Howling Hearts

I cuddle into the warmth of my mate, smelling her scent. It has never grown to bore me but only grown stronger in my heart. As I get lost in her scent, a sudden frantic knock pulls me back to sanity. I walked up quickly to the door to try my best not to wake my tired mate or my fresh newborn son who was born only hours ago. I exited quietly and shut the door behind me before I made eye contact with the very disturbed head warrior of my pack,

My heart started pumping quickly as I knew this man had seen a lot in his life and very few things could disturb him as such. 'What is the matter, Damion". I asked wearily. His eyes seem like they are searching for the right answers but not finding the words to describe what's wrong."Alpha Caleb, just follow me please." He sounds defeated.

I hurry behind him as he leads me outside and to the Pack Gates. As we reached the Gates, I heard that sound that broke my heart in half. "A baby?' I asked him with my eyes wide. "Is it a family that is in need of shelter?" I asked him, not knowing I was far from right. "No Alpha." He seemed so secretive. The crying continued but it wasn't a normal baby cry. It was a saddened cry. A loud, prolonged, mournful cry. One to make any mother's heart shatter.

As the gates screeched opening wide, I saw the basket in the middle of the road. The child was just left there for death or rescue which ever were to come first. I gulp the knot that formed in my throat at this sad sight. I looked at my men in horror. 'Well any sign of the mother?" I asked with urgency. "No Sir, there is no scent and no tracks and no one was spotted dropping the baby off" They said with their heads down and with pity towards this child.

I walk up to the baby to maybe catch a scent of the mother but there is nothing. I do smell that the child is of wolf blood. As I look at the sweet child just lost and looking for love. I saw a note on her. "Accept me?" The note stated. I took hold of the child and walked back inside the open gates and towards the pack house. The clouds were waging war against one another in the sky giving off loud bangs, but the baby just stared up to look at the streaks of lightning dancing between the chaos.

"Knock, Knock, Knock". I stood there waiting a while till I saw the lights go on inside and the door opened slowly revealing a barely awake Rylan. My Beta. "What may I help you with Alpha Caleb?" His eyes widened in shock but quickly turned into a huge and proud smile. "Congratulations on your new ba.." I cut him off before he could continue." Thank you for your care and kindness Rylan, But.. .' I slowly look down towards the child in my arms. 'This child is not mine she was left at the border gates and with no parent or anyone traced only with a note saying accept me? So..." Before I could finish his Mate Celeste ran to the door with the excitement a child would have on Christmas.

They've been struggling to conceive another after the birth of their first daughter. Me and Rylan have been best friends all my life, so I knew him and he knew me. My other chosen half not one destined by the moon but destined by the pack as brothers in ruling. Celeste slowly took the baby from my arms, holding the child near her chest. I then knew she was safe. "We will name her Scarlet' she said, and continued back to her room. "Thank you Caleb", Rylan said with a tear almost gliding down his cheek. Maybe this was the moon goddess's gift to them. "Oh by the way, thank you for the congratulations. Asher was born just 2 hours ago, so your efforts weren't in vain." This time his smile got even brighter. "Goodnight Rylan." I said before going back to my mate.

As I feared, she was sitting up in bed waiting for me. I couldn't hide anything from her. "Where did you disappear to?" she asked with an eyebrow arched in judgement. "Well, a baby was left at our gates. So I asked Rylan and Celeste to take her in as their own." Jealousy was prominent in her eyes. "Why didn't you bring her to me, why couldn't we keep her' she said pouting. "Well do you think we could handle both?" I said slowly turning my head to the baby crib in the room with our new born Asher in sleeping peaceful. "You've got a point" she said in defeat. Leaning back onto the headboard, "Who knows, maybe she might turn out to be Asher's mate."

17 Years later:

Scarlet: "Saige, aren't you finished yet?" I screamed as I banged on the bathroom door. "Give me a minute". I heard her muffled voice from behind the door. She always hogged the bathroom like no one else ever needed it. Suddenly, the door opened and I fell to the ground because I was leaning with my body weight on the door. "Loser" I heard her say as she walked past on her way to school.

Her blond hair is like the sun was captured and molded into beautiful straight hair falling onto her back just below her waist. Her body was curvy and to bring some balance to the sexy, she was short too be cute too. Her eyes were blue and she was the epiphany of beauty. Every guy in school drooled over her. Today she really decided to spite out parents as she was wearing a minute mini skirt with a crop top holding on for dear life to not pop over her chest.

Even though I love seeing Saige being put in her place today, I just don't have the time. You see, it was that time of the month and I needed an urgent change. My cramps were from hell and my mood foul. I shut the door quickly, finishing my business as I heard Saige say "whatever mom" before banging the door closed.

She always left without me. She said I was an embarrassment and didn't want anyone to know I was her sister at school. I wasn't as beautiful as she was. I had red hair and emerald eyes with a tall figure and just a bit of curves. I didn't match the beauty standard of the Werewolf World. Nor did I match with my family as I didn't have any of their genes anywhere in me. It must be from a great grandmother or someone else in the family tree.

I got dressed in a pair of mom's jeans and a loose fitted t-shirt paired with converse. I put my red hair up into a ponytail. Never have I been a stylish person. I was more after comfort and dressing as naked as possible was not comfortable for me. I started walking to school as it was not so far away. When I arrived at school, I saw Saige pull into the parking lot with her friends. They were a popular group. As she climbed out, she quickly made her way over to Asher, who was standing beside his friends by the school entrance.

