What I Never Knew

Chapter Six

It was now Sunday, the day before my pack and I start school here and also the day of the acceptance ceremony for my third in commands mate and her sister. Some other things popped up with another pack back at home, so one of my pack members stayed behind. They will be joining us mid-week. Everyone else was already unpacked and settled in, but we did have to go buy a few things such as a microwave, toaster, kitchen supply and food, furniture, etc. So we are all currently using sleeping bags and covers. Most of my pack was formed with the orphaned wolfs at the orphanage we stayed at, and didn't get adopted due to lack of background. Miss Ali was the one who came up with the idea.
"Yo, Scarlet!" Someone said behind me. I turned and seen both the twins.
"Can you tell who said that?" Cam said. I pointed to Damion.
"How do you know it was him?" Cam asked.
"You call me Scar unless it's serious or Alpha when it's about the pack." I say, shrugging my shoulders. They both look at each other.
"We need to work on the twin thing." Damion said.
"Well, I hate to break it to you bro, but I'm not dying my hair blue." Cam said. Damion laughed.
"Well, I need to get ready for the acceptance ceremony. Go get ready, Cameron." I said, using my Alpha tone.
"Yes, Alpha." Cameron says before mock saluting me and turning on his heels. Damion looks after him and shakes his head.
"It's strange, but I feel like he balances me out." He says to me. I nod my head. He just waved to me and follows behind his brother. I change into my long, sparkly white and silver dress and silver heels. I apply light make-up to my face to give it a natural enhancement. I then go downstairs and into the back garden area that we set up for the ceremony. There were not many of us, but my family and Cams family attended as well. With my permission of course. I went on the little stage we made with a five by ten foot board raised two feet off the ground. Once everyone arrive I called my Third in command up, along with his mate.
"My friends, family, and pack. Today we celebrate, not only are we gaining two, but we are also celebrating the union of two mates. This union is stronger than any problem that create. It is the most precious and powerful bond that is not taken lightly. Once it is accepted, there is no turning back until death literally separates you apart. A bond stronger than any human can ever dream of. I happy to announce my Third in command, Abel Stewart, has found his mate Rosabella Heart!" I said proudly and strong. My pack clapped and cheered.
"They have both accepted each other and have marked one another. So now, I ask Abigail Heart to come on stage." I said and watched as a six year old girl shyly climbed the steps and walked towards me, a little scared. My blood boiled after hearing what their last pack did to them and other members, which is why my pack pate stayed behind with his old pack to help the other pack. I squatted down to her level and took her hands into mine. Then she looked up at my before looking at the ground. I tried not letting my anger get the best of me. This poor girl...
"Abigail, sweetie, can you look at me?" I ask nicely. She keeps her head down.
"B-but, A-Alpha...it is r-rude, a-and d-di-disre-disrespectful to look at the Alpha..." She said in a tiny voice. My thoughts were near murderous towards their old, sad excuse of an alpha. A pack member can look at an Alpha, just not until the eye for long periods of time unless talking to them. That alpha made them scared to even look at him. I lightly squeezed her hand in comfort until she looked up.
"Sweetie, your old Alpha was wrong. It is okay to look at an Alpha, just don't look one in the eye for long unless you are talking to them. My pack is not like your old pack. My pack is family and family does not scare each other or make them fear one another. So do not be scared, okay?" I said in a calming voice. She nodded her head.
"Okay, Alpha Scarlet...". She said giving me a shy smile. I smiled back before standing up and facing the crowd, still holding one of her hands.
"We are also her to welcome Rosabella and her sister Abigail into the pack. So, I will start with Abigail Heart." My parents and Cams parents looked at me confused. Usually you would do the higher up first, but Abigail is the youngest and to me she deserves to be first.
"I know most packs start with the higher up, but I have my reasons. This girl you see before me has been strong and brave since she was little. She may be the youngest but that does not make her weak. I value every single one of my members, regardless of their age." I felt a small tug on my hand and look down at Abigail.
"Alpha Scarlet?" She asks.
"Yes, Abigail?"
"Will this hurt?" She asks me. Hurt? I look to my third and he mind-links his mate. He mind-links me a flashback of their old Alpha beating them in front of the pack saying that they had to prove their strength before the pack accepted them after their parents death. Abigail was three. I felt the wind pick up and the clouds swirl, the torches fire blazed higher. The water in the small fountain raised up. Non-pack members looked on in confusion and bewilderment. Cam jumped up on stage and looked me in the eyes repeating the same protectors vow we did the day I saved him and he saved me. I slowly calmed down. It's never been that bad before. I took a deep breath before releasing it. I turned to Abigail.
"Abigail, that will not happen. Ever. I just want you to repeat after me, okay?" I ask.
"Okay, Alpha Scarlet." She says.
