Destiny

by Rachelle Mills et al.

  “Our late Alpha Pair,” a female voice answered my unasked question.

  I jumped and quickly dropped the photo back on the table, baring fangs as instinct took over.

  The woman gave me a friendly smile, not even blinking at my show of strength.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you. My name is Saba. Beta Zale is my mate. You are Cathwulf, yes? We have heard much about you. Your parents always talked highly of you to Alpha Dolf when they came here. It is nice to finally put a face to the name,” she chirped, dark brown eyes looking me over.

  Her dark hair and skin with Indian features contrasted with the white dress she wore. She was a beautiful female. Her looks were the opposite of her mate’s blond hair and softly tanned skin. They were well suited in their differences, like day and night. Her voice still held the slightest hint of an accent, and I was oddly comforted by the idea that she had once been a stranger here too.

  I greeted her with my cheek pressed against hers as we took in each other’s scents. “It is nice to meet you too. I’m sorry about the photo, I didn’t mean to—”

  “Nonsense! If they weren’t meant to be looked at, they wouldn’t be out,” she interrupted with a laugh.

  I nodded, unsure. Her aura was very light and friendly. I got the sense she was more easy going than her mate, who brushed my fur the wrong way. I didn’t feel the need to prove myself to her, holding her eye easily without either of us challenging the other. Yet, like her mate, there was power radiating from her that matched my own mother’s in strength.

  “Have you been shown your room yet?” Saba inquired, linking her arm with mine as if we were already good friends.

  Touch between females was far more common than between males. I felt comforted with her beside me in this unknown place, like I’d found an ally. She didn’t wait for my answer before she was leading me up the flight of stairs that creaked with each step.

  “I keep telling Roarke that he needs to have this place fixed up, but he doesn’t listen. I’m afraid one day I’ll fall right through the stairs! But he’s too afraid to touch anything. His grandfather built this house, you know, after the old one burnt down. He feels like this place isn’t his to change. It’s a female he needs; I said that to Zale. He agrees, but he’d never admit it.” Saba rambled aimlessly while I listened with interest.

  I wondered why the Alpha didn’t feel at home here enough to make it to his liking, supposing it was perhaps because his parents were not long gone. Maybe his mother had decorated and he felt that he needed to leave everything as she had placed it. Saba didn’t seem to notice my lack of attention to her words as she continued to talk about how walls needed repainting and rooms redecorated like I would have advice or input. This wasn’t my pack house; it wasn’t my business what was done to the place. Besides, I was drawn to the rustic look it held. Even if the stairs would one day give way, I wouldn’t want to change much either. My jaw clenched a little, and I pushed away my like of the house as if it was a betrayal to my opposition of becoming this pack’s Alpha Female.

  We passed a few doors before we reached one that was a chipped white. Its brass handle looked more than a little worn with specks of black and scratches that dimmed its shine.

  She pushed it open, revealing a spacious room with a bay window that I adored on sight. A bed was in the centre of the wall to the right with a crochet blanket thrown over the duvet, and a small, rickety old table that had a lamp on it sat next to it. A small dresser pushed against the far wall, the same white as the door, was opposite with a small TV perched on top.

  I smiled, stepping in.

  “This is cute. I love it,” I declared softly, walking to the window to get a peek of the vast expanse of green.

  “I’m glad you think so! Roarke was going to put you in one of the rooms across from the pups, but I argued you’d be much happier here, even if it means using a shared bathroom,” she replied, “which is just next door, by the way, the one with the lock.”

  She winked at me, and I laughed, finally feeling completely at ease.

  “There are pups here?” I asked, finding that unusual.

  While the Alpha’s home was always open to those in the pack, it was normally only the Beta pair who resided there as well unless guests like me were staying.

  Saba nodded, staying close to the door. “We sadly have a few orphaned pups with no family. They’re practically teenagers now, though. When they reach sixteen, I have no doubt they will probably find places of their own to live. Nobody wants to get up to the usual shenanigans with the Alpha looming over them.”

