Chapter Three: Guard

It was still dark outside when there was a knock on Laura's door. She rolled over, checked her alarm. Half five, just like Talia had announced.

"Laura, it's time. Your mother's leaving in a few minutes," her father declared on the hallway. Laura rolled over, nearly fell out of her bed in an attempt to switch on the light without having to leave the warmth. It was just so very cosy and cuddly!

"I'm coming!" she called, then fell face first onto her pillow, a loud yawn muffled by it. She sat up, brushed through her hair once before tying it into a jumpy ponytail and in just her PJs left her room. Talia was already downstairs, giving instructions to Hector. She was wearing a black trench coat with a large hood covering her back, black trousers and boots and the car keys dangling in her hand. She looked up, waved Laura closer.

"Kali has announced the arrival of her pack for 2 in the afternoon, they are the first ones. By then, everything needs to be ready in the tent and the house. I trust the three of you will handle things, I know you will," the future Queen declared. She then kissed her eldest on the forehead, her husband on the lips, nodded to her uncle George and then she turned to leave. It took Laura a moment to comprehend that this was the last time she would see Talia Hale as 'just' her mother. When she returned tonight, she would be Queen. And the responsibility to let this entire day run as smooth as possible was with her now. She drew in a deep breath before turning towards her father.

"Right, let's get this show on the road."

The rest of the morning, aside a small breakfast, they spent with preparing the house for guests. More guests, this time. While yesterday night, it had only been the Alpha's of each pack that were attending the reception, tonight they would bring their Betas and Emissaries. It would be crowded. Vera Hale was preparing some of the food herself, but they had also hired a catering service from town. The food would arrive at 5 pm, before that, Vera's snacks would have to do.

The tent in the garden was festive. Tables and chairs, a dance floor, the decoration reminiscent of a forest. The actual inauguration would take place in the forest when the full moon would stand its highest. All wolves would gather to honour their new leader. A lot of howling would be involved, unsuspecting people in town would be terrified.

No accidents were allowed to happen in this night, no blood spilled to soil the rule of Talia Hale, everything had to be secure. They hand-picked a group of wolves – the most in control, the strongest – to secure that no younger wolves would run wild this night. Hector, Peter and Laura would be part of that task force themselves, as would Apollo Hale, George Hale's son – they were considered the four most outstanding Hale's next to Talia now; Kali's exceptional pack would join them, Ennis and two of Ennis' Beta's – Joe and Davide. Luciano Baccari – much to Peter's dismay – and one of his Beta's, Claudio.

The Emissaries of each pack would join Alan Deaton in the ceremony by the Nemeton to bless Talia with some ancient ritual. The remaining packs were bystanders. Derek had been angry that he was not chosen to be part of the guard, which was probably the reason why Talia had entrusted him with looking after Cora instead.

But the guard had another reason, they all knew that. Not only to protect the people from rogue wolves, but equally to protect the wolves from Hunters. They were all aware that, with this amount of activity around their house and town in the past few days, the Argent's would have been made aware that something big was coming up. They could not rule out an attack tonight, so they needed to make sure the best would be on the lookout. Laura hoped nothing would happen, but she was prepared for the worst.

The house was decorated to match the tent. Whites and greens, a forest atmosphere. The basement, and dungeon, where young wolves could be locked up during the Full Moon, would not be occupied tonight.


It was noon when Laura finally had a chance to shower, only because her father insisted that she had done everything she could to prepare the house and that she should perhaps prepare herself now, unless she wanted to be in PJs when the packs arrived. He made a compelling argument there.

She showered for almost half an hour, felt the need to be just as cleansed as Talia would no doubt be when the spiritual preparation was done. She could not wear anything neat tonight on the guard, just black cargo pants, boots, a tank top and leather jacket, her dark hair in a sideways braid, she looked more like a soldier than a Princess. But today, that was good. Today was perhaps the first time that she was happy not to try and be like Athina, who would no doubt wear heels and a pretty dress and her hair in a complicated updo.