"I, say your name, accept Starlight pack to be my own."
"I, Abigail Mary Heart, accept Starlight pack to be my own." She says strongly. I smile in pride. She is going to be one tough cookie when she gets bigger.
"To protect, to love, to care, and always be loyal to no matter what."
"To protect, to love, to care, and always be loyal to no matter what."
"This pack is family, my home that shelters me. It is my my safe place from those who wish harm. This is my pack from now on." I say with finality. Abigail repeats it and I feel her join my pack. I do the same with her sister. Once they both are official members of my pack, my other pack members move the stage. I lead a confused Abigail and Rosabella to the center of our little space and have everyone else in my pack make a big circle around us. The others looked on, probably wondering what was going on. I made the two girls stand facing one another with enough room for me to pass through them. I stood by their shoulders and put my hands on top of their heads, one at a time. Abel and Cameron got a bucket of water each and was waiting for my signal.
"I, Alpha Scarlet Paige Moonstone, sweat to protect you with all I have." The boys tosses the water, others gasped and the two girls were fixing to cover their heads from the water, but I made the water curve around them and shield them like a bubble.
"With water..." I made the water then float up above them a having the wind swirl around them, making their hair fly around. Abigail giggled, making me smile.
"With air....". I then made the earth around them sprout flowers in a circle, having the water only sprinkle around them onto the flowers. My parents gasped.
"With earth..." I then took the fire from the torches and made them dance around the sprinkling water and flowers like little ballerinas, without them touching the ground.
"And with fire...I will never harm you or cause you trouble. I promise to always protect you and help you grow into the strong wolves you were meant to be. With that I give you the mark of the Starlight pack, the one that cannot be seen by anyone. The mark that others can tell that you belong to my pack." I say and the fire and water swirl together with the help of the wind, causing steam to form. The wind makes it colder and the water condensates onto the flowers below. I then have the scent of the flowers rise up and swirl around the girls until they are completely covered. This mark is the scent of the Starlight Diamond Lily. A rare flower that was hidden away by the moon spirit who gave it to a special wolf to take care of and create a pack for peace and protection of all. My wolf, the Alpha of the Starlight pack. My pack. Everyone cheered while my family and Cams family rushed over to me.
"That was..." my dad started. I nodded. They knew about the flowers. Heck, every pack did. Though most considered it a myth.
"I am the chosen wolf. I am the wolf who protect all, but in a way that no one else picks up on." I say to them.
"That's why your pack is so strong, and why there is not many members." My mom says.
"Yes, that is partially true. We train and practice beyond what others think possible. While my pack is small, I am careful who I allow in my pack and see what you just seen. It can be dangerous for others to know about it and others find out. I only show the flower during ceremonial events like this, or for other serious matters. It is not one to show off like an animal at a zoo." I say. My parents nod.
"Thank you for trusting us enough to show us." Cameron's family tells me. I nod my head.
"Your son is my Beta. My protector as well. His family is my family." I say, smiling at them. Damion steps closer to me and squints his eyes.
"Are you sure you're about to turn seventeen? You act a whole lot older..." I laugh.
"I'm sure." I say before looking at my brother. My brother just stares at me.
"That day, the day you were taken...you were playing with flowers...I couldn't remember what they looked like until today..." He said...and he was right.
"You're right, they were. At the time I didn't know what they were, but I found out later when I was reading a book on our history. It was right after I learned what I was. Who I am." I told them. Everyone nodded. Then my mom came to me.
"We made some BBQ and hot dogs to bring and have, I hope that is okay?" My mom said.
"It's more than okay, mom." I said hugging her. She hugged me back, smiling. After announcing that their was food in the house, everyone started heading that way. I waited until everyone else left before I headed in. After eating we all said our goodnight and my family and Cams went back to their pack. Tomorrow was the first day of our new school, and what a day that would be.
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The next morning came by quickly. After making sure everyone was ready, we ate breakfast that Miss Ali fixed. Then we all headed outside to our cars. Rosabella, Abigail, and Abel rode in Abel's car and Cam and I rode in my car. Abel and them had to drop Abigail off at the elementary school. Once we arrived at the school, we Cam and I stood outside the car, waiting for the others. Mackinley spotted us and waved, making my heart flutter, while others glared at us. They knew we were not of either pack. My brother finally showed up and parked on the right side of my car. Once he seen some of his pack members glaring he told me he mind linked them to stop and that I was his sister who was in a different pack. The Winters pack still flared. Rosabella and Abel finally showed up, so we headed into the school and straight to the office. Once we got our schedules, Mrs. Gray, the secretary told us to go to the gym for a school wide assembly. On the way to the gym a girl called out to us.
