"They have arrived."
That sentence, although short, was powerful enough to get the whole pack running around. Immediately, I heard my mom begin to dish out orders on how to welcome them. She was in full Luna mode, and there was no stopping her. I quietly retreated to my room to avoid clashing with people working and disturbing them.
I got to my room, cleaned it up, changed into a nice dress, fixed my hair, and hopped into bed, waiting to be called up. I picked up my phone to check the latest gist. I was instantly bombarded with notifications from all my handles. I clicked on the annoying popup and the hashtag, #They have arrived" was trending.
Oh my god! Check out this hot alpha from Asia.
I also heard he is single.
I call dibs on him.
#They have arrived. One read.
The tweet was followed by an image of the said "hot Alpha." It was probably taken in a hurry because it was unfocused and blurry. I wasn’t even able to see the "hotness". And so, it continued, with different people tweeting about the Alphas they want to see and the ones they have seen. The pack got busy welcoming them. All schools were closed for the week. They would be around next.
The next day was no different, as Alphas from North and South America arrived and some from Australia. Finally, the noise began to die down, although not completely. There will be a special performance for them tomorrow to properly welcome them to the Ravenwood pack. It would be held at the football field. Preparations were ongoing; the dancers and presenters were already getting ready.
I wasn’t going to be participating in any of the events; I would just be going as an audience. In order not to draw attention to myself, I sat at the back with my friends, instead of at the front with my family.
The welcome party was awesome! There were dances from different packs, dramas, fire-eating men, and a lot of cultural displays. We were trending on Twitter throughout the whole day. I was feeling proud that we were able to accomplish such things.
Now that the festivity is over, it is time to get down to business. The meeting was a closed-door affair, to be conducted in the hotel’s hall. Although I wouldn’t be able to attend, my brother did, as he would be the next Alpha, so he had to start learning.
All the rave started dying as the Alphas were busy, either in the meeting or in their rooms, except the unmated one, who would occasionally stroll around the pack to breathe in the fresh air. Everyone knows that the whole fresh air thing was a hoax, they are just in search of their mate. I busied myself in the hospital since there was nothing to do and sometimes, I let my wolf out for a run.
I always feel refreshed after my run. Nothing could beat that feeling of your paws hitting the soft earth, the wind on your fur, with your tongue out in the air and just being free. I sometimes went on a hunt during such a run, as that was the only time, I could embrace my inner animal.
I heard my mom call after I came back from one of my runs. I must admit I wasn’t in a good shape for a werewolf. Just this little run and I was panting like a deer that narrowly escaped a kill.
"Yes," gulp, "mom," gulp. I said, between mouthfuls of water. I started walking towards the sound of her voice. I stopped in front of her and looked at her. Her beautiful face was showing some creases.
"What happened?" I questioned her.
"Where have you been all this time? I haven’t seen you around, and your father has been looking for you to introduce you to some of his friends."
"I have been helping out in the hospital since there was nothing I could do here. I know that dad just wants me to find my mate there. Besides, I can’t bear to listen to and laugh at their dry jokes."
"Belle!" my mom gasps. She looked around the hallway, then at me, and we both burst out in laughter.
"You are right. Well, they will be out of our hair by next week, so you won’t have to put up with any of them. Besides, I can’t put up with some of them; they are just entitled pricks."
"Mom!" Now I couldn’t hold myself. I burst out into laughter, that unladylike careless laugh, that sounds like a dying engine, yes, exactly that one. You just have to love my mom.
"It is the truth. Lest I forget, we need more hands in the kitchen, so you should go join them. If you see your brother, tell him to come see me. He blocked me out of his mind. Again."
"Alright, will do."
I went to my room for a change of clothes. I took a quick shower and got dressed in polo and trousers. I checked myself in the mirror. It wasn’t too fancy or shabby; it was just the right fit for the job. I went to the kitchen in the hotel and started helping with the food packaging and distributing.
I was still in the process when I feel something, Kiayra (pronounced Kai-ra) said from deep inside me. I could sense her rising from where she had been sitting and began to pace around. I can’t remember when she has been like this.
How do you feel, Kiayra? Is there danger ahead? Should I notify Dad? I asked, getting a bit worried as Kiayra continued pacing about. She gave a vicious shake and continued her pacing.
Before I knew it, my legs were leading me towards the hallway. Kiayra is trying to take over my body. What are you doing? Where are you taking me to? Give me back the control! I demanded, but she didn’t listen. So, I watched her as she began to sniff the air and started following a trail.
What the hell is going on, Kiayra? I asked, already getting irritated. And in the blink of an eye, she has given me control.
Focus Bella and sniff the air. I think he is here. I can feel it.
