Chapter 6
The sharp knock on my bedroom door shattered my dreams like glass.
"Margaret, time to go," Beta Dylan's deep voice carried through the wood, bringing reality crashing back.
I stumbled out of bed, running my fingers through the tangled mess of my dark brown hair. My father's muffled response came from down the hall, followed by the sounds of hurried movement throughout the house.
Minutes later, I emerged from my room, backpack slung over one shoulder. Dad stood near the door, adjusting his jacket while Mom smoothed down her chestnut ponytail, making herself presentable even at this ungodly hour.
"Everyone ready?" Dylan asked, his brown eyes scanning our small group. When we nodded, he turned and led us outside into the crisp mountain morning.
I climbed into the backseat of our car, watching Beta Dylan's black SUV pull ahead. We followed him through winding mountain roads as the sun crept higher, illuminating forests that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.
After twenty minutes of driving past increasingly sparse houses, we turned onto a gravel path that disappeared into thick forest. The trees parted to reveal a modern cabin nestled against the mountainside, with a spacious wooden porch and large windows reflecting the morning light.
Beta Dylan stepped out of his vehicle and approached the deep brown wooden door, producing a set of keys. After unlocking it, he turned and handed them to my father.
"You sure you want to live this far from Pack house?" he asked, skepticism coloring his tone. "There are plenty of empty houses in town that might better suit your needs."
Dad pocketed the keys with a relieved smile. "No, this is perfect. Thank you, Beta."
Dylan shrugged. "We're the same rank. Honestly, you've been doing this a lot longer than I have. You might teach me a thing or two. Just call me Dylan. Welcome to Sunrise Peak Pack."
As he walked past me toward his vehicle, Dylan paused. His nostrils flared slightly as he caught my scent, and my heart skipped a beat.
"You smell different than most wolves," he said, studying me with sudden interest.
I kept my voice steady despite my racing pulse. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. Just... different. I can smell that you're wolf, but your scent isn't very strong. And there's something else... your scent reminds me of someone." His brow furrowed in concentration before he shook his head. "Don't forget, Pack Run is mandatory, every Friday at 6 PM in the preserve. I know you're excused this week, but it would be good to introduce yourselves to the other Pack members. We're a tight community, and the others will feel more comfortable with new members who participate. Something to consider."
Mom gave a tight nod. "We'll try to make it this Friday."
Once Dylan left, we entered our new home. The living room was dominated by a massive stone fireplace that stretched from floor to ceiling, black rocks creating an imposing focal point. Dark hardwood floors ran throughout, nearly as dark as the fireplace stones. The whole place smelled of being closed up too long, musty and stale.
Mom rushed to pull back the heavy curtains and crack open windows, letting mountain air flow through to chase away the staleness.
I escaped to the kitchen, finding it more modern than the rest of the house. Granite countertops caught the mountain sunlight, and black stainless-steel appliances were arranged around a central island. I'm going to like this room, I thought, running my hand along the smooth countertop.
Alpha Charles's men helped carry in furniture while I claimed the smallest bedroom beside the bathroom. It had a window overlooking the forested mountainside—the perfect view to wake up to. My parents took the master bedroom at the end of the hall with its en-suite bathroom.
The day passed in a blur of unpacking and cleaning. By the time darkness fell, I was so exhausted I collapsed into bed before dinner, not even bothering to change out of my dusty clothes.
Sometime past midnight, thirst pulled me from sleep. I padded barefoot to the kitchen, flipping on the soft under-cabinet lights. After pouring a glass of cold water, I settled onto one of the bar stools, sipping slowly while gazing out at the moonlit forest.
The absolute silence here was a blessing. Unlike Gregory Pack's busy town center, there were no neighbors to avoid, no constant activity to hide from. Just peaceful isolation.
Movement at the edge of the trees caught my eye. I leaned forward, pressing my face closer to the cool glass.
A massive silver wolf stood in a moonlit clearing, staring directly at my window. Its coat shimmered with an otherworldly sheen in the pale light. I blinked hard, rubbing my eyes. When I looked again, the wolf had vanished.
Was that real, or are my eyes playing tricks? I wondered, searching the treeline for any sign of movement. Maybe it was just a patrol checking out the new arrivals.
I returned to my room, pulling my purple comforter—decorated with generic lavender flowers—up to my chin. Despite my exhaustion, sleep came slowly. The image of that silver wolf haunted my thoughts, its intense gaze burned into my memory.
The next few days blurred together as we settled into mountain Pack life. By Monday morning, my stomach churned with familiar anxiety as I pulled on comfortable jeans and a simple blue T-shirt. My backpack sat heavy with new textbooks, a tangible reminder that life must go on despite everything changing.
My parents had meetings with Alpha Charles today to receive their new Pack assignments. As we drove through the mountain town toward the high school, I pressed my forehead against the cool window glass, watching unfamiliar buildings pass by.
"Can I fake being sick until next week?" I pleaded from the backseat.