Chapter 4 Three

BLAKE:

This is home. This. Is. Home. This was what bounced in Blake's head as soon as they stepped on Boston soil.

His wolf began to do a weird gyration in his chest. His heart was beating wildly against his chest. But, his exterior was so calm, nobody would guess how wild it was inside of him.

Alpha Blake.

It became all the more real as he got to his pack. All the more real after the recent fact that felt so refreshing: he had avenged his Father's unjust death. Still, even though he could tell no one, while there was peace in him, there was still a slight shaking, a nagging feeling from what that witch had said in her final prophecy before she died. But, as usual, he looked calm even as all these thoughts went through his head. He couldn't voice them out to anyone, not yet. They'd only just won a battle.

"Home, sweet home," someone said from their entourage. A low whistle followed.

After the gruelling journey to Norway and back, coupled with the war they'd planned for and the one they hadn't expected with the witches at all, Blake could tell that they were as grateful as he was for the little things like fresh air and the greenery that blossomed in his beloved pack territory.

Velvet moon pack was his own sweet haven. And if was there's, too. He could swear that he was barely holding himself from kissing the ground by a very thin thread of dignity. After all, he was the Alpha. Just reminding himself that over and over felt slightly awkward as he'd not still gotten used to that title after eight long years of holding it.

His mind wandered to the helpless wolf they'd rescued from werewolf hunters on their way back. He turned to see if he could spot her. He did. She was trudging along with sweet Meredith, and they were talking. She still looked battered, but her face wasn't as swollen as it was when they'd found her. He smiled.

One of the advantages of being a werewolf was the speedy healing. He scanned through the men who'd survived the journey, nodding at the few who caught him doing a silent inventory. His Beta was a little way behind him, Neil, too, then a few others were there, too. His loyal men. He'd carefully curated the werewolves who followed him for the battle, and he knew he'd never forget the ones he lost in the battle.

As Alpha Blake and his mini army of werewolves reached the border, the sound of victory cheers moved like a wave from the border protectors to the few wolves that were hovering around waiting for their Alpha's return. The cheering was loud. Yes, it was loud at first, it woke them up from their after-battle daze. Then, as more people joined, it was like an uproar. His men raised their hands in the air in response to the cheers.

The trees swayed, the sloppy hills levelled, his skin tingled. If he didn't know better, he'd say it was all because of him that nature seemed to come alive in that instance. But, that was barely true. It was the moon goddess who was doing all those things and keeping his pack safe, healthy and out of sight of wandering human hikers as she'd always done.

Thank you, moon goddess. Thank you. His silent prayer of Thanksgiving.

"The Alpha is back!" One of the border protectors yelled, above the cheers that had quietened a little.

"The Alpha is back." Another answered.

Soon, the chant spread like wildfire from one person to another, and from another to another. And on and on. By the time he reached the middle area of their pack, where his house was situated, there was a big crowd already waiting for him and his weremen. The crowd parted for him and his mini army to pass as he walked through.

When he got to his porch, his Mother was already there waiting for him. She looked like she'd aged a few more years between when he'd left to avenge his father and right then. There were new grey hairs on her head, and her craw feet were more defined, so that when she smiled, it deepened further. Before he could further analyze whether the smile brightened her face and lit up her eyes or not, she pulled him in for a hug. He was pretty sure he heard 'awww' from the crowd.

When she released him, he coughed, rubbed his neck, regulated his facial expression to not show weakness as usual, before turning to give an official speech. It was expected of him: to turn nothing into words that's invigorate the crowd and strengthen their faith in their Alpha.

He planted his feet firmly on the wooden board floor of his porch, the familiarity of it all grounding him and sprouting the words from thin air into his head which in turn made it to his lips. "As we all know, a few of our best werewolves and I, embarked on a journey to avenge our beloved Alpha King, my father, who was unjustly murdered eight years ago by the witches. The journey was not an easy one. Oh, it was very far from easy. But, we got our revenge and I'm sure my father is looking down at us and he's proud!"

