Charlotte

Cody's POV

My mind is still reeling from the intense connection that swept me away the moment James and I kiss, leaving me begging for more when one of the famed Autumn Commanders drops a bomb.

"'Revenge will be had'? What does that even mean?" Beta Alex is the first to speak up, his thick brows furrowed, the air in the room tense.

I'm a little lost over the specifics of what's going on, reminding myself to get more answers later, but clearly there's something going wrong in multiple parts of the country that seems highly dangerous. Which isn't comforting to hear right after you've decided to give this Luna thing a try.

"We don't know. The body was extremely mangled like something out of horror movie." Johnathan describes and I can only imagine how terrified that poor Hybrid must have felt before they died.

"Well we need to bring this up to the Winter Moon. And we also need to make sure that we give them a description of that Witch so they can be on the lookout for her. I don't know what it is, but it's suspicious that she just so happened to be there." James explains and I can't help the way my heart flutters at how in control and calm he is, seemingly ready for anything.

I wish I could have that confidence and power.

My thoughts are constantly racing and the world as a whole can often time be an offering to my overly sensitive senses, not to mention my lack of social skills. And basically anything else needed to be a Luna.

I've had to face the memory of my parents more and more lately and now I find myself at the feet of their legacy. My mom was an incredible woman, she was kind, compassionate, and charming. She did so much for this pack and basically ran the Home & Nursery. And my father. He was strong, brave, trust worthy, and a great Head Warrior to the pack. While no one could compare to the love I had for my family, I know I wasn't the only one that held them so close to my heart.

But to be here now, at the feet of their legacies, at the threshold of the start of what could be the rest of my life, I find myself a lot calmer than I would've thought.

'There's a reason for that. I know humans scoff at destiny, but the supernatural aren't so naïve.' Jessie reminds me, startling me a bit after being so used to the quiet and solitude.

"Will do, Alpha." Johnathan calls with a lazy salute.

James turns towards the smaller wolf that's standing along the wall, her face sweet and stature cute, but I can tell by the gleam of her eye that she's as deadly as any weapon. "Charlotte. I don't want you in the cabin. Winter Moon requested that the Faeries don't bring their guards. I'm hoping Alpha Lucas is smart enough to bring a warrior or two, but I want you on the perimeter. Don't let anyone get ten yards within the cabin. I actually want you to go ahead in wolf form and scout out the place before we get there. We're all going on fours. It'll be quicker." He commands the girl and she nods before heading out immediately after a quick wink towards her comrades.

Apprentice Zee stands up and motions for everyone to start getting ready to move. "Alright people, let's get our shit together. We need to be there and back before the Elders start asking too many questions." My eyebrows raise when I realize the implications.

Whatever it is that's going on, the elders and likely Alpha Richard and Luna Leslie are kept in the dark about it all.

And honestly I don't know if that should make me more or less worried.

'Poor timing, but we need to get your school records changed. You definitely need those extra two years dedicated to learning your position of power.' Jessie mentions to me and I almost fall in relief when I remember that I won't have to do this from scratch or learn as I go. There's an entire program dedicated to learning all the ins and outs or our own position as well as everyone else's.

The little reminder helps loosen the grip that my anxiety has on me, allowing me to take a deep breath as everyone decides on a route to take and how things will go.

I find myself tuning out but force myself back into the conversation, knowing that I'm about to start becoming apart of them and I have to be prepared.

"Zee you're there for notes. Alex you and I will stick to most of the talking. Commanders, you'll be there for details, but mostly just for back up and show of force. And Cody." Surprisingly James turns towards me and grabs ahold of one of my hands. "I want to introduce you to the sister pack and the Faerie Kingdom as my Mate and Luna. Are you okay with being apart of this conversation?" He asks me patiently, I think about running away, unprepared for the day I'm involved to be today, but something inside of me, almost so faint I may have imagined it, is telling me to do it. To let go.

"I'm ready." The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them but I don't regret them.

His hands tightens around mine as he turns back towards his team. "Alright we're going to head out. Wait until we reach the tree-line to transform. I'll explain everything to you on the way." The last sentence is directed at me and I nod as we start to file out the room.

I can't help but notice how suspicious it looks with all of us leaving Zee's office at once, especially with the serious expressions in everyone's faces. But thankfully, downstairs is empty and the elders are no where to be found, probably in their Home a few minutes walk away.

When we get outside, the air is warm and there sun is starting to break free of the clouded prision. Since it's Monday most people are at school, work or in the Capital, no one even batting an eye at our group as we walk past the village of buildings and towards the north eastern forrest.

As we walk, James talks to me, explaining the recent crimes sprouting over the pack, the conversation he had with Lord Azrin, and all the reports his commanders have brought him. My head spins with it all, though of course that couldn't be the last of it. James tells me the prophecy that the Lady of Spirits had bestowed onto him, the princess and mind Faerie, and as he does, I notice that his usual blue aura is mixed with a white rope of mana that glows, flowing in from his own mana flow to my own, the same moment that the words of the prophecy almost seem to be copied onto my brain.

What was that?

A spell?

Does that mean I can see magic and spells?

Before my brain can spin in the millions of different directions and meanings that pop into my mind, James stops us.

"Alright, we go on fours from here. Stay alert and stay close." James says and everyone immediately starts shifting. With my eyes still focused on the usual faint mana auras, I witness six little explosions of mana as the stored energy and magic from our wolf spirits is realeased into reality until their are six wolves in front of me.

