Callista.
Farris takes me to the back of the pack house, away from all the wolves, and shoves me into the kitchen through the backdoor. Gripping the counter, I try to catch my breath and slow down my racing heart. A thousand thoughts rush through my head. My dress is torn, and the coldness of the night mingled with the panic in my being makes me shiver. My arms and legs have scratches on them. My throat hurts from screaming.
“What was that?” I ask Farris with a shaky voice, “What did just happen?”
Farris’s face is stoic, but his eyes are stern. He grips my chin and tilts my head to look at him. It hurt, but I didn’t tell him.
“Did you know those men?” he asks.
“I mean, I’ve seen them but n-no, I don’t–”
I gasp as Farris grabs me by the shoulders, jerking in surprise as he leans in to sniff my scent glands. This is so unlike him, he’s always so gentle with me.
My mother's accursed words from before ring in my head. Farris is not my mate, I realize. If everything had gone according to plan, I'd know that now. But no, having him as my mate is forever going to be a dream. Farris must be mad that he's not my mate, that's the only reason I can give to him looking like this. I feel a pang in my chest.
But then his grip tightens.
“Farris, please, you’re hurting me.” I squeak, fear making my voice higher pitched than usual. This day just keeps getting worse. “Farris! I'm sorry I'm not your mate, and you have every right to be upset, but this is getting absurd, let go of me, please!”
But Farris just looks at me strangely.
“Who would have thought?” he whispers, “How could someone as beautiful as you be one? Well, I suppose it goes with the territory.”
I am so very confused. What even is going on?
“What…?”
He grips my arms tight and pushes me against the wall. I gasp, my breath leaving my chest at the force of it. Now, I'm starting to get afraid. What is Farris going to do to me? He'd never been violent.
“Farris, stop, please!” I cry out. "What's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"
Just then, our Beta, Kennedy, comes up behind the stage with an anxious expression, searching for the Alpha.
“Alpha, I managed to calm them down.” He stares at me with disbelieving eyes, “Is it true? Is she…?”
I don’t like how Kennedy refers to me as ‘she’ when he knows my name, and I am standing right in front of him. On top of everything happening, I feel objectified, as I am some sort of property. I try to free myself from Farris’s arms.
“Stealer,” Farris says in a low voice. “Yes. She is.”
A jolt runs through my body, making me stand still. It cannot be. That's only a legend, they aren't real, and I certainly cannot be one.
“I can’t believe that she’d be–”
“I’m not a stealer!” I yell frantically, shaking my head. Cold fear rushes through me. “I’m not. Stealers aren't real, they're just myths! I’m still waiting to find my wolf! What would I know about that kind of thing?! I’m not, Farris, please believe me, I’m-”
Farris ignores my pleas, instead, he hurls me at the Beta like I’m trash.
“Lock her up in the compound, you know the cell,” he says, without so much of a glance at me. I gasp when my wrists are locked in handcuffs, and my own pack mates start to drag me towards the pack house.
“Farris?! Farris, WAIT! Please!” I scream, “I’m not a stealer, I swear! I’m normal! I’m normal and I love you, baby, please! Stealers aren't real!” Sobs fall from my lips, and this time the pain I feel is my heart breaking. This time, the tears don’t burn but are ice cold.
***
I sit in the cold jail cell, huddled on a concrete bench, hugging myself. It’s dark down here save for one dim light and smells of mold and fear. My eyes and throat hurt from crying but I cannot stop. There is not a single soul down here, and I am truly alone. Too tired to keep sitting, I slide onto the concrete floor.
The cells all around me are empty, and the door to mine is double padlocked with silver, so I have no way of escaping. I am left here to ponder about my own misfortune.
I cannot be a stealer. It’s impossible. Stealers were creatures of myth and legend. Bad omens, the worst kind of creature to exist according to the stories, but not real. I'd never heard of a stealer existing anywhere in North America, much less the rest of the world. Even the legends are so obscure that I barely know what a stealer even is. I believe it has something to do with unmated men and widowed pack members. On top of everything, the topic is a large taboo.
These people are accusing me of being something that I had no clue about.
The ceremony resumes, and I hear the faint melody from even down here. They are going on with it as if my life hadn’t just been upended. My parents doing that, I can understand, but Farris? I thought Farris loved me enough not to throw me in a cell over a freakin fairytale. It’s like a needle stabbing at me. I bury my face in my hands, a fresh wave of tears overtaking me. I don’t deserve this, what have I done to deserve this?
The ceremony ends. Laughter and cheer of celebration fills the air. I hear footsteps approaching.
Scrambling to my feet I fling myself at the bars, coming face to face with Farris.
