The Human In The Wolf Pack
Chapter 36

Two days later, the warriors our allies had sent came pouring in. Though I was grateful for the support, especially since we would need it in battle, the new wolves set me on edge. I didn’t realize that I still felt so anxious around other werewolves, considering I felt so at home with my own pack members, but seeing the warriors walk around the pack grounds made me cling a bit closer to Rider. He looked at me in question, but realization soon dawned on him. I could see the regret in his face as he saw how I reacted to werewolves now.

“I’m sorry, Ver. If I could take it all back, I would,” He told me, his arms wrapping around my waist.

His touch relaxed me, and that warm, safe feeling enveloped me.

“I know, don’t worry. I forgive you,” I said, giving him a small smile.

“We’ll have to hold a meeting with the representatives for each pack, and let them know the plan. Will you be ok?” He wondered, worry evident in his face.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll have you and Tristan there with me, so I won’t be alone.”

He smiled, but it seemed a bit tight at the mention of my second in command. Even though I could tell it upset him, I didn’t dig farther. Though I did stand up for Rider when him and Tristan were clashing heads in the beginning, I wouldn’t abandon Tristan. Really, the only reason I did that was to establish boundaries.I saw Tristan as my closest friend. I trusted him more than anyone, but Rider was my mate, and the Alpha of this Pack. I needed Tristan to understand that he couldn’t disrespect him, and I wanted Rider to know that he couldn’t bully Tristan.

They weren’t friends, nor did they get along well, but know they had a professional relationship. They didn’t fight or argue anymore, which I felt was the best I could get out of the two. Rider’s head suddenly turned, looking towards the east side of our territory. I could tell he was receiving a mindlink when he turned to me with a smile.

“Your brother just arrived,” He told me.

I instantly felt elated as I scanned the pack grounds to find exactly where he was. I grabbed Rider’s hands, and in the blink of an eye, we were before him. The Lightened Horizon Wolves were shocked as we materialized before them, but before I could fully see their reactions, my eyes landed on my brother in his wolf form. He was larger than most wolves because of his Alpha b***d, and had a rust colored coat. I threw myself towards my stunned brother, wrapping my arms around him.

“Ripley!” I cried out.

The wolf in my arms relaxed, and guffled a wolfy laugh before shaking me off and darting behind a tree to shift back. After a few loud, and disturbing, pops sounded, I could hear some shuffling, then Ripley came darting out, lifting me up in his arms and spinning me like old times. I giggled, glad to see my older brother.

“Look at you, Ver! I almost didn’t recognize you. Look at your hair,” Ripley pointed out, setting me down and tugging at one of my brown strands that now rested at my h**s.

“What happened to your baby face? You look so old,” I commented, and it was true. Ripley was nineteen last time I had seen him, and now he was almost twenty two. He no longer looked like a teenager, but a grown man.

It was odd seeing the brother I had grown up with becoming a man. He snorted at my comment though, and lightly flicked my forehead.

“And whose fault is that? You disappeared without a word! Do you know how worried we were?”

My brother’s warriors had started to shift back, and soon, the seventy wolves were now recognizable faces that I had grown up with. They looked at me with shock, and I could understand why. I was no longer the weak, little human that they could pick on.

“Vera?” A familiar voice called, drawing my attention to a head full of red hair.

“Rose?” I called, stunned.

In a moment she was before me, crushing me in a hug, before she pulled away. Her eyes were full of tears as she looked at me, glaring.

“How could you just disappear? You went off, and left for almost two years without even contacting me? I’m your best friend, for christ’s sake!” She scolded me, her tears falling, making her voice crack.

“I-I’m sorry, Rose. It all happened so fast, I kind of had to sneak out. Rider barely got a note, and unfortunately my phone had been destroyed so I couldn’t even send you a text,” I said, trying to console the weeping she-wolf.

She sniffled and Ripley patted her on the head. It was a weird feeling, seeing the two of them again. I felt like the Vera I was when I had last seen them was a lifetime ago. I wasn’t the person they knew anymore, and I think they could tell. I smiled though. I was glad to see them. I pulled the two of them into a group hug, squeezing tightly before pulling away.

“You were the last one to arrive, Rip, all the other packs have already shown up so we better hurry,” I told him.

“I guess catching up will have to wait, huh?” He smiled cheekily.

I nodded, before turning to the seventy warriors watching the exchange.

“I ask that all of you hold the hand of the wolf closest to you. Make sure that all of you are holding hands, unless you want to be left behind,” I said, my voice booming through the trees.

They hesitated for a moment, murmuring amongst each other, but then Rider took my left hand, and then Ripley took my right.Rose grabbed Ripley’s hand, and the chain continued. When I felt that everyone was ready, I quickly teleported us. When we arrived, I stumbled slightly, not used to moving somany at a time.

