RIVER
I kiss Anna bye as we separate for the morning.
It's Monday, the place is a buzz of the Blue Moon Ball just a week away.
I'm internally freaking out as I walk past all the happy faces. The few that know what's going on, shoot me looks as they pass.
I cruze through the halls, heading to the trainers office to pick up my week's itinerary, when Zeke rounds the corner almost knocking me on my ass.
He looks panicked.
I stand. Pretending to look confused, though I know, he's most likely heard about the take down that's already started.
"Hey, man." I smile. This time it's almost a smile filled with satisfaction to see him so scared. "What's up?"
He looks around. "Uh, nothing. I...uh...have to go." He pushes past me and I grab his arm.
"Why the hurry? What's going on?" I stare him down.
He looks at my hand on his arm and shrugs it off.
ANNAIt's been three days since the news of the ball being moved to White Rock.With most of the moles in Falcon Ridge Prison, we've been free to plan and talk about the battle.There's been a question about why it's taking so long to get a plan from the higher ups.Well, today, we hear it.They have us all outside. Two thousand strong. Even the new recruits are here. What a time to join the unit. It looks like some are now unsure of their decision. I don't blame them. Barely over two weeks into training and you're thrown to war. If we didn't need the bodies, they could sit this one out.There's a stage and a loud speaker set up. The higher ups are standing on the stage. Alpha Edwards and Alpha Eric are missing. I wonder if they were moles too.Alpha Andrews is addressing us."Good morning.&n
RIVER "To good times and good mates!" Franco raises his glass to the group of men in the common room of the White Rock packhouse. We all clink our glasses and bottles. Blade walks in. He has his black hair pulled back, wearing a black tux. We're all in tuxes. We decided that since the ball is here in White Rock, we'd all get ready here at the packhouse and go to the ball together. Of course, we men are all waiting on the women. Michael comes in. "Looking good, guys." He's smiling in his own tux. His brown hair tossed but nicely done. I crane my neck to look at him behind me, then turn. Eying him up and down. "You clean up nice." I joke. He smirks. "I have my moments. I'm just glad your dad let me go. Though tomorrow I guess I face the music." His smile fades a bit. I put my hand on his shoulder. "I have
ANNA "River. Where are you taking me?" I giggle as he covers my eyes and leads me through the hallways of the pack house. "Almost there." I can tell he's smiling. We stop. He uncovers my eyes. I'm standing in front two large wooden doors. I look at River confused. "Open them." He says quietly. I grasp the doorknobs and swing the large doors open. I gasp. The dome shaped room is covered in soft white candles. The walls are covered from floor to ceiling in books and artifacts. Paintings of past Alphas grace it's walls. Picture windows show the forest outside. On the floor, is a white fur rug in front of a stone fireplace. Wood crackles and burns while flames dance in it. A beautifully set table for two wait with dinner. We just got back from the ball and River set up this surprise. I suck in a
ANNA I swallow nervously as I look out on the crowd of thousands of heads staring at. Alpha Andrews is at the podium. He's talking about the victory and Torrents demise. Words of encouragement and celebration filled the air on the training field of the Falcon Ridge Security Unit. River is sitting beside me, in a chair on a stage. His fingers laced with mine. Like he can sense my nervousness, he looks to me and gives my hand a squeeze. He smiles warmly when my eyes meet his. I smile back. The ceremony was to honor those that made our victory over the Dragons possible. "Anna Riker. Can you stand over here please?" Alpha Andrews waves me over to him. I stand, straightening my uniform. I walk over and stand at attention facing him. He's holding a box. "For your unmeasured bravery, emmense courage and strength you had to kill the Alpha of Dragons, we would like to present to you the Medal of Honor. Wear it with pride." He takes the medal out of the box and pins it t
ANNA The night is still. A slight breeze blows my black fur as I sniff the air. My amber eyes shimmer in the dark. I stand at the edge of a clearing on the border of my pack's territory, Falcon Ridge. It's not huge, but it's not small either. On the other side of the imaginary line, I stand in front of, sits White Rock. An alliance pack, smaller numbers, but its members are tough. I scan the tree line with my wolf ears perked. Movement. A dark figure on four legs breaches the trees and trots toward me. As it gets closer, I recognize him. Michael. The border patroller for this area between our two towns. His large brown and grey wolf approaches and stands almost at attention. A wind gust blows and swirls around him as he shifts. His naked form now crouched and he rises. "Anna." Wind gusts blow and I shift. Rising to meet his face. We both stand on either side of the border. Our naked bodies dimly lit in the moonlight. I nod. "Michael." He
RIVER"Son. Calm down." My dad was seated at his desk. He just delivered, yet, another condition I had to pass to get the title that has been promised to me since the day I was born.I'm leaning on his desk. I slam my fist down. "Calm down?! Christ, dad. This is bullshit and you fucking know it! You were 5 years in before you met mom! Why the fuck do I have to be mated to get my fucking title?!"He shuffled papers. "Son. My situation was different. My father died. I had to take the pack. I wasn't ready. I should have had a Luna. You will have to go by the book. Just find your mate and you'll get your title. It's not the end of the world."I stand up and grab at my hair with my hands then scrub my face of my frustration. "Not the end.....! Fuck! Do you realize my mate could be dead? She might not even be fucking born y
ANNA"What's up, bitches?" I stroll into the station with my red motorcycle jacket slung over my shoulder, my other hand in the pocket of my red leather boot cuts and sporting a white t-shirt. I have a huge smile on my face. I love being me.The station is buzzing with day shift and night shift patrollers exchanging reports for shift change."Hey, Anna." Could be heard around the room.I walk down the aisle and park my ass on Greg's desk. Three desks from the back where Drake's office is.Greg side eyes me up and down then pulls back his chair, leaning back and folding his arms. "Damn, Anna. When are you going to let me make an honest woman out of you?"I lean in. "Not in this lifetime, sweetcheeks." I smile. "How was the border?""You covering for Dea tonight?" He raised a brow.I nod.He pulled out a report and handed it to me.&
ANNAMy left hook connects to the face of the one eyed rogue."TELL ME WHY YOU WERE AT THE BORDER!!" I grab his shirt and command him to answer me.I've been interrogating this guy for over an hour and was starting to lose my patience.He spits his blood on the floor. "I'm not telling you nothing, bitch." He grins an ugly, bloody grin. Glaring at me with his good eye."Fine." I stand up and stroll around him and the chair he's chained to. I run my fingers up his good arm, around to his back and down to his casted arm. He watched as I walked around, snapping his head to follow. I pause. The corner of my mouth ticks up as I grab the fingers of his broken arm and bend them backwards.He screams in agony."ANSWER ME!!""OKAY. OKAY." I let go. "Fuck...alright. some guy, okay. He comes into a bar I was at in Delwork. Says he'll pay me if