Chapter 13: 13

NOVA

Phoenix continued to the alpha's office, his movements rather therapeutic. I was so tired I didn't want to deal with anything anymore. My eyes were heavy with tears and my mouth felt dry. I was exhausted. My body ached, my heart ached, and my brain was fried. My wolf, my mate, my room... all too much.

Not even speaking, he pushed aside the guards. I felt like a child. Probably looked like one too, with my pout and folded arms.

"Alpha Steven, Damien." Phoenix announced, the door shutting loudly behind us.

"Nova! Oh gosh, glad you are okay! What on Earth were you-

Phoenix's growl cut Damien off.

He still held me in his arms and I felt stupid lying there. Sensing my discomfort, he placed me gently on a comfy chair and wrapped a blanket around me that was hanging from the arm. The warmth and comforting tingles I felt vanished as soon as he released me and the tiredness hit me full force. If only I could just nap, right now...

I felt my eyes close, and I welcomed the bliss. Wrapped up in the blanket was an ideal place to succumb to sleep...

"I am taking her with me." He stated.

He what!

Damien spluttered. "Wha-

"She is not safe in this pack." He snapped.

"What do you mean, 'not safe'? Why, I have raised Nova-

"Shut it, old man." He snapped.

The world blurred around me, but Phoenix's words had me startled awake into a grumble. His dark gaze turned to me and he frowned. That was my alpha he was disrespecting, a man who looked out for me. Who rescued me.

"You owe this pack nothing, Nova." Phoenix spoke to me before turning back to the two alphas, mainly Steven. "Did you know she was covered in scarring and bruises when she shifted back? Have you seen her face today? Her lack of weight?"

I glanced to see Steven sitting down, his mouth in a firm line and clarity of expression. He almost looked guilty.

"The only reason I even came to your pack is that my beta came home with concerns for your pack. With secrets..." He growled. "And this morning, when I first met her, I couldn't understand why I didn't smell it. Why she didn't smell pure... Why she was unclaimed, yet smelt like a male..."

"Now that I see her injuries, I realize she had an infusion of blood to heal. This means you knew she was injured, and also means you have done nothing about it since she continues to be hurt. So you must have known for a while, Steven, as your reaction right now is proving my point, and yet she continues to get harassed, no?"

He turned back to me, but I kept my gaze down. "And now we return from the woods to find her room and possessions destroyed, and she doesn't even act like it's a surprise?"

I closed my eyes in defeat, trying to hold back the emotions. I could really do with my parents right now.

"So, I inform you, and with utmost importance, that she is to return to my home to be with me." He finished, crossing his arms.

I glanced up at the tone in his voice, my heart warming at his protectiveness. It was the most he ever spoke. He was cool, silent and hard to read, yet he just stood up for me. For me! And he's barely known me a few hours. No one has ever done that. Not even Steven.

Steven spluttered with exasperation. "She's..."

"I expect her papers in two hours." He snapped.

"But that's not enough-

"One hour it is."

Both alphas bowed in submission to Phoenix's words, so he must've used his alpha tone. I didn't feel it and just assumed it was to do with being exhausted.

Without another word, Phoenix scooped me up again and took me away from there.

"Pack up your necessary possessions. I will provide clothes and toiletries when you arrive at my pack." Phoenix announced.

My eyes glanced around my small room. "Okay."

"I will be back in an hour. I have to arrange myself and my pack members..." He hesitated. "Say your goodbyes."

Through my sleepy mind, what he said rang bells. "G- goodbyes..."

But he was already gone.

I had to go; I had to leave... with him? My mate?

'It'll be okay.' My wolf cooed. 'He will look after you.'

But my parents...

I stood from my bed and packed what I could save in terms of memories. So my savable drawings, including my favorite piece I did of the black wolf and the heads of the pencils that were snapped in half. I also grabbed the photo of my parents and Leo on my nightstand. I didn't have a personal bag, so placed them into a small plastic carrier bag.

Looking at it now, it was rather pathetic how little I owned. Life as an omega never gave into many luxuries. But now I had a mate, and as custom comes, I had to leave with him to his pack. Steven could've protested as females were rarer to packs, but Phoenix being a king's alpha meant he had the final say in where females go. I mean, the only reason Katie, Julie and myself were hospitality was to show off the fact they had females in the pack. Not that I was anything to look at.

Before I left to see my parents, I remembered I was just wearing a random t-shirt. Drifting into my bathroom, I washed my hands and face before throwing on my hoodie and some joggers from yesterday.

As I made my way down the hall, tears threatened to spill again. I didn't have the chance to open my parent's door before it swung open and Dad embraced me.

"We were so worried." He cried. "Alpha said you shifted randomly, and he ordered us to stay in our room."

"I'm o-okay." I hiccupped, instantly overwhelmed.

"What happened?" Mum asked from beside me.

Noticing my tears, she led me inside to sit on the bed once again. I curled up against her and cried.

"Ember... you need to tell us what's going on. We can't help you if you don't speak." Dad's hand brushed my wild hair from my face. "Plus, you need to shower. You stink of lake water."

I smiled lightly and sat back in an upright position. "Thanks."

"So..."

"So, I shifted." I shrugged. "It was h-horrible."

"Honey, if we had known you were showing signs..."

"I know, mum, it's okay. It was on the training grounds. I had people around."

I wonder what made you shift so suddenly..." Dad's gaze wandered off in thought.

"Well, usually you shift if you..." Mum froze. "Nova did you..."

I knew what she was implying, so I nodded a yes.

She shrieked in excitement. "You found your mate!"

Dad straightened up to frown at us. "You found your mate? Who?"

My lip wobbled, and my eyes cast downward.

""Nova, is he part of our pack?" Mum wondered.

"Lulu, she would've shifted before if that was the case."

"Well, then who? A visitor?" she snapped sarcastically.

They continued to bicker with each other, so once again, I had to cut in. "Yes, it was a visitor."

I startled them with my loud voice, but I pushed away from the fear, standing and facing them.

"My mate is Alpha Titan."

Time slowed down as my parents froze. Mum's eyes widened in worry and Dad's brows nearly left the face of the earth.

"M-my room has been trashed because of-of what happened this morning w-with the coffee." I whimpered. "And when he found out I was b-bullied, he said he-he is taking m-me b-back w-w-w- with him."

Dad unfroze first and a low growl left his lip. "If he has so much as touched you, Ember, I don't care if he is an alpha or not. I will-

"Dad, no. He-he... seems okay. He came t-to me in the woods and helped me." I shrugged. "I j-just don't want t-to leave you."

"Oh, honey." Mum sighed. "He is your future now. He has not rejected you and wants you with him. That's a good sign. I'm sure his wolf will-oh my gosh, you got an alpha! That means you're gonna be a luna! Nova!"

I chuckled lightly. "Y-yeah I haven't.. Oh! My wolf is black."

"Black?"

I nodded. "Pure."

They obviously thought the same as I did.

"Who are your birth parents..." Dad wondered. "Black fur... that's only for the higher wolves, Nova."

I shrugged. "You are my parents."

Mum smiled softly. "If we find anything out about this, we will let you know, my baby. When do you leave?"

I glanced at the clock on the wall. "About half an hour."

"Can we meet her?" Dad wondered. "My wolf wants to imprint her in his mind."