I sat up in the front passenger seat with Alice as she drove us the two-hour drive over to Lucas's birth pack. There were three cars in total, the one we were in, one with 2 members of Lucas's pack and the third with four members of Alice's packs.

"Why did you bring so many people?" I asked her.

"Just in case there was trouble." She spoke bluntly.

"What type of trouble?" I asked looking into the rear view mirror, which was a mistake because I got to see Natalie with her hands all of Lucas, pushing her scent onto him so every would know who he belonged to.

"Just trouble." She didn't care to elaborate and I knew I wouldn't get any answers out of her.

Sighing, I crossed my arms over my chest, sunk down further into my seat and looked out the window.

All of the leaves where changing colour and falling off the trees out here, I think that winter will be cold here when it hits. I wonder if it will snow. I used to love the snow. I smiled to myself remember the snowball fights with my brothers and the snowmen we would make. And when Conner and I would make snow Angels on the ground and Jordan would yell at us, telling us that if we got sick it would be our own faults.

Not that we ever got sick. We just got a chill that went down to our bones for a few hours and then we would warm ourselves up by the fire with a big steaming mug of hot chocolate that had marshmallows and whipped cream on it with some chocolate powder and sauce drizzled on the top of it. Or as Jordan liked to call it. 'Diabetes in a cup'

"What are you smiling about?" Alice asked with a curious expression on her face.

"Oh, its nothing..." I coyly replied. "I'm just thinking about how I used to enjoy running out in the snow." I shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Oh I used to love the snow!" Lucas shouted excitedly and quite loudly, he still doesn't know how to use his indoor voice yet.

"Ugh, I always hated the snow, it's so cold and it gets stuck to my fur making me wet and sticky." Natalie complained. And to be completely honest I wasn't surprised.

She just had the look on her face, like she hated everything. I think Alice calls it 'resting bitch face' it is the same face Luna Carla apparently wears every time she thinks no one is looking at her. I still want to know what happened between the two of them. I feel like there is a story there.

If it wasn't for that face she would be extremely pretty, she reminds me of snow white, dark brown hair, almost black, pale skin almost as white as snow just with more colour to her and rich pink plump lips.

She could be a beautiful if she didn't look like she hated everyone.

"How can you hate snow?" Lucas asked bewildered

"I just do!" She snapped, before turning on the fake sweet look when she realised that she snapped at Lucas. "Maybe I just had never had someone to enjoy it with before." She spoke almost seductively moving closer to humanoid rubbing against him.

An action that made Alice and myself gag and roll our eyes. The rest of the trip went rather smoothly, we all stayed in our own little bubbles as Alice turned the radio on. She would hum along to whatever song was play and tap her fingers to the beat on the steering wheel.

Soon enough All of the cars stopped and all of us but Alice moved into the car with the two members from Lucas's pack, ready to take us the rest of the way.

It was uncomfortable to say the least squished in the back with Lucas and Natalie, Natalie put herself in the middle, which is ridiculous as I am the smallest and I would have been the easy fit. But no it had to be her way and liked to complain about how I wasn't giving her enough room.

It was enough for the driver to stop and offer for the man in the passenger seat to get out and run back with one of us. I put my hand up before anyone else got the chance to, after yesterday I needed to let her out.

The driver told us to run straight to the pack house that we would meet the Alpha and Lucas's grandmother there before we got settled in at Lucas's old house.

I watched as the car drove away, thankful to be out of there. "So you are Lucinda right?" The man asked me with a raised eyebrow.

"Yep." I replied popping the 'p' while swinging my arms back and forth a little bit while looking at him. He was a good-looking man, short black crew cut hair. A sleeve tattoo on his right arm, I couldn't really make it out but I think it is some wolves, skulls and vines. He was pretty tall maybe 6'3 with broad shoulders and a very muscular build. But what I think the most were his jade green eyes, they stood out clearly on his tanned skin.

All in all he was a very attractive male.

"I'm Andrew." He introduced himself holding is hand out for mw to shake it. "I am the Beta here, or well I guess I was the Beta here. Won't be for much longer." He looked upset saying that.

"Why do you think that?" I couldn't stop the words from coming out of my mouth.

"Because Lucas is back, he was born for the position I just proved myself." He looked down at the ground avoiding eye contact. I was surprised at how open he was seeing as one minute ago I didn't even know his name.

"You don't know that you will lose the position for sure, they will give it to whoever is better suited or maybe both of you." I shrugged walking off in the direction that the car travelled.

"Yeah maybe." He mumbled. "Do you want to run back or just walk it back?" he asked me.

"I don't really mind, whatever you want to do." I really didn't care my mind was still reeling over what happened with those people who claim to be my parents.

