*Adam's POV*

"Alpha! Where the hell are you hiding?" My oh so annoying Beta called.

For a second I wondered if he'd leave if I ignored him but decided to call out anyway. "Here!"

Not even ten seconds later, the man appeared, "Dude, you're still working on this?"

"I want to have it finished before Summer this year. It's taken long enough and if my mate shows up I want it ready, Noah." I explain for the hundredth time.

"You're working too hard. I think your mate will cut you some slack." Noah said as he crossed his arm and leaned on the wall.

"Noah, I've just painted that."

"Fuck!" My Beta jumped away from the wall, looking at his now dark blue shirt. "Why didn't you put up a sign?"

"Because I wasn't expecting visitors." I say with a sigh before continuing to paint the wall.

Noah groaned, "Alpha, you need some time to relax. We haven't hung out in ages!"

"That's not entirely my fault now is it, mister I'm always around my mate?" I chide.

"Maybe that's your problem. You're so focused on this house you don't have time to meet your mate. Who knows, she might actually be around." Noah spoke.

I sighed and looked down at the blonde haired guy, "I've met every woman in the pack, Noah. You know my mate isn't here. Once I finish the house I'm heading out to find her."

"So you're building a house that no one is even going to live in?" Noah asks with a chuckle.

"I will live in there with my mate and pups once I find her." I say, slightly annoyed, "Anything else to say?"

"Not really. I checked on the warrior training today, everything is running smoothly there even when you're not around. Our border control was a bit messy the other day, but I fixed it for ya." Noah explains. He comes by every day to give me a rundown of the pack. Not that I'm not informed, I catch up on work every night.

"Thanks. Keep an eye out on the border control issue. They had the same problem a few weeks ago and we can't have a weakness at the border." I order as I jump down from my ladder.

"Will do. Now, I need you to go home and clean up. We're going out tonight." Noah says.

"I have work to do." I say as I grab a towel from the ground and clean my hands as I inspect my work. I only need to paint a few more walls. Everything is coming together nicely. I'll be able to get to work on the inside soon enough.

"Tonight you don't. I already did everything. We're going out." Noah repeats.

I frown and glance at Noah. The guy is a great Beta, but better doing things hands on. He hates paperwork. "What are you planning?"

"Ah, so now he's interested. Just an evening to let loose. It's game night at the pack house, you know that." Noah says with a smirk on his face.

I sigh, "I'll join another time."

"What if there won't be another time? You don't know, I might fall from a tree tomorrow and die." Noah exclaims in an attempt to persuade me.

"If you die anytime soon I'll make sure you'll end up somewhere in hell. I don't feel like looking for a new Beta." I tell him.

"Connor can be a great Beta. Since you're doing so much of the training his Gamma position is being wasted away anyway." Noah says as he throws me a shirt. "Come on!" he whines, "Just one evening!"

"No." I answer as I put on the shirt. "Work. Pack comes first."

"Please!" Noah tries again.

I feel Cade start to get annoyed and roll my eyes, "Stop it, Noah. You're pushing it." I say.

Noah sighs, clearly already hearing the change in my voice, signaling Cade is fighting for control. "I didn't want to do this," he say before taking out his phone, "but you leave me no choice." He dials some number and waits for the person to pick up.

"Hello?" I freeze as soon as I hear the voice on the other side.

"Hello Luna, it's Noah." Noah replies with a smirk on his face. The bastard knows exactly what my weakness is.

"Ah Noah, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm no longer Luna." My mother says with a chuckle.

Noah gives a genuine smile, "Sorry. Anyway, can I ask you for a small favor?"

My mother enthusiastically accepts to whatever Noah will ask of her. The woman is way too kind.

"I'd like for your son to join game night at the pack house but you know how he is, the poor man is tiring himself out with work." Noah starts to create his sob story. "I don't know how to convince him. It's been ages since he's done something relaxing."

My mother let's out a dramatic gasp. Dammit! "That won't do! Where is my son. Let me talk to him."

"Of course. Thank you!" Noah says with a massive grin before handing the phone over to me.

"Mother I'm not working too ha-"

"Adam Cade Grey, you need to learn to listen to your Beta more often! You've been working way too hard on that house of yours. Go have some fun with your pack!" she scolds me.

"The house is for my mate mo-"

"Nonsense! Your mate isn't here yet. Your pack is! Adam, time goes by faster than you think. You need to enjoy your youth now. Things might change and you'll regret not spending time with your pack." My mom continues.

I take a deep breath to collect myself. I try to contact Cade but he's quiet. Damn mutt will listen to our mother without question. Alpha wolf my ass.

"Mom, I'll have plenty of time once I finish the house."

"Adam. Do I need to come out there and drag you over?" My mother threatens.

Dammit. I definitely won't be able to argue with mom if she's here in person. I sigh and admit defeat, "Fine. I'll go out."

I can see Noah jump in the air in victory, and I give him a glare which is returned by a smirk. Damn idiot.

"Good. Go out and have some fun!" My mom agrees and clench my jaw as I finish the conversation.

Cade is grumbling but at the same time, he doesn't go against mom's command.

When I hang up the phone Noah is still grinning like crazy. "I hate you." I growl before starting to make my way over to the pack house.

"Aww, I bet you'll cry if I die before you." Noah replies with a chuckle.

"As if! Nothing to cry about." I shoot back. I pause for a second, "Don't die though. Like I said-"

"Beta advertisements are expensive or something." Noah jokes, "Sure, I know how you feel about me. I have to disappoint you though, I have a mate."

"Shut up!"

Noah laughs and slings an arm around my shoulder. "Sorry, Alpha."

I roll my eyes, "Why does you calling me 'Alpha' sounds like you're actually calling me 'idiot'"

"Maybe I am." Noah teases.

