I wake up with some slimy tongue licking my face. I push the fluffy muzzle.

“Stop that, Ares. You’re gross.” I open my eyes to see the black wolf’s face near my cheek, his tongue out, about to lick me again.

“I told you she was going to hate that,” Selene’s voice speaks. She moves her face, so I can see her. I realize my head rests on her chest as she is down on the floor.

I examine around me to determine where I can be. I am in the middle of a white marble court. There is a fountain in the center, where a sculpture of a gigantic wolf with a beautiful woman with long hair, that I recognize as Moon-Goddess, stands.

“Where are we?” I ask Selene.

Before she can respond, I hear footsteps behind me. I turn and see Moon-Goddess, climbing down the stairs, coming out from the enormous castle behind her.

The entire building seems to be made of white marble, with only some parts shining like silver. It looks like some princess castle in a fairytale, except that no single servant is running to ensure everything is flawless.

The whole place is absolutely silent, except for Moon-Goddess and the large silver wolf at her side. As I look into the wolf’s eyes, I realize how much similar to Selene she is. The identical silver fur, with the same firm determination in her sterling gray eyes. The only difference is that Cynthia seems older, with some kind of sadness painted in her eyes. She looks like she has been through a lot. Probably too much.

I extend my hand to connect with Selene’s muzzle. As I stare at her eyes, I’m glad there is no such sorrow in hers. I’ll do my best to have them never filled with that much sadness.

“Welcome to my nest, Olivia,” Moon-Goddess says, a smile on her face.

“I hope you don’t mind that I brought you here. I assumed it would be easier for everybody to be properly introduced.” She walks to a table with two chairs. She sits and then invites me to join her.

I get up, Ares and Selene following me as I move to the other chair and sit on it. Both of them sit behind me, like two bodyguards.

“What am I doing here?” I question Moon-Goddess.

“And why is Ares with us?” I hear him whine behind me. I turn and stroke his muzzle.

“I’m happy you’re here. Don’t worry. I’m just surprised,” I say, a warm smile on my face as he purrs with pleasure under my touch.

“I did not expect you would encounter two gray wolves so soon. I have to admit, it was a brilliant move to put them on your path, so you revealed yourself. I suppose he is better than I foresaw,” she says. I turn back to her and stare at her.

“He? Who is he?” I question her. It is quick, but I see a flash of guilt in her eyes before she gets back her composure.

“You won’t tell me, will you?” I sigh before she answers me.

“If I told you, you would miss some needed parts if we want you to be the last silver wolf to fight for all the werewolves’ peace and freedom. Olivia, we can end this once and for all,” she says, grabbing my hand.

“I suppose it would be a waste of time trying to persuade you that skipping to the last part of whatever awaits ahead of me would be vain?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

She bursts into laughter, and so does her wolf. Ares, Selene, and I are looking at them, our mouths open, not really catching what is so funny about the situation.

They stop after a minute.

“You just remind us of us. Our younger us,” she says, a smile on her lips. I can’t prevent myself from keeping my mouth open.

“That’s a compliment, Olivia. We’ve never had a silver wolf like you heretofore. You’re special,” she adds.

“Are you not the one creating werewolves?” I ask her.

“Yes, and no. I match wolves together in what I think are the best matching possibilities. But life decides what cells assemble to create one’s life. I have no power over it. So although I can match two wolves, it still leads to an infinite amount of possibilities,” she says, her wolf posing her head on her lap.

“I assumed you were the one deciding our fates. This is what the legends say,” I add.

“Yes, I know what the legends say, Olivia. I suppose it helps people to believe that I know everything, but I don’t. I try my best to make everything as easy as possible for you, finding you the best mate to live your life as happily as possible. But I am not almighty, or I would have gotten rid of some people. Trust me,” she replies with a blink of an eye.

“Are you going to do something for this girl?” she asks me.

“I think she knows who sent the lycans. I am not sure she can make a plan like that. She is too stupid. She is greedy, and I guess she is more in love with Alec being the heir to the throne than with Alec himself,” I say.