Before I knew it he was taking off his top and his pants shifting in front of my eyes. Clearly they don't care about nakedness here. His wolf was tall, a big smaller then Lucas but not by much maybe in inch or so. Black fur just like hair although the wolf had some lighter brown running through the fur as well with a white muzzle. And the wolf held the same jade green eyes as him.

The wolf looked at me, taking me in and sniffing me up and down. Getting to know my scent as mine watched him through my eyes, assessing him. He yipped at me his wolf seemed to be playful and open just like he seemed to be.

I felt a pressure hitting my mind, but I ignored it, I knew exactly what it was. He was trying to get into my mind to talk to me. I am not ready for that yet my mind is still recovering from the last intrusion of it.

"No, sorry. Not going to happen." I laughed tapping my forehead as I walked over to some trees to take my clothes off to shift, he may not care about me looking at him, but I sure as hell do.

I threw my clothes on the ground and shifted letting my wolf come forth, shaking her fur out she picked up my clothes and carried them gently in her mouth. I didn't want them ruined and I would need them when we reached the Alpha house.

My wolf, she dropped the clothing on the ground after she trotted up to meet this new wolf. It was her first time meeting another wolf, our first time meeting another actual wolf. Besides Devin, Alice and Lucas since getting out of the cage.

Alpha Travis forbid us from meeting other wolves since we weren't part of the pack and it was apparently dangerous for us to socialise.

The two wolves looked each other up and down, with the both of us sitting back in our minds giving them control over the situation. They both sniffed each other up and down. Although mine didn't like it when his started sniffing in places he shouldn't. She growled and snapped at him, making him snap back at her. Both of our wolves were dominant and didn't like being told what to do by someone else.

We stayed like this for a minute or so, neither of us prepared to back down as the nature of my wolf was starting to come back. She was getting more and more confident.

Andrew was the first to back down, although I don't think he would have needed to, with my wolf still not being completely trained he could've taken me down easily.

After a few more minutes we started being pulling bouncing around with each other yipping and barking into each other's faces when I felt the pressure in my mind again. Which I blocked out again no one is getting in there anytime soon.

He huffed out in annoyance and walked up and nudged me in the direction that the car left in. I assume that he wants to get going. If we take too long people may get the wrong idea, or think that something terrible happened to us.

It felt exhilarating to run with him, he caused a challenge, He pushed me to run harder and the wolf in me loved that. Lucas was a challenge but our skill set was the exact same at the moment.

I wonder what my life will be like here, what I will get to experience. Alpha Travis kept us walking on eggshells so we didn't get to experience anything besides what Devin and Alice were allowed to show and teach us.

Here, I hope we learn some valuable skills so that we can fit into pack life and help everyone out. I love running and being outside, maybe I could help with patrols but then again, I don't really know what my skills are outside of sparing and running.

It felt as though we were flying through the forest while we ran, I wanted to go faster but I don't know my way around here very well. Even though if I started to stray the wrong way he would bark and run around me leading me the correct way.

We had fun on this run, we would jump over fallen trees and zigzag around the actual tress all while trying to trip the other over my nipping at our legs or paws. It felt nice to be out like this having fun, not just trying to train and build up strength. I cant blame Devin for that though, it was his job and his job doesn't allow him to have much fun.

Especially since he was either with us or his warriors and then he was exhausted when he got home, did always tried to hide it but Lucas and I could see it.

We may not be as smart as other wolves, but we aren't completely dumb.

After what felt like ages we arrived at the pack house only for me to realise that I left my clothing way back where our wolves first met. I groaned and mentally scolded myself for being such an idiot when out of the corner of my eye I saw Andrew shift and walk over to a tree and somehow pull some clothes out. I looked up at him hoping and praying that he would have something I could borrow in there.

Whining and crawling towards him on my belly I begged him looking up to where he pulled the clothes out from. Andrew just laughed at me while he pulled at shirt out and through it at me. I yipped my thanks at him and then moved behind a tree to shift back.

It was a big plain grey t-shirt thank fully fell down to my thighs covering everything I would need and want covered. I walked back to see Andrew waiting patiently while still laughing at me.

"I thought you carried your clothes earlier because you wanted to wear them again." He continued to chuckle.

"Well!" I stamped my foot. "That was the plan but I guess I forgot them." I pouted as Andrew walk over to me throwing and arm around my shoulder and turning me to the pack house.

"I guess I can go back for them later."

"Will you?" I asked looking up at him with big puppy dog eyes.

"With a look like that how can I say no!" He faked defeat. All in all he seemed like a very nice guy, someone I can trust and be friends with.

