Tatum and Henry

“I will see you in a couple of weeks,” I say as I pull Tatum into my embrace.

“You promise?” she asks, looking up at me. I press my lips onto hers and kiss her, moving my tongue into her open mouth. Her hands move up to my neck and pulls me closer as our kiss deepens.

“Mummy! Is daddy eating you?” a voice calls out. Tatum pulls away from my kiss and smiles. I chuckle and look over at my daughter who is standing there watching us with her hands on her hips.

“I’m not eating mummy, but I will eat you!” I cry, running after her. She squeals and takes off around the front garden. I chase her slowly before finally scooping her up into my arms and tickling her ribs. She squeals and screams for me to stop, laughing between her squeals.

I try to put her down, but she holds on to my neck and won’t let go, wrapping her little legs round my waist.

“Daddy, I don’t want to leave you,” she says.

“I don’t want to leave you either baby, but I won’t be gone long,” I say, hugging her.

“You pwomise?” she asks.

“I promise,” I smile.

“Come on Anna, we need to go, mum is waiting for you,” Jed smiles, taking Rhiannon off me and walking her over to the car. I follow and lean into the car, buckling her into the car-seat and kissing Rhiannon on the forehead.

“I’ll see you soon baby,” I smile. I turn and Jed wraps his arms round me.

“You’re planning something, aren’t you?” Jed asks, looking at me.

“Of course,” I reply, looking down at him.

“Good,” he replies, letting go.

Lastly Tatum walks up to me, her arms folded, and her eyes narrowed as she looks at me.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re up to something,” she smiles, shaking her head at me.

“Hmm, how do you know?” I ask slyly.

“Because I thought I didn’t know you, but I think I do. What are you planning?” she asks.

“Do you want me?” I whisper into her ear.

“All the time,” she says, wrapping her arms around my waist and snuggling into my chest.

“I love you Tatum,” I say, kissing her lips.

“I should go,” she replies, “I’ve planned for Rhiannon to sleep on the way back, so I’m cut for time,” she explains. I groan.

“I love you Henry,” she says, kissing my cheek and taking a step back.

I watch as the car backs out the driveway, turning and driving down the street.

“I’m going to miss them,” Thea says.

“Yeah, me too,” I reply, jumping on my bike and heading for home.

//\\//\\//\\

My Alpha, Neven, holds weekly meetings with me and our Gamma, Audrey. We talk about pack business, finances, training, applications, pack members and any other relevant issues that may rise up. Because of the war I’ve only been to a few of these meetings, and still miss one or two at a time to do paperwork from our war efforts.

“How is everything going with the war front?” Alpha Neven asks me.

“Good, we’re starting to offload the work to the Majors now. From what I’ve been told the soldiers have already put their paperwork in and from here we can start having award ceremonies,” I state.

“Will you be involved in those ceremonies?” Neven asks. I shake my head.

“I’m not needed. We’ll have certain packs, covens or hubs host the ceremonies with their high bloods. I think a lot of us just want to be home with our families,” I say.

“Thea is a major, will we have to host a ceremony?” Audrey then asks. As gamma it is her role to oversee pack finances, businesses and organise pack events. As she has no mate yet, she usually works with Luno Mani, Neven’s mate.

“Yes, we will, but Genesis Pack and Night Blood Pack will also be hosting ceremonies, as well as some of the southern covens,” I explain, “Speak to Thea, she’ll be organising it,” I say. Audrey nods and writes down something in her notebook.

Audrey then talks about pack finances, which I zone out on, thinking about my family.

“Any other business?” Neven then asks us.

“Yes,” I say, looking at my best friend.

“I found Tatum,” I say. Neven shouts and Audrey squeals at the news, wrapping her arms round me in a hug.

“When, where?” Audrey asks. I look at Neven who smiles. I know that she would have had to have gotten permission from Neven to enter the pack lands, but somehow I didn’t feel angry at him.

“I met her on the battlefield, she saved me when a group of rogues attacked me all at once,” I start.

“And then you kept in contact?” Audrey asks, all excited.

“No,” I state, interrupting her from saying anything more. I look at Neven.

“She was at dad’s birthday. Apparently, they’ve been in contact since the war,” I say. Audrey gasps.

“You knew about this?” She asks Neven.

“Yes. She made me promise not to say anything, she wanted to surprise you,” Neven says.

“I’m really angry at you!” Audrey begins, her eyes turning black as her wolf comes forward, “how could you keep that from him?” she growls. I take hold of Audrey’s arm to calm her. I love that she is so protective of me. Although she is a few years younger, Neven, Audrey and I get along well and make a good team.

“It’s okay, I’m not angry Audrey. I’m just glad she’s back in my life, and that she still wants me,” I say, smiling at the thought.

