The Forbidden Luna

Chapter 2 - Rogues near the Territory

AMARIS

I sit back in my chair behind my desk, sighing loudly. The Black Forest Pack were the ninth pack that had been destroyed by the Hunters. No one knew who they were or where they were based. Once the Hunters infiltrated a pack they worked quickly, destroying it from the inside out. No wolves had ever managed to escape, so no-one was able to find out the people in charge.

The Hunters had been working for nearly 20 years. Alexander, my father and the former Alpha of the Lunar Pack had started looking into them, but the only clue he ever managed to find were whispers of a business ran by humans. Any motives beyond "wiping out all werewolves" were not known. Once I was 18 I joined my dad, taking over the pack 3 years ago, once I had my 21st birthday.

The transfer of power hadn't went over peacefully- a lot of werewolves were furious that dad had made me the Alpha of the Pack- after all, wolves were ran in a strictly patriarchal society. Women were meant to bear pups and look after the home, not run the largest pack in the Europe. I knew that my pack were waiting for me to find my mate so that I could become Luna and pop out a couple of pups, but that isn't in the cards for me. I could pick a chosen mate, sure. But I would never be able to be with me destined mate, wherever they were... It would almost be easier if we never meet at all.

There was a sharp rapping at my door.

"Come in!" I shout. Erik, my Beta, walks into the office and closes the door behind him.

"There have been sightings of rogues near our territory, Ama." This was the third time this year, which was a lot, considering how far from civilisation my Pack is based.

The Lunar Pack is built deep in the forests of the Skogteigen nature reserve in Norway. Humans haven't been allowed in the area since 1914 without a guide, and the forest is too deep and dangerous for any sane human to want to explore by themselves. The only creatures who were able to make their way to and from the territory were supernatural, and rogue wolves wouldn't come here on purpose unless desperate, as the Lunar Pack is notorious among werewolves for being brutal to anyone that crosses us.

"How many rogues have been spotted?" I ask Erik, closing my laptop and giving him my full attention.

"Three men in the North of our territory, but they appeared to be searching for someone. The scent of a female was there but it was weak." Erik replied. "The men are camping out in a clearing in the forest, there is no sign of any female with them or nearby."

I sit back, rubbing my chin. "Get your best trackers and keep an eye on them, Erik. See if they come any closer to our territory, if they do we will bring them in and see what they want. If they move on past us, let them. If you find the female, interrogate them. Depending on their answers, offer them sanctuary in our Pack. It's not a nice world for solo female wolves "

"Of course, Ama." Erik's eyes glazed over, mind linking the head trackers in the pack. "It is done, they are on their way out now." I nod my thanks. "How are you anyway? Still trying to find the Hunters?"

I let out a sigh, rubbing the back of my neck with my hand, exasperated. "I can't find anything Erik. I'm hunting ghosts. Every pack they go into is obliterated. No survivors, no clues, nothing. It's the most complex and efficient organisation I have ever came across."

"Have any of the other packs made any headway?" Erik asked, already knowing the answer.

"No, if we can't I doubt anyone else can." I reply. The Lunar Pack is worth billions, as I run a company which specialises in Private Investigation, working in conjunction with the Norwegian Intelligence Service.

I have access to bounty hunters, assassins, trackers, everything you could possibly imagine and require to track people down. The fact that we had made no headway after nearly 20 years was infuriating.

"You're right there" Erik replies wryly. "Well, if you need any help, you know where I am."

"You got it Erik," I reply, sitting back, dejected.

Erik smiles and stands up, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Erik. It was no secret that the majority of the pack wanted Erik and I to be fated mates. We had grown up together, and when I turned out to be the eldest child of two girls the pressure to find my destined mate, settle down and have pups only increased. Erik came from a long line of Betas and has always been my best friend. He is also waiting for his mate.

Some of the elder pack members were starting to voice that Erik and I should take each other as a chosen mate. My dad was fending them off, but I know I need to find a suitable mate, and soon.

I walk out onto her balcony, looking up at the moon above. Selene, can you hear me? I lift my face up, letting the bright white wash over me. Selene, I need help. I need a sign. How can I protect my pack from the hunters if I can't even find them? A shooting star flies by overhead, aiming true north, straight into the heart of the forest below the castle. I track its movements, c*****g my eyebrow and glancing back up at the moon. If this is your idea of a clue Selene, it's pretty cryptic- but I'll follow it. That's the furthest headway I have made in years.

I send a quick mind link to Eric, letting him know that I am heading out to join the trackers. The rogues were north and the star went north, and one thing I definitely don't believe in is coincidence.

UNKNOWN POV

We had started tracking the female a few weeks ago, always staying downwind of her. She wasn't of age yet, but she would be soon. Female rogues were rare, young ones even rarer. We had lost her at the stream, but we would pick her up again soon. The trees rustled around us. The moon shone overhead, high in the sky, as we settled for the night in a small clearing we had found. The other two yammered on about how another pack had apparently been dismantled, but I didn't pay much attention. I closed my eyes and dreamed of fiery red hair.

AMARIS

I caught up with the trackers with ease, my white wolf blending seamlessly into the shadows. Eirwen, my wolven spirit and counterpart, sniffs the air, puzzled. A faint, tantalising smell drifted past me, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Eirwen shakes her head and focuses on the task, mind linking the trackers to let them know we were here. The rest of the night passed quietly, as we keep an eye on the rogues from afar.

The next morning the rest of the trackers and I stay downwind of the rogues, as the rogues started their day.

"It seems as though they are searching for something", Anthony, the Lead Tracker and Gamma mind linked me.

"Something, or someone", I reply. we stalk the rogues, following as they went to the stream and tracked up and down it. The tantalising smell from the other night drifted past me briefly again, making Eirwen's tail shiver in anticipation. "Mate!" She whispers to me. "Our mate is close!" Shocked, I reply"Are you sure? Eirwen we cannot meet our mate. We know we would never be able to be with our destined mate."

"You might have made that decision, but I never agreed to it Ama. Mother chooses our mates for a reason and I would never reject our destined mate. Everything will work out, you just need to believe that it will."

I rol my eyes at her. If only it were that simple. I want nothing more than to accept my mate, my destined mate, but it would never be accepted. It had never been accepted.

It had been hard enough having everyone in the pack accept me as their Alpha, getting them to accept my destined mate...

I have to leave. I can't be here any longer. If I stay I will search this entire forest for my mate... I mind link Anthony letting him know I will be at the Castle working on the Hunter attacks. Anthony's wolf Ares inclines his head. He will keep me updated on the rogues when necessary. Eirwen takes off at a steady lope through the trees, sticking to the shadows until we reach the Castle.

I quickly chang back into my human form at the gates, grabbing the set of spare clothes the omegas kept there and pulling them on as I make my way to the gym on my floor. I mind link Erik on route, telling him to meet me there. We needed to have a long discussion about what, no, who I had found.