“I think Alec should stick to our plan and get information out of her once she assumes I’m out of the picture. Then, I’ll make my decision. Maybe she’s not a lost cause,” I say. Ares and Selene start to laugh mockingly behind me.

“What? I am sorry I’m not a bloody monster. Let me dream I can still end things without cutting everyone-who-gets-on-my-nerves’ throat,” I answer.

“Or I would have to get rid of the two of you,” I add with a smirk. They stop laughing, and Selene licks my face.

“You’re funny when you try to make jokes,” she answers as I wipe off my wolf’s saliva. I stick out my tongue at my wolf before breathing some air on her muzzle. She groans as she does not like it, which makes me smile.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I think you need to meet our two new friends before I let you go back to your mate so you can do whatever you finagled,” Moon-Goddess says.

I look at her and follow her gaze to the castle. Two gray wolves are coming out of the castle. I recognize them immediately: they are the two gray wolves I found earlier. I get up and run to them, looking for bruises on their fur.

“Are you two okay? Are you hurt? How are your humans? Where are they?” I ask them without waiting for any answer. Selene and Ares soon join me, followed by Moon-Goddess and her wolf.

“We are fine, Alpha. Thanks to you,” one of the wolves says.

She has two dark gray eyes, and her fur is darker than the other one. She is also a little smaller. I recognize her as the second wolf we rescued yesterday.

“You can call me Olivia. I don’t feel good with the Alpha thing,” I reply to her.

“How is your mate?”

“Well, Prince Alexander and your brother went a little hard on him, but he is alive. He is not a bad mate. On the contrary, he is a kind man who made the wrong decisions. He was told by a man that I would be safe if he assisted them in catching some women. He trusted the man’s words. He is genuinely sorry. I’ll understand if you decide not to spare him anyway,” she says, her voice stuttering in the end.

“Why would I want to kill your mate and so kill you?” I question her, frowning.

“Gray wolves don’t die when their mates do, Olivia. Your mate would if you died, but you would not if he did,” Moon-Goddess says.

I stare at her, my eyes wide open at the news.

“How?” I ask.

“I had to make sure you weren’t as vulnerable as other wolves. Gray wolves are here to protect our people from the biggest threats. If it was just about slaughtering the gray wolves’ mates to get rid of an entire rank, that would be too manageable,” Moon-Goddess answers.

“How do you feel?” I ask the other wolf. Her fur is still dark but a lighter gray.

“I am tired and feel a bit empty. But I will get over it, eventually. Nevermind, he was too far gone. He only thought about succeeding in his mission, not spending a happy couple’s life. So I’ll have to survive for our babies’ sake, I suppose. They don’t have anyone else,” she says.

I let out a sound of surprise when I understand she is pregnant.

“How long are you?” I ask her. I don’t want her having pups in the middle of a battlefield.

“Around eight weeks. I’m not due before some months; I can help you, Alpha,” she answers.

“Olivia. And no, you stay away from any fight. I don’t want babies born in a fight,” I scream, remembering how fast my babies are growing.

“She really has more months, Olivia. Her babies are growing as a lycan’s pregnancy, around six months long,” Moon-Goddess answers.

She smiles at me as she sees my wide-open eyes. Before I can ask anything, she answers my question.

“You were right telling the Prince to ask Jaci.” She blinks an eye at me.

“Anyway, pregnant wolves are out of the fight. Am I clear?” I look at the wolf, realizing she did not tell me her name.

“Portia, like the moon of Uranus, Olivia. My human is called Anya,” she answers me. I turn to the other wolf.

“Astraea,” she answers with a smile. “Like the goddess of justice and innocence. My human is called Malia,” she answers me proudly.

“Portia and Astraea. Nice to meet you. I think if Selene and Moon-Goddess agree, I have a job for you,” I say. I turn to Moon-Goddess, who smiles at me, then Selene.

“You’ll be our Gammas,” Selene answers for me.

“Gammas?” Portia asks.

“Like in the stories?” Astraea adds.

