Chapter 3: New Pack Era

40 years later

“Alright, my little warriors, you been training long and hard; I need for you to show me how good of warriors you can be, show no mercy.” The female voice said. The children nodded and began their training course, including attacking dummies and running through woods, but the most critical part was working together as a team. As the female person observe and give direction to the little pups. Three adults were sitting at the table watching everything.

“William, I told you that our daughter has a lot of potentials,” a female voice said.

“Vanessa, I knew since birth that she will do great things,” William said by observing his daughter.

“I can see her being a true future Luna and will lead this pack towards victory,” Vanessa stated. William could not agree more; as he looked at his daughter, he could not help but think how advanced she had become at such a young age. William remembers at age six how she was able to set up a crossbow and hit a bull eye target every time and how well she was with using daggers. As the alpha, William felt the need for his daughter to become great and that one day, he will pass the Alpha role down to her.

As time passed, his trance was interrupted by a male voice “Yeah, she truly born a natural.” William looks over to see that his father, former Alpha Logan Winchester, was memorized by his granddaughter Catalina and her ability to lead the pack someday soon. The more he sees Catalina standing there taking charge, the more he thinks about the love of his life, knowing that Catalina resembles his mate, Dawn. He could not help but smile before saying, “Well, I’m about to get going. William, do you have a minute to chat with your old man in private?” Logan asks.

William gave him a nod and told his wife that he would be right back; William and his father walked side by side in complete silence once they had gotten far enough Logan stated, “Son, the reason why I wanted to talk to you is that you know what today is right?”

William hesitated before saying, “Yes, today marks 40 years since Mom departed from this earth, and it would have been you and her 40th anniversary too. Dad, this is one of the most challenging days for me to talk about without shedding a tear. Because of how somebody took her life”.

“I know William, I live that moment, every day of my life, and I blame myself I regret not helping her. I shouldn’t be protecting you and her, not the other way around.” Logan whimpered.

William looked towards his father, saw the saddest in his eyes because, for so many years, he had seen how losing his mate took a toll on his father's life. In which that his father did nothing but hiding his saddest. In time, he tries his best to be strong.

“Dad, it’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it is William, because it was two lives that had changed that day, me without my mate, and you growing up without a mother.”

“Yeah, it was hard dad, you did raise me to become a better man, and you did teach me well; you taught me to appreciate life and always be fair and kind to others. I can tell you this dad, mom is smiling down on you, and I bet you in the heaven of the moon goddess she approves of the things that you did.”

“I hope so my son,” Logan insinuated.

From there they talk, some more until Logan utters, “I got to get going now, you know what I do on this day every year.”

William stated, “Yes, you know I don’t forget you need to be careful dad,You are not getting younger; you are getting older.”

“Older and wiser,” Logan said with a chuckle.

“I made be getting old William, I’m still in the best shape, meaning that I’m strong enough to lay you across my leg and whoop you.” Logan was able to repeat chuckling. It is true Logan is 6’2 well-built for his age. His long black hair with a few gray strands of hair. Those beautiful light gray eyes that were once glowed.

Are now dark gray with a little saddest each time he thinks of Dawn.

“Dad, you need to get going; it’s about to get dark soon.”

“You're right, son; I’m just hoping that Phoenix will come out,” Logan stated.

From there, Logan begins to call out to Phoenix.

“Hey phoenix, how are you feeling?”

“Not good at all; I’m still sad.”

“Well, buddy, you know what today is, right?”

“Yes, I know Logan; I don’t feel like coming out this year; it’s too painful; all I can think of is Aurora.”

“I know I feel the same way when I think of Dawn, but we have to be strong for the both of them.”

“Logan, we've been doing this for almost 40 years now; it just keeps getting depressing”.

“Phoenix old buddy, can we do this? it will be the last time, I promise.”

Logan could not help but agree with Phoenix every year on this day; they do the same routine: to go where Dawn had died and to her resting place. Logan feels that going there; he can feel the connection of Dawn and Aurora roaming around, waiting for them to show up; Logan thinks that this is the only way to let out the pain that he had endures for so long, that at night he will howl to the moon, hoping that Dawn will howl back to him. So, he could feel at ease with his emotions. And finally, learn to let go of the rage that had built up in him in silence. “Phoenix, this is the last year we are doing this; I agree we have to learn to move forward; they both would want us to do it.”

“You right Logan, let’s go.” Just like that Logan shifted into Phoenix, and they begin running.”