Because I was bored, and stuck on the dance, I decided I would write in Josh's POV. Later, the story should be in his POV anyways, so... This is just a little somethin' to explain what happened that night in the woods, and some of their back story. It's kinda cute, if you ask me. I promise I'll get Chapter 14 up here as soon as possible. Softball's about to end ( D: ) so I should have more time in the summer! Whoo! Can't wait! Except for driver's ed -_- so, anyways, Chapter 1 again, in Josh's POV!

~Anni12

Josh's POV:

Chapter 1:

"This is stupid," Levi whined for the hundredth time, crossing his arms over his chest.

Kyler, the quiet, calm little boy, growled at his younger cousin. "Thank you," he said sarcastically. "For that wonderful piece of information WE ALREADY KNEW!"

Cormac chuckled softly, still staring out the window with his chin in his hand. My hands tightened on the wheel as I glanced in the rearview mirror to check on the two boys in the back of the pick-up. Levi was glaring at Kyler with his mouth pressed into a firm line. "That's enough," I said before Levi could snap back at him. "Levi, we all know ya don't wanna move, but we got no choice. They were destroyin' our territ'ry."

"I know," he huffed, "but I wished we coulda stayed."

"Me too, bud." I sighed. "Me too." Even though a part of me agreed with my younger brother, the other half believed that something good would come out of this move. Something that couldn't be found back in Kentucky.

As we pulled up to the yellow ranch house, I noticed my parents were already there, unloading the horses and their supplies. Levi and Kyler were already out as soon as the car stopped. Cormac then leapt out, stretching his arms by his side. "It's so cold here!" he complained.

"It's win'er," I said, rolling my eyes as I opened the door. Indeed, cold air rushed into the car, making me shiver. The little ones raced around the front yard with Iya and Coffeeblue supervising.

"Josh!" the alpha called, beckoning me over to the stables behind the main house. I glanced around before complying. Where was Adam?

Forest surrounded the house to all side, drawing my wolf side to them. I was itching to shift: we had been driving for days and hadn't been able to run. "Let's go check out our new territ'ry." My father said as I entered the stable.

I felt my face light up. "Yes!" I agreed hastily. "Everybody comin'?"

He shrugged. "It'll take longer ta unpack, but we might as well explore a little."

I turned, a smile spreading across my face as I cupped my hands around my mouth. "C'mon, y'all! Let's get movin'!"

I heard Cormac yell excitedly, and soon the rest of the family joined in. Their whoops soon turned to howls as their wolf side took over, and I immediately felt that familiar tingling. I dropped on all fours, lifting my muzzle to the sky and letting loose a loud, long howl. I heard the alpha and his mate join in behind me. I even heard the little ones join in. Although Levi and Hanna had yet to fully shift, when both alpha shifted along with the mother, the kids shifted into pups. The alpha had a certain amount of control over the members of his pack, and he was able to make the children shift for reasons I had yet to understand.

Still, like every other member of the pack, they loved to be in their true form. I picked out Levi's tiny howl before he raced into the woods without a second thought. Levi! Many of us yelled after him, but to no avail. His dark gray coat darted into the forest, leaving me to chase after him. I let out a warning growl, telling him to stop, but the little pup shot like lightening, not slowing down to anything.

Levi! I barked as I hurled myself over a fallen log. Get back here!

No, his voice rang in my head. I just wanna ru—he yelped suddenly. A bark escaped my throat as I sped up, my paw pushing hard against the ground as I ran. I felt the presence of my pack behind me, their barks answering mine. Levi whimpered unexpectedly. Ouch. He said simply.

My mother sighed in relief. Levi, she said softly. Are you alright?

I'll scare 'er off, he replied and his tiny growl made me scoff. I knew he wouldn't scare away whatever had harmed him, but we could. As I ran, I opened my jaws to let out a piercing howl, and soon, the rest of them joined in.

Soon, the sight of the little pup sitting awkwardly on the ground with his teeth bared came into view. I skidded to a stop, and growled as I caught sight of a girl sprawled out on the forest floor, pulling my lips over my teeth in a snarl. A notebook lay a couple feet away from her, a pencil hooked in the spiral. Her brown eyes were wide as she stared at Levi, but at my growl, she whipped her head around to stare at me with her mouth wide open. As her eyes caught mine, my growl died in my throat and something burst inside my chest. My lips fell back over my teeth as I stared at her, studying her every feature, memorizing the way her lips parted effortlessly. I hardly noticed as Levi slipped under me, whining gently. The wind blew her chocolate brown hair across her face, and, as it did, something inside me whispered: mate.

