Second Chance Luna
Chapter 64

Phoebe walked down the hallway passing various labs before reaching the one she wanted. There she found Mona at the desk preparing samples of some sort for the sequencing machine. Phoebe didn't know what any of the equipment was for and didn't bother "Hello Luna," Mona greeted.

asking.

"Hello," Phoebe sighed sinking into a seat.

"So what can I do you for?"

"What are you doing?" Phoebe asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Processing blood, tissue, hair and saliva samples from the rogues. I'm trying to isolate where they came from."

"Any results?"

"For this batch, no," Mona sighed. "But if it follows the pattern of previous attacks...then most of these wolves probably started off some fifteen hundred miles from here."

"Really?" Phoebe asked looking at the map Mona had on the computer screen.

It was filled with small red dots. Each dot represented a wolf whose full origins might always be a mystery. What they knew about the rogues relied mostly on the results of Mona's tests.

"Yep. Rogues don't usually travel that far."

"They don't?"

"No. From our previous study using radio collars we know most rogues tend to stick to a territory about fifty to a hundred miles in diameter. They very rarely leave."

"Why did these ones travel so far?"

"Good question. Unfortunately, I don't have a definite answer," Mona sighed. "Most rogues set up their territories bordering a pack territory. How or why we don't know. They usually stay in the same area unless driven out either by pack wolves chasing them off, fire, or some other natural disaster." "Why do they set up a territory at all?"

"A question for the ages," Mona sighed. "Personally I think they are following their instincts. Wolves usually set up a home territory after all. But as for why they set one up close to packs...maybe it's a homing instinct? The need to be in a pack, safety in numbers?" "Maybe a homing instinct?" Phoebe added.

"Like they are trying to return home?" Mona asked. "Maybe.

Until we have a more conclusive DNA database for werewolves we probably won't know for sure."

There were many questions about rogues and hardly any answers. As far as she knew the studies they conducted on rogues were the only ones being done. Some paragraphs are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Narugi.com. Visit Narugi.com to read the complete chapters for free. With rogues on the rise it was important to understand just what drove them to go feral. However, by the time that happened, they were already too far gone to ask.

Phoebe stared at the map deep in thought.

"Something catches your attention, Luna?" Mona asked.

"It's just...it seems a lot of rogues came from near Rimrock."

"You're old pack?" Mona asked looking at the map.

Interesting."

"But I don't recall our alpha ever banishing someone,"

Phoebe frowned. Banishing was a last resort as the chances of such wolves going feral and becoming problem rogues were too great.

"Well, fur samples can only tell us where they were recently,

"Mona said. "They might have traveled even further."

"But why come here? Blue Moon hasn't banished anyone, have they?"

"No. Never. Not for the last three or four alphas certainly.

Blue Moon is very good at keeping records and I have yet to see anything about banishments, though it's a long history.

"Then why?"

"I don't know. It's almost like..."

"Like what?"

"Like they are being drawn in."

Phoebe gave her a confused look.

"Jason is a powerful alpha and Blue Moon is a large pack," Mona shrugged. "We have applications to join almost daily.

Sort of like how she-wolves cling to alphas."

Mona smirked as Phoebe gave her a waning look.

"It's a females instinct to seek out the strongest male for a mate," Mona explained. "It's probably a holdover from our Lycan ancestors. I have a friend who's an archeologist with the New Moon pack. According to her Lycans didn't have fated mates. They could take any for a mate, even multiple ones. It led to some gruesome infighting. Maybe that's why the Goddess gave us fated mates."

Though Mona's theory seemed outrageous Phoebe felt Máni nodding in agreement. Perhaps it wasn't off the mark at all.

"Then what about rejections?" Phoebe asked.

"Well, rejecting our fated mate goes against the Goddess's plan but we do have free will so the choice is ours."

"Then how do you explain two alphas being mated to the same she-wolf?"

"Are you talking about our guests?"

Phoebe nodded. Since this morning the pack's link had been buzzing as the members discussed Shannon's strange fortunes. It didn't seem to have reached the young omega yet. Turning the computer Mona called up a different database,

"What packs were they from again?"

