- Jace -

It felt good to be in wolf form, liberating.

Not having to watch my back, be mindful of being seen...here, I could be free to roam the fields and woodlands of the Dark Phantom pack lands. I could shift as many times I want without fear of being seen by a human.

I had been on border patrol until the middle of the night. Letting the pull of the pack bond hum throughout me all night, my wolf purring in response.

I had missed it more than I thought I would. I had been away for too long, and not being a rogue, meant that the call to return home had tortured me every day since leaving.

But it was my choice and I knew why I was doing it.

At least I thought I did.

Had I of known that a deadly attack would unfold after I had left, then I would have stayed. I would have fought by my family. But I didn't and now I was working on operation re-earn their trust.

Callie's deep brown wolf runs ahead of me, her own need to let her wolf loose perhaps even greater than mine.

When the need to shift got too much for any of us, we would drive inland to nature reserves at the dead of night. Knowing they were closed to humans at night...it was the only way we could satiate our wolves.

We had become a bit of a dream team, along with Colt, the three of us creating a new life for ourselves.

I don't hold my wolf back, he's been running for at least an hour now. The sensation of the grass beneath his paws relaxing him in a way the coast never could.

Callie's wolf slows down her pace just as we reach a pack border, her body shifting into her human form as she looks up at the fence.

It was new, or new to me. This must have been one of the borders that was infiltrated by the hunters.

A wave of heaviness hits my chest, my wolf internally moaning. Not only did I need to make amends to my family, but also to my wolf.

I was denying him things that no wolf should be denied.

Callie downs to look at me, I follow suit, shifting knowing that she wanted to talk.

"I can't believe you left here... Why would you leave here?" She shakes her head at me, looking back at the pack lands.

"You know why." If she already felt like this about the Dark Phantom pack, then wait until she sees the Clear Waters for the first time.

"I think you and I have a different understanding of parental pressure."

"If you don't want to do this, you can walk away." I offer, she still had time to walk away from this.noveldrama

"When did I say I don't want to do this? I'm just trying to understand why an alpha who has a pack lined up for him, a close family bond...would walk away from it, that's all."

"I have my reasons..." I sigh out. I know I was being cryptic, but she was strong...strong enough to handle the threat that comes with being a mate of a Varon.

She would be my Luna, a position, that is hazardous to anybody else.

"So you keep saying."

"Callie."

"Jace, I'm here...I'm with you, you don't need to worry about me."

She was right, she is the right choice.

I finish giving Callie a tour of the pack in wolf form, her curiosity piqued throughout. When I had told her what pack I was from she kept her distance for a few days. The rumours of the notorious Dark Phantom pack still lingering today.

Our wolves finally satisfied, we return to the alpha house where we both freshen up and join everyone

downstairs.

My family has congregated in the kitchen, Josie stands by the kitchen island as she makes hot drinks. Mum joins her, standing beside her as they both giggle at something.

I pause, my eyes watching the pair of them...they both have a target on their backs...just the idea of anything happening to either of them makes me sick to my stomach.

Like I said, being part of this family, being mated to this family comes with risks. That we have all learned to live with every day. It's what we train for. As Callie walks past them, they both turn to me...their eyes watching me with a small level of suspicion.