June 19th

(Ella's POV)

"Why here of all places?" I ask no one, annoyed, as my car completely dies on me, in the middle of nowhere. I am just able to pull off on the side of the road. Looking back I should have taken my brother's offer on using his truck instead of my ancient, not overly reliable, car. Digging in my backpack I grab my phone to call my dad only to find that I have absolutely no cell service. It's times like this I was a witch and had a bird familiar, but no. A car pulls over in front of me as I contemplate getting out of my car to start walking. I think I should be somewhat close to the town of Charlotte, if I'm not completely lost.

A lady who looks to be around my dad's age gets out of the driver's side, but I know that looks can be deceiving. Some supernaturals can live hundreds of years and not age much. I have family that is over 200 years old, but don't look older than 50. She has brunette hair in a side braid, that's maybe medium length of down, and kind looking blue eyes. As she gets closer I roll down my window as far as the hand crank will allow it which is about a third. On a good day I can get it about half way down.

"Having car troubles or just lost?" She asks with a kind smile.

"Both. My car just died and I'm not completely sure where I am. Doesn't help the service is horrible." I say as I notice a pine scent. I've learned I smell random scents at times, I think it has to do with being a shifter. Though I'm not entirely sure. Something about her radiates kindness and a motherly vibe.

"Service around here is spotty on a good day, but we had a few bad storms recently which made it worse. I have jumper cables in my car which means we can see about trying to get your car started. It's roughly twenty minutes to the nearest town, but my pack is about five minutes from here. We have a mechanic that can take a look at your car if you want." I guess she sees my confused expression and asks, "You don't know about shifters do you? I'm sorry you smell like you live with a group of supernaturals, so I just assumed."

"I do know about shifters as I am one. I just didn't know that there was a pack located less than four hours away from where I live. I think that's how long I've been driving." I say the last part mostly to myself trying to think what time it was when I left. It's been roughly three and a half hours maybe a tad longer.

"Do you want to see the pack? My name is Emily by the way. I'm the Luna of the pack, so I can invite strangers to the pack even with the current no outsiders rule." She says with a smile that hints at that not being entirely true.

"Yes, plus I don't think my car will make it the twenty minutes to the town. It's been acting up since I left home. My name is Daniella, but I prefer Ella." I say trying to keep my excitement down. I've always wanted to visit a pack to learn more about being a shifter. Growing up without other shifters around hasn't been easy.

Before long we get my car started and I follow Luna Emily to the pack. My car barely makes it and dies again as I park beside her. I think it is about time the car is retired, it's been through a lot over the years. Namely my sister putting it in a ditch once or twice. Before getting out I send a quick text to my dad to have him call me when he can as I notice that I have service again. Would call, but I know he is just today.

"Welcome to the Winter Moon Pack," Emily tells me once I get out of my car.

"It's so big," I say turning to look around at the large open grass area in the center of all the buildings.

"Have you ever been to a pack before?"

"No. I grew up in a coven as the only shifter." I say shrugging turning to look back at her.

"How big is the coven area?"

"About a third of the size. The buildings are closer together and there are a lot more trees within the area." I reply looking at how open everything is.

"I'm sure someone will be willing to show you around while your car gets looked at. If not I have two I convince to show you around as it will be their job a year." She tells me with a smile, "I would, but I'm in charge while my husband and the Beta is away."

"I hope it can be fixed, so I can at least get home. It died again."

"It looks like it's an old car that's been well loved."

"It originally belonged to my grandma who drove it for years before she passed. After that, it wasn't driven much until my siblings and I learned to drive. It has been through a lot. My younger sister got it stuck in a ditch and almost hit a deer in it."

"Emily, the Alpha of the Evermoore Pack just called and I don't know where Jared or Uncle Jack is at the moment." A girl says rushing out of the house. She has chin length ginger hair that's loosely curled and light green eyes. As she stops next to Luna and me I can she is taller than me by about roughly six inches, so about 5'10".

