Chapter 2

~ Johnathon’s POV

I was so busy taking care of the pack business duties I completely forgot there was a new she-wolf coming in today. It was atypical of me to allow outsiders into our pack as we have a family understanding which keeps us as one of the strongest packs in the region.

When Alpha Marcus of the Prairie pack and I made our agreement to continue our peace between packs in exchange for outsider wolves to be released and dealt with accordingly as well as a she-wolf…. I must have been out of my mind or having another one of my compassionate moments. Which isn’t any better and is far in between from reality.

Mind you they DO NOT come that often but when they come, I am always given a look of confusion but also with a quick agreeance in fear the offer will not be available within the next second.

I do not like wolves in my pack home that have no past or lineage to show their futures or how they would be able to contribute to the pack as a family in strength. However, after agreeing to take this rejection in, I found out she was also an orphan on top of it!! My mouth straightened and my brows furrowed.

I lost it and everyone, including Alpha Marcus, knew it when my wolf Blain growled in disapproval. Who knows what or who lies in her past that would try to wreak havoc on my land.

Once I realized what was done and being a man; or should I say wolf of his word I let the deal continue but not without aggravation. “Alpha Johnathon, the she-wolf has arrived and is on the backgrounds,” my Beta Andrew said.

Not caring about this new appendage that I’ve been given charge of I growled back, “I don’t have time to see about the likes of her! Just put her to work with the others! Everyone works in this pack, She’s no exception. I don’t care who she is.” With a “Yes, Alpha Jonathan” he left me.

~Time Lapse~

I finally finished my last perimeter check with one of the pack generals, after securing the west outer perimeter. I have two generals because they are both strong, obedient, and lead different warrior teams during battle. I found this gives me an edge during battles and wars started by rogues or other packs trying to penetrate my territory. Still, in our wolf form, we headed back to the packhouse.

As we reached the outskirts of the house, I smelt a new scent that made my wolf, Bane antsy but in a good way. It smelled like sweet flowers with a hint of ginger. My wolf was searching famously with anticipation of where that amazing smell was coming from. Then. I saw her.

A young woman I had not seen before working in the garden. She was nicely built, yet petite with curves in all the right places. Her long black hair was pulled back into a braid that fell off her left shoulder. It shone in the sun while it was making it shimmer in the brightness.

A small smile on her face as she worked. Curious about her, I slowed my pace in order to get a better look. ‘Who is this mysterious young woman?’ I thought to myself.

“That’s the new she-wolf we received in a trade this morning Alpha” my general, Hades said as if he heard my thoughts, although our mind link was off. I shook my head “of course she is, how could I have forgotten.” By this time, we had shifted back into our human selves and started walking back to the pack house.

Now, I am considered a strong Alpha, a leader of many. Not small by any standards. I stand six foot six with a very muscular build. I have an amber tint to my complexion so my sea green eyes and sandy-blonde hair compliments my physique to the point I always have a she-wolf trying to swoon her way into my bed, like I would just sleep with any of them. That is not my style. I’m a one she-wolf/woman, wolf/man. That’s why I don’t understand why this woman is making my thoughts blurred. Hazy. Un-focusable.

I had my mate. At least. I did. The thoughts of her making Bane whine and whimper in sorrow. My mate died during childbirth. Both her and the pup child she was carrying. I was heartbroken. I Felt myself grow weaker and weaker from the uncontrollable sorrow that filled me. Bane was going crazy hurting everyone and everything in his path from the pain.

Bane was dying without her and taking me with him, but we had a pack to protect. With the help of my family and Beta Andrew we became stronger because of it. Because I did not want any of my pack feeling this pain and sorrow. I had to protect them from it, because of it.

After having a mate and losing them can kill the surviving wolf because the bond is that strong. As an Alpha, that bond is even stronger. We love harder. We feel pain in more excruciating heights. We only get one mate. That’s what the moon goddess has set aside for every wolf. One. Mate.

The stronger the Alpha, the more it is possible for them to loose all sense of reality and seek out blood revenge on everything and everyone because of the pain. It can consume them until death without help from others.

It has been said though, only royals are given the opportunity to have more than one mate. They were also allowed to choose to reject or accept their mates too. I am not royal. So this does not apply to me. But. Then why am I pulled to her? I need to shake this off and focus on protecting my pack, and her since she’s now part of it. Without distractions.

