Silver

Chapter 3

I wake up before the new light touches the tops of the trees, to my wolf pacing relentlessly in my mind.

What's wrong? I ask when I sit up.

Nothing. Is her curt reply before she withdraws a little, letting me know the conversation is over.

Well then..

I ease myself off my bed of leaves and silently make my way to the edge of the clearing. Every wolf that hasn't gone hunting yet and is awake is through the fringe of trees my the stream, I can smell them.

When I emerge from the far side of trees, I see about half of our group in the hazy light. I walk up to the back of the group which is facing the Alpha who is on the the far bank. I stop a little behind Jonathan, one of the wolves I beat when fighting.

He turns slightly to his left shifting his weight,"Holy shit!" He jumps out of his skin when he sees me behind him. "God Silver don't sneak up on somebody like that!" He scolds with a smile creeping onto his face. Almost nothing can startle a werewolf, but I am one thing that can. No one can smell me, and when I dont want to be heard I'm not.

When my mom was 6 months pregnant with me, a lone she wolf that was aged to almost dust wandered through our territory. Our pack treats any lone wolves as guests unless they pose a threat. Now this old wolf came straight to my mom when she entered our village. When she reached our house where my mother was outside watering the flowers she spoke like a poet and told my future, part of it at least.

"The child you are carrying, will be a great one. She will be undefeated in battle, as silent as a feather and as good a hunter as any. Before the last moon of her 18th year she will save you all, from a great danger unknown. now you Sandy, you will get hurt after this moon, and you will loose the child unless you come to me. I will bless her and name her. But she will always be yours." With those words the wrinkled lady turned and strode away as agile as a deer, leaving my mom gaping after her.
But it came true just as the woman had said, the next day my mom was picking wild black berries on the edge of the meeting clearing when 3 lone wolves attacked her. My mom was an exceptional fighter, but being 6 months pregnant and the fight being 3 against 1 she lost. They beat her until she fainted and that is how my dad found her, after feeling something was wrong with his mate. My mom had told my dad about the old woman and her wise words so that is where she went. The old woman healed my mother and the baby inside her. She named me Silver and put her blessing on me. And the next day she was gone. But still the old wolves words rang true for all she said had been true.

After the commotion from me scaring Jonathan our group turns toward me and wish me multiple Happy Birthdays. I say numerous thanks before the Alpha commands our attention with a mind whistle. All heads turn towards him.

"Awake the rest of the group and we will be on our way" We all turn back to the clearing to wake our snoring comrades

When everyone is up in our group of 72 we head out. I feel anxious again, so much so that even zipping through the forest as a wolf isn't helping. It actually seems to make it grow.

After 2 hours of running only stopping once to eat and drink, we catch sent of the intruding camp. By now after a days travel we are at the far south east portion of our territory. And the other pack is on it too. This thought causes a a growl to bubble on my throat but I keep it down. As werewolves it is one of the highest violations for another pack, without permission, to intrude on a packs territory.

As the intruder pack's scent hits us so does another scent that makes my mind go fuzzy. It fills my mind until the seams almost split, and my wolf is going crazy. She is so excited that I can't even get a thought to her. It smells like fresh pine needles and oranges, and for some strange reason it makes me want to leap for joy.

Alpha Blake sends everyone in our group to shift before the other pack reaches us. I obediently sprint behind a tree and shift. I put on the clothes I had on when we left, the khakis and green shirt, and throw my long dark brown hair into a high pony tail. I take the bag, that had been straps over my muscular back in wolf form, and lay it across the branches above my head. I step out from behind the tree and join the rest of my group, which consists of multiple girls and boys, who is stationed in a loose triangle formation.

I take my place in the front perimeter to the right of Alpha Blake. Beta Luke who is on the Alpha's left looks behind his back to check I'm in formation. I give him a playful salute which causes his lips to curve slightly.

That is when we hear the foot steps, and again I catch the intoxicating scent. I lift my chin to sniff the air and my wolf goes hysterical again.

"What is it?" Alpha Blake asks me when he sees my puzzled expression.

"Nothing." I mutter, just before the first line of wolves break through the woods in front of us. They stop 20 feet in front of us, and low growls sound from several throats in the dense mass of wolves. I have to refrain myself from growling back. They dare to growl at us on our own territory? We'll see what noise they make when I'm through with them.

My mind blanks when the scent of pine needles and oranges drifts to my nose again at full force, but this time it doesn't fade. I scan the crowd of wolves in front of my group, but stop on a solid midnight black wolf to the right of a white wolf at the head of the group. That's who the smell is coming from. my wolf yips with excitement, but still doesn't tell me what is going on.

My focus is drawn to the white wolf at the head of their group when he nods his head back towards the woods behind them, signaling his pack to shift. As the wolves disappear again my wolf whimpers when the black wolf leaves our line of sight.

What is with you. I finally ask, but I have a feeling I know what it is. Because I can also feel the pull at my heart towards the large black wolf.

She doesn't answer my question, but before I can argue more, the pack emerges. For some reason I cast my eyes downward, trying to get my mind to focus on the other pack and not the tall black haired man standing where the black wolf had previously been.

"Who are you and what is your business in our territory? " Alpha Blake asks in a cold tone.

"We are the Cold Peak Pack, and this is not your territory." A rough voice grates out, making my skin crawl. Low growls sound throughout my group, and I have to fight down my own.

"This is our territory, and what gives you the right to say it's not?" Alpha Blake spits out and I can tell he is trying hard to control his anger.

"It is yours at the moment, but it won't be for long. We have come to challenge you, Gray Forest Pack." the gravely voice sounds again. Who the hell does this man think he is?

"What if instead, we place our best warriors in a duel and whoever arises victorious shall call the shots." I snap my eyes towards my Alpha knowing he is talking about me for our pack. I can't help a small thrill from shooting down my spine. A small smirk spreads across my face.

My eyes start to wonder towards the black haired man when the Alpha of their pack speaks again. My eyes snap to him, the alpha, when he speaks. He is a tall man, probably in his mid 40s with black hair and seemingly black eyes, that pierce whatever they are turned on.

"And who would your almighty warrior be? hmm?" His tone is so mocking, I almost wish he is the one I will fight. Just so I can smack that evil smirk off his face, and maybe break that sharp nose too.

Step forward. Alpha Blake's voice sounds through my head, a second before I do just that.

"I am, sir." I bite off the the last word making sure it's as sharp as my claws.

"A girl, you want that to fight for your entire pack!?" He snorts before a laugh escapes his thin lips, "So be it. Noah?" He says the name with such confidence I wonder who I will be up against. I start to scan their pack when I'm stopped dead by movement.

The black haired boy steps forward.