Wild and Free

(Mason’s POV)

One hour earlier

Just when I thought things were starting to settle down. We were in a new pack house, new territory, new werewolves everywhere, new school, new friends. Right when everything seemed to be falling into place, something has to happen to screw it all up.

I knew something wasn’t right when Father told us to eat dinner in town that night. Something was up so the guys and I listened in on one of his meetings with William and the other Betas. It was difficult because, unlike his old office, the new office has walls that made it impossible to hear through, even if we used our powers.

As a solution, when my father called me into his office, I purposefully left my phone on the bookshelf, mid-call with Riley so we could listen in. Then the three of us went into my quarters to be alone.

“And you’re sure? The patrols didn’t just see some from our pack roaming around?” My father asked William.

“We’re sure,” William responded, “These wolves weren’t from the Royal pack. The patrols went back to the spot that they saw them, once they were gone. The scent they got was unfamiliar, not like any we’d know.”

The three of us shot each other a look.

“Did it lead them anywhere? Did anyone follow the scent?” Father asked.

There was a moment of quiet followed by my father’s sigh so I assumed that William shook his head.

“Do you think we should tell everyone?” our formal Beta, Felix, asked my father.

“No, that’d cause absolute panic and so soon into our unification… no we can’t. We’re going to put this off as a drill or practice, alright? Announce to everyone to stay in the pack house or their homes for the rest of the night. Gather our best to guard the borders and to be on high alert. No one comes or goes without my knowing, agreed?” he explained.

“Yes Alpha,” William and Felix chorused.

“Good,” Father replied. I heard the creaking of his chair as he probably stood from his desk chair. “And neither of you will share this information with anyone got it?”

“Yes Alpha,” the repeated before we heard the sound of a door opening and closing.

Riley pressed the end call on his phone before we sat there in confused silence.

“What does this mean?” Greyson finally asked breaking the quiet.

“They’re not really taking all those measures are they? Faking a drill? It doesn’t seem right,” Riley thought aloud.

I shook my head, “If I really heard what I think I did, then we’re not the only ones on this territory anymore.”

~*~

Present

So far, the entire walk, Greyson had managed to step on like eight twigs, all of which snapped loudly.

“Would you watch where you’re going?” Riley hissed at him after he broke another. “I don’t know if you notice but we’re trying not to be seen.”

“By what? If they saw us would it be so weird? Following girls around is like a normal thing that human guys do,” Greyson shot back.

“Well were you not listening at all to that conversation in the Alpha’s office? There might be other werewolves out here you idiot, bad ones,” replied Riley.

Even though he was behind me I could feel Greyson roll his eyes.

“Shh, I can’t hear with all your bickering!” I snapped, silencing them.

I listened intently to everything around us. Hearing woodland creatures skitter around, leaves shifting softly among the tree branches, and the beating footsteps of the girls we were currently following. I had no idea what Kenz was thinking. Coming out there after what I told her.

In a way I guess I could understand her wanting to be with Auden and Cassie in case anything happened. But what could? The whole thing didn’t make sense. Crossing territory was against the rules, all of them. The only time other packs even attempted to cross was if they were trying to take over and they had a foolproof plan to do so. Otherwise, it was pointless unless you wanted to be exiled from your pack.

Just the thought of being an Omega was terrifying. Packs were a werewolf’s only protection in the world. A wolf on their own had no one to lead them, no one to go to if there was danger. They were on their own. You could hide or train all you wanted but Omega’s never lasted more than a couple months, at most.

As far as I knew, no one had ever been exiled from the Royal pack, old or new. It was a huge punishment, only one for people who seriously deserved it, and they almost never did.

Being exiled was like being disowned. Your reputation and credibility was stripped away from you, no matter how good it might’ve have been. It was as if you were defined by one mistake.

We were all taught so harshly about what the rules meant so no one would ever pass the point of no return and suffer the consequences. Which is why I could not understand what Mackenzie was thinking of doing if something went wrong.

The three of us guys stayed a good distance away from the girls as their walk progressed and the sun began to set. At some point they got off the marked trail and Auden lead them down one that was well hidden and not as worn by the many feet like the main trail. We followed them down it, wondering how we would ever find our way if we hadn’t been behind the girls.

The sky was a mix of oranges, reds, and purples when we began to hear the powerful rushing of the waterfall that Auden had talked about.

“Wow,” I heard Kenzie say, looking at the beautiful sight in awe. We’d come into the woods a lot since we’d been there but for some reason none of us had ever come across it. Weird.

“Beautiful isn’t it?” Auden’s voice asked.

I peeked around the tree we were hiding behind and saw the three girls standing at the river bank, right in front of the mesmerizing waterfall. All three of their backs were two us as they looked at it in trance.

“I can’t believe I haven’t been here before,” Kenzie said.

Cassie knit her brows, “How would you? I’ve lived in White Chapel my entire life and I’ve never been here,” she laughed. “I guess Auden just knows how to find the beauty in a town with nothing to it. Most people would walk these trails and never even come across it.”

“Did you make that trail?” Kenz asked Auden.

She nodded, “Yeah I like to run and I got off the trail one time and found this,” she gestured to the waterfall. “I’ve been coming here ever since.”

“I bet it’s even better during the day, with the sun beaming on it,” Kenzie mused.

Auden nodded but her attention was caught by something. Her head whipped around in our direction and I barely had time to slide back behind the thick tree trunk before she saw me.

My sister and Cassie started some kind of conversation together and after a moment, I risked another look. Auden was looking off to the side somewhere, her face written with confusion and apprehension.

“A? Did you hear us?” Cassie asked her friend, trying to get her attention.

“Shh,” Auden whispered, “Someone’s here.”

Kenzie looked over at me and mindlinked me, Did she see you?

I shook my head and put my hands out, I hid before she looked. Did you hear anything? What’s Auden talking about?

I don’t know, I didn’t see anything. But be ready, she warned.

“What is it?” Kenzie asked Auden, looking away from me.

“I don’t know, but we’re not alone,” she answered quickly, in a hushed tone.

~~AUTHOR’S NOTE~~

As always, comment, don't hate and read on!

~your Cheshire Cat loving friend