By the time she came downstairs, Kali and her pack had just arrived.

The four she-wolves were ready for a rough night in the woods as well. Except for Kali they were all wearing boots, all black, one of them was wearing a dark hijab covering her hair.

When Laura joined them, Kali went ahead and introduced her pack. She first pointed at a somewhat sturdier young woman with brown skin, dark eyes, long black curls tied back in a bun. The second was a very athletic, young woman, agile, probably fast, also brown and with her straight black hair tied to a strict ponytail. The third one was the woman with the hijab, lighter in skin than the others, with almond-shaped brown eyes and full lips.

"My pack. Anjula, Agamdeep and Nesrin," Kali introduced.

"Anju."

"Agam."

"Nes."

The three of them corrected in order, Kali smirked. They bowed a little, each of them letting their eyes flash once. They were all cold blue. It made Laura shiver a little because it meant they had taken innocent lives, but she would not judge them before she did not know why they had killed. Lyka had been forced to kill her best friend, turning her eyes blue. Both Derek and Peter had found themselves in the situation where they could only kill to save themselves or put someone dearly loved out of their misery. Perhaps whatever had turned the eyes of these three women blue was just as tragic a story. She had learned that none of the wolves in the Alliance would kill for pleasure.

"Good to have you," Laura replied, nodding to each of them. The trio smiled. They moved like a unit, she could tell, and she already looked forward to seeing them in action tonight, because she could tell they would be fierce. Kali had made a good choice when she had turned only women – and she had chosen three great ones.

"The two of you will be in the northern sector. You will be in the east with Laura; Kali, you'll be in the west, with Ennis."

Kali nodded as Hector instructed the four of them with the map of the area they would patrol tonight. Laura had familiarized herself with the plan already and she respected that her father had entrusted her with the sector in the east, the one closest to Beacon Hills, the one from where the Argents would most likely attack and the one that would need the fiercest protection if something went wrong. It told her that he trusted her, that he believed in her capabilities as a wolf. She would be there with Nesrin, Claudio, and Luciano, Peter would be patrolling the border of the southern sector, closest to the house, together with Apollo.

Kali and her pack were invited into the party tent, helped themselves to food and drinks and Laura went to get to know the woman she would be patrolling with a little better. Nesrin was 26, originally from Tehran but her family had moved to England when she was very young to offer the girl an education she would not otherwise be able to enjoy. She was a lawyer now, and of course a werewolf. She had been turned by Kali ten years ago and Laura was the first born wolf she actually got to talk to, so she was eager to learn what it was like growing up as one.

Ennis and his pack were next to show up, his laugh could already be heard from the door. And a half hour later than announced, the Italians made their entrance, causing Peter to already roll his eyes ('They have no respect. How could they possibly join our Alliance?!').

Luciano and the man that would join the guard, Claudio, were in military type black clothes. Claudio was even wearing dog tags, Laura had not realized that the man was a soldier. Or former soldier, as it would turn out. He was retired. He was a tall man with short, curly hair, once black, now with many grey strands in it. Claudio's family – his wife Stefani and son Francesco – were also part of the pack. Stefani was a beautiful woman with silky dark hair and a lovely, low voice. Their son was a quirky boy of 14 years, sharing his father's smile. As it turned out in conversation, the family Lombardi was running a great little Italian restaurant in Manhattan and invited everyone to be their guests at any time. They were a warm family, Laura could tell. And they had no boundaries whatsoever, both Claudio and Stefani hugging everyone they met right away. Laura, ever orderly, offered her hand to Claudio, just making him laugh before he pulled her in and hugged her so tight he lift her off her feet. She could not help but laugh with him.

When Claudio put her down again, Laura met Luciano's gaze, found him smiling like he was actually pleased with how well she seemed to get along with his pack. Before she could protest, Stefani had hugged her too.

