Chapter 1 ~ Welcome To My World

I board the plane with my two little monkeys… Derek and Darrius. I am heading home to my birth pack. Home! It feels like forever since I used that word! Although, it’s only been two and a half years!

I get the boys settled in their seats. It’s an eleven hour flight.. and I have a feeling we are going to be VERY popular by the time we reach Casper! Toddlers don’t travel well…

Once we are airborne, the boys are sleeping. I relax, deciding to rest.. while I can. I lean my head back, and memories flood my brain.

My brother and I share the same birthday.. two years apart. It made for some royal battles, as children. His party was always super hero themed.. mine.. princess. Always together.. always shared.

His eighteenth birthday was also his ascension ceremony. Alphas from all over the world attended. Our father, Peter Moore, was ascending to Senior Councilman. He was an important man!

It also happened to be my sixteenth birthday.. and Lenore wanted her presence known! As the ceremony started.. I could feel her stirring in my head. Not unusual.. since our wolves appear on our sixteenth birthday.. they just don’t shift.. for two years. It allows the human and wolf side to bond completely!

She whispered she was going to shift because her mate is here. I’m like “What? No! It’s too soon!” But, she doesn’t listen.. I mean.. she’s my best friend now.. but she doesn’t listen!

I left the ceremony.. I didn’t want to take away from my brother’s big day! I brought us to the meadow, by the pond. I stripped out of my clothes.. and laid down amidst the moon blossoms.

It must have taken over an hour.. but I finally looked at myself, in the pond. She was beautiful! Large.. very large for a she-wolf. Pure white with blue glowing eyes… and blue tattoo markings on her face and head. Signature traits of a blessed healer wolf!

After letting her play awhile, we shifted back. As I headed to the reception for my brother, I was nearly knocked off my feet.. by the most enticing scent I had ever smelled. Leather and mint… intoxicating.

A man stepped from behind a tree. “I saw you shift. Your wolf is amazing!” I was shy.. I knew he was my mate, but I was shy. He walked up to me.. taking my hand in his, he whispered “Vanilla and rosemary.. it’s lovely. I am Kieran Knight of White Satin. And I am going to kiss you!”

We spent the entire night together.. and, in the morning.. he was gone. I ran downstairs.. looking for him.. I found my dad. He asks “Honey, can you meet your brother and me in his office?” I tried telling him I needed to find someone first and he told me he knew who.

In Alec’s office, I was told “Kieran told us you are his mate. He left to go back to his pack, early this morning. He left a note for you.. but he did tell us he isn’t going to reject you. He just doesn’t want a mate.. At least, not right now. He has many enemies.. Many people trying to take him down. He’s worried they would try to get to him, by hurting his mate.”

By this time, tears are rolling.. and I opened the note. As I read, my tears dried. And my body filled with absolute resolve! He would regret this! He had just better hope I still care! The note was brief.. and extremely egotistical..

My dear Calista…

Please understand my position on the mate bond. You are a lovely girl and had I been in control.. last night would not have happened. My wolf, Onyx, took control at first sniff of your scent. I am sorry.. I didn’t want to take advantage of the bond. I can’t have a mate. At least, not yet. I have enemies that would kill you.. just to weaken me. I can’t be worried about protecting you.. not when I have a whole pack to defend. I abhor scenes.. it is why I left, this way. I wish you well and hope one day we will be friends.

That was it! Friends! I left the pack.. that very day.. and moved to my mother’s brother’s pack outside Dunkirk. I studied healing.. herbs.. plants and flowers. I learned to make potions.. tonics.. even poultices. I went through a pregnancy.. Alone! I gave birth to my boys.. then, I started training. I became proficient in hand to hand.. and weaponry. I am partial to archery.. and sword fighting.

The boys wake up, halfway through the flight. I take them to potty.. then set up a snack tray and juices for them. Once they’ve eaten, I hand them each a tablet.. tuning it to the same movie.. or they fight! They are the spitting images of their father.. dark curly hair.. green eyes. Identical in every way and people can’t tell them apart. Which is funny to me!

Surprisingly, they were both very well behaved. Shortly before landing, they had begun to get cranky.. but that’s understandable! I was cranky, too! I bundled them back up into their parkas.. and slipped into my jacket. Bracing for the cold Wyoming weather, we stepped off the plane!

Alec is waiting, with his Beta…and best friend, Simon at the baggage claim area. He spotted me and took off running, pulling up short when he saw my sons “Callie? Explain!” I laughed “Sooo, being Alpha hasn’t improved your brain power.. Good to know! Alec.. allow me to introduce your nephews.. Derek.. Darius.. shake hands with your uncles. This one is Alec… That one is Simon!”

Alec dropped to a knee and hugged both boys to him. With tears in his eyes, he whispered “I’ve missed so much! Why didn’t you tell us? I would have been there for you! I hate that you went through this alone!”

I smiled and hugged him and said “At first, I was angry.. embarrassed.. I harbored a lot of resentment against Kieran.. Then I just decided I am not that person. I am stronger than even I realized. I learned everything I could about my gifts.. I trained to become a warrior.. at last month’s competition I came in third against the males and first in she-wolves! I’m not that same little sixteen year old girl who left over two years ago! I will never be that naive again! The time never seemed right to tell you about the boys!”

Simon hugged me and asked “Where do we put them? I mean, we didn’t exactly arrive kid equipped!” Again, I laugh and say “Their carseats are in baggage claim. Come on! Let’s get them home. They’re tired.. hungry.. and thirsty! Trust me when I say, that is a recipe for disaster. They turn into demons and shit gets broken!”

Alec snatched both boys up and tells Simon to get the bags. I help Simon load everything I brought and get the boys fastened in. As soon as we are on the road.. both boys start.. wanting chicken nuggets.. drinks.. how far away are we.. are we there yet!

The truck slows down and I look up, Alec is pulling through a McDonald’s and asked the boys what they want. They started to open their mouths and I say “No! You get nuggets, fries and a juice! No McFlurry.. No apple pies!” Then I looked at my brother “They will be two years old in three days.. Their mentality is on par with a five year olds’ .. Never give them options. They will drive you mad!”

Once we are back out on the road, Simon turns in his seat and asks “What’s your name, little guy?” To which Derek replies “Darius” I groan! Darius says “He’s not Darius! He’s Derek! He only wishes he was Darius” Which immediately starts an argument. I smile benignly and say “Welcome to my world!”