"I'd rather you call me by my first name." I mumble.

Noah smiles, "First name basis already. At least buy me some dinner first!"

I groan, "What are we playing tonight?" I change the subject.

"Mario Party. We're teaming up." Noah says.

"No we won't. You have the worst luck at Mario Party!" I say as I push Noah off me.

"Which is why I need you to balance me out! You've literally never lost a mini game!" Noah exclaims.

He tries to sling his arm around my shoulder again but I dodge him, "Because the mini games are easy dude, especially with our senses!"

"I don't know what you're talking about! I always mess up those motion control games!" Noah whines.

"Another reason not to team up with you!" I chime.

Noah gasps, "Alpha, Please! I need you!"

"Pleading won't get you anywhere." I say with a laugh. "I'm teaming up with Connor."

"You'd pick your Gamma over your Beta? The betrayal!" Noah dramatically says as he holds a hand to his forehead.

"Weren't you the one suggesting Connor to take your position? I might test it out." I tease.

"I'm not dead though!" Noah exclaims.

I just shake my head and keep walking, ignoring the shouts and pleads from my best friend. He's such an idiot, but I don't think I could live without him. I can't even imagine a future without Noah's dumb comments in it, and honestly, I don't want to imagine one either.

---

I wake up with tears in my eyes.

Another dream.

It's not the first time I've dreamt about Noah or my old pack. Ever since I visited the old pack lands I've been reliving a lot of memories, and building the new house here at Howland River hasn't helped at all.

I sigh and sit up, untangling myself from my mate. She squirms a bit before snuggling up to her pillow.

What I wouldn't give to have introduced her to my parents or pack.

Realizing that I'm not going to get much sleep I get up and make my way over to the closet to grab a shirt. As I do so I stop to glance at the picture of Noah and I. The only thing I have left of him besides my memories.

Shaking my head I leave the room. The pack house is quiet, as it should be around this time. It's kind of weird though, not hearing anyone around except for the border patrol that's currently heading out to their shift.

I decide to sit down on the porch and look at the pack members leaving the pack house. They give me a respectful nod but don't ask about my appearance.

The border patrol was the problem with my previous pack. It's the reason it was slaughtered. The patrol was messy and unorganized. All the shifts were the same, meaning that if you kept a good eye on them, you could easily find holes.

It's one of the first things I looked at when I became Alpha of Howland River. I will not make the same mistake twice.

'We'll protect this pack.' Cade purrs in my mind. He's been wary of things too. We've gotten a second chance at this, we won't fail again.

During the next thirty minutes, the border patrol whose shift has ended return to the pack house. The patrol is fool proof. Every week, the shift times change and the warriors work in groups of three instead of the classic one or two.

No weaknesses, that's the goal.

I tense slightly as I hear someone approach me softly but relax as soon as the mate bond springs to life.

When she's next to me I glance up at her. She's wearing a robe and holds a glass out to me, the contents smelling like Whiskey. "Figured you needed some after the sigh that left you before getting out of bed." Anna says softly.

I thank her as I take the glass. I didn't hear her wake up at all, guess I was too focused on everything else.

Anna sits behind me on the lounge chair and starts massaging my tense shoulders. "Another dream?" she asks.

I nod as I bask in her attention. Her hands slowly undoing the knots in my shoulders. Cade starts purring like a cat at the feeling. "More memories." I manage to breath out.

"Want to talk about it?" my mate asks.

"It was about Noah, mainly. He was pulling me away from the house for game night at the pack house." I say as I concentrate on the woods in front of us. Concentrating on my mate's actions will inevitably steer my mind to more dangerous thoughts.

"Like the ones we do every Friday?" Anna asks as she moves her attention from my shoulders to my neck.

I hum in agreement and take a sip from my glass, "Yeah, Noah is even worse at Mario party than you."

"I don't think that's possible." Anna says with a chuckle.

"He had the worst luck. You'd be able to beat him with your eyes closed." I laugh.

Anna's chuckle changes into a full laugh too. "Oh dear. Poor guy must have been horrible then."

"He was. He also sucked at Mario Kart. He'd panic if he'd get close to the edge of the track. He always beat me at Smash Bro's though. His random button mashing was too confusing even for me." I reminisce the memories.

"Zane told me the other day that my button mashing was too easy." Anna mumbles.

"You only use four buttons Anna, you can predict attacks if you're only using a few of them." I explain after taking another sip from my glass.

"Maybe I just need to find a better teacher." Anna chides.

"Go ahead and try to find one." I say with a smirk. She knows I hold the current champion position.

Anna hugs me from behind, "I bet the kids will be able to teach me a lot better than you can."

I roll my eyes and chuckle, pulling Anna out from behind me and holding her on my lap. "Sure. We'll test it at the next tournament."

We fall into a comfortable silence, and I decide to concentrate on my mate's calm heartbeat as I slowly sip from my glass. "Thank you." I whisper.

"Anytime." Anna responds. I don't even have to explain what I'm thankful for. Our nights are often like this. Me waking from a dream and Anna distracting me and supporting me in any way she can.

After a few more minutes I can hear Anna's change in breathing, signaling she fell asleep again. She's been working too much. With Summer almost approaching her normal job is coming to it's end. She's been working hard on finishing everything perfectly so the next teacher can pick things up without much difficulty. Besides this though, she also does her Luna duties flawlessly, even if Talia is helping her with most of them.

I smile down at her and then take a final swig of my glass, finishing it's contents.

I then make sure I'm holding my mate properly before carefully standing up and making my way back to bed, feeling better with my mate close to me.

---

Hope you liked this bonus chapter. The last bonus chapter was about the future, this one is about the past!

Thanks for 300k reads everyone!