"Oh you were right Luca, she is gorgeous! I understand why you took her home," the woman declared.

And that was how things got awkward.

"Took me… where?" Laura asked perplexed. She heard Luciano awkwardly clearing his throat.

"Stef, that was Athina. This is Laura."

Stefani gasped, held Laura at an arms distance by her shoulders.

"Oh God! I am so… I am so sorry, that is so embarrassing!" the older woman gasped. Laura heard Francesco – who increasingly reminded her of Derek – chuckle in the background. She smiled anyways and shook her head.

"Don't worry. Easy mistake to make, Athina and I are about the same age," she said to ease Stefani's mistake. Because she genuinely liked the woman already.

"And that's about everything we have in common."

Laura sighed at the familiar voice of Athina Hale who had then and there entered the tent. She could look past Stefani and spot her cousin in a completely over the top, night blue silk dress, her chocolate hair put up, a sparkling choker around her slender neck, she looked like Audrey Hepburn. Ever the Princess. Laura had momentarily worried if she would feel less important once Athina would show up. But after a brief re-evaluation of the situation, she came to the conclusion that for once, she felt like she should: Important. While Athina would sit around and wait for the inauguration, Laura would be out there in the woods, coordinating with the guard, doing work that was actually meaningful instead of just being a bystander and observer. So today, she could present a genuine smile in the face of Athina, the woman in whose shadow she had been all her life.

"True, nothing in common," she admitted. And today, that was not a bad thing. Stefani flew around.

"Then you must be Athina! Oh, che bella!" the woman declared and proceeded to hug Athina as well. "Luca, she is beautiful!"

"Luca?" Athina teased as she parted from Stefani, put an arm around Luciano's neck and got to the tips of her toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. He smirked a little.

"Yeah, Stef has known me all my life, she'll never stop calling me that."

"Never." Stefani confirmed with a grin.

"Ah, Luciano and Claudio - good, we're complete then. You two will be patrolling with Laura and Nes," hector declared as he joined the group with the plans.

Luciano's gaze shot away from the Princess by his side to the soldier standing next to Claudio.

"Oh, with MyLady herself? What an honour. I am surprised your uncle is leaving me in your company unprotected."

"Are you insinuating that you have so little self-control that I need to be protected from you?" Laura returned. Claudio and Stefani both fell into a chorus of 'Uuuuhhhhhh' and Stefani bumped their Alpha in the side.

"You just got owned there, might think about your return very carefully, she knows what she's doing."

He laughed and when he looked over at Laura again, she had her brows raised as if waiting for his response.

"I was not implying that. Just impressed that our future consultant will be marching through the forest with us on patrol. It's a dangerous job."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Laura teased as she walked past Luciano on her way to join her father by the exit of the tent. Luciano smirked and nodded.

"Touché. It would seem I severely underestimated you," he admitted, sounded a little too playful for her taste. Like he did not take her serious. So he was an Alpha, what did she care? She was part of the Hale Alpha lineage, she was twice the wolf he was!

"You've never run with a born wolf, have you?" she asked, looking up at him while the guard gathered.

"Oh, yes, I have. Your uncle," he corrected, nodding back at Peter who looked like he had a bone stuck in his throat the wrong way. Laura chuckled, Peter pulled his lips up to a smirk and shook his head.

"Well, then you're in for a surprise. No offence, Peter."

"None taken," Peter replied with a nod. Hector rolled his eyes.

"Could you all please postpone the flirting until after tonight? You two" he declared, pointing at Laura and Luciano "Will get any opportunity in the world, as soon as she's consultant. Right now, you need to focus on the task. This is no game."

"Sorry, father." Laura apologized, put her hands behind her back and squared her shoulders. Luciano watched her as she did it and wondered how strict the upbringing of the Hale children had been. Laura, in turn, watched him and Claudio, both having military mannerisms to them. With Claudio it made sense but she wondered if Luciano was a soldier as well. Perhaps she should do some research on him, know what he was about. And when they caught the others gaze,both decidedly turned away.

