Jacob

Derek and I have been working tirelessly to make sure there are changes around here, within the Blood Moon Pack. Today, we're meeting with the pack guard to offer up a new rotational for our borders to be guarded, and to provide more training in combat. Threats will always be around us, in the form of rogues or the witches we just received word about. And training against witchcraft so that a wolf doesn't become spell-binded is an entirely different thing.

Derek and I are in the office, going over the rosters and the pack schedule for the next few weeks. There isn't much to do to ride the time away, and when Derek offers to make us coffee, I accept.

He comes back with two steaming cups, placing one down in front of me. I pull it closer and inhale the rich, strong smell of caffeine, and sigh. I'm reminded about that one time Ana came back home with her hair smelling exactly like this, and a giant brown stain covering the front of her white t-shirt.

~

"How the hell did that happen?" I demanded to know, scrunching my nose for the sight in front of me. There's nothing that irritated me more than someone coming home looking like they've been to war and back.

There she was, her chest covered not only in the biggest brown stain I've ever seen, as if she's fallen into a bath of coffee, but her hair smelled like it too.

"Oh," she says sheepishly, "I walked into someone in the cafeteria and I -"

I grunted as I walked up to her, pulling on a lock of hair and taking a whiff. "So how do you explain how there's coffee in your hair?"

"Well, it kinda just flew up," she gestures with her hand over her head.

It isn't until I drop the piece of her hair that I've been holding, that I notice blood caked on her hairline.

"Is that blood? How did you -"

Anastasia dodged my intrusion and ran up the stairs. I was angry, because she always seemed like such a clutz. Why was she always bumping into things, coming back here looking like she didn't know the first thing about looking after herself?

~

I'm pulled back into the present, staring at a heap of paperwork that, in all honesty, shouldn't be my main focus. The border patrol already has things covered, and things are as they should be.

But I can't help but think back to all those times the signs flew right over my head. Anastasia had been the victim of years of bullying, and it was all because she was considered an Omega wolf. No one would have guessed who she really was - the daughter of an Alpha. But maybe there's a way to prevent this from happening.

Even if things are the way my father left it, it just doesn't feel like it's enough. If there's more I can do to be a better Alpha, then I believe it's what I'm meant to do. After all, who's to say that the bullying stopped with Anastasia? And why did Omega's have to be shunned simply because of their rank?

"Bro," I turn to Derek, who's sipping on his coffee, "what do you think about allowing the lower-ranks to join the guard?"

"Like the Omegas?"

"Yeah," I prop my chin on my linked hands and shrug, "everyone proved themselves against the rogues. And why not? There's no real rule that

Derek's face twists as he processes.

"I don't see why not. But they'd have to go through extensive training."

"I'll train them myself if I have to."

"You're trying to prevent what happened to Anastasia from happening to the others, aren't you?" he quirks up a brow, but I can see it's pride that fills his chest when he inhales.

The very same pride I feel as I decide that this is the best thing for the pack. Imagine the peace there'll be among us. And imagine what Anastasia will think when she hears about this!

"In a way. I kinda feel useless for not seeing the signs before, and doing something to stop it before it got out of hand. If there's more I can do now, I'm willing to go down that route. I don't think we should separate the ranks from hunting, either."

"That sounds like a good plan," he says over his cup, "Ana would be proud."

"I sure hope so."

"How is she doing, by the way? Is she not coming to visit, at least?"

I haven't told Derek much about the deal Anastasia and I made. I just tell him that she's doing much better now, and will visit when she's done with her training.

~

I stand at the podium inside the den, addressing the wolves that are gathered here today. What would have been a meeting with just the border patrol, had turned into a meeting with all of the young members who are old enough to fight.

I'm glad the Beta agreed to this. Standing before them, I feel like a new soul, a different Alpha, who was changing the way things work around here. Kimon, the Delta and head of the patrol, sits at the front, already aware of our plans going forward. He isn't too sure about the whole idea, but he cannot question his Alpha - he knows this. And he's keen on finding out how the others feel.

"Blood Moon, I've called you here to let you know that from today, there will be no divide between us. All ranks will have the same privileges, and anyone who chooses to volunteer will be allowed to become a warrior."

"We still don't know much about how to fight, Alpha," Garett points out, and I nod.

"Which is why, starting tomorrow evening, I will personally train those who wish to join."

