The journey to Redwood was faster than Marisol expected. She had wanted to bask at the moment and feel every emotion as she embarked on a new chapter of her life.
Most females would have been afraid to leave. They would have been terrified of the unknown, but Marisol had been trained her whole life to lead. She had been in the Dark Moon all her life and felt that she was ready to take on new adventures.?
Most people only saw the part where her parents doted on and pampered her, and never the behind-the-scenes of her training and lessons with both her parents and pack members. So they'd expected her to be a brat.??
Sometimes, she let them believe it and played the perfect part. Other times, she allowed herself to stun them. She wondered what person she should take on in Redwood. She looked at the profile of her mate and was stunned. It was as if she was just seeing him for the first time.?
He wasn't what she expected her mate to look like. His dark hair was slicked back, his grey eyes were focused on the road ahead, and his pristine dark suit showed class.?
He looked like someone who lived by strict rules and principles. She didn't know if she found that comforting or a bit scary.
As soon as they crossed the Dark Moon's border, Marisol felt fatigued. She yawned a couple of times and placed her head on Caleb's shoulder.
"I'm tired," she murmured. It was so unlike her.
Caleb stroked her hair gently, "You had a big party last night, Marisol, and you'd also been in charge of everything. You're supposed to have rested."
Marisol sighed. He had a point. Yesterday was a big day. It was probably one of the biggest in her life. And she would have rested properly if they hadn't found each other. Instead, she spent all night thinking about him.?
Coupled with the unease from her nightmares, she had worked tirelessly to make the ball a successful one. Up till that moment, Nicole had always been the one in charge of the annual ball. Marisol felt that she needed to prove to both her parents that she could indeed fill their shoes in the future.
"You're right," she said, falling asleep almost immediately.
Just as they approached the borders of her new home, Marisol stirred awake. All sleep was forgotten as soon as she set her eyes on the sight before her. Her eyes eagerly drank in the serene landscape as they neared the Redwood pack's borders. The forest seemed to hum with life, lush and vibrant under the morning sunlight. She turned to Caleb, hoping to share her excitement about the beautiful scenery.
"Caleb, isn't this incredible?" Marisol exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
Caleb glanced at her briefly, his gaze distant, before returning to the path ahead. "Yeah, it's nice," he replied, his tone distracted.
Sensing his unease, Marisol furrowed her brow.?
Crazy that she didn't feel an emotional connection to him. She should have sensed it immediately.??
However, she wouldn't let her mood be dampened by such. She stuck her head out of the window, closed her eyes, and took in the fresh earth.?
Her wolf was eager. It itched to trample on the rich soil. Her excitement kept piling up. She immediately regretted sleeping. She should have been awake. She had wanted to see the landscapes change as they moved from territory to territory.?
"This is so breathtaking," she said as she opened her eyes, "Caleb, Redwood pack's territory is truly enchanting."?
She couldn't help herself. There was no response from her mate, though.?
"Should we go on foot from here? I'm itching for a run. My wolf is overly excited. That way, you can show me around."
"No!" Caleb's voice came forcefully.
She jolted back to her seat in shock. He was refusing to meet her eyes. Marisol's heart sank. Was he hiding something??
"Caleb," she said slowly.
"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I'm so distracted. There's something on my mind. I can't shake this feeling of unease."
"Are you okay? You seem... distant." She muttered.
He sighed softly, his expression troubled. "I just... I'm not sure how they'll react to us. They weren't expecting a new person. You know, being new and all."
Marisol reached out, gently placing her hand on his arm. "We'll navigate it together, Caleb. We're a team now, remember?"
Caleb managed a small smile, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Marisol." Yet, the unease lingered in his eyes, casting a shadow over their impending arrival at the pack.
At once, unease began to spread through Marisol's chest. Why was he afraid? Wasn't he the Alpha? She leaned back and took deep gulps. If he wasn't confident in them, why'd he propose immediately??
"You know what, let's go on foot," Caleb said suddenly.?
Marisol sat up immediately, and her worries immediately melted into the background of her thoughts.?
"I'm sorry for my curt response." He said, holding her hands. "It's just... being here brings back memories I'd rather forget. I never thought I'd return to this place."
Marisol scrunched her face, "What? She blurted out.
"I-I mean, the outskirts of Redwood. This forest, in particular, holds horrible memories from my youth. Being here always makes me uncomfortable."
Marisol's eyes flitted around the beautiful forest. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. Let's continue like this. There's no need to go on foot."
Caleb smiled tenderly, "Nah. It's all good. Let's walk."?
The car stopped abruptly, and they were ushered out. Caleb held her, and together, they walked the rest of the way.
Although Caleb tried to engage in a conversation with her as they walked, Marisol's unease grew. She wanted to ask Caleb for details. She could sense that there was some underlying story that she needed to know. But she wanted him to tell her himself. She didn't want to appear too demanding. After all, they were still getting to know each other.
Marisol's steps faltered as she crossed into the Redwood pack territory, her heart sinking at the sight before her. The lush, serene landscape she had admired at the borders was a stark contrast to the dilapidated structures that greeted her within the pack.?