Chapter 1

I’ve woken up early this morning…really early. I have absolutely no idea where this Blaze Express is, so I have to be prepared for my first time. I cannot miss this train!

So far, the directions seem pretty easy. Another reason for my early wake was to memorize the map. It’d be too much of a pain to keep shifting back and forth to check it. I had thought about carrying it between my teeth in wolf form, but that’s a terrible idea considering my saliva could potentially ruin everything by smudging the ink. Too bad I’m not a bipedal werewolf with opposable thumbs.

It takes me three hours to reach my checkpoint near the station; I ended up taking a wrong turn because I got my directions mixed up, but when I realized the landmark I had to look out for was not there, I retraced my steps and headed the other way. I quickly morph back to my human form and get dressed before running the rest of the way.

I would just like to say I hate this. I have absolutely no idea what anything is, what screen to look at, or what the stupid numbers on this ticket mean. Now, I know what trains are and why we take them, but I’ve never actually been on one, so I have no clue how things work. I look around at the people just zooming by with varying types and numbers of luggage, many of whom are walking over to a booth with the sign “customer service” above it.

Guess that’s where I’ll go.

I wait in line, anxiously biting my fingernails as it slowly begins to shorten. Once I get to the front, I’m greeted by a friendly old lady with a tag telling me her name; interesting.

“Hello…Char-Charlene?” I say in a nervous tone, uncertain of how to pronounce it.

“It looks like that, but it’s pronounced as if spelt with an SH. So Sharlene.” She corrects me, still very polite. “How may I help you, dear?”

“Um, I’ve never taken a train before, and I don’t know what any of these things mean.”

“Ah, no worries, I’m here to assist!” She takes the ticket from me and inspects it carefully before signaling for me to lean close so she can explain it. “This right here is the name of our Train, Blaze. This number here is the train you will be boarding. So, Blaze 23. Right below it says seat and the number 13, and the letter is F; this is where you’ll sit. It’s a window seat. So, when you step onto the train, each row of seats has numbers above them, and the letters tell you which seat you’ll be sitting in. The window seat has a little rectangle close to it, so just look out for that.

The last thing is this number in the top right corner. This is the time your train boards, which seems to be in the next ten minutes.”

“Ten?!” There is now panic in my voice.

“No need to panic, sweetheart; I said board, not depart. The train you’ll be taking will arrive on this platform. All you have to do is look at your ticket or the screens that are placed all over; the number beside the word ‘gate’, that tells you where the train will arrive.”

“Okay…” I take my ticket from her and find the gate number. “It says gate A5.”

“Head right down the end of the building and take a seat by A5, okay, Hun?”

“Okay, thank you!” I smile, “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, sweetie, everybody has a first time for everything.”

Nice old lady….

Along the walk to my gate are little shops with all sorts of weird things I’ve never seen before. Some of them have food, and they look quite yummy; sadly, money is something the pack did away with ages ago, once we became self-sustainable, so I don’t have any. The only people within the pack that could access what little money we kept were the Elders and our Alpha. They kept some stored away in a safe just in case.

So many lights, and the ceiling is super high. If a large shifter morphed in here, they’d be A-ok. And the technology…Venda? Like vendors…but big, cold boxes. I step closer to inspect a bit more.

“Hello!” It blares out, causing me to step back.

Just as I do, I bump into a hard surface and soon after feel a warm liquid against my arm. I immediately look back, and my eyes fill with horror and shame. There is a very tall man towering at least two feet higher than me, intimidating and scary. He’s attractive too, because of course he has to be. Just my luck! But what’s not attractive is the giant stain on his shirt caused by the liquid contents from the coffee cup on the floor.

“I am so sorry!” I blurt out in panic, looking around for whatever I can find to dry him off, almost running into another person.

“Sorry! I’m so sorry,” I apologize to the angry man in a suit whose briefcase I almost knocked out of his hand.

Fricken machine, this is all your fault! Why can you talk, you stupid hunk of metal? My day was going pretty smooth until you grabbed my attention with your flashing lights…and yummy treats. Goddammit!

I see a stack of what appears to be very fluffy napkins and rush over to grab them. I quickly return, and as I’m about to pat this guy’s shirt, he takes my hand, removing the napkins and patting himself dry. I look up at his face, and he seems to be in pain.

Shit…was the coffee that hot? I felt it a little, but that was after it spilled on him first.

“You’re a wolf,” he states as he continues to pat his shirt.

I widen my eyes in shock and look around us; there is no one close by. How does he know? Wait…

“Are you a shift- ” I begin to ask, but he cuts me off.

“Yes.”

I don’t know everything about shifters, but one thing is for sure: we don’t mingle with normal society very often because our existence isn’t general knowledge. So honestly, I’m surprised to find one here. My pack was small and remote…maybe there are packs that mingle comfortably…I’m also surprised that I can’t smell what he is. I’m going to blame it on the obnoxious perfumes and colognes that these humans wear. Ick!

“I’m guessing you’re from a country clan?”

I nod at him, this time with my head lowered as my face flushes red. “It’s pretty obvious I have no idea what anything is here…I’m so sorry. I didn’t even expect to find another shifter here.”

I hear him sigh, and I look up once again to see him staring down at me with an annoyed expression…but not angry, so that’s…not too bad? He rakes his messy, long, black hair back and shakes his head.

“Just be aware of those around you.”

Then he heads off into the restroom nearby.

Well, that went swimmingly. Why?! Of all the things that could happen this morning, I had to spill coffee on someone. It was going so smoothly…it’s like the universe exists to rattle me!

Can I just get a break, please? I know I’ve gotten a huge one from this pack I’m going to join, but like, can you just let me enjoy the day?

