Chapter 2

As I let the warm water wash away Rowan's scent, I wondered if I had gone too far this time. We've always been close, but I had never stayed out all night with him, and the new level to our intimacy seemed to only confuse me more.

‘He has a mate somewhere; we shouldn’t be laying with people who aren’t our mates…’ my wolf chimed in.

‘Thanks Echo, as if I’m unaware… it’s not like we did anything,’ I rolled my eyes and shook my head in disbelief, ‘scolded by my own wolf,’ I huffed.

‘You see the way he looks at you, what’s going to happen when we turn 18?’

I knew the look she was talking about, the one that I felt I had given him back numerous times, and in the middle of washing my hair, I watched as another leaf circled the drain. I could feel the longing in my own chest and the caution in my own thoughts as I spoke with Echo, ‘What if he is our mate?’

‘I doubt it’

Her words stung, Echo didn’t hesitate or seem to care about how she came across, but would she know for sure? How could she, we weren’t of age yet. I turned off the water and stepped out of the steam filled room, back into my room.

Some days I didn’t know what was up or down, and this was one of them, I looked around and felt as though I didn’t really belong here. We lived in a house, somewhere between mansion level big and hotel level big. It had multiple floors that varied from having a few rooms to upwards of ten, decorated by an interior designer in shades of silver that were only ever accented by the seasonal changes.

My room had it’s own personal touches, decorated more in gold tones, with a large bench that sat under a window. You could see past the gates up here, watching as people went about their lives with the treeline in the far distance, making me ache for adventure. The house had everything you could need; maids, a private chef, and yet … no privacy.

I took in her scent of cherry blossom, followed by her gentle and yet unique knock. Four quick knocks, slight pause, 2 quick knocks, pause, one louder knock. I sauntered over to the door in my towel, and cracked it open, not even looking to see the face on the other side of the door as I slid it open farther allowing her to come in, “Morning F….“was all I got out before she burst into my room.

Farah. The Gamma’s little sister and my bestie. She was a few months older than me, but we’ve been inseparable for as long as I can remember.

“Morning sunshine! I come bearing gifts!” She was a little too chipper in the mornings, but as I closed the door and turned to see her hand stretching out to me with a large mug, I could smell the caffeine hit my senses, and it instantly brought a smile to my face.

“Ooooh, thanks!” I tried to match her excitement as I took my first sip and let out a drawn out, very relaxed “Mmmmm.” I know coffee for most people was a morning staple, but the smell alone could be the remedy to my worries. 

As we made eye contact, I could see her bright blue eyes light up, and she seemed anxious for me to be ready to talk. Her blonde hair cascaded just past her shoulders, she started to tuck her hair behind her ears, which she loved to do as she was getting ready to talk. I quickly held up a finger, begging her to give me just one more moment of silence. She pursed her lips together in what looked like an attempt to hold back the words about to burst from her mouth.

I began to wonder if she had found her mate when I brought down my coffee and her words exploded into a whisper yell.

“I saw you!” She clasped her hands back over her mouth and started to giggle as I raised my eyebrow at her. “I saw your walk of shame,” she whispered.