Four

AVENA

We stopped briefly for lunch before going to the Silvermoon territory, as I learnt from Uncle Gray a few minutes ago. Soon we were there. And once the scouts at the territory saw him, they let us in without questions.

The Silvermoon territory was large, had lots of beautiful lakes, huge trees and beautiful flowers. Their cabins were beautifully made and richly styled giving the whole place a wealthy look.

We arrived at the Alpha palace and the car came to a halt. We all got out, and Uncle Gray turned to me.

"How well can you control your wolf?" He asked. "Mona tells me you're trying your best."

I was confused by why he asked but I still nodded, "I'm still trying. It is not yet perfect." I replied.

Uncle Gray took my hand. "The Alphas in there have misjudged our pack. No matter what happens, don't let your wolf out. Keep her under control. Those idiots in there can be disrespectful sometimes." He said, sharing a look between me and Aunt Mona.

"I will. You don't have to worry about it." I replied determined to keep Sage in no matter what.

Sage gave that scoffing snort I hated to hear from her. We'll see about that. She said. I hated how she proved stubborn sometimes.

"Now let's go in." He said to the both of us. Aunt Mona rubbed my shoulder, telling me it was alright before following Uncle Gray.

The palace was large, having lots of twists and turns, tiled pavements and decorative flowers. As we walked further, my legs started to get tired. We neared the meeting building, that faint cedarwood scent clouded my nostrils once more. Again, Sage got excited and danced around. This time it was much more heavier and distinct and I knew he was closer than ever. We walked some more and the scent started to be more pronounced.

I felt the same pair of eyes on me making me scan the environment seriously until it landed on a particular dude in the group of boys. He was the dude from before. And oh did he look awfully familiar.

The dude didn't break eye contact, which made Sage wiggle in excitement, urging me to go further to him.

Mate. That's our mate. Sage sang making me twist my lips in a frown. How could he be my mate? And even if he was, he was going to reject me. They all were. I knew it, so it was pointless getting my hopes high and acknowledging them. I was going to control the urge and make it disappear somehow.

I felt restless and my body burned. Sage was furious.

I looked away and focused on where I was going. Hopefully, I wouldn't get to see him again.

We entered the building, passing some shifters on the way who kept on staring at us, including those who were guarding the door and went straight into the room where the Alphas were having their meeting. Our already registered presence made them have their attention on the door anticipating us.

But the moment they saw us, most of them wore shocked expressions, some disgust while the last dude had an expressionless face.

* * *

ISAAC

Caius took out the large lollipop from his mouth and yawned. "You think they're almost done with the meeting?" He asked. "Why would they make us stay here if they aren't even going to let us be part of it?"

I sighed at his whining. He had been like this ever since we left the council and I was getting tired of him complaining so much. Plus my mind was still at the girl I saw back there. It was really her. She had come back for real, after so many years.

Beck straightened up, "How are you ever going to take over the Beta role with this attitude?" He asked slapping Caius' head and making Caius shoot him a murderous look.

"I'll show you when I beat your ass again during training." He clapped back.

Beck said something else just as I zoned out and shoved my hands in my pocket. I exhaled deeply and allowed my eyes to close shot, letting my body bask in the early evening sun.

We were just outside leaning on one of the buildings next to where the Alpha pack meeting was taking place. Waiting for it to end impatiently.

Just then, the strong smell of Jasmine filled the air and my nostrils, alerting both me and Thor, my wolf. I knew that scent now. It was her. She was here.

I shot my eyes open and it landed on her at a distance. She had come with the woman from earlier and the Alpha of the Lunaria pack. Her slumped shoulders, blank expression and wandering eyes told me she really didn't care about being here at the moment.

Thor's energy surged making him bustle with excitement and impatience. I felt a string strongly pulling me towards her triggering my possessiveness.

Mate. Mate. Was all Thor kept saying and I was holding him in, stopping him from coming out.

Mate?

How could she be my mate?

The coming-of-age ceremony had just been days ago, and I hadn't found my mate then. Everyone had concluded that it was the blackmoon curse and that I was going to be mateless. I had only started to make peace with that and now, she had just appeared after ten years. She had left me in my misery for ten years despite her promise and now she was here? Here as my mate too?

The moon goddess probably had a fun time writing my story.

She locked eyes with me and her lips forming a little frown made me wonder if it was because she remembered me or if she didn't. Or if she felt the same thing I was feeling or not. There was a whole lot of thoughts.

Beck made a clicking tongue sound reminding me that they were still with me. "Alpha of the Lunaria pack? In the Alpha pack meeting? That's unusual."

"Who's the girl with him and the woman? Haven't seen them around before." Caius asked.

She looked away from me and continued following the Alpha of the Lunaria pack boredly but my eyes could barely leave her.

"Yeah me neither, are they new pack members or what?" Beck thought out loud, his eyebrows furrowing. "It's about to be a whole commotion town in there."

"Look at all that bad aura coming from that Nyxian blood they harbour," Caius spat out gaining him an annoyed look from me.

How could he speak about them like that? Was I the only one and that dickhead Marco who remembered her? How could they not know her?

"Aren't you supposed to know? You're the Alpha's son." Beck said again nudging me with his elbow.

When I didn't answer, Caius spoke up, ignoring me. "One thing's for sure, the Lunaria pack are never good news."

"That's Avena Slade," I said finally telling them and shutting them up. "Daughter of the now late previous Alpha of the Lunaria pack.