  I laughed at that.

  Dropping the bag that had a few changes of clothes in it to the floor, I took in the scent of the room, smiling at the realisation I had been the first to use it in a while. At least that meant I wouldn’t have to spend too much time walking around to get my scent to overpower the one from before. That pleased my wolf. Dark brown eyes watched me move around, sizing me up for an unknown reason. I gave Saba a slight glimpse of my inner wolf, feeling uncomfortable under such scrutiny, and then was surprised when she looked away.

  Was I more dominant than this female?

  It couldn’t be. She was as powerful as my own parents. Perhaps she just didn’t like conflict.

  Saba looked suddenly unsettled at the realisation that she had just submitted to me without a fight, coughing awkwardly as she continued to watch me pace the room.

  “Dinner will be served in an hour. Feel free to wander around, get to know the place, the pack. We are all very welcoming, I promise,” she comforted, noting my pacing.

  Saba walked out of the room, her hand on the door, pausing just before she closed it. “The pack is glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re here too.”

  Confusion came before annoyance. The pack thought I would ensnare their Alpha, bring him out of the pain we had been told he was in and provide him with a strong alliance with a well-respected pack that would give wealth and notoriety. I narrowed my eyes at the door. The wolf in me reared her head and growled, unhappy that such assumptions had been made about me.

  Unpacking clothes with jerky movements, pulling out drawers and pushing them back in with more force than necessary, I only ended up cringing at the screech they made. My anger made itself known with the shaking of my hands, so I focused instead on claiming this room as my territory by leaving a few of my things in clear view.

  Once unpacked, I began to mark the room as mine by walking the perimeter, making sure to brush fingers against walls, leaving my scent. It was maybe a silly thing to do considering I wouldn’t be here for long, but I couldn’t help myself.

  The room smelled thoroughly like me now, floral and sweet, and left me with little more to do. I was too uncertain of the wolves here to be confident enough to wander around as Saba had suggested. Deciding waiting until I had acquainted myself to be the best idea, I settled on the bed and picked up the remote for the TV.

  A knock on the door had me sitting up, inhaling then smiling at the familiar scent of lavender.

  “Come in, Oria!” I called, sitting cross-legged on the bed so there was room for her too.

  Oria walked in with her head bowed, white blonde hair hiding her face like a curtain. Instinct had me sitting straighter as I patted the bed for her. She practically jumped before mirroring my crossed legs.

  “Isn’t it just breathtaking here?” she gushed, taking in my room with wide eyes.

  “You’ve looked around?” I asked in surprise.

  Her low status did make it easier to explore, as not many wolves saw her as a threat. She could move through the pack here and none of the high-ranked members would give her a glance in challenge. She was beneath them. However, Oria was a very timid wolf and tended to stay away from the unfamiliar.

  “I went for a quick run. The forest is amazing, like something out of Lord of the Rings! I wouldn’t have been surprised if an elf had stepped out from behind a tree while I was there,” she exclaimed with a childish giggle. />
  I shook my head at her, amused. “Don’t let Legolas sweep you away just yet.”

  Blue eyes peered at me, meeting and holding my gaze before she quickly looked away again. That piqued my interest, making me quiet until she told what it was I knew she wanted to say.

  “I wouldn’t mind living here…” she prompted gently.

  I growled. Eyes glowed, my chin lifted, letting my dominance flow. I did not concede until Oria ducked her head and then extended her neck, whimpering beneath the force of the power I let loose.

  “The next time my father asks you to convince me of something, you better be more subtle,” I threatened, my voice tight.

  She nodded her head quickly and spoke in a small whisper, “I’m sorry, Cathwulf.”

  Her submission appeased me, allowing me to draw myself back in, letting Oria relax.

  If we were in our fur, Oria would have been belly up and whining with my teeth at her throat.

