Alpha's Blood (Book One)

The Gathering

     Artemis had no words has the alpha of Silverfalls stood there pleading for help for his pack. Her green eyes glinted with concern as she continued to watch the twolegs create their dens, and bellow at one another. Their harsh barks caused the white wolf to back away her, black tipped ears pinning back now as she turned away. The air was still, as if it was shocked as well with the news of the forest changing. "How can this be? We have been at peace for so long with those monsters..the guardians made sure of that!"
  "Artemis..the only guardians left are Amber and Amethyst, we are no longer protected as well as you think. We need to warn the packs, this could mean great danger!" Hades held genuine concern in his voice but his stance still stood so firm and mighty. His blue eyes met with her green hues as she turned to face him one more.
   "I'll call a gathering, make sure your father is present and I'll bring my mother." She pressed her head against his broad chest, sighing gently to calm her raspy breathing. Nearby she could hear another patrol heading their way but she could care less. As she grew closer to the male, she wished with all her being to help him. They didn't have to be enemies, especially now. They needed to come together. She heard his heart beating within his chest and smiled before pulling away, her eyes looking up to him, his face gentle as he smirked at her. Dipping her head, she backed away and turned to leave, wanted to head back home to her pack and convince her mom to have a gathering called.

The walk back was peaceful, she ran into no patrols as she stepped back over her territory her eyes looking ahead at the cave, hidden by a brilliant waterfall. The scent of many wolves flooded her nostrils as she moved closer, her paws hitting the dirt with grace but her mind felt like chaos, what had she just seen? Her sister was the first wolf she pin pointed as the cream and white colored shewolf runs towards her. Her sisters eyes were light up with excitement, and the scent of lavender covered her pelt.
   "Guess what!!!" Hestia bounces around her her tail creating a breeze around her as she wagged it wildly. "I am being made a medic!!!"
   Artemis smiles, pride filling her chest for her little sister, but she was dead set on a mission so she didn't speak but instead continued rushing towards the cave her ears perking forward as she barked for her mother. Within seconds the water fall uncovered a creamy elder she wolf, her eyes bold as she looked down at her daughter. Ashanti held her head high and her chest puffed out, her dominance clear among her aura.
   "Mother..we need to gather the packs, during my walk I noticed twolegs, they're way too close." She steadied her breathing to keep herself calm in the presence of the alpha female, her eyes never leaving her strong mother's. The look in Ashanti's eyes was shock mixed with anger and fear, her ears pinning back quickly at the news. A simple wave of her tail and two broad males appeared next to her, looking to her for orders.
   "I will go to Silverfalls, and there I will discuss a gathering, thank you Artemis. Stay with the pack, I will have Micah and Moran escort me." The shewolf nodded to the male twins their reddish grey coats shining from the waterfall. Dipping her head, Ashanti left for the opposing pack, her movements quick and the males walking at a steady pace beside her flanks.

That evening, the entirety of Stonehaven pack had joined together and now waited atop the mountain of where the waterfall fell. A clearing halfway up the mountain gave  way to where the gatherings were held, many arches made of natural stone stood over them, a flat topped boulder rested in the middle of the large clearing. Ashanti and Amber stood on the great stone, fires lit around the place where wolves sat. Amber's gift to them on the cold night thanks to his powers. The guardian looked to be tired but his stare was warm and welcoming unlike Ashanti's who was worried and fearful. The news of the humans shook the packs greatly, but shook Silverfalls the most. Artemis stood beneath the great boulder under her mother, her eyes falling on Hades and his father as they entered the gathering place. Brock, a large brute of a wolf, made his way atop the boulder, his normally smooth smoky grey fur was ratty and a mess, his muzzle lined with grey furs of old age. Hades moved under the boulder beneath his father and stood proud, his blue eyes filled with confidence.
     "Good evening, wolves young and old, I am Amber, Crystal Guardian of the forest, and the element of fire itself. News has spread quickly among us of the twolegs creating a home among our land, and this is a notion of danger all on its own. I stand before you with a proposal, provided by the daughter of Ashanti and Monty, the future alpha of Stonehaven. Artemis has come up with the idea of combining the packs." The last sentence spoken by her great grandfather rose up whispers along the wolves, many of them snarling and growling in return to the elder guardian.
  "That will never happen, old fool! My pack can provide for itself, we don't need the pity of you mouse~brains!" Brock spoke with venom in his words his eyes furious as he looked towards Artemis. "I would rather die!"
   Ashanti remained calm among the chaos her eyes falling on her daughter with pride. "Then so be it, with the twolegs nearing you're camp, you will all die. Weather it's because you are hunted, or starvation." The alpha female looked now at her pack scattered among the grounds. "My daughter offered this to create peace, and safety for all our kind. She told me, we are all one and we must protect each other."
   Artemis felt pride and warmth fill her lungs as she drew in a deep breath. Feeling many eyes on her she dipped her head respectfully towards the crowds. One set of eyes burned her soul however, and out of the corner of her eyes she noticed Hades looking to her in awe.
   "This gathering is dismissed, I will not let my pack look weak and bow to you!" The grey alpha male spat before leaping down, leading his wolves away from the area and back home. Feeling a hard lump fill her throat, Artemis sighed and left as well moving down the mountain the opposite way and laying by the swamps of unmarked territory. The sound of more paws didn't startle her, she had assumed it was her mother until the rough voice gave way his presence.
     "Very bold offer, Artemis, but my fathers pride will cause us all to be killed. I would've agreed if I was a fully titled alpha." He laid beside her his head resting over her neck and he started grooming her back. Artemis loved this feeling flowing through her veins and she lifted her head rolling over to show him her belly, the ultimate sign of trust for him. Licking his cheek she smiled and wagged her tail slightly. "Thank you." Was all she could muster from her shaky voice as she looked up at him, his dominant stare and stance making her submit so easily. She knew it was wrong to do so, but her mind couldn't help but travel to him and how she loved him, her wants for him to be her mate showing through her eyes. He noticed this, returning the want in his own eyes. Moving himself closer to her, he started began to cuddle into her, their night becoming a mixture of many emotions and desires. When morning came, they wore each other scent with pride, as well as the scent of mating.