“Why would you do this to me?” I demand. "I'm not a stealer!"
The anger that plagued his handsome face earlier is gone, and it’s poker blank.
“I have to keep you separated from the unmated members of the pack, Callista. Please understand the situation, I’m doing this for your own safety.”
I blink at him, confused. Is that all there is to this?
“Okay,” I reply, trying not to give into hysterics and be sensible. “Okay. Can I come out now? Please? Can you take me away from this? You know, I didn't finish my ceremony. Everyone started to go crazy, and I didn't get to do the closing rights. I should come out and finish it, right?” I try to smile, “It was kinda scary but I'm sure this was all a misunderstanding. If I go through with the ceremony, maybe we'll find out that we are mates, and I'll turn into my wolf."
But Farris shakes his head. “Callista,” He says, his voice heavy with a sense of finality, “We cannot be mates.”
It felt like the whole world had fallen down on me.
“Why?” My voice is a whisper.
“Can’t you understand?” There it is, the anger, “You’re the goddamn stealer. Every unmated wolf, every damn widower desires you. Everyone would want to get their grubby paws on you and I will not stand for it. I cannot be with you anymore. I’m the Alpha, I need to have a loyal wife by my side, not some doll every single man wants. “A stealer,” His cold gaze burns through me, “Does not deserve to be the Luna.”
I cannot speak, I cannot feel. I am but a statue, my mind refusing to function.
"Farris," I try to talk sense into him. "Stealers are not real."
"They are plenty real. I didn't believe the tales at first, but with you standing in front of me, I know they are."
"Maybe I'm just a late bloomer, maybe my wolf is slow to come out. That doesn't mean I'm a stealer!" I protest.
"Callista, those men descended on you like wolves on a deer carcass. That had never happened to any girl before. What more proof do you need?!" Farris nearly screams, but I'm too busy shaking my head to listen to him.
"There has to be something wrong here. I cannot be a stealer."
“I don't have time to deal with your denial. The only way for a stealer to be less dangerous is to get mated to someone. Or find your true mate. Considering the last option is unlikely to happen overnight,” He looks away, “I need to make some calls and,” He closes his eyes, shaking his head, “It’s over, Callista. We’re done. You and I, forget about it.”
"No, No, Farris! You can't do this to me!" I scream, now getting angry. "You can't mate me to someone I don't want to! I get to find my mate like everyone else. Farris! Farris, don't you dare leave me! Farris, come back! Comes back! Don't do this to me! Farris!"
Callista.Morning comes. Pale sun rays stream into the cells through small windows that are too high to reach and too small to crawl through. I didn’t sleep last night, how could I? The ground is uncomfortable, and my head even more. My eyes are heavy, my throat raw. I comb my fingers through my hair, trying to feel a little bit sane.My mind feels blank. I feel like I'd exerted all my available brain cells trying to process everything happening last night. It's all still so bizarre. How can a life change so quickly? This has to be some big misunderstanding, I'm certain of it. I could not be a creature of legend, at least, not such a lousy one. Of all the things to be, a stealer? “You’re awake,” Farris’s voice comes, making me jump a bit. Bitterness floods my heart immediately. His mahogany brown hair catches the light, highlighting the red in it. His handsome face is a mask of indifference, his blue-green eyes staring at me. He is dressed in formal wear, his white shirt tucked int
Callista.Farris says, trying to appear sincere. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Callista, especially for a stealer. If these were the old times, you would already be dead! I could barely believe that the King was willing to do it, you should consider yourself really lucky that he has a feral brother. Think about it, you will be the Alpha King's sister-in-law! The second most powerful female after the Luna. A coveted position that will guarantee you a very comfortable life, filled with titles, and wealth, all for the small price of marrying a Prince.”Farris walks closer, a greedy light in his eyes. "You will be Princess, Callista. Can't you see how generous I am, gifting you this? You ought to be grateful to me for this." "Grateful," I repeat. Who is this man, this Alpha, standing in front of me? I thought Farris was a good man, an honourable one who would never stoop into underhanded tactics like this. I wonder if this whole tale is even true. It seems too much like a de
Farris.Oh, Callista.Callista Milicent Leander, adopted daughter of Lenore and Allen Leander, sister to one Ruelle Leander. She was a werewolf girl like any other, except she shone. I leave the cells because I know I’ll fight more with her. She’s always been stubborn - it’s how she gets by with that family of hers. Once upon a time, I thought it was attractive, that fire in her eyes when she gets properly riled up. Before, it was hard to see that glint, though, because Callista's self-control was legendary. She was polite when needed to be, well-mannered, and of course, her looks were her crowning glory, not to mention the keen mind that people often underestimated because of her looks.But it seems now that after finding her true nature, she'd decided that all her finer qualities were not of use anymore. She’s only thinking of herself right now, the selfish girl. She should be grateful for what I’m doing for her. The audacity she has to tell me to my face that I'm lying to her. I
Callista.The guard escorts me to the bathroom. I think about making a run for it, fleeing the cells, fleeing the pack even.But that would be the stupidest thing to do. I didn't even have my wolf form yet. I will have no hopes of outrunning Farris' men pursuing me.There is a plain shower and a bar of soap. The water stings at the scratches on my skin, and I lather the fragrance-less soap into my hair, washing away the grime. At least the water is hot.By the Goddess, I am angry. Hurt too, but more angry. Never have I been demeaned like this before. I’m not some helpless damsel who couldn’t fend off a bunch of widowers off her. I could control my scent, with practice, I could protect myself. I wasn’t as much of a weakling as Farris suggested. I'm a werewolf regardless of any abnormality I might have and werewolves are strong. I will be able to overcome this if only I am given a chance. There had to be a way for me to remain in the pack.Who was I kidding? No one wanted me here now.
