Ezra POV

The trees seem to go on forever and ever. Their dark green branches are dusted in mounds of snow, the pine needles holding tight to the white powder.

I clutch my hands tightly in my lap as we near our destination with a quickness that settles in my gut like an anvil in one of those old cartoons.

Klepto whistles a tune beside me. Her pretty head rests on my shoulder, relaxed. Ever since she settled things with her mother, she's been at ease. She' finally looking forward.

As am I, but I'm still nervous. Anxious.

The past few days have been filled to the brim with packing. It's been a whirlwind of preparations that had to be made before we left the Green Pack.

Only days ago I remember slamming shut the trunk of the Suburban and clambering into the car with a heavy dose of relief and fear. This is our new life coming around the corner.

It's a strange, new sensation to have two perfectly opposite emotions wrestling in your mind, each trying to get on top and come out as the victor.

Relief is easy enough to understand. We are out of that pack after all of this time. They have an Alpha, they're still recovering nicely enough from the attack, and I have my wonderful mate swept up in my arms as the vehicle rushes us away from her more than traumatic childhood.

The fear is a different story completely.

The Red Alpha will not flee my thoughts. She's a constant companion to my subconscious, poking and prodding my brain like an itch I can't scratch through my skull.

Little brother.

I shiver. Klepto glances up at me and then snuggles closer as if she senses my unease. I sigh and run my fingertips through her black tendrils that fall down my arm.

And of course I have a steaming pile of guilt over not telling my lovely mate about the event. She knows I'd fought the Red Alpha of course, knew that the villain was pierced by silver and most likely dead by now.

Most likely. That's the catch, isn't it? I don't even want to consider the idea that she's still alive somewhere.

What Klepto doesn't know is that the Red Alpha knows me, knows how to get to me. And the fact that she might be my older sister. A long lost sibling that I never knew I'd lost in the first place.

Then there's the dream of my mother on top of it all.

How do I tell my mate about something as complicated as that?

I look down at her face and I immediately know why. It's because I don't want her to worry. There is already so much to worry about with everything she's going through, why add this to that load?

The words Klepto told me after my dream pop into my head.

If you don't want to talk about it, then it can wait for when you're ready.

It will have to wait then. I will tell her, but I should collect my thoughts on the matter first. It'll be much easier that way.

"Where did you grow up, again?" Klepto wonders as she gazes steadfastly through the car window while countless mountains pass us by.

I grin softly at her small talk. She's trying to distract me from my distress without asking what's wrong.

We've been together for a few weeks, and she already knows me better than I know myself.

"West Vancouver. My parents own a huge house overlooking the ocean. They owned another property outside of the city that looked a lot like this, snowy trees and endless woods. My nanny spent a lot of time trying to keep up with me. The snow was my safe haven." I allow myself to bask in the memories of my childhood, at least the more enjoyable bits of it.

Klepto smiles at me.

"That sounds wonderful. Were you not part of a pack?" She asks and I shake my head softly.

"Many lycans are like my parents, high societal snobs drowning in their own money." I rub at my head, the image of my parents typically gives me a throbbing headache. "There aren't many lycans. Most are hidden away, but some give in to the thrill of fighting, and allow themselves to enjoy battling. It's what we are made for after all."

My little she-wolf ponders this for a while, chewing on the inside of her cheek like she always does when she's thinking too deeply.

"Why do so many lycans hide away? Do they not like people?" I chuckle at the question because the simple answer to that is yes. Klepto nails it right on the head.

"We enjoy solitude I suppose. Not many like to settle down somewhere swarmed with people, but it's natural to enjoy fighting for us." I inform her, each word flowing from my tongue easily. "Even when lycans are in a pack, they tend to enjoy having a whole house to themselves. Shifters are pack animals but as lycans, our emotions are very delicate. We get agitated easily."

I enjoy her interest in my life, in my kind.

"Then why did you join the Guard? Wouldn't it be hard to share your living space with so many people?" She sounds confused, and she has a right to be. My choices would seem confusing from the outside.

I think for a beat or two before answering.

"Yes, I suppose it was. That's the reason so few lycans join the Guard. But I think I was just tired of solitude. I wanted, no, I needed purpose and acceptance in my life. I thought it would give me self validation. I thought it would fulfill me, and for a long time it did just that." I kiss her knuckles one by one and then look into her stormy eyes. "And then I met you, and that all changed."

She grins mischievously.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"I mean that I left that Guard as soon as you almost died that day in the woods when you took a knife for me. I called the Councilman who assigned us to your pack and I told him that I was done. That may or may not be the reason why Veiler was asked to come help us." I tell her sheepishly.

It isn't easy for me to admit, I haven't told her earlier because I didn't want her to know exactly how smitten I am with her already.

I think it might freak her out a bit.

"Are you serious?" Klepto's mouth is hanging open. I wince.

"Yes. I know you hadn't accepted me yet at that point, but I had to hope that you.."