"They are in town helping Marc pick up some building supplies to repair Ms. Rosie's roof. After I take Ella here to go talk to Thomas about getting her car looked at I'll call Tiana back to talk to her. They called a few days ago about a couple of their members going missing." Luna Emily says before introducing us, "Bri, this is Ella. Ella, this is Brianna. Her uncle is the Beta."

"I didn't know there was a pack called Evermoore. I thought there was only a coven called Evermoore." I say intrigued, "Two shifters showed up there recently. I was on my way there when my car died."

"They were both started by step-siblings, but as time went on we lost contact with the coven. There is also an Elven Clan by the same name that was started by their adopted sister. The group they traveled with before starting the coven, clan, and pack was called Evermoore and their father lead it. I'm originally from the Evermoore Pack which is how I know all this." Brianna explains shrugging as if it's no big deal.

"Were you given a description of them?" Luna Emily asks.

"No, but they are both young girls. I think not much younger than me."

"It was two sisters that went missing and they are fifteen and sixteen."

"I can message the leader and ask for more details. My dad gave me her number in case I couldn't find the coven. I've never been the coven by myself and I usually slept during the drive." I say trying to locate the piece of paper with the number on it in my bad. It's a bit of a mess as I use it as a purse.

"While you do that, I can talk to Thomas about getting your car looked at. I was already going to talk to him today about getting my taillight fixed. I do not need to get pulled over for that being out, again." Bri say pointing off in random direction.

"Thank you, Brianna." I say as Luna Emily tells her, "I'll pretend I didn't hear that last bit as long as you get it fixed before you go into town again."

"Please just call me Bri or Anna. My uncles are really the only ones that call me Brianna. I will mostly because I don't want to get a lecture from my uncles about it." Bria heads off to see about getting the cars looked at while I follow Luna Emily inside the house. As I follow her through the house I find the piece of paper and grab my phone out of my bag.

(Emily's POV)

As I show Ella into the office the home phone starts to ring. Walking over to Jared's desk I pick it up knowing it's most likely Alpha Tiana since if someone in our pack needs us they call our cell or find us in person. If anyone in the pack can not reach or find Jared or Jack than they try to find me or Andy and if that's a bust they go find Carter or Bri. One of us always tries to stay around just in case which is sometimes a bit of a challenge.

"Hello? Emily speaking." I answer while gesturing for Ella to sit in one of the chairs.

"Hi, Emily it's Tiana. I was wondering if you heard anything."

"I just learned that two young shifters appeared at the Evermoore Coven recently. It could be them."

"Do you have any other information?"

"I got a description of them." Ella says looking up from her phone, "Both girls are blonde, one has shoulder length hair and the other elbow length. One has hazel eyes while the other has light brown eyes. The one with hazel eyes as a small scar above her lip."

I reiterate what Ella tells me to Tiana before giving her the number for the Evermoore Coven leader. There was a time when leaders of the different groups knew each other. That's not really the case anymore and hasn't been for a few generations.

"Thank you, Emily. Their fathers will happy to know where they are and that they are safe." Tiana says sounding relived. Some of their younger members got separated after an attack and the sisters were the only two not counted for. Attacks on packs are becoming more common which a major cause for concern. We have an idea on who is behind the attacks, but no proof other than the fact they aren't rogues.

After saying bye I put the phone down and turn to look at Ella. As I'm about to say something to her the office door opens revealing my eldest child, Carter, with pink hair instead of his usual brunette. I have a feeling I know why.

"Lost a bet to Em." That is the first thing he says. You would think he would learn by now not to make bets with his sister.

"I wasn't going to ask. None of us are surprised when one of you kids appear with a different hair color all of a sudden. Alex went from faded pink to bright blue hair just yesterday. Is there something you need?"

(Carter's POV)

"Nice hair," Bri says as she walks up onto the porch behind me.

Opening the door I tell her "Your sister and Ember chose the color."

"Are you going to talk to your mom? Figured. I noticed that Alex's hands were tinted pink last I saw her and her hair is blue. Next time remind her to wear gloves."

"Yes. Why? You are her sister, so you remind her. She's not coloring my hair every again."