He? I asked in puzzlement. Which he? I lifted my nose and sniff the air. Citrus. That was all I could smell; he smelled like citrus mixed with those sweet-smelling herbs my mom usually prepares. I know it is a weird combination, but I love it. I began to follow that intoxicating smell blindly.
When I came out of my haze and noticed my surroundings, I was in front of the hall that was used for the meeting. Before I could start retracing my steps, my eyes locked onto one of the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen. They are so light that they almost look bleached.
OK, maybe I was exaggerating, but it was beautiful to me. He also must have noticed me because he started moving towards me. Any thoughts of backing off fled as this man strides purposefully towards me, throwing his long legs one at a time.
He engulfed me in a cloud of citrus. It smells natural, although I can perceive the faint scent of his cologne. It is weird to say, but he smells like home. A warm home on a rainy day. The scent was intoxicating. His brown eyes were glowing like a little firefly.
"Hello, mate." His deep voice sent a rumbling down my stomach. I could literally orgasm from his voice alone. I closed my eyes and moved closer to him, taking a deep sniff just to be sure he was the one and mostly to inhale that heady scent. He smells of masculinity and strength. Like a dominant, there is no doubt that this man right here is an Alpha, most especially my mate.
From his accent, I could guess that he was part of the European pack. "What is your name, mate?" His voice broke me out of my thoughts.
"Isabella," I blurted out, not thinking. I mentally smack myself. You have to stay focused, Belle.
"Bella," he said softly, as if he were tasting it. He seemed to be satisfied with how it sounded because he gave a slight nod. "I love it."
A faint blush creeps from my ears to my cheeks. If I was lighter in complexion, I would be so red. I tried to mask it, "and to whom do I owe this pleasure?" I asked with a wide smile. Kiayra was dying inside with laughter as she laughed at my expense.
I will bring you forward if you don’t behave. I threatened. That promptly shut her up, as she retired back to her place. Wimp, I called out.
"Having a conversation without me?" Mr. Mysterious flashing his teeth at me broke me from my dialogue. "My name is Richard; it is nice to finally meet you." His mouth parted into a smile as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. I took a deep breath and prepared myself as I shook his hand. But no amount of preparation could prevent me from the onslaught of electricity I felt between us.
I gasped as my body shook lightly from the wave of current that just ran through us. I took a big whiff of the air and held on tighter, not wanting to let go of that warmth.
"Relax, mate; we've got all the time in the world to be together." His voice broke me out of my reverie. I immediately recoiled, removing my hands from him. I just met him and I am already acting like a cat on heat.
"Pardon my manners, please."
He waved it off with his hand. "Isabelle, that name sounds familiar. I wonder where I heard it from."
"Hey Richard, can you leave the women for a second and get your arse over here?" A voice from inside called out.
He rolled his eyes and looked at me. "I would love to continue this, but we have to finish up with some things. I will come get you when I am through." He took my hands and gave me a light kiss on my hand, then left.
"What the hell just happened??"
"Blast that mate of mine," I thought, as I stormed the hall with a fuming face. Who does he think he is? What right does he have to kiss me and just leave me all high and empty? Who even gave him the permission to kiss me? Or is that how he goes about kissing girls casually? Calm down, girl, you shouldn't think so low of our mate. He looks like someone of reputable character. Kiayra provided from where she was lying. I rolled my eyes at her words. Of course, she will find no fault with him. He is practically an angel in her sight. That shits rainbows and all that stuff. I ignored her and continued my rant, marching briskly to my room. I was so agitated that once an incoming member spotted me, he or she would try their best to avoid me. I didn’t want to scare people away, so I decided to tone it down. You can do it, Belle. Take a deep breath. ‘In’ I followed her lead and took a deep breath, 'and out' I let it out slowly, closing my eyes. "Thanks girl, you are a lifesaver. What would
"No, I am not going." I protested vehemently. My mother looked at me like I had grown two heads. "What do you mean, young lady?" I stated that I would not be attending. I won’t be going to a strange place with someone I have barely known for a day. "I don’t care if he is my mate and the moon goddess has ordained it. I need to at least get to know him and fall in love with him before I go to be with him." "Don’t worry, I understand that everything is coming at once and it can be quite overwhelming, but you will soon get used to it." My mother tried to reassure me. "No!" I screamed out, my voice echoing through the halls. I am probably sure that the whole hall heard me, but I do not care. There is no way in hell I am going to agree to that. "You will lower your voice this minute, young lady, or else..." My mum trails off, leaving her sentence unfinished for me to imagine what she would do if I didn’t comply. "The Alphas are still in a meeting, and I am pretty sure they can hear you
And there goes the bomb "I have come to take you home." I saw red. What does he mean by ‘he has come to take me home?’ I don’t understand. Is this not my home, or have I spent the past 20+ years living elsewhere? "Don't get me wrong mate, I can see the wheels turning in your beautiful head. I don’t mean to offend you or anything like that." He was quick to correct me. "As you know, I am the Alpha of my pack and I have been away for too long. I have a responsibility back there, and I would like you to lead alongside me as my Luna. You will grow to love it there and it will be your new home." With two strides, he was close to me, so close that I could feel his breath on me. He held me close and continued, "I know that leaving behind everything and moving to a new place can be very difficult. But I promise to be with you at every step of the way. And, of course, you are always welcome to visit your family anytime." I found myself melting at his soft words, unable to fight again. I was
I woke up as early as 4 am on Sunday morning to prepare for the long flight ahead. I have already packed everything I was going to need. I will be carrying only the essentials, and they fit into two boxes. I had a big suitcase with me and a small handbag. My mum even packed some spices and ingredients for me, in case I needed a taste of home. It's strange how tomorrow I'll be a Luna of the Blue Crescents rather than a Ravenwood pack member. My family all accompanied me to the airport. My mum was quietly sniffing, trying without fail to hold back her tears in front of the car. We arrived at the airport, and I went to get checked in for my flight and my luggage. It will be a one-way flight and it will take me to Southampton International Airport, and lucky me, it will be first class. We were all sitting in the waiting area when I heard a ping go off. It was from my phone. I opened it and quickly scanned the content and hissed. It read. I am so sorry I haven’t been able to reach you.
