Chapter 5

　　Three Months Later

　　As I hurried out of the house, I wondered what was eating at Allen. I noticed that the two past weeks, something had been bothering him something bad. But he wouldn’t talk about it with me, so I stopped asking. Shifting into my wolf, I take off for a run around the border. My seventh year here in Rollins was almost here and for some reason, both Aria and I were growing restless. She wanted to move on, but I wasn’t sure.

　　As I reached my full stride, my mind began to drift. Allen had been avoiding me and it hurt me, though I didn’t let on. Racing past a few guards, I barked softly when they nodded at me. I spent two hours walking the borders, but they were uneventful. Stopping by the lake near my cave, I take several deep swallows of the clear, cold water.

　　Feeling bored, I decide to see if Allen could hang out with me today. Allen, do you want to go see a movie in town today?

　　No. He snaps at me. I huff and drop the link. Walking into the cave, I shift and slip into a change of clothes. Lying on the ground staring at the sky, I start talking to my wolf. If we left, where would we go Aria? I don’t think I could stand to go back and watch our mate with someone else.

　　We could go to the council and ask to be put in the assassin training or we could ask to become one of the Alpha King’s warriors. Either one would be better than the other choices we have. Sitting up, I chuckle softly. I think we’d do better as a warrior for the King than as a Council Assassin.

　　So do I Tina. I think it’s best if we leave today. Jumping to my feet, I quickly make my way to the pack house making sure to avoid everyone. As I made my way past Allen’s office, I freeze when I hear Evan’s voice. Looking around the door, I see Allen staring out the window and his phone lay on the desk. He must have it on speaker.

　　"She’ll be here when you come tomorrow, I promise Woods. It’ll be up to her if she’d want to train your warriors or not."

　　"She’s my mate Allen; of course she’d want to help her old friends become better fighters."

　　"She’s your ex-mate Woods. And she’s not the same girl you once knew when she was part of your pack." I couldn’t listen anymore. Running up the stairs I rush into my room and pull my bag from under the bed. It only took me exactly twenty minutes to wipe my room clean of any sign that I had been there. Locking my door, I open my window and climb out onto the ledge before pulling it back shut.

　　The last stop I made before heading to the border was to the cave. I had to make sure it was wiped clean as well. Whispering a goodbye towards the pack house, I jog across the pack’s territory line and felt our connection break. Shifting into a black jaguar, I race through the forest. And my destination was the council pack; just over two hundred miles away in Helena.

　　It took me almost a week, stopping here and there when I was tired or hungry, to get there. Most of the Alpha King’s warriors and guards were selected by the council members from every state. But there were some who the King himself chose, though it wasn’t often for him to do so. By the time I reached the city limits of Helena, I was back in my wolf form.

　　As I stepped out of the woods, I was met by four of the toughest guards I’d ever seen in my life. Shifting back behind a tree, I quickly pull on some clothes. "State your business rouge." Keeping my head bowed as a sign of respect, I answer softly. "I’m here to apply for a position as one of the King’s warriors." One of them started laughing loudly, and I had to fight my wolf to keep my head bowed.

　　"You? A weak femme wolf wants to be a warrior for the King? Don’t you know girl that it takes strong fighters to be accepted into his pack?" I knew that he was taunting me, trying to get a rise out of me. Keeping my tone respectful, I speak. "I can hold my own in a fight sir." After several tense minutes, they tell me to follow them. Picking up my bag, I follow them to a car. Slipping into the backseat, I stay quiet during the drive. I could feel their eyes on me, but I kept my either looking out the window or glued onto my hands.

　　The car came to a stop outside of a huge route iron fence. The gate had a wolf howling at the moon. After the driver spoke to the guard, the gate swung open and we drove through. When the council house came into view, I felt my jaw drop. It was huge; it had to be the second largest pack house ever built. When I heard the guards laughing at my expression, I quickly close my mouth and make my face blank.