"Tell her that Thomas said he can look at Ella's car in the morning. You live with her and I don't." She tells me before walking further into the house most likely heading to the kitchen.

Bri and me get along most of the time which is good as she might be by Beta. Come a year from now I will be taking over as Alpha and she has until then to decide if she will be taking over as the Beta or moving back to the Evermoore Pack to become their Beta. If she does move then Alex will become the next Beta when she is of age. They would both make good Betas.

I head to the office to see if my mom is in there and to pass on Bri's message. If she is in the house there are usually three places she can be found, the kitchen, the office or her craft room. I figured since Bri mentioned someone not apart of the pack she would be there. As I open the office door I notice my mom is just getting off the phone and a girl, whom I'm assuming is Ella, sitting in one of the chairs. She has long black hair pulled into a braid. I notice she has pretty light blue eyes when she looks at hearing the door open. She's cute. She smells of rain and honeysuckle.

"Lost a bet to Em," I say before my mom comments on my hair.

"I wasn't going to ask. None of us are surprised when one of you appears with a different hair color all of a sudden. Alex went from faded pink to bright blue hair just yesterday. Is there something you need?"

"Just an update from the patrol. Eric said a few rogues have been spotted but don't think it's anything to worry about at the moment. He and the other leaders are going to let all the patrol members know to keep an eye out just in case. No non rogues have been spotted today. Bri told me to tell you that Thomas said he can look at Ella's car in the morning. I'm assuming you are who she was talking about." I say looking at the girl sitting.

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"That would be me, Pinky. It's short for Daniella." The girl, Ella, says with a cheeky grin.

"Nice to meet you, Ella. My name is Carter, not Pinky." I reply as my mom laughs a little.

(Ella's POV)

"Carter, do you think you can show Ella around? She's never seen a pack before." Luna Emily asks Carter, "I'll let your father know about the rogues when he gets back. Hopefully the unknown shifters don't appear again."

I watch him hoping he'll say yes as I really want to explore the pack and not get lost. I also want to ask questions as all I know about being a shifter and shifter packs is from the very few books my dad got me. He has tried over the years to find more to help me, but it has not been easy.

"Sure, mom." Carter quickly replies, "Have you talked to Kyle to see if any have been spotted there?"

"I left a message earlier."

As I go to stand up as they talk a bit more my cell starts to ring. Just by the ringtone I know that it is Pierce, the second in command of the coven, is calling.

"Hi," I say answering the phone.

"Is everything okay? Your father just saw your text and asked me to call you as he is still talking with other leaders."

"Yes, considering my car broke down. I'm not making it to the Evermoore Coven, but I'm no use there anymore. I'm in a pack about three and a half to four hours away from home."

"Explain a little more please, dear. Why are you no longer needed at the coven? How did you end up in a pack?"

I quickly explain things in more detail. A few times I have to repeat myself since I tend to speak very fast sometimes when I'm not careful. My family and most of the coven have learned to understand what I'm trying to say when that happens. It doesn't help that I stumble over some words and they don't sound like actual words if I'm talking fast. That has caused some issues in the past and my ex would get annoyed anytime I started talking fast. Most of the time I start to talk fast when it's a topic I'm very into.

"I only have two things to say to that. The first is to be careful. The other is to expect a call from your father after he gets done with the meetings."

"I will and not surprising."

"I'll let you go since I have things to do around here and knowing you, you'll want to explore the pack. Bye, Ella."

"Of course. Bye, Pierce."

After hanging up I shove my phone into my bag as I follow Carter out of the office. Heading out of the house we set off in a random direction. Carter tells me about some of the buildings that are around. There are 3 clinics around the area, one is in the process of being fixed up after a recent storm damaged the roof. They have a hall for weddings and parties that also acts as a safe place for those who can't shift during rogue attacks. Carter introduces me to the members that stop to talk. I ask a few questions here and there about life in a pack. He asks me a few questions about the coven which I answer to the best of my ability. There aren't many differences surprisingly. We stop for a few minutes next to a large open open area that Carter explains is used for training.