“Which is why I need to ask you, Neven. I want to step down as beta for a couple of years and join the pack that she’s in, I want to be with my family. I’ve already spoken to dad, and he’s happy to take over my role in the meantime.”

“Of course. And if you don’t come back your sister can always be the next beta,” Neven smiles. I nod.

“I’m coming back,” I say.

“Good, your sister has a mouth on her,” Audrey then says. I laugh at the irony and Audrey hits me.

Neven dismisses us with a smile, and we leave his office, jostling each other out the door. I walk to my office and sit at my desk, scrolling through our pack’s contact list till I find the number I’m looking for.

The phone rings.

“Alpha Quade speaking,” the alpha of Waning Moon answers.

//\\//\\//\\

“And this,” mum says, handing dad a large box to put in my truck.

“What’s in the box?” I ask mum, who smiles.

“Presents.”

I look at dad who just nods and rolls his eyes.

“She’s missing you already now that you’re leaving and Leora’s at Alpha training,” dad explains.

“All my pups have left the den!” mum cries, actual tears running down her face.

“Mum! It’s not like we’re far away, Leora’s been zooming, right? And we will zoom too, and we’ll come over for holidays,” I say, watching mum’s bottom lip quiver. For an alpha’s daughter she can be a big softie sometimes.

I hug her tightly as her tears wet my shirt.

“Come on love, he won’t be gone long, he has to come back for his motorbike anyway,” dad says, making me smirk.

“Yeah mum. Anyway, we’ll probably come back at the same time as Leora, and then you’ll have your whole family back,” I suggest, making her nod weakly.

I let mum go and walk over to my truck, hopping in. Driving down the street I grew up on I honk my horn goodbye.

- I’ll see you soon – I link my parents as I go.

//\\//\\//\\

Waning Moon Pack is located on the west side of the country, bordering the town of Sefton. From Silver Forest it’s an eight to ten-hour drive, give or take. Tatum spent two days driving from Waning Moon to Silva Luporum, and two days driving back, but I’m hoping to get there by the late evening, especially if I only stop for lunch and dinner.

As I drove to Waning Moon I got lost in my thoughts. When I rang Alpha Quade two weeks ago regarding transferring to his pack, I had explained my ordeal with Tatum and I, and how the person who set the silver traps up on behalf of Alpha Andre did so to get to me. He was surprised, explaining that he knew Tatum’s mate was a beta but didn’t realise it was me. He also apologised for not telling me she was in his pack when I had asked all those years ago, they have a tight refugee policy and she had strong support.

Alpha Quade then let it slip that having Tatum in the pack had been a great advantage for them, as she had streamlined the training of his delta’s archery and knife throwing skills. I had smiled when he mentioned that. I knew my mate was impressive for a human. Transferring into Waning Moon means that I lose my role as a beta, but I was happy with that. Alpha Quade offered me a position aiding his Delta Commodore and Beta in training their warriors, which I readily agreed to.

The sun was setting when I finally drive into Sefton. I pull the truck over and off the road to call Tatum.

“Henry?” Tatum asks when she answers.

“Hey baby.”

“Henry! Where are you?”

“I’m almost in Sefton. I wanted to let you know that I’m almost there,” I reply. I can hear the happiness in her voice, and it makes me smile.

“It’s almost dinner time, did you want to meet up?” she asks.

“Sure. Where are you thinking?”

“There’s this place in Sefton called Wolf’s Den. My friends pack owns it. Can we meet there at six?”

I agree and take the address, finding it on my GPS before pulling back on to the road and driving to South Sefton.

Sefton overall is a large city, and like Little Vallis, the city closest to my pack, it is divided into boroughs. Wolf Den was located in a business district in the southern borough, and although I found the place quickly, I had to drive around a little bit before I found parking.

As I walk towards the Wolf’s Den I notice the scents of humans and other wolves in the area. It’s Wednesday night and although it’s a week night, there seemed to be a steady stream of people walking into the venue, making me think of it’s popularity.

As I walk in I note the layout, at the opposite side of the door, in front of me, stood the bar and to the right of that a cabinet with food. I note to the left is a door leading to the outdoor seating area which I had skimmed a look at when I drove past. The dining area was set up with tables and booths and the place looked busy with people eating and drinking.

I scan the room for Tatum and my family when I see two boys walk out of the men’s bathroom. Instantly the one with curly brown hair and amber eyes sees me and smiles.

“Henry!” he calls out, walking over to me. We wrap our arms round each other in greeting and I smile.

It’s been two weeks since I saw him last, but I’m sure he’s gotten taller.

“Henry, this is my best friend William, and William, this is my brother Henry,” Jed says, introduces us.

“Aren’t you Beta Henrik?” William asks, shaking my hand. I nod.

“Cool,” he says, making me smile.

“Come on, everyone is outside,” Jed then says.

Everyone? Oh shit, I think.