Howling Heart

Chapter 3 - A Looming Threat

   The night closed in as the next few hours passed by. The moon was swollen in the star-speckled heavens, and I couldn't help but watch them cross the sky. It felt like those hours lasted for days while I waited to see Mae again. However, for that moment, I felt at peace with myself. It wasn't something I felt often, but I always did my best to savor it. 

"Ava. It's time."

My father's deep voice called to me. His words were a deep growl, but it pulled at my heart. I took one more look at the stars before I followed him into the woods.

The woods that surrounded our area were thick for miles with heavy pine trees. Some places thinned and gave way to the more leafy trees like oaks and maples. Creeks trickled through it, and small waterfalls kept running water even throughout the winter. Our pack knew every path of the woods. 

My father had led us well after my Uncle passed. Dad stepped up, and for the first time in our history, there were no challengers. He was a broad man and well muscled in both forms, yet he was a fair leader. In town, he worked hard to build houses and shaped iron for weapons. I couldn't remember a time when his hands weren't callused and rough. 

"Coming, father." I pushed myself up from the steps and took off running after him. 

The trees rushed past me as I ran. My human legs wouldn't allow the long lope of the wolf, but I always enjoyed the exercise. I knew the way to the meetings, just like I knew the road to Granny's diner. I felt the crisp air flood my nose and the thud of the earth under my feet. 

I felt the change ripple through my body. The beast's teeth gnashed at freedom. It wasn't time yet. Being a wolf wasn't always bad. Some day's it was actually pretty normal. On days like today, feeling the nature around me brought it out more. The wolf wanted to run, wanted to hunt, and while I had control of myself, I could only hold it off for so long. 

In the books and legends, they would always talk about werewolves being unable to control themselves under the light of a full moon. Whoever they were, they were not wolves. Many of us could pick and choose when we shifted. Human children learn how to walk, we learn how to shift. The full moon was just iconic. It also seemed to be when hunters could actually see us better. Human eyes are so bad, even in good lighting. Tonight, we would meet as a pack, and then go hunt as a pack despite the moon phase.

Eating people also wasn't a normal thing either. Even my father only had one kill in his lifetime. He tried to save my sister. She was a few years younger than me. She would have been the omega if it hadn't been for her status. The human shot her, and she was gone before she hit the pine needles. That was my father's first human kill. His only. Tonight, we would hunt a moose. It was a test of not just our strength but also of how well we worked together. 

I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even realize that I had reached the clearing until I ran right into Ronan. It felt more like I ran into a brick wall, but all the same, I had reached the point that we had always gathered at. I paused and looked up at him, my breathing still steady. 

"How many times do I have to remind you to pay attention." He cracked a smile. It made his face light up in the moonlight. 

I dared a glance up at my father. A small pile of rocks had formed a platform that he stood on. I should have been up there already. His eyes looked down at me, a frown on his face. I felt my wolf ears pin back to my head. Without speaking or even looking back at my friend, I walked myself up to my spot beside my father. Making a fool of myself was nothing new, but the lectures were getting more and more important as it came time for me to prepare to take over the pack. It all circles back to that dreaded birthday, and as the moon rose high, the days were ticking down. 

"Ava, you need to focus more." His stern voice spoke to me while his eyes still looked out to the people who entered the clearing. 

"Yes, father." My own eyes were glued to a leaf that sat on the rock as if it was about to give its own speech. 

"Sit." 

What can I say, commanding voices run in my family. I didn't have to think, I just sat myself down on the edge, right next to the leaf, and let my legs dangle over the side. My eyes finally dared to look out at the crowd that gathered. Ronan shot me a smile and two thumbs up. The small gesture made me smile. He was always a relief when things were tense. My eyes scanned. I knew who I was looking for, despite telling myself otherwise. 

My heart skipped a beat. She was here. Well, of course she was here, it was a pack meeting. It's not something you skip. I couldn't help myself. Mae was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. My tongue darted out to lap at my lips. 

That would be the moment she would look at me. If we lived in a perfect world, this would be the moment that she realized that we were meant to be together. As she looked up, her eyes met mine, and I couldn't tell if the magic feeling that shot through me was wolf or from Mae.

"Alright, pack." My father's booming voice pulled the entire clearing to a focus, all eyes moved to him. 

Except for Mae, her eyes were still locked on me. And while I should have been looking at the entire pack, I couldn't take my eyes off her as she stood there in her leather jacket. I fought every urge to leap from my position and run to her. Every muscle in my body twitched. She gave me a small wave before she focused on my father. I swore my heart was going to explode in that moment. 

"I've called you all here to discuss something of importance. As we all know, Ava's birthday next week marks the start of a new order. However, it is with a heavy heart that some traditions must be held off for another time." He turned to look at me. "I am sorry, my daughter, we shall celebrate you, but we can not announce your mate yet." 

My eyes almost popped out of my head while my stomach dropped. A low murmur rolled through the crowd. I almost believed myself to be dreaming. But I trusted my instincts. The leaf next to me jumped ship and danced away in the wind. I was awake, and whatever caused this was about to change everything. We wolves were not known for breaking with tradition.

One female spoke up, she had mothered one of the males that were up for being an option of my mate. He didn't stand a chance, but she didn't know that. "Jothun, this is out of tradition!" 

He kept his cool despite his fist curling. The crowd around us started to murmur, and a few voices began to stand out. I, too, wanted to know what was going on. Part of me was relieved, but I was still very confused. "Silence." His voice tore through the clearing, and everything around us fell silent. Even the birds fell into a hush. "This is a matter of importance. As some of you know, the town has recently welcomed a new family." His eyes narrowed, and he began to pace on the ridge. "I have heard whispers, and I do not believe it is safe at this time. I do not wish to deprive my daughter, but I have always and will always place the safety of the pack first." He paused again and looked at me. "Please forgive me, Ava."

The crowd began to talk with one another. Throwing out what if's at one another. I stood and looked at my proud father. Jothun's shoulders slouched, worn down from a long day and the heavy heart that he was holding. "Father. Thank you." I threw my arms around him. Perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. I knew that the ordeal wasn't over, but the fact that I didn't have to decide right now took all the weight off my shoulders. The pack was watching us, and I knew what I had to do.

I turned and spoke to the pack. "My friends, my people. Jothun has led us into nothing but prosperity. While it will break tradition, it is for the best of the pack. Whatever danger these newcomers pose, they must be dealt with. My hand can wait." By the end of my short speech, I felt a smile tug at my lips. "Now," I turned back to my father. "What threat is at our door?" The crowd fell silent as they waited.

"It's a family of hunters."