A/N: All cannon characters and settings belong to the brilliant mind of Patricia Briggs. The rest comes solely from my imagination. This is written merely for my own pleasure and the pleasure of others. Also, I tend to get long-winded, so some of my chapters may be long, no, not may be, will be.

P.S. My muse is in overdrive right now and as such I have three fics going at once. I have this one plus another with Asil that will be posted in the Alpha and Omega series section, as well as one over in the Mercy Thompson series called Finding Home, which features Ben and an OC. If updating gets slow, that is the reason why. I am working on each one daily so bear with me.

You have been warned. Now, without further ado, on with the story!


Few people would look at Bran Cornick and think he was the most powerful werewolf in North America. He could give off this laid-back vibe that almost made him seem submissive, and then he'd turn around and rip your throat out in a second if it was warranted. He did it deliberately and enjoyed keeping people guessing.

He was sitting at the desk in his study, going over some minor issues they'd had with one of the packs in Georgia and debating on whether or not it was something he would need to send Charles out to look into. When he received a call from London on his private line he was perplexed. The number wasn't familiar so he knew it wasn't the Alpha from the London pack that hadn't attended the meeting. If it was the new Alpha from Arthur's old pack seeking retribution he was out of luck. "Cornick," he said when he answered the phone.

"Greetings Marrok of North America," a male British voice said. "I am Winston Frost, Alpha of the London Pack that was, until recently, controlled by Arthur Madden. But his death is not why I am calling you. I am calling on behalf of one of my wolves. She's an old wolf, as dominant as her mate had been before he was challenged for third and lost several decades ago, and she wishes to relocate to the states. To your pack, specifically."

Bran listened until the other man was done talking. It was interesting that the man seemed undisturbed about Arthur's death, but then they did make sure that everyone knew exactly what happened, including Arthur having his own mate killed by vampires so he could kill Charles and kidnap Anna and take her back to England with him. They left out that he'd plotted to kill Bran as well. "Why my pack?" he questioned.

"I'll be completely honest with you. Aria has had some moments of instability. We all know it happens sometimes with the older wolves. Just look what happened to Arthur. I've known Aria a long time, too many years to count. When her mate died it was my mate and I who helped her through it until she was able to be on her own again. I don't know that I could bring myself to do what needs to be done if she ever snaps for good. She chose your pack because she knows if she ever loses all control of her wolf it can be dealt with before anyone gets hurt. She's a good woman, it would break her if she ever hurt anyone and remembered doing it. I'm asking you, one Alpha to another, take her in."

"Make the arrangements. She will have to fly into Missoula, its the closest commercial airport to us, and tell her to be sure to bring warm clothing and a coat. Winter is just starting but we've already had a good bit of snow with more on the way. I will have someone meet her and bring her the rest of the way here. We will cover the cost of the flight as well as shipping of anything she wants to bring with her. Call me back when you have all the information."


Three weeks after the call he received the flight information for the woman, along with shipping information for her belongings to be sent over. He wired the necessary funds to cover everything plus a little extra for the London Alpha to disperse to his members as he saw fit. Why the extra? He couldn't really say why, he'd just done it. He sent Charles and Anna to meet her. Charles flew to the private airstrip outside of Missoula then rented a 4-wheel drive SUV to pick her up. He would fly them back once they'd gotten her. They already had a house for her to move into when she arrived. It had been empty for several years after the family moved away when one of their son's attempted the change and didn't survive. Most families stayed, but Bran had assisted them in their move and they would never want for anything. He took care of his people. It was opened up to air out and cleared of dust before borrowed furnishings were put in the house until hers could arrive. With the weather, her things could end up sitting in storage for a few months while they brought them a load at a time via pickup truck.


After the ceremony ended Aria returned to her home and finished her packing in earnest. Two days later the things she was taking with her were loaded into a moving van and taken to the freight yard where they would be packed into large crates and then shipped to Montana. Everything else was given away. She took one last look around the house she'd called home for so many years and felt... peace. This was the right decision. Winston and Sarah drove her to the airport and waited until she had to go on to her gate. Tears were shed as she bid them goodbye. When her flight was called she felt a spike of panic and then it was gone. There was no turning back.

