Page 6 of Destined Mate (Cross Creek Pack of San DeLain)

Chapter Four

Wesley

WESLEY STARED at the unread email sitting ominously in his inbox, its subject line glaring at him. It was from the Council of Wolves, an organization shrouded in mystery and power.

An involuntary shiver ran down his spine as he got up. His wolf needed to pace, so he would. He couldn’t shake the feeling that if he opened that email, everything in his life was going to change.

“Are you just going to look at it or, I don’t know, maybe open it?” Keith asked, standing off to the side.

“Something tells me if I do, my entire life is about to change,” Wesley admitted as he passed by Keith.

“Weren’t you just saying it was time for you to strike out on your own?”

“Well, shit, I didn’t mean right this second.”

“Come on. How bad can it be?”

“The fucking email is from the Council of Wolves. That answer your question?”

“Which means you can’t ignore it, asshole.”

“Who’s an asshole?” Alex asked, joining them in Wesley’s office.

“You,” Wesley said immediately.

“Can’t be. I just got here. So, it has to be you. What have you done now?” Alex asked.

“You say that jokingly, but you know how your brother is,” Keith said.

“Which is why I said that. So? What’s up, Buttercup?”

Wesley groaned. “Why didn’t your sense of humor grow with you? Anyway, it’s an email from the council.”

“Shit, seriously, what did you do, and do I need to get Dad?” Alex asked.

“Fuck off,” Wesley huffed as he sat down at his desk. “I didn’t do a damn thing, so both of you can bite me.”

“It’d be like biting old leather,” Keith responded. “So, no thanks. Also? Ewww.”

“Why are you my best friend again?” Wesley asked.

“Just lucky, I guess. Plus, I’m one of the few not afraid of you.”

“There is that.” Alex stood next to Keith and elbowed him. “We all know what an ass he can be.”

“Both of you shut it and let me read this.” Taking a deep breath, Wesley opened the email.

This is a Luna’s Summons addressed to Alpha Wesley Valentino.

Let it be known that Alpha Li Li of the Cross Creek pack of San DeLain has fallen due to a hunters’ attack.

We seek now a new alpha to guide and protect the pack through darkest times and lightest days.

By blood-rite challenge, we summon thee to prove thy strength and heart. ~Council of Wolves

Detailed instructions accompanied the message—specifying the exact location for the gathering, preparations to be made in advance, the identity of the head beta who would oversee proceedings, and the current alpha mate. Most crucially, it outlined who else might respond to this call.

Familiar names flew past as he scrolled, each one carrying a story of its own. Among them was the third alpha daughter of the Blackwater Ridge, Anya Frost, a formidable figure known for wielding her strength like a runaway hurricane.

Her reputation was one of raw power and unyielding determination. The Blackwater Ridge pack, known for its resilience and fierce loyalty, was situated near the bustling city of Las Vegas, a place where the arid desert met the vibrant pulse of the Strip.

Also mentioned was the second alpha son of the Whispering Lakes pack, Clive Osborne, whose presence was as subtle and lethal as a stealthy predator navigating the darkness.

His movements were soundless, his intentions formidable. The pack, known for their keen instincts and strategic prowess, was based in vibrant and sprawling Austin, Texas, where the urban landscape met the wild.

Then there was him, Wesley Valentino, the second alpha son of the Moonshadow pack. His formidable pack resided near the sun-drenched city of San Diego, California, which wasn’t far from San DeLain.

Their name was a tribute to their extraordinary fur, which glimmered like liquid silver under the soft glow of a moonlit sky.

There were other names, of course, that he did not recognize: Sienna Alcrest, a lone wolf who roamed the misty, evergreen forests around Seattle, Washington.

Then there was Franko Shaw, another lone, packless wolf who prowled the vibrant, sun-drenched streets and beaches of Miami, Florida.

Altogether, there were seven names, including his, called to answer the challenge.

This was no casual offer; it was a summons from their leaders. It had arrived by email, of course. The days of sending wolves out to hand deliver summons were past. This was the twenty-first century, after all.