I sigh and carefully make my way to gate A5 before I end up doing something worse than first-degree burns. There are a lot of people here…A-shifter people. All Humans, as far as I can tell. After meeting that guy, I guess one can’t be too sure, though. It feels so strange to be surrounded by them. We look exactly alike, yet we are so different. They don’t even know I exist…just another normal girl about to catch a train. Taking a seat by no one, I hug one pack to my chest and the other I place on the chair beside me, wrapping an arm around it as well. A few eyes turn my way, eying me and my strange-looking backpacks closely. I guess I look a bit suspicious, but I’m just really awkward and out of place. They don’t know that, though…guess I’ll just have to deal with the eyeballing.

Soon enough, my time to board the train arrives, and I follow the lead of the veterans who surround me. Get in line, punch your ticket at the door, and find your seat. Very simple. And now I just wait until everyone has boarded. This train is pretty cool, and it seems I’ve been given quite the ticket because I’m seated in an area where I have my own blocked off column with a window the height of the train; the view is going to be magnificent. Not to mention that my seat reclines, and I have a fluffy pillow and warm blanket. I didn’t figure these things out right away; an attendant saw me struggling and came right over to explain things to me. They are the ones who offered me the pillow and blanket as well. Really sweet person.

As I get cozy in my slot, there is an announcement over the speakers that the doors have been closed and the train will be taking off to a certain destination. The first of many, apparently. As I said, I’m new to this, so I have no idea how the heck this works. It’s a pretty fun ride, though. We hit a bunch of towns on my journey, and I’m able to see all parts of the countryside; beautiful scenery that overwhelms my senses, and I have to fight back the urge to jump off the train, shift, and run through the hills. And the food. Oh my gosh… I get food, such delicious food! I did not know that my ticket came with food and drink!

Lunch and dinner pass, and darkness falls upon us. The attendant does a walkthrough to ensure we are all set for the night and wishes us good rest. It’s not helping, though, because I’m finding it quite hard to fall asleep even though I’m really tired. I’m sure it’s because I’m in a new environment surrounded by strangers…people who are different. I have the constant feeling that I need to stay alert. What if someone gets up and tries going through my stuff? A lot can happen between the hourly checks that the attendants do, and I don’t even know if they do it overnight. I don’t know anything, and that scares me. So, I take light naps throughout the night, and when morning comes, I feel like absolute garbage. A zombie. But hey, I get breakfast and lunch again, so I just fuel up on coffee to push me through the rest of my time here.

After about 29 hours of being on this wretched train, I finally get to my final destination. Zeifer City. Getting off the train fills me with mixed emotions because I’m so happy that I don’t have to spend more time in a secluded area with strangers, but I’ve also just entered into an entirely different nightmare. This train station is even bigger and busier than the first, and people here are just impatiently zipping past me, not a care in the world for anything or anyone. I take a deep breath and do the only thing I can: read the signs and find my way out of this hellhole. It’s not easy navigating through a sea of sardines, but eventually I emerge from the mob and find myself outside in a parking lot and take the deepest breath I’ve ever taken. The air is cool, clean, and crisp. I close my eyes and take time to internally celebrate my success; I have survived the travels. Phew!

As I’m doing this, a familiar smell makes its way to me, and my eyes flash open to see a stranger headed my way. She’s tall and lean, with a tight-fitting white tee tucked into black trousers. She also wears heavy-duty black boots. If it weren’t for the polite look on her face, I’d be highly intimidated. Once she gets close to me, she rakes her hand through her faux hawk, and extends a hand for me to shake.

“Moon Fang?” She asks. I give a slight nod, and she smiles. “I am Karin Cloud, daughter of Alpha Clementine Cloud and one of the pack’s top-rank soldiers. Pleased to meet you.”

Realization kicks in, and I feel a wave of relief rush over me. It doesn’t last long, though, because as grateful as I am that they are here, I’m also greatly overwhelmed by the fact that she’s just mentioned she’s the Alpha’s daughter. The Alpha sent her offspring to come get me!

I feel like precious cargo…

Oh my gosh! What am I doing? Did I leave my manners on the train? I pull myself out of my head and immediately bow before Karin, lowering myself to my knees.

“The pleasure is mine,” I say respectfully.

“Whoa, what are you doing?” I feel two hands take hold of my shoulders and gently raise me back to standing position.

“I’m bowing, it’s customary. You’re to the pack what a princess is to a country.”

She smirks and shakes her head. “You country packs are so old-fashioned. Relax, we don’t do that in the Cloud pack. Everyone has their position and duty. I know my role, but if you’re gonna bow to me, then I’m gonna bow to you. We’re still equal. Plus, we’re in public, and the Normies will think you’re a bit off.”

I stare up at her in shock. Well then…it’s very clear this new pack is not like my old one in more ways than one. She refers to my pack as a country pack, so she must be what’s called a new age or modern pack. One that is more in touch with technology and money; they live their lives like humans do, but still to themselves. I have no clue how they do what they do, but hey, I’m about to find out. I’m about to become one of them. I kinda wish I could’ve just found a familiar pack though…

I’m not ungrateful, just confused and nervous.

“Anyway, the car is running, and we’re on a tight schedule, so let’s go. Is that all you have?”

She eyeballs my wolfpacks, and I nod, saying, “Yes. I took all I could with me when I had to flee my pack. Traveling light was the smartest decision. All I needed were the necessary things like clothing and family relics; some vital greens, and, of course, I took what toiletries were left. Other than that, I knew how to use nature to survive.”

Karin raises a brow. “Well, you’ll be quite the addition to this pack, won’t you. Glad to have you on board.” She takes my bags and heads off. “Come on, Fang.”

I nod and quickly follow, slowing my pace once beside her. “I can carry my own bags; you don’t have to do that.”

She turns her head and gives me a small smile. Goodness, this girl is beautiful…I’m getting all flustered over a simple smile.

“You bowed at me earlier,” she says, looking forward once more. “I feel like I need to do this to make things feel equal. Also, this is basic manners for someone I’m escorting, no big deal.”

