Chapter Three

The weekend was fun but a total bust. I trained with Anderson and Noah both in human and wolf form. Friday night was not what I was expecting. Anderson said I didn’t do anything wrong and the situation involved someone else. Still, I felt like the whole thing was staged for some reason. But why?

Anderson is mated to one of my closest friends from school, Kayla. She was with us while we were training. She kept telling me to kick his ass.

“Hey, I thought you’re supposed to be on my side babe?” Anderson teased as he approached his mate to get a drink of water.

“If she kicks your ass, then what good are you? Hmm, babe?” Kayla retorted with a chuckle and then a kiss.

“Wait until I get you home later,” taunted Anderson to his mate with a glint in his eye.

“Will you too please stop? I mean, I’m glad you two are mates and all, but come on,” I groaned as I watched them get all lovey-dovey together.

“You're just jealous because you haven’t found your mate yet,” mocked Kayla.

“Of course, I’m jealous. I wish I would find my mate already. Daniel has found his. It’s just … I wonder when I’m going to find my mate … you know what let’s just drop this subject please,” I insisted as I walked over to my training bag for a drink of water.

Noah noticed how uncomfortable I was becoming. He was mated as well. Everyone knew that I didn’t date when I was in high school. I just hung out with friends. I went to dances, football games, and the like, but with a group of friends and never with a single boy unless it was with a guard from the pack.

It wasn’t until recently that I was beginning to think I wasn’t going to ever meet my mate. I mean Daniel met his mate a year ago. I’m happy for him, I really am but when will I meet him?

Werewolves get their wolf when they are sixteen years old. They have their first shift on the full moon after their sixteenth birthday. After they turn eighteen, they are able to find their mate.

Every werewolf has a mate. A soulmate that is the other half of their being. It’s like when they meet, they find the part of themselves they didn’t know was missing in the first place. You know your mate first by smell, then by touch. From what I understand the sparks when you touch is out of this world. When I asked Daniel about the ‘sparks’ as he described it—he said I would have to find out on my own. Thanks a lot, Danny.

Sunday night, Dad pulled me into the living room for a quick talk.

“Melanie, the Alpha wants to have a meeting with us on Tuesday at 10 AM about going to the Lakewood Pack. We will learn more when we attend the meeting. Clear your calendar at work. Any questions?” Dad inquired before he returned to his football game.

“No questions. Thanks, Dad,” I exclaimed as I resumed my trek to my room. I wanted some downtime to myself. I also wanted some time to read my book that I can’t seem to finish reading.

Ever since I let my dad talk me into going to work for him two years ago, I don’t seem to have much free time. The Hunter Security Firm was created—er rather established by my great grandfather Delta Hunter Myles Miller since he served in the military. So, he decided to put his talents to work when he was discharged.

I deal with the bureaucratic red tape and dealings with the Council and Alpha King in the U.S. and Europe. Yes, there are two Alpha Kings. Some days I feel as though I might drown in red tape.

Sorry, I digressed again. On the weekend, I wish I could go back to the simpler days of just reading my books and watching football or baseball games with my Dad. Not like this weekend when I upped my combat readiness after Friday night’s fiasco. I really need to steer clear of Jerry’s bar. End of story.

Just as I am about to continue Ann’s journey in the book, Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie, we got a pack alert of an attack at our eastern border.

All available warrior wolves closest to that border proceed immediately. Those closest to the pack house protect the Luna and those who cannot shift. Everyone who cannot shift, get to your safe room and stay put until further notice.

I ran from my bedroom down the stairs only to be met by my father.

“Melanie, I want you to stay here and protect your mother. You know she cannot shift. I want you to make sure nothing happens to her, please,” begged my dad with fear in his eyes.

“Yes sir. I will stay and protect Mom. Where is she?” I asked hastily.

“She’s in our room upstairs. Get her to the safe room and lock it. You don’t have to go in but make sure she does and doesn’t come back out. Please,” begged my father.

“I will Dad. Go, I’ve got this,” I assured him as I rushed up the stairs to his bedroom to find Mom asleep on the bed.

I tried waking my mother up, but she wouldn’t wake up. “Mom! Mom! You need to wake up! We're under attack!” I kept shouting as I rocked her.