"How many people are in the pack?" I ask as we watch a few shifters stumble, they are most likely only recently started shifting. It takes a little bit to get used to being in one's wolf form. I should know, my siblings wouldn't stop messing with me about it.

"Around 207 or so. Give or take a few. We are a medium size pack. Packs can be anywhere between 100-300 members. What about your coven?"

"I think 70 at the moment. Covens are usually 50-150 members or at least that's what my dad has told me. I don't know much about the coven as a whole."

"How come you don't know much about the place you grew up?" He asks turning to look at me.

"I'm not a witch. I know enough to get by though and interact with other covens."

"If you don't mind me asking. What are you?"

"A wolf shifter. The only one in the coven. When does a new Alpha and Beta take over? For covens, the new leader takes over when they are between the ages of 26-28 depending on the coven. Ours is 26 years old. The second in command takes over at the same time unless they are under 20 years old." I say changing the topic.

"All packs I know it's when we turn 26 years old, but we start learning how to take over as Alpha when we are 25. I recently started learning and will take over in a year. The beta takes over when the new Alpha does unless they are under 25."

"Somewhat similar." I comment as we start walking again, "My eldest brother is currently learning to be the next leader."

In total it takes a little over three hours to see all of the pack, mostly because we did stop from time to time. As we near the house I notice some others sitting in what is essentially the front yard rolling a soccer ball back and front. There are three girls and two guys. One of the girls spots us walking over and throwing the ball at Carter's face. She has long brunette hair and looks like a slightly younger version of Luna Emily.

"Em, really?" Carter asks catching the ball.

"I knew you would catch it or at least try to." She replies before looking at me, "You must be Ella. Mom said Carter was showing around a visitor. I'm Ember, Carter's younger sister."

"You are also the reason my hair is pink." Carter says throwing the ball back at her.

"That's your fault as you should know by now not to bet against her." One of the other girls says. She has a blue pixie cut and looks like Bri, so maybe related. Might be the Alex that Emily mentioned earlier. Next to her is a guy with chin-length wavy ginger hair. Both are pale and covered in freckles. On the other side of her is the second guy. He has short blonde hair and dark rimmed glasses. His shirt sleeves are slightly pushed up revealing tan lines. The last girl is leaning against Ember. She has long light purple hair that stands out against her dark skin and dark eyes.

"Alex, you are partly to blame since you and Ember picked the color." The guy with blonde hair says, "I'm Isaac. Alex is the blueberry."

"Hey!"

"You do look like one with the blue hair." The one who looks like he might be Alex's twin says.

"Shut up, Luca," Alex says shoving him playfully.

"I'm Nina." The girl next to Ember says introducing herself, "Ignore those two. They are usually like this. Even worse when their sister is with them."

"We are twins. I do not know if you have met Bri or not, but she is our older sister." Alex says before asking, "Do you have any siblings?"

"Five. Two older brothers, an older step-sister, a slightly younger sister, and a younger step-sister."

"I feel sorry for your brothers. I have two younger sisters." Isaac says.

"Try having two older ones with one of them not letting you forget that they are ten minutes older," Luca says looking pointedly at Alex.

"All of us girls are around the same age and met as teens. I'm surprised our parents aren't getting gray hairs. Becca is the oldest and Della is the youngest. Hazel and me are the same age."

"Are you and Hazel twins?"

"Nope, I'm three weeks older as I'm adopted." I say finally sitting down in the grass between Luca and Carter, "I'm a wolf shifter and the only one in my coven. Before today I'd never met another shifter, so I don't know much about being a shifter. I did once meet a half bear shifter. Before I turned 13 and shifted for the first time I didn't even know I was a shifter."

"Ask us anything about being a shifter and we will try to answer. I'm sure between the six of us we can answer most of them." Ember says as the others nod in agreement.

(Emily's POV)

"Love?" I hear Jared call.

"In the office," I call back as I look over some papers.

Jared walks in a moment later holding a small stuffed giraffe. He sits it on my deck next to my laptop. Smiling I pick it up to place it next to the little tiger plush I have on the shelf above my desk. Jared randomly brings me small plushes or flowers when he goes into town or after being away visiting another pack.

