Chapter 17

Saras POV

The heat of the air is particularly dry today, like when you sit in front of the log fire on a summer night. It is possibly the hottest day I have ever experienced and definitely the hottest since I arrived in Domilia only a few weeks ago. Fanning myself with my hand while I contemplated my day. Having hidden away yesterday, like a child hiding from her parents when they've done something wrong. Drew had food sent up to my room along with a healing potion for my neck, likely to hide the evidence from the pack - I was unprepared to leave my room with my neck looking like I had been attacked by a wolf! I was defiant for the day but woke up this morning itching to leave this house. I figured hiding away was not helpful to anyone - that and it was the full moon tonight, it will be wolf central around here. Edward had kindly asked if asking really meant telling, but with a kind manner, I make myself scarce this evening. Another full 24 hours in this room without being outside didn't seem worth holding on to my new neck tattoo, so begrudgingly, I chugged down the potion. I really wanted to try and get as much vitamin D into me as I could before being ushered away like a dirty little secret. The plan is to just have an early night and sleep if I can, like going to bed on Christmas eve, even with all the excitement, the quicker I fall asleep the quicker the next day will arrive. It has only been a few weeks since I arrived here. I can't believe how fast time has passed and this is the first full moon I will be here for - I so wanted to be a part of it! I wonder how the wolves will react to it. Will they turn into monsters like all the stories we would be told growing up or would they be the same as they are now? The book I am reading tells me it supercharges the wolves and they become more energetic. More powerful, like recharging a battery. It was strange to think how much my life had changed in only a few weeks. I fanned myself with my hand in a pointless attempt to cool down, as my mind wandered. Soon I was thinking of home and what was happening back there. I wonder if they were missing me. I doubt this. Still, they must wonder what happened to me. The last I remember, I was getting ready for my birthday party. The next, I woke up in Domilia, a little worse for wear. Do they think I have died - after all, we were always taught all who enter the forest never return. I do get a little homesick, I miss the wait staff, my room and our gardener - that man was like a father to me. Mr Green had been working at the house for as long as I could remember, he would always take the time to show me the plants and tell me stories. My favourite story is "Legend has it, in a Kingdom far away, the people who lived there were in turmoil. Friends fought with friends, neighbours fought with neighbours and lovers were kept apart. It was a terrible fate for all who lived there. Hundreds of years would pass and soon the people who lived there had forgotten all about how life once was. One day, a child will be born who will grow up to be their Saviour. In order to save the kingdom, he will first need to find the secret gem left by the goddess of the moon. With the power of the moon, the saviour would restore the kingdom and help it to heal." I remember dreaming of my knight in shining armour coming to my home and fixing my kingdom for me. I close my eyes, remembering Mr Green, he would regularly sit with me on the edge of the wood with a cup of herbal tea, he brewed from the plants he grew in our garden. His warm brown eyes and short brown hair, which had become covered in grey hair in recent years and he was always wearing his brown or blue overalls. I smile remembering him. I miss him deeply - he was always the one constant thing I could count on. On many occasions, he almost lost his position when standing up to my father. My father was a scary man. There were few who dared stand up to him, but Mr Green did, whenever he could if my father dared to come at me in his presence. He never seemed to be intimidated by my father. I smiled, warmth filling my heart as I remembered his kindness and how he kept me safe.

As my eyes opened, I could not help but jump as I met with those same brown eyes. I blinked a few times in confusion before realising Mr Green had long brown hair and a lovely orange dress. The sound of two glasses being placed on the table brought me back to my senses. "Hi, I am sorry I haven't had the time to welcome you properly yet, I'm Addison." The beautiful woman beside me beamed. I was at a loss for words, she had never shown me any kindness up until now, but here she was gleaming at me as if we had been life-long friends. "May I sit with you? I brought us some refreshments..." she smiled, indicating the two peach-coloured drinks filled with ice. "Yes, of course, my apologies." I stammered out, still holding the book in my hands. "My name is Sara..."

She let out a chuckle, "I know who you are, you've been the talk of the pack!" I gulped wondering where this was going. "I do think you have a lovely name, it suits you beautifully." In my confusion, I managed to stutter out my thanks. "What I haven't yet heard is how you came to be here, a human amongst wolves, how did that happen?" She slides the glass on her left towards me. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure. The night of my arrival is very much a blur to me. From what I can gather, Drew helped me from a situation and brought me here to heal." Addison noticeably sucks in air and her eyes wooden at the mention of Drew, but she recovers well. Her smile tightens "Yes that mate of mine is truly a hero."

