* * *

Hayes had joined the group soon enough, coming over to greet Leo with a familiar sort of handshake. And already was he flooded with comments on how talented his daughter was, which left a higher rank spare for Hera to master.

And that was a Beta.

Course she's trained with actual masters of this fighting style, elders that were most likely the same age as Snyders from when she was first brought to the packhouse.

So perhaps the term 'different breed' wasn't all that far-fetched.

The fight ended much the same, Maverick thought for a moment that Hera would get a bit of stage fright with her father watching. But there was non to be found, nor did she change up her style to incorporate anything fancy, she simply felt the movements as they came—Which were mostly dependent on Beta's Elis attacks and defenses.

This was rather easy after fighting Jackson, if that was the Delta's way—Surely the Beta fought similarly. And he did, just with more aggression and little room for theatrics or sloppiness.

And while it was equal in rank, it certainly wasn't equal in skill.

Which Leo didn't find any fault in Hayes being the one to bring his daughter the blanket and praise her. Leo would be hypocritical in that sense.

"Got a nice bite there, kid." She rolled her eyes as she sat in the blanket for a moment while clothes were being handed off towards her.

If you wanted a piece a of my ass hun, all you had to do was ask.

Hera wasn't as naive when it came to flirting anymore, not when Maverick was a playful pup one minute and a dominant Alpha all in the other second.

Bet my dad would love hearing that one, Beta.

He winked, but it was of course the natural progression of things. A strong male wanted a strong female companion, but Eli knew she was taken, and thus, his voice screamed teasing.

And she appreciate that as she was always open to making new friends. Which left Eli wishing he gave more time in that phone call, but he did recall that it was a rather difficult time in the pack just a few weeks ago when she had called.

As Hera dressed under the protection of the blanket and with the lookout of her father's watchful eye, she managed well enough. Yet when she rose up, her father growled.

"Oh...Yeah, that's not good." Eli did give her a few nasty nips, but this one hadn't translated that well to her skin form. And Hayes didn't waste a minute in pressing the blanket against the wound.

"Sit back dow—"
"Dad, I've gotten a lot worse than this." That didn't give him as much comfort as she would've hoped, but with the time spent apart, she supposes she could humor him.

"Alpha Hayes, I'd feel much better if your daughter would get checked by our healer in the infirmary."
"Damn males and their damn egos," Hera grumbled as she looked away from the Beta.

More like your wolf would feel much better, she thought to herself. But Maverick knew that look on her face all too well.

It was decided, by the males, including the Elwoods...That they shouldn't allow their guest to bleed out like this, and so here she was--Being carried by Maverick back towards the infirmary.

Jack stayed with the other Arctic Crest pups while Eli followed the group to the infirmary. As it was probably best to give some contact to two strange faces coming into the room.

"Hey doc, can you get Kenzie?" Hayes was thankful that Eli requested a female healer, and since it was the Beta asking she came rather quickly.

"Hey Kenzie, this is Alpha Mystic and his daughter—Hera got a nasty cut on her arm." she caught the Healer's eyes widening, and that had the daughter tap on Maverick's arm to be placed back down onto her feet.

"I could've walked...And it's not that bad." She explained, but the healer offered a kind smile and escorted her off to one of the many private rooms which caused Hera to hop onto the examining table.

"You have a really nice step up here, Healer Kenzie." It earned her another smile and polite conversation—But it was clear that she was nervous.

"It won't need stitches, keep it wrapped and maybe have your mate—"
"Oh, Maverick's not my mate." She reinstated, and Kenzie rephrased what else could be done.

But realistically it would need to be left to heal on its own.

"Think if I got stitches, Beta Eli's ego would never let up." Hera grumbled, but then slapped her hand over her mouth as she hadn't meant to really say it out loud. Though it earned her a laugh.

"Not many are that open to spar with our Beta, you must be very brave."
"I spared with both your Beta and Delta." Kenzie was rather intrigued now and asked how either went. "I won both." Perhaps that wasn't the best way to share the win, but thankfully it hadn't reverted the she-wolf to be scared of her again.

Which Hera was thankful for.

Hera emerged back into the waiting room and greeted the males with a smile. "And?"
"You know, I'll live I guess...It didn't even need any stitches." She explained, and Eli flashed her a guilty apology—Course it was Maverick who came up to her first.