"I saw that we have a visitor or do we have a new member that I don't know about?" Jared asks before kissing the top of my head.

"Visitor. Her name is Ella. I came across her not far from here as her car had broken down. Thomas is going to look at it tomorrow. She is a wolf shifter. I know we need to be careful about who we invite into the pack, but she needed help."

"What pack is she from? If she's from one we know it's fine." He says sitting in his desk chair preparing to get some paperwork done. The most boring part of leading a pack.

"She's not from a pack. She told me that she grew up in a coven." I reply putting the papers I was reading back into their folder.

Jared grabs a folder that has some unfinished paperwork as he asks, "Which coven?"

"Not the Evermoore as she was headed there. I know it's less than four hours away. She smells like rain."

"There might be one located in Moonstone. A few times Jack and me have stopped there we have noticed quite a few people smelling of rain."

"I should have asked." I say moving to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"We can do that later. The kids seem to be making her feel welcome here. I heard them answering questions she has."

"I'm glad. They are good kids. Carter said rogues have been spotted around again."

"I'll let Jack know." Jared says running a hand down his face. We've dealt with two attacks from both unknown shifters and known rogues this week alone. Unknown shifters keep being spotted in the area around the pack lately. Rogues are usually easy to pick out, so we know it's not them. They aren't organized and are usually in small groups of no more than five unless they are attacking. It hasn't been a fun couple of weeks dealing with all this.

(Ella's POV)

"Luna Emily said she was able to tell I live with a group of supernaturals. Can one of y'all explain what she meant? I didn't know we had special scents."

"Each type of supernatural has a unique scent that only shifters and vampires can smell. It also depends on one's pack, coven, grouping, pod or clan. For our pack, it's a pine scent, but each person has a scent unique to them mixed with the pine scent. It's how we found our soulmates before soulbands appeared as only our soulmate(s) can smell it," Ember explains, "For me Nina smells like pine and coffee, but to everyone else she smells only of pine. Humans don't have a unique scent unless they are part of a pack, grouping, pod, coven or clan. Even then it's faint."

"I never knew that. That explains why I always smell rain around the coven and faintly smelled pine when I first met Luna Emily. I'm curious as to what I smell like. Also what is a grouping? I know pods are for mermaids."

"You smell like rain." Carter tells me while looking like he wants to say something else before being interrupted by my phone ringing.

Confused as to why my brother is calling I answer, "Hi. I thought dad was going to call."

"He's in the room and you are on speaker." Zachery replies and I can hear paper being shuffled in the background.

"How are you doing, Ella?"

"Fine. Learning a lot of stuff about being a shifter and it's a little overwhelming. Finally got an answer as to why I always seem to smell the scent of rain around the coven.

"Just wanted to call to see if you want me to come to get you and we can get your car at a later date. That's good." My dad answers sounding unsure if he wants to know the answer.

"If possible I would like to stay until my car is fixed if it can be fixed," I say as I see Ember type away on her phone.

"I would like to at least talk to the Alpha before I agree to that."

"Dad, I'm 21, not 11." I sound trying to sound as annoyed as possible even though I'm really not. He's the same with all of us kids. I can hear Zachery trying not to laugh and failing.

"Doesn't matter. I want to know who you are staying with."

"I know. Here is the number." I say before reading off the phone number Ember shows me.

"Thank you. I will text you after I talk with them. Love you."

"Love you too." I say being hanging up and putting my phone back in my pocket. After a moment I decided to get clarification on something, "So, if I smell two scents around someone it means they are my soulmate?"

"Yes." Ember replies, "I'm guessing you've smelled two scents when someone was near. Also to answer your earlier question about what a grouping is. It's what fairy groups are called."

"More like been and still am smelling." I say before laughing a little as I realize who I my soulmate is, "Fuck."

"You okay?" Luca asks looking a little concerned.

"Yeah. It's just a bit funny that today of all days I would find my soulmate. Peppermint and pine aren't that bad together."

"Carter you are being awfully quiet. Got anything to say?" Ember asks with a smile.

"Isaac hasn't said much either."

