The Great White North

RHIANNON

“Angel,” Isaac says as he shakes my shoulder, “wake up, baby, we’re here.”

We left Las Vegas at four this morning on a small private plane. The seven-hour flight went quickly as I slept through most of it.

I wasn’t able to sleep much at home before leaving. I’m really in my head about what Amethyst said.

I look out the window at the snow-covered ground. The Iconoclast Mountain range is visible in the distance.

The freezing wind whips straight through my bones as we step out onto the tarmac.

My teeth immediately chatter. Isaac pulls me into his arms, completely unaffected by the cold. Must be nice.

I push my face into the crook of his neck, feeling his heat radiating against my face.

We walk toward a man leaning against a large SUV.

“Jacko!” the man yells happily, his voice cutting through the wind.

“Dylan! Long time,” Isaac replies. They pull each other into a hug. “This is Annie, my luna.”

I can’t help but notice the pride in Isaac’s voice as he introduces me. It makes me blush.

“Luna Annie! It is so great to meet you! I’m Dylan. Cara, my mate, is so excited to meet you.”

Dylan is tall and handsome, which is what I’ve come to expect from wolves. He has reddish-blond hair and a well-trimmed beard. He looks a few years older than Isaac, at least.

Settling into the warm car, I take the chance to look out over the snowy wilderness. Everything is covered in thick snow.

After nearly an hour of driving down desolate roads, surrounded by trees, we come to a large metal gate.

A guard opens it quickly and we drive inside. Alpha Dylan’s pack land is stunning. Everything is built into the side of a mountain. It feels like a mountaintop resort.

We stop in front of a huge cabin, similar to Hunter’s pack house. Isaac holds my hands tightly as we leave the warmth of the car and face the bitter cold.

Luckily, we don’t have to walk far. Upon entering the pack house I’m met with a roaring fire, blazing in a huge stone fireplace.

A beautiful woman jumps up from a seat near the fire.

She stops to kiss Alpha Dylan before extending her hand to me. “I’m Cara! I’m so happy to meet you! We’ve been waiting for Jacko to find you.”

Isaac rolls his eyes before hugging her. “I’m only twenty-five. Everyone needs to relax.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his annoyance. Everyone acts like he was a hopeless case.

“Do you want to settle in or get right to business?” Dylan asks him.

Isaac turns to me, trying to gauge my preference. I give him a small nod, the go-ahead to get right to it. I know that is what he wants to do. He’s not the type to waste time.

“Business,” he says as he gives a clipped nod. I can feel his mood change; he’s become tense and serious.

“I’ll take Annie to your room so she can settle in, then we can have lunch,” Cara smiles.

He turns to me and pulls me into his chest, shielding my body from the others and whispers, “If you need me, I’ll feel it. I’ll try to make this quick.”

He gives me a chaste kiss and turns to follow Dylan.

“You’re staying in the guest wing.” Cara leads me through the pack house.

***

After taking a quick shower, I head back down to the giant fireplace to meet Cara.

“Ready for lunch?”

“Yes, please!” I didn’t know how hungry I was until she mentioned food.

“I hope you don’t mind, our beta female, Heidi, is going to be joining us,” Cara says, her voice questioning.

“Of course, that’s fine.”

As we enter their dining room, I’m surprised to find it empty.

“We’re having a late lunch,” she laughs when she sees my face.

A tall woman with long blonde hair bursts into the room.

“Lunas! Hello.”

She’s very energetic. She takes my hand in both of hers and says sincerely, “Luna, it’s so nice to meet you! I’m Heidi, Beta Luke’s mate.”

“Hi, please, call me Annie. It’s great to meet you.”

We fall into easy conversation while we eat. I feel at ease with them. Cara is more reserved and has a calming personality, while Heidi is lively and animated.

I find myself excited for Noah to find his mate. Cara and Heidi seem very close, like a team that relies on one another.

When our beta female joins the pack, I hope we have the same close relationship.

“You’re the first human luna I’ve ever met,” Heidi tells me excitedly. “I know of a gamma that had a human mate, but it really is rare!”

“Are there any other human lunas?” I ask them.

“Not that I know of. You are big news, so I’m sure if there was another, we would have heard about it,” Cara smiles.

I’m big news?

“People are fascinated by it. It’s exciting whenever an alpha finds his mate, but human? Forget about it. Everyone wants to meet you,” Heidi laughs.

“I-I wasn’t aware of that,” I’m suddenly embarrassed.

“I mean, it’s hard not to be captivated by it, what with the life span differences and the increased chance of rejection. I know it’s tawdry, but people can’t help but be interested,” Heidi explains.

My eyes grow wide and I choke. I snap my gaze to Cara, who looks stunned and horrified.

“The lifespan differences?” I whisper out in a shaky breath.

Heidi clamps her hand over her mouth.

I look at Cara, who quickly diverts her gaze to her knotted hands.

“What do you mean ‘lifespan differences’?” My voice is louder now but still trembling.

“Oh my God,” Heidi whispers. “I-I don’t know why I said that… Luna, I’m so sorry.” Tears spring to her eyes.

“One of you needs to tell me what’s going on. Now!” I stand up and my knees wobble.

The door opens quickly and Isaac runs in, followed by Dylan. His face is tense.

“Why are you upset? What’s wrong?” His voice is angry, but I can see the concern in his eyes.

“Lifespan differences,” I say as a tear slips from my eye. “Do we have different lifespans?”

A rage-filled growl leaves Isaac’s throat as he turns his gaze to Cara and Heidi.

“What the fuck did you say?” he yells so loudly it causes Heidi to jump.

“I’m so sorry, Alpha,” her voice trembles as she covers her face with her hands.

“Isaac.”

He turns back to me and the look on his face breaks my heart. A sob rips through my chest.

“The average lifespan of a wolf is two hundred years,” he whispers softly. “We age slowly. Differently than humans.”

“So, I’ll die a hundred years before you?”

He looks down at me before pinching his eyes closed.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was going to, baby, I just…wanted to wait awhile. I didn’t want it lingering over your head, I wanted more time for us.”

I sob into his chest.

“We’re going to our room,” he growls. “We’ll pick up with the vamp later.”