Ashira's POV.
I woke up from soft knocks on my door. Brushing my eyes with the back of my palm, I slipped on a robe and headed to the door.
My head felt light when I woke up, feeling exhausted even after a deep slumber. I thought I couldn’t sleep right away after the howl I had heard last night but my wolf was at peace, making me sleep soundly. Not even a slight feeling that I was near danger.
I was welcomed with a pushcart with food covered in a cloche tray when I opened the door. I could smell its delicious scent, almost savoring it. My stomach made a loud growl, making me feel how famished I was.
No one was there. They just left the food behind. I pulled the cart inside my room and closed the door, making sure to lock it again.
'Food arrived, sleepyheads!' someone mind-linked me and I was certain it was Ava. We were from the same pack and already met each other, being able to access the mind link.
I guess she sent all five of us from Regal Pack the same message.
I chose not to give a response and headed to the bathroom to wash my face. After, I sat on the chair inside the room and placed the tray on the table. My mouth drooled upon seeing how delicious the served food was. I grabbed the spoon and started digging in.
I ate in silence, thinking of what to do today before the ball.
Invitations were sent to me together with the food. It was to be our key to enter the ball. The invite indicated the time the event would start was 7 p.m. I kept the invites safe, making sure they wouldn’t be lost or misplaced.
I had the dress that Ophelia bought for me so I didn't need to buy one from the shops. It was an olive green dress with a slit on both legs. The color Ophelia picked sure complemented the shade of my deep green eyes.
A silver pair of heels came with the dress. Ophelia being the fashion addict that she was would never style me with an incomplete package. She knew I sucked at dressing up.
I also had a silver necklace with the Regal Packs' crest as its pendant. Paired with inch-long silver earrings.
I was sure I'd shine tonight at the ball. Literally. The thought made me want to toss every shining item in my luggage. But of course, I didn't.
I also needed to make my face presentable. I never did make-up well but I knew the basics. I guessed I could fix myself for the ball tonight.
With all those tasks aside, I was left with nothing to do for the rest of the day.
I was thinking of shifting into my wolf form and roaming the Prime land. I loved to have a run, to ease my feelings and feel free, but was scared someone would track my scent.
If I was lucky I'd find my mate and my mission would be done but if not, then I'd have a mateless wolf running after me.
Despite the last thought, I badly want to shift and run in this territory. It's a huge land, mostly green. The air was fresh, and the ambiance here was calming that I'd want to rest with nature.
I felt like I could roam around freely without judging eyes stabbed at my back, unlike my pack. Here, no one knew me.
It was like living a new life. Creating a new identity.
For the first time in my life, I was grateful for having a mate away from home.
With my inhibitions, I decided to go for that run. Planning for safety routes, I'd probably head to the river. It was mostly wooded on the way and has less chance of being spotted.
I took a shower and wore a loose shirt with short shorts. I did not bother to wear anything inside since I'd be shifting later. I went out of the guesthouse, making sure to avoid crowds. I bought bottled water at a store, making sure the storekeeper was a woman. I was starting to have anxiety about my wolf's abnormality.
Since the back of the guesthouse was the woods, I decided to start from there. Quite thankful that everyone around me was female. Luck was still on my side since male wolves needed to stay out of the guests' sight before the Mapping Ball. The idea was to prevent men from distinguishing their mates before the party and breaking the purpose of the ceremony.
As I walked in the woods, one hand holding bottled water, I looked for a tree big enough to cover me. I needed to take off my clothes so I won't rip them when I shift.
I settled in as I saw one. Looking sideways, I made sure no one was around. I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head, stripping my shorts after.
The cool wind wrapped my naked skin, a cold breeze of air coming from my lips as I breathed. I called for my wolf, wanting to feel the warmth of fur all over me, and shifted into my wolf form.
The feeling was serene. I loved how welcoming nature was in this land. As I landed on all fours, I was thirsty to have a run.