She jumped as a growl sounded to my left, her lips sucking in a soft gasp of air as she turned her head towards the sound. I glanced over, seeing my mother baring her teeth, snarling at the girl while crouching in attack position. My heart leapt at the thought of her hurt and a bark that sounded more like a yelp pulled from my throat along with a deep, hearty growl. I took a few steps closer to the girl, ready to protect her if I had too. Joshua? She asked, standing straight and tilting her head in confusion, her ears flicking tentatively.

Leave, I stated simply, glancing at her before pulling my gaze in a circle, showing my teeth in warning. I connected with the gaze of every wolf, noticing their confused look, the Miller stubbornness shining in their eyes. I growled, urging them to move as I shifted to walk around her, the shock of my tail brushing her arm never leaving my mind. Questions bombarded me, but I ignored them. Leave, I growled again. Now.

Slowly, with another glance towards me and the girl, they slowly dispersed. I turned, finding myself in front of her and held captive in her coffee brown gaze. I sat, grinning widely at her. Her chest rose and fell slowly, her eyes still wide in amazement. A slow, calm breeze blew her scent to me and I froze, my mouth closing in shock as I sniffed the air. Blood. Her blood. Cautiously, I stood, stepping towards her and placed my nose to her knee, locating the source of the scent. She smelled of sweet, soft vanilla laced with the smells of the kitchen, but most noticeably—the strong scent of alcohol.

She leaned over, glancing up at me gingerly, as she rolled up the leg of her sweat pants. Red slowly oozed out of tiny cuts on her knee, and immediately, my canine side took over and my tongue shot out to clean the wounds. She gasped sharply and I glanced up at her. She smeared her hands on her shirt and brought them up to look at them. I stepped over, continuing to wipe the blood clean. A soft, exasperated laugh produced from her lips, making my heart flip in my chest as I glanced up at her before continuing. I stiffened as I felt her fingers run across my shoulder and through my fur. A shiver rippled through me. Normally, if a human had dared to 'pet' me, I would've taken their hand off, but instead, I sat down again, closing my eyes to enjoy her touch that sent bolts of electricity through me. I leaned into her. She flinched harshly, and I pulled away to eye her cautiously.

She winced again as a loud, thick voice boomed, "Danny! Where the h*** are you?!" I sat upright, alert, and turned my head towards the sound.

"Oh, no," she whispered, wrapping her arms around her knees and placed her chin on them. My ears flickered in confusion as I glanced back at the voice, groaning inwardly. Who is that? I thought. I really gotta learn these woods quick. Where did she come from? I wonder what her name is… I turned back to her, finding her gaping, her eyes once again wide.

Another voice entered my mind, jarring me back. Danny, she breathed. My name is Danny. I don't want to go home. I want to stay out here. I don't want to go back.

I gasped, but it came out more like a whine as I stepped back in shock. You can hear me? I asked. This couldn't be happening. I wasn't about to exploit our secret to a human. This was odd. Only mated wolves could speak to each other when one of them wasn't in their wolf form. Surely this girl couldn't be my mate? I hadn't found her, had I? And, even if she was, we weren't mated yet.

I was brought out of my thoughts by her shaky nod, her hands trembling.

I backed away more forcefully, shaking my head. No, my voice was strong, although my heart was beating erratically in my chest. You have to forget this night ever happened, Danny. You can't tell anyone, do you understand? It would be best for you just to forget this night.

Wait! She called, her voice stopping me in my tracks. I don't want to forget. I won't tell anyone. Her voice was small, soft, shy.

I growled lowly. That's what everyone says.

Really, her voice cracked as she closed her eyes briefly. I swear. I can't. I don't speak—I can't. I'm too scared.

The fact froze me again. What? I blinked. A teenage girl who don't speak? Are you serious, or just jokin' me?

I'm serious. I have no friends, hardly a family if you can even call them that. I won't tell anyone. And trust me, no matter how hard I try, I can't forget this.

