Justice felt a young pup nip at his tail while he ran with the Black Mountain pack, and most of his own, through the thick forests of Black Mountain Grove. It was beautiful. The blazing southern-central California sun had set a couple hours before, leaving the forest floor firm and warm under his large paws. His wolf was huge compared to the others and the young pups seemed to be getting a kick out of Justice and his brothers. As descendants of the first wolves, the Siberians. That meant they were larger, and their features differed – they were more exotic – from the wolves that had evolved in the States.

Justice bumped the young pup with his hindquarters, sending him sliding along the forest floor happily before yipping playfully, bounding back to his paws and running, panting in an effort to catch back up to Justice. A few young wolves had playfully tried to knock him over but none were successful. It’d turned into quite an entertaining game for them. Most of the pups had dirt, grass, and twigs sticking out all over their fur. Justice’s underbelly was still pristine white. He was enjoying himself. It wasn’t often he got to run with a pack as large as Black Mountain’s. They were a united pack, having survived wildfires, land poachers and a few lone wolf attacks. Alpha Jansen had done well, keeping his pack prosperous, and Justice had come to acknowledge him on a job well done. Not many alphas took such pride in their position. Some still fed off power and fear, using intimidation to control their packs. That’s why they were having all the problems in their society now. Faulty leadership. It used to be only humans and vampires he had to worry about, now Justice had to worry about alphas running off their pack members, forcing them onto the streets where they could easily find trouble. Without the supervision and security of a pack, a wolf would lose their direction first, then their humanity would slowly disappear.

They were almost to the peak of the mountain. The air was slightly cooler up higher, but it was still California in September. Justice took his position up front and led the pack the last couple miles to the summit. Justice howled, vocalizing his own personal call, bending his head back further to elevate the pitch. A sound that could be heard for miles around. He communicated a lot of feelings with his howl. This pack was favored by him. Joyous, answering howls went up into the night.

They chased and hunted together for a couple more hours before his brother, Mac, trotted over. “We have to go. The RVs are ready. We can get to Carson City by seven in the morning if we leave in the next hour.”

Justice and his brothers were the only shifters that could communicate telepathically when in either of their forms. Most wolves could only do that with their mates once they’d completed the bonding.

“We need to let everyone calm down after the shift,” Justice called out to the pack, telling them to head back.

Justice shifted back and walked out of the tree line back to the main pack lands. Obviously, nudity didn’t embarrass them. But because of the day and age, most packs discouraged pack members from roaming the lands completely naked. Justice headed back to his jeans and tank top. All of his pack members hadn’t shifted yet, still tussling and humping with some of the more mature members of the Black Mountain pack. Alek and Justice stood there enjoying the sight of shifters being happy and getting along like the Mother always intended.

“Excuse me, Alpha, Alek, I’m sorry to interrupt.” A strong but enticing voice demanded their attention. Their visitor turned her almond-shaped eyes on Justice. “AZ. My name is Uriel Jensen. I’m the Alpha’s oldest daughter. I’m an unmated female alpha. I requested permission from my father to tend to any needs you may have after your run.”

Justice could clearly scent she was an unmated alpha and there was no mistaking her potent arousal. He appreciated her politeness and official introduction, and Justice was the first to admit she was stunning. He couldn’t believe the beautiful female – well into her twenties – was unmated. Surely, neighboring pack alphas had been knocking, requesting escortship. Female alphas were rare. It was even rarer for one of them to lead a pack, but there were some female-only packs that’d started up by accident and were approved by Justice nonetheless.

The alpha’s daughter wore a short, maroon suede cloth that just barely covered her privates, and a threadbare halter top. Her long, black dreadlocks reached below her round bottom and her sleek, ebony body still glistened from the run. She was a sight to behold. A fitting mate for any alpha. But there was no need or time for mating. However, he was still a powerful wolf with the same needs as any other male. After a run, their hormones and libidos were at their highest. He was glad the full moon was long gone or else he might’ve had an even harder time resisting her request.

Justice was still debating her offer to help him relax when he caught a flicker of light in the distance. It was nestled deep into the woods where they’d just emerged. A rush of balminess and tranquility overcame him, making him gravitate toward the light. He’d already started walking when he remembered his brother and the alpha’s daughter. He turned back, not wanting to be rude. “Thank you, Uriel. But I only require peace and quiet after my run tonight.” Justice spun and took off in the direction from which they’d just come.

“Justice, where the hell are you going? We have to leave in half an hour.”

“I’ll be back by then. Just need a minute.” Justice cut the communication to his brother and kept jogging farther into the dark woods. 

He got to a small clearing, stopping mid-jog to peek around a tall dogwood. It looked like the trunk was glowing. Justice shielded his eyes when an iridescent figure appeared from behind the thick tree, her long, white sundress floating up behind her like a special breeze was created just for her.

