Rosalie watched as the last of the wolves left for the run. She was left alone, along with several unmated wolves and those who had duties to perform. She saw Alex approaching them, and her eyes widened in surprise. All the visiting Alphas had joined the run, so Rosalie was curious as to why he was there. As he got closer, she noticed a determined look on his face, which made her wonder what he had in store.
"Hello there; I see you didn't join the run," he said in his deep baritone.
"You didn't join them either," Rosalie retorted.
He smirked. " I was planning to, but something else caught my attention." His eyes rolled over her, taking in her figure-hugging dress, the deep V on her back, and her narrow waist. He would have loved to chase and conquer her. His wolf nodded in approval.
Melissa looked at both, then said.
"I think my mum called me," she smirked. "I should go," she said, walking. "See you later."
"Melissa!" Rosalie snapped at her. What was she doing? Why was she leaving her alone with him? To her annoyance, Melissa continued to walk, pretending not to hear Rosalie's mental messages.
Rosalie scratched her head, feeling a mixture of annoyance and awkwardness simmering together. She turned and walked down the stage towards the bonfires. She did not know what to do. She was not even sure if she should remain standing there. Rosalie hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow Melissa.
"Rosalie! Hey! Wait up!" Alex called after her.
Darn it, she thought with dismay. She stopped in mid-track as he walked to her side.
"Why are you so eager to leave?" He said this as he stood near her.
"Um, I think my dad called me," she lied lamely.
'Ugh, well done,' she thought to herself, a very 'original' excuse.
He raised his left eyebrow in question, but he did not ponder it. "We are meeting after years; we should catch up." He spoke. "I won't be staying here forever, you know," he joked, and yet a hint of seriousness rang in his voice: "My pack will leave after the Grand Feast."
It was weird, but she blushed and could not look into his eyes. He intimidated her sometimes.
She looked at him. "Well, we are talking now."
He chuckled. "Yes, I believe we are. "Let's make the most of it," he suggested with a warm smile, breaking the tension between them. "I want to hear all about your adventures since we last saw each other."
She was about to say something when a deep voice startled her. "Rosalie Murdoch," Roger's voice boomed.
"I hope you are aware of your duties as a beta. If you have done enough fooling around, then please check on those omegas." He pointed at a group who were collecting the firewood for the roasting of the kills, which would be dragged in later.
She frowned and looked at Alex, but he did not look surprised at Roger's arrival. As an alpha, he could sense others around him. She sighed.
"I have already done my duty, Roger." She could not help but growl a bit with annoyance.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Watch your tone, Rosalie; even if we're the same age, I am still the pack's third-in-command."
Ugh, just because his father retired early, it did not mean he could go around bossing those around him. She thought. He cast a disapproving look before he turned to Alex.
"The other alphas are preparing for the hunt. I have been told to escort you, sir." Alex said nothing; he just gave a nod.
He looked at her and offered a little smile before he took off with Roger towards the forest. Rosalie was fuming. She was annoyed with Roger. She knew it was one of his duties to command the omegas, but c'mon! They were of the same rank. Everyone was partying, and he wanted her to work! For God's sake, it was so unfair.
She stomped towards the omegas, fuming. She was puzzled by her behaviour. She was not the type who would ignore her duties. Was it because Roger had disturbed a moment between Alex and her? Did they even have a moment?
'Get a grip, Rosalie,' she muttered. 'I just had my heart broken; I can't let this happen again. I cannot survive. Alex is an Alpha. One of the strongest Alphas. He would never like someone like me.' She thought and moved on.
It was late at night or early morning, whatever one would prefer to call at 3 a.m., when Rosalie was sitting on the doorstep of the manor. Most of the wolves have gone to sleep after a night of revelry. Some were still rutting in the forest. Rosalie stared out into the darkness, feeling a sense of peace wash over her as she listened to the sounds of nature around her.
"Is there a reason you're guarding the door?"
Rosalie looked up to see Alex's grey eyes looking down at her. He held his hand out, and she took it as he pulled her to her feet.
" I was having chest pain. I wish they stopped." She replied.
"Do you need me to find a doctor?"
"No, it's nothing serious," Rosalie assured him, feeling grateful for his concern. "I just need some fresh air." Her chest still hurts for Chris sometimes.
"Let's take a walk then," Alex suggested.
"Didn't you find a lucky girl to pass the night with?" Rosalie retorted. Rosalie brought her hand to her lips. She didn't mean to sound so disrespectful.
"Not yet anyway. Would you be interested?" Alex said, smiling.
Rosalie's eyes went wide, surprised by his boldness.
"Just kidding." He laughed.
Of course, he was kidding. Why would a man like him be interested in her? But somehow, his words made her tingle and blush. Despite her initial shock, Rosalie found herself intrigued by Alex's playful banter. Maybe taking a walk with him wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.
Rosalie walked with Alpha Alex, her eyes drifting to the beautiful trees and plants in the forest. He kept telling her stories about pack politics and the complicated ways he did business, and she couldn't help but yawn.
"So, Rosalie," Alex began, his voice breaking through the monotony of his discourse. "Is your mum still giving you a hard time?"
"Nah, everything's good," she replied, hoping to steer the conversation in a more lighthearted direction.
As they rounded a bend in the trail, their path intersected with a couple of wolves engaged in some rather intimate activities. Rosalie's eyes widened in shock as she stumbled to a stop, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"Umm, my mum is calling. I should leave," Rosalie said.
"Your parents have an uncanny ability to call you whenever we are talking." He smirked. "Well, it was a pleasure meeting you again, Rosalie. I do hope whatever upset you so much earlier has passed."
"It will soon," she replied. "Thank you."
That night, Rosalie dreamed about Alex and his lovely grey eyes, his broad shoulders, and his enchanting smile.
*****************************
Rosalie spent the next three days curled up in her room. Everyone was still in a celebratory mood, so the days were full of feasting and frolicking. There was a reason she stayed hidden. She did not want to bump into Chris, his friend Grace, or Alex. He invoked weird feelings in her. She had loved Chris, and she still did, but her feeling for Alex was different, more intense, and the way he looked at her was almost predatory. She felt intimidated yet strangely drawn to him. It confused her wolf.
Her mother exclaimed excitedly, "Rosalie, the new Luna has summoned you."
Rosalie's heart thudded.
"You mean Grace? I mean Luna Grace. Why?"
"You have been chosen as one of her commands, Betas. Oh, isn't it exciting?" Her mum gushed and looked at her daughter proudly.
'In command beta? Me and my big mouth!' Rosalie sighed. Her worst fear had come true. How was she supposed to work for her former mate, Luna?
"You are a grown-up girl now; you can't spend your time playing in the forest. You must take your duties seriously. It's such an honour to get this position." Amelia rambled on.
Rosalie sighed and reluctantly walked towards the communal area, where she waited along with a few other girls. She was glad Melissa was also among the chosen ones.
"Hello," a sweet, chirpy voice caught their attention. Rosalie looked up. Grace stood in front of them. Her long, golden hair curled lazily on her back.
'She is gorgeous! Much better looking than me and perfectly compatible with Chris,' Rosalie sighed and bowed her head in submission.