"The different is you are the only one who hasn't found their soulmate." Isaac replies as he wraps his arm around Alex's waist. Before Carter or anyone else says anything Luna Emily walks over to our group.

"I've come to ask for volunteers to help with lunch." Luna Emily says as I feel my phone go off with a text.

As the other asks questions about lunch and what she needs help with I look at the text. It's from my dad telling me that I can stay until my car is fixed.

"Want to help, Ella?" Luca asks standing up.

"I'm not the best cook."

"We are just making sandwiches and cutting fruit. Plus I'm sure Emily can answer some questions we can't."

"In that case? Sure," I say as Luca offers me a hand to help me up.

———

As Luca and I help Emily, she keeps telling me to drop the Luna part, in the kitchen two pack members walk in. One has copper red hair and light blue eyes. He looks like he could be related to Luca. If that's the case then he is the Jack that Bri mentioned earlier. The other has brunette hair, blue-gray eyes and has scars along the right side of his face. Both are about Luca's height, he's about an inch shorter than Carter, with the redhead being just a smidge taller.

"Here to help?" Emily asks as she makes a sandwich.

"I'm not as I'm here just to pass along a message. Rogues have been spotted along the border along with the unknown shifter." The ginger says.

"I know. Carter told me." Emily tells him sitting her knife down.

"We ran into one of the patrol members on the way back to the house who told us," He says before spotting Luca and me cutting up fruit on the other side of the island. "I see we have a visitor. Nice to meet you. I'm Jack the Beta of the pack and this is my husband, Andy."

"Nice to meet you both. My name is Ella, short Daniella. Not many call me by my full name."

"It's the same with Alex. She hates being called by Alexandra. I'm going to see if Jared is still in the office." Jack says before he leaves.

Andy decides join us in helping make lunch. As we cut up fruit I learn he and Jack are Luca, Bri, and Alex's uncles. The three moved here after their parents were killed in a car accident almost a decade ago. I even learn shifters from the Evermoore Pack smell like sandalwood. Andy talks a little about the pack he grew up in. Doesn't sound like a pack I want to visit.

(Carter's POV)

"So, what does Ella really smell like to you?" Ember asks once the others have left. Nina went to have lunch with her family while Alex and Isaac went to go grab something from his house.

"Rain and honeysuckle."

"Going to tell her?" Ember ask as she stands up.

Looking up at her I reply, "I think she's already figured it out."

"I meant about the scent thing."

"Maybe later." I tell her as I finally stand up and we both head inside.

———

(Andy's POV)

"Want some help cleaning up?" I ask Emily walking into the kitchen carrying plates after lunch.

"Thanks."

We do the dishes in comfortable silence. I usually help her with cooking breakfast and dinner. Neither of us trusts our husbands with cooking. Jack burnt a pot once trying to boil water and Jared almost set the stove on fire once trying to make pancakes. Emily has forbid them both from touching the stove after that day. That was six years ago.

"Kaiden texted me saying he and the kids are coming for a visit."

"No Cody?" She asks surprised.

"He and Kyle are still working on getting the new main pack house unpacked. Aurora might come with the kids, but is unsure." Kyle is the Alpha of the Amethyst Pack while Cody, his younger twin, is the Beta. Aurora is Kyle's wife and the Luna while Kaiden is Cody's husband.

"Isn't your family suppose to be coming to visit soon?" She asks handing me a plate to dry.

"Next week."

"Are they still talking about moving here?"

"As far as I know. I do hope they move here. I know Kaiden will be happy if they do since he only gets to see them when they visit here."

Kaiden and I are childhood friends and basically brothers. We grew up in the Sky Wood Pack together. My parents took him in at the age of 16 after his parents kicked him out after coming out as bisexual. They were able to get guardianship of him which he was very happy about. It wasn't long after that he came out as trans and he stared transitioning. I had never seen him happier before that. We spent so many hours in our room going over names before he decided on Kaiden.

"I don't think he'll be the only one. Peter will most likely be happy that Parker will be closer." Emily says handing me another dish to dry. We talk about family more as we finish the dishes and clean the kitchen.