"Cedar Creek and Fall Leaf,, Phoebe said

"The alpha who rejected her is from Cedar Creek, right?" Mona asked for confirmation. "According to my research his parents are chosen mates. The other one, his parents are fated mates." "What does that mean?"

"Well, it's consistent with a theory I've been working on," Mona said. "My theory is that rejections weaken the pack bond. Alphas are stronger with a mate, everyone knows that and Lunas make pack bonds stronger. My theory is fated Lunas make them stronger than chosen ones and those bonds continue through the generations."

"Meaning if the alpha keeps his fated mate then his offspring are more likely to keep their fated mates?"

"Right. And each generation that maintains the pattern strengthens the pack bonds. That's why the ancient packs have so much influence. They have centuries of fated pairings that keep their bonds strong. If newer packs truly want to grow their influence then they should always keep their fated mates. Of course, the reverse is also true. Pups born of chosen mates may have a weaker link to their fated bond making it more likely they will reject them."

Phoebe frowned. Compared to her theory about Lycans this one seemed more outlandish. Did it really work like that?

"Alpha Jason and Alpha Reed both had parents who were fated mates."

"What about Katrina?" Phoebe asked. "Weren't her parents fated?"

"Actually, no. Alpha Thomas lost his fated mate to a rogue attack. He was so despondent he couldn't bear waiting for a possible second chance and took another as a chosen mate, Katrina's mother. And she died in childbirth."

"But Graham's parents," Phoebe hesitated thinking back to her previous alpha.

Actually, she didn't remember if they had been fated or not.

Come to think of it...it might have been an arranged match for a pack alliance. She recalled walking in on a conversation her parents were having and they clammed up quick when they noticed her. Phoebe couldn't recall the conversation now but she did remember it had something to with the alpha.

"So...it's all connected," Phoebe said after a moment." Fated and chosen mates, rejections, pack bonds. It all leads back to each other."

"That's my theory," Mona nodded. "That isn't to say the pattern can't be broken. Accepting one's fated mate can set a pack on course in only a couple of generations, just as taking a chosen mate can derail it. That's why we were so anxious about Jason. He waited so long to replace you... many alphas wouldn't."

Phoebe blushed:

"I suppose that's why Luke was so insistent we waited."

"Waited for what?"

"Pups," Mona sighed.

Phoebe blinked and waited for her to continue.

"We've been mated over five years," Mona said, "I'm sure you've noticed our lack of progeny."

"I did," Phoebe nodded. "I didn't think it was my place to ask."

"Well, don't tell Jason because I'm sure he'd feel guilty, but when Luke and I were preparing to complete the bond he had a request," Mona said. "He wanted to wait for pups. It seems he and Ben had an agreement. They would hold off on having pups until Jason had one." "Really?"

"They were worried about him considering the trouble he was having replaceing his mate. They thought if they started having families it would push Jason over the edge. Lucille didn't mind waiting but...it was not an easy thing for me to agree to." "I had no idea," Phoebe shook her head.

"No one does. It's just between Ben and Lucille and me and Luke. Like I said, don't tell Jason," Mona said.

Phoebe nodded, "But how have you handled your heat cycles?"

"We took a page out of the human's text book. Condoms," Mona chuckled.

Phoebe echoed her laughter. Pups were considered a blessing from the Moon Goddess so forms of contraception were generally unheard of among werewolves. She-wolves were only fertile during their heat cycles so it was largely unnecessary anyway.

Phoebe suddenly frowned, that was one thing she was nervous about. Until a she-wolf was mated and marked their heat cycles were short, barely lasting a day, and only mildly uncomfortable. After they were mated and, especially after she was marked, it would last three or more days. She would be consumed with pain and hot flashes.

The symptoms would only ease with her mates presence and touch, not to mention intercourse. Phoebe was already blushing at the mere thought. How was she going to actually handle it?

Mona chuckled, "Don't worry. Once your heat starts thinking will be the last thing you're going to worry about.

Now that Jason has found you...Luke and I can finally start planning for ours."

She blushed lightly. It was clear Mona was looking forward to pups of her own. Phoebe was sorry she waited so long but grateful they had been considerate of Jason. But Mona was right. He would feel guilty if he knew his Beta and Gamma waited to have pups until he found his mate. He didn't know how lucky he was to have such good friends... or maybe he did.