Hayes had gotten a text from his son, who just started the conference call with Remus—One of the many reasons he was here for.

It left Hera in the company of Maverick and the Beta, but it was clear that Hayes didn't want Hera fighting anymore.
Meaning she was out of commission for the rest of the day.

Though in returning to the training fields, she was left by her lonesome as Maverick was helping a few of the pups while also explaining it to Leo.

"I don't think I've seen my dad this pumped since he got the gym."
"Your beta said he asked every day for a month?"
"Yeah, but for him it felt like a year. I think it was more of Alpha not wanting to anger the council. 'Why would Crescent Moon need a gym to train?'" Hera sighed further and shook her head.

"Guess there more of a grudge than I thought..."
"Thats how I feel about it, it wasn't my generation's war."
"But we have the aftermath, don't we?" Hera asked, looking to Luke with a sad smile of understanding.

And while she thought he was a handsome male, one word whispered in the back of her mind. Elenor.

"Jack was telling me you're installing a reforming project for rehabilitating Rogues?"
"Hm, course the first time I mentioned a theory of mine a newly titled Alpha had to lay his 'all the wise male opinion' on the matter. But that was after pushing it to Crescent Moon's faults. I'm sorry your pack is unrepresented." Luke thought for a moment, and he realized that Hera was right.

Crescent Moon was unrepresented, while most packs had a surviving Alpha or Luna to live on council grounds. They had neither.

"I never thought about it that way."
"Outside's perspective. It's always good to have one. I have a few extra packets of my findings in my room, I'll give you one before I leave. I think you and your dad would be interested." Luke nodded, he found himself actually liking her company.

She was kinder than he thought she would be, the youngest pup of Mystic Grimm did get a rather famous name here.

Some thought it was Hayes' breaking point, his youngest being targeted by their Alpha and that's why the war had ended so soon after—Or perhaps it was their Alpha's son that finally snapped and had enough of the damage his father was inflicted.

Whatever the case may be, Hera was the center of it.

"I heard Kelly is putting together a little party for you and the pups. She didn't think you'd want to sit with your father and the Alpha for dinner." Hera had sucked in a breath and hummed.

"Kelly? Very formal of you." She teased, and Luke started to itch the back of his neck. "Kidding, I really tried to be nice but—My wolf doesn't like it. There's polite and then there's just biting back growls, so I get why dad was called." Luke nodded along, he actually didn't know why they were called as he wasn't high tier enough to know.

But then he tapped her thigh and she growled in defense. "Yes?" She dwelled and he chuckled.

"Goddess, do you threaten to bite every male that talks to you?"
"Sorry, my social skills aren't up to par when someone touches something that's as sensitive as a mate mark. But yeah, we'll go with it's because you're a male." He hadn't known that tattoos could generate something like that, so when she folded up the rest of her shorts he got a better look.

"Its ink is a pure form of silver that's mined from the mountains in Arctic Crest and then prayed on from the month you start training and always plucked when we raise in tier."
"How many do you have left?"
"Three, and Maverick's not allowing the next until I start using my non dominate hand more than my right." He hummed, though he figured there was not much he could say in terms of encouragement.

She was learning something entirely different, but then he smirked—Luke could feel her eyes staring at him.

"Sorry...This might sound strange but—"
"Yes?" He said in the same teasing voice she used on him before, which caused her to rip some grass out of the ground and throw it at him.

"Asshole."
"Alright alright, sorry princess. What's up?" She perked her lips and looked away, what she was going to tell him was for his benefit and so perhaps it was the right sign to remain quiet.

But when has she ever been wrong in this instance?

She knew Josh wasn't going to be her mate, that Maria would be. That Haylee would meet her mate soon and then the same with Harlow.

Would it be harmful?
Would Elwood be mad?

"Don't call me princess." She said, and he realized that perhaps it was a sore subject and so he nodded in confirmation. Realizing he hit a nerve.

"What I was going to say is that I have this thing. Mom calls it intuition. Like a third eye." That sounded rather strange, especially from a stranger wolf.

But she continued nevertheless. "My wolf thinks she's met your mate." It took a few times for Luke to really digest the words she said, and so she pinched his cheeks and let out a laugh.

