Honor. Loyalty. Control.

Those were the three words to live by in the Reverence Pack. Those three words were what he was taught since he was an infant.

"There are some amazing things that people have been able to do, Shiro," his grandfather told him. "The mind is the strongest weapon, no matter what being you are. If you can learn to control your mind, you gain control over your situation."

The man had taught him a lot. Even before he was able to shift. There wasn't a single lesson he taught that Shiro forgot. His words of wisdom were all that he had left of him.

"You look perfect, Master Shiro," his servant looked at him through the mirror that he stood in front of. The omega smiled kindly at him. "Elder Munni would have been proud."

"Thank you, Nikita," he smiled back. He was the best servant Shiro could ever ask for, and had been caring for him since he was too young to walk.

Today was going to be an important day. It was the first time that he would be officially introduced to the Alpha's of their allied packs. He had studied plenty about them to prepare himself for this moment. He remembered meeting two of them when he was a child. But now he would get to meet them as a man.

His grandfather had been a very traditional man, with a kind heart and a futuristic mindset. He had brought the Reverence Pack through a period of peace and prosperity. It was enough to make him one of the most well-known people, even after death. Shiro planned to follow his example when he became the leader of this pack.

Each pack in BlackCreek had their own culture. They were each unique. Sometimes it would even be as different as how they dress.

For example: their pack was the only one who wore kimonos to prominent events. Shiro wore a simple black one. There was no need to have intricate designs or artwork. That would distract them from the things he needed to say. His hair went to his lower back when it was down. He got it from his mother and grandfather. It was as black as night and as straight as the wooden boards on the ground. He had put it up in a simple ponytail, allowing it to lie on his neck and blend in with his dark outfit.

The only thing that stood out against his clothing was a necklace that his grandfather had given him. It was a red medallion that rested on his chest. He hoped it would bring him luck in his task for the day.

"Are you ready?" His father's voice came into his mind, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes, Alpha," he replied. He knew that his father did not like the fact that Shiro was accompanying him to this meeting. He would have tried to postpone his official greeting from the neighbor Alphas if it weren't for the fact that they needed his input on what happened with the hunters.

It was mandatory for the Alphas of the neighboring packs to meet the next in line before or at his eighteenth birthday. It was a law put in place many years ago so that the leaders could keep relations with each other as the generations passed.

"I must go," he looked to Nikita. The light brown hair was easy to spot in their pack. All of them usually had dark hair. And almost none of them had blue eyes like he did. Shiro was sure that some others wouldn't like the fact that he looked different. He was glad that he was his servant rather than anyone else's.

The man nodded his head and stepped away from the door. But before he could leave, the servant stopped him.

"One more thing, if I may, Master Shiro," he bowed his head.

"What is it?"

"My daughter and I wanted to wish you a happy birthday," he pulled out a small box from his robes. "It's not much, but we worked hard on it."

Shiro opened the small box to find a candle inside. The wax shimmered blue in the sunlight that came through the windows. And the glass had an intricate design on it with the number 18 in the center.

"You two made this by hand?" he asked. He couldn't help but smile looking at it. Strong scents from candles and incents helped to relax him at the end of the day. He used them quite a lot when meditating as well.

"Well, not the glass," Nikita smiled again. "We made the wax from the wildflowers from the forest. I know you aren't going to celebrate it until the graduation party, but I figured you should have at least one present on the actual day you were born."

"Thank you," he put a hand on his shoulder. "Tell Ava that I will cherish your gift." It was the most thoughtful gift he had received in a long time.

"I will, Master Shiro," Nikita said. "I'm glad you like it."

He said his farewell to his servant before leaving his room. He left the candle on his night stand. If he brought it with then he would surely break it. And he couldn't let that happen to such a lovely gift.

His father wore a colorful kimono. It was black and blue, with intricate artwork all over it.

"One would think that you would be quicker at getting ready," he glared at him as they rushed down the halls of the house. "You've been wanting to go to these so badly."

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," he bowed his head low.

"You better be," the man grumbled. They rushed to the car where their driver would bring them into town. "I expect you to be on your best behavior at this meeting. The last thing I need is to have a son that embarrasses me."

"Yes, father," he watched the floor of the car as it moved. As much as the candle warmed his heart and brought him joy, his greatest gift was going to see the Alphas today. It was the only present that his father had ever given to him.

BlackCreek City was small, yet big at the same time. The forest it was named after surrounded the busy city, making it beautiful with all the greenery that it grew. It was a peaceful place for both werewolves and humans alike. It took a lot to get it this way, where everyone lived in harmony. But happiness is never achieved without facing hardships as well.

At least, that's what he was taught.

"Now, before we get there," his father sat up straighter and started to straighten out his clothes. "Tell me about what you have studied of the Alphas. I don't want you going in there without having the proper knowledge."

"Alpha Nir is of the Noble Pack," Shiro started. "Calm and collected, he is known as an understanding leader and peacemaker. Alpha Roger of the Dynamic Pack is known for his bold points of view and loves telling things frankly. He despises being ran in circles with words."

"And the final pack?" his father pushed. They were approaching the community center, where all the Alphas held important meetings with each other.

"Alpha Jett of the Valor Pack," he started slowly. For some reason, that name resonated with him. There was a certain feeling it gave him when it slipped off his tongue that he couldn't quite understand at the moment. "Is an Alpha of confidence. Well known for his fighting skills as well as his ability to work well with the other packs, he strives to be the best he can be."