And I am so glad he came up with the idea to run back, it is the most free I have felt in a long time.

"Hey." I looked up at him. "Why did you suggest to go running home anyway?" I am him curiosly.

"I needed to get out the car, the tension was too much for me to handle, my wolf feels protective of his position, and well they were too much." He looked over to me.

"Yeah, I understand that feeling." I sighed. I need to get to know Natalie, I am sure she isn't as bad as I think she is.

Right?

I guess I will find out eventually.

We joked with each other as we came into view of the pack house, it felt good to be normal with someone again someone who I wasn't related to or went through something life changing with.

Our laughter caused heads to turn as we walked over. Everyone pausing their conversation to look at us. "Andrew! There you are, we were about to send a search party out for you!" the oldest wolf there laughed. He had warm brown eyes that matched his mousey brown hair that had some grey starting to run through it.

He had been talking to Lucas, Natalie and the other wolf who was driving the car.

"Well Ryan, we just got a little side tracked exploring Lucinda's new home." He shrugged to which I nodded.

"Ah, so you are the famous Lucinda, it is so nice to meet you." He smiled stepping forward and offering me his cheek. Something Devin taught us was customary around wolves as a form of greeting. I took it and rubbed mine against his, I didn't want him to get the wrong opinion of me.

"I am Ryan, the Alpha here. And you have meet Andrew, and this." He pointed to the wolf who drove us here." This is my head tracker Miles."

Miles just nodded to me, he was a tall and lanky wolf with honey blonde hair and dull blue eyes, he didn't look like he wanted to be here, he looked like he wanted to get out and run.

I just nodded back to him, if there was one lesson my parents taught me that I would always remember is that you should always be polite to everyone that you cross paths with.

"My Son, Zane was meant to be here today to join you and help get you settled in but he is away on pack business so I am going to be taking you through what is expected." Alpha Ryan smiled at us.

"Miles, you may go if you like and Andrew, I will have you stay so that you can help take everything over when I am done. Make yourself a nice meal while you wait. I am sure your run would have made you hungry." Alpha Ryan joked.

We followed him inside and through to a living room. I would have thought he would do this in his office. "Take a seat anywhere, no one will come and disrupt us for a while." He gave us a dazzling smile. He may be old but he could make any woman swoon.

Everyone just sat down looking around the room, so I took the oppotunitry to speak up. "Alpha Ryan-" I was going to say thanks for letting me come but he cut me off.

"Please, just call me Ryan, no need to be overly formal when we don't need to be." He gave me another dazzling smile.

"Okay..." I mused for a moment. "Well, Ryan, thank you for taking me in. You didn't need to and it just means a lot to me." I tried to smile

"No need to thank me, Devin and Alice both told me everything." He looked a little sad before he continued on. "We don't have a lot of rules here besides being kind to one another, you can spar out your disagreements but we do not out rightly attack another member nor do you kill." His voice had gone from friendly to stern and his tone lead me to believe that he was definitely an Alpha worthy of respect.

"We have a 60 day trial period, but since you Lucas were born here you already have a place. And since Natalie is your mate she will be staying." He looked over at the couple who were cuddled up together in a loveseat.

"Lucinda, I am willing to wave the trial period for you as long as you are certain of not moving on." He looked at me, assessing me.

"I don't know if I will want to stay forever, but I do want to stay for now." I smiled, I know that I am definitely not going pack to my old pack, and as much as I miss Devin I don't feel safe going back to that pack.

"You don't need to let me know today, give it some time and tell me in a week." He smiled patting my leg.

His eyes glazed over for a moment and then Andrew popped his head threw. "Andrew will now take you all over to Lucas's Grandmothers house and hopefully help you all get settled. Miles left the keys in the car."

And with that we all left walking outside.

"Andrew." Lucas turned around with Natalie holding his hand. "If you don't mind, I remember the way and I would like to run there myself with Natalie." He smiled.

"Go for it, I will meet you there." Andrew with cool with his words, not putting any emotion into them.

"Do you wanna come Luce?" He asked me.

"Nah." I shook my head. "I'm pretty tired from the run here. I'll be fine with Andrew." I smiled as I watched the two of them run off.

"Are you ready for this?" Andrew asked as he hopped into the drivers seat.

"As ready as I'll ever be I guess." I replied buckling in.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So here we are, another day another chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it.

And can I just thank you all for getting this story to 43k! It is amazing that there are that many reads on this story! I honestly never expected the love that it has gotten and it is al thanks to you guys! I love you all so much.

And now, if I was write a mermaid book, would anyone be interested in reading it? Or would like a little snippet of it? (Not that I have it planned out or anything)

Anyway let me know! and once again I love you all!