She swung her arms around him and brought her chest up to his. They were the school couple that everyone shipped even though everyone was jealous. The daughter of the Beta and the Son of the Alpha, it was a match made in heaven, one that made sense. For me however, it was a match made in hell.

Saige would bully me relentlessly. All just to prove her dominance and make me weak in front of Asher. Letting me know he is far from my grasp and far from my league. Yes, I had a crush on him just like every shewolf does. But the difference is, I was also born into the Beta Family. So maybe I was competition to Saige. It's not that Saige enjoyed Asher's company or liked him very much, but she did love the power that came with him. Power has always been her motive for anything, but Asher was more than that to me.

Every Wednesday we would see each other in the library. I would go there to study and Asher would go there to escape the world for just a few moments. In there, where nobody could see, he would be kind to me. We would chat about all his problems. I would reassure him that he will be a great alpha one day. It's like those words were his drugs and he kept on coming back for more. I never had a problem with that because I liked looking at him and speaking with him.

I would just get lost in Asher Stormclaw's handsomeness. He had an aura of dominance that would attract any she wolf. He was tall and had a muscular build. His presence always drew the gaze of everyone where ever he went. I always tried to look away, except when we were in the library. His hair, as dark as a moonless night, is tousled and styled in a way that seems effortlessly appealing. The strands fall slightly over his piercing blue eyes, which possess an intensity that can be both captivating and unnerving. His chiseled features pared with a sharp jawline and prominent cheekbones is something to drool over. He has a wolfish grin that can simultaneously charm and infuriate, leaving a lingering impact on those who cross his path. Which side of the path you are depends on you.

"Scarlet are you listening?" The voice took me out of my daydream and it was Layla. My best friend is my partner in crime. My other half chosen to be sister to me and not by the moon. "Ag always day dreaming... Is it about Asher?" She playfully bumps me with her smirk lining her face and her brow taunting me with the movement its making. "No I..I.." she lets out a loud giggle that makes me blush so red I might just turn into a cherry.

"Well anyway, the alphas are having a meeting this Saturday from all around LA. And my birthday is Friday, so hope with me that one of them is my mate." She always dreamed of meeting her mate just as I did. However, I was fine with just meeting my mate and I never cared about rank. She, however, cared about both, which was normal. All the wolves wanted a powerful mate. Just not me, because that would mean I would be in the eyes of all the other wolves watching my every move. That's just not me. "I can't wait" Layla said with hope and excitement shining out from her eyes.

Friday came around much faster than anticipated. It's Layla's birthday. I wished her a happy birthday this morning before school. She was so happy to finally be able to meet her mate, whenever that would be, but she would know it was him. After school we decided to go shopping. She had to look exceptional. Although her words were "I have to look good enough to eat",

I kind of cant wait till next week for my birthday. Maybe I will meet my mate on my birthday. On second thought, I kind of can wait. I'm nervous as the days go on. What if he doesn't accept me? What if he turns out to be from another pack? I would have to leave my family and friends behind.

"Scarlet, what is Physical Change?" My chemistry teacher asked with her glasses hanging low on her nose and her glare judging my actions. "It is a change from one state to another without a change in chemical composition", I stated with a bored look scattering my face. "Give me an example, Scarlett" She asked me with her body tensing up. "Well something turning from solid to liquid like Ice when it melts". She then stood back with defeat that flashed in her in her eyes. "Pay attention to my class Scarlett. I don't teach to the wall", she said with sarcasm before going back to her lesson.

After a few minutes passed, the school bell rung and the last class for today was over. I met Layla outside with a smile that plastered her face. "Come on slow poke", She said, jumping into her car. "Nice ride", I said questioningly to her. "Oh my dad got it for me as a birthday gift" she flashed me a smile and moved her eyes back to the road.

We arrived at the mall and went on a mission to find the best outfit for Layla. After hours of going in and out of almost every shop there was, we found her outfit. It was a corset top with a see-through bodice in jet black. Also, a jet black blazer that was fitted and lace-up boots with heels. To make it seem a bit more casual, we pared it with a pair of washed out black boyfriend jeans. To make it seem like she isn't trying too hard.

The outfit fitted her perfectly with her petite frame and chestnut brown hair done in a bun. " Now your turn", she said . "Well it's not my birthday until another week and I'm also not going to be greeting the Alphas as I will be studying tomorrow for the test on Monday" I stated and shrugged. " Ag what a buzzkill. It's not like you need to study since you are already smart enough", she said, glaring at me in the hopes I would change my mind.

And well I did. "I'll go but Im not getting all dolled up." She glared at me again like my words were a betrayal to her ears. "Fine." She said in defeat.

Saturday after noon:

Me and Layla started getting ready. I just did my hair in a messy bun and wore mom's jeans and a white tank with doc martins. Layla got all dolled up and we made our way towards the outside of the pack house and it was crowded with shewolves all desperate to be near the alphas. All desperate to be mated to them.

The cars started coming in and parking by the back house. Some are big fancy jeeps while others are slick black cars. All contain special cargo. The Alphas. But there were supposed to be 25 alphas all together and I had only counted 24. As Silvermoons representative arrived and climbed out of the slick grey car, I could tell it wasn't the alpha due to his aura, but instead he was a beta.

I wonder why the alpha didnt show up. Maybe these matters didn't concern him. Not that I know what matters they were discussing, but I knew it would be important enough to have all the neighboring packs involved. This beta had the silver moon pack symbol. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. He was muscular. Then he turned around and looked in our direction. Suddenly, he had his wolf looking through his eyes glowing and his canines out sniffing the air. He gave out a loud growl. "Mate" My heart stopped.