"You aren't yet mated though, right?" I couldn't help myself, the words left me before I could stop them. Reaching up, I stroked my now healed neck, remembering our time in the moon room only three evenings ago. A quiet flash of fury in her eyes let me know she was not happy with my challenge as she took a sip of her drink. "That is true. Soon though. The mating rituals are no small thing, they are precious to us. Unlike humans, wolves are loyal. We mate for life. We are made for one person and Drew has been mine for longer than I can remember. I am sure once we are alpha and luna we will do great things together. You should come to the wedding. It's only a couple of months away - if you will still be here, of course?" I could feel my blood pressure rising, I clung tightly to the book, and a hot breeze blew over me, not helping at all. I force myself to smile. I know the truth. Drew explained this to me yesterday. It felt like a knife in my gut, but hearing it from her felt like the knife was being twisted. The reminder has brought the pain back to the surface, like a blister that lost its protective layer. Drew explained to me no matter how much he wanted to be with me, body and soul, we could never be together in that way. Once a wolf connects physically with another, they are bound. It's an old tradition, a single love for all eternity, as it has been since the beginning of the wolves. My heart in my throat, I nodded. "If I am here I will try to attend." Our eyes locked in a stalemate. My senses suggested she was aware of Drew's feelings towards her and saw me as a competition. I knew better, there was no competition, from the moment of my birth I could not compete - "an alpha needs a luna... and a luna must be a wolf..." His broken words replayed in my mind, as I stared at Addison, fighting back the tears threatening to form.

My glass being lifted from the table broke our stare off, Addison looked horrified, her mouth bobbing like a fish out of water. A very sweaty alpha drank the whole drink in one go, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand and throwing me a playful wink. He lent over and gave Addison a quick shoulder squeeze before continuing his jog, not before shouting back "can someone get Sara a fresh drink please?" It was a question, but by now every wolf knew it was an order in the nicest form. I couldn't help but guffaw. Edward completely broke the emotions building up within me and seemed to have thrown Addison off her game too. "What would you like to drink Miss Sara?" An omega came over to ask. Seeing my opportunity to leave a shell-shocked Addison, I replied "Nothing. Thank you." Then turning my attention to Addison. "I am sure your drink would have been lovely and I appreciate the gesture - maybe next time! I am sorry, but I have to run now. Enjoy your evening." Addison didn't even bother to reply as I headed off, grateful for Edward's interruption.

I arrive back at the house, the family is nowhere to be seen. The omegas, however, are running around like ants - preparing food and drinks for the full moon tonight. I slid past, heading to my room, apologising repeatedly for getting in the way, and closing the door gently behind me once back in the room. I tossed the book onto the bed like a frisbee, exhaling in relief. As I do, I notice a large turquoise crystal on my side table. I recognised the crystal immediately. It was one of the crystals from the lagoon. My fingers trail over the uneven surface, a heaviness in my chest as I feel something is missing within me. A note was placed beside them in Drew's handwriting. I folded the note and placed it in my pocket. A smile spread across my face, as my hand reached to my heart. We haven't been alone since we spoke yesterday - we decided it was better to avoid the temptation, but I have to admit my heart misses him. Laying down on top of my bed, I looked at the window, taking in the events of the day, feeling emotionally exhausted. My eyes were heavy as I blinked.

"Wake up, Sara." his silky voice calls to me. Raising my arms above my head, I stretched, fluttering my lashes at him. A growl leaves his throat purring, and he grabs both my hands still above my head, pinning them to the bed. He leans into me, his nose trailing up my neck, setting my body on fire. I moan in delight, tilting my head back, allowing Drew easier access to me. My stomach swirls with excitement. Keeping one hand pinning my arms up, he traces down my body with his other. Fingers danced over my breasts, teasing my n*****s seductively. Goosebumps cover my skin over every inch of me he touches. My back arches as his fingers reach my waistband, the pressure rising in my core bringing me close to the edge with ease. I opened my eyes, to meet his gaze, his fangs elongated. As our eyes connect, he growls, leaning into my neck. "Mate." He says with dominance, sinking his fangs into my bared neck. My body shudders, taking me over the edge as I moan audibly. The force of which woke me - my body still reacting to the experience. My chest rises and falls as I come down from my recent ecstasy. I looked around the room, noticing that the sun was almost fully set. I was alone. The heat from my core moved up to my cheeks as I realised I had been dreaming - pulling a pillow over my face, I let out an exasperated scream. Having gotten that out of my system, I sat up, the crystal now letting off a beautiful glow across the room - this will be perfect to read while I am stuck in my bedroom.

There was a gentle tapping at my bedroom door. I strolled across the room and opened the door. "Oh Gywenth, is everything OK?" I asked, surprised to see her. Gwyneth smiled at me, a tray of food in her hands.

"Yes, Miss Sara. You missed tea and I did not want you going hungry this evening." She passed over the tray, nodding her head respectfully before leaving. I take the tray gratefully and grab the book hoping to distract myself from my recent dream, while there is still enough natural light. Tonight's meal is a noodle-type dish. The meat in it tasted very much like chicken. I grabbed a full fork full of noodles and popped them into my mouth, slurping up the noodle that was dangling upon my chin, and wiping my mouth with the napkin provided. Trailing my finger across the page, I read "Wolves typically complete their first transformation between the ages of 8-13. The youngest ever recorded transformation was 4 years old although this is extremely rare, only being recorded a handful of times. The first 4 months following maturity leading up to a wolf's first turn are the hardest - the wolf may grow unstable emotionally, they may suddenly have the ability to affect the elements of nature and may be unable to keep from hearing intrusive thoughts." Odd, I had assumed they would be born as wolves, able to change from birth.