“Ver?” Rider called, worried.

I smiled, waving off his concern. I was fine, just a bit tired. We now were in the center of the packgrounds, right in front of Rider and I’s cabin. I could see that they were all shocked and confused, unsure how what just happened was possible.

“Queen Vera,” Tristan called, walking over to our group with a smile.

“Tristan,” I beamed, waving him over enthusiastically.

Once he was at my side, he looked over the new group with calculative eyes.

“Tristan, this is my brother, Ripley, and my childhood friend, Rose,” I introduced eagerly.

“Rose, Ripley, Tristan is my second in command, and a good friend,” I told them.

The three looked at eachother. Rose and Ripley seemed unsure, while Tristan simply remained polite.

“It’s nice to meet the two of you. Vera has told me alot about you,” Tristan said, offering to shake Ripley’s hand.

After a moment, Ripley shook his hand.

“Thanks for taking care of my sister up to this point.”

“It was only the natural thing to do. She is our Queen, afterall.”

“Queen?” Rose asked, confused.

“There’s a lot I have to tell you guys about, and there’s still people I would like you to meet, but I’m sure you guys are tired after your journey here,” I said, remembering my role as a Luna.

“I would appreciate it if you could show my wolves where they’ll be staying, but I want to here your explanation first,” Ripley decided.

Rose nodded, agreeing with him. I smiled in understanding before mind linking Blake.

Hey Blake, The Lightened Horizon Warriors just arrived. Do you have time to show them their quarters?

Of course, Luna. I’ll be right there.

” Blake will be here in a moment to take everyone to their rooms,” I told him.

He nodded after a moment, withholding his questions. After Blake took the warriors on their way, I invited Ripley, Rose, and Tristan into Rider and I’s cabin to talk. The five of us went in, and sat in the living room. There was a moment of silence as Ripley and Rose looked at me with expectant eyes.

“Rose?” I called, stunned.

In a moment she was before me, crushing me in a hug, before she pulled away. Her eyes were full of tears as she looked at me, glaring.

“Well, two years ago, I had a dream and woke up with this mark,” I told them, showing them the pale star on my wrist.

“It started off with just seeing auras. I could get a glimpse as to what people were thinking or feeling. I didn’t tell anyone though, Rider and I had just started to work everything out and things were going well between us. I didn’t want him to think I was crazy. Then, Tristan found me, and told me about what was to come. He said that I was the Queen of the Gifted, a new species of beings. They all were human like me, and had a dream, and when they woke up they had unexplained powers and this star mark,” I paused for a moment, looking to Tristan to see if he wanted to add anything.

He nodded his head for me to continue.

“He told me that a war was coming, and if I didn’t go, I would lose everyone I have ever loved. So, I left. Or at least tried to. Rider caught up to us before we could make it far, and dragged me back, but I knew I had to go. So the next time, I was able to leave. We trained on an Island for almost two years. Tristan taught me how to use my powers, and I got to know all of the Gifted. They became like family to me, and after we were sure the last of the Gifted had awakened, and we knew we were ready, I came back.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, and I felt Rider squeeze my hand, comfortingly.

“This all sounds crazy,” Rose sighed, but I knew she believed me. How else would I have been able to teleport everyone before?

“I can’t believe you’ve gone through so much,” Ripley said, giving me a sad smile.

It was comforting, for some reason. Ripley was my older brother. He had always tried his best to protect me, and I could tell he was upset that he wasn’t here to look after me while I was going through all of this.

“I’m happy, though. I know we are about to be in this huge battle, but I’m glad I got to meet the Gifted. I was never able to get close to other humans before, and I wasn’t always welcomed in The Lightened Horizon pack. I’m not saying that I didn’t feel welcomed in Rider and I’s pack, because I love it here, it’s just that I had always wanted to know what it was like to be around people like me.”

Tristan smiled at me, brightly, and I grinned back. That’s right, even though I didn’t have a choice, I was able to meet some incredible people.

“How are things going for you two, though? I never got to meet your mate, Ripley. And what about you, Rose? Last time we really talked, you had just gotten your mark,” I said, turning my attention back on the two I had missed so much.

They told me about their lives. How Ripley’s mate had moved to his pack, and how they were preparing to take over for mom and dad. Rose and her mate had moved in together, and were talking about having a pup. It was great being able to laugh and catch up. I invited Adele, Dax, Eliza and Ariel over to meet them too, and Rider called Blake and his wife. She brought her pup, a cute little girl who had just turned two.

We all decided to have dinner together, and as I watched everyone talk and get to know each other, I couldn’t help the happiness that filled me. Laughs filled the cabin, as everyone spoke. Seeing Rose and Ripley getting along with all of my new friends, it made me realize how much I had truly grown. They used to be my only friends, but now I was surrounded by people who care about me.

Despite the fate I had had no say in, I was lucky.