I woke up to an empty bed. Isabella must’ve left early then. It’s been over a week since the talk with her mother and she finally decided to go back. I wanted her to go back earlier. It would’ve been easier to talk to Isaiah with her as backup. She was great at calling him on his bullshi.t. The last couple of days I tried to see him have been tricky. Either he’s too busy with his Alpha’s duties or running around with Alaia to prepare for the ceremony.
How hard is it to sign papers? Hell, I could totally fake his signature. It’s the blood that’s tricky. Apparently the smell of an Alpha’s blood carries some sort of magic to let others know you’re not a rogue trespassing. At this point I am thinking of just leaving but traveling through other regions could be difficult.
I got up and immediately felt a bit uneasy. This is what happens when you eat your weight in cookies and biscuits. A smile crossed my face thinking of my mom’s baked goods. Strangely, I have a sudden craving for chocolate and pickles. Weird combination but it hits all my three S: salty, sweet,and sour.
I waved off the queasy feeling and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I needed to check on Isabella and hopefully be able to get my papers. Maybe Alpha Jack could sign them for me if I can find him. I threw on some yoga shorts with a matching bra and a light sports jacket. I gave myself a look and saw how pale I looked. I hope I don’t come down with anything though wolves aren’t known to get sick like humans. I realized the scars were completely gone.
Hey, we’re healing a bit faster than usual. Is there something you want to tell me I teased Nina.
I could see her in the back of my mind curled in a ball.
Nina, what’s wrong? Tell me. I started to get worried.
I’m fine. I’m just tired, Zira. I feel something here Nina said back.
Is it like that time I couldn’t shift I asked but I didn’t see a wall or anything blocking me.
No something else. Don’t worry about me. I just need to rest.
Nina cut off the link. I was worried she had used too much of herself to heal us. I needed to be more careful next time. I have to keep up with my training on the road so she doesn’t need to heal me all the time.
I walked into the kitchen where my mom was cooking and listening to her jams. It’s been a while since I saw her in this mood. Could be because I decided to stay a couple weeks. There was a pile of bacon, a huge amount of scrambled eggs, nutella filled croissants, and grits. My mom was humming while flipping pancakes.
“What’s all this,” I asked while going to the fridge to get the chocolate syrup.
“I just felt like cooking. Never know when my kids will decide to leave and never have a home cooked meal again,” my mom said.
For the past two weeks my mom has been dropping more hints to get me to stay. She would come home from work and tell me how many injured wolves came back from scouting or how many broken limbs she had to set so they would heal right. Nothing she says is going to keep me here. With Isaiah boo-ed up, I think I rather be somewhere else then see that show.
“What are you doing,” my mom asked.
I looked at her while stuffing chocolate covered bacon in my mouth. “What? It’s good.”
My mom shook her head. “That’s disgusting, Zira, and disrespectful to the bacon.”
“At this point the bacon doesn’t care,” I said, pouring chocolate on more of the bacon.
“Save some for everyone else.” My mom placed the pancakes on the table and came over to touch my head. “Are you feeling ok? You’re running pretty hot. Maybe you should rest another day. I’m sure everyone can handle everything just fine.”
I swatted her away. “Mom, I’m fine. Stop being a worry wart. Besides, if Isabella needs support I want to be there. For her.”
“Maybe I should go too, then. To help Isabella,” Zed said while coming to sit at the table across from me.
“No. I don’t trust your dirty little mind, you perv.” I threw a piece of bacon at him and he caught it in his mouth. He immediately spit it out.
“What the heck is that,” he screamed, trying to spit out the remaining flavor. My mom and I looked at one another and laughed at him.
“That’s what you get for opening your mouth.” He flipped me off while my mom wasn’t looking and I returned the favor.
“Mom, I can’t find my suit pants I wore to the dance last month. I want to make sure to look good for our future Luna.” I growled in a low tone. “Oh I forgot she replaced you.”
I glared at him but before I could say something my mom popped him across his head with a spatula. “You are going to be sensitive to your sister's feelings. Now apologizes?”
I could feel Zed’s anger as he looked at me. We stared at each other for a few minutes. He always tries to challenge me to a staring contest and as always he loses. My mom was used to this, so she sat there and waited for it to be over. Right down to the last second Zed quickly blinked as I smiled and went back to eating.
“Zed, you lost. Now apologize.”
“I’m sorry-that she’s hot.” Zed smiled and dodged the next attack from my mom.
“You know what, it’s fine, mom. Boys will be boys.” I got up from the table and gave my mom a kiss on the cheeks. “By the way, I’m totally going to tell Isa about your furry friend you sleep with at night.” As if I didn’t know he still slept with his teddy from when he was just a toddler. Of course I wasn’t going to tell Isa but he doesn’t know that.
“He’s an antique,” Zed yelled at me.
“Oh I guess I shouldn’t have put him in the laundry,” I said walking out as Zed looked at me mortified.
“She didn’t do that, right mom?” I heard him ask my mom and laughed loud enough for him to hear.
After a short brisk walk, I made it to the packhouse. I took a few deep breaths before walking in. Into pure chaos. There were so many people running around the entire place. I knew planning a ceremony took a lot but I could barely walk through without being the way. I was starting to feel a bit nauseous and claustrophobic, so I decided to get some air. I walked out into the courtyard and was shocked.
It was beautiful. Though white and blue aren’t traditional summer colors, these colors will pop out at night when we have the ceremony. I walked along their 40 foot long gothic pool with a stone walkway that was decorated with lily pads flowing freely back and forth.