  The air was tense between us. Conversation wouldn’t flow. I was angry, unable to understand why my dream to fight for Beta Female of my pack was not enough to make my Alpha, my father, proud. My wolf was pensive and unhappy at having to have put Oria in her place after trusting the she-wolf to know not to overstep the tenuous friendship we had. Maybe I had been too harsh on her.

  My rank sometimes made it hard for her to speak her mind, scared of my retribution.

  “We should go down for dinner,” I finally grumbled, Oria waiting for me to get to my feet before she did.

  Her head stayed ducked, her shoulders hunched in on themselves, making her look smaller than she really was. I placed my hand on her shoulder, feeling guilty for how I had spoken to her. I leant down to press my cheek to hers, and that action spoke louder than words, saying, I’m sorry, all is forgiven.

  Chapter Three

  The Alpha

  Oria walked ahead of me, her blonde hair catching the light as she showed me where the dining room was. She really had done some exploring, and that amazed me. I was still shocked she had agreed to come with me so easily. Years of abuse had left her more than a little wary of strangers, but I felt pride that she had been able to look around by herself. I trailed behind her, trying to put off seeing Alpha Roarke for as long as possible, not feeling the confidence and determination I had before. Oria chattered on aimlessly about some of the omegas she had met on her arrival, telling me how much she loved it here, how she wished she could find a mate here so she could stay.

  A breathy laugh was the only acknowledgement I gave, to which she gave me an indignant look. After a few moments of silence, her shoulders slumped. We both knew the likelihood of her taking a mate was slim; she felt too much fear in the presence of males.

  “I have nothing to go back to,” she said quietly with a shrug, turning to make sure I was still there.

  I frowned and shook my head.

  “Don’t be silly, Oria. You have me,” I replied with a wide grin. “You and I shall be friends together forever. Besides, you know too many of my dark secrets for me to ever let you out of my sight.”

  She smiled, but it never reached her eyes. Did she really think I’d end up staying here, that she would have to go back home alone because I’d end up mated to the Alpha here? I’d need to make her understand that I had no intention of staying here past the week.

  “Wherever I go, you go, okay?” I reiterated, reaching out to squeeze her hand and pull her close, my shoulder bumping against hers playfully.

  The smile finally glittered in her sky blue eyes, and she nodded. “Okay, Cathwulf.”

  We continued on our way, hand in hand, Oria tugging me around a corner where I ended up pausing on seeing that the photo of the young boy and his parents was missing from the table in the hall. She let go of my hand as I stopped.

  I frowned, unable to think of a reason someone would have taken it. I hadn’t broken it when I had dropped it…Had someone seen me look at it and then promptly removed it?

  Shaking my head, I went on, realising Oria had disappeared during my distraction.

  I followed her scent further down the hall, spotting her by one of the numerous doors, the big open planned kitchen opposite. Men and women bustled around the room, cooking food, cleaning pots, and I laughed to myself at the sight of two young males who managed to pinch some rolls from a plate and scurry off without being caught. They would be little rascals when they got older. I could tell already they would be ones to test their boundaries, and I wondered briefly if these were the orphans Saba had mentioned

  Oria coughed for my attention, and I gave her an apologetic chuckle. “Sorry, what did you say?”

  “I said, only the higher-ranked members eat here, so will I see you after tea?” She laughed, smiling brightly and rolling her eyes. “Honestly, you have the attention span of a pup sometimes, Cathwulf.”

  From anyone else, the jest would have gained a flash of fang, but instead I nodded with a smile and pressed my cheek to hers. “Of course, I’ll come and find you.”

  Watching her skip off, managing to avoid the wolves who walked around the house like she was invisible, I hoped she would be okay without me a little longer. I couldn’t help the nerves that fluttered in my stomach at the prospect of seeing the Alpha now she’d left me alone with my thoughts. I hesitated, then with a deep breath, drawing on my wolf, I pushed open the door and stepped in.