"Why is a human here with a bunch of rogues! Humans don't belong here!" She said I turned around and I seen a whole crowd including Mackinley and my brother. I slightly turned my head to my brother to not say anything.
"I am not human. I have yet to shift, but that does not make me weak. We are not rogues, but you will find that out shortly. So show some respect and sniff the air for a scent of a pack before declaring them rogues." I said, not giving away much. I went to turn away, but her voice stopped me.
"Not shifting means you are weak and there's no pack with this amount of teenagers." She said.
"Actually there is, and if you did your homework about shifters you would know. And not shifting does not make me weak. I have probably been through worse than you have and I have still not shifted. Do not call someone weak without knowing them and what they have been through." I say before turning.
"Are you calling me stupid, babe, she just called me stupid." She said. I didn't call her stupid.
"She didn't say you were stupid, Whitney." A voice I know said, so I turned and I wished I didn't. It was Mackinley, and he had his arms around the girl about to kiss her. For some reason my heart squeezed in pain at the sight. I shook my head and kept walking as their lips met. Once we reached the gym, Mr. Sterling, the principal, told us to stand in the center of the gym while everyone else filled in. I tried not to look at Mackinley as he sucked faces with the girl. Soon everyone arrived.
"Everyone settle down. Today we are welcoming a new pack to our school. A pack we should be proud to welcome into our school, one that shouldn't need no introduction-." He started but was interrupted by that girl. Does she not have any respect?
"How can a strong pack have a non-shifter in it? I bet you they lied." She said. I waited for Mackinley to say I was the Moonstones daughter or to scold her, but he just sat their with a lazy grin on his face. Now I know why his father is waiting to hand him the pack. He acts like two different people. The Principal looked over at me. I nodded my head. Before he stepped back, he said something that requires a lot of guts.
"Future Alpha Winter, I would not just sit there and not say something about what your pack mate just said about your dads friends daughter. What will he say when he finds out?" I looked at the principal in respect. He may not be a high rank but he has my respect.
"I am the future Luna of the Winters pack. Show some respect." That hurt, but I didn't let it show. Mackinley glared at the principal.
"She is just human. It doesn't matter if she's the long lost daughter of Alpha Moonstone." He said. That really hurt. My brother went to say something but I shook my head again. Never stoop down to their level. Remain calm. The principal looked at me, concerned I would blow up since I am an Alpha. I smiled at him and he smiled, relieved. I took a step forward.
"Hello, everyone. As you all now know, I am Scarlet Paige Moonstone. Yes, I have not shifted yet, but we also have a six year old who has been through a lot and shows her bravery and strength. I was taken when I was little and I have returned in a different pack. The Starlight pack." I said and everyone began talking at once about what we have done and how we are one of the top packs in America. I nodded at my third.
"I am Abel Stewart, third in command, my mate is Rosabella Heart. Her younger sister is in the elementary school." Rosabella steppes next to him and he held her hand. I smiled and nodded at Cameron.
"I am Cameron White, Beta, and my recently found twin brother is Beta of the Moonstone pack." Damion stop up on the bleachers.
"That's right! I found my brother! Who's also a Beta!" He yelled. Some laughed. I smiled.
"Where's y'alls Alpha at? Still not showing his face?" The girl said. My brother came to me and stood beside me. I nodded my head.
"The Alpha has to be careful not to show their face to other packs unless they were helping them. Oh and Whitney, be glad the Alpha was showing you a lot of mercy, I mean a lot." Mackinley growled at my brother.
"Shut it Mackinley. You were already rude and disrespectful for not shutting Whitney up in the hallway, but also for what you said. Do you know your dad knows the Alpha of this pack? And by claiming someone else as your mate when you have yet to find her, that's sick and disrespectful to the moon spirit." Brayden said, disgusted. I was too, but for a different reason. 'Scarlet?' My wolf, Halo said. 'Yes, Halo?' 'I know you still have a week before your birthday and I was going to wait, but with all that has been said I think I should tell you...'. 'Tell me what?'
'Mackinley is-.' 'My mate, I figured. My emotions have been all over the place this morning. Thank you for telling me Halo, I'm sorry.' 'It's not your fault, I just couldn't stand back and not protect you. I may not have been truly introduced, but I am still here.' She said as she faded into the back of my mind. A silent tear trickled down my face as the information set in. Mackinley Winters was my mate, but has already claimed another she-wolf. Though he has not marked her, it still hurt. My brother looked at me questionably, while Cameron looked at me in understanding and gave me a sad smile. He could tell what I was feeling and knew only one thing that could make me feel like that. I just shook my head and smiled.
"Who is your Alpha?" Mackinley asked harshly. When he looked at me and seen the tear, he froze and then looked conflicted. For a moment I seen the boy I met at the airport before he was gone.
"We also have one other member, but he had to stay at his dads pack on our packs behalf to help another pack." I say.