“Mom,” Justice sighed. He wanted to run up and throw his arms around her but he knew that wasn’t possible.

“Look at my big boy. You just keep growing up.” She smiled affectionately at him. She was always so beautiful. Long, dark brown hair and sharp blue eyes. Eyes that saw everything, even their futures. “Last time I saw you this close, you were just receiving your blessing.”

“You saw me?” Justice asked.

“I had to look. I know it’s secret and no one bears witness other than the Mother and her elements, but I couldn’t resist. I had to look at destiny being fulfilled.”

The things she could see always amazed Justice and his siblings as they grew up. She saw the world changing before any of them did. Justice received his blessing at age thirty. He wished he had seen his mom at his blessing as the 120th Alpha Zenith, it would’ve made it so much more special. Justice was simply glad his mom still came to him occasionally to guide him, or when he was his most troubled. She usually came in his sleep, and he’d known it wasn’t a crazy dream the first time it had happened.

“Is everything okay?” Justice asked seriously.

“Such an alpha. All business.” She shook her pretty head sadly. “I could hear your thoughts about a mate.”

Justice opened his eyes. He’d been enjoying his mom’s delicate voice, sounding so much like his sister’s. He tilted his head back smelling the vanilla, butterscotchy smell of the thick bark he leaned against. “Are you here because I didn’t take up the alpha’s daughter on her offer, Mom? Good grief, I hope not. She was lovely, but it would’ve gone no further than a few hours; which I don’t even have. I don’t need a mate. I travel too much to keep a mate happy and tended to.”

Justice’s mother and father had been very much in love. He’d barely survived her death. If she’d been his true mate he’d already be dead, not just extremely depressed. There were very few true mates who found their other halves these days, but when a wolf bonded with another – whether true mate or not – it was still an intense connection.

Sure, sometimes Justice’s nights were long and lonely. As the AZ, he had his pick of unmated females or males to satisfy him at his whim, but it wasn’t in him to use anyone’s body because he held a title. He always felt like they were doing it out of duty and not for him. He didn’t want to die alone and untouched by a mate, but how would he ever find one? Justice was sure his mom was just being a concerned parent and didn’t want him to be alone, wanted someone to care for him.

“Just because I’m the oldest doesn’t mean I have to settle down first. Alek, Mac and Taleb are plenty old enough to mate and have a whole pack of pups. Maybe you should whisper to them too.”

“Oh, I do.” She giggled. Justice always loved her laugh. His mom would laugh at things that weren’t even funny, claiming laughter was healthy. “I whisper to your sister too. Hopefully, they don’t chalk it up to crazy dreams.”

“How come you don’t appear to them like you do me?” Justice frowned, having always wondered that.

His mom looked away sadly and moved off a few feet. Her long, white satiny gown dragged on the bed of the forest but it never collected a speck of dirt. “I wish I could. Goodness, how I miss you all so much. But they couldn’t handle it. They’re not ready. I knew I could come to you even before I did. I knew you could still see me and mourn me. Your wolf was always so unique and special. It’s why you were born first.”

“You should’ve come to me a lot sooner than you did.”

His mom turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I wasn’t ready, baby. I couldn’t see you and not be able to touch you. Hug my firstborn son. I wasn’t ready to leave you.”

When his mom had been murdered unexpectedly, they weren’t prepared. She’d had so many years left in her, so much life, so much joy and wisdom to spread. She’d sacrificed her life for Justice. “So the prophecy will be fulfilled,” she’d murmured while she lay dying in Justice’s arms.

It’d been a beautiful fall day. Their father would sometimes bring his family with him on the rare occasions he was visiting a pack for pleasure. The entire pack had been out running in the vibrant Cherokee Forest when humans attacked them. They’d appeared out of nowhere in camouflage, blending into the environment, disorienting them. His father had tried to guide all of them to safety but it was difficult to lead his family and the whole pack. His mother, being the fighting alpha she was, took out two human hunters and one of their vehicles by herself. But she’d had to make a split-second decision when she dove in front of the bullet intended for seventeen-year-old Justice. He’d felt so guilty for so long, until she’d finally appeared to him three years later.

“I don’t know what you sensed from me, Mom. But I’m fine, really. I’m actually getting back on the road to handle some extremely important business. I wish you’d come to me when I was home. When I had some time to myself. There’s so much I need to talk to you about.”

“I know, my dear. But I’ve come to you at exactly the right time. Everything will be revealed to you soon. I need you to be strong, my son. I love you so much. Keep an open mind, Justice… and an open heart.”

The last word drifted away onto the heaven-scented breeze, taking his mom and her radiant light with it.