My mother slowly woke up from her deep slumber. I helped her up and into the safe room. “Dad wants you to stay in here until its safe. I need to stay outside to make sure no one gets inside. It’ll be alright, I promise,” I reassured my mom.

“Okay, just be safe my darling girl,” my Mother pleaded with me.

I locked the safe room door and took a protective stance near the landing of the stairs. I didn’t want to announce my location so I stayed at the top of the stairs.

I heard many voices through the pack link saying that the fighting had been contained but also that a few of the rogues had slipped through. We had to beware. Everyone needed to be cautious because they had not been caught yet. Alpha Richard clarified that two rogues slipped through the fighting and were last seen heading toward the pack house.

They were heading toward my house. My house was on the way to the pack house. Would they try to come into our houses or was the pack house and the Luna their target?

‘Dad, what do you want me to do? Mom is safe in the safe room. Do you want me to go to the pack house to ensure the Luna’s safety?’ I linked.

‘No! Stay where you are. Do not leave the house. We do not know where they are heading. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked. Don’t let anyone see you while you are locking the windows,’ Dad linked to me.

‘Yes sir.’ I replied quickly. I ran downstairs to double-check the windows and the doors. Everything was locked. I went upstairs to double-check the windows when I heard a noise coming from my room. Damn! I had my window open. I forgot to close it when the alert came through.

As I approached my room, I sniffed to see if I knew who was in my room. To my relief it was Anderson.

‘What are you doing in my bedroom?’ I demanded as I entered my bedroom.

‘I knew you always had your window open when you’re at home. I wanted to make sure you were safe since we were told to stay at home. I made sure Kayla was safe before I came here. Why didn’t you close your window?’ demanded Anderson.

‘I forgot since Dad told me to ensure Mom was safe first. I had a hard time waking her up to get her in the safe room. Then, I had to go downstairs to make sure all the windows and doors were locked and secured. I was on my way upstairs when I heard you. Thank you for closing it,’ I declared as I surveyed the window.

‘You’re welcome. I even locked it for you. Now, let’s make sure no one enters your house. This is a ranked household. We can’t have anyone trying to hurt anyone here,’ he declared.

I hadn’t thought about it that way. He was right. All ranked wolves households including the Pack House with the Alpha couple would be a target.

‘Seriously, why are you here? My Mom is secured. I’m safe. Shouldn’t you be protecting the pack house instead of me?’ I demanded as I watched him walk down the stairs.

‘I’m your guard. You are my responsibility. I’m where I’m supposed to be. Stay upstairs near the safe room to watch over your Mom while I stay downstairs to make sure no one enters the house,’ commanded Anderson.

‘Fine. You know I can take care of myself and I was,’ I huffed as I went back to stand guard outside the safe room.

Anderson didn’t answer me, he just continued downstairs to take his post and watch. He knew he wouldn’t win an argument against me. He also knew I was pissed that he came to ‘protect’ me when I already had things under control and didn’t need protecting.

Alpha Richard finally linked that they had caught the last two rogues just shy of the pack house. It was now clear to come out of the safe rooms. I went to open our safe room so Mom could come back out.

“Mom, it’s safe to come out. They stopped the attack and it’s all clear,” I told her. “Do you need anything?” I asked her as she exited the room.

“No, I don’t need anything. Has your father returned yet?” Mom asked me.

“Not yet. I’m pretty sure he’s helping with the clean-up. Why don’t you go back to bed? I’ll stay up and wait for him,” I offered my Mom because she looked tired and worn out from today.

“I’ll go to my room and rest. Let me know if you need me for anything,” Mom advised as she continued to her bedroom.

“Yes ma’am. I will. Get some rest. Why don’t I bring you some tea? Would you like that?” I inquired as I saw her slowly walk toward her room.

“Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you Melanie for thinking about me,” She softly stated and disappeared into her room.

I followed her into her room and asked her, “Mom, do you want to take a bath as well? Maybe that will help you relax a little more before you go back to sleep. I could draw it for you before I make your tea,” I offered as I looked at my mother who looked a little frazzled and worn out.

“No, I think the tea would be sufficient. Thank you anyway,” she complimented me.