The flight seemed to take forever, which was rough on her wolf. She had to force it down several times when she started to feel claustrophobic. Fifteen and a half hours, with a stop in Denver to switch planes, had her feeling jittery by the time she landed in Missoula. At least she'd been in first class, where it wasn't as cramped, but she practically ran down the gangway to get away from the plane.


Charles and Anna arrived at the airport half an hour before Aria's flight landed. It gave them time to get inside and get to the baggage claim where they were to meet her. They'd been sent a text with a blurry photo of the woman that showed a riotous tumble of dark curls and the side of her face. It wasn't perfect but it gave them an idea of what she looked like.

"At least we have a photo," Charles said. "I remember the last time I went to meet a woman at the airport and all I had was a first name," he added with a playful smirk at his mate.

"And you looked right past me thinking the little waif with the whiskey-colored hair couldn't possibly be the wolf who defied her Alpha to call the Marrok," she fired back.

"I am eternally grateful I was wrong about that," he growled and pulled her close as they waited. He spotted Aria before Anna did but only because he was so tall. "There she is now." He guided his mate toward the other woman and let Anna do the talking.

"Aria Kinsley?" Anna asked, her voice gentle as if she knew the woman's wolf was already straining at the close confinement it had had to deal with on the long flight.

Aria startled because she hadn't sensed their approach. "Bloody airports," she grumbled. "How is a werewolf supposed to smell anything at all in this blasted air?"

Charles chuckled. "I like you already. I wonder the same thing every time I have to be in one. I'm Charles Cornick and this is my wife, and mate, Anna. Let me get your bags for you. We'll be flying to Aspen Creek in a private plane. Its better than driving the hundred miles from Missoula in this weather, trust me. It would take a lot longer than flying will. You have a winter coat with you, right?"

Aria nodded. "Yes, I was informed I would need it. The winters in London don't get as bad as they do here but I've been in the Swiss Alps in the dead of winter. I came prepared."

"Oh, the Swiss Alps, I'll bet its beautiful there," Anna said.

"It is, especially in the winter when everything is covered in a layer of white." Aria looked at them both a moment. "I'm sorry for what our old Alpha tried to do to both of you. When we found out... Sunny was a wonderful woman who was dearly loved by the entire pack. She didn't deserve what happened to her. I want you to know none of the wolves back in London have a grudge against you for it. If the worst had happened, and he'd brought you to London, no one would have followed him. You would have been sent back home, after you were given retribution by way of his head on a platter," she said with a growl.

"Thank you for that," Anna said sincerely. "I admit, I was worried about hard feelings.. or that they'd expect Charles to take over as Alpha, since he was the one who killed him," she added.

"Don't mention it. So, its true you're an Omega," she said after a moment. "If Sunny had been savaged and survived it she would have been too. That's why we were all stunned he let her be killed by vampires. He was truly lost to his delusions. The pack is in good hands though, so no need to worry they'll want you two to relocate there and take over."

"It sounds like you were really close to your old pack, why did you want to leave?" Anna asked as they headed to the SUV.

"I'm old and tired and I kept fantasizing about killing the wolf who challenged my mate for third thirty years ago and won. I shot him in the stomach a few nights ago. Of course, we were both at fault. He kept pursuing me even though I told him repeatedly to go to hell and then, like a bloody fool, my wolf challenged him to a battle of dominance. There was no way his wolf could resist. He had this crazy idea in his head that if he got my wolf to submit then I'd accept him. Don't worry, I didn't kill him or I wouldn't be here. The gun was loaded with lead bullets, not silver. The next time it might have been though."

"I don't blame you," Anna replied. "If Arthur had killed Charles, I'd have killed him for it,"she growled. She was an Omega but that didn't mean she wouldn't hurt, or kill, someone who threatened her mate or the people she cared about. She'd killed the witch, Mariposa, like it was nothing because she'd been hurting her family.

"She'd have made him beg for it too," Charles said glancing at his mate. "She took on a witch who'd live for centuries through very black magic, Arthur would have been nothing," he added proudly. "But it all worked out. Once we get back to Aspen Creek we'll take you to the Marrok first, then to the house we've cleaned up for you. It belonged to one of our people who didn't survive the change. We do things differently in Aspen Creek. The whole town knows who we are, what we are, and we keep them safe. Every October we allow those men and women who have reached adulthood and want to risk it, the chance to be changed. Some make it, some don't, and we all mourn the ones who don't."