Hector nodded quietly, then folded his map.

"Right, the task we were given is of paramount importance. It is a full moon, it is a gathering of the seven most influential packs of America and we are in direct proximity to a major Argent outpost. It is our job to make sure everything goes smooth tonight for Talia's inauguration. The druids must not be disturbed, neither must Talia in her first run as Queen. It is our job to make sure no wolves get out of control and adversely that no outside forces disturb or harm the wolves and druids. I will be on lookout at the Nemeton, the rest of you will patrol in pairs, where possible we tried to assign packs together, because… well, because you're packs for a reason, you work better in packs. Laura and Nes, Agam and Anju, Kali and Ennis, Apollo and Peter, Joe and Davide, Luciano and Claudio. Questions?"

"No, Sir," Claudio responded instantly.

"Good. Then we move out!"

The words had barely left his lips when Agam and Anju were already out, swift as shadows. Nesrin looked over to Laura, then nodded towards the exit.

"Lead the way," the Beta said. Laura nodded back and the two left, followed by Apollo and Peter and the rest, she did not see anymore.


They were crossing the distance in the woods easily, reaching an area by the cliffs, where they could see Beacon Hills in the valley, calm lights below them and one road leading up to the house they had just left. Laura could see the old distillery in the distance and the road leading to Beacon Hills from outside. It was a town rarely visited by strangers or tourists, they had nothing particularly interesting to offer, just the average American town atmosphere. Bizarre, how such a meaningless little place would be the arena of one of the oldest battles in history – the battle of supernatural creatures against their relentless hunters.

Nesrin came to a halt next to her, looking down into the valley as well.

"It is such a quiet town…"she whispered.

"Have you been here before?"

Nesrin shook her head.

"Last time Kali came here, I stayed in our territory together with Julia, to keep things there in order," Nesrin said. Laura nodded. "Who was here first? Your family or the Hunters?"

"My family. Beacon Hills has been a… well, a beacon for the supernatural, ever since its foundation. Druids came here first, the tree was some kind of sacred ground to them and their rituals demanded pilgrimage to it. The Hale family then was the first family of supernatural beings settling here permanently. We claimed this territory and there used to be a time when we were politically very influential in the area. The town used to be a gathering point for all sorts of creatures – not just wolves, but vampires, shapeshifters, witches, spirits, demons, fae, trolls, everything you can imagine. But like with every place where supernatural things gather, soon the humans became aware that something was… odd about Beacon Hills. A small group of hunters investigated, attacked a gathering of fae dancing around the Nemeton. The fae leader sought out the Hale family, asking for protection, the wolves obliged. They ambushed the hunters who were camping by the Nemeton, a sacred place not for them to defile. It was a massacre. After that, the Hunters sent the cavalry. Months of bloodshed followed, many creatures were wiped out in the process, the rest were driven away by the hunters rolling in on our town, they cut down the sacred tree and with it the magic that attracted all these creatures in the first place. Finally, the Hale Alpha at that time demanded a meeting with the Hunter council headed by the Argents. She negotiated the truce we have lived by ever since and it was thanks to this negotiation that the Argent hunters now practice their code: we hunt those who hunt us. But even with this truce, things had changed. The pack contemplated leaving Beacon Hills, because with the Nemeton gone there was really nothing special about this place. But it was their home by then, generations had been born and buried here. So they stayed, retreating from most public life in town. We went about our own business, avoiding confrontation with the hunters. Until last summer…" Laura explained her family history. Nesrin listened attentively, clearly fascinated by the bloody history of wolves and hunters she had only very recently become involved in.

"Hard to believe, the place looks so peaceful…" she then whispered. Laura nodded. "You said… the Alpha who negotiated the truce with the Argents was a she-wolf."

"Yeah… it's been a kind of… tradition in my family that the she-wolves make history."

"Like your mother," Nesrin said with a knowing nod.