　　They stop the car and get out. Getting out of the car, I immediately sense the guards that are hiding around the house. Taking a deep breath, I counted thirty-five different wolves. Wait, make that thirty-seven. There were two snipers on the roof. Falling in step with the four wolves, we make our way to the steps. Speaking softly to where only the four around me could hear, I say, "Could you tell your two snipers on the roof that they don’t have to point their guns at me. I’m not here to cause any trouble."

　　You could feel the shock and bewilderment rolling off of them. The two guards in front of me stop and spin around fast, causing me to jump back to stop myself from running into them. "How in the world did you know they were there?"

　　"There are thirty-five guards on the found and the two snipers on the roof. Their scents are faint but still there."

　　"What in the world?" One mutters as we resume our walk to the house. "No one’s ever been able to tell we had snipers on the roof. No one." I wanted to laugh, but I knew it wouldn’t be right to. We step into the house and three of the head in different directions. I look at the one standing before me and he motions for me to follow him. As we made our way deeper in to the house, I heard my name being called behind me. The guard didn’t stop so neither did I. Before he could open the door in front of us a growl thunders through the hall. We spin around and my eyes widen in surprise.

　　Striding towards us was the only family I had left in this world; my uncle. The uncle that I hated because he called my parents fools for staying with the Newmoon Pack and for refusing to take me in after they died. "Well, if it isn’t my favorite niece Tina." He says as he stops before me. My guard bows his head at my uncle but I just glare at him. "Uncle." I say softly, forcing the word out. He gasps softly and holds a hand where his heart was.

　　"Why all the angry towards me Tina? We’re family." My uncle smirks at me and before I could stop it, a deep growl slips from my lips. "We may be family yes Uncle. But as far as I’m concerned, family doesn’t abandon family when they need help. Especially after they experienced a major loss in their life." I almost laughed at the look that flittered across his face. My guard was looking from me to my uncle in awe. I knew that he wasn’t used to hearing anyone speak back to an ex-council member before.

　　"Now, if you’ll excuse us sir, I have somewhere I need to be." I turn around and walk through the door right behind the guard. He takes me to a large room and tells me to sit in a chair facing a small stage. Then he leaves. I wasn’t seated for more than ten minutes before I heard a door opening. Jumping to my feet, I stand at attention, my face void of any emotion and my eyes glued on the picture of the Alpha King hanging on the wall. The five setting councilmen walk in and take their seats. "At ease." One of them commands and I relax my stance.

　　"Now, we’ll start by you stating your name, the pack or packs you belonged to and your reason for being here today."

　　"My name is Tina Bell Watson. I was born into the Newmoon Pack pack and I was there until my mate rejected me. For the past year and a half, I’ve been part of the Lost River pack that just moved into Rollins. And I am here today to as the council to be granted a place in the King’s warriors." They stared at me as I finished my speech, but I didn’t move.

　　I was 5 foot 11 inches and weighted in at 165 pounds. My hair was black, short and curly. I held myself with respect and honor, and anyone could see the strength in my body. But I knew that there were few femme warriors, and I knew that they would judge me a lot tougher than they would if I was a male. "And what of your family? What do they think of your decision?"

　　"My parents died several years ago in a war between the Newmoon Pack and one of their enemies. The only living family I have left is an uncle. We don’t see eye to eye."

　　"If your mate, ex-mate, where to be leading an attack on the King and he had him corned, what would you do? This came from the first councilmen that walked in. Looking him in the eye for a brief second, I let them go back to the painting. "With all due respect sir, I’d protect the King with my life. And if that meant I would have to take the life of my ex-mate in order to make sure the King was safe, then that’s what I would do." They stood and I moved back to attention. "Ms. Watson, you’ll follow Councilman Chambers here. We have one more test for you to pass in order to be allowed into the King’s warriors." Bowing my head in respect, I fall in step with the councilman. He leads me outside and into an arena. I watch as he joins the others outside the circle. I had a gut feeling that this little test would be a lot tougher to pass.