Chapter 2 FIND A MATE
AMBER’S POV
“She’s not dead!” My dad, the alpha, announces to everyone in the house as he walks down the stairs with a joyful look on his face, which makes my face instantly light up, though with lingering uncertainty.
I take in his appearance, his hard and rugged look all softened up, which makes him look vulnerable as he keeps his stare on me, and it warms my insides.
“She isn’t?!” My mother asks, elated as she walks down the stairs, wearing the same look, which makes my heart swell with appreciation.
I didn’t expect the warm, ecstatic smiles on their faces; I had expected to see frowns or scowls of disappointment, considering what I had done.
I knew it was plain stupid and reckless to ditch my escort, but I still went ahead and did it.
“I’m so sorry, Dad! I’m sorry, mum!” I say when they get even closer to me, feeling remorseful about what I did and hoping their bright smiles aren’t temporary, which would assure me of punishment later.
They don’t say a word in reply as they wrap their hands around me in a hug, trapping me between their bodies as I feel my mum’s tears on my cheeks, which breaks my heart.
“Trent deduced that you were most likely dead since we didn’t hear from you and couldn’t find you,” my dad says, holding onto me even tighter, and my mom just keeps weeping.
No one would guess that the Alpha and Luna of the Spirit pack could ever be in this state, incredibly wounded and vulnerable, all because I decided that their being worried was of less consequence than my need for adventure.
“I’m fine, Dad,” I say to him, holding both of them tightly to the best of my ability as I try to assure them nothing happened to me.
Nothing besides three days of euphoria as I moved from party to party.
“What exactly happened?” my mum asks when they both pull away and air returns to my lungs.
“Mum, I just had a bunch of school work to finalize before I could get here, and I couldn’t reach you guys; my phone got stolen,” I say, noting every word and ensuring that I told no lie in my statement.
I had to be in attendance at every party, considering I was dragged to all of them by my best friend, who couldn’t take ‘no, I can’t miss the assigned date to go back home’ for an answer.
Though I’m partly to blame for finally agreeing when I knew better but, I wanted to spend a little bit more time with her, considering those were most likely my last days of ever seeing her.
I thought three more days couldn’t hurt, and then my phone got stolen.
I completely leave out the part about being almost eaten by a rogue and then saved by a beautiful, blue-eyed wolf.
I don’t think that’ll help my case.
“Oh baby – we were so worried, you know how dangerous the kingdom is,” she says, referring to the ancient feud between our pack and the other three packs here in Valhalla, which I was aware of when I chose to stay back and party.
“Yes, dear, immediately you found out that the date wouldn’t suit you, you should have called, and your escort would have still come for you,” my dad says, and this time, I mouth an ‘I’m sorry’, visibly but not verbally to them with an apologetic look on my face.
They don’t say anything else; rather, they smile and stare at me.
“Mum, Dad, can I go for a run?” I ask them, finally acknowledging the nags of my werewolf, who has been restless since I stepped foot into the kingdom and almost got myself killed, insisting that I shift and run.
“Of course, sweetie, you go run and I’ll have something prepared for you by the time you get back,” my mum says, looking excited to start preparing food already.
“Sure, sweetie, the markings define our boundaries, within you are safe, so be careful not to cross them,” he says, and with a nod in response for both of them, I place light kisses on their cheeks before turning to walk out.
I don’t hesitate to shift immediately I get to a grassy field, feeling an instant sense of nostalgia as my wolf takes form.
In the human world, I wasn’t privileged to shift and run as much as I wanted.
I take in a deep breath, feeling the dirt beneath my paws and the breeze blowing my fur. My wolf purrs at the ecstatic feeling, taking in the natural environment and basking in its comfort.
I hear the faintest sounds, from the sound of leaves bending in waves as they move due to the light breeze that’s blowing, to the sound of the ants’ footsteps on the soil as they walk about, tending to their daily business.
This trance of tranquility settles within me as my mind registers that these feelings are new and almost unfamiliar, considering this is the first time in ten years that I have been in my hometown.
My mind instantly travels back to the dreams I had, and the feeling of dread grips me, but I brush it aside, choosing not to dwell on it.
I start a countdown in my head while stretching and getting ready to run, but once my countdown reaches zero, my wolf becomes fully on high alert, sensing a powerful, prominent rage being directed straight at us.
I immediately spin around in defense mode to face whoever it is, but just as I turn, I’m met with a bunch of clothes being thrown at my face.
“Get dressed, Amber, this instant,” my brother’s authoritative voice rings in my ears, and I glare at him, one second away from ignoring him and running in the opposite direction.
But considering the cause of this profound disregard and insolence that he is portraying is all my fault, I decide against it. I had him as well as the entire pack worried.
Their only princess, thought missing or dead, must have really rattled them up, my brother the most, considering he shoulders ninety percent of the responsibilities in the pack, being the soon-to-be Alpha.
Despite this understanding, I growl at him, feeling annoyed by his infuriating greeting and his disruption of my plans to finally run in wolf form, after so long.
“Get fucking dressed, Amber!” he says as his eyes glow, causing my wolf to acknowledge him with more respect, but inwardly, I roll my eyes that he would do that just to prove the point of his masculinity.
‘Play me an Alpha tune instead, brother,’ I say sarcastically in my head as I shift back.
He turns his back and waits for me to get dressed, and once I’m fully dressed, I attempt a sneak attack to slap the back of his head.
“You don’t get to do that in addition to what you put us through,” he says sternly, stopping my hand mid-air, making me more annoyed.
Damn, his fast reflexes.
“Hello to you too, brother, it’s pleasant to see that I was missed and I’m still loved,” I sass, glaring at him.
“Leonard, please escort her to the Malcrid; she shouldn’t have any luxury till she has done something productive,” he says, confusing me.
“What’s a Malcrid?” I ask, and he turns to me, maintaining his stern look.
“The place you’ll find your mate, and if you are unsuccessful, then we spar till dawn. So, pray to the moon goddess you find him, or I’ll ensure to take out the three days’ frustration you put me through on you,” he says, leaving me stunned before walking away.
I’m back for less than an hour, and he is already forcing me to go find
a mate.
Home sweet home.
MEETING HIM
