Chapter 2 A Wolf's Return To The Pack

"You have to be discreet." Mane instructs. "I'm second to the Alpha's Beta. I mustn't be caught doing this."

"Thank you, Mane." Sera appreciates.

"Don't thank me yet." Mane says, his voice gruff. "Not until we get inside unnoticed and unscathed."

"Sure." She nods her head.

Mane and Sera finally jump inside the pack house, landing with a light thud. As Mane notices a security wolf approaching, he tries to hide Sera, but the wolf has already spotted her.

"Don't move. This is treason to the Alpha and to the pack at large." He warns Mane, outlining the consequences he'd face for his actions.

"Hey, brother." Sera calls, throwing a kiss at him. She deems it fit to seduce him, hoping they might be spared. The wolf shoots a deadly glare at her, instantly shifting her mood from flirtatious to fearful.

"Now, come on..." Mane pats him on the shoulders. "...I saw you go in with Lisa, and I have the videos. If you don't let us go, I'll display it on the projector."

"Nice try. You can go."

Mane winks at Sera, and they quickly exit, heading into his private room. His guards welcome him, but they initially refuse entry to Sera.

"Let her in." He instructs, shutting the door once she enters. However, he's surprised to find the Alpha waiting inside his room.

"Damn it." Sera curses.

"Language, rogue!" The Alpha rebukes. "Beta's sexy mate, good one at it, Mane."

"I-I never planned to do it this way. I'm sorry." Mane apologizes.

"That's not my concern right now." The Alpha deadpans. "And to you, rogue, I'm Ralph, Midnight Echo Pack. It's interesting to encounter a wicked soul that will soon experiment on you."

Sera lets out a sigh.

"I believe I have the right to know your name as well." Ralph says with a smirk.

"Sera. Sera Moonshade." She replies, her tone clipped.

"Mane, your fellow Beta was wounded by a rogue on his way to inform our neighboring pack house about an urgent message from the moon goddess." Ralph explains, expressing disappointment.

"Ugh...Damn. Did the wolf healer do anything already?" Mane shows concern as he walks towards the Alpha. Sera follows him, but Ralph stops her.

"Feign respect if you don't have it." Ralph tells her.

"The wolf healer demanded a potion that was unavailable in his boxes." Ralph continues. "Since your fellow Beta couldn't heal himself, and the wolf healer couldn't..."

"We'll forsake him?" Mane asks, shutting his eyes and then opening them suddenly.

"Not until after the last try. We need a young wolf to get the potion from Dan. And as you know, no young wolves are present here. We all sent them for..." He gesticulates, instead of saying the last word.

"I understand. Where do we get the young wolf?" Mane asks.

"I don't know. That's where the problem lies." Ralph grumbles. "The pain keeps worsening."

"Should I speak with my new friend?" Mane asks. "And I can get back."

"When making choices, make reasonable ones. This one is human! A mere human, and an abomination to this pack." Ralph condemns.

"I'm not human, I'm a werewolf." Sera corrects, directing Mane's gazes at herself.

"Really?" Ralph asks, smirking. "What if we decide to confirm?"

"I'm ready." Sera retorts, sounding brave.

"Go." Ralph commands Mane. Just as he's about to step out of his room, Ralph stops him, "don't be late. And I'm sure we've agreed: If she's human, we'll kill her even if you hide the truth, and if she's a wolf, we'll recruit her."

"Agreed." Sera confirms and walks out, Mane trailing closely.

"Damn. You don't talk back to an Alpha that way." Mane corrects sharply. "Let's get down there. The field."

She closes her lips and moves with him.

"Quick question." Mane states, snapping his fingers.

"Go ahead. Hold on, who are these?" Sera asks, staring at a master wolf training a few others.

"Oh, those? They're wolves - I mean, wolves that just shifted, newly." Mane replies.

"Can't they get the potion from Dan?" Sera asks. The urge rises within her to join those wolves and be trained as well, but she remembers that she's not even eighteen yet.

She contemplates revealing to Mane that she's a young wolf but is afraid that she'd be sent to get the potion from Dan.

"Who's Dan? Stop prying." Mane rebukes her, chuckling shakily.

"Are you human, or a young wolf?" Mane asks.