"I have to say, you're thinking face is pretty cute." It was clear he was in contemplation, especially when he didn't move away from her pinching his cheeks.

But then again, Luke had four brothers. He had a plethora of patience, but his head whipped around and looked her square in the eyes. "Who?" From what her mother said, she should never tell the person directly who it was.

They needed to come into the sense that their mate is out there and there's a connection between one person. "I don't know, that'd be a big help I know. But it feels similar to when my siblings were going to meet their mates."
"You don't think it's us, sweetheart?" He teased, but the way he offered it compared to the other comments told Hera that he needed a bit of comfort after sharing sensitive information such as a possible mate.

"If you want to fight for my honor, Elwood, Maverick's right over there." She gestured, and in seeing the male take on three of his students at the moment, it was clear that he would fair just as well as Jackson against Hera herself.

"How long has Kelly been Luna?"
"Uh, well she's not technically Luna. She's not mated to the Alpha and the council doesn't recognize her either."
"So she's not invited to the Luna meetings?" She questioned and Luke shook his head, hell even Hera was invited to them.

"Like you said, we're unrepresented."
"Hopefully dad and Bubs—I mean Harlow can help."
"Uh, what was that?"
"Nothing!"
"Are you sure, it sounds like you called Alpha Harlow, Bubs?" Hera's cheeks instantly grew red as she hid away in her knees further, yet she didn't hesitate to side punch the male.

It did sting much more than he wanted to admit, but the blush in her face was worth every inch of it.

"Well if you stick around me long enough, I'm sure you'll catch dad calling me my nickname. I'm still a pup."
"Yeah? How old are you?" He now sounded unsure, but it gave her the higher ground. Her elbow propped onto her knees as she looked further to him.

"Eighteen. Cutting it close there Elwood—Flirting with a minor?"
 "Ah, so you really are a pup huh?"
"Excuse you, I graduated high school early and have some college credits stacked up. Bite me." She shot back, and huffed as he caught her in the bait.

The rest of the pups soon found themselves tiring out, but Leo was beyond ecstatic in finding out that they'd be here for a few more days. And most of them thought it was adorable to see the male so upbeat and attentive to learn.

Maverick especially.

"Uh...What kind of party does the Alpha usually throw?"
"Well this is for pups, so I guess a few higher-ups. My brothers will probably be there, some more she-wolves. Dad's invited to that dinner you—"
"I've been uninvited too?" He gave her a rather pathetic pat on her shoulder and she scoffed into the air.

"I think dad's unintentionally pushing me to get into politics." She mumbled and Luke understood what the she-wolf was getting at.
"You're the youngest...I guess it's hard when you're not going to be following your parent's title."

"No. I have to find my own, that's why I went to Arctic Crest, my wolf was getting too aggressive and well...I needed a break." Luke nodded, looking up to the sky for a minute.

"Yeah I had that before, Mom sent me to go help my aunt with her pups. It was a nice break, even if it was just managing a litter of pups."
"Least those pups aren't shifting, I was a crazy pup." For some reason, Luke didn't doubt that wasn't the truth.

She seemed like the troubling type.

"Did you feel better? After coming home from your aunts?"
"A little yeah, but I know my job is going to be to take over as Master of Arms. You...Goddess, you're open to so many things it's making my head spin."
"Yeah, and I get an intuition about other wolves but not myself? Mama probably thinks I'm just a moody mess." She sounded relatively upset, and the first instance Luke had was to comfort the female.

And his arm around her was accepted, until it was turned into a warning from Maverick to back off.

"We're just talking Mav, ease up." The male realized that her tone was rather sad. Whatever they were talking about had upset her, and while his eyes turned to Luke in suspicion and blame. Hera simply took Maverick's hand and pulled him down to sit beside her, and soon enough she wiggled her way into his lap and cuddled him.

"I guess that's one way to feel better. So, about my mate that you were talking about?" Luke dwelled, and Maverick chuckled as he kissed Hera's bruising cheek.

"When I get back to Mystic, I can text you if I get anything...But really there's no telling unless—"

"Unless I go with you." Luke finished her thought and made a face, but when she offered her phone up with a ready blank contact sheet he put in his information.

______

Date: 02/10/2022

Time: 11:56

Words: 2711