My mate cuts me off by throwing herself on me in a big hug. Just when I register the contact and wrap my arms around her she pulls away, as she leans back I spy the wide grin plastered to her face.

"You're the sweetest, you know that?" She says and I shrug my shoulders, raising my eyebrows with a smug expression.

She reacted to that a lot better than I thought she would.

"I guess it just comes naturally." I say coyly. Klepto is about to reply when Daniel starts to jump up and down in his booster seat.

"Are we there yet?!" He demands, his little snow boots hitting the back of Savannah's seat. Our female Beta sighs loud, clearly trying to hold it together and not say anything.

Daniel has been antsy the whole ride. We'd stopped twice to stay at hotels along the way, and he was never tired when we stopped. He complains about being confined to his car seat nearly every hour.

However, Felix is happy to sit in the back with Stacy and Reid. They play games to keep him occupied, but he's happy to remain quiet.

Miranda sits silently in the passenger seat. She hasn't said a word, though it seems like she rarely does.

We ride in the Suburban together with Veiler traveling on his motorcycle ahead, and behind us the rest of the gang are piled in a rental. Including a moodier than usual Ace.

Ever since the attack, he's been stressed about Opal, the little werewolf pup he found. She hates being separated from him, and He demands that he's adopting her and brought her along.

I never imagined he would be a father at the mere age of 18, but you can never tell with fate. The Moon Goddess has her own agenda.

The vampire mates have left already. They'd helped us try to track the pack at night, but hadn't been lucky enough to uncover where the Red Alpha went. Fraser and Ailsa have been a great asset to us in battle. They weren't so useful during the daylight hours though.

It's always nice having a few helping hands at least.

I know Klepto doesn't want to admit it, but she's relieved the blood drinkers are gone. It set her on edge just to have them in the same room. She couldn't handle it.

It's a good thing they're gone, but I doubt that will be the last we'll see of those two. They're apparently good friends of Alpha Veiler, so it isn't far fetched that they will be around sometime in the future.

"We're almost there, little guy. Chill." Savannah explains, I can hear her teeth as they clench in her mouth and I stifle a laugh.

She would not appreciate that if she heard it.

"Are you ready to be at our new home?" Klepto asks me after a moment. I pull her closer to me, cursing the seatbelts for separating us even a little bit.

"Beyond ready, I just hope you are too."

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"Do you swear under the Moon Goddess above to uphold the rules of the pack, bring peace and love to our grounds, and protect our members at all costs?"

"I swear." The words we speak in unison echo through the night air.

The sun set over 2 hours ago, though it wasn't a surprise. It's only 7:30 PM. That's what happens when you're this far North in the winter time.

"By my power as Alpha of the Slate Penumbra Pack, I appoint you all members of this pack." Veiler finally says, and I feel Klepto sink against me in relief.

It's hard enough trying to get our two rowdy boys to hold their hands over their hearts while we recite every word from our Alpha.

There are cheers all around us, we're practically swimming in them. The Slate Penumbra Pack isn't large by any means. There are as few as 17 lycans, now made 23 lycans plus 6 werewolves. I didn't expect so little people.

Everyone seems to have their own story. Everyone is a different shape or size, and most of the members are Native Americans like Savannah.

Apparently the few locals near the pack lands think this is a reserve for Native Americans, which isn't too far off. Land, money, and supplies is granted to the pack by the American Government.

The lycan pups of the pack are scarce as well, with only a handful of young ones for Klepto's brother's to play with. And then there's Opal of course, but she doesn't appear very social at all.

Her quiet shyness can be misleading though, seeing as her parents were slaughtered mere days ago before her eyes.

Who would want to make friends after that?

The little girl stays glued to Ace's side at all times. She's also sucking her thumb insistently. It makes her seem younger than she is, more delicate. It isn't hard to see why Ace wants to protect her at all costs.

The young lycan scoops her up into his arms. Opal rests her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes.

It reminds me of my own little ones. The two boys at my feet tug nervously at Klepto's shirt trying to get her attention.

"Can we go play? We can have a snowball fight." Felix begs, pulling on my mate and trying to push Daniel away.

My gorgeous girl grins at them before sending a smile and chuckle my way that melts my heart. She is such a good big sister to the munchkins, even when we have our hands full with them.

"A snowball fight it is! But I think we should team up against Ezra, what do you think?"

"I think that you better start running." I say, her eyes widen at my completely dead serious tone before the boys start squealing. The sound makes her grin.

"Run! He'll catch us!" Shouts Daniel as he races away, hardly able to lope through the deep snow banks to hide behind a nearby tree.

I let myself smile as I reach down and pick up a handful of snow and throw it at my mate's back as she darts to safety. Klepto shouts out before turning to me.

The fire I love so much sparks in her eyes.

"You're gonna pay for that one!"

I chuckle as she begins chasing me. I'm too fast for her, but I slow down significantly to let her have a chance.

It's an amazing day, and I don't want it to end.

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If you're reading this, I love you :)

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