  The room was beautiful, and all worries left me as I took everything in. Massive windows looked out into the forest, deep red curtains framing them. The floor was dark polished wood, a few scuff marks and dents that showed its use. Again I found myself falling in love with the house of my dreams.

  The table was longer than any I’d ever seen before, built to fit the high ranks of two packs on it. My father had left his third behind along with his mate; only my father’s Beta and two of his best warriors and their mates sat at this table as well. Oria would have to eat by herself unless she felt brave enough to join someone. I felt bad about that; she and I normally always shared our meals together.

  Chatter between pack mates gave it a welcoming feel as I walked up near the top, meeting the eyes of anyone who dared until they looked away first. Alpha Roarke’s high ranked needed to know that I only submitted to their Alpha and their Beta pair.

  The chair at the head of the table was empty, which meant oddly, there was still no sign of the infamous Alpha. I should have noticed his lack of presence immediately, but I was too caught up in the scenery and game of dominance.

  Relief flooded me, and the tension and nerves settled down.

  My parents sat on the right of the Alpha’s chair with Beta Eagan next to them and my place next to him. Beta Zale and Saba sat across from them with an unknown black-haired male who refused to look at me sitting across from me. The Alpha’s third, I assumed. I wondered what I’d done to gain his disapproval, though it seemed he quite happily ignored even his own pack mates.

  The rest of the table was filled with my father’s two warriors and their mates and Alpha Roarke’s other high-ranking members. I recognised a few faces from those gathered when we arrived, although those who had pups would probably be eating in their own homes.

  There was a lot of new scents and faces to take in, almost overwhelmingly so. My wolf was continually on alert for danger from these strangers who she had no knowledge of. A squeeze to my shoulder from Seaghán, one of the warriors I had grown up with knowing as an uncle, had me settling down. I was glad to have him next to me.

  “You get used to it. I know it is difficult, but you must pull back those instincts telling you that you’re in danger. Nobody here will hurt you. I won’t let them,” he soothed, his brown eyes showing sympathy.

  I could only nod, and he went back to talking to his mate, Hanna, who sat next to him and gave me a small smile. She was new to my father’s pack and a little nervous as she was still trying to settle in. She’d know better than anyone else how I was feeling right now.

  Food was set on the table, its d
elicious aroma filling my senses. My stomach growled, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Unfortunately, we couldn’t touch it until our host sat and took his share, so I could only stare longingly. Now, I was hoping the Alpha would show up so I could sate my hunger.

  As I was again inhaling the tempting smell of the broth that sat in front of me, another caught my attention. It was strong and something I could not ignore, smelling of wild mountains and forests.

  A male walked in, catching the attention of everyone.

  Silence.

  The air became thick with power, my wolf feeling the urge to bow even as I fought against it. Few at the table managed to keep their heads up. I was amazed at the strength that rivalled even my father’s, and he was considered one of the strongest males in our world.

  This was the presence of a true Alpha.

  The power he held pulled back, allowing my head to lift from the pressure that had held it down, along with everybody else’s.

  Pale green eyes met mine, and I inhaled sharply. It was like he was looking right into my very soul, not allowing me to look anywhere else but at him.

  My wolf appreciated what he had to offer, attracted to his dominance. I still couldn’t seem to look away from those strange-coloured eyes that held mine until I was forced to look elsewhere, the strength of his prestige too much for me. When his gaze left my face, I got the confidence to peek at him again. My wolf was restless; she wanted to meet this male herself, test him, see if he could hold her respect. My eyes raked over him.

  Shaggy brown hair curled around the nape of his neck; muscles bunched and strained against tight fabric as he made his way to the top of the table. A light tracing of stubble across his jaw only added to his rugged looks that had me tempted.

  This was an Alpha male at his fiercest. No she-wolf would be able to resist.

  “I’m sorry for my absence, Alpha Everett. I had some urgent business that required my immediate attention,” he apologised.