The ride back to the pack is quite thrilling, but also nerve-racking. I’ve never been in a car before. It’s really nice, but unlike the train, we’re moving beside other vehicles, weaving through traffic on highways and making all sorts of turns and stops. Horns are blaring from angry drivers, and we have to enter into traffic at the right time on paths called ‘on ramps’. It’s also raining heavily in certain areas, and the little wipers are useless! How does one see enough not to crash into anything? Maybe it’s because I’m on the passenger side, but I mean, I’m freaking out the entire time, just waiting for a human to drive their car into ours. And Hydroplaning is a thing! Fishtailing! Why are we using these things? Ugh! I get why, one has to when they have to come to the cities, this pack works that way, but whyyyyy? I don’t care for cars; I hope they don’t require me to learn how to navigate in such a mechanism because I would rather not.

After a few more hours of driving, we finally approach a forest, which I assume must lead to the pack. We park on the side of the dirt road, and out of nowhere, a man spawns and begins heading our way. I swear to you, he was nowhere in sight when we pulled up; one minute I’m staring at greenery, the other I blink and boom! A body is suddenly in the picture. Karin smiles, obviously knowing who this man is and gets out of the car. I, however, remain seated because observing seems like the best thing to do. She gives him a hug and hands the keys over to him before starting up a little conversation, both of them staring back at me every now and then. I don’t like this secret conversation very much, and I’m shite at reading lips…what the heck are you guys saying and why am I the topic of discussion? Maybe he’s a part of the pack?

After a few minutes, Karin motions for me to join them, and I cautiously exit the vehicle, stopping by the hood of the car.

“No need to fear me, I am a friend.” The man says with a kind smile.

“This is Nexus, he’s a loyal friend of the pack and one of our middlemen,” Karin says.

“Middle men?” I ask with a slight tilt of the head.

“Correct, he is supernatural but resides with normal society. Witches are one of the few that get that privilege, seeing as technically they are just magic-yielding humans. He and his family are a part of a small group of supernaturals that aid us. They help keep a barrier up around our forest that hides us from sky view and deters humans from venturing deeper; their inner voice sways them from proceeding, and they head back, far away from here. Not many humans come this way, though, but we like to keep things as safe as possible. Also, he provides us with cars when we need them. Basically, anything we need from the human world, he’s got us.”

“The Cloud pack is quite special,” Nexus says, “I promise you’ll be nothing but happy here. Anything you need, just holler.”

“Anyway, see ya later, Nexus. Mom is waiting to introduce our newest member.”

We retrieve my packs from the car and bid him farewell before heading through the forest.

“So, how was the journey here?” Karin asks. “First time in a train, I presume.”

“It wasn’t as bad as the car ride,” I say. “I found it quite relaxing.”

“Are you trying to tell me something?” She gives me a cheeky side eye.

At first, I’m confused, but then I realize what’s happening and quickly clarify. “No, no! I’m not trying to say you’re a bad driver or anything. I just don’t like the hectic environment you have to travel through to get here. On the train, there was no traffic or loud horns; it was peaceful, and the scenery was mine to enjoy. I liked that very much. I’m sure you are an exceptional driver; we survived all that after all.”

Karin lets out a chortle before chuckling to herself.

“What? What did I say?” I honestly don’t know why she’s laughing.

“We survived after all…” she says to herself after her fit is over. “You are something.”

“Oh, that.” I smile to myself. “I meant it in an honest way.”

“I’m just teasing you, Fang, lighten up. I’m sure you expect Alpha-kin to act a certain way, but here we’re chill and light-hearted. I like to crack jokes with people.”

“Sorry, I’m still getting used to that.”

“Sounds like your Alpha rule was sucky.”

“No, not at all. Alpha Krohn was an exceptional man. He was kind and helpful and made sure everything we needed was provided. It’s just that there were certain formalities that were practiced.”

“Well, imma need you to drop that and treat me like a pal. Got it.” She looks down at me and unexpectedly ruffles my hair. “We’re gonna be great friends.”

“Friends?” I am, how you say…. shook. “You want to be friends with me?”

“Yeah, you seem like an interesting person. You’re also fun to pick on, but don’t worry, I’ll be easy on you…for now. By the way, Mom hasn’t told me anything about you. What kind of position did you hold in Krohn’s pack?”

“Oh, well, I was studying to become an Iweh. Actually, the day of the ambush was the day I was to take my final test. It’s not official yet.”

“I figured you weren’t a fighter, you’re a tiny girl. Other than being an Iweh, would you be interested in training to be a retriever? Or a sprinter. Actually, a sprinter would fit you best. How small is your wolf?”

“A sprinter?”

“Yeah. You probably didn’t have these in your pack, but we utilize every area of our strength. You may not see it, but there is so much to a small wolf; you are quick and able to get into and through areas large wolves cannot. You are also light on your feet, able to sneak in and out without making much of a sound. We rely on you guys to retrieve information and use your upper hand to make a quick getaway.”

“Oh…” I twist my lips to the side. “I’m not so sure that’s something I’d be interested in. I quite enjoy the safety and satisfaction of being there for those who are brave enough to get out there. Also, my mother died from serious injuries received in combat, so it’s not really something I’m pushed to do.”

Karin nods, resting her hands on her hips. “I’m sorry to hear that. I understand, it is scary out there even for wolves who aren’t doing combat. We could always use more Iwehs, though, and I’m sure, being from a different region, you might have knowledge of things we may not. You’ll be a great addition, Fang…anyway, let’s lighten the mood! I don’t want to bring back a mopey addition. Let’s talk about that last name, Fang…badass.”

I look out into the distance and smile…she’s nice.

The rest of the way back, we get into a funny conversation about last names we’ve heard throughout our lives and which ones should have never become pack names. She’s able to successfully pull my attention from saddening thoughts and lift my spirits up just in time. We stop at a tall, white, stone gate attached to a white, stone fence that shields what I assume must be the pack grounds within. It’s many feet tall, stopping just below the crowns of trees. Must be a first defense against enemies…it would take quite some time to scale something like this.

