouts from below.

I take a quick shower and change into a pair of jeans and a burgundy sweater then put on my boots. I do a quick check in the mirror put on some brown lipstick then head down to meet the rest.

''Hah," I slap Ethan's back ,"fourteen minutes and seventeen seconds!'' I shout as I peer over his shoulder to look at the stopwatch on his phone.

''Yeah yeah, you just got lucky, besides your hair looks like a chickens' nest, so technically you're not fully ready,'' he challenges me while smirking. 

I shoot him a displeased look and pull my hair into a messy bun. ''Now I am brother,'' I say while blowing him a kiss and walking out the front door.

As we walk to the pack house, I see that the people have already started arriving. We go in and people politely bow to their Luna and future Alpha, greeting us as we walk to the high table.

Some people recognize me and pass a greeting while others look over in confusion. Dad is already there with Robert, and they seem to be discussing something as we approach.

''Morning Dad,'' I chirp. 

''Morning Athena,'' he replies. "Where were you this morning, we were worried.''

''Ohh that, I had just gone for a run, thought I would get a head start on everyone else,'' I reply calmly.

Dad raised a questionable eyebrow at me, "A run, you went for a run!'' he says as his voice raises an octave.

''Calm down Dad,'' I whisper and signal mom to calm him down. 

''It's okay Chris,'' she says calmly while rubbing his arm, using the mate bond. I smile at them impressively.  Hmm, guess the mate bond has it's perks. Dad instantly relaxes but still looks at me dissatisfied.

''Later,'' I mouth to them both and they nod in agreement.

By then almost everyone had arrived and the pack house was full. It's a good thing we have a huge dining area. Our pack is the second largest one in the country. The first being Crescent Pack, which lay North of us.

As I look around, I recognized a few faces and smiled at them. ''Good morning everybody, we are gathered here today so that I can officially re-introduce my daughter Athena to you all.'' Dad announces as he gestures me to come forward.

''Athena had been away for eight years as she wanted to experience a normal human life, but now she is back.'' I hear a few murmurs in a crowd when dad mentions a normal human life. 

Normally, in the wolf community it is looked down upon to be associated with humans. Our only interaction with them is through our Alpha, Luna and Beta who deal with them for the import of basic supplies in the pack.

However, the murmurs are soon replaced by the sounds of slow claps. I turn to see Axel leading a group of people who start clapping and it soon picks up. Our eyes meet and he shoots me a wink, I mouth him a thank you and look at the pack members and give them a small wave.

''And now, let the feast begin!'' announces dad. 

We all take our positions on the table. I'm seated in between Ethan and our packs third in Command, Matthew. ''It's s good to have you back Ms. Athena,'' he says politely. 

''Thank you Matthew, and please call me Athena.'' I reply. He gives me a small smile and continues with his breakfast. '' So, how are your twins, uhh Olivia and Sophia, If I'm not wrong,'' I muse.

''Ahh you remember them, they're doing well, almost fifteen years old, by next year they will be transforming into their wolves, it's crazy how time flies.'' He says looking into a distance.

''Of course, I remember them, I used to babysit them at one time. I hope they are still as cute and sweet as before'' I say.

 ''For that you'd have to meet them yourself.'' He laughs a hearty laugh.

''Ohh I'd love to,'' I tell him. We then continue with our breakfast while having small talk.

Soon people start clearing out, the omegas start clearing our tables, when I see two familiar faces coming towards me. ''OMG!! Athennnnaa!!'' one of them screams. 

''It's so good to see you girl!!'' the other one yells in equal excitement.

I jog my memory  before I embarrass myself but the girls pull me into a hug. I manage to put a smile on my face and pull away. '' uhhh hiii guyysss,'' I manage to croak out '' how are you, how is everything?'' I say, still trying to remember their names, but am not able to get anything.

''Oh, she doesn't remember us,'' the blond one says in an annoying voice. '

'Of course she does!'' the other one screeches. ''hello!! It's us Melanie and Christy, from pack school remember?'' she continues.

And that's when it struck, ''ohhhhhh,'' I say as I look at them both properly, of course Melanie and Christy, how could I forget, we were in school together and they were my 'friends', note the sarcasm.

Christy, the blond one was the classic mean girl in school, she wanted us to be the 'golden trio' as she so frequently used to put it, so that she would look like the coolest kid in school and Melanie, well let's just say she pretty much did everything Christy told her too. I tried keeping my distance from them but sometimes it backfired, well, most times if I'm being honest.

''So, now that you're back it would be like totally cool, if we would like start hanging out again, what say?'' Christy asks me, her hands flying in every direction.

''Yay, that would be like totally great, the golden trio re-unites!!'' Melanie says in excitement. A little too over the top if you ask me.

''Uhh, guys all that sounds nice, but I just came back, I'd like to settle in first, if that's okay.'' I reply, clearly trying to weasel my way out of this.

''Duhhh-huhh that's like totally fine, whenever you're ready you know where to find us,'' Christy says and both her and Melanie walk away as Ethan approaches me. I breathe a sigh of relief and turn towards him, but not before I catch Melanie eyeing my brother like a piece of meat. Gross.

''Hey, ready to head home?'' he asks.

''As ready as I'll ever be,'' I respond.

We both turn towards our parents who are waiting for us. As we walk towards our house Ethan stops all of a sudden and furrows his eyebrows in concentration. I guess someone's mind linking him.

''There is a problem by the East border, Axel just mind linked me;, we are headed that way.'' He turns to dad and tells him. ''Don't worry, I'll take care of it.''

''Sure son, just keep me updated.'' 

''let's go inside,'' he then motions towards mom and I. We follow him in and he closes the door behind us then faces me. ''Athena. my office. now!'' he orders.

***

Christopher is angry!!

Thoughts on the chapter?

-Jessica.S