11.

Farryn’s first week as alpha was an overload of information regarding the pack’s territory. It wasn’t normal for a wolf pack to be so willing to accept an outsider in such an important role, but they didn’t have anyone to lead them. It was better to accept an outsider who fit the role than to let someone unworthy take the spot as Chandler had. However, with her being an outsider it meant that she was being watched closer than usual. Everyone was waiting for her to screw up, a female wasn’t truly capable of leading males, their personalities just weren’t as dominating. Some of the males in the pack did try and push their authority with her, but she had done well with keeping everyone in line.

Since the day of the challenge Amelia had helped get her moved into the large house, she had first met Chandler in. It was the main packhouse, where the alpha resided and where any important meetings needed to be held. The large home felt lonely however with it being just her living there. Amelia and Ian stopped by frequently in the day when they had the free time, but it didn’t fill the void for her. She felt more alone now than she had before the twins had found her.

Farryn sat at the head of the long table with her cheek propped into her hand. Several of the older pack members were delivering their reports. A lean male by the name of Darius had just finished giving his report of their latest hunt, because of the humans they had to change their ways to help blend in more but still held some of their old traditions such as the hunts. As Darius took his seat a younger male, slightly older than herself stood up. His shoulders were tense from having to wait so long to speak. It took her mind a moment to find his name but as he spoke, she was able to place the name of Tony to the voice.

“After the encounter with the humans at the Northern border, we had started sending more patrols that way. Of course, we are still patrolling the others as well just not as heavily. We received a report early this morning of a dead deer being found on the eastern border.” Farryn blinked once before shrugging her shoulders.

“Okay? Did it die of disease or something like that? I’m not quite hearing the reason for your concern.” Tony let out a scoff as he rose to his full height, his body screamed beta, but his attitude was too cocky for her. Farryn buried the urge to dismiss him. She needed to hear the rest of what he had to say first.

“Its throat had been torn out, judging from the edges of the wound, we don’t think it was done by teeth.” This time Farryn lifted her head from her cheek, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“And I assume there were no other wounds found on the deer?” Tony shook his head slowly as she inhaled deeply. This was not something that humans would have done and had it been another wolf pack wanting to make their presence known they would have simply introduced themselves. This was a sign left behind by another predator who wanted the warning to be clear, they could make themselves known if they wanted to, and now was when they made that decision.

“Any scents or anything else that possibly could tell us who it was? Or anything?” Tony shook his head again.

“We checked, we even went past the border thinking they might have gotten careless away from us but, it’s like they vanished in thin air.” Tony scratched his stubbled cheek for a moment. “I told the patrol to keep this quiet until we knew what was going on.” Farryn stood up from her seat, a clear dismissal from the rest but they hesitated, nonetheless.

“Thank you everyone for today, Tony if you wouldn’t mind staying behind for a moment.” The males all rose from their seats and departed but not before Farryn took notice of who dipped their chin to her and who didn’t. A sleight of hand that shouldn’t go without some sort of punishment, but she stayed silent. She needed to gain their trust first, then their respect.

Tony crossed his large arms over his chest as she approached, for once Farryn finally found a male who was her height that wasn’t capable of physically looking down on her. “Have you, or anyone else seen anything like this before? Here or anywhere else?” Tony turned his head away for a moment, seeming to consider answering the female before him or not before finally shrugging his shoulders.

“Not that I can remember.” He turned his cold gaze back to his alpha who didn’t flinch away from the look. Instead, she took a single step closer,

“I get you don’t like me, I understand that most of you don’t. I understand that most of you probably don’t trust me. But right now, get over it. Not for me but for your pack.” Tony growled softly but lowered his arms from his chest, relaxing his stance.

“If anyone would know, it would be Chandler. He was the Beta before he took over as Alpha.” He turned on his heels and left Farryn in the meeting room alone with the stark reminder that she didn’t have anyone close enough to trust to name as her Beta and had to resort to an old-style council. Slowly, Farryn brought a hand along her cheek, considering her options. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Chandler since she stole his title, but the pack wasn’t large, perhaps a total of fifty wolves, so she couldn’t avoid him forever.

