Chapter 8

Mari’s Point of View

            I awoke lying on a small bed. Looking around, I notice that I wasn’t in the old building. However, I didn’t know where I was and that was making me upset. Suddenly, the sound of a deep voice coming from down the hall brushed against my ears. Slowly, I slide my legs off of the bed. Feeling a slight pain in my ankle, I look down. I’m surprised to see that a white bandaged is wrapped around it. Until I remember that I had been hanging from that ankle. I gently ease my weight onto my feet. I was a little surprised when the pain I was expecting didn’t shoot up my leg.

            The door to my room was standing open. I decided to go and find that person behind that voice I was hearing. As I slowly made my way down the hall, I noticed that there wasn’t much of a difference between this pack house and ours. A soft chuckle slips out as I remember that I am passing as a human. Lynx would be so pissed if he knew, I tell myself. I could hear him already giving me a lecture. “Although you haven’t shifted yet Mari, you should be proud to be a wolf. You shouldn’t go around hiding it like you’re ashamed of whom you are! And you shouldn’t be ashamed that your wolf hasn’t shown up yet.”   

            I shake my head, sighing. Where was a very, very rare possibility that I would never shift. It only happens like 2 births in a million. A wolf could give birth to a pup that would never get her or his wolf. And if that happened in an alpha pair, well, let’s just say that makes the odds of having a pup with no wolf highly unlikely. But there were stories from decades ago where it happened. Not a happy ending.

            Coming out of my daze, I could see a man in a very large office, talking to someone on his cell. By the power that was radiating off of him, I figured he was the alpha. Lost in my thoughts, I just stayed there in his door way, staring at him. I didn’t realize that I was still staring at him until he placed his cell on the desk and stood up. He looked my way and our eyes met.

            He seemed to be shocked to find me standing there. So, what do I do? I just smile at him. And the strangest thing happened. His heart rate sped up. “I’m Mari. Mari Bellflower.” I tell him. Then, as soon as I let my last name out, I mentally hit my forehead. Stupid, why didn’t you use your real last name? Uh, are you ashamed of it? I can be a real pain in the neck to myself sometimes.

            I hold out my hand towards him to shake his, but he just stands there for the longest ten seconds, like he doesn’t even see my hand. I was deciding whether or not to drop mine when he slowly slides his huge paw into mine. The second our skin met, I felt an electric shock race up my arm. I quickly shot a glance at him and for some reason I’m glad that he felt it as well. I shake my head. That fall must have short circuited something in my brain. Lynx should have told me things were weird in the western borders.

            I notice that this alpha in front of me seems to think something’s wrong with me. All he’s doing is staring at him. Even at home, I hate being the center of attention. Which I think is ironic since I’m the daughter and foster daughter of two alphas. Most future Luna’s I know love being the center of attention, always craving the drama.

            Even though this guy is kind of creeping me out with all of his staring, I give him a smile. He smiles back at me and sits back in his chair. “Please be seated Ms. Bellflower.” He tells me as I settle into a huge, comfortable brown leather chair. “I’m sorry that I didn’t introduce myself earlier. I’m Alpha Castile Winchester. And it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He kept his eyes trained on my face. I know that my face gives away every emotion that I fill. I’m a little shocked that he would so careless announce his wolf title to a mere “human”.

            An idea hit me suddenly, making me feel very amused with it. I could bet that his men, Tom and the others, already told him that I’m a human. And I know that they couldn’t smell the wolf’s blood that runs strong in my veins. I quickly decide to have a little fun with this uptight alpha. He looks like he needs a laugh. Although, most alphas that I know of tend to get offended at almost anything and at any given moment. Here’s hoping that this guy isn’t one of those alphas.