Running freely in the woods is so great. The moonlight has amplified the beauty of the forest as tiny dew drops shimmer under its rays. He could hear the thoughts of his pack. He could hear every one of them. Judging by their conversations, there seems to be no problem and he knows the night would end without any. Their elite forces were scattered throughout the boundaries and if there’s something going on, they will be notified.

He ran through the woods, feeling the earth beneath his paws and the gush of wind brushing in his chestnut colored fur. He ran like nothing else matters. He ran as carefree as the first time he learned to shift. He ran as fast as he could, dodging trees and twigs with swift and exquisite movements. And only this time that he could clear his mind of the recent things that has happened and things that are quite disturbing him for some time now.

He found himself traversing the path towards his favorite place in Ravenwoods-the lake. He knew that it would be best to take a bath there at this time under the moonlight. Technically what he was about to do is slacking but this might be one of the privileges of an alpha. Besides, there is no problem at hand.

His wolf is in agreement with him.

His heart beats raced as he gets closer. He cannot explain the sensation that has engulfed him. There seems to be something that is pulling him. The path has opened to a clearing and the water shimmer under the moonlight. Without hesitation, he shifted into his human form and walked towards the clear water.

But he was taken aback upon seeing something glowing underneath. He narrowed his eyes as he looked closer. Yet the deafening sound of his heartbeats is so peculiar and so foreign. He have not been so nervous like this before.

Upon realizing what the glowing thing was, he didn’t let any moment get to waste. He dove and pulled the body out of the water.

“Allen!” he called out.

But Allen lay there, limp and unresponsive. He cannot even hear him breathe.

“Allen! Hey!” He tried once more but still, Allen is unconscious. The light emanating from him seem to fade.

And he did what it must be done.

…

I coughed and felt water coming out of my mouth. I seemed to feel groggy and my vision was filled with dancing white dots. My chest seemed to have gone through a lot of pressure.

Then a shadow looms before my sight and I felt a pat on my cheek. If there’s one thing that I have noticed, it was the warmth. I suddenly felt cold and needing more of it to wrap around my body.

“Hey Allen! Answer me!” Someone shouted.

I wanted to but my body didn’t respond and all I could muster was a groan. Upon hearing it, he sighed with a hint of relief.

“Next time, if you can’t manage to swim do not even think of going near the lake!” I heard the person snarled at me.

I wanted to say to whoever this was that I know how to swim but it’s pointless. Aside from nearly getting drowned, which was ironic, I have no strength to move a muscle. I just felt he scooped me up and carried me to wherever. I really wanted to open my eyes to see the person who saved me but my eyelids were too lazy to move.

It was peculiar though that I felt safe and contented as he carried me. The warmth of his body seemed to give comfort and it was enough to let me drift back into sleep.

…

“Oh he’s awake.” I heard the voice of Lady Margaret exclaiming.

I opened my eyes and tried to focus. I could see the familiar ceiling of my room in the manor and then I looked around seeing the great alpha looking self-constrained as usual with lady Margaret smiling, seemingly relieved from something. However, there seems to be some kind of a force to turn my head towards the direction of the windows where the soft fabric of the curtains flow with the wind.

But it wasn’t the curtain nor did the sunlight traversing through it that catch my attention. It was the man leaning against the wall beside it with his head tilted so he was staring at whatever it was outside. Seeing him there suddenly made my heart somehow ached for something. It was a need that has to be satiated. It was something that I haven’t felt before. I cannot really identify what it was but one thing is for sure, it was something deep.

“How are you feeling son?” I heard the soothing voice of the Lady then I felt her walked towards my side and patted my head.

I tilted my head towards her and smiled. “I’m okay, I guess. I just don’t understand why I’m here.” I said.

“Is that so?” I heard the doctor at the end of the bed. “Do you have the recollection of what happened last night?” He added.

Well it wasn’t that hard. “Uhm, while I was at the pack house, I saw a white wolf and it seemed to be calling me-“

“You saw a white wolf?” The great alpha asked.

“Uh, yes.” I said.

“Continue.” He answered and he was now listening intently.

“As I said, he was calling me. But there was something strange in its fur because they glow under the moonlight.” I said and then told them the rest.

“I was not sure if it was true or if I was just dreaming because I saw Raven and the guy in white turns out to have a face which was exactly like mine. Then they both just disappeared and I realized then I was drowning and it was the last thing I remembered. I don’t even know how I got here.” I said.