She presses her lips to his ears, telling herself that he's the only one she can trust now. With no family and unable to keep hiding the truth, she decides to share.

"I'm a young wolf. Seventeen. Shifting very soon."

"Come up with me!" Mane yells with excitement as he runs towards his room where the Alpha is. She chases after him, not eager to be useful to the Alpha but rather to avoid getting lost in the pack.

A guard welcomes her into the room and shuts the door.

"Sera Moonshade, we have confirmed that you're a young wolf. Can you help us get the potion, save a life so we'll save yours?" Alpha Ralph requests.

Scared, Sera bows her head. "As you wish, Master."

"Take her to Dan. Let her get the potion." He instructs, and a guard marches her out of the room.

"I thought Mane would follow me. Why...?" She asks, but the guard shuts the door, forcing her to Dan.

Swiftly, at Dan's.

"Is she a young wolf?" Dan inquires, prepared to offer the potion to her.

"Release the potion to her. If she isn't, it'll burn her. So, try her." The guard retorts, while Dan handles the potion to her. Sera breathes in shakily as she receives it.

"Well done, young wolf." The guard smiles, leading her back to the pack house, inside Mane's room.

"We found the potion." The guard states, giving it to the Alpha.

"How do we go about it?" Mane asks Ralph.

"I'll do it. Thanks to Sera Moonshade. You're welcome to be one of us. Mane, I got this. Go with your friend." Ralph states, but Mane insists.

"You're the leader of the pack; don't stress yourself more than you should." Mane cares.

"I got it. Leave." He orders. Mane, with Sera, exits the room, heading to the field.

"Thanks for that. I'm happy you're one of us now." Mane appreciates, pulling her in for a hug.

"I should thank you better." Sera retorts.

"Would you like to check something out?" Mane asks, pulling out of the hug.

"Sure." She nods. He leads her to the top of a harmless roof.

"Can you see the other buildings clearly?" He asks.

"Sure. I can. I think there's another pack closer to us than the mere buildings." Sera replies.

"You learn quickly. You'd be useful." Mane compliments.

"Don't blush yet; that's not my point." He deadpans, and she maintains a straight face.

"The pack house closer to us is Crescent Ember Pack. In all your stroll, sneak-out, do not get near the pack." Mane instructs.

"Why? I like it." Sera opposes.

"Don't question my authority." Mane says, touching her lips, wanting them to be shut.

"That's all I have to tell you. Hold on!" He instructs.

"Why scream? I didn't even move." Sera says.

"I wanted to get your perfect attention. You said you're seventeen, are you sure you won't be eighteen soon?" He asks.

"What's the date?" Sera asks.

"June 3rd." Mane replies.

"My birthday is in a few days then. Sorry, ouch, damn. June 4th, mom said I'd be eighteen." Sera says as Mane hugs her tightly.

"Do you know you almost put us into trouble?" Mane asks, feeling good.

"How?"

"You could have died from getting the potion from Dan. You're almost getting your wolf."

"I can't wait. And I'm sorry about that. I guess I'll try better next time."

| DAY BREAK |

"Mane, Simon!" A wolf's urgent cry echoes from a corner. "They've invaded here! Come quickly."

Mane swiftly energizes his wolf, rushing to meet Sera in the room opposite him.

"Hey Sera. I have to be on the battlefield. Be safe. Crescent Ember Pack." He says, his anxiety palpable.

"I understand." Sera sighs.

"Don't let them come for you. His son is looking for a mate. He'd soon be done with his mate problems, okay? I love you." He says, gives her a peck, and leaves.

He quickly returns, "I forgot to tell you. I know you're good at hiding and sneaking. Never join us in the battle."

Sera screams now, stops for a moment, and acts as though she wants to vomit.

"Sera Moonshade." She hears a calm voice. She looks around her, scared to know who spoke to her.

"Did anything bad happen?" Here comes the nightmarish question. She ignores it.

"Sera?" Mane pats her.

"Yeah? Please go. I don't know what has come over me." Sera advises. "Go, now!"

"Did...someone speak to you?" He asks, getting her attention.

"How did you know?" Sera asks.

"Your wolf's right here. Happy Birthday, Sera! We'll celebrate you once back." He pecks her and leaves her in shock.