Paul - The Oltenia pack’s meeting groundsAs I descend the mountain to meet up with Radu, it is already midday. It would be nice to be a simple guy, free of the troubles and responsibilities that tie me down. Are these ideas enough to disqualify me as a leader? Or does everyone experience these thoughts from time to time?My eyes wander over the lush forest and the clearing beyond it. In the distance, the clouds are slowly drifting away, revealing the blue sky.Radu is already waiting for me. He’s probably used to my former self, the one who does the job and then takes time to relax if there’s time for such a treat. The alpha of the Oltenia pack stares at me from head to toe. My clothing is casual, and I wonder if he has ever seen me like this before. When we meet, even in the forest of his meeting grounds, I always wear one of my suits.“What’s with the jacket and joggers?” Radu chuckles when I arrive in front of him. “Are you trying a change of style?”"This is just what meets the
Laura - The cabin in the woodsFeeling watched, I raise my head and glance toward the door. Paul stands there, staring at me as if I were a painting at an exhibit. I can’t help but smile. He makes a step forward as I put my book on the nightstand. Gawking at the book’s title, he almost trips on the rug by the door. This time I start chuckling while measuring his new style between the peals of laughter.Paul frowns. “What are you laughing at?”Jet black joggers hang at his hips and a jacket wraps around his muscular, broad shoulders. His defined collar bone settles above the hem of a black tank-top, hiding the smooth chest underneath. Tousled black hair cascades down in a set of loose strands and frames his sculpted face. He looks so different from the neatly arranged Paul I’m accustomed to.“Nothing. Just admiring your new look.”“I wasn’t aware you had any interest in fashion.” He raises an eyebrow.I laugh again. "Why the abrupt shift in behavior? When did you start dressing like t
Paul - After 3 weeksI enjoy the peace and quiet this place provides as I wait for the moon to rise. The crickets add a joyful melody to my ears as I stargaze the twinkling silver lights of the brooding sky. I push back the sounds coming from the clearing of our meeting grounds.Everyone is always upbeat when we get together for the full moon shift. Despite the enthusiasm, I feel for the first time that something is off. Laura is not present.Steps on the grass pique my interest. Looking toward the clearing, I see Alin and Ana Maria approaching. She was delighted to join the Muntenia pack, and we chose to call her Ana Maria in order to avoid confusion with our Ana.“I wanted to thank you again,” Alin says, his hand around his mate’s waist. “I’m also sorry for my behavior in the past few months. Not in my wildest dreams have I dared to imagine that such a thing could happen, that Ana Maria would join our pack.”“I’m extremely in debt to you,” she says, her eyes sparkling with happiness
Laura - BucharestTaking care of the alpha summit preparations is taking longer than I anticipated. Despite reserving the venue in advance, accommodations for all attendees proved problematic.No hotel had enough rooms to accommodate all of the guests. Splitting them into groups is possible, but only if I avoid dividing members of the same pack. If they believe I do such a thing on purpose, I will create much more issues.I should proceed with caution and ensure that everything is in order. Maybe I demanded too much in terms of additional services and VIP treatment. However, Paul's bank account seems to be endless, and he handed me his platinum credit card, so my spending binge continues.Finally, I'm doing something useful, and even though I know I'm going to overdo it, the least I can hope for is that everything will be fine and Paul will approve of my choices.I've already made the final decisions regarding the menu, entertainment, and the overall look and feel of the event. I coul
Paul - The alpha summitAs I dress in my new suit, Laura watches me in the mirror. Something is still bugging me as to how she has handled the matter with Bogdan.“Are you sure he’ll stop trying to kill me and kidnap you?” I repeat the question for a dozenth time.“Humans, especially those with unstable minds, are easy to coerce.” She sighs. "I took care of Bogdan Badea. He’s not hurting anymore and has let go of his plan for vengeance. I was surprised when you gave him back his family business. He’ll surely move forward with his life now."“Ok, I’ll end any talks about Bogdan here and now.”My red tie rests on the edge of the chair. It has the same perfect shade of copper as Laura’s hair. I take it and start preparing myself for the meeting.Laura approaches. She takes my hands off the tie. I smile and let her do it for me. Even though the knot she creates is a little crooked and much duller than my Windsor knot, I keep it.Smirking, I watch Laura tilting her head.“It’s a bit crooke
Laura - The alpha summitMy efforts in preparing for this event have paid off. Everything is sparkling under the chandeliers, from the colorful roses to the neatly arranged ballroom.One by one, members of Paul’s pack come forth and vouch for me in front of the alphas. Some faces I know all too well, like Maria and even Alin. Some I know less about, like that guy from the tech department whom I helped with that hidden love letter. Even Radu speaks in my favor.I don’t know why, but every word shakes me to my very core. I’m not worthy of their trust, and I’m not here to stay. Fate brought me here, carrying me like a leaf in the wind. But I wanted a single thing, and that wasn’t to find a family or a place to belong.To what lengths is Paul willing to go just to keep me by his side? Isn’t he scared that he’ll eventually lose everything just for me?I feel a twinge of guilt for making him do so much, for making him do all this for me. He shouldn’t have to bear this burden.My soul craves
Paul - A park in BucharestWithout my knowledge, my feet brought me into a park, not very far from the hotel where the summit takes place. My knees feel like they will give way soon under the weight I feel inside my soul.The night is cold and gloomy, the stars hiding behind thick clouds. The wind blows, making me shiver.I sit on a bench. A post next to a tree sheds light between the branches, the leaves creating shadows on the asphalt in a mesmerizing pattern.“Paul!”“Lexa,” I mutter, watching her coming closer.“I’m glad I found you.”“What are you doing here?” I ask, looking up at her.Her chestnut hair shines a dark red under the tree, and I wonder why I keep getting in love with red-headed women.I tilt my head back. "Have you heard what happened in the hotel room between me and Laura?"“How— How do you know that I—”“I sensed your perfume on the corridor when I left the room.”“Ah, yeah. I’m sorry, but not really.” Lexa sits next to me. “Paul, I know you better than anyone els
Laura - Outside the hotelLike a marathon runner on the last part of the race, I drag myself toward the hotel parking lot. My brain wants me to leave, but my spirit wants me to stay.Why the hell would I stay? Nothing good can come out of this. We’re worlds apart, yet the image of his eyes when I told him to end it remains etched in my memory.Paul’s car is still here, so he can’t be far. Maybe I should go and find him, at least to know he’s fine. Wouldn’t that be an admission that I care about him?My heart is shattered, and my soul is broken. Why would anyone want to fall in love?Love is brutal. A simple brush of fingers sends you into delirium. The slightest touch rips your skin open, and thus, a simple push becomes fatal. Simply put, it’s a ticking bomb. Why am I searching for it instead of letting it go?If only I knew what to do. I keep walking, my feet taking me closer and closer to the street. I have no idea where I want to go or what I hope to achieve by going there.People