The ladies bade goodbyes to each other in the evening. Accalia's route was opposite Helen's,so they dispersed at the crossroads.
Accalia walked home quietly with her mind roving with thoughts of despair. She wondered about the entire greyhound news she had heard from Helen. Greyhounds meant nothing good and with her history,she was certain it was a bad omen.
Soon she arrived home and having no appetite for food and no motivation to mix spices and oils,she decided to walk to the brook close to her home. There was a little path that led to the brook. It was barely dark,so she intended to be back before nightfall.
Walking on the path,filled with scattered leaves, Accalia kept thinking hard. She arrived at the brook and the peaceful ambience gave her a soothing comfort. Accalia found a log of wood to sit on, paying no attention to her environment.
She thought of her mother. How she had been kidnapped and kept captive before her death. All that monster had ever done was add misery to her life and make sure everything and everyone she loved was killed.
Accalia didn't notice that nightfall was upon her, until she heard a sound of something thrown into the brook. It sounded like a rock. She gasped in fear and looked around. Accalia saw a figure sitting across the brook but she couldn't place the face. She watched in terror as the figure noticed she had seen it,and decided to walk towards her.
She felt her body going numb and had decided to fight back if it was necessary. She began to charge her inner rage,and could feel her eyebrows growing fuller and her teeth sprouting, ready to launch an attack.
"Arghh! Who are you? One more step and you'll regret it", Accalia spoke in a deep voice.
"I think it's rude to launch an attack on people,who also seek comfort in the quietness of nature,don't you think?", Ethan said, stopping dead in his tracks.
"You?..I..umm.. thought", Accalia tried to say, suddenly softened. Her brows went back to its size and her teeth resized to normal.
She was breathless and surprised to see Ethan. What was worse was that Ethan had seen her in that state. She became sober and began to rub her underarms, embarrassed. Ethan took off his coat and walked closer to her. Accalia shrieked and Ethan stopped to assure her before she eased up.
For the first time since they met she felt Ethan's touch. His hands were warm and he kept looking at her as he placed the coat on her. She could feel his breath and for some reason,when he stepped closer to her,she brushed his chest briefly and could feel his thumping heartbeat.
"So what brings you to this part of the town?"Accalia asked, avoiding his eyes.
"Well, until you began to live close to the brook,some of us literally owned the brook. It's my favorite place to cool off or appreciate peace", Ethan replied with a smile.
Accalia was surprised he knew that she lived close by. She wanted to ask how he knew,but he interrupted her.
"Cut me some slack, Accalia. I'm this Pack's Beta. I know everything that happens or is to happen here. You should know,it's my obligation to know everyone by their smell", Ethan said, throwing a pebble into the brook.
"So yes. I could smell you before you began trodding on the path to the brook. Would have said hi but someone was definitely deep in her thoughts to notice me sitting across", Ethan ended up looking at her.
Accalia couldn't believe her ears. He saw her crying? She must have really been absent minded. Finally finding her tongue, Accalia began talking.
"Well I'm sorry not to have noticed you. I just needed a little peace and quiet",she said.
"Is the pack, nothing like you expected?", Ethan asked.
"No..no..it is. It's just that sometimes I feel like I don't deserve all the love and hugs I'm getting here", Accalia explained with a light chuckle.
Ethan chucked too and said,"Ahh! I get you. Helen is in a whole mood,I tell you. She's really good with people",he joked which made Accalia laugh.
"No doubt you do know everyone. Helen is beautiful and I'm so happy to have met her. I have mixed feelings though about her leaving the pack..oh my gosh", Accalia said before realizing that she was talking too much.
Helen had told her that no one knew her Alpha yet and some people were yet to meet with him. Ethan smiled at her reaction and shook his head in understanding.
"I'm sorry,I shouldn't have said that", Accalia apologized. When she noticed Ethan smiling,she knew he had known about it.
"Wait.. you know?"she asked, puzzled.
Ethan laughed out quietly and for the first time, Accalia saw his eyes laugh too. She had never seen him laugh sincerely. "Like I said Accalia,I'm a Beta",he said.
Accalia nodded and realized that Ethan was different. There were so many secrets and things that he knew,yet he would be quiet about it unless he or anyone else was threatened. Accalia bent down and picked a pebble.
"So when are we coming for the drink?", Ethan asked.
"You knew? What else do you know?", Accalia retorted.
"I don't know. You tell me. Is it a housewarming party or a wild one?", Ethan replied, laughing at Accalia whose mouth was open with surprise.
"Well,since you know everything. You must know that I called it off", Accalia announced.
Ethan paused and gave her a look. He didn't expect that. "Why not?",he asked, turning to face her.
"It's good to finally take you by surprise", Accalia joked before talking. "Well,I thought I'll get to know people personally and not because of some party. Besides, the coronation is coming up. I'd like to focus on planning with the girls rather than bothering myself with mine",Accalia explained.
It was the partial truth but at least it was a reason. She didn't want to scare Ethan with her history. Ethan nodded and smiled at her warmly. Accalia blushed and bowed her head.
"So,how is your perfume business coming?", Ethan asked.
Accalia smiled and threw her hands in the air in defeat. This man knew everything about her business. As much as it surprised her,she secretly loved it. That means he was paying attention to things about her. Or maybe he was just being a Beta.
Ethan read her mind and shook his head in disagreement but she didn't notice it. The place was dark and she didn't want to use her wolf's vision to scan him. She thought he would talk about their meeting the first day,but he avoided it. Obviously he had someone or even if he didn't,he wouldn't accept her. Ethan smiled to himself when he heard her thoughts. He was being honest when he said he visited the brook because of the serenity but he didn't tell her all the truth.
He visited it more often than before because he hoped to look at her or meet her but each time he passed,she seemed busy or away. She had no idea how happy he felt sitting close to her. She was his mate and he would never reject her. He was in love with her.
"I don't have anyone", Ethan answered Accalia's thoughts.
Accalia looked up, knowing he read her mind and asked, " Then why don't you want to talk about what happened between us?".
Ethan shook his head and looked away and Accalia humped in disbelief. He didn't want her. She rose to leave but Ethan held her back. He rose to his feet and towered over her while he stared into her eyes.
"Because I'm afraid it's not mutual with you", Ethan said calmly. Accalia was surprised at his words and smiled at him.
" That's not true",she said smiling and Ethan smiled back then kissed her.