Calliope's Wolf - Book 1
Chapter 2

Over a week had passed since Theo left the Riverbed pack. Everyone who witnessed what happened was sworn to silence by their Alpha and Luna. No one would dare put Calliope at risk. And yet, everyone seemed to be on edge, scared of every little noise and the shadows in the woods.

"The transplants are here." Someone mind linked to Wyatt.

With a heavy sigh, the Alpha stepped outside the pack house to greet their new arrivals. He watched as a wagon drawn by two horses made its way up the dirt road. On top of the wagon, driving the beasts, was a man, while a woman walked alongside it. Once the wagon came to a stop, Wyatt noticed a woman and child sitting inside the wagon amongst the various chests and crates.

"Welcome everyone to the Riverbed pack!" Wyatt greeted, forcing a smile on his face. The man jumped down from the wagon and approached the Alpha with one of the women.

"Thank you for your welcome," the man replied as he bowed slightly to Wyatt. "My name is Asher, and this is Nova. We are nieces and nephews of the Royal Moon pack. My wife, Stella, and our daughter, Riley, are in the wagon."

Wyatt looked at Asher, taking in the man's features. He was tall, with medium brown hair and brown eyes. He then looked to Nova, a young woman with dark red hair and bright green eyes similar to Theo's. Stella, who looked the same age as Evelyn, had long black hair. The little girl had hair like her mother's.

"Please, everyone, come inside. I'm sure you'd like to rest from your travels," Wyatt instructed as he stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

Asher returned to the wagon, helping both Riley and Stella down. Riley started to walk to the door, before rushing back to the wagon, reaching in for a stuffed wolf. Once everyone went inside, some of the Riverbed men started to unload the wagon and unhook the horses.

Forgoing a tour, Wyatt brought the group into the large gathering room. Evelyn was there, sitting with Calliope while she played quietly. The Luna stood once everyone entered the room, putting on a warm smile. After Wyatt introduced everyone, Riley walked over to Calliope.

"Here, my Great Luna," she murmured, offering Calliope the stuffed wolf. "I wanted you to have this, to remind you of the Great Alpha."

Calliope stood to her feet, taking the wolf in her hands. The fur felt soft, and the fake eyes were a similar green to Theo's. She embraced the wolf as she buried her face into its fur. It smelled of pomegranate and orange blossoms—it was Theo's scent. Her mind filled with thoughts of spring, of flowers and sweetness. Calliope smiled brightly at Riley as she took a step forward.

"Thank you."

"That was very sweet of you, child," Evelyn remarked as she looked at the toy. "But you shouldn't call Calliope that out loud. It's not safe."

"It's safe in this house, is it not?" Asher questioned as he looked to the Alpha. "Are there wolves here we cannot trust?"

"No!" Wyatt assured as he waved his hands. "You can trust everyone here. It's just that we thought it was to be a secret, something never to be mentioned."

"In the open, in public, yes, it is dangerous and to be a secret," Nova interjected. "But we are bound by an oath to respect our little Luna. She shall be Calliope outside this house, but inside, she is our Great Luna."

"Bound by an oath?" Wyatt inquired with raised eyebrows.

"The Great Alpha had Nova, and I swear a blood oath to protect the Great Luna with our lives," Asher explained as he showed his hand. There, across his palm, was a scar that will never heal. "We swore to teach, respect, and protect her. The two of us would die to protect her."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Evelyn commented as she gently pulled Calliope to her.

"Don't forget about my oath!" Riley shouted as she looked at her father.

"Ah, yes, but your oath will come in time," Asher nodded reassuringly.

"Will she also protect Calliope?" Evelyn asked curiously. "She is just a child."

"Her oath will be different from mine and Nova's," Asher responded as he sat down in a chair. "Her oath will be to the Great Luna and the Great Luna only. She is to be the first companion."

"What is a companion?" Calliope questioned as she looked at Riley.

"A companion is a friend for life!" Riley answered with a wide, toothy grin.

"Not quite," Asher laughed. "A companion is someone who accompanies the Greats. They are a friend, yes, but they are also an advisor, a protector. Someone who vows to spend their entire life with the Greats—not only their life but their entire bloodline until the Great they are sworn to passes."

"Riley will learn with our little Luna," Nova continued. "Train with her, grow up with her. When she shifts, she will be allowed to swear to little Luna. The goal of the companions and their continuing line is to give the Greats a sense of familiarity. They will outlive every other friend and loved one. So companions are taught what their Great like, what annoys them, and how to act. The goal is to make it seem like it is the same person when you transition from one companion to another."