I started my way up north. I could smell the river ahead, hearing the currents and chirps of birds clear in my ears. My wolf happily ran fast towards the river.
I ran fast and free. At that moment, nothing bothered my mind as if every hard thought I had had now faded. My wolf was enjoying herself, telling herself that she belonged here.
That this was where she should be.
I reached the clearing to be amazed by how beautiful the scenery was. Clear blue waters gush freely in the river, and green grass and tall trees surround them. I loved it!
The river was calling to me, for me to jump and take a swim. I did. I jumped in the air, ready to fall into the cold water. Just when I was about to land in the water, I shifted back into my human form, making a perfect landing.
The cold water made my naked skin shiver, almost painful but also relaxing. I swam until I was out of breath.
I inhaled deeply, letting the air flow back to my lungs, filling them.
Suddenly, I snapped my neck to my right. I could smell a wolf. Someone was here!
I hid in the water, crossing my arms on my chest, feeling visible under the clear water.
Bones snapping and clothes stretching were what I heard next. The wolf just shifted into his human form.
A guy around my age showed himself coming behind a tree. He was wearing shorts but left his chest bare. He had blonde-brown messy hair, tall and lean.
"Why are you here?" His voice sounded irritated. With knotted forehead, he eyed me boldly making me wrap my chest more.
He took a step forward but not too close. My breath was hitching from the cold.
"I..."
"Are you one of the guests?" He cut off my words, focusing his eyes on mine.
I nodded. Unable to speak from shivering. Damn, I needed to get out of the water now or I'd die from freezing!
"Walk out of the water. And wear this." He threw a black shirt on the ground and turned his back on me, giving me privacy.
I hesitated at first but when another cold wind passed me, I pulled myself out of the water.
My moves were quick, needing to get out of the cold. I grabbed his offered shirt and wear it, the hem reaching mid-thigh. The fabric was not helping the freezing feeling tormenting my skin.
The guy looked my way again once I was dressed. My arms were still wrapped in front of my chest, trying to have a self-warmth that eventually failed.
"I'm Nick, the Beta of the Prime. This part of the land was off-limits!" His voice raised a bit and hadn't changed, still irritated and a bit tired at that.
So he was the Beta. I only knew pack information and the names of those in higher rank positions but not how they looked. This Nick was good-looking. Cruz would be a Beta like him in a few weeks. How I missed that guy.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I promise I won't come here again," I said, trying to control my shaking voice. I was not scared, just freaking freezing!
Nick sighed, dropping his eyes to the ground before shutting them tightly. "I'm sorry I raised my voice. I'm just too tired of handling everything while our Alpha is out there nowhere."
I was shocked by his change of mood. He just started whining to a stranger, he might not be as strict as he looked.
I saw how Nick's eyes widened, probably realizing what he had just said.
"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath. "Pretend you didn't hear that," he ordered but his expression was almost childlike. He looked cute in a way.
"I didn't hear every word you said," I said, grinning ear to ear now. I was still freezing but was starting to enjoy talking with Nick.
He sighed in relief and smiled at me. "Let me walk you back to the guesthouse."
We walked forward to the forest. I'd like to shift back in my wolf form since I was still freezing but since Nick offered me company back to the guesthouse, I thought I shouldn't.
"So where is your Alpha?" I decided to ask. I'd been curious about it when he mentioned that earlier. Alphas must be present at the Ball tonight. It was a pack tradition and it was the Alpha's job to witness every new She-Wolf his pack will have. Also, if the Alpha was mateless yet, he must be there.
"You said you'll pretend you didn't hear it." Nick's eyes were looking at me, widened in disbelief. I chuckled. His face was so funny right now.
"Sorry. I was just curious."
He sighed agreeing to my words. "I don't know where he is. I've been looking for him but I can't find him anywhere. Every work was left behind and I finished all of them on his behalf. That doesn't make me happy." His whines were so childish. If I was not in the mood for humorous talk right now, I might have said it's his job as a Beta. But I just laughed at him.
