After the party last night it had quickly become late. Winter had talked for ours with Robin, her brothers and all the pack members that wanted to say something to her.

As she stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over her she felt how tense her body was. Charlie had been trying to talk to her all night but she had avoided him with success.

She dried her hair and looked in the mirror, Aster had told her about other packs that were coming over today to talk about the problems with the king. It was her first official appearance as an alpha.

She opened her bag and rummaged through it, she grabbed a black lace bralette and matching underwear to feel confident. She chose a dress from her bag, it was a simple short black dress with long sleeves.

A long look in the mirror followed, Winter looked at herself.

"You can do this." She said.

Meeting the other alpha's sparked nerves inside her, she couldn't show them any nerves. They would eat her fear. She laced her boots loosely and took her leather jacket from her bed. As she walked outside her room she bumped straight into Blade, his eyes turned dark as his eyes went over her body.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he asked.

"You have never seen an alpha meeting, I guess." Winter said with a smirk.

"No, what it's like?" he said as he escorted her downstairs.

As they rounded the corner they spotted Aster, he was wearing a black suit, hugging his features perfect.

"I see what you mean."

Blade answered before Winter could say something. Winter walked over towards her brother and hugged him.

"Don't tell me that is what you are planning on wearing." He said to her.

Winter smiled up at her brother.

"Off course it is, she is the alpha of the rogues after all."

Robin said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around her.

"I am sorry." She whispered.

"How do you want to do this?" Winter asked Aster.

"I am going into the room and greet the alpha's as soon as they are all here I will let Falco know. He will escort you in, that way you will only have to make your case once." He said.

"Wait what, she has to make her case? What bullshit is that?" Flint said shocked.

"Easy Flint" River said.

"I have to show them that I am an alpha. That I lead a pack even though that's not how it goes." She answered.

"Winter, be careful with your opinions. You will still be a rogue to them." Aster said.

"I will try" she answered.

Aster pressed her tight against his chest.

"Whatever you decide, I am glad you came back for us. Even if it's just for these couple of days." He said.

"They are here." River said calmly.

Aster nodded and let go of Winter as he walked away.

"Any news from Luke" she asked Blade to take her mind of things.

"Pack meeting was good, nothing special to report."

She could notice that he wasn't telling her everything.

"We'll go outside for a minute." She said.

Blade walked with her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Something is off about this." He answered.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Winter ever since we grabbed Charlie on our lands, there are traces of other wolves at the edge." He said with worry in his eyes.

"Why am I hearing this now? Why didn't you tell me as soon as you find out." She said angry.

"Luke said you needed to focus on this. Your bad feeling, we doubt it was only about Charlie." He added.

"Give me your phone." She commanded.

"Why? You have one yourself."

"I am getting an honest reaction from that bastard." She said stern.

Luke picked up on the first ring.

"Blade, what now?"

"Luke, tell me what's happening. And don't make me command you."

She answered stern, a long sigh followed.

"We picked up other smells on the edge of town."

"How long Luke?"

Suddenly a smell Winter never had experienced in her life hit her. She was taken aback by the odor of the smell.

"Winter." Falco popped his head out the door.

"They are all here." He said.

Winter handed the phone over to Blade.

"Handle it." She said stern.

"Good luck." He answered.

"If you need me, link me." He added.

The more Winter approached the pack meeting room, the more intense the smell became. It filled her nose and a longing feeling settled in her stomach. She felt how her heart warmed, the smell excited her wolf even more.

It was a divine combination of fresh rain, a forest, almost a combination of all Winter's favorite places. It reminded her of the lake, home, winter itself, fresh fallen snow. She felled confident and her wolf purred inside her.

She was curious about the person behind that heavenly smell. She didn't know what it meant, Charlie had been her mate.

What was this?

She felt confused.

"Are you okay?" Falco asked.

"I think so." She answered.

As she grabbed the door handle she closed her eyes and savored the smell again. Her wolf was ready to grab the person responsible for it, but Winter was a bit more reserved.

As she pushed open the double doors, she felt how all eyes were on her. There were seven alpha's and her brother in the room, but one of them stood out over all of them.

Winter's eyes were glued on him, his eyes had turned pitch black as they roamed over her body. She felled an indescribable pull towards him. Her wolf danced in her head.

'Mate, Mate, Mate' she screamed.

Alpha Arsen Storm looked at the girl standing in the door, his wolf was howling inside his head. The smell of fire, burning wood and cinnamon filled his nose. He had been waiting so long for this moment, the odor was tormenting him from the moment his beta Josh had smelled divine after an encounter with a rogue.

Could this be her?

Could this be his mate?