I woke up with a dull pain in my head. I lazily massaged my temples, feeling a little bump there. Something is wrong. I can just feel it. I raised my nose in the air, taking a big whiff of the air. The air is heavy and damp, pressing against my skin like a clammy shroud. Where am I? Most importantly, whose bed am I lying on? The velvety sheet that was pressed against my skin felt like heaven. I could just lie here forever. I, with much displeasure, peel my eyes open, rubbing away the sleep fogging my vision with my fingers. The scent of freshly baked pastries filled my nostrils. I could hear faint whispers around me. I looked towards the windows, which were covered by flowery drapes. This should be the pack house, but is this Richard’s room? I raised my nose to the air again, sniffing. It isn’t Richard. The citrus scent Richard has is so faint that it is almost non-existent. The soft chime from the grandfather clock interrupted my thoughts. 9 a.m. Wait, what? 9 a.m?? A gasp made its
"This," he gestured to the three-story building we were standing besides, "is the pack house. The Alpha and the beta stay here. Other pack members are also welcome here. But he/she must contribute to the maintenance of the place." "I see." "The training center and the gym are just behind the pack house. I don’t know if you noticed, but the pack’s school is the first building you will see as you enter the pack. The pack hospital is also located at the entrance of the pack. The buildings you see scattered around are houses belonging to pack members. And that is all." He said, scanning the environment. I looked up at him in disbelief. What the hell? "What sort of half-assed tour is this? I said 'a tour,' and that means actually walking around the pack showing me places PHYSICALLY, not just saying it." A light chuckle escaped his mouth at my little rant, "There is really nothing to see here, just bunches of-" "I don’t care," I interjected rudely, "I would still like to go. And if you
"Why the fuck are you here?" He furiously mouthed the words at me. His light brown eyes were so dark now that they seemed black. Rolling my eyes, I continued digging into my food, making sure to chew each morsel thoroughly. I could still feel his eyes drilling into me. If looks could kill, I would be six feet under now. A devious plan came to my mind and I smiled as the wheels in my mind began to turn. Let us see how he will ignore me now. Taking a forkful of the pudding, I immediately began to hatch my plans. Looking at his face, I cut a piece of the sausage and stabbed it with the fork. And, without breaking eye contact... "A-ah," I let out a soft moan as I carefully transferred the sausage to my mouth. The meal was really kicking in now. The flavor burst into my mouth as I chewed the bacon-wrapped sausage. His light-brown eyes flashed gold almost immediately, in response to my moans. He licked his lips as his eyes followed my throat as I swallowed, hungrily taking me in. "What a
I didn’t register what was going on until I felt his lips on me. He was kissing me! Richard was kissing me! I was having my first kiss! My mind was on overdrive; the fact that Richard was kissing me was making all my senses go haywire. The kiss wasn’t like what I usually read; it wasn’t forceful or harsh. No, his mouth glided over mine like butter melting. The feeling of his mouth on mine made me close my eyes as I started getting into the kiss. He squeezed my ass again, although much harder than before, and I let out a gasp. He used that opportunity to thrust his tongue into my open mouth, tasting all of me. My hands moved to rest on his neck, gripping him tightly. His tongue dove into mine, clashing with mine, trying to fight for dominance, but I had nothing but submission to give. I was a piece of putty in his hands, merely a mouse to this piper. What started soft and tender began to get heated as our tongues clashed against each other, our hands exploring each other in a frantic