They pull up to the Alpha house, and more than half of them are asleep. Zach sits, with his feet on the dash, eyes closed, trying to ignore the buzz in the back of his mind.
He feels better here. He feels as if a toxin in his body slowly bled out on the way. The closer they got, the better he felt. Now he feels better than he did before this sickness befell him. He feels euphoric, and like nothing is impossible. Yet his wolf, Caleb, is anxious and is waiting for something.
Kol is in the driver's seat, ready to bounce out and start the party. He feels like it is going to be a good night. A very good night. He's ready to go.
In the back of the SUV there are three men. All asleep like little babies. On the passenger's side there is Andrew, the War Master. He's a bear of a man, but is truly a nice guy. Even though he is War Master, he is second to Zach, the Alpha, when it comes to matters of war.
In the middle is Jason, a young warrior, barely 18. A strong fighter, but an utter goof ball. And next to him is his brother Jaxson. Jaxson and Jason could be twins with matching brown hair and hazel eyes. Only, Jaxson has freckles and is a year older.
Zach rubs a hand through his raven black hair. Maybe the party won't be that bad, he tells himself as he opens the car door. He steps out and stretches his legs, leaving Kol to wake the others.
The air here isn't as fresh, but the moon is quiet lovely. For some reason it seems... brighter.
"The moon is brighter here, isn't it?" Kol says. Zach just nods and stares at it.
"You two are on crack." Jaxson yawns. Andrew nods with the same sleepy gesture.
"Think I could get some?" Jason says, sleepily stumbling from the car.
"It looks like we're pretty early." Andrew comments. Zach just nods. For some reason he just knows that after leaving here, things are going to change. For better or worse, he doesn't know. But for some odd reason he feels optimistic. It's the first time in two years, so he goes with it.
They straighten up, brushing off wrinkled suits, putting on their jackets, that have been hanging in the back of the SUV in covers. They all look at each other and nod.
Jason is the first to bound up to the door, followed closely by Kol, and Jaxson. Andrew takes his time. Zach waits for a moment for the rest of the pack. Just another car full. It pulls up in seconds and he turns to go inside.
There is no hostess at the door, and he vaguely remembers the death of the Luna and Beta's wifes. He enters slowly, and he eyes the positions of the members of his pack.
They all seem to be gathered around someone who tries to edge the group closer to the door.
"It's very nice to meet you all. Xavier will be down in a minute to give the introduction speech." a voice in the midst says over the chatter in the group. He can tell the woman, for it is a woman, is very irritated and probably wants to make it to the door.
"What's her name?" He can hear Jason's egger voice. The silly boy.
"Hannah Maria DeMoines." she says politely.
"And what is your name?" Andrew's deeper voice comes as he joins the group.
"My apologies," though she sounds anything but apologetic to Zach.
"I'm Levi Hawthorne." she says. He finds it amusing that he still can't see her.
"What, no middle name?" Jason tries to joke.
"I assume I have one. But no one in this pack knows that. My pack was killed off during the Great War. Will you excuse me please?" Levi says, squeezing through the men.
Zach is surprised. This pack had brought in a complete outsider, orphaned from a war they played almost no part in. Not many had done that. That's why the rouges are such a problem. He assumes it was there atonement for not doing anything to help her pack. Whatever pack that may have been.
He pulls himself out of his musings when she finally extracts herself from the men. She sighs annoyed, and stalks over to the door in a most graceful way.
She has auburn brown hair, lighter here, darker there. It is lovely. Her face is oval but with a strong cheek bone and full lips. Her dress hugs her body in a way that is modest, yet teasing enough. She seems to hate the attention she is receiving. He moves around her, always in the shadows, watching her. She seems tense, the way her spine is rigid.
Still, she greets the incoming pack members and visitors with politeness and tries to convey some sort of message, other than, 'I hate you, I hate this, I want to leave.' He finds it amusing because anyone paying attention can see the message clear in her posture and fake smile.
Almost 30 minutes later, and what seems like hundreds of men, she sighs, leans against the wall, and looks up.
Zach's breath catches as he sees her eyes. He's never seen anything like them. They are beautiful. As blue as the ocean, rimmed in ice. They are deep and soulful. He wonders who this woman is mated to. He wonders if he should introduce himself.
Her eyes meet his, and curiosity passes over them.
Wow. Just... wow.
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AN/: So this is one of the shortest chapters I have. I might have mistakes in future chapters, calling Zach Derik on accident because I'm writing another story where the guy's name is Zach, so yeah. Let me know.
P.S. Comments are always appreciated.
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Life-Times Apart
Werewolf*************************************************************************************** Mate. A single word, but a world of change. Everything you think you know, everything you are raised to believe and trust in, gone. Because of a single 4 let...