The summons carried not only a challenge but also a binding agreement with destiny. Accepting meant entering the arena to confront formidable opponents in a contest where strength and strategy, and ferocity and cunning, would collide.

Death was not out of the realm of possibility.

Wesley sighed. The timing truly couldn’t have been more perfect. His brother, Alex, stood poised to take on the role of pack heir, and he would undoubtedly make an outstanding alpha.

Alex was already bonded with an exceptional werewolf named Sissy, whose kindness and strength complemented his leadership. Together, they were expecting a pup, a new life that promised to bring joy and hope to the pack’s future.

Wesley would never assume leadership of their pack unless his brother was killed, or he challenged for it.

He cherished his brother deeply and couldn’t fathom the idea of fighting him for the position of alpha.

The very thought of competing against his sibling, whom he admired and respected so much, was unimaginable to him.

“Well?” Alex asked.

“I can’t decide if he’s excited or constipated about whatever he read,” Keith complained. “His face often looks the same for each.”

“It’s a Luna’s Summons.” Wesley leaned back in his office chair and read the email to them.

“Holy shit,” Keith exclaimed. “That’s serious.”

Alex came around the desk and clapped Wesley on the shoulder. “Congratulations, little brother. The council must think highly of you to offer this chance.”

Wesley gave a half smile, feeling the weight of his brother’s hand on his shoulder and the enormity of what lay ahead. “It’s not just an offer,” he said, scanning the screen once more, as if the words might have changed since he last read them. “It’s a summons. One I don’t dare turn down.”

Keith frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Turning down the council isn’t an option, not if we want to stay on their good side,” Alex said. “And this is going to take more than just muscle and teeth. Anya and Clive—they’re no amateurs.”

“Plus, there are others I’ve never heard of,” Wesley said.

Alex’s expression turned serious. “It’s risky, Wesley. You know what happens in these challenges. It can get brutal.”

“I know. But imagine if I win. I’d have my own pack. And I’d still be near my birth pack. I need to do some research on Cross Creek, I think. See if I even want to win this challenge.”

“Good idea,” Alex said.

Keith nodded in agreement. “I’m here for you too. I go where you go. You know that. Me, Duncan, and Theo.”

“I know, and thanks.” Wesley stood. “I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. I need a moment, if don’t mind.”

“Sure,” Keith said.

“Absolutely.” Alex hugged Wesley as he walked by. “See you later.”

Wesley stepped out into the warm evening air. As he headed toward the forest, he noticed the first stars had appeared in the early night sky, and a sense of destiny wrapped around him like a cloak. This was more than a summons. It was a pivotal moment that would redefine his path.

He couldn’t not answer. He’d have to go to San DeLain and face whatever awaited him there. But before he did that, he needed to tell his parents. And shift. The human side knew what he had to do. Now he needed to make sure his wolf was on board.

His body tingled, a feeling that always preceded a shift, and awareness heightened as he moved toward the sheltered grove behind his house.

He had always found comfort in his wolf form because of the sense of power and freedom it brought him. Tonight, though, there was a heaviness to his stride, an unmistakable tension that mirrored the turmoil swirling inside him.

Reaching the solitude of the grove, Wesley stripped and let go of his human concerns and allowed his transformation to take over. His wolf, a creature of instinct and raw power, did not look at the world the same way as his human side.

The transformation was seamless, a fluid ripple of change that flowed through his body like water over stones. His limbs stretched and transformed, reshaping themselves with grace into a new form.

Muscles rippled beneath his skin as bones shifted, extending and realigning until he stood solidly on four sturdy legs, each one strong and sure-footed. His senses sharpened. Every noise seemed to be magnified, resonating with a clarity that was almost overwhelming.

The rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets were as distinct as if they were right beside him.

Scents drifted toward him in vivid detail—the earthy aroma of soil mingled with the sweet fragrance of end of season blooming flowers. It was as if the world had turned up its volume and brightness, revealing layers of detail he rarely noticed in his human form.

Nature called to him, and his nose gave him the deets of the land and its inhabitants. His ears twitched at the rustle of leaves and the snap of twigs.