Theon.Stepping outside the boundaries of my pack is always risky. I feel the danger raise the hairs of my neck every time. I have as many enemies as those who respect me, and the price that rests on my head is frankly unbelievable.Foreboding is not a stranger. But this time, I feel it more keenly than ever before. The fact that I do not trust Alpha Farris Leighwen only adds to it. As the Wolf King of this land, it was my responsibility to inspect every pack in my territory at least once a year. There are 70 wolf packs in the USA, and I have to vet through all of them. I have a duty to help each and every wolf in my Kingdom, the Lycan Kingdom of North America, and I took those duties seriously I probably should.In order to do that, I visit as often as I can, discretely, of course. Knowing that the King was visiting would create quite a commotion, and I hate crowds. Going undercover in packs often gave me the results I wanted, let me see what kind of a man or woman the Alpha was an
Theon.“Huh?” Ruelle questions. I realize I have said that out loud.“Alpha Rexellen, what’s the matter?” Farris asks, his brows drawn tight.“Nothing, I just need a moment.” I glare at him, and he takes a few steps back.“Y-yes, of course, your majesty. I mean, Alpha.”I look at the stunned girl in front of me. As much as I love to take her somewhere private and ask her all sorts of questions (she’s my mate, oh, Goddess, I’ve finally found my mate!), I have a duty first. I cannot help but be annoyed with the whole situation, but if not for this, I would not have met Ruelle. Suddenly, that time I felt something different when I came to this pack undercover makes sense. I surely must’ve been sensing Ruelle.“I need to speak with you after this,” I say, my hands itching to hold her in an embrace.“Yes, yes, of course, Your Majesty, anything you want. But I have to ask…You called me ‘mate’.” She asks tentatively, “Is it true?”I’m puzzled by her reply, “Don’t you feel it? I’m barely rest
Theon.For a moment there’s only silence. “Wolfsbane?!” I growl, wondering what the hell this man was thinking. “You know very well that it’s illegal to use that drug on a werewolf! That drug is dangerous, it has killed werewolves with one milligram of an overdose! Are you as stupid as you are incompetent?”From the corner of my eyes, I notice the entirety of Ruelle’s family moving back with fear in their expressions. For now, I ignore it.“I didn’t have a choice, Alpha, she would have murdered the whole pack if I hadn’t!” Leighwen tries to excuse himself.The stealer whimpers pathetically as if she is trying to defend herself. Yet, the story is exactly in character with what a stealer might do. They weren’t called villains for nothing.“While the excuse sounds fair enough, I am still going to punish this breach of law. You will be getting three hectares less than the landmass promised. I will not tolerate my own subjects blatantly ignoring wolf law to fit their circumstance. Destroy
Theon.“Yes, she did,” Ruelle chimes in, “I talked with her before. She doesn’t want to remain in this pack.”Callista whines this time. I pretend not to pay her any mind, but I think it’s interesting that her whine felt like a protest.That’s confusing. What is she protesting against? Was she having second thoughts about leaving this pack?“The stealer is a taboo, yes,” Farris raises his voice, “But she can also mimic the scent of a lost mate. Before, I thought it was only legend, but on the day of Callista’s coming of age ceremony, we saw many widowed wolves fighting for her to be their mate. I don’t know the exact mechanism of it, but her mimicking capabilities are phenomenal.”“And?”He hesitates just a bit. “Well, we have learned that your widowed brother is going manic without his mate.”As soon as my brother is mentioned, my walls go up.“Done your research already, haven’t you?” I growl at him, “Do you think that my brother will mate with her? He’s ten years her senior.”Even