Since Caleb had cancelled the sparring session for the morning, Ashleigh was left unsure of what she should do. Exploring the facilities had left her with lingering questions and frustrations about the differences between Summer and Winter.

She could go train in the obstacle courses, except the other wolves training in the area would give her nasty looks or talk about her as though she didn’t have great hearing.

Ashleigh had a thick skin, but even she could only take so much.

She found herself back in her room laying on her bed staring up at the ceiling.

“I’m so bored,” she whispered to herself, “if he was going to cancel, he should have at least let me go with the others.”

The rest of the representatives had left to explore the borders once more, this time to witness staged attacks. Ashleigh had been restricted from all activities with the other representatives because of Caleb’s schedule. It hadn’t been an issue until today.

She grunted in frustration, getting up from the bed and pacing around, she glanced out the window. The rolling hills, river, a mountain without snow. She smiled to herself as she realized what she wanted to do.

***

Twenty minutes later she panted happily as she raced through the trees. Without any snow to slow them down, her four legs were taking her faster than they ever had before.

She jumped from rock to rock, dashed between trees, and drank from the river. The air was different here. Raising her snout to the sky, she sniffed.

Trees, dirt, flowers. That was the one that smelled different. She walked into the trees following the scent of the flowers. She found a small clearing in the trees. Tall green grass with patches of wildflowers, this was what she had smelled._.

Ashleigh bounded into the flowers, hopping around, sometimes rolling in the dirt. Enjoying the freedom of it all. She laid back lazily in the sunshine. A beautiful yellow and purple flower grew next to her, she leaned forward sniffing it deeply, sneezing as the pollen hit the back of her nose.

“Careful, Winter wolf,” a woman’s voice called behind her, “the bees are quite fond of those.”

Ashleigh jumped back, turning to face the intruder. It was an older woman, probably in her early fifties. Brown hair with grey highlights. She carried a large wooden walking stick that she was currently leaning on with both hands. She smiled warmly.

‘How does she know who I am?’ Ashleigh wondered to herself. This was the first time she had shifted since arriving in Summer. And she didn’t recognize this woman; she sniffed the air looking for her scent. It was familiar and yet still foreign to her.

“Oh, we’ve never met, Winter,” she chuckled. “But I do know all the Summer wolves, and you are not one of them.”

Ashleigh shifted back to her human form. She was glad Caleb had provided each of them with a set of mesh training gear. Even if it limited her ability to feel the wind in her fur, it was better than being caught naked in the woods. Again.

“How did you know I wasn’t one of the other representatives?” Ashleigh asked curiously.

The woman smiled and took a few steps closer, until she stood in the sunlight. Ashleigh was able to see her features better now, she was beautiful. Her eyes were the color of a stormy sky.

“Winter wolves have a second coat,” she laughed. “I assume it is a natural evolution from the climate your pack inhabits. But it makes it easier to identify a Winter wolf. Much like the Autumn wolves all have some kind of dark marking in their fur.”

Ashleigh thought of Bell for a moment, they had run together many times, and the woman was right. Bell’s wolf form was almost completely white, except for some black around her ears and down over her snout.

“Spring wolves are all much lighter colors, greys or tans. Summer wolves all have some red in their fur,” the woman added.

Ashleigh hadn’t had the chance to see many wolves outside of winter. Definitely not a Summer wolf. The one time Caleb had shifted around her, she had been busy running away. Now she was curious about what his wolf looked like.

“Your wolf is quite beautiful I must say,” the woman smiled. “You look happy here too. I didn’t expect to see a Winter wolf smiling in Summer ever again.”

“I’m sorry,” Ashleigh said, holding back the irritation she felt, “who are you?”

If she was going to have to listen to someone else talking about her as though she were a fungus on their precious summer lands, she at least deserved to know their name.

“My name is Fiona,” the woman smiled.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Ashleigh. Not Winter, or Winter wolf, or some other name that is meant to show me how little you think of me just because of where I come from.” Ashleigh growled.

“Goodness.” Fiona laughed. “I truly did not mean to offend you with my choice of words, I just didn’t know your name. I thought acknowledging you as Winter would at least be better than saying ‘hey random wolf over there’, but I suppose I was wrong.”

Her voice was all smiles and laughter. Fiona was not offended by Ashleigh or her outburst.

“I’m sorry,” Ashleigh sighed.

“They’ve really been giving you a rough time, haven’t they?”

“No,” Ashleigh shook her head, “I mean, yea, they don’t like me, and they haven’t tried to hide it. But it’s not like anyone has really done anything mean to me.”

“Then why do you seem so upset that I know you are from Winter?”

“I’m not sure.” Ashleigh replied honestly. “I have never spent much time outside of Winter, I guess the differences are… getting to me?”

“Is it bad?” Fiona asked.

“It’s just… different.” Ashleigh sighed once more, unable to say what she meant.

“Ok, is it better?”

“I don’t know.” Ashleigh answered, she had been wondering that herself.

“Hmm,” Fiona murmured, before shrugging her shoulders. “Well, all I can say is that in spite of the questions you face, I hope you find joy during your time in Summer.”

“Thank you.” Ashleigh smiled.

“Try not to let their grumbles and stink eyes get you down.” Fiona laughed, referring to the other wolves. “My mate was well loved.”

“Your mate?” Ashleigh asked, unsure what Fiona meant.

“Yes,” Fiona smiled, “Alpha Cain.”

Ashleigh felt as though ice water had been poured over her.

“He was a good man, his people loved him dearly. They don’t hate you dear, they just miss him.”

“You… you are the Luna… you are Ca—” Ashleigh stuttered out.

“No dear.” Fiona interrupted, stepping closer to Ashleigh and holding her eye contact as she spoke a little quieter. “I am not Luna anymore, that position belongs to Caleb’s mate.”

***

Fiona remained in the clearing long after Ashleigh had made her awkward getaway. She smiled, feeling the warmth of the sun on her aching bones.

Two years later it still hurt, but at least she could walk again.

She reached her hand into her pocket, pulling out a metal disc and placing it on her temple.

“I met her,” she said out loud.

“What did you think?” came a voice in her mind.

“I am not sure yet,” replied Fiona. “She isn’t ready. Not to be Luna, not to be his.”

There was a sadness in her voice.

“Are you sure you don’t have an opinion of her already?” the voice replied with an auditory smile.

“Watch that sass, boy,” she growled playfully.

“Of course,” he replied with a chuckle, “do I have orders?”

“More of the same, keep an eye on them. Keep him safe.” Fiona sighed.

“Always.”

“Good, now get back to work before someone makes trouble, again.” Fiona smiled before removing the neural link.

Across the territory at the southern border, Galen smiled to himself.

“Of course, Madam,” he whispered as he touched a hidden disc implanted at the base of his thumb, cutting off his neural link.