Chapter 2

-Evelyn's POV

″The Bloodmoon pack is under constant attack by rogues and hunters,″ Jake begins. ″They are really struggling to hold on and so are the other packs, especially since one of their own turned on them.″

I put down my screwdriver and I look at my brother.

″It sounds like a long assignment to me and you do know that the Bloodmoon pack is a northern pack, right? You have to drive three full days to get there.″

″I know all of that, Evelyn. It's far away and it is going to be a very long assignment. Dealing with rogues and hunters on four territories, but I'm more worried about the White Claw pack.″

″Is that the pack that turned on them?″

″Yes,″ Jake answers. ″The alpha of the White Claw pack is apparently hungry for more power and territory. He wanted to go to war with other packs and he tried to convince his allies to join him, but they all refused.″

″So instead of going after other packs, he is going after his former allies,″ I sigh.

″That's the thing, Ev. He left the pact and soon after that, they found the bodies of the alpha and luna of the Bloodmoon pack. Their deaths can't be a coincidence, but there is no evidence that he or his pack was behind their dead. There is no evidence that he is coming after them of after any other pack.″

I'm actually intrigued, but something else is still bothering me.

″Why do you want to take this assignment, Jake? You would be away for goddess knows how long and I know you. It's never about the money with you, so what is the old one offering you?″

Jake smiles and he grabs two bottles of beer out of the fridge.

″Graham always looked out for me and he never asked for something in return. That alone is enough reason for me to accept this assignment.″

I take a big gulp and I slowly shake my head.

″Bullshit! What is the offer, Jacob?''

″Language, Evelyn,″ Jake says stern, but then a big smile appears on his face and we both start laughing.

″Being called by my full name by my baby sister! I officially feel old, but fine,'' Jake gives in. ''The deal is that we help them out with the rogues and the hunters, so they get the chance to get back on their feet. In exchange we get a seat at the table and our own territory.″

I'm lost for words, because that wasn't making any sense to me. My brother build a good life here and that was pretty incredible considering our past.

Once upon a time Jake, Emmet and I belonged to the Golden Forest pack. The biggest and most powerful pack in wolf history. Members of the Golden Forest pack were considered royalty. We were the strongest, the fastest and blessed with many gifts.

We had wolves that could not only feel the emotions of others, but who could also manipulate those feelings. We had past and future seers. Healers, mind readers and mind controllers. We had it all and on top of that, we got to live in a forest where the trees had golden leaves!

Hence the name of our pack.

We had it all, but not according to our father, the alpha of the Golden Forest pack. He got rid of his mate and the mother of his sons, so he could accept a mate from another very powerful pack. That was the beginning of the end for the Golden Forest pack.

According to the stories the new queen luna was young, beautiful and very gifted. She also happened to be a very jealous and cunning woman. Banning the old queen luna was not enough. Once the new queen was done, it was like her predecessor never even existed.

My mother was really a piece of work!

The ironic thing was that she couldn't get rid of the biggest reminder of her predecessor, her sons. I'm pretty sure that's why my mother chose to have me. Not to only secure her position in the pack, but also as a reason to get rid of my brothers.

Jake told me that when I was born, he wasn't allowed to go anywhere near me. They even moved him out out of the pack house for my safety. When Jake got closer to his fifteen birthday and being able to shift, his wolf told him to run.

Jake had to leave the pack and the territory, because my mother was coming for him. He was forced to live as a rogue, but he was not completely on his own. The old one helped him getting through his first time shifting and to disappear.

My brother was a fifteen year old teenage boy, but he didn't look like one. He was tall, muscular and very smart. He found himself a job at an old bar and three years later, that bar was his. It was that bar where Jake brought me and Emmet.

Even when he was living miles and miles away as a rogue, my brother heard about the faith of the Golden Forest pack. The fire that wiped away most of the pack and the forest, but nobody knew what happened to the children of the alpha.

That's why Jake started to look for us. Risking his own life by returning to his former home, but he found us. He brought Emmet and me to his bar, where he took care of us. Raising the two of us while running the bar and it didn't stop there.

The bar became a place for struggling rogues. Not all rogues were bad and out for blood or power. Most ended up as rogues because hunters killed their pack or due to conflicts between different packs. Jake taught those rogues how to survive on their own or he found them new packs to join.

The majority of the rogues would leave when they were ready, but some chose to stay. That's why Jake started the private security business. To give those wolves a way to earn their own money and that worked. The private security business was a huge success, because Jake made sure of that.

He trained the wolves himself and he was very strict with the money that they made. Always making sure that most of it was saved, so we had something to fall back on when times were tough. That's why we all got to live comfortable lives, because Jake took care of us.

We had everything we needed right here, so I don't understand my brother's decision at all.

''We are not a bunch of rogues anymore, Evelyn. We are a pack and a fast growing one. Just a few days ago Jason and Paul told me that their mates were expecting. A whole new generation is coming and we need to make room for them.''

''We have room,'' I grumble.

''Not enough,'' Jake smiles. ''This assignment will give us the space that we need and think about the opportunities, Ev. On our own territory we will have the space to build a training area, a warrior compound, homes for our members and a real pack house. We can build a school and perhaps someone would like to have her own workplace there.''

I finish my beer and I shake my head.

''Nice pitch, but I'm good right here.''

Jake's smile fades and he is suddenly all serious.

''I need you to come with us, Evy. I need your help, because this has to work out for us. I need this to work out and I think you already know why.''

I avoid looking my brother in the eyes and I reach for my pack of cigarettes.

''I'm asking for your help, but I will not ask you to join the Haunted Howlers or the Savage Stalkers.''

I cringe when I hear my brother saying those names and I shake my head.

''Is Kenneth still trying the pick a name?''

''Who else?'' Jake grins. ''The thing is that he is right, we do need a name for our pack.''

''Your pack,'' I mumble. ''When are we supposed to leave?''

Jake doesn't even bother with hiding his relieve and once again I'm stuck in a bone cracking hug.

''You are really coming with us, Ev?''

''I am, but I'm not joining your pack of idiots!''

''That still sounds better then Kenneth's suggestion,'' Jake sighs and he lets go of me. ''Finish your job and start packing, because we leave tomorrow.''

Jake leaves my workplace and I light up a cigarette.

''Are you ready for this, Syb?''

''I'm always ready and going is the right thing to do,'' my wolf answers.

''Because of everything that Jake and Abby did for us?''

''No, because we would die of boredom here and someone has to watch over those idiots!''

I blow out the smoke and I smile.

We were ready.