He had chased that smell for three years, without trying to start a pack war with the rogue pack next to his territory. And now that he laid eyes on her, she was even more beautiful than he had imagined, she was by far the most beautiful wolf he had ever seen.

She looked badass and yet sexy as hell. He had to stop himself from commanding all the others out and taking her on the table. Ripping that beautiful dress off her body, wondering what her underwear looked like.

He licked his lips instinctively at the thought.

How she would purr his name as he took her.

He licked his lips again.

Her hair, the white, her eyes so mesmerizing, everything about her intrigued him. A cute pink blush had formed on her cheek, he felt how his pants tightened under the table. He needed to behave during this meeting, but afterwards he was planning not to.

He watched carefully as she took the last empty seat at the other end of the table right in front of alpha Aster. He couldn't wait to talk to her, to hear her voice. To demand her time and presence for the rest of his life. His wolf was ready for it and so was he, he just had to survive this meeting with some form of dignity.

Winter felt the eyes of the beautiful Alpha still on her. He had a broad chest on which she wanted to lay her head. His brown hear was carefully combed back, his neat brown beard was shaved perfectly. He wore a dark grey suit, making him even more sexy.

She looked over at his hands, they were big and beautiful as she closed her eyes she imagined how they pulled at her hair while kissing him. She saw how he stretched his fingers, displaying bits of a large tattoo at the edge of his sleeves. His eyes turned even darker if that was possible.

Aster looked at his sister a smile played on his lips.

"Gentlemen I like to introduce the rough alpha to you, Alpha Winter." He said.

Winter felt how all eyes were on her.

"Alpha Winter, meet the others."

Aster introduced all the alpha's one by one.

"A rogue pack, enlighten me"

Alpha Emmerson said with a smirk, Winter didn't like his tone at all.

"Nothing to enlighten. Wolves abounded and casted out by their pack, found a home and formed a bond."

"But you all stay rogues, your reputation, you are ruthless, merciless." He said.

"Isn't that why you need me here?" she asked.

"Doll, we don't need you." He added.

Winter rolled her eyes. She could see how alpha Arsen, the one that had caused the smell was getting madder at the minute. Alpha Emmerson was disrespecting her, she needed to put a stop on it.

"Tell me how do you define a pack?" she answered.

"A group of wolves ruled by an alpha, protected and functioning in service of their pack." Alpha Arsen said while he looked still intensely at her.

"Well we are a group of wolves, functioning in service of the pack. Everything we do is for the pack, no hierarchy, no privileges. Everything is chosen by the pack." She answered.

"Even you?" he asked curious.

"If a wolf more fit for the role appears, I will step down." She said.

"Gentlemen I think that's enough with the questions. We are here for different matters. The alpha king, he all has approached you for the unmated females. I want to hear all your point of views." Aster said.

"Has he approached you?"

Alpha Emmerson directed that question towards Winter.

"No he hasn't. But I am assuming that he is just gathering his courage. We detected different smells around our borders." She answered.

"Then why are you here?" he repeated that same question.

"Enough." Alpha Arsen smashed his fist on the table.

"We have more important matters to discuss then the reason why one of the strongest alpha's among us is here." He said stern.

A small blush formed on her cheeks, she didn't need to be defended, but she was flattered by his outburst.

"I can understand your concern, as I stated before my pack comes first. Alpha Aster is my former alpha, so I am here to see if he needs my help."

She answered without spearing alpha Emmerson another glance.

The discussion about the alpha kings command continued. Most of the alpha's wanted to fight the decision, one wanted to obey the command.

"Alpha Aster, with all due respect, but you know as well as us that if he commands us using the alpha kings command we can't refuse." One of the alpha's said.

"I know one wolf who can, she even pushed another alpha to the knees."

Alpha Arsen suddenly declared, he looked right at her, right in her eyes. She looked confused at him.

"You did, didn't you? And that even before you were declared alpha or formed your pack?" he asked Winter.

She was silent for a moment, she felt how even Aster looked startled at her.

"I am wondering if you could withstand his command as well?" Arsen pushed her further.

"Alpha Winter can you explain to us what alpha Arsen is talking about?" Aster asked her.

Telling Aster the truth would mean that she had to own up to her past, that she had to accentuate the image of the wild rogue life she was living at the time. The story would affect the view of the other alpha's as well, they would respect her or despise her even more.

"The event alpha Arsen is referring too happened at a fight pit. The pit located on no man's land, was owned by two rogues who became my friends. That night, the alpha who rented the building wanted to claim the land the pit was on as his, which would force a lot of rogue's to be homeless and to move. He was doing it in such a disrespectful way that I stopped him. He commanded the rogues to bow for him, I turned tables and let him bow for us."

All the alpha's looked startled at Winter, even alpha Arsen and her own brother.