Cruz's POV.
"Ashi's on her way," I told my Dad, Eric. "I don't understand what's happening, Dad."
I was with my Dad in a pack meeting when he received a message from the Enchantress through the mind link.
He was the Beta. Every concern came to him.
Today was the Mapping where the She-Wolves who reached the age of eighteen would know where their mate was from.
Something went wrong with Ashira's Mapping process. That's what I was sure of, and we immediately drove home once Dad received the news.
"Let's wait for Ashira. She must be looking for answers, as well. Once she's home, we'll talk," my Dad said and he entered the door to his study. My mom, Ophelia, followed right after.
I was the only child of Regal Pack’s Beta. Alpha David's son, Victor, would take over the pack in a few weeks. He would have the Alpha title once his 21st birthday came. The same went for me to be entitled to the Beta position.
I heard a loud thud of paws coming near. My sense of smell told me it was Ashira in her wolf form.
I ran towards the back door. She must be frustrated to know something that she'd shifted! I took a robe hanging on my way out.
Ashira's white wolf stopped in front of me. Her emerald eyes looked at me and I almost forgot that we needed to talk to Dad about something. Her wolf was really beautiful; though she was not my blood sister but I treated her like one most of the time when she was not irritating, I guess.
I prepare the robe and held it wide with both hands. I made sure that the robe would conceal Ashira's naked body from my eyes once she shifted back.
'Close your eyes' her wolf said to me through our mind link. I rolled my eyes before following her bossy command.
Like hell, I'd like to see that, I thought.
I felt her grabbing the robe from my hands. A few seconds later, I opened my eyes, and Ashira was completely wrapped in the robe.
"What happened?" I asked.
Ashira walked past me, her breathing was uneven from running. She walked inside the house, heading towards Dad’s office. "I don't know. Something went wrong with my mapping. I'm not yet aware of what that means."
I followed her as we walked inside our Dad's study room.
Eric was already seated on his chair, holding an old book. My mother stood beside him. My Dad looked at us and my mother rushed to Ash and held my sister in her arms.
"Everything will be alright," Ophelia assured Ashira. Ash just nodded and looked at my Dad again.
"The Enchantress called me a 'stealer'," she said to my father. I could hear her voice shaking, but she sounded more confused than scared.
"She can't be wrong. You might be," my dad said as he took a deep breath.
"What does that mean? The way she said that to me sounds like I'm a danger."
We took a seat in front of Father. I was just listening to the conversation, trying to understand every bit of it.
"It's not like that. You're not dangerous, Ash. Being a stealer means." Eric paused for a second as he waited for my mom to get near him. Once she wrapped her arms around Dad, he continued, "You're able to produce a pup with anyone, mate or not."
My eyes widened by surprise. That was rare! No, that was new!
I hadn't even learned about something like that. A wolf was destined with one mate. Only one. We could only have a child with that fated person, so hearing this made me confused as hell!
I decided to speak when Ash was stunned and unable to utter any words. "Does that mean she can have more than one mate?"
Ashira was eighteen years old and the main reason why she could participate in the Mapping ceremony.
With her age, she was able to feel the mate bond once she met the one but as per my dad's words, did that mean that Ashira could feel the mate bond with every male?
Whoa.
"No. Of course not! Her mate is only one, just like the others. That is too special to share." Eric held Ophelia's hand as he said that.
"I heard a 'but,'" Ashira stated, sounding a little more calm than earlier.
Maybe the thought that everyone won't fight over her because of her failure-mate bond was making her less worried.
"They will smell it on you." Eric told her. "Those wolves who've lost their mates will recognize you as a 'stealer'. Once they do, they'll bend everything to get you."
“Only those males who lost their mate?” I asked and he nodded.
My mom's hand moved to rub my father's back. I just noticed how my father was shaking. His wolf was getting angry at the thought.
"B-But why? I-I'm confused.." Ashira asked.
"They may not feel the mate bond with you but since they lost their mates, they'll be able to know you're a stealer. And even though you are not theirs, they will settle with you because their wolf will be pleasured. Like they are truly with their mate when they are with you. It's like a second chance to have a mate for those who already lost theirs."
