Behind Enemy Lines

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Arleigh!" A voice next to me whispered harshly. I snapped my eyes open and groaned.

"What?"

A bit of a giggle before a sudden shout came from the same voice, "Happy Birthday!"

Rolling over, I faced my sister, older by one year, and smiled, "Thanks Reyna."

She clapped before ripping off my covers, "Get ready and look pretty! We're going out, and if you meet your mate you need to look fabulous."

"Yeah, okay," I responded, not really understanding anything she said as I stifled a yawn.

Tromping over to the bathroom like a zombie, I turned on the shower and brushed my teeth while I waited for the water to warm up. Stepping in, I washed my face and body, shampooed and conditioned my hair, and shaved. Stepping out, I wrapped a plush towel around my body, and grabbed another for my hair. Walking into my closet, I sighed as I stared at the outfit choices in front of me. I finally settled on a navy blue skater skirt with a white tank top. I paired it with the same colored blue vans and grabbed my red, over the shoulder clutch.

Making my way back into the bathroom, I brushed and dried my hair, leaving it down and natural in its almost black loose ringlets. I applied the usual makeup-eyeliner, mascara, a little foundation. To finish the look, I applied red lipstick. It was my eighteenth birthday, so why not?

Skipping down the stairs and walking into the kitchen, I smiled at my mom and dad, "Morning!"

"Happy Birthday, Arleigh!" My parents exclaimed at the exact same time.

I smiled, "Thanks!"

"You look beautiful, sweet pea," My mom kissed me on the cheek, and handing me a wrapped box. Reyna barged into the room, hopping on the counter and giddily smiling.

"Open it!" My sister urged and I rolled my eyes.

My dad smiled, "All three of us picked it out for you."

I began unwrapping the package and a black, long box was revealed and I opened it up, to see a gold chain with a ruby in the middle and I smiled, "It's perfect."

A ruby was the birthstone for July, my birth month. Today was July 17th, and it also happened to be my eighteenth birthday, the day most werewolves find their mates. To say I was excited would be an understatement. But I was also extremely nervous.

Taking the necklace, I clasped it around my neck and smiled, "It matches perfectly."

"Excellent!" Reyna clapped, "Now let's go!"

"Where are you two going?" Mom asked us.

My sister rolled her eyes, "Everywhere, Mom! Arleigh needs to find her mate!"

She pursed her lips and dad spoke for her, "Please be careful, girls. There have been disturbances reported on the edges of the borders. Most likely the Black Shadow Pack. Just stay on your toes, okay?"

"Okay, dad," We spoke in unison, both of us kissing one cheek.

"Love you!" I called over my shoulder as we walked into the garage, climbing into a black mustang with tinted windows.

With Reyna driving, we sped down the roads to the local mall.

*

"What about that guy? He's pretty attractive," Reyna asked, suggesting the guy working at the Starbucks counter.

I sighed and shook my head, "I would smell him before I see him, Rey."

She sighed as well, "I know, I'm just disappointed that you didn't meet him today."

"You're disappointed?" I raised an eyebrow at her. She chuckled and shrugged.

"What can I say? I wanted to give him the talk," She laughed a little more, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

We have been here for seven hours, shopping, eating, talking, scouring. But there was still no mate. I wasn't that down, though-plenty of people don't meet their mate on the day they turn eighteen.

After a few more moments of silence I checked the time and turned to my sister, "Why don't we go home? I'll find him soon enough."

Reyna sighed but reluctantly nodded, gathering her bags. I did the same and we walked out of the mall. Putting our bags in the trunk, we climbed back into the car and began the drive home. Staring out the window, I watched trees fly by as we neared the center of the pack's territory.

Getting stuffy, I rolled down the window just a crack, letting fresh air blow in. Closing my eyes, they sprung open when I smelled something different. It smelled like honey and pine and nature, all swirled into one scent. It pulled me towards it.

"Do you smell that?" I asked Reyna.

She turned to me, "Smell what?"

Looking forward, I tried to find the smell, but froze when I saw what was in our way.

"Reyna stop!" I screamed. Her eyes widened and she slammed on the brakes, just in time to not hit the werewolf that dashed across the street in front of us.

We were panting, both of our heartbeats racing. The scent was strong here, but I was distracted by something else.

"Did you recognize that wolf?" I asked Reyna. She shook her head no. I gulped, "Step on it."

We sped the rest of the way home and parked recklessly in the driveway, running into the house. Immediately, we began locking all the doors and windows.

"Girls, what is going on?" Our dad asked as we barged into his office, locking the windows.

Panting, I answered his question, "We almost hit a wolf."

"So?" he asked.

Reyna answered, "Neither of us recognized the wolf, dad."

Immediately the help in the house were locking everything down, including the reinforcing steel windows. Dad called the pack house and ordered a lock down as well, telling them there was an unknown were running wild on our territory.

"Was it a rogue?" Dad asked the both of us after he hung up the phone.

"I don't-" I cut off Reyna.

Interrupting, I said, "No. It had a distinct smell. It couldn't be a rogue."

"Did you recognize a certain pack's scent?" Mom asked, now sitting next to dad.

I had always been the best in our pack at picking up scents. No one could ever catch one and stay on one as well as I could. I was the sole tracker of the pack.

"No," I told them.

It was simply the smell of honey and pine.

A/N: This chapter was pretty short, but I'm going to try my very best to have the next chapter longer. Thanks if you stick with me! Picture of Arleigh off to the right >

PS there aren't going to be regular updates as of right now, most likely spread out and sporadic but as soon as I finish my other story "The Cherry Tree" I will update more often!