"Now that I think about it, I have always seen a man stand by the Great Alpha," Wyatt recalled as he sat down, motioning for everyone else to join them. "But I don't believe I've ever met him."

"That would be Owen, the current companion. I believe he has been the main companion for 18 years now," Asher stated.

"That is a long time to serve one man," Evelyn commented with a frown.

"It's no different than your beta, gamma, or any other wolf who serves you," Nova interjected with a shrug.

"So, is he the Beta?" Wyatt questioned, his curiosity piqued.

"No," Nova answered as she shook her head. "He is above the Beta. Think somewhere between Alpha and Beta. His words are as if the Great Alpha speaks them. Everyone defers to him when the Great Alpha is unavailable."

Calliope looked down at her wolf while the adults were speaking. The smell relaxed her, and the toy felt soft to the touch. She looked up to see Riley staring back at her. Calliope gave Riley a shy smile before hiding her face in the fur again.

"I had the Great Alpha hold it for a day before we left," Riley whispered. "Momma said you two could smell each other."

Calliope's nod was barely visible from behind the toy wolf. Evelyn looked down at her, listening to their conversation. There was so much that had changed in her daughter in those few short days since Theo left. She could not help but worry over her.

"Is that a power?" Evelyn questioned as she turned to look at Asher and Nova. "Calliope being able to come into her wolf early?"

"We don't think so," Nova replied with a shake of her head. "We think that is just how Great wolves are. They mature quicker, probably due to the age of their wolf spirits. Supposedly, they are some of the first spirits the Moon Goddess put into this world."

"So, what are some powers? What will Calliope be able to do?"

"Well... each Great wolf is different. Everyone has different powers. The Great Alpha can mind link any wolf, anywhere, from any pack. It can be a one-way communication or a two-way. He also has the ability to hide his scent and his presence. Lastly, most people know he is quite strong in both human and wolf form."

"We know Calliope can freeze people in their place," Wyatt added. "But we don't know what else she can do."

"Her powers will come with time," Nova assured with a smile. "By the time she shifts, all of her powers will be revealed. What they are remains to be seen. Some powers may appear or intensify after the Greats mate and mark one another."

Wyatt abruptly stood, annoyed with the conversation when mating was mentioned. Everyone else in the room could feel the tension rise, and they shifted uneasily in their seats.

"Asher, you and your family will be housed at a cabin about a mile away. It's small but big enough for the three of you." Wyatt stated with an irritated tone. "Nova, per the Great Alpha's request, you will stay in the pack house. You'll be down the hall from Calliope. At the next full moon, we will do a ceremony to add you to our pack."

Asher stood, understanding that their welcome was wearing thin on the Alpha. He took Stella and Riley out of the pack house and went to their lodgings. Nova stayed behind and looked intently at Calliope.

"Her eyes are so bright," Nova remarked, trying to ease the tension.

"They certainly are," Evelyn nodded as she looked down at Calliope. "It seems they have grown brighter in recent days."

"I know it has been hard on you two," Nova commented softly.

"Do you?!" Wyatt snapped. His Alpha aura caused her to sink further into her chair, her wolf causing her to whine in submission.

"It has been hard on some of us, too," Nova murmured, trying to keep her anger from coming out. "Asher and I had to leave our families. It is for duty, but now my mom is alone!"

"We thank you for your sacrifice," Evelyn replied gently. She shot Wyatt a glare before mink linking to him to relax. "It will take some getting used to on our end, having a daughter meant for bigger, greater things. When she was born, we knew she would be a Luna. But we never imagined she was one blessed by the Moon Goddess."

Calliope turned to look at her mother, noticing several tears rolling down Evelyn's cheeks. She stood to her feet, reaching out to her mother as she wiped away her tears.

"You will always be my mother," Calliope whispered, but the voice sounded different; like it was hers, and yet it wasn't at the same time.

Evelyn pulled Calliope into a hug, causing more tears to fall from her eyes. The tears were out of worry, fear, and all of the unknown that lay ahead. How do you even raise a child like her? The fear of messing up, the fear of losing her, it was overwhelming. She gently picked up Calliope, holding her against her side. Evelyn carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom. Calliope yawned and did not protest as Evelyn readied her for bed. As the little girl drifted to sleep, her mom sang her lullabies and gentle songs—something to ease her and give her a peaceful rest. But as she slept, Calliope began to dream. And she saw him; she saw Theo. He was leaning against a table, seemingly looking at her, watching her.