But you're talkin' ta me. Right now. I said, raising an eyebrow that she couldn't see.

You're a wolf! And somehow, we're talking in our thoughts, not speaking.

Whatever, I said, backing away once more. Please, just try to forget this!

Wait! She screamed again, once again, her voice pulling me to a stop. Do you have a name?

I shook my head, sighing lowly. If I told you, you would just have to forget it. It's best if I don't tell you right now. I turned, the dead leaves crunching under my paws as I launched myself into a run.

Wait! Wait, no please tell me! I flinched at her tone, my heart beating in my throat, but I just sped up. Closing my eyes, I let my instincts guide me home, but the farther I got from her, the more my heart pulled for her.

JOSHUA! A shrill voice interrupted me as I broke through the line of trees, flinching. I glanced up as I shifted back to human form to see my mother standing in the back doorway with her arms crossed. "Get in the house now." She growled, flashing her canines.

"Yes ma'am," I muttered, sighing as I trudged towards the ranch home. I found my parents seated in a newly furnished living room, where only a set of chairs and a couch stood in front of a television.

"I suggest ya sit down, Joshua." Mother growled again, her arms and legs crossed as she leaned into my father as they both sat on the couch. My father stared at the blank television, his lips picking up in a smile.

I did as I was told, glancing towards him for help, but to no avail. "Yes ma'am," I repeated, knowing that was the only thing she wanted to hear at the moment. Wolves had a terrible temper.

"Do you have any idea what coulda happened out there?!" she hissed furiously, leaning forward to glare at me.

I glanced up at her sheepishly. "But, Mother," I began, but she cut me off.

"Your brother could've been injured, Joshua! Seriously! That girl coulda been a poacher! Or a hunter!" she shook her head. "She coulda been dangerous, Joshua. As future alpha, you need to learn ta—"

My father cut off the beginning of her rant. "Gail," he said, chuckling as he shook his head. "Let the boy alone."

She glanced at him in surprise. "Peter!" she breathed. "Levi coulda been hurt, or worse!"

"But he wasn't," he said, turning his full attention to his wife and son.

She sighed. "Joshua coulda been hurt as well. What right did he have to call us off—call me, the boy's mother, off?"

My father sighed lowly, smiling and rolling his eyes. "He did, Gail, sweetie."

My heart caught in my throat at the thought of her, of the memory of her eyes that his words brought to my mind. My mother furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "But—what?"

His eyes flickered back and forth. "Surely you noticed?" At her continued expression, he gave a short laugh. "She's his mate, dear."

At this, her eyes widened and she glanced at me. "Is that true?" she smiled. "Have you found her?"

I sighed, closing my eyes as my mouth picked up slightly. "I… I think so…"

She screeched, jumping up and flinging her arms around my neck. When she spoke, I realized she had tears flowing from her cheeks onto my shoulder. "My baby's found his mate!" she wailed, her arms tightening around me. "Oh, you're goin' ta be such a great alpha, sweetie!"

She pulled away, wiping her cheeks swiftly. "So? When do I get to meet this girl? And why didn't she shift when she saw us? What's her name? Is she nice? Does she know you two are mates?"

"Mom," I said, frowning. "She's human." I said as if that explained everything, because it did.

I watched as their faces fell, their mouths both turning into a frown at the same time. My father straightened in his seat, leaning his elbows on his knees. "This is not good, Josh. You know what that means." He raised his eyebrow in question.

I lowered my gaze. "I know," I breathed. "And I'm not lookin' forward to tellin' her 'bout us.

"You may not," he said, his voice firm, and at the tightening in my stomach, I knew he had used the Alpha's Voice. "You will not tell her until you are sure she can handle it. I will not have our pack bein' the reason our world's secret becomes discovered."

"Yes sir," the words slipped from my mouth as they always did when he used the power.

My mother frowned. "She'll handle it once she knows she's in love with you," she said, startling me by the straightforwardness of her words. "So what's her name? When will we get to meet her?"

"Danny," I replied. "I'll try ta bring her home as soon as I can. She seems… a little shy…"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, that just won't do…"

I stood, feeling uncomfortable talking about my... mate… with my parents, and the alphas. "Don't worry, Mom," I said, a smile tugging at my mouth. "I'll just earn her trust first. It won't be hard."

I didn't realize how wrong I was.