“In my opinion there seems to be no problem at him. Forgetting what happened after the accident is quite normal. Besides, Kendrick said that he was unconscious when he brought him here.” The doctor said.

“Kendrick?” I asked, can’t believe of what I heard.

“Yes. He carried you up here and asked me to call Mr. Jacques.” Lady Margaret said referring to the doctor.

“I see.” I said and tilted back my head to see Kendrick but he wasn’t there anymore. Clearly, I was disappointed not to see him there but it doesn’t change the fact that I have to thank him for saving me.

“Allen, when you’ve rested enough, see me in my quarters.” The Alpha said.

“Yes sir.” I replied. He nodded and walked out of the room.

“Well, I believe that I have no more business here. But if you need something in terms of medical assistance, just call me.” Mr. Jacques said.

I said thank you and he shook hands with the alpha and he went.

“Well, you have to rest.” The Lady said. “Just call if you need something. And by the way, your breakfast is here.” She pointed at the set of meal beside my bed.

“Oh thank you.”

“No problem. You know you’re my son now.” She said with a wink and then she went out.

I smiled as I saw her closed the door behind her. After a short while, I let myself drift back into sleep.

When I woke up, the sun has already set behind the horizon. I took a quick shower and went to the alpha’s quarters.

“Come in.” I heard after I knocked the door three times.

I slowly opened it and slid inside. “Good evening sir.” I greeted.

He looked up from his desk and I notice the smile in the corner of his lips. It was the first time that I have seen him smile after Marcus died. “I presume you are already feeling well.” He said and motioned me to the seat in front of the desk.

“Yes.” I answered.

“You have mentioned earlier that you have seen a white wolf. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. I have seen it. I even had the chance to touch its fur.”

He leaned his elbows above the desk and put his chin against his knuckles. “It has been centuries when a white wolf was last spotted around here.” He uttered. “I didn’t even have the chance to see one myself.” He said.

I’m not sure what to say about what I just heard. “Uhm, I saw it but it was only for a short period of time. I didn’t actually had the chance to talk to it because I don’t know how. Maybe if I’m in my wolf form I could be able to talk to it.” I ended up saying.

To my surprise, he let a smile formed in his lips. This is seldom-or maybe never at all.

“You’re getting there, Allen.” He said and rose to his feet and went towards a bookshelf. “You know, I have always been wondering why your face is so familiar. It is until now that I have figured out.” He added and took an old-looking book from the shelf.

He placed it on the table. “This is the book of the moon as what my predecessors call it.” The front cover was some sort of thick cloth with delicate markings that I can’t comprehend except the image of a crescent moon in the middle. “This book is the record of all significant events that has occurred in every generation of alphas, including me.” He added.

“Why are you showing this to me? Isn’t it confidential or something?” I asked.

“In some sense yes it is. But looking at the bigger picture, this is the history of Ravenwoods-the history of the clan itself. Why hide it, right? After all we can learn something from this.” The Alpha uttered.

“I see.” I just said.

He opened the book into a specific page. “This is one of Raven’s few entries. I want you to look at it carefully.”

Even without the alpha telling me, my eyes were already fixed into the page, specifically into the sketch. And I couldn’t believe what I saw. “This is exactly the person I saw in the lake before I drowned.” I muttered.

The alpha went back on his chair on the opposite side of the table. “As I have thought.” He said.

“Who is this guy who look exactly like me?” I asked.

“It’s Arthur. Raven’s mate.”

“Mate?” I asked, flabbergasted.

“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “Their union made Arthur the last white wolf to ever roam in Ravenwoods. Although his kin were all bunch of white wolves, they all have patches of other color. Raven described it well.”

His was a fur of white like snow draped with moonlight in a clear night sky. His was a fur of white like cotton, soft and restful. His was a fur of white, the light in my darkness, the cure to my sins.

“Arthur was the hope of the two clans or maybe of every clan there is, including the rogues.” He said.

“The hope?” I asked, not really following.

“You’ll find it out sooner.” The Alpha just smiled and tilted his head to show his neck. To the clan, this is a custom wherein you show someone that he is stronger than you or he is of higher worth than you are.

I stared at the alpha with no idea how to react.

“Get used to it.” He chuckled.