"Yes!" the crowd echoed.

"Alpha Blake, Alpha Blake." They chanted.

He paused, trying to rack up the right words for what he was about to say, when the crowd quieted. "But, sadly, yet honourably, as it is with battles, there are casualties. Not just from our journey, since the creation of our pack. Let us remember our heroes who have died fighting for a greater cause. May they never be forgotten! To our heroes!"

The remnant of his mini army stamped their fists on their chest and said, "Never to be forgotten! To our heroes!"

He nodded. There was a few minutes of absolute silence as they mourned the dead.

Right after, someone in the crowd raised his hand, using the elongated silence to his advantage and stepped forward. He was an Omega.

Blake scrutinized the Omega, noting the way he hunched, but the air of him was anything but defeated. "Yes? Would you like to add to my speech or do you have anything else to contribute?"

After a brief few minutes, he spoke, his voice louder than he'd expected. "I'd like to ask a question that many people probably want to ask, but are too scared to actually ask you, their Alpha, or something."

"Shut up, boy!" Someone shouted from the crowd.

He waved the crowd to order, then turned to the Omega, giving him his full attention. "Quiet, please, everyone. Go ahead."

The Omega continued. "So, I'm just wondering. Who's the new female among us? I'm pretty sure no one got up and did plastic surgery while y'all were away in Norway."

He'd give it to this Omega. Great subtle sense of humor.

"Yes! Who's she?" Someone else echoed in the crowd. Murmurs erupted everywhere.

He waved at the crowd to quiet them down.

"On our way back, we rescued her from wolf hunters. She'll be transitioned into the pack soon, then you can get to know her for yourself. That's all for now. I won't be entertaining any more questions."

With that, he went into his home. Everyone else dismissed. His Beta, Ian, came inside the living room where he was lounging on the chair.

"The elders are here," he said.

What? He turned sharply to look at his Beta. "Did I call for a meeting?"

"No, but there's a new person among us, so-"

"That's not an excuse, Ian. I'm very tired from the journey and they're already knocking on my door. What's that all about?"

Ian rubbed his neck and said, "I can send them back if you want."

He waved his hand at him, resigned to his fate. "Don't worry. Send them in. I'll be with them in a few minutes. Also, find the girl and tell Meredith to show her around the pack or something."

"Alright, Alpha Blake."

With that, Blake was left alone to deal with the committee of five elders: Elder Baker, Corbin, Larry, Pete and Mason. From prior experience, those five were tough to their furs. He grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down in the kitchen. For some unknown reason, he had to do this; he had to aid the wolf's entry into his pack.

IVY:

Meredith took Ivy's cold hand as soon as the meeting ended.

"Why are your hands so cold?" Meredith asked, rubbing it absentmindedly to warm it up.

She shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps, I'm nervous."

"You shouldn't be."

"I shouldn't? After that intense meeting?"

Meredith laughed. "You think that's intense? You should have been around for the meeting we held before we went to war."

She shrugged as Meredith swung their hands together.

The pack was not as welcoming as their Alpha looked or had looked. She couldn't tell what was up, but there was something different about his aura, and that had occurred as soon as he stepped foot inside the pack's territory. Maybe it was the default setting. He had to play Alpha, so he had to play tough, too.

Dressed in clothing for the Norway temperature they'd just come from, she was beginning to sweat as the weather in Boston was currently warmer and the clothing was inappropriate. Despite her discomfort, she tried her best to hold her head high amidst the numerous stares she was getting from the werewolves who were still hanging around the area.

One of the men who'd rescued her came down from the steps that led to the Alpha's house, face so blank it was hard to tell how he was truly feeling. He approached her and Meredith, offering a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Meredith."

"Hi, Ian."

"Alpha Blake said you should show the little wolf around the pack. Get her to start familiarizing."

