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The drive was long.. Conrad had Lynyrd Skynyrd cranked up as loud as his radio would allow...

The evening sun sent a warm glow over the horizon.. the chilly air whipping my hair so badly i had to put it up in a bun.

We were singing along to free bird as loud as we could. Laughing. He would spare me a look every now amd then.. a wistful smile on his face. Rewmbering his mate i suppose. Or the times we have had together.

Im not sure.

"Hey at least the bruises are nearly faded." He chuckled nodding toward my face.

Smiling, i shook my head.

It seemed like hours went by when in fact it was exactly two.

Did i mention that Dark Moon is just a packland away from crescent moon on its southern border? Silver Moon pack devides the lands...

Id be closer to my home pack than i wanted. I only prayed that no one found out i was there. Not until i accomplished my goal of finding myself. Making myself stronger.

Once the sun had gone down and the moon had risen high in the sky.. i held back my tears and emotions as he pulled onto a gravel drive which i figured to be Dark Moon. Just 45 minutes away from my old pack.

The gravel crunched under the tires as we drove slowly through the most beautiful tree lined drive i had ever seen.. the trees seemed to arch into one another, meeting overhead. We kept driving.. and i had to keep the shock from my features as we pulled up to an ancient looking stone mansion.. something youd find in the old days. Maybe in europe. Two large gargoyles sat on the terrace above.. as if they were watching. Waiting. Bright security lights illuminated the circle drive and the truck was being parked as Conrad killed the ignition.. turning to me.

"Well. Here we are." He grimaced.. glancing over to the mansion.. remembering things from his childhood. This is where he grew up. Where his moments with cilla were had.

"Yeah." I breathed

Suddenly his hand was on my chin, forcing my gaze to his.. navy eyes willing me to listen and listen good. "Nova. They will try to break your spirit.. dont let them. Aside from that this is a good pack.. to learn how to be a warrior. But remember you need to fight. Let that wolf of yours guide you.. you dont guide her because you wont survive mentally if you do. If she wants to fight, let her. If she wants to shift, let her. You let her guide you because you will be spending more time in wolf form here than you have in your life. Do you understand?"

With wide fearful eyes i nodded. There was no turning back now.

He pressed a kiss to my cheek, rubbing his into mine in a meaningful gesture.. smelling my neck one last time before he let go, getting out if the truck as i took a calming breath, following suit.

As Conrad grabbed my luggage from the truck bed, the large front doors of the bizarre mansion opening.. and out stepped the largest wolf i had ever seen. Buff. Bigger than conrad. Height maybe even taller. He wore a thin grey tshirt.. tattoos from his hand all the way up, disappearing into the sleeve as he studied me.. approaching with this glint in his eyes.

"Wow." His deep barritone voice sounded as Conrad dropped my bags, coming up to him.

"She looks so much like Cilla it's ridiculous." He seemed thoughtful.

Conrad growled slightly. "Shes mated."

A knowing smirk appeared on his lips.. hair short on the sides and long on the front. "I know this. Oh yes i know. To Zaryn of crescent moon. He's a good wolf. Ive been at their pack the past two weeks. Helping him cope."

This piqued my curiosity. Why did Zaryn need help? Was he that bad off?

Alpha Maxim studied conrad before bringing him into a hug.. pressing his cheek to his. "Cousin. You look well." He smirked.

Conrad had a ghost of a smile on his lips. "As do you. Please. Take care of her... she is with honor." At that, Maxim peered at me.. taking in my form with a nod. "No worries cousin. Shes safe."

Conrad and I said our goodbyes.. i watched in sadness as he left.. my wolf whining. She had grown accustomed to his wolf. Her Alpha.

Two large bulky wolves came out, grabbing up my luggage and disappearing inside.. at that moment.. i could hear many soldiers. Warriors coming from the backyard.. their grunts and warrior sounds a distinct thing I have learned to recognize.

"Come." Alpha Maxim smirked, ushering me inside. "Lets go over the rules. I can sense your wolf is strong so i will need to initiate you.. make your wold realise who the Alpha is now." He had this aire about him.. a flirty one at that. I could see him being a mateship wrecker.

But not for me.

He led me into the large tall ceilinged home.. a massive chandelier above me. As ancient as the outside looked.. it was so modern on the inside. Fancy. Unlike anything i had ever seen.

"Whats all that i hear from the back?" My brow rose curiously. A smirk tilted up on his lips.. ushering me through a massive formal den before opening a set of french doors that led out to a terrace.. the stars illuminated overhead.. a pool below. Something youd see in a home guide for the wealthy.

But was had me gasping was the feild beyond the pack house.

Warriors..

Females and males alike.. some in fur and some in skin.. marching.. some going at each other like rabid animals.. ripping flesh from their bodies with bloodied teeth. Females breaking their opponents arms during a fight.

Complete and udder chaos.. but somehow it was uniformed.

I paled.

There was no way i was good enough to keep up with them

Maxim turned to me. "Oh buttercup. By the way? Dont challenge anyone unless you want to meet the moon or youre ready for them to meet the moon. We dont do submission here. We do death." He winked as i stared with my mouth open to the view below me.

Savages.

They really were a bunch of savages.

And i was about to be trained by them.