New Headaches

Anthony

“Pick up the pace, you dogs! I need that move faster and cleaner!”

I watched as the exhausted soldiers struggled through the mud under barbed wire, the relentless rain pounding them into the earth.

A soldier, covered in mud, looked up at me and said, “Alpha Anthony, it’s past midnight. We’re all pretty beat.”

“Beat, huh?” I smirked at him and gave him a swift kick in the ribs.

~Weakling.~

“Listen up, all of you! We’re about to start the biggest fight in the history of our packs. We’re facing the toughest enemy we’ve ever known. If we don’t take them down, we’re done for.”

I knelt down and stared into the eyes of the soldier I’d just kicked.

“So, we keep training until I say you’ve got it right. Understand?”

“Sir, yes, sir!” the weary warriors responded.

“Again!”

So, this was what it felt like to lead a ~real pack.~

Not bad for a guy from the swamps.

Now, I had more wolves under my command than anyone else around here.

Even Vulpes wouldn’t stand a chance against us.

We’d crush them like the rebels they were.

And then…why stop there?

With Vulpes, Shadow Moon, and Oak Marsh under my control, I could unite all the werewolves in the region under my peaceful rule.

They’d see me as a hero!

The one who finally brought unity to our kind.

Who ended the old, pointless feuds between the packs.

And any stubborn holdouts who didn’t like the new order would feel my wrath.

I looked up at the sky as the storm clouds gave way to the pale autumn moon. I laughed out loud.

~The dark times for our kind are almost over. A new, brighter day is coming.~

Quinn

~KNOCK. KNOCK.~

I knocked on the door to Aunt Jodie’s room.

“Aunt Jodie,” I called, “are you ready?”

The door slowly opened, and my aunt peeked out.

“Oh, Quinn, you look beautiful! Why are you all dressed up?”

“What do you mean?” I looked down at my soft gray dress and then back up at her. “You told me to get ready for the party tonight and then come to your room?”

“Oh, yes!” she laughed. “That's right. I did. Come in, dear.”

Aunt Jodie let me into her room.

She was wearing a strange charcoal robe, with intricate beadwork around the hood and the cuffs of the sleeves.

“You’re going to the party in that?” I laughed.

“Oh, no! I'm not going to the party in the garden.”

“Why not? You’re the one who planned it.”

“I did,” she smiled, “for a good reason.”

“What reason?” I asked.

“It’s...a distraction, you might say. To keep the rest of the pack busy while I take care of something...more important.”

“What do you mean?”

“Quinn, the autumnal equinox is a very special night for me. And for you, too.”

“Why is it special?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“To the rest of the world, this night marks the start of a new season. But to you and me, it’s the anniversary of the birth of our great ancestor: the Moon Goddess.”

“Really?” I asked, amazed.

Aunt Jodie nodded, “Long, long ago, the first werewolf in the world went into the underworld and drank from the streams of immortality. The Gods were angry, and they tried to drive her mad with a hundred terrible trials, hoping she would give up her stolen eternity.”

“What did they do?” I asked.

“They destroyed her home, killed the ones she loved, and caused her unbearable pain. But she survived their attacks. The gods were impressed with her strength, and they saw her as worthy of becoming a god. On the night of the autumnal equinox, our ancestor rose to the heavens to become the Moon Goddess.”

“So how are we related to her?” I asked.

“By her divine will, she created all werewolves. Among them, she found her mate. One special werewolf who seemed the most perfect of all her creations. She had a son with him, named Matheius.”

~Matheius.~

I’d heard some members of Shadow Moon call him the leader of Vulpes.

But I had no idea that he was my ancestor!

“But since the child was only half-god,” she continued, “he couldn’t live with her in the heavens. So, a god walked among wolves. And you and I, Quinn, are his descendants.”

“Wow,” I said.

It was hard to believe that I came from such a distinguished line.

“So, is there something special about this night?” I asked.

Aunt Jodie’s lips curled into a sly smile.

“When the stars align on the night that summer gives way to the first cool breeze of autumn, a direct connection to the Moon Goddess is created. As her descendants, it’s the night when we can communicate most clearly with the spirits of past werewolves.”

Communicating with the dead?

I had no idea that I had that ability.

It seemed impossible.

