The rush of a brisk run on a spring day washes over me as I leap over the rather large boulder in my way. I won't stop for anything, anything. Never. Not when the sun feels so good on my back and the wind rushes over the tips of my fur with every sprint, leap and bound. Why should I? What matters enough back home for me to return anyway??

You know why you have to go back, my wolf reminded me, Luke and Nova would be devastated.

I hate it when you're right.

Through my wolf's protests, I continued to run until I reached the edge of our territory. This is my favorite part, the river that marks the ending and the large hollowed out boulder that sits right next to it. Just up the river a ways is a small water fall that never seems to run out of the crystal colored liquid that runs past my paws in front of me.

I changed behind the boulder, leaving the clothes I had tied around my leg there as well, before stepping into the chilled water for a bath.

Granted, we have actual baths and showers and tubs at the pack house, I loved the water out here more. Mom used to take me here all the time. The river still sings, just like she used to say. The field of trout lilies is so close the banks that their petals perfume the air.

I ducked under the water to make myself completely wet and ready before rubbing off water ever dirt that I might have accumulated. The water was so fresh that i lost myself swimming in it, drowning away the ugly and lingering sounds of the other she-wolves gossip and the annoying remainder of the few boys that still tried with me.

Save it for your mate, person, my wolf whispered.

I will, wolf, you know I will.

I have utterly refused to be in any non-platonic relationship with any other wolf until I find my mate, then and only then will I be with a guy. Until that day, I'll just enjoy the freedom of the woods. The peace. The sanctua-

"Holly?!"

Fucking hell.

___

Have you ever wanted to melt into your chair? Or just flat out disappear, into thing air? Well, that's exactly how I felt as I sat in front of the Alpha with my hair still dripping wet. He paced in front of me with a hand on his chin in a rather thoughtful manner. His sons, Kian and Mike, stood at the doorway watching him in his decision process. Mike would, of course, be alpha one day but Kian ought to be prepared as well in case of anything happening to his older brother.

Mike's girlfriend, my sister, was next to him while he leaned against the doorway. Her long blond hair was pushed off the side and her chocolate brown eyes were on nothing but me. My sister is, with out a doubt, beautiful. She has a striking figure and legs for miles. Her smile isn't exactly what I'd call sweet but it's confident and strong. She could take on the entire army of Troy if she had to.

Mike himself isn't exactly what I'd call hideous either. He was really, very handsome. His black hair was always kept cropped short, almost military style short, to frame his near black eyes and square jaw which was covered in an equally black stubble. His arms were so large that they buldged against his black shirt.

Then, of course, there was Kian. He was more handsome than Mike. His black hair was just a few inches longer with a bit more wave to it. His dark black eyes always glowed with mirth and laughter in a dramatic comparison to his brother's serious, black ones. Granted, he was smaller in size but he was faster than his brother due to that same size. Mike stood a full 3 inches taller than Kian with much more muscle, but Kian would win in a fight simply for his agility. He didn't need muscles to pull at the hem of his grey shirt or denim jeans, it was easier to move.

I've always perferred Kian to Mike if for nothing more than the fact that we were closer in age and were playmates as children. That's probably was he's absolutely mortified from having been the one to find me naked and swimming on my back in the stream and is now not looking in my direction.

Great. 16 years worth of friendship, down the drain and vanished.

"Do I dare ask why you were bathing in the creek, Holly," my head snapped in Alpha Jack's direction. He did not look happy.

"I-I," I glanced at the others. I didn't want to admit that it made me feel closer to mom in front of them. They'd think I was just some weak, little girl. I'm not. I won't be," I was bored."

"You were bored? Holly, this is very adnormal for you. You've never stepped out of line before."

"There is no pack law against it."

"Correct, but the humans have very strict laws against being nude in public."

"This isn't the human's land."

"Once again, you are correct. This is my land," he rubbed his forehead with his thumb and pointer fingers," This is your first misdemeanor. I'll go easy on you- your to help your Luna in the kitchen every Tuesday and Thursday until I decide that you've learned your lesson."

His voice didn't ring of Alpha power but it was still strict enough to make me bend my head in shame before muttering something along the lines of "ok" and walking out of the crowded study.

Of course, I wasn't alone when I got up the stairs to the hallway to his room. Kian had raced up the back stairwell and was making out with Heather, his girlfriend, in the hall. His hand had a fistful of her raven hair and her darker hand caressed his tanned cheek.

For half a second I felt a burn in my chest but I quickly batted it away to avoid any possible conflicting emotions in me. Why should I care about what Kian does? He can kiss whoever he likes.

Right?

My room is colder than I remember it to be last time I was in it. The window had opened. How had that happened? I quickly went over to close it before pulling a smaller blanket off my bed and around my shoulders.

My room is a sweet and cozy place, very well kept and a little girly. The walls are painted such a pale pink that it has to be in just the right time of day to tell that it is not white. My bed has a plain white cover with a quilt on it. The bed itself was a canopy, for decoration only though, with light brown pillars and white drapes. The floors are hard wood but a small rug was put over the floors under my bed years ago. I don't keep many trinkets in here. It doesn't seem worth the clutter.

With the blanket now securely held around my shoulders I made my way over to my bed to finish the book on phycology that I had been working on. I must have fallen asleep though because the next thing I know it's dark out and someone shouting.