Atop the fence are shielded posts where guards stand watch, waving down at us.

“Maddox says Mom is waiting for us in her office,” Karins says, walking up to smaller doors in the gate that are now opening.

“Who?” I ask as I quickly follow her.

“My twin brother, I’m speaking to him now. You had a mind-link with your pack, correct?”

“No…” I pout and lower my head. “If I did, I would have known that something was off long before I got back to the grounds. My people would have been able to warn me, or send me to look for help.”

Karin turns to face me with wide eyes. “Shit…fuck, I’m sorry. I keep bringing up things that cause you pain.”

“No, it’s okay. You guys should know about my flaws. I can’t do a lot of things regular wolves can; my mom’s pregnancy was a bit of a hard one. I was a complicated baby.”

Karin wraps an arm around my shoulder and hugs me to her side. For someone I just met, she’s really comfortable with getting close. Then again, I guess she’s also trying to soothe me.

“You are a depressing little wolf…”

Maybe not…

“But no worries, my family and I will listen keenly to your stories and work with you. Despite whatever differences you may have, you are an important member of this pack. I will also make it my personal duty to ensure your happiness. Whenever you’re down, I’ll be there to cheer you up, kid.”

Okay, I guess she is trying to cheer me up…rough start, but I feel a bit better. Being friends with her seems pretty cool…friends with Alpha-blood…so weird.

We make it inside, and I’m blown away by the modern town within. Everything is so pristine and polished. There are paved paths that people walk along to get to wherever they need to go. Back at my old pack, it was just dirt. No one cared, pavement wasn’t necessary. It serves no real purpose…but it is pretty. There is a wide-open bordered space on either side, with all sorts of training tools and props. Troops can be seen in pairs practicing combat skills as their leads yell specific Instructions to better their techniques and tactics. Others are running laps, and some are shifting and heading out in lines into the forest through special gates.

I begin to slow down as we near other buildings, but before I get too distracted, I feel a hand pull me along into a little jog.

“Don’t worry, Fang, you’ll get a chance to see everything soon,” Karin says. “Mom’s getting anxious because we’re late and people are waiting, so we need to get to her pronto.”

“Oh, okay,” I say, jogging along.

On the way there, I can feel the eyes of onlookers boring holes through my skin. They know I’m new; I both smell and look different, probably. Well, I definitely look different…I ignore them as best I can, though.

We get through the neighborhood and end up at yet another gated house, but this one is special. You can tell it’s an Alpha’s house, none like I’ve ever seen before. It’s a mansion…how many people live here? Alphas are expected to produce huge families with children who can train hard to prove they are worthy to continue the rule within the bloodline. But I mean the biggest I’ve seen is Alpha Krohn’s family of five offspring, which is already a full litter. Even with that many, they lived in a modest home.

Alpha Cloud must have the fertility of an Opossum!

The gate slowly opens, automatically, and guards greet us as we pass them.

“Welcome back, Karin and newcomer!” They say, ever so enthusiastically.

“Sup, guys!” Karin greets with a toothy grin as we run past them. “This is Moon, can’t hang to chat though because we’re late! Talk to you later!”

“Bye!” I say as I get yanked away.

After yet another rushed acknowledgement to the housekeepers who greet us at the door, Karin rushes me to an elevator at the back of the giant foyer. I really want to observe, but alas, I cannot. How late are we? I wasn’t told a specific time for when to get here, so I’m really confused as to what is  going on.

We get to the third floor, it really seems like we could’ve just run up here, but I guess we’re just that late. As soon as the elevator door opens, I am rushed out and down a long hallway where a big metal door, painted like a blue cloudy sky, awaits us; they really take this whole Cloud thing seriously. Before we even get to the door, it slowly creaks open and out comes who I assume is Alpha Cloud. A jacked, tall woman wearing a white gown and a dainty golden crown.

“Moon!” She exclaims in a sweet voice as she approaches us.

Standing at the door behind her are a few other people, young adults, all males. She engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug; gosh, the woman is strong!

“So very happy to meet you, little Iweh!”

“I’m…not one…as yet…” I struggle to say in between attempts to force air back into my lungs.

She releases me and smiles. “Well, you’ll become one tomorrow. We have set up a test of your knowledge with our head, Iweh, and I’m positive you’ll pass. I’ve heard nothing but good things, impressive things, from your friend Talia.”

TOMORROW? I have to hide the shock I’m feeling. I just got here! I don’t even get a little break?? A day to prepare? What has Talia been telling them about me? I know I said to talk me up, but I’m not a genius! Gosh darn it, Talia…

“You okay, Moon?” Karin asks, pulling me out of my head. “See, I told you we should have given her a day, Mom.”

“Oh, we don’t need to do it t-“

“No!” I suddenly blurt out, before softening my voice and keeping my eyes on the ground. “No… I can do it tomorrow.” If I agree, they might think differently of me.

“Oh my…” Alpha Clementine rests a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Dearest girl, don’t do what’s uncomfortable for you. Your friend Talia said that you’re ready to go as soon as you arrive; we just figured that meant you’d wanna be titled as soon as possible. Living in that forest for so long, awaiting the day you get to fulfill your purpose must have been dreadful. Let’s give you a day-“

“No-No!” I wave my hands in protest, wanting to keep my pride. Dammit, Talia…” I can definitely do it. I was just surprised. I don’t know what exactly Talia told you, but you can rest assured I definitely know my stuff. I don’t know if I’d really say I’m that impressive though…I’m sure many lo-Iweh’s from this pack are just the same or better.”

“Oh, shush, no need to be modest. But if you change your mind, let Karin know, okay! Now come, come. We’ve been waiting to start this party, and you’re the last one.”

“Party?”

The men by the door come to join us.

“Yes, a welcoming ceremony! I’ve put one together for all you newcomers; we shall officially make you all a part of the pack in front of everyone.”

