Aiden Silver POV
I pushed Lily behind me as the rogue dogs burst from the trees. Three of them, snarling and wild-eyed, blocked our way along the eastern border.
"Stay back," I directed, stepping forward to face the danger.
This was supposed to be a simple tour of pack lands, not a fight. I'd planned to show Lily the boundaries, introduce her to nearby pack representatives, teach her about Silver Peak politics. Now I had to protect her.
The biggest rogue lunged first. I shifted instantly, my wolf form meeting him mid-air. We crashed together, teeth snapping. I was stronger, but he fought dirty, scratching at my eyes.
A second rogue circled toward Lily. I tried to break free to help her, but the boss held me down. To my shock, Lily didn't run. She shifted easily into her wolf form - smaller than mine but quick. She dodged the rogue's attack with surprising skill.
Working together, we drove the rogues back across the line. When they finally withdrew, I shifted back to human form, breathing hard.
"Are you hurt?" I asked, checking Lily for damage.
She shook her head, her wolf eyes meeting mine before she shifted back. "I'm fine. That wasn't how I expected our tour to start."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Not exactly the diplomatic introduction I planned."
The morning sunshine broke through the clouds as we continued our walk along the border. I studied Lily carefully. She'd handled herself well in the fight - not what I expected from an omega.
"You've been here before," I said, noticing how she handled the trails. Not a question.
Lily nodded. "I used to pick herbs along the borders. Elder Iris taught me which plants grow where."
"That's dangerous. Rogues cross these lines often."
"I know." She pointed to an old oak tree. "That's why I made friends with the River Pack guards who patrol there. They've saved me more than once."
I stopped walking. "You know the River Pack guards?"
"Of course. That's Damon's post - he has three pups in our nursery. And Sara usually takes the night shift. Her mother is sick, so I send healing teas with her when she comes home."
My mind raced. The River Pack had been our enemies for generations. Last month's area talks nearly ended in fights. Yet Lily casually noted friendships with their guards.
"Show me," I said.
Lily led me confidently through the woods to a small clearing split by a stream - the exact border between our territories. She whistled a simple tune, and moments later, a River Pack guard appeared among the trees.
"Lily!" The guard called happily before noticing me. His smile vanished. "Alpha's son."
The tension was thick enough to cut with a claw. I prepared for anger, but Lily stepped forward.
"Damon, how are the pups? Is Maya's cough better with the honey mixture?"
The guard's stance softened at the mention of his children. "Much better. She's sleeping through the night now. My mate thanks you."
I watched in wonder as Lily chatted with the rival pack member like an old friend. When she described a birthday gift she was preparing for his youngest, the guard's eyes actually misted.
"Your Alpha knows you're here?" Damon asked me straight.
"Yes. I'm showing Lily our limits."
"Good. Keep her safe." His protective tone surprised me. "Lots of strange wolves going through lately. Not just rogues. Organized groups wearing bone masks."
My blood ran cold. Bone masks fit the description of the wolves who attacked our nursery.
"Have they approached your pack?" I asked.
Damon paused, then nodded. "Tried to recruit some of our younger members. Said they're building a new order. Our Alpha turned them away."
After sharing more information, we continued our trip. I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd watched. Lily had achieved what our formal diplomatic meetings couldn't - a friendly conversation with a River Pack guard who willingly shared important information.
"How did you do that?" I finally asked.
"Do what?"
"Get him to trust you."
Lily shrugged. "I just treat them like people, not enemies. Their pups need the same care as ours. Their parents suffer the same illnesses."
We reached the northern lookout by noon. From this hill, we could see much of our area spread out below. I pointed out landmarks, explaining their importance, surprised when Lily often finished my sentences.
"And that valley is where the Great Pack War ended three generations ago," I said.
"When Alpha Silas and River Alpha Kora signed the first treaty," Lily added. "Elder Iris says they were secret mates, but their packs wouldn't allow the union."
I looked at her. "That's not in our official history."
"The omegas keep different stories. The ones told while treating wounds or caring for pups when no one important is listening."
The way she said "important" made me wince. Had we really made omegas feel so insignificant?
"What other stories do you know?" I asked.
For the next hour, Lily shared omega views on pack history that left me stunned. Hidden alliances, secret heroes, diplomatic blunders - all missing from the lessons my father taught us.
"We could prevent so many mistakes if we listened to these stories," I said.
Lily's smile was sad. "That's what Elder Iris always says."
As sunset approached, we headed toward our final stop - the Western Ridge where our area met the Mountain Pack lands. Our smallest neighbor but tactically important because they controlled the high passes.
"I've been thinking," Lily said carefully. "About the Mountain Pack."
"What about them?"
"They're suffering this winter. Their shooting grounds were damaged in the floods. But they're too proud to ask for help."
I nodded. This was a well-known problem with no solution. "My father offered help. They refused."
"Because it came as charity from a stronger pack," Lily stated. "But what if we approached it differently? Their weavers make the best winter blankets. Our pack needs those for the new pups. We could trade extra meat for blankets and call it a fair swap."
I stopped walking, looking at her. The idea was brilliant - allowing the Mountain Pack to keep pride while getting the food they desperately needed.
"How did you know about their weaving?"
"One of the omega moms in our nursery came from Mountain Pack. She still has family there."
Again and again, Lily revealed connections and knowledge I never thought existed in our pack. Quiet information networks kept by the omegas we barely noticed.
As darkness fell, we reached the Western Ridge. Lights from the Mountain Pack town twinkled in the distance.
"We should head back," I said. "It's not safe after dark."
Lily pointed to a small path I'd never noticed. "This way is faster."
The narrow path wound between rock formations. I tensed, sensing we weren't alone. The wind shifted, bringing a familiar smell that made my hackles rise.
"Lily, run!" I shouted, just as shapes melted from the shadows ahead and behind us.
Wolves wearing bone masks circled us, closing in from all sides. At least ten of them, too many to fight.
The largest stepped forward, his mask carved with strange symbols that seemed to glow in the moonlight.
"The Triple Moon bearer," he said, his eyes fixed on Lily. "You will come with us now."
"She's under my protection," I growled, stepping in front of her.
The masked leader laughed. "The Alpha's son. Perfect. We'll take you both."
"What do you want?" Lily ordered, her voice surprisingly steady.
"To restore the old ways," the leader responded. "And you, Omega, are the key."
The masked wolves moved closer, pushing us toward the edge of a steep ravine. I reached for Lily's hand, mind racing for a getaway plan. There were too many to fight, nowhere to run.
"Trust me," Lily whispered, squeezing my fingers.
Before I could answer, she pulled me backward, and we plunged together into the darkness of the ravine below.