Page 1 of Ascendant Moon
Chapter 1
Late June, near Chihuahua, Mexico
Juan Ortega and his small team breathed a collective sigh of relief as the passenger van arrived at their packland’s main gate. Full Moon Ranch was home to the largest of Mexico’s shifter packs and the ruling council, led by President Santiago Cruz. After an exhausting eleven-hundred-kilometer drive, the men were famished and eager to let their wolves run free.
Following a brief word with the guard, the driver was waved on through with a wide, welcoming smile.
The tantalizing scent of supper caused universal growls and stomach rumbling as they pulled up to the packhouse, where President Cruz himself stepped out to greet them. The older, protective Alpha went straight to Juan for a thorough scenting, hug, and vigorous back-slapping. Cruz had been wary of allowing Juan, the only True Elder among them, to go in the first place, but he also cared for the young man like one of his own sons.
“Bienvenido a casa mi querido amigo! (Welcome home, my dear friend.) I am eager to hear what you have found, but first we eat!”
The whole entourage slipped inside and were enthusiastically received by their packmates. The scouting mission hadn’t lasted long, but given their goal of finding the fabled “lost pack,” everyone had eagerly awaited their return. Cruz led the weary travelers to a separate table, quickly loaded with steaming platters of food. Between bites, Juan and the others shared some of the details of their search around León. Tomorrow, he wouldmeet with the entire council to deliver a full report, but tonight the team was to enjoy a pack run to celebrate their success.
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Council chambers, the next morning
Like the American shifter leadership, the Mexican council consisted of six Alphas, one alternate, and two Omegas to keep deliberations calm and productive. The newest addition had been Juan Ortega, a young True Elder who’d been trained in America and accepted the offer of a home among his fellow Lobo shifters, along with a position on the ruling council.
Juan had grown up in the State of Sonora near the tiny hamlet of Técori—an oddly scented shifter with strange abilities that no one could explain. Tired of being considered a freak, even by his own family, he went north to America seeking migrant work. Once there, however, he was driven by mysterious dreams to seek out his gray wolf cousins in the northern states. Running in wolf form one night, he met a pack of shifters near Hope, Idaho, who recognized his identity as a True Elder. When this was reported to the American council, Juan was offered specialized training at Gladstone, Michigan, with a Lobo shifter named Jack Eby.
Through weeks of teaching dreams, Juan learned centuries of shifter history and practice, along with the unique abilities of all True Elders. In addition, he’d experienced mental and emotional healing which could not have been found elsewhere. Jack proved to be a patient, caring, effective mentor, while Gladstone provided the love and support of a modern shifter pack. By the time his training was complete, Juan Ortega knew who and what he was, ready to take on the True Elder role on behalf of his people.
Not long after his arrival at Full Moon Ranch, the American council urged their Mexican counterparts to actively search for the “lost pack” of shifters, rumored to have disappeared generations ago. Based on Luna’s dreams, Juan and a small scouting team had traveled to an unlikely area and hit paydirt. Once everyone was settled around the oval conference room table, it was time to share their findings with the rest of the council. Juan stood when Cruz caught his eye and nodded.
“I’m happy to report that the lost pack has been found.”
The men around the table stirred with excitement, amid smiles and rumbling growls. Juan walked over to the wall screen, showing a projected map of central Mexico. Using a laser pointer, he indicated where the action had taken place.
“I knew from Luna’s dreams that we needed to search farther south than anyone had looked before. After we entered Guanajuato, I had a vision directing us to the city of León. We picked up traces of wolf scent in the northern section of the city, and based on the local legends and supposed wolf sightings, we concluded that the pack was using the nearby Sierra de Lobos Nature Reserve as their base.”
Everyone chuckled, sinceLobowas the Spanish word for wolf, and it was highly ironic that the lost pack had been hiding in an area named after them. Juan continued.
“Fortunately, the pack gathered on the second night, and we tracked them to the northeast portion of the park. As instructed, we did not attempt contact, but their scents provided some valuable information. We were unable to get an exact number, though I counted at least fifty individuals, including young children, Alphas, an Omega, and two True Elders.”
Jaws dropped and eyes widened around the table, followed by excited chatter. Apparently, Luna had been watching over these lost shifters all along, and generously supplied the pack with the leadership it needed. Cruz sat back in his chair with a triumphant smile and was about to speak when Juan added one more interesting discovery.
“I also detected a familiar underscent among the pack that belonged to my mentor, Jack Eby. Decades ago, he returned to Mexico to look for his mother’s relatives, but could not locate them. He assumed that they had perished in the great purge, though he never searched as far south as León.”
Council members then peppered him with questions, including many he could not answer. When they finally settled down, Cruz sought to summarize their thinking.
“It seems logical that we at least make contact with the lost pack. Perhaps they are content with their situation and will wish to remain in León, or they may not understand that options exist, and have given up hope of a better life. I feel compelled to act, but I would like to hear our True Elder’s opinion. Juan?”
The man reclaimed his seat around the table before answering.
“I agree with the idea of further contact, but I think we should talk to President Sheppard first for his input. I also believe Jack Eby needs to be told that we have found some of his family.”
Heads nodded around the table, and the men hashed out a basic plan of action without further delay.
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Gladstone conference room, two days later
Ben, Evan, and Jack arrived a little early for the teleconference, taking their seats in view of the cameras and the large wall screen. They would soon be joined by Alpha Sheppard in Duluth, along with Alpha Cruz and Juan Ortega in Mexico. The news had been an emotional hit for Jack, and while he gave little away, William confirmed that his mate was unusually quiet and contemplative since hearing of his discovered relatives. The whole issue of contact with the lost pack must be carefully handled, even if Jack wasn’t involved. Unfortunately, the timing and international nature of this situation complicated any plan they might devise to deal with it.
The wall screen suddenly blossomed with all six faces, and after testing their audio feeds, the meeting began with Juan’s summary of the recent mission to León. Questions and answers were exchanged by all parties as they examined their options and possible courses of action. Finally, Adam Sheppard spoke on behalf of the American Council.
“Though it goes without saying, Alpha Cruz and the Mexican Council have full authority in this matter. We, however, are prepared to assist if needed. One of our concerns is the timing of the contact mission. We suggest waiting until after the conclusion of the national conference in August, given that all of our people and resources will be tied up.