I look down at what I’m wearing and notice I look so ragged compared to the others. Am I the only country pack member? Everyone else looks so brand new, and I look like…Well, I don’t. I know looks aren’t everything, but I can’t help but feel like I’ll stick out like a sore thumb, and I surely don’t want to. I like to stay hidden, to simply blend in. If only I had a simple new t-shirt and a pair of jeans, I’d feel fine. All I have are old hand-me-downs.

“I don’t think I’m quite dressed for that…” I say, lowering my eyes to the ground.”

“Oh! No need to worry about that. I figured you’d be needing a few new articles, so I went to the donations center and grabbed a few things for everyone. You’re not the only one from a country pack, honey; these two are as well. They just got here earlier and changed.”

I look up and see two of the men standing behind her with raised hands.

“Oh, I see.” I smile at them. “What region?”

“South Yuka,” one says.

“Mid Levie.” Says the other.

“Oh, so you all traveled quite far as well. I’m also from Yuka, but north.”

The first man reaches out his left hand, palm up, and I place my right in it, palm down. He then brings it to his forehead and bows as I bow back at him.

“No need to be so formal,” I say as we straighten ourselves, “certainly not here.”

“I know,” he replies with a charming smile. “It’s hard not to, though. I bowed at Alpha earlier, and she flicked me on the forehead.”

We all break out into laughter before quickly being rushed by Alpha Cloud.

“Alright, we gotta go! Karin, take Moon into the office to grab the dress on the table and see if it fits her. Then rush to the gathering hall.”

I wave as everyone departs and receives yet another hug from Alpha before she leads the group away, leaving just me and Karin once again. She wastes no time rushing me into the office and grabs the simple floral dress.

“Try it on,” she commands as she throws the dress at me.

I nod and turn my back to her as I disrobe; I don’t wear bras, and I feel a bit strange baring my chest to attractive people, attractive Alpha blood people. Also, this dress is confusing. The body itself is simple, but these damn straps! What the heck am I supposed to make of this? It’s all crisscross, and I’m not quite sure where my head goes.

After giving it a few goes and failing miserably, I feel a hand take hold of my wrist, and suddenly the dress is out of my grasp.

“Just stay like that,” Karin says as she fiddles with it behind me. “Now, put your hands up.”

I do as instructed, and she slips the dress over my head, pulling it gently down my body and straightening the straps in the back. I can feel her warm fingers against my skin, and it makes me tingle. Normally, I don’t feel that way when women touch me, but with her, I dunno why, but she makes me nervous. In a good way…

“Alright, you’re set.” She says before taking a step back.

I turn to face her, brushing my hand across my torso. “Thanks, sorry about that.” I apologize. “I’m not used to this style. Why are there so many unnecessary straps?”

She smiles and heads over to the door. “Because it’s fashion, Fang; necessity isn’t really a priority. Now let’s go before Mom gets naggy. Just leave your bags here and I’ll retrieve them later.”

We head off to the gathering room, which turns out to be on the first floor. As we approach yet another giant door, I can hear music and commotion from the other side and immediately begin to panic internally. I’m not prepared for this! Am I expected to socialize, because I’m no good at that! Why didn’t Alpha mention this in her letter? I feel like this is a thing one should let a newcomer know!

“Calm down, will ya, I can feel your anxiety from up here, short stuff.” I look up at Karin, who is staring down at me with a raised brow. “Got social anxiety?”

“I’ve just never had to attend a party with strangers before,” I reply, biting my nails. “Big gatherings back home were for important people, like when Alphas from other packs would come and discuss pacts or partnerships. Things of that sort.”

“You’ve never been to a party before?”

“I’ve been to birthday parties but that’s as far as it goes.”

“Hold up, how old are you?” We come to stop right outside the door and Karin turns to face me with creased brows and folded arms.

“I’m 19,” I turn to face her as well. “Well, I will be, in like three months.”

“And you’ve never actually partied? Gu-hu-hurl we gotta fix that, we gotta fix that real soon. Tonight is not the night because this is an induction ceremony, but whenever there’s a house party, we’re totally going. Anyway, for now you head on in, I’ll see you later.”

“Wait!” I grab her hand before she can walk off. “Where are you going? I can’t go in there by myself!”

“Just find mom and the others, it’ll be alright. There’s something I gotta do.”

“At least walk me in!”

She sighs and opens the door, revealing what seems like the entire pack. This room is large, ridiculously large. It must have been made especially to house abnormally large groups of people. Maybe it doubles as a pack retreat for when there’s an attack.

Or maybe it just serves this purpose. This pack has more pleasures than I’m used to, and I’ll just have to accept it for what it is.

I see Alpha and the other newbies standing close to the podium at the way end. Many eyes turn to face us and I hide my body behind Karin’s.

“You cannot leave me to make it to the other end by myself!” I whisper-yell at her.

“Fine, fine, I’ll walk you over.” Suddenly, I am whisked off my feet bridal style and in a flash, we are beside Alpha and the rest. “Happy?”

Karin places me to stand and pats my cheeks. “See ya later.”

Okay, so she’s fast. Really freaking fast! Nauseatingly fast, and that’s coming from a small wolf. Then again, she has an ability…I don’t. She could have just walked me over here…ACTUALLY walked. What is the damn rush? No patience, this one!

In a flash, she’s out the door, and I’m left to stand by the rest, nervously twiddling my fingers as I keep eye contact with anything inanimate.

“You look beautiful, Moon!” Alpha Cloud says, stepping over to stand beside me. “It fits you nicely. Now that I’m certain of your size, we’ll stop by the storage unit tomorrow to get a new wardrobe. Oh-“

She looks down at her watch and turns towards the stage before looking back at me for a brief moment.

“It’s time to start the event, sorry, I must go!”

The others step aside as she shuffles her way past them.