"Yeah…"

"I guess you feel the pressure."

"Every day. But never as much as now," Laura admitted, then sighed. "I am not even supposed to tell you that," And with her best impression of her mother's tone, she added "'Don't let them know you struggle' – everyone has been preaching that to me now…"

Nesrin chuckled a little.

"Don't worry. Our pack would never betray another woman. We believe that women need to support each other in everything, so your struggle… is our struggle."

Laura smiled. She knew why she liked Kali's pack. Where she not a Hale, she would have liked to be part of a pack like theirs.

After that, they spoke very little as they took position on their watch, only changing the lookout every now and then to keep every corner of their perimeter in check. From time to time, Laura caught glimpses of Claudio or Luciano, but the two of them were well hidden in the darkness and so quiet it was as if they were just ghosts. Really, she wondered if they had both served in the military – possibly even together. Maybe that was how they knew each other. She assumed Luciano was a bit younger than Claudio, but with wolves it was hard to tell. Their age on paper did not necessarily reflect their actual age, nor the age they looked.

It was not until the moon stood high and she guessed the ceremony was currently at its peak that she noticed a sound that made her nervous. A car door, slamming somewhere in the distance, then laughter, drunk singing. Her senses were sharp, she could smell the alcohol from far. Probably a group of teenagers, out on a dare perhaps or to just get away from home and have a fun night. Bad night for something like that.

"Shit…" she whispered.

"I have the perimeter covered; maybe you can get them out of here. You're local, they'll listen to you sooner than to me," Nesrin said. Laura nodded and followed the sounds, leaving Nesrin behind on the look-out. She soon realized she was not the only one who was on the move towards the group – saw the shadow of what seemed to be Claudio. After a moment, he got in her line of vision and nodded quietly. She indicated he should stay hidden for now, let her handle this and so he melted back into the shadows when she reached the two cars parked at the side of the road and the six people by these cars. Four boys, three girls, perhaps of Laura's age. She came out jogging, startled the girls and making the boys jump to their heroic protection.

"Hey!" she greeted.

"H-hey," one of the boys replied awkwardly.

"Laura Hale, right?" another asked, hurriedly hiding the booze. The girls were giggling furiously.

"Yeah. You guys realize you're trespassing on my family's property, right? There's security around here everywhere, if you're caught on tape… really, I don't want you guys to get in trouble, maybe… find a different spot for your party?"

Two of the boys looked around attentively.

"I don't see camera's."

"Well, they wouldn't be very good surveillance camera's if everyone could see them right away, would they?"

"Come on guys let's just go some other place," one of the girls suggested.

"Nah, I like this place!" the boy who was clearly most drunk insisted, trying to tower over Laura now. Cue for Claudio to step out of the shadows, closely followed by Luciano.

"Is there a problem, Miss Hale?" Claudio asked firmly, suddenly of intimidating size and so was Luciano. Like both of them had grown since she had last seen them.

"No problem at all. They were just leaving," Laura said with a bright smile towards the group.

"Y-yeah, we were just leaving," a girl said and pulled one of the boys back towards the car. He protested, but she was insistent. The others, too, returned to the cars and Laura nodded towards Claudio and Luciano. The situation seemed under control. Engines were being started. And then she saw one of the girls open a car window, leaning out, holding something in her hand. Laura could not initially recognize what it was. But she could recognize the girl. She was a bit older than Laura herself, had long, blonde hair, sharp features and cat-like eyes.

Kate Argent.

The moment she realized it, it was already too late.


Author's Note:

Now things will start to pick up. The introductory chatter is over, time to get some action. Time to get to know the characters a lot better. I think Nesrin is probably someone I'll enjoy writing (must be careful not to fall in love again, like with Liv, you never know who'll make it to the end...). I also adore Stefani already :) Can't wait to write more of her.

Next chapter, Lykawill make her comeback - now officially as Braeden! Yeay! Can't wait!