Inamatus (Sequel to ILR)

Chapter 1

"Max!" I looked away from the view of a waterfall in front of me. The waterfall was barely ever here, only when there was snow on the mountain that melted. Throughout the other times of the year there was either very little or no water going down it. The river was always there though. Mother says it's one of her favorite views. Apparently it was one of the first places Dad took her when he met her.

"What do you want Parker?" Parker was my cousin I guess you could say. We aren't related by blood but our parents had been close for as long as I could remember. Dad tells me stories of when him and my uncles were younger so before I was born actually. My uncles Jake and Josh adopted him when I was little, maybe three or four. He was a shy kid, he preferred books over being outside, but everyone loved him. He had a lot of potential and everyone could see he was going places ever since he was little. He told me once that he wants to travel, and help packs all around the world. He wants to figure out a cure for diseases that even werewolves can get and help them out. He always makes me proud.

"Alpha is looking for you. It has something to do with the Luna." He had always called them Alpha and Luna instead of Aunt and Uncle like my other cousin Wesley does. Wesley was my cousin by blood; but that doesn't make him any more of a cousin than Parker is. However, him and I were closer. Since he's not even a year older than me we train together. He's the next in line Beta but I always thought he deserved the Alpha title. He was stronger than me, a better tracker, and better with people. He, however, doesn't mind being the next Beta.

"Is she okay?" I quickly ran over to him, searching his eyes and body language that might be giving anything away. Dad says I'm good at reading people.

Mom was pregnant and it was taking a lot out of her. She has barely been walking these past two weeks. Dad had her either stay in their room or carried her. She was due in a few weeks, if I remember correctly, but everyone was worried she wouldn't make it through. She will though. Mom is strong, even if she is a runt.

"I-I'm not sure. I was just told to get you and that it has to do with the Luna." I nodded and ruffled his dirty blonde hair. I started to run back to the pack, Parker a bit behind me. I smiled as the pack house came to view. The pack house had changed over the years. It had extended, changed a bit inside, and more rooms were added. Parker's room was built in and so was mine. We were next to each other so I could just knock on his door if I ever needed anything. There were a few other rooms added but they weren't really used. The last time they were used was when another packs Alpha and Luna came to visit.

Wesley lived in a house not too far away from the pack house with his mom, my Aunt Lesa. He was still close enough that he beat me to training almost everyday. It's not my fault I like to sleep in. Besides, training is really early in the morning. That's something I definitely want to change when I become Alpha.

I don't even know when I am going to become Alpha. I'm 18 so it could be any day but I don't feel quite ready yet. Besides, Dad is a great Alpha. According to some of the pack elders who I have talked to, he is one of the best Alphas this pack has ever had. It's going to be hard to live up to his title but he gives me his full support. Apparently my grandfather wasn't like that with him, especially when it came to my mom, and he doesn't want to be like that.

Parker pointed towards the door to my Aunt Zay's office, only making me more worried. Mom shouldn't even be out of bed. I walked over, knocking on the door. As soon as I heard a 'come in' from Dad I opened the door. Mom wasn't there. I don't know if I should be worried or relieved.

"Where's Mom?" Dad gave me a smile. I think Zay did too but I was looking at Dad, waiting for an answer.

"She's up in our room, talking to Delian." Delian was my oldest cousin, also my future Third in Command. Parker has the choice to be in the rankings as well but he wants to be a doctor, like Zay. No one really cares, especially since Delian is a great fighter and tracker. Wesley is a good tracker too but not as good as she is. She's the daughter of a Beta too, my Uncle Jared. Him and my Aunt Katherine are usually out at other packs these days, working on alliances that Dad can't get to due to Mom. It's not like we are going to need them to fight here or anything like that anyways. No one has attacked this pack since before I was born. We're one of the strongest packs in the U.S. with a magi on our side. Mom has also told me stories of an old friend of hers that no one wants to mess with. When I was little I always thought of him as a superhero. I never even thought if he was real or not. I was just a kid after all.

"Then what's up?"

"For the next few weeks I don't want you wandering off. With you mom in the condition she is I-"

"She's going to be fine," I interrupt him. "Right?" I look to Zay.

"Yes," Zay tells me in a calm voice. "I'm going to hold off mine and Kaleshia's trip and stay here until the baby is born. With how she is you might end up having a sibling sooner than we thought," she says with a smile. I look to Dad and he nods. A smile stretches across my face.

"Her and the baby will be okay, right?"

"In the last trip I took I met a woman who gave birth to her son almost a month early and both her and the baby were fine." Zay and Kaleshia were usually traveling as well. I wanted to tell her that one of the other doctors would be here. I knew that she was looking forward to her trip to Hawaii but I also knew I couldn't convince her to go. Her and Mom were just too close. "I am confident that your mom and the baby will be perfectly fine, even if she doesn't go into labor for two weeks like we expected." My smile widened. I've always wanted a little sibling and now I might have one sooner. This is going to be great.