Aria listened quietly. "Why do they try when they know they could die and leave their families to grieve?"

"For some of them they feel the risk is worth it. If they survive then their families are set, financially, for life. They become pack and that opens them up to pack finances."

"Ah, so for some it is the promise of money. I suppose I can understand that." She fell silent on the short drive to the private airstrip, her thoughts on the coming changes in her life with her decision to move there.


All too soon they were airborne again. This time she was more comfortable with just her and Anna in the passenger area of the plane, since Charles was flying. Of course part of that could be because it was Anna, and she naturally had a calming effect on other wolves. They talked a bit and when they got close Anna looked out the window.

"See down there, that's home. Aspen Creek. Its not huge, we have a population of roughly 500, with 70 of them werewolves, but the people will welcome you with open arms because you're pack."

Aria watched the tiny town as they got closer and closer. To the untrained eye it didn't look like much, four buildings, but she could see the homes nestled in the surrounding trees to give the entire town a secluded feel. Everything she could see, including the trees, was covered in white. "Its lovely," she admitted. She was suddenly anxious to land and meet the legendary Bran Cornick. She and her mate had talked about the man once. They'd wondered what kind of man he must be to have that much power. 'Looks like I'll get to find out' she said to herself.

"So, a few things you need to know," Anna said, interrupting her musings. First, we have a number of older wolves who found themselves struggling with dealing with the world and all its changes and they've come to Aspen Creek for refuge. Which you probably already knew that part. However, you might not know that one of those wolves is Asil. Some call him The Moor."

Aria turned her attention to Anna and her eyes widened. "The Moor is one of your pack members? It seems I will be meeting two legends instead of one." At the look Anna gave her Aria explained. "Bran Cornick is a legend among the European wolves just as much as The Moor is. Many wonder what kind of man he is to be able to keep so many wolves under control." Bran Cornick had to be one hell of a dominant wolf to keep The Moor in line.

Anna laughed. "You should see the look on your face. Such awe," she said. "Bran is.. its hard to explain. You'll understand what I mean when you meet him," she added then sobered. "One more thing. Bran's mate, Leah. She can be... difficult." She heard the noise her husband made at that and rolled her eyes. "To be completely honest, she's selfish, self-centered, shallow, and prone to tantrums. She hates me with a passion because I'm the only one she can't make cower. Well, me and Thea. She's the other Omega in our pack. That's a story for another day though. Anyway, the more dominant you are the more she'll try to put you under her boot heel. If you were a male you could easily be an Alpha's second or third, I can sense how dominant a wolf is when I meet them, and Leah will zero in on that. She knows if she wasn't Bran's mate she wouldn't have the power she does because by herself she's not very dominant. If she pisses you off, try to not insult her, especially within Bran's hearing. He knows how she is but he will not let anyone be rude to her, not even Charles. She loves to dig at Charles until he snaps just to make Bran jump on him for it."

Aria listened and she knew she and the Alpha's mate were going to butt heads. But she'd dealt with women like her before. "Oh, don't worry, I know how to deal with her type. There's an art to it. You can 'obey' because you have to all while carrying an air of superiority that tells them no matter what they do they will always be beneath you. And its so subtle that they can't accuse you of anything."

"Honey, is it bad that I can't wait for Aria to put Leah in her place?" Anna called out.

"If it is we can be bad together because I can't wait to see that either," Charles replied.

Anna giggled as the plane bumped when it finally met the ground and taxied to a stop outside of the hanger. "I'll get the truck warming up while you get Aria's bags and take care of the plane," she told her husband.

When the plane stopped Aria slipped her coat back on, tugged on her thick gloves, and pulled the hood up on her coat to shield her from the wind. It was colder there in the higher elevation and she shivered as she wrapped the coat tighter around her and followed Anna to the truck.

"So is that something you've always been able to do or did you develop that little skill of defiance over time?" Anna asked.

"I think I always had it to an extent, but I became more skilled at it after I was changed. It's the best way to put those who are full of themselves in their place without starting a fight," she replied after getting in on the passenger side.

Charles stowed Aria's luggage in the back of the truck, got the plane locked down and refueled, and moved to the driver's side door. He didn't say anything, just waited until Anna scooted over to the middle of the seat, and climbed in.