“My fellow Clouds,” she speaks into the mic once she’s by the podium. “Let’s all quiet down now, we’ll have plenty of time after my speech to be loud.” She smiles kindly and resumes once the room quiets down. “Thank you. Now, we’re all gathered here because this is an important event, one we look forward to every year. As we all know, and I say it every time for the sake of our newbies, our pack often loses a lot of our females due to them leaving to find mates. For some damn reason, we’re gifted with a surplus of women and not nearly enough men, so this is necessary for us to keep our pack number high and replace the lost women with males who are willing to join our pack. Sadly, a lot of them are intimidated by how strong our women are and hence turn away, but nevertheless, we have found some.”

The crowd cheers, mainly women, obviously, and looks over at our group. Well shit! That explains why everyone else is a guy…this is mighty awkward. One of these things is not like the other…

Alpha Cloud continues. “However, you’ll notice in this little group there’s an oddball. Very rarely do we do this, but given her circumstances, I decided to take her in.” All eyes have fallen upon me, and I feel my skin burning. This is not what I wanted to happen. This is not blending in. “She lost her pack in a tragic battle, so we will welcome her with open arms.”

Dammit Alpha! Now everyone is eyeballing me, and I feel like dying; their faces look friendly, but gosh, am I embarrassed. I can see the pity in their eyes, and it makes me feel even more pathetic. I look over at Alpha Cloud and see that she is smiling down at me, and I give her pleading eyes. Please, make them stop. I don’t want this. I really wish I were capable of mind-link!

However, despite not being able to, Alpha does notice the discomfort shown in my face and quickly averts their attention to the main point.

“But anyway, this night is about celebrating our newcomers!” She exclaims. “Celebrating the expansion of our pack! Let’s get this induction started and celebrate! Let me hear you howl for joy!”

The room erupts with howls, all attention now back to the stage, and I am grateful. Once everyone settles down, seven members join Alpha on stage, one of them damn near identical to Karin, with long, messy hair. That has to be Maddox. Each of them carefully carries a small table from the back of the stage up the front, followed by two stools. They all take a seat on the stool closest to the table and proceed to put on gloves. Interesting…

“Alright, may I have the newbies join me on stage?” Alpha looks over at us with raised brows as she points to the right, where a set of stairs are. We nod and slowly make our way past the onlooking crowd. As we ascend the stairs, people begin to cheer, and I keep my eyes trained on the ground. Couldn’t we have just been quietly introduced, meant to make friends and know everyone slowly and over time? Why a whole ceremony for people to stare at us…stare at me? Especially after mentioning that little sob portion. For why?

As we get closer, I see that each table has a tiny tool, a couple of small cups of what seems to be water, some paste of sorts, paper towels, and small containers of all the colors imaginable. I’m really not sure what all this is for, but it intrigues me. It looks like a setup for painting…but with that tool, it makes no sense. I really don’t understand what this is for. We stop in a row behind the people, and they begin to look back at us.

“Okay,” Maddox says, clapping his hands together as he turns and smiles at us. “Anybody afraid of needles?”

Needles? I tilt my head to the side and look over at the other two country folk, who look equally as confused as I am. Why the hell do we need needles? I don’t even see any.

“Sweet,” a guy to my far left says. “I got five tattoos, so I’m game, man.”

Tattoos? Wait, what?

“The rest of you cool with that?” Maddox asks, surveying us.

“Where is your needle?” I ask softly, which earns me a chuckle.

“Right here…are you country folk?” I nod at him.

“So are we,” the guys from earlier say.

Maddox nods as he looks at all of us, but his eyes stop on me, and he makes a motion with his head as he says, “Come here.”

“Huh?” I say, staring at him in shock with a bit of reluctance. “I’d prefer not to go first, I’m not even sure if I want one. Where I’m from, we use the stick and poke method, and it doesn’t look too appealing.”

He smiles and shakes his head. “I will not poke you without your consent. I’m showing you how it works. Come on.”

I sigh and slowly make my way up to him, and he pats the seat for me to sit. Once I do, he grabs the tool beside him and presses a button on the side. It vibrates for a moment, and my eyes widen.

“This tool right here has a cartridge with tiny needles I will use to make an outline of a cloud on you. It doesn’t have to get more complicated than that, and you can choose whatever color you want. For those of us who are fans of tattoos, we can get things more intricate after the ceremony to build on our tattoos.” He turns his shoulder to face me, and I see a full sleeve of what seems to be dark clouds during a storm with a fierce pack within. “But again, if you hate tattoos, or you’ve never had one, it can be very plain, and we have numbing cream. As a member of this pack, it’s mandatory to get one. Come on, you’re a wolf, so I promise you you’ve felt worse pains in your life. You’ve got a few piercings, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“Piercings are quick,” I say in my defense. “But you are right, I have felt a good amount of pain in my life.”

“Look, I’ll poke you briefly, and if you absolutely hate it, we’ll use some cream, and I’ll make it a simple outline of a cumulonimbus, or whatever. Your choice.”

He holds up a paper with all sorts of cloud designs, but the cirrus sticks out. It’s so wispy. The other country folk step forward to look at them with me and are quick to decide what they want.

“The rest of you may sit by a member and choose your simple design.” Alpha Cloud says, “Later on, you may build, but if we do that tonight, this ceremony will never end. For the rest of the crowd, continue to drink and eat, and I will call you back once they are finished!”

The others disperse and find a person while the crowd obliges. I continue to stress over what I want. I feel so pressured to choose quickly, though; this isn’t a decision one should take lightly, so this part of the ceremony is really a bother for me.

“May I ask you a question?” Maddox asks, and I look up and nod. “What role did you play in your old pack? What is your passion and your skills?”

“Oh, umm…” I was not expecting that. “I was in training to be an Iweh. I lost my pack on the day of my final test.”

“So you’re good with your hands; you rely on the vast knowledge in your mind. You have a healing or deadly touch, depending on whether it is foe or friend. Hmmm…What type of wolf are you?”