"That river is my last resort. If he was not there then I don't know where he is. That's his spot. That's why it is off-limits. If he was the one who found you, you could be dead right now."
"Well, I guess I'm lucky it is you who found me."
"You bet," he said, grinning at me.
I laughed again. He was so full of himself but whines because of overwork. I wanted to say it to his face but didn't.
He paused walking and stare at nowhere. I was confused before I realized he must be talking with someone in his mind.
He closed his eyes and sighed a heavy breath before looking down at me. "I need to make a detour. You can go back by yourself?"
I nodded my answer and said my thanks. He nodded back at me, his face looking serious again before turning his back to me. Running with his inhuman speed.
As for me, I decided to shift on my wolf saying sorry to Nick's-now ripped shirt, and run back to where I left my clothes.
***
Nick's POV.
I was running south when one of the wolf guards told me they spotted Aiden.
That guy has been gone since yesterday night and blocked everyone from his mind, not letting us send a message.
I was exhausted from all the work he left behind. He never left his works unfinished but now.
If Aiden was in the south part of the land then he must be in the ruins.
I reached it and spotted him leaning his back on a big tree near the ruined building. This building used to be the pack building before the war took place between the Ravenous pack. It was a tragic war; many of our wolves died and some home was burned down to ashes. Aiden's father was the Alpha back then.
Aiden was naked and unconscious. Numerous bottles of liquor were on the ground everywhere.
I walked to him slowly.
"How'd you find me?" Aiden said with a low growl. He then sniffed in the air. "Who're you with?"
"Some guest who got lost," I replied, slightly unsure why he asked. He just shrugged so I let it go.
"What happened to you? The Ball will be in a few hours. You can't attend it wasted." I kicked some of the bottles stumbling my way. I swear I sounded like a mom now.
"Like I can get drunk," he said.
Yeah, well, his immunity to alcohol was way over average.
I sighed. "What's your problem, man!" My tone was frustrated and irritated by his behavior. Lately, he was not in his usual self. Something was bothering him and I knew it was his wolf.
"I found my mate," he scoffed, sounding unhappy and disappointed.
"Really? Who was it?"
"I never did see her. I just know she's here. I smelled her scent." Aiden's voice was hoarse and tired.
I know he never liked the thought of having a mate. Well, I understood him. Despite what had happened in the past, I was sure he wouldn't like the idea of having one.
"Your howl scared everyone last night," I informed him. I was serious! I felt his pain through our pack bond that I almost peed my pants.
"That's not me. It's my wolf. It's angry that I'm rejecting the idea of having her. He's frustrated that we didn't catch her. The scent was gone in a blink, we didn't meet her."
Our wolves could be annoying at times like having our mate. It was hard to control when it wanted to be around a female. If my Alpha was having a hard time, then I could just imagine how it felt. Alphas had stronger control of their wolves. But I guess when it came to mates, Alpha was no exception.
"You should be at the ball tonight." Whatever was happening between him and his wolf, he couldn't abandon his role tonight.
He growled, getting agitated by the thought that he was left with no choice. "I know," he answered in defeat.
I sighed. I wondered how it felt like to have a mate your wolf wants but your humanity refused to have. It was not like the human side of Aiden could shut off the bond. His wolf would torment him for sure.
Aiden stood up; no expression could be read in his eyes. This kind of sight from him screamed how dangerous he could be.
"You know, not everyone will be like her." I wanted to cut my tongue as the words slipped from my mouth. Damn! I'd be killed because of my clumsiness.
I was expecting Aiden to beat me to a pulp but no reaction came from him.
"She can be all she wants because I'll never be stupid like my father." A sharp growl escaped from Aiden's throat before he jumped in the air and landed on the ground in his black wolf form.
I watched him run away to the center, back from home.
I want to believe his words, but having a mate was like being chained. If Aiden could fight his wolf, then his words may be true. Otherwise, he'd be hell-bent on his mate's trail.