"His dads an Alpha, so is he the Alpha?" Mackinley asked.
"No, I am not." A voice said from behind me. I smiled and turned around.
"Maxwells!!" I said. He walked beside me and bared his neck, slightly. Since his wolf is also an alpha, it's harder to do, but it shows his loyalty to my pack and I. I turned to the student body, some already seemed to guess.
"I am Alpha of the Starlight pack. I'm Alpha Scarlet." I said looking directly at Mackinley. His eyes widened before he wiped all emotion off his face. I wonder what he will do when he finds out we are mates? Will he stay with Whitney? I turn to the principal.
"You are all dismissed. Go to your second period. Except for future Alphas and Alpha Scarlet and her pack. He said, and everyone started clearing out but my pack, my brother and Mackinley. Whitney tried to get him to leave with her but he just stood there, looking at me.
"I'm sorry, Scar...". Cameron said walking towards me.
"Why are you sorry?" My brother asked. I looked at the principal and he took us to a conference room before leaving.
"You shouldn't apologize, Cameron. I should, since we have the protectors connections out felt what I felt. So I am sorry, as your Alpha. I let you feel pain that I allow should bare." I told him.
"Lettie, what is he talking about?" My brother asked.
"Since we have that connection he can feel what I feel. My wolf...knows who my mate is. Cameron felt my wolfs pain." I said.
"Your mate is with someone else...". My brother started. I nodded my head.
"It's okay. What happens, happens." I say. After what happened at the ceremony last night, everyone knew what mates meant to me. It just hurt that I might not get that. I felt someone's arms go around me.
"It's okay, snow...it gets easier." Maxwell...his mate rejected him because he wouldn't become alpha. His older brother will, and if something happened to him, then his second oldest brother will become Alpha. Maxwells the only one who calls me snow, since I made it snow in our little clubhouse when we first became a pack. Did I mention it was June?
"I know, Max. He still doesn't know I'm his mate since my birthday is next week. But..."
"Scared he is going to reject you? Who in their right mind would reject you?" Mackinley said. I glared at him.
"Oh, I don't know. Who would want a non-shifted mate? After all you did say I was just a human." He flinched a little.
"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything like that. I let my image get in the way and let my future Luna bad mouth you." He said.
"Says the one who isn't waiting for his mate." My brother said.
"Why aren't you waiting?" Cameron asked. I looked at Mackinley, wanting to know his reason.
"I'm turning eighteen. My mate never showed up when I turned seventeen and if she was in either pack she would have already done so. A male alpha isn't strong without a Luna." He responded. A tear rolled down my cheek again.
"His own Luna." Maxwell and I said together. We looked at each other. He seen the tear and wiped it away. I ducked my head in embarrassment. His grip tightened on me, before releasing me. Then he growled. I looked up at him to find him glaring at Mackinley. Uh-oh. Does he know? Please moons don't let him know...
"What are you glaring at?" Mackinley asked.
"I don't think it's right. You should wait for your mate, cause let me tell you, rejection hurts. More than what those stories tell you. I almost died from the pain and I'm an Alphas son. I don't want that for snow." He said, still glaring. Mackinley glared back.
"Whitney has always been there for me. I know she can be rude at times, but she is very protective of our pack. She is also one of the strongest females in the pack. We have been together for three years. I love her." He said with sincerity. My heart torn to shreds. Halo howled in pain, whining. Cameron looked at me concerned. I just smiled through the few tears that cascaded down my face.
"Congratulations, I hope she makes a great Luna for you. She does need to work on her manners. Other Alphas will not appreciate that kind of behavior and will cut ties with your pack. I hope one day someone can love me as much as you you love Whitney." I say giving him a small, forced smile.
"You okay? You're crying..." He asks, concerned. I nod my head and wiped my face.
"Yes, I just...wished my mate loved me like that...". I said.
"I'm sure he would change his mind."
"I doubt it. He seemed pretty content, but thanks for the vote of confidence. We should all head to class." I said. Everyone agreed and was heading out. I went to leave, but someone grabbed my wrists. I turned and it was Maxwell.
"It was him, wasn't it?" He asked after everyone was a good ways away. I nodded before I broke down. I fell on my knees and brought my hands to my head, sobbing.
"H-he...l-l-loves her....I can't hurt him...he needs to be happy...". I say between sobs. Max wrapped his arms around me and held me. Cameron came rushing in, but when he seen I was with Max, he relaxed and nodded at him. Max nodded in response before Cameron left.
"You deserve to be happy too. He doesn't know what he will be missing." He said, running his hands through my hair. I just leaned my head on his shoulders before closing my eyes.
"You're one of the strongest people I know, Snow. You will get through this...". He said. I hope so...I really hope so.