And if I could talk to the dead, that meant that I could reach…

“Could I talk to my dad if I learn how to use these abilities?” I asked, my voice filled with hope.

“Absolutely, sweetheart,” Aunt Jodie replied with a chuckle. “Your father and I have had several conversations.”

My heart soared at the thought. I could finally meet the man I’d only known through stories and a name.

“But,” Aunt Jodie added, “I can’t do it for you. I can teach you how to summon him, though. Tonight would be perfect!”

“I need to know! Please show me!” I pleaded, my excitement bubbling over.

“Don’t you have a party to go to? Friends to see?”

~Damn!~

I’d almost forgotten about that. But as much as I wanted to see my friends, nothing felt more important than connecting with my dad.

“I’ve waited my whole life for this. To know my dad. Friends or not, I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”

Aunt Jodie placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “And you will, sweetheart.”

She guided me to a large, cushioned chair in the center of her room. We sat down together, and she took my hands in hers.

“The key to reaching the spirits of the past is complete self-absorption. You have to block out everything else. Emotions, fears, all awareness.”

I closed my eyes and cleared my mind.

Thoughts of my friends.

Of Jax.

Of my pack.

Of my family.

Of Aunt Jodie.

Even of my dad.

Aunt Jodie continued, “Once you’ve completely surrendered to your subconscious, reach out through the mindlink—focus your energy on summoning the one you seek.”

Soon, I felt like I was floating through my own mind. It was peaceful, like all my thoughts had stopped. Like I was dead. Then, I focused all my energy on reaching out to my dad. I used the mindlink and called to him.

~Dad… Dad… Dad…~

Time lost its meaning. I called my dad’s name over and over, using every bit of my mental energy to bring him to me.

Then, a chill ran through my body. It made me shiver and my eyes snapped open. In front of me sat a man I’d never met, but knew my whole life. His eyes were mine. His warm, wise smile filled me with comfort.

It was him.

~It was my dad!~

But as I opened my mouth to speak, his image turned into a glowing mist that spiraled and disappeared in a burst of energy. Just like that, my dad was gone as quickly as he’d appeared.

Tears welled up in my eyes.

I was so close!

So fucking close to meeting the one person I’d always been compared to. The one person who gave me a sense of belonging when I thought of him during my darkest teenage years. He was gone. Again.

It felt like history was mocking me.

Aunt Jodie wrapped her arms around me. “Quinn! Don’t cry! You did it! On your first try,” she said, her voice filled with excitement.

“But he disappeared so quickly! I didn’t get to say anything,” I sobbed.

“It takes a lot of practice and training to have full conversations. But look at what you did with just a little instruction. If you keep practicing, you’ll be able to summon his spirit almost effortlessly.”

“Then let’s try again,” I said, determination filling my voice.

Nothing else mattered now.

Nothing except meeting my dad.

Jaxon

“What the hell is this place?” Zara asked as I rolled a large rock back in front of the entrance to a hidden chamber beneath the central staircase of Fort Vulpes.

“I think it’s some kind of forgotten emergency hideout. With Quinn off with her aunt these past few days, I’ve had a lot of time to explore this place.”

“Do you think she’s with her aunt now?” Zara asked, turning on her phone’s flashlight. “I didn’t see her at the party.”

“I don’t know. She’s been so… distant lately. But I’m sure she’s safe. Are you sure about Sky?”

Harper snapped, “I already told you, Alpha! She left the party all excited with some ugly Vulpes guy. I think we all know what she’s probably doing at two in the morning on a full moon night.”

“Jesus, Harper! I was just asking,” I said, annoyed.

“Our missing friends aren’t the only problem,” Zara sighed. “Alpha Anthony has taken over your position as Alpha of the Shadow Moon pack. He’s imprisoned Beta Alex and is planning to attack Vulpes with his combined forces.”

My heart stopped.

I didn’t want to believe what I was hearing.

My pack was being held hostage by that motherfucker!

It couldn’t be happening.

First, I’d lost my mate.

Now, my pack.

I couldn’t stay here any longer.

Quinn or no Quinn, I had to save my pack.

“I have to go back immediately,” I said.

“You can’t just leave without saying goodbye,” a feminine voice chuckled from the darkness.

~Damn!~

We’d been found.