"Good," his father answered. "Now you are only to talk when you are spoken to, understood?"

"Yes, Alpha," he nodded. The community center was right in the middle of the city. It was the best spot for all of them to talk so that they didn't have to place any rules on who's territory to visit when these meetings took place. It was always heavily guarded. When he got out of the car, he caught onto the scents of the guards. Most of them he had fought with the day before. It seemed as if it was the Valor Pack's turn to guard.

It was fun fighting with them. Shiro hadn't fought alongside another pack before. Since he was next in line to lead, his father tried to protect him and kept him from fighting too much unless it was something dire. He especially didn't like him fighting alongside the other packs.

He had never met the Alpha of the Valor pack until then. But he would never forget how intense those orange eyes were when they met his for the first time. He wasn't expecting the Alpha to thank him for his help. It was difficult to look past your pride and accept help when you're a leader. Shiro admired him for that.

They walked into the building quickly. The other three Alphas were waiting for them. There was much to discuss.

"Remember what we talked about," his father mind linked with him. "Do not speak unless you are spoken to."

"I will do as you say," he told him. He wasn't one to ramble on anyway. He was simply happy to be there.

The door opened slowly, showing the three men sitting at the table. Alpha Nir was the first to notice them. His dark blue eyes were like the ocean at night. His dark brown hair brought the color out more. It was cut short and neatly swept on top of his head. The short beard was what gave him a look of nobility.

Alpha Roger was the next to lay his eyes on him. Those fire red eyes looked like an explosion of dynamite. His orange hair matched his fiery look. It was short like Nir's, only his beard was much longer. His moustache grew out long as well and curled at the ends. Shiro had learned from his grandfather at a time that the Dynamic Pack had Viking ancestors.

The last pair of eyes that landed on him were to a man that looked much younger than the other two. The muscular man wore a tight dress shirt, and had black hair that curled. It just barely missed his shoulders, giving him more of a wilder look than the rest of them.

But Shiro knew who he was. Those orange eyes were too intense to be anyone else. And Shiro could never forget his scent. It was all over that part of the forest that he had fought in.

They were also the only ones that could stare at him that intensely.

"Alpha Sakdah," Alpha Nir smiled. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

"But of course," his father smiled back. "I wouldn't miss such an important meeting."

The Reverence Pack was the only one that wore kimonos. It was to respect the ancestors of the pack, as they had been the first to come from overseas. While most pack members wore normal clothing for their every day use, every pack member wore one at celebrations.

The other three packs wore regular clothing. For some reason, he hadn't been able to focus on the details of his surroundings like he usually did. His gaze was drawn to the tight shirt on the younger Alpha. As much as he tried to keep his head bowed out of respect, he couldn't help but be drawn to the man.

No. He couldn't.

He had to stay in control.

But those eyes kept beckoning his to look at him. And there was something about his scent that reached out like arms to him. It was strong and thick, like fog. It drew him closer.

"Who did you bring with you, Alpha Sakdah?" the man asked. His voice was low but clear. Shiro remembered it fondly from the mind link when they fought together the day before.

"Ah," Alpha Roger smiled. "I believe we forgot to tell you the original reason for this meeting, Jett."

Those orange eyes looked away from his for a second. Instead, they looked at the other Alpha with confusion.

"I thought this was about the hunters," he raised an eyebrow.

"It is," his father announced. "However, it just so happens to be my son's eighteenth birthday." He motioned towards him. "This is Shiro Wang, the next in line for my title of Alpha of the Reverence Pack."

He shook the oldest Alpha's hands first. He had met them when he was young. And they seemed happy to see him again.

"Alpha Jett," his father said as he walked to shake his hand. "I believe you're the only one who hasn't met my son before."

"Actually," the man smiled. "I believe we met yesterday." He put out his hand and met his gaze again. "It's nice to officially meet you, Shiro."

"The pleasure's mine," he smiled. It wasn't until their hands met that he realized what was going on. Shiro wanted to pull back from the strong grip. But that would send the wrong message to everyone in the room.

He should have seen the signs: the way that he looked at him; the intensity of his stare; the way that his voice beckoned to him like a siren to a sea captain. He had studied body language and what they look like in both a political setting as well as in a normal setting. He should have seen this.

Shiro should have known that this was going to happen. The Spirit of the Moon had been giving their pack no time after their eighteenth birthday to wait for this. He should have known enough to prepare himself. For he had no idea that the spirit was that angry with him.

Instead, he let himself be transfixed with an Alpha from another pack. Another leader which could easily reject him simply because of their political positions.

Instead, he let the Spirit of the Moon trick him into thinking that today was going to be a good day. And he had fallen right into her trap. For, he had no clue that she would mate him with the Alpha of the Valor Pack.

He couldn't tell until he felt the sparks that flew from their hands. It made him want to run at him and hold him forever. To hold and be held. To love and be loved.

But he knew he couldn't.

Control. That's what Shiro had spent his whole life mastering. The mind was a tool, and a powerful one at that. Shiro used it to hide his scent. For the Alpha could easily tell what he was through that alone.

The handshake only lasted a second or two. He made sure of it. The man seemed curious about him, but Shiro could see that he didn't feel it before he had blocked his scent and his mind off to him.

His heart and soul were crushed under his own controlling tyranny. They longed to go to his mate. But he knew he couldn't. He couldn't open himself up right now. Not when they were supposed to have an important meeting. Not when he hadn't even finished his schooling, or got his title as leader of his pack.

Not with his father there.