“I am small and dark brown. Quick and agile, but there isn’t much more. I don’t have a specific ability or power. I am quite boring, honestly. I just have a passion for the gifts and power of what nature provides in all sorts of sizes and colors. My strength lies in my knowledge.”

“You don’t have a physical gift, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have one. How old are you?”

“I will soon be nineteen.”

“I think that’s quite impressive that you are so knowledgeable at your age. All nature-folk of this pack don’t become an Iweh until much later; it’s a lot to know. Many have failed their tests multiple times, so for you to have come so close…don’t speak about yourself as if you are lesser than, understood?”

I widen my eyes at him and nod, swallowing hard. This conversation is real damn deep…

He continues. “I will give you numbing cream if you allow me to shade your tattoo. I wish for you to consider this cirrus within a cumulonimbus.”

“That doesn’t sound very simple.”

“Trust me, Iweh.” He takes my wrist and rubs some cream on it. “Let this sit for a moment, and I will test the gun. Tell me if it’s bearable.”

After a minute, he takes the gun, and I squeeze my eyes shut as he puts it to my wrists. I feel a tiny buzz and immediately open my eyes.

“Conclusion?” Maddox asks.

“It’s weird…but not painful,” I reply. “I can handle it.”

I am rewarded with a charming smile, similar to his sisters. Damn, these good-looking people.

“Where would you like the tattoo?”

“The inside of my wrist is fine; I trust your judgment.”

“Excellent. Now sit back and relax and be wowed by my artistic abilities. Not to brag or anything, but I am the best at this. Every newbie’s dream.”

He winks, and I smile as he grabs a thin-point marker and begins sketching on my arm. He shows me the design, and even before color, I am very excited about it; I guess I didn’t have to make the decision after all. He’s pretty good at reading people and makes this experience quite comforting…

After thirty minutes, all the tattoos are done, and Alpha calls everyone to direct their attention back to the stage.

“Alright!” She cheers into the microphone. “It’s time for the tattoo reveal!”

The crowd woos and hollers as we are ushered to stand along with our artist. How freaking cool is this that my artist just so happens to be the talented son of Alpha Cloud? I gotta say, two Alpha-kin experiences in one day…wow.

“We will go down the line, starting from Arden. Take it away, hunny!”

The first guy, the one who already has five tattoos, steps forward and says. “I have a small cloud outline for now, but tomorrow I’m gonna build on it to add some lightning and red skies. I left my old pack because I hated my Alpha; he was a real dick. I heard how powerful the Cloud pack is, and I want to be a part of a great army. I was a combat wolf, first line; I hope to bring us victory during attacks.”

The crowd howls, and they continue down the line. The others following him seem to have left their packs because of their Alphas as well, and have skills in combat and spying. One of the guys has the ability to camouflage, so his small cloud is positioned in a spot behind his ear where they shaved his hair. That way, when it grows back, it will be hidden. Seems like a painful spot…but cool nonetheless. They finally get to me, and I feel the onlooker’s eyes burn into me once more. I’m so nervous I cannot even open my mouth to speak. I know that if I try, no words will come forth, and I’ll look dumb.

Suddenly, Maddox steps forward and holds up my wrist, saying. “Her tattoo is small and simple, but yet holds a lot of meaning. The cumulonimbus is large and colored like the rainbow, representing her vast knowledge of nature, and the white cirrus inside represents speed. Not just because she is small, but because of her ability to quickly acquire information. At only nineteen, she is to already take her final Iweh test.” There is chatter within the crowd, and my heart thumps hard. I have a lot to live up to; I may fail the test tomorrow out of being overwhelmed, and if I do, I shall never show my face again. “She will be a great addition to our pack. Her name is Moon…give her a welcoming howl.”

The crowd erupts once again, this time Maddox joins them briefly, before smiling down at me and patting my shoulder. He then leans down to my ear. “They aren’t going to eat you, lighten up. You’ll have to socialize after this, you know.”

I twist my lips to the side and look out at the crowd of people. Gods save me…

We continue down the line with interesting tattoo stories, and once we are done, Alpha Cloud takes her place at the podium once more.

“Alright, there we have it, our new Clouds! Arden, Mohan, Nolan, Moon, Nika, Bo, and Nix. Let’s all give our final howl. Welcome to the Cloud pack. Now let’s celebrate!”

Music begins to play, and the crowd lets out a final howl, which we all join in on before making our way off the stage. For the rest of the night, I find myself standing by the food table and sampling most of the finger foods and desserts. Many people have made their way over to me to greet and ask questions. They seem quite interested in my country life, hidden away from modern technology and lifestyles. A few of them are also Iwehs and Lo-Iwehs, who have taken up most of my time. They’re very interested in my trainers and regional knowledge, which I promised to elaborate on tomorrow after my test. Being from a different area, I’m sure I’m more familiar with certain plants that they’ve only ever heard of, and vice versa. I’m yet to learn what is found in this region and am quite excited about that.

I spend about an hour or so socializing; time flies when you’re having fun. I’m happy I was able to talk about my interest and that nobody questioned me about the worst day of my life; that’s something I wish Alpha had left out, but I know she was only trying to be transparent as to why I’m here. Once I’m left alone, I see Maddox heading my way and smile as he approaches.

“Not so bad, huh?” He says with a smile.

“No,” I reply, “but my social battery is low, and I’m super tired. I think I’d rather recharge.”

“If you’d like to leave, I can escort you to your unit.”

“My unit?”

He motions for me to follow him as he heads towards the exit. I quickly follow behind him, and once we are outside the house, he continues to talk as we head towards the gate.

“Yes, every pack member has their own unit, and the size depends on the family count. Seeing as it is only you, you’ll have a simple one-bedroom unit. I mind-linked Karin on the way out, and she said Building F, unit 1. Lucky girl, first floor.”

“Oh, where is she? I left my stuff up in Alpha’s office.”

“She grabbed it on her way out earlier, don’t worry. Your stuff is in your unit. I just have to grab the keys from her.”