“Just like in the stories.” I smile at them as their ears stand up on their heads.

Today’s hierarchy in a pack is relatively simple. An Alpha rules on a pack with his Luna. He is assisted by the Beta and his mate. Most of the packs have chiefs warriors. When it comes to warriors, most of the packs consider that only healthy men can be warriors. Women and people unable to fight deal with the everyday life of the packs. Then the lowest ranked wolves are the Omegas. They are usually small and weak wolves, so people badly consider them. Thankfully, it does not exist in our pack, but we are an exception.

Back in the past, the whole Greek Alphabet was used in order to rank all the werewolves into categories. Packs often moved, and everything had to be perfectly organized for things to go smoothly. It kept being like that until the packs truly settled, finally disappearing when the Great Council was created. Since then, lycans have dealt with everything that impacts the life out of the packs. The borders are established, and times of war are rare. Most of the fights opposing different packs are played in simple steps.

1. Stupid arguments.

2. Stupid Alphas declare wars on one another.

3. Warriors fight.

4. A lycan arrives and growls.

5. Everybody is scared.

6. Everybody goes back home with their tails between their legs.

7. End of the war.

Unfortunately, it seems that our enemies missed step four, and so we will have to go back to the old methods but simplified. I don’t even know the Greek Alphabet. But Gammas were one of the last ranks to disappear, and I even believe some packs still give this rank to some of their members unofficially.

“Portia, you look strong and killed your mate to join us. You’ll be great as our third-in-command. You’ll be in charge of the training. Astraea, you seem clever and fair. We’ll need you to support us and plan everything together with Portia, so you will be our second third-in-command. I don’t think two will be too much for the job,” Selene explains.

“Inform your humans when you reunite with them. I won’t have much time when we go back. So you stay hidden and listen to Prince Alexander’s or my brother’s orders. Are we clear?” I ask them. They nod, but I notice a questioning eye from Portia.

“I already know who will be my Beta. I haven’t seen her in a long time, but she trusted me with her kids, and I’ve known her forever. She’s been a great friend, and now, I understand why,” I explain.

"And don't forget. You are not alone. We are family. We are unity."

The two of them bow their heads to Selene and me.

“Fine. Portia, Astraea, go back to your humans. I still have to talk with Olivia, but I won’t be long,” Moon-Goddess says to the two wolves, who disappear quickly after they say their goodbyes.

Then Moon-Goddess approaches me and caresses my cheek.

“Be careful, Olivia. There is still a lot to come, and you will need your friends to be with you on that. That’s not a war you can win on your own. I’ll try my best to guide you as much as possible, but know that I don’t have all the answers,” she calmly says.

“Loyalty will be your greatest force. Once you earn people’s loyalty, you’ll be able to defeat anything. They will have to trust the silver wolf. Never forget that. Do you understand, Olivia?” she asks me, my head cupped in her hands.

“Keep my friends at my side. Earn people’s trust. Gain their loyalty. Be careful. Win the fight.” She nods at me and then looks at Selene and Ares. They get up and move to my sides.

“Selene, you are a powerful wolf, and I need you to do your best to protect Olivia, even when you feel like you can’t. You two have great powers,” she says to my wolf.

“Ares, you are one of the kindest wolves I know and one of the strongest. No matter what happens, you and Alexander must trust Olivia and Selene. Protecting them is in your blood, but they will make good decisions. Don’t forget that they are the silver wolf. Do you understand?” she addresses Ares.

“I’ll try my best, but I don’t want to lose my mate,” Ares says with a grin.

“I know, Ares. That’s why I chose Alexander and you to take care of Olivia. Or maybe I chose them to take care of your two grumpy hearts. I don’t remember exactly.” She laughs as Ares looks shocked by her words.

“Anyway, I wish we had more time to talk about childish things, but you have to go back, Olivia. I wish you good luck,” she says before she kisses my head. As she does, darkness surrounds me once again.

She really needs to change this. I hate feeling like I’m dying anytime she needs a little chat.