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I feel it. A sense of freedom like nothing I’ve ever known before. The earth beneath my paws, the wild wind in my fur–everything about this moment screams liberation. With each leap and bound, my claws sink into the soil, and I race alongside Sage. There’s something almost exhilarating about the way our wolves are bonding, weaving through the trees, feeling the pulse of the valley beneath us.
Sage’s energy is infectious. She leads the way, and I follow. It doesn’t take long for my eyes to catch sight of a thin trail of smoke curling into the sky. A faint scent of beer and campfire dances in the breeze.
What would take a human hours to hike up this mountain takes us just minutes.
We arrive at a clearing, and the sight that greets me is both unexpected and oddly fitting. A rickety little cabin sits nestled in the trees, its worn wooden exterior just right for this place. It’s a pub–a saloon, really. And from the sound of it, a lively one.
The air hums with chatter, laughter, and the thud of billiard balls. I see wolves trickling in from all directions, their movements coordinated and fluid, like they’ve done this countless times.
They all bow their heads in respect as Sage walks by. She doesn’t even flinch, just keeps
moving with that quiet confidence of hers.
We head toward the side of the building where people are changing, and I can’t help but smile.
Sage and I shift back, and I toss her clothes to her, the fabric landing neatly in her hands. She catches it with a grin.
“Your wolf seemed happy. You should let her out more often,” she teases, her voice light.
“I don’t know this territory well enough yet,” I admit with a sigh. “Still trying to get a feel for
everything.”
Sage throws her arm over my shoulders, steering me toward the front of the pub. “I’ll show you
the territory anytime you want, Mia. Just say the word. You need to let your wolf out more, or
you’ll lose your mind.”
Her words settle in my chest, warm and kind. It feels… real. She cares. She doesn’t expect me
to change, to pretend, and that makes me want to be around her more. I try not to smile like
an i***t, but I know she sees it anyway.
Sage pushes open the pub doors, and immediately, the noise hits me. The smell of beer, the
sound of laughter, music playing from somewhere in the back, and the clink of pool balls all
blend together in a chaotic, wonderful symphony. The moment we walk in, every wolf turns to
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look at us. They bow their heads in respect for Sage, and I suddenly feel the weight of all their
eyes on me.
“Everyone!” Sage calls out, her voice carrying over the noise. “This is Mia, our newest pack member.”
A chorus of voices rings out. “Hey!” “Welcome, Mia!” “Nice to have you!” Their warmth is overwhelming. I feel like I’ve stepped into a completely different world–a world where wolves laugh, drink, and let go of whatever burdens they carry.
There are wolves of every age here. A group of older wolves sit at one table, playing poker, while a few younger ones around my age argue over their billiard game.
I can’t help but grin. “What is this place?”
Sage pulls me to the bar, a wide smile on her face. “This is where our pack comes to have fun. We’ve got a few things in the city center, but this? This is our real hangout spot. Welcome to the Full Moon.”
I slide onto a stool at the bar, and before I can even look around, an older man with
salt–and–pepper hair steps forward.
“Welcome to the Full Moon, newbie,” he says with a grin. His eyes twinkle with something knowing, like he’s seen it all. “I’m Eli.”
Sage introduces us, and he shakes my hand with a firm grip. “Mia, this is Eli. The owner of the
bar.”
“It’s nice to meet you. You’ve got a great place here,” I tell him, genuinely impressed.
He beams, his eyes drifting over the crowd before settling back on me. “Thanks. My mate and I run it together.”
I follow his gaze to a woman behind the bar, moving easily among the tables, laughing with a group of young wolves. She’s got a welcoming, open energy that makes me smile.
“On the house,” Eli says, sliding two massive mugs of beer in front of us. “Welcome to our pack, Mia.”
Sage cheers, clinking her glass against mine before downing it in one go. I follow suit, impressed by the strength of the brew. I barely feel the burn in my throat–it’s the kind of beer
made for wolves.
“I’m glad you’re liking it here,” Sage says, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. I smile at her, feeling the warmth in my chest again.
“I really do. The university is great,” I reply.
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“You need to get out more than just the university,” Sage says, her voice slightly teasing. “There’s so much more to see. The Old Town, for example. You’ve gotta meet everyone there.”
I feel a flicker of guilt. She’s right. I’ve been so focused on settling in, on my studies, that I’ve missed everything around me. I’ve heard the town is beautiful, with old shops, great food, and a lake that you can swim in when it’s warm enough. It’s the kind of place that feels timeless- where wolves run free and people don’t even bat an eye.
“You’re right,” I nod, realizing I’ve been too wrapped up in my own little world. “Could you take
me this weekend?”
Sage lights up, her face softening in a way that surprises me. She’s always so tough, but in
moments like this, I see something else–a person who genuinely wants to share her world.
“Of course!” she exclaims. “I’ll show you the best spots. Just swing by the Alpha’s house
tomorrow around eleven, and we’ll go.”
I freeze for a moment, a flutter of nerves hitting my stomach. “The Alpha’s house?”
Sage shrugs casually. “Yeah. I live there. Alpha Matthew gave me the left wing of the castle.
Once I find my mate, I’ll probably move out, but for now, it’s good. He’s like a brother to me.”
I nod, trying to keep my face neutral. The idea of being in Matthew’s house again, with its
endless hallways and my old memories, sends a strange twinge through me. But Sage seems
to have no hesitation, and I know if she says it’s okay, I’ll be fine.
“We’ll get the mind–link sorted for you soon,” Sage adds, waving her hand at Eli. She calls for
more beers, and when they arrive, she turns back to me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“But first, there’s a tradition you need to experience.”
Sage places her fingers in her mouth and lets out a loud, sharp whistle. The entire bar goes
silent in an instant, and all eyes turn to us.
“As a new member of our pack,” she announces, “Mia has to complete our beer chugging
tradition. Don’t you all agree?”
I feel my face flush as the crowd erupts into cheers. The wolves surround me, chanting and laughing. Eli, with his wide grin, fills up a huge mug, one that could hold two or three pints of
beer.
Sage laughs. “If you want to prove you belong with us, Mia, you’ve gotta drink as much of this as you can in three minutes.”
I stare at the mountain of beer in front of me. I have no idea how I’m going to handle this, but there’s something in the air–something electric–that makes me feel bold. I jump onto the bar
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counter, and the room roars with approval.
“Time me,” I tell Eli, who’s already setting up a timer behind the bar.
The countdown begins. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
I start chugging, and the cheers intensify, echoing around me like a familiar battle cry. The
energy in the room shifts from fun to something primal–something wild. And for the first time
since I arrived, I feel like I truly belong.