I saw Ashira's body tremble. She must have been scared. I did feel the same for her, but my wolf also knew we'd do everything to keep her safe.
"Ashira, listen to me. All you have to do is find your mate and complete the mating process," Dad encouraged.
The mating process would start with the guy taking his claim over the She-Wolf. It was done by biting on the middle of the neck and shoulder, not too deep but enough to leave a mark. After the claim, both should mate. Or have sex in the simplest form.
Some did the claim and had sex right after. Some did the claim first and waited for more time to get to know each other before mating.
"Will that fix what I am now?" Ashira was breathing unevenly. Every part of her was not liking the situation.
Eric shook his head. I sighed.
"Unfortunately, no. But.. someone will own your wolf. By then, your wolf will know who its mate is. The wolf won't be confused once someone tries and take you. But you'll be able to resist those who want to steal you."
"She's called a stealer because she can be stolen?" I asked, not sure if I said the right words.
"Yes. But also, she can steal other mates, son," Eric said.
"What? I thought she was just in danger for those who lost their mate."
"That was the danger because she'll be in a lot of trouble once more than one wolf will want her. Since we all know that wolves without mates are a lot. But, she can also steal other males. Ashira's wolf can trick a wolf into believing she is their fated mate. That happened decades ago and it's tragic."
"Tragic?"
"A stealer fell in love with an Alpha. The Alpha was mate-less yet, at that time. The stealer wants to be the Alpha's Luna, and her greed for power and affection towards the Alpha pushed her to do it. So she seduced him. She tempted his wolf and made it believe she is the one mated to the Alpha. But the Alpha met his true mate. The Alpha was confused. Both females held a deep bond with his wolf."
"What happened then?" Ashira asked, looking attentive.
"As I said, it was tragic. The Alpha decided to let both of his mates have sex with other wolves."
"Wolves? Not just one? Why?" I exclaimed.
"It's to know which one was a stealer." my Dad simply explained. I noticed the silence Ashira was giving while spacing out.
"That's absurd," I commented, looking sideways at Eric and Ashira.
"Then what happened?" Ashira spoke again.
"The story said that the Alpha had his true Luna. And the stealer, well, she got pregnant by some wolf. Some say she was executed with the baby unborn. Some said she escaped. It is an old story so the ending has lost its consistency."
I watched how Ashira react to the story. She kept moving her knuckles, probably getting nervous about what she was.
I didn't see her differently even after knowing all this. she was my sister. I knew her. She wouldn't have the heart to do something like steal another's mate.
"Ashira, don't be scared. It's gonna be okay." Ophelia said to her. She glanced up at her and dad, then me. She let a small smile before speaking.
"I... I don't know what to do." That was all she said.
I could feel her frustrations and fear. The Beta blood in me was starting to kick in.
"I'll find more information that might help your case. This is rare and none from the Regal pack had encountered this," Dad said.
I nodded and smiled at Ashi. "Everything is gonna be fine," I tried to assure her but deep inside, my wolf and I were not sure.
"For now, avoid being with the crowd. Just have Lucy with you at all times. The worst thing to happen is for you to be found by a mateless wolf," Dad warned.
"Do you remember the first pack that showed on the map today?" Ophelia asked.
We all glanced her way. Confusion was present in our eyes, both Dad and I not being sure what she meant.
"What? Don't you know? The first one to glow up is where your mate is. The mate bond is too strong that even a stealer can never be an exception from the mapping." my mother answered our question.
We looked at Ashira who looked to be reminiscing what happened at the Enchantress’ house.
"It was.. the Prime pack."
Prime pack? That was the strongest pack of the North. Their members were over 500 wolves and one-fourth of them were not fighters. The rest were the best at it.
"Having a mate from such a strong pack says you're on the luck's side," Dad said.
"Right," Ophelia seconded. "For now, stay away from the crowd as your father said. When the annual mapping party comes, you'll attend the ball. And you need to find your mate. You MUST find him."
Though her words put a huge pressure, it was the only way to do it for now.