My cheeks redden when I realize they're waiting, and I find the same mana pool deep within, the spark bigger and brighter than I've ever felt. I release the internal seal and take a deep breath as my body lengthens, morphs and changes into a small brown haired wolf. When I open my eyes, I have to hold back a gasp. I haven't shifted with a connection to Jessie since the year I learned to shift at all. Since then I've always felt foreign, off balance and clunky in my wolf form, but now, as I check in on my body and my senses, I can feel the raw power flowing through my tightly wound muscles.

My body feels light and the world around me is slight with vibrate trails and forces of mana. It's beautiful.

James and Beta Alex take point on the group and I'm right behind them, trying not to seem as nervous as I am. The light job through the forrest is quick but tense, all of our senses strained in case we come across a rouge. Or even whatever thing tore into that Hybrid they found.

After ten minutes we slow down, and what seems like out of thin air, a small blonde wolf steps into the little clearing we stopped in. I recognize her scent as the small spy that claimed to have served under my father- Charlotte, James called her.

'Shift.' The gentle voice in my mind is James and I can only assume everyone heard it because all at once, the vibrant flashes of mana are back as everyone stretches and transformed back into their human form.

Charlotte is the first to speak. "We're the first ones here. I'll stay out here in wolf form and alert you when others arrive." She says and after earning a nod she jumps into the trees, and in a flash of red, her small wolf form is gone.

"Let's get inside. They should be here soon." James instructs and we move, our ears still on alert.

We cross the last few trees and exit the forrest, crossing the small yarn towards the frost door of the cabin.

You would have had to grow up under a rock in Vollmond to not know about this cabin, though now, I'm sure few know where it is. Growing up we always heard stories of how when during times of strife between the sister packs, the white cabin was a space of neutrality and cease arms. The white stands for a truce, and never once in the hundreds of years that it's stood here, standing the rest of time thanks for preservation magic, has blood been spilt in the White Cabin.

I just hope things stay that way.

The door is unlocked and inside to my surprise is a kitchen, the island counter housing four stools, bathroom and a large living room. The living room has a large table with about ten fancy looking wood carved chairs surrounding it. There's a small couch off to the side that seems slightly out of place, but I ignore it as everyone centers around the table.

"Timari, Titan, Johnathan take the kitchen counter.Pay attention, don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself. Alex, Zee, Cody, you ready to join me at the table?" He asks lightly with a tight smile and I can tell that he's worried.

Before anyone can respond the look on his face changes intensely as we all sit down, Alex on James' left and I on his right, Zee sitting next to the Beta, pulling a notebook from her jacket pocket. "Charlotte says the Winter Moon is coming now." He announces and seconds later there's the sound of boots hitting the ground outside the door before the knobs turns.

In walk three men, two obviously the Alpha and Beta, though the third man is a mystery. Based on the pattern, I would assume he's the Head of Warriors of the Winter Moon Pack.

Everyone rises from their seat and James takes a few steps to meet a dark skinned man with cunning, sharp eyes in the middle of the room. I can tell the wolf is about ten years older than James as he reaches out a hand towards our Alpha. "Alpha James. It's been a long time since we've seen each other. I have to say, I'm grateful it's you I'm dealing with and not your father." He admits and my brows raise, surprise to hear anything negative about Alpha Richard not that I've known the man or talked to anyone about him.

"Alpha Lucas, good to see you don't hold the pack responsible for my father's mishaps. But please, accept an apology on his behalf." James offers and I stop myself from interrupting and asking what they're talking about. He turns towards me and motions me forward where the Winter Alpha turns towards me with a quizzical look. "This is Cody. He's a few weeks shy of his birthday, but I'm sure- we're sure that we're soulmates. And Cody will become the next Luna by my side." James tells the huge man. A part of me wants to bar my neck in submission from the raw sense of power and dominance that radiates from his very being, but I stop myself, hating the pressure against my skin, the presence of James enough to keep it at bay.

And suddenly it's gone. "I see." He says and I realize that he was doing it on purpose, wanting to see if I would submit to someone other than James. I don't blame him for being skeptical but the Alpha has definitely rubbed me the wrong way. "Well, pleased to meet you, Luna Cody." He says with a nod and I return the gesture though I want to sit down and get away from his scrutinizing gaze.

"This is my Beta Alex, my Advisor Zee, and my three commanders." James continues to introduces.

"This is my Beta Cole and Head Warrior Zander." Alpha Lucas introduces in kind, just as the two Alpha's turn towards the door. Moments later the door bursts open and a Princes Jasper from school along with a white haired Faerie with purple eyes and striking features walk into the Cabin.

"And this is Prince Jasper of Melamar and High Lord Azrin of House of Mind." James explains, pointing out the two Faerie elite.

"Mind Faerie? So you can read minds?" He asks, his eyes narrowing, but Lord Azrin doesn't look phased just shares a wild and daring grin.

"Only if I touch you. Why, Alpha, do you have something to hide?" He asks with a coynes only a Faerie could achieve.

With enough bickering to give humans a run for their money, everyone finally gets seated at the table and as the talk dies down, there's a tenseness that settles over the room and claims the mood.

Even James' face is grim, as he goes to address the table. "Alright everyone. Let's begin."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book man is getting so good. I'm really in love with this new series I can't wait until I get more commenters so I can get some feedback.

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QOTD: pudding or jello?