He trotted through the underbrush, his silvery white fur blending with the moonlight as he purposefully moved toward a clearing. It was a place where his family often gathered and made important decisions under the open sky.

The place had a sacred feel to it, imbued with remnants of countless meetings that had shaped his parents, his brother, and him.

Reaching the clearing, he raised his muzzle to the star-splattered sky and let out a long, resonant howl. This one was a call to his parents. The answer came swiftly, two strong howls responding—a unity in sound that bolstered Wesley’s resolve.

Moments later, his parents emerged from the tree line, their powerful forms graceful and imposing as they approached him. His mother, Elaina, was first to nuzzle him gently, her eyes reflecting moonlight and maternal concern.

His father, Merrick, stood slightly back—a towering figure whose approval was both sought after and silently given through his calm demeanor.

In this form words were unnecessary. Feelings flowed more freely through glances and gestures. Wesley leaned into his mother’s touch briefly, then turned to face them squarely.

He projected everything—the email summoning him to San DeLain for the Luna’s Summons, his worries about leaving them, and potentially leading another pack.

They listened intently, their tails flicking occasionally as they absorbed his silent words. Merrick eventually brushed against Wesley. It was a firm but loving contact that told Wesley clearly of the trust and confidence his dad had in him. He’d needed that.

Elaina followed suit with an encouraging lick across his ear before pulling back to gaze deeply into Wesley’s eyes. He felt her pride wrapping around him. And yes, he’d needed that also.

Merrick then led them in a quick run around the clearing—a ritual meant to fortify their bond before facing tough times. They sprinted as one entity: three shades of silver cutting through the darkness effortlessly.

As they returned, panting lightly, Merrick sat on his haunches, looking toward San Delain. Following Merrick’s gaze, Wesley understood Merrick considered not just the geographical distance, but also the space between the known and unknown.

Standing there amid family in their primal form under mother moon, a grounding sense of purpose solidified within Wesley. This wasn’t just about challenging or winning.

It was about answering a call that resonated deep within his bloodline—honoring past generations by bravely facing whatever the future may hold.

Resolved now more than ever, he spent several moments in silent communion with the land and moon before following his parents through the woods.

Wesley stopped at the tree where he’d left his clothes, but they kept going as he shifted back into his human form and dressed. He walked the rest of the way to his cabin to wait for them. A few moments later, his parents joined him, also dressed.

“You’ve made your decision, then?” his mother asked as they sat around the patio table on his back deck.

Wesley took a seat across from her, watching as she adjusted her shawl around her shoulders—a habitual motion when she was worried. “I have. I have to answer the summons, but I intend to win.”

“Are you prepared for what this means?”

Wesley glanced at his father. There were grays in that blond hair of his—each likely earned from years of leading their pack through challenges unspoken outside their close circle.

“It means I might lead my own pack. That I will shoulder the responsibility for those wolves. It means making hard decisions,” Wesley replied. “And yes, I am prepared to do whatever I must.”

Silence lingered before his mother reached across to squeeze his hand. “And we have prepared you as best we can. Just remember, leadership is not just about strength and authority, but wisdom and compassion.”

Wesley felt the weight of her words settle on his shoulders. “I will,” he promised. “I’ll remember everything you’ve taught me.”

“And remember, Son, that true strength comes from within. It’s about knowing when to fight and when to listen, when to lead and when to follow.”

The three of them stood together for a moment longer. Finally breaking the solemn atmosphere, Elaina smiled warmly. “You should get some rest. You have a long journey ahead.”

Wesley nodded and hugged both of his parents tightly, feeling the firm reassurance of his father’s pat on his back and smelling the familiar scent of home in his mother’s hair.

Wesley knew she wasn’t talking about travel time. As he turned toward his cabin, a mix of excitement and apprehension churned within him. A new path lay before him, one that would test everything he’d learned and his self-belief.

He decided to do some research on the Cross Creek pack. Hopefully, he could find some pictures of Alpha Li Li and the rest of her pack. Knowledge was power.