At the end of the pool stood a tall archway lined with white and blue lights that looked like little flowers. Behind the archway was an amazing view of the forest and On each side of the pool were tables with white linens layered with light blue silk runners making it look like waves on the oceans.
I walked over to one of the tables and saw a stack of napkins waiting to be placed. I picked up the gray napkins that reminded me of Isaiah’s stormy eyes and smiled. I replaced one of the table settings with the blue gray combo when I felt someone behind me.
“I was debating on using those,” someone said behind me.
When I turned around I saw the most beautiful girl standing there watching me in a white robe. This must have been Alaia and my brother wasn’t lying. She was beautiful. More than that she was unreal. Tall, slender, porcelain skin, a round face framed by long blond hair, and her eyes. Her eyes almost looked like ice. Is that even possible? Hell I would leave me for her. Her face was neutral as she stared at me. Probably sizing me up too. For some reason I was getting nervous and sick to my stomach. How could someone make me feel this way?
“Sorry I was just admiring the decorations.” I kept my eyes to the ground and stood tall. Yes she’ll be our Luna soon but I was still a warrior.
She walked next to me, grabbing the napkins from the table. “Do you think these will work better than the blue and white?”
I looked at her, wondering why she wanted my opinion. Hell I would think I would be the last person she wanted advice from. “Well, I think it’s a nice representation of Isai-I mean the Alpha’s eyes and yours. A nice icy blue gray combo. Luna.”
She seemed to be thinking about what I said, only responding with a simple, “Hmph.”
I returned to looking forward and slowly started to walk away. I felt her hand grab my wrist, sending a chill throughout my whole body. I turned to look at her and she had a soft smile on her face. I wasn’t sure why this wasn’t comforting. Get a grip Zira. The girl is trying to be polite, I think.
“What is your name?”
Lie was my first thought. Avoid this awkward situation only for her to find out later who you really are and get thrown in the dungeons or worse for lying. Or just tell the truth and get it over with.
“I’m Zira, Luna. Isabella’s friend.” I had to be careful. I wasn’t sure how much she knew about me.
Her eyes widened a bit as if something just clicked inside her head. I was getting a bit nervous and felt vomit in the back of my throat, but I kept it down. She turned her grip into a handshake before letting go.
“So you’re the girl that had everyone up in a frenzy two weeks ago. Including my mate.”
The way she said that last part had me moving back instinctively. She noticed and raised her hands.
“It’s okay, Zira. I know about your past relations and the past is the past. I just hope we can move forward,” she said with a smile.
I quickly nodded. “I would like that very much, Lu-.”
“Just as long as you’re over him.” She stepped close to pull me into a hug and whispered, “Cause that would be very bad for you.”
My breath hitched inside my throat as she stepped back with the same smile on her face. As if she didn’t know what she just said. As if I haven’t reacted to her little threat. I expected to be really scared but something in me made me angry. That stupid smile on her face was nerving enough to have Nina rear her head, but I kept my face neutral.
“Is that what you’re wearing to the ceremony?” She looked at my workout outfit before coming back to me. Yeah. I don’t like her. I’ve made up my mind. Whatever Isaiah sees in her must be hidden or maybe she has the mating jitters.
“Of course not Luna. I have something in mind.”
Alaia turned back to the table setting and changed it to its original setting. “Great. Just try to remember whose day it is and we will have no problems.”
The audacity of this woman. Just met her and she’s already threatened. Isaiah chose her and she’s vicious with me. How does that make sense? I really needed to get the hell out of here. I don’t have to the time to deal with jealous mates.
Mate’s bond is strong, Zira. Stronger than you think. It’s not uncommon for her to feel possessive Nina said. But I still don’t like her.
Maybe Nina was right. I mean I would probably be cautious if my mate’s ex was present in his life. So just calm down.
“Understood, Luna.”
Before she could say anything else though I feel she has said enough, I heard Isabella yell.
“ISAIAH! Look who’s here.”
I felt myself tensed up a bit at his name and turned towards them smiling. I’m sure Alaia saw my reaction to his name and after what she just said I could care less. She turned this into a problem. A problem that didn’t need to exist and it won’t. I’m no homewrecker even if she thinks I would be.
Isaiah looked between both of our smiling faces and smiled to himself. Great, he's probably convinced we’re the best of friends now. As they made their way over to the tables, Alaia brushed past me and ran into his arms. She proceeded to plant a lingering kiss on his lips. I saw Isabella roll her eyes. My thoughts exactly. I took this time to go back to change the table setting to what I had. Just because I didn’t like her doesn’t mean my pattern wasn’t better.
“I am so excited for today. I feel we could skip the ceremony altogether,” Alaia said, suggestively.
“Then my mother would kill us for letting this all go to waste.” Isaiah walked to the tables to check out the table sets. “I love this pattern. Reminds me of our eyes, don’t you think Alaia?”
“Exactly what I was thinking when I did it. It’s nice when we’re on the same page,” Alaia said, glaring at me for a second before grabbing Isaiah’s hand.
Really? Just pathetic. “Well I have to go get my dress ready and I’ll be back to help if needed.” I walked to Isabella, rolling my eyes so she would understand how I feel about this whole situation.
“Looking forward to it. It was nice meeting you, Zira.”
Our eyes connected again and I knew that was a lie. I felt Isabella pull me from the courtyard before I broke eye contact. Goddess, please help me get through this day. After that I could can focus on leaving this pack