Levi

Noah picked up Levi after school to hunt together. Levi suspected that Noah wanted to make sure Levi didn't have time to do any mischief. For example, painting the door of a particularly grumpy pack member pink at night, decorating it with hearts, and labeling it 'Mr. Lover-Lover'. Levi was very proud of his work.

It had also been Noah who prevented one of his meetings with Mads. It was terrible to keep Mads waiting. Levi knew immediately that Mads was the wolf of his life. His future. The right one. Levi's nose had known it. It was love at first sight. Or, second, since they had already met as children. Even then, he had liked the smell of the other boy.

But instead of trying to meet Mads, he had to go hunting. Was Mads okay? Levi had wanted to meet him, but the other pack had gathered in the gorge. Was it the competition Mads was talking about?

But even though Levi wasn't a very good hunter, he had no choice but to follow the future alpha instead of looking for the wolf of his heart. There was a small forest near their pack, which belonged to their territory. Noah managed to capture a small rabbit, but Levi had to make do with a mouse again. He mostly caught mice. His best friend and accomplice, Gael, constantly teased him with it. Mice Levi. Very flattering!  As a child, Levi had once caught an earthworm... Even that had not exactly met with applause and the worm didn’t taste good either.

A barren forest ran through the entire mountains. Here, where the mountains were not quite so high. Some packs were able to secure parts of the forests as their own hunting ground, as his pack. Now that they had eaten their prey as wolves and wore their clothes again, Noah thought it was time for a conversation.

"Marko has been doing mischief all the time, but with you, the whole thing has taken on a new dimension!" Noah lay in the moss and looked at the treetops. "Because of him, we also had constant trouble. And as soon as it became quiet, you decided to follow in his footsteps. Sometimes I'm glad you two didn't get a chance to work on this together. You would have destroyed the pack! I miss this fool..."

"I'm not following in anyone's footsteps", Levi protested. "Noah?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to be the Alpha of the pack?"

This made the older wolf laugh. "I was born to do this. It's not about wanting. It is my duty to lead and protect the pack once. If Marko were here, I might have a choice. But I don't think he would have become a good Alpha for the pack. He made way too much crap!" Noah nudged Levi laughing. "You remind me of him."

"Is this good or bad?" Levi lay on his stomach and tugged at the dry moss.

"Both?" Now Noah rolled up on his stomach and looked at him. "You're driving me crazy with your pranks, but I think you'd be a good beta wolf for the pack. As for my little brother: I hope Marko is doing well and he protects Finn. Although... If both are still alive, then he certainly does. He was constantly watching Finn from the window."

"Did he?" Levi had never heard of it.

"He has. We all suspected that he had a crush on Finn... But Levi, while we’re speaking of 'having a crush'. I recently noticed an unusual smell on you. Did you meet with a wolf from another pack?"

Levi nodded. "Mads. He is from Alpha Alva's pack and... He was afraid to end up as an omega, as the pack sends the weak as slaves to the witches."

"What? They give away their wolves voluntarily?" This shocked Noah. "How can someone be so cruel?"

"Alpha Alva can."

"Something is rotten in the pack!" Noah snorted. "They are very hostile to us and accuse us of stealing their land. A few years ago there was a fight between us... And this Mads? Are you friends?"

"I suggested he become part of our pack. We don't have omegas." Levi looked at Noah hopefully. "He would be better off with us."

Noah nodded. "If that's what he wants, I see no reason to send him away. But you realize that this could also happen to him here? No one is safe from the Witch Queen's soldiers. But his pack worries me... Wait! Do you smell that?" Noah sniffed the air. Levi had also noticed the smell by now. An alpha wolf approached them. But none of their pack. But Levi knew that smell. The two stood up and Noah growled softly.

"That's Mads's friend!", said Levi quickly. "I know her smell. Maybe something happened..." Levi felt sick.

A short time later, a gray wolf approached them. Noah frowned but trusted that Levi was right and that this wolf didn't come up to them to cause problems. The gray wolf stopped in front of them and turned into a pale girl with short, blonde hair and very dark eyes. She was without a doubt an alpha, as her female body already showed some muscles.

She looked at Noah nervously, then her eyes wandered to Levi. "You're Mads's friend, yes? I remember you!"

"Yes?" Levi noticed Noah staring at the girl with red cheeks. She was pretty, yes. And very naked, but that was nothing unusual among werewolves. Sighing, he shoved Noah.

Noah blinked and cleared his throat. "Um, yes. Can we help you? Wolves from your pack are not welcome here. This piece of the forest belongs to our territory."

"And the gorge belongs to us. But that's not why I'm here. We have our own hunting grounds. No. It's about Mads. I need help. He needs help!" She looked at Levi. "He lost the competition. Alpha Ava forces his parents to lock him up until soldiers pick him up in a week. He will be sold on the slave market!"

"What!" Levi grabbed her by the shoulders, startled. "In a week? Imprisoned?"

Emmie snorted and brushed off his hands. "I need your help. I want to save him. Did you offer him to join your pack? Levi? I want him to be safe."

"I did, yes." Levi looked at Noah, who was scratching his head.

"I certainly don't stand in the way of this. I've already told Mads that. Saving him might work, but that's not all we have to expect. Alpha Ava will probably try to reclaim him. You may not be able to do it alone. I will help you both. And I'm sure my family agrees with me. But what about you Emmie? Do you want to join us afterward? That would be the best." Noah crossed his arms. "But you would have to give up your right to an alpha position. I will be the Alpha of the pack when my father is no longer up to the task, or dies."

The girl smiled. "That's very nice, but no. My place is in my pack. I hope to be the Alpha there one day. Then I will change things. I want to make a decent and loving pack out of us."

Noah nodded. "Good. I suggest you accompany us to my home. There we plan Mads's rescue and save him tonight! We may need a red herring... Or can we just sneak in..." He gave her another look. "And clothes. You need clothes!"

"Thank you!"

Levi held out his hand to her. "Come on. Don't worry. We can do this!"

Smiling, she grabbed his hand and accompanied them to Alpha Aksel's house.

(Emmie! Hey! Stop holding hands with my boyfriend!!! Well, it's not official yet, but THIS ONE IS MINE. Stop! Sit! Stay!

Really! While I squatted in my room, Emmie held hands with Levi. Such impudence. I wasn't lucky enough to hold his hand yet, but my best friend got the lovely hand on a silver platter.)

Mads. (Aquarell)