Farryn slowly trailed after the beta, “Chandler!” Tony called out to the male who was just down the street talking with Emily. Chandler didn’t even look to Farryn as he spoke a few quick words to Emily before approaching Tony. The white wolf inside lifted her head at Chandler’s approach, she wasn’t on edge but wanted to be prepared in case the fallen alpha wanted another fight.

“We’ve got a bit of a problem and figured you would know best.” He explained the situation quickly to Chandler who slowly looked to Farryn with almost a smug look. Her shoulders rose slightly at the expression but with a single blink of her eyes, the look was gone.

“I’d be more than happy to share what I might know alpha, any help I can be to you would make me happy.” The fact that she needed to come to him in the first place seemed to thrill him. Her jaw clenched with frustration before she motioned for him to speak.

“Well the sooner you fill me in the better.” His eyes drifted to Tony who stood off to the side of the both of them, the shorter male tilted his head slightly. Chandler was no longer in the position to order him to leave and they all knew that. With a dry chuckle, Chandler shoved his hands into his pockets and looked back to Farryn.

“I actually do remember something like this happening before we moved down here. If I had to guess, it’ll start with the one deer. Then there will be two, and instead of a third someone will go missing.” Farryn flicked her gaze to Tony whose hard look was slowly beginning to crumble as realization dawned on him.

“I’m not in the mood for games Chandler get to the point!” But it was Tony who jumped to the point for her, “The reason why we left the north was that we were being hunted.” Farryn frowned and looked between the two males.

“Hunted by humans I know, Chandler told me.” Chandler’s gaze held her own before he shook his head.

“I never said that. I said the north became unsafe for us, that was it. We were being hunted by Faeries, not by humans.” A peal of slow uneasy laughter bubbled out of Farryn; Tony scoffed once more at the female in disbelief that she would laugh about this.

“I’m sorry! Faeries?! Those tiny little things with wings that are the equivalent to a gnat?” Chandler sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“No, those are pixies. Faeries are creatures that could pass for a human were it not for their pointed ears and canines. They almost seem like a mix between a werewolf and an elf honestly, but some think they’re descended from demons breeding with angels.” Tony shifted his weight from foot to foot as he described what these creatures were. “They aren’t exactly the kindest bunch alpha, they killed many of us up north, and now they’re back.” Farryn sniffed loudly as she crossed her arms, the wolf in her mind beginning to stir, she seemed to want to meet these ‘faeries’ and Farryn certainly agreed.

“Tony get a handful of your strongest warriors and meet me at the edge of town. I want to see this area for myself.” Tony hesitated, he seemed like he was about to look towards Chandler but her presence stopped him from doing so. Instead, he nodded his head and headed off with Chandler still standing by the new alpha.

“A week in and you’re already trying to get us all killed? The right thing to do would be to just pack up and move on.” His voice sounded worried, he was obviously concerned about his pack but they were no longer his responsibility. Farryn slowly tilted her head to the side, her eyes assessing the male in front of her who seemed to shift his stance just slightly like he would attempt to physically stop her from leaving town.

The wolf inside growled, she already held a flame of distrust to this male so him questioning her decision was not the brightest idea, but Farryn smiled softly instead.

“I understand your concern Chandler, I do, but I’m not trying to start a war, and I refuse to continue to run. A pack needs a home Chandler, but a pack also needs an alpha who won’t run at the first sign of danger.” Chandler’s lips formed a grimace as he growled quietly but quickly stopped as her smile fell away.

“I am going to do what I feel is best for my pack.” Chandler’s eyes darkened as he quickly reached out and grabbed ahold of Farryn’s upper arm. She quickly yanked her arm away just as he released her with widened eyes. The shock that ran between their flesh left a searing sensation still tingling her arm all the way to her fingertips. Chandler flexed his fingers, he too, obviously felt the jolt but it was in no way a pleasant feeling.

“R-Right, you do that.” Chandler grumbled with a confused frown before slowly walking away, still flexing his hand as he left.