~ Timber POV

The Beta came outside to find me after the ruckus that shook the large house I was at. He had a she-wolf with him, I learned whose name was Magda. “You will work with her today. And every day. She will tell you what to do, when to do it and where to do it. Do you understand?” Andrew said. “Yes, sir.” Still keeping my eyes low and my head lower as I spoke to him in a whisper.

I am now working with the other she-wolves. I have learned over the years to keep my head down. Stay to myself. Be friendly when needed. Nothing more. Nothing less. Especially since I would get hit, kicked or whatever they wanted to do to me for it.

I remember one time I was in the kitchen and didn’t answer someone quick enough my hands were pushed onto the stove and held there while it was still hot. My palms burned so bad it took 3 weeks for them to heal. I still have small burn marks on them. Set there as a reminder of my disobedience.

“I appreciate the help Timber.” Magda said with a smile and cheerfulness about her. “May I ask you something?” I nodded without using words or looking up at her.

“Why don’t you have a mate? You are old enough for one, nice to be around as I could tell and exceptionally beautiful if I may say.” With sadness in my voice I whispered, “I had a mate but was rejected.” “I’m sorry to hear that. I know what it’s like to be without a mate.” She said with half-filled tears in her eyes and a sadness in her mannerisms.

Magda was a middle aged she-wolf who lost her mate in an attack by rogues a few years back. She had a couple of children, one boy three years old named James and a little girl five years of age named Julia. She was the motherly type. And didn’t mind taking on those without family as her own.

Magda was full figured with light brown hair that reached to her shoulders and hazel eyes that flickered between green and blue in the sunlight. She also had a softness about her features, that made you feel at home just being in her presence. She radiated understanding, compassion and caring.

Magda stopped speaking for a while letting their conversation linger. Feeling I could without being scolded or abused, I took a chance. “Magda, does the pack's food mostly come from the gardens?”

“Yes. What we cannot grow we either make or buy. But Alpha Johnathon believes growing our own supplies keeps us grateful for what we have. It makes us stronger for it. Have you seen the rest of the territory yet?” “You mean there’s more than this?!” sounding surprised and confused all at once.

“Yes Timber.” Smiling as she realized I was very naïve about where I was or how big Alpha Johnathon’s territory really was. “It reaches North about 25 miles. East through the forest about 35 miles deep. South is the furthest about 80 miles out and then out West about another 20 or so miles.”

My eyes got big, my mouth dropped, and I just stood there in complete amazement and shock of how big Alpha Johnathon’s territory really was. “So, then are there gardens all over the territory then?” Sounding like an unbelieving child. “Yes.” Is all Magda said through a motherly smile shaking her head from side-to-side.

We fell silent again. “I love being outside. Thank you for letting me help you.” She gave me a tender smile in acceptance and gratitude. We continued working in silence. Me thinking.

I was smiling mildly to myself thinking… ‘I could live here forever. Magda seems really nice and the pack seems to work well as a unit. As. A family. I just want to be accepted and do my part without fear of being rejected or abused. Hopefully, they’ll let me here.’ In mid thought I smiled as my wolf, Karin jumped at a new scent that filled our nose. It was an earthy musk with rustic forest undertones.

As soon as I smelled this intoxicating aroma, my face stiffened and winced in pain. I held onto myself as I felt pain shoot through my body as if I were being brutally beaten with a baseball bat. This is something I’ve felt before in my old pack, so I knew that feeling well. Although I was not being touched physically anyway.

The bond between my mate and I, who rejected me was still attached, even if it was only a little bit and I could feel what he was doing. I have felt this pain before when he mated with another girl, but this time it is much, much worse. Then the pain worsened with what felt like hot red pokers cinching every part of my body while being beaten.

I couldn’t take this fire building inside of me. It hurt worse than anything I could ever describe. I tried hard not to tear at my skin with my claws, but it was no use. I started scratching and clawing for the burning pain to stop. But it didn’t. It only got worse and now I felt like I was in a pit of red, hot burning flames.

Goddess, please take this pain from me! I laid in the garden clutching myself for dear life daring not to cry out, as I have learned did more harm than good, as tears tried to leak from my eyes. I bit my bottom lip hard instead of screaming. Blood. I was bleeding. My blood, I must’ve bit it harder than I thought. Darkness was starting to welcome me home.

Magda saw me fall in pain and came to help me as she called out for help from a couple of wolves coming back from the perimeter. “Someone get the pack doctor! Quickly!” The pain was so deep that darkness took over and all went black.