The white wolf

New Beginnings

Amber sat on the back porch of her parent's pack house; the evening air filled with the scent of pine and fresh rain.  Lantern light flickered softly along the railing, casting a warm glow over the railing, quiet clearing beyond. The Red Pack lands felt peaceful tonight steady, grounded, safe, and familiar. Nathan sat beside her, one arm resting around her shoulders. Amber held her phone in both hands now, staring at the screen as if it might bite her. "Are you sure you want to call them now?" Nathan asked gently. "It's late." Amber let out a small breath, then smiled not nervous, uncertain, but resolved. If I don't tell Aunt Selena myself, she'll be upset. I want her to hear it from me."  Nathan nodded. "Then I'm right here." Amber tapped the screen and started a three-way phone call. It ranges twice before the first voice answered. "Amber?" Selena's voice came through the speaker, sharp with instant concern. "Is everything alright?" A second voice joined moments later. "Ollie put you on speaker," Olivia said. "What's going on?" Amber swallowed, glancing at Nathan before speaking. "I wanted to tell you something. Nathan's here with me." There was a brief pause. "Okay," Oliver said calmly. "We're listening." Amber placed a hand over her stomach, grounding herself. "I'm pregnant." Silence. Then- "Oh, my Moon..." Selena breathed. "You're serious?" Olivia asked. " That's incredible," Oliver said, voice thick with emotion. Amber smiled, tears filling her eyes. "Yes. It's early, but the doctor confirmed it." Selena's voice softened instantly. "I wish I could be there to hug you." "I know," Amber said gently. "But I wanted you to know first." "We're pound of you," Oliver said. "And happy," Olivia added quickly. Amber felt warmth spread through her chest not through a bond, but through family. "Thank you. That means more than you know." When the call ended, Amber lowered the phone slowly. Nathan pulled her into his side. "That went better than you expected." She laughed softly. "Yeah... it did." Amber leaned back in the chair on the porch, taking a deep breath as the night air brushed her face. Nathan's arm was still resting lightly around her shoulders, steady and grounding. The soft sounds of the Red Pack the rustle of leaves, the distant call of a wolf made everything feel alive, connected. "We should start planning," Nathan said after a moment, his voice low but excited. "Where we'll live, the nursery, the little things like clothes, cribs." Amber smiled, placing a hand gently over her stomach. "I can't believe it's actually happening. I'm going to be a mother" Her voice trailed off, filled with awe and a little nervousness. Nathan squeezed her hand. "We'll do this together. One step at a time. We can set up the nursery in your father's pack house for now. It's safe, familiar, and -" He glanced at the surrounding trees. "And we have everyone here to help." Amber nodded, thinking about all the preparations. She pulled out her phone, checking her calendar. "We need a follow-up appointment with Dr. Nora soon. And I should probably start prenatal vitamins and the pregnancy medicine she recommended." Nathan grinned. "I'll make a list of everything we need; clothes, cribs, blankets maybe even some books for story time." Amber laughed softly. "You're already nesting too." "Hey, it's part of the excitement," he replied, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "This all of this it's our new beginning." They spent the next hour talking quietly, making rough plans, imagining the nursery in soft neutral colors, tiny clothes neatly folded, and little toys waiting for their pups. The excitement built quietly, a warm hum in the pit of Amber's stomach. Rose stepped onto the porch then, carrying a small tray with tea and honey. "I see you two are deep in plotting the future," she said, smiling knowingly. Amber handed her mother the seat beside her. "We just wanted to start thinking about it, make sure we're ready." Rose nodded, her eyes gentle but proud. "You are ready, Amber. And Nathan you'll both be guided by love. That's all that matters.'' Nathan smiled at Rose. "We'll need your advice too. Especially with the Moon's Gift." "You'll have mine, and your father's," Rose said softly. "And everyone in the pack will help however they can. This is a celebration of life, even before the party begins. Amber's gaze lifted toward the stars, feeling the soft glow of the moonlight on her face. "A new beginning," she whispered. Nathan leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Exactly. And it all starts tonight." She laughed softly. "Yeah, it did." Nathan relaxed beside her, the tension easing from his shoulders as he leaned back against the porch railing. For a moment, the night felt calm almost deceptively so. Inside the house, John stood near the table, arms crossed, his expression thoughtful. When Amber and Nathan stepped in, he lifted his gaze, already knowing. "You told Selena," he said. Amber nodded. "And Olivia and Oliver." John exhaled slowly. "Good. Then I'll move forward." Rose looked up from where she sat. "John, are you sure?' "Yes," he said firmly. "This family doesn't hide. Not now." Nathan straightened. "You're inviting the packs." "All of them," John confirmed. "The ones bound to us by loyalty and history." Amber's heart thudded softly. "Which once's?" John listed them carefully, deliberately each name carry weight. "The Ble Pack, led by Oliva and Oliver. The Royal Pack, Alpha Ray and Beta Christian. The Moon Pack, Alpha Mark and Beta Elijah. The Night Pack, Alpha Noah and Beta Oliver. The River Pack, Alpha Liam and Benjamin. And the Sun Pack, Alpha Lucas and Beta Kairo." He met Amber's eyes. "They deserve to know what the Moon has our family with." Amber placed a hand over her stomach, instinctive and protective. "They won't come yet," Rose said gently. "Not for a celebration." "No," John agreed. "This is not a party. This is preparation." Far from the Red Pack lands, beyond boarders and treaties, darkness gathered where no pack ruled. A cavern carved from black stone flickered with unnatural light. Ancient vampires stood along the walls, their eyes glowing faintly. Wolves older than recorded history sat in silence, their power heavy in the air. Witches and warlocks formed a circle etched with symbols older than language. "They've begun inviting the packs,'' one with hissed. "The Red Pack is fortifying." An ancient wolf lifted his massive head. "Too late to stop what's already begun." A vampire smiled slowly. "But not too late to take what is born." A crystal on the stone table pulsed, showing a faint image Amber, her hand resting over her womb. "Twins," the warlock said quietly. "A boy and a girl.' The witches murmured. 'Balance," one whispered. "Moon-bound," another said. "Heirs to power," a third breathed. "They will inherit her power," the ancient wolf growled. "And her mother's. And the Moon's Gift.'' Silence followed. Then a woman stepped forward from the shadows. Her presence was sharp, bitter familiar. "Nathan trusts me," she said calmly. The vampire turned his gaze to her. "You were his." "Once," she replied coldly. "And that will be enough." The witch studied her. "You will be our eyes." "And when the time comes," the woman continued, her voice steady, "I will make sure the twins are unguarded." "When they are born," the vampire said softly, "they will belong to us." The crystal dimmed. Back at the Red Pack, Amber stood beneath the moonlight, unaware of the darkness stirring beyond her borders. Nathan wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "We'll protect them," he murmured. "No matter what." Amber leaned into him, her voice quiet but unbreakable. "No one is taking our children." Above them, the moon shone bright watching, waiting.