We wave goodbye to the guards as we exit through the gates and head down the path to the right. There is one thing that I don’t understand that I have to ask Maddox.

“How do you guys afford all this? In this realm, don’t you have to be a part of regular society to be a part of the flow? Your information would have to be in the system, and you’d have to pay taxes and that other stuff. Well, I guess you guys could work in another realm as well, after all, you know that witch guy…”

He shakes his head and smiles. “We do deal with the supernatural realm, but most of our income/goods come from this one. Though we are hidden from regular society, the human government is well aware of our existence, Moon. When we decided to separate ages ago, that didn’t wipe the memory from the humans. They just stopped disclosing our existence to their children, and over time, SNs became a myth. Our leaders have kept in contact with theirs; some of us choose to contribute our skills and knowledge to them, as well as protection, and in return, they grant us whatever we want. Some packs look down on us for this, while others do the same. SNs as a whole want to remain hidden from the general public since life is much more peaceful that way. Their government has asked multiple times for us to come forward again, but our government hard declines every time. People are afraid of things they don’t understand, and it might result in some major uproar if the humans of now were to find out their myths are actually reality; that their history books aren’t as accurate as they think. It would be quite a bother to our kind. So, we threatened that if our existence leaks without good reason, we will demolish them.”

I gasp and look up at him, and he chuckles down at me. “We don’t really mean it, but they don’t know that. We just want to make sure they know who’s really in charge here. Let us be, and we’ll let them be.”

“We never learnt that in our pack; no one told us that the government knows about us. We were told that before becoming self-sufficient, our people disguised ourselves and entered into human society to learn some of their skills. Faked documents to enter their schools and did under-the-table jobs to earn their money to get what was necessary.”

“I’m positive your leaders knew; they just like to keep that stuff to themselves since they don’t care for them. Country packs have no need to talk about that stuff.”

“Oh…I guess you’re right. Now that I think about it, our creation story favors what you’ve told me better than what I’ve been fed. I guess outside of being book smart, I’m pretty gullible.”

Maddox smiles and ruffles my hair lightly. “Many packs that don’t care to work with the human government keep their people out of the loop. You’ve never had to think it through, and no one has ever questioned it; don’t beat yourself up. “

We walk in silence for a good while as I think about the fact that there are people out there who are well aware of us and are okay with it. People who benefit from our existence. So weird. I wish I had known before…

We make it to apartment F, and I hear keys jingling in the distance. I turn to see Karin headed our way, and she’s in casual attire.

“How was the ceremony?” She asks. “Not too bad, I hope?” I show her my wrist, and she high-fives me. “Nice! Maddox did it, right?”

“T’was I,” he says. “You told me to look out for her, and I did. Pretty simple, seeing as she’s the only girl in the group.”

So it wasn’t luck I got Maddox…

“You did your thing, man.” She high-fives her brother and turns her attention back to me. “Anyway, here are your keys, ma’am; the extra is a spare. You will find your bags in your living room. I hope you like the design. I got it all ready while you were getting tattooed and having fun. Welcome to the pack.”

She gives me a hug and hands the keys to me; they have a rubber key ring with a moon on it, and I smile. This woman is keen on detail; I love it.

“Now, if you will excuse me and my brother, we have some business to take care of.”

“Why do you need me?” Maddox asks as she hooks her arm in his. “I’m busy talking to my new pal here.”

“Yes, I see that, but our other pal is out by the training grounds and refuses to stay in a pack unit, and I need your help convincing him.”

“Why is he like this?” Maddox rolls his eyes; I can tell he’s frustrated.

“You know why he’s like this.”

“But it makes no sense! He isn’t even-“

“Yeah, I know, I know!” Karin turns to look at me and smiles. “Go lock up and get a good shower and some sleep. I’ll come get you tomorrow, okay?”

“Goodnight, Moon,” Maddox says as I wave goodbye to them. “Guess Karin is a little jealous that you like me better.”

“Oh shut up!”

Once they are out of sight, I turn towards the door and open it. My unit isn’t hard to find, seeing as it’s the first and on the first floor. I simply walk over to the white door with the giant golden one on it and head in. Inside is quite cozy and modern. I know what a lot of these things are, but I have never used some of them, at least not the versions I see. The television is giant and flat, as opposed to the chunky box in the community entertainment room where we would watch old movies. The refrigerator has a freezer on one side, and the stove is flat, with no place for lighting it. There is a toaster that seems to be part oven, which is weird because there is already an oven. Look, all this stuff is going to have to be explained to me because I will burn this place down out of cluelessness. I simply let them be, grab my packs by the couch, and find the one place I need at this time. The bedroom.

It’s pretty normal, but again modern and very spacious. There is a queen bed; I had a simple twin back home. Side tables adorned with a digital alarm clock and electric lamps. Two things I never had. The floor is carpeted, huge luxury there, so of course I leave my shoes at the door, and a full closet. I had half of one, and the rest of the little clothing I had went into my chest of drawers. There is also a simple chair and table in the corner below a window; that’ll be a good spot for me to do work and study.

I check out the bathroom and see a tub and shower combo; nifty. We had a clawfoot tub back home, and that was all. So far, I love that everything gives me an earthy feel; Karin did a great job. Throughout the unit, I noticed the dark oak-colored curtains and couch, as well as wooden furniture. There were a few plants and even a vertical planter that stood adjacent to a large sliding door that led outside. It would let a lot of sunlight in during the day. And then the bathroom was stocked with brown and moss green towels and rags. So comforting.

Once I’m done admiring, I quickly unload my packs and take a shower before getting dressed for bed. As I shut my lights off and snuggle up under the sheets, I reflect on my life this year. So much bad has happened, and I have gone through so much pain. I lost the ones I loved and lived in fear. However, I have found a new home and place to start over and continue along the path I’m meant to tread. Though I lost much, I feel I will also gain much.

Things are really looking up. Thank you, universe.