The look on the lower-ranks' faces is enough to tell me that they'll be eager to join. Even the existing warriors seem to open up to this idea, and nod their agreement as Kimon stands up.

"We accept your decision, Alpha. I think it will be a good idea to have more members on the team. After all, attacks are unpredictable, and we should always be fully equipped and prepared to ensure our safety."

"Precisely," I agree, "and another thing, if anyone is caught bullying another member, whether it's within our borders or outside, they'll be instantly exiled. We don't need a repeat of what happened to Anastasia. That way no one has to suffer the same fate of Medeia."

"Agreed!" The single word comes as a united front from all the wolves sitting around, and I can only imagine how delighted Ana would be when she hears about this.

I can't wait to get back home. The letters we send back and forth are only meant to be in turns, and so far I haven't received a reply to the letter I sent her last week. Despite my longing to see her face, the letters I get serve to lessen the blow of this time we've taken away from one another. I know she's busy learning about her gift and how to use it, so it makes sense why she hasn't written back all week.

I take a brisk walk back home, the sun permeating its rays on my skin, and warming me up to the words I wish to pen down. Today is a turning point in the pack, and I want it to be a turning point in my relationship with Ana. But only if she wishes to.

Derek joins me on my way back home, saying he's bored and that a round of video games will do us both some good. It's true - things are calmer now than they've ever been before, so there was no point in hanging back at the den waiting for trouble to knock on our door. I am more confident now than I've ever been that we can face any challenges that come our way.

I open the door to my house, and Derek bends down, picking something up from the floor. It's only when he stands up that I see him holding a familiar yellow envelope, and I try to grab it from him.

"Wait!" Derek steps back, holding the envelope behind his back, "don't tell me you and Ana have been writing letters to each other!"

He bursts out laughing - something that only further sparks my annoyance. I hold my hand out, waving my fingers. "Derek, give it back here."

He turns around and starts ripping off the seal. "No, this is gold!"

"Derek!" I say more firmly. "I demand you give me that letter back!"

He turns to find my death glare on him and remorsefully hands me the envelope.

"Thank you," I mutter, shoving the letter in my pocket and shutting the door behind me.

"You're really writing letters to each other?"

Embarrassed, I make my way towards the staircase. "Don't make it a big deal, okay?"

'I'm not!" he calls out from the living room, "I just think it's really sweet, that's all."

His voice is tinged with sadness, but I know my best friend, and I know that the moment the opening credits of Mortal Kombat starts, he'll soon forget the pain in his heart. He's strong like that.

Perhaps stronger than I am, in that sense. My heart aches from the distance between Anastasia and I, and with only these occasional letters to provide me comfort, I rip the envelope and unfold her letter.

[Dear Jacob,

I'm sorry I haven't written to you in a while. The pack's been busy with preparations for Ralph's Gala.

It's going to be a grand event. Much like yours. But I think it will be grander. I say this because Amelia is handling the decor, and you should see what she's done with my room!

While they've been busy, I've been practicing how to use my skills. Father tells me I'm improving, but I'm not sure if I am. I still have much to learn, especially how to use them at will. I don't have much control over it yet, but I'm getting there.

Oh, by the way, Ralph plans on taking Amelia as his mate at the Gala. She doesn't know it yet, and I'm having a hard time keeping the secret. But you should see them! They might be dumber than we were, and so blind. But it's cute nonetheless.

Ah, now I miss you more. I wonder if it's the same for you. I know you're busy too, being the Alpha and all, but it would be nice to hear that you miss me just as much.

Oh, I sound so pathetic. Just ignore that part. I'm fine. I'm good, really. This is good for both of us, isn't it? I waited for a lifetime, I guess I can wait a little longer.

Okay, enough of me rambling. I hope things at the pack are good. How is everyone, by the way? I hope you're not giving them too much hell?

AND… another thing. Father says to ask if you've learned how to tie your own tie yet. I swear he makes more fun of our arrangement than Ralph does.

Anyway, I hope to hear from you soon. I miss you terribly, but I hope your heart is healing as much as mine is.

I promise it won't be long until you have my heart in its wholeness.

With all my love, even if it's not as much as I wish to give you right now,

Ana.]

I immediately get out my pen and notepad, wishing to tell her that her heart as it is, is enough for me. More than enough. How can I not love her unconditionally already, with all her flaws and only the pieces of her heart strewn around? It's my duty, after all, to pick them up and make it whole again.

[My love…]