"I keep trying to get him to let me drive in the winter but he'll only do it if he absolutely has to."

"That's a dominant male for you, always has to be in control. My Jacob was like that. You'd think with us both being so dominant we would have had issues but my wolf was content to let him lead." She sighed softly. "Part of the reason I wanted to leave was because the memories were so painful. I'd lived in London my entire life and we'd lived in that house since we got married, it was... hard. It was time to let go and move on but I knew I couldn't do that surrounded by all the things that reminded me of him. The night he fought Nicholas, he told me if he was defeated and the worst happened, he didn't want me to mourn him forever, and he didn't want me to do anything stupid like taking a walk into the Thames to join him. Looking back, I think he knew Nick was the stronger wolf, and he knew if he didn't make me promise on both accounts, I would follow him in death the first chance I got."

"Why didn't he yield?" Anna asked.

"Yielding isn't.. wasn't an option back then. Not really. Sometimes the defeated wolf would be allowed to live but the choice fell to the one who won. Nick had no desire to let Jacob yield to him. Usually you fought until one of you was dead. Winston, the new Alpha, has adopted some of the rules for the North American wolves, including the one that says yielding is now an option and if a wolf yields it has to be honored. The only exception is for Alpha. He felt it was the only way the others wouldn't rebel against the changes he's made. The victor can still accept a yield but he isn't required to do so."

"He and Da should talk if he really wants to bring about change. Da can give him a lot of tips," Charles said.

"When I call later to let them know I made it safely I'll be sure to pass that along." She grew quiet as they neared a large house that could only be the home of the Marrok and her new Alpha.

The front door opened before they reached it and a blonde man ushered them inside. "I see you made it safely," he said and Aria realized the quiet, unassuming man in front of her was Bran Cornick.

"Of course we did. Da, this is Aria Kinsley," Charles said, introducing her.

Aria inclined her head and offered her hand in greeting. She'd met his eyes for a few seconds and dropped them. You never stared a dominant wolf in the eyes, not unless you wanted a fight on your hands. "Thank you for granting my request to relocate here."

"Any wolf who wants to come to the US is welcome. If you will follow me we will discuss what is expected of you," Bran replied after a brief handshake.

Leah took that opportunity to make an appearance. "Oh, its you," she said dismissively to Anna and Charles. "I thought it was someone important." She turned her back on them to take in the woman they'd gone to pick up. Right away her wolf sensed the other woman's dominance. "So, this is her huh? I'm not impressed. I thought we were getting something of value," she said.

Aria lifted her chin slightly and smiled sweetly at her. It was a mocking smile given Leah's comment. Her gaze flicked over Leah as if assessing her and then she promptly ignored her. "Anna was kind enough to fill me in a bit on the pack structure but I look forward to discussing it with you further, Alpha."

Leah was livid. How dare her! Who did this bitch think she was? "Do you have any idea who I am?" she hissed.

Again Aria gave her that dismissive flick of her eyes. "You are the Marrok's mate. However, as I am not pack, officially, I am not pack bound to you. It would be most prudent to discuss what is expected with the Alpha of the Marrok prior to joining, would it not?" She tipped her head. "I recall one of the requirements for a single wolf migrating is integration into an already established pack, and that the integration should be done as soon as possible, for the safety of all concerned. Am I wrong about that?" she asked, looking at Bran. "If I am misinformed than I offer my humblest apologies to the Marrok who is to be my Alpha."

Anna and Charles stared at Aria. Without ever uttering a single insulting word she'd managed to dismiss Leah as if she didn't matter, all while speaking respectfully to Bran and even offering an apology if her information was wrong. The woman was good. There was nothing Leah could accuse her of without looking petty and childish.

Leah growled and Bran gave her a look that made her hunch up a bit before she turned and stomped off.

"We'll wait until you're done talking Da and then drive Aria to the house," Charles said and led his mate into the formal living room. Why there? It put them in direct line of his study as well as the front door.

"This way Ms. Kinsley," Bran said, leading her to his study. He didn't admit it or show it but he'd been amused with the way Aria handled his mate. She'd done it in a way he couldn't reprimand her for it. There were bound to be sparks between the two women. Aria was naturally the more dominant of the two and he knew how difficult Leah could be.