Ivy rolled her eyes. He barely looked at her, speaking to Meredith like she wasn't there. Typical macho male behavior.

When he left, Meredith turned to her and said, "Come with me."

"Wait. Who's he?"

She looked at where Ian had walked off to, as if the path held the answer to the question. "He's our Beta."

"Ohh," Ivy said. No wonder he'd been giving off macho unfuckwitable vibes.

She followed her. Meredith was a fighter, that much she could deduce, but she was also just as soft as cotton candy. She giggled and spinned as they walked hand in hand through the pack, smiling and greeting everyone she passed by. She knew almost everyone by name, it was so sweet. Kids came up to her and hugged her tightly, while men and women waved at her with vigour. Maybe she was a fae, Ivy thought, because in that instant, she looked like one. Pretty and sweet.

Despite the fact that they looked at Ivy with caution, they looked like a tightly knitted pack and it warmed somewhere in her heart. She didn't exactly expect to be openly accepted. She'd thought of it all throughout the journey there. But, she could take this. They were merely curious and wary, after all, she was a stranger in their beloved home.

Maybe this would be her new home. Maybe she'd settle and grow old here. Wishful thinking.

"We have this lovely place behind the Alpha's house that you should definitely see. It's so beautiful. Magical, even."

They'd toured round the straight road that roughly connected the entire pack. Ivy was breathless, but Meredith looked like they hadn't even moved more than a few meters.

She took her back to the way they'd come and led her towards the Alpha's house, around the back. There was a beautiful garden that looks heavenly, just like she'd described. Meredith, ever so picture perfect, went in and shot a pose, giggling all the while.

What was up with her? Ivy thought, as she watched her hum and sniff the flowers she found. Almost all the flowers were in bloom, the area burst forth with the sweet scent of nature. It was as if they were regular people in a regular garden. But, no, this was a werewolf pack. It wasn't normal. It wasn't supposed to be.

Tired of standing, only just getting air to flow in and out of her with ease after the lengthy walk around the pack, she sat on the back stairs of the Alpha's house. As she sat, she realized she was close to an open window. Voices flittered outside through the window.

"We can't keep her. . ."

"I agree with Elder Corbin. We don't really know who she is."

". . . But we can't just turn away from a fellow werewolf." This time, she could recognize the Alpha's voice from days of travelling together.

"I'll take her in," another voice said.

A few minutes later, she heard the creaking of a door opening and closing, then footsteps moved close to her. Meredith turned along with her just as Alpha Blake opened the back door.

"Ladies!" He exclaimed, looking pleasantly surprised. "I didn't know you both were back here."

Meredith was the first to speak. "I wanted to, uhm. I wanted to-"

Ivy folded her hands, standing up immediately to help Meredith get the words out. "She was just showing me around the pack when she remembered you have such a lovely garden behind your house."

Alpha Blake looked at her. She looked away. "That's nice of you, Meredith."

"Yes. Has she got a place to stay? Neil and I could take her in." Meredith squeezed her fingers as she spoke.

Alpha Blake waved his hands. "No, that's all sorted out now. She'll be moving in with one of the elder's families soon."

They stood in a rough circle. The air shifted as the wind blew by.

"Can I walk through the garden with you, Ivy? Meredith, I hope you don't mind."

Meredith shook her head, looking a bit flustered. It was quite different how she melded into the pack, turning soft, but in battle, she was as fierce as any vengeance ready werewolf. She left them alone and suddenly, the floor looked very interesting to Ivy, she all but buried her face in it.

Alpha Blake broke the silence. "So, your name's Ivy. Anything spectacular about it?"

What was supposed to be spectacular about it? she wanted to reiterate. Instead, she said, "Poison Ivy, that's what's spectacular about it."

He rubbed his chin. "Hmm. That's strangely dark. But, I love it."

She shot him a smile that bothered on cryptic as she watched the trees dance. "It's supposed to be dark."