Chapter 16

Katie's POV

The previous night of enjoyment set my mood for this new day. I help but feel today will be a good day. I headed down to breakfast as always. Everyone but Sara had already arrived - perhaps the late night had her sleeping in later than usual. I figured after she left to get washed up last night she decided to call it a day as it was getting late. "How was Mr Wallin's Katerina? It has been many years since I have seen the young lad." My father asked, glancing over at Drew - at this time we were all ignoring the elephant in the room.

"Lucas is quite well, father, though not so young now, he is a man, full grown." It had been many years since I had seen Lucas. We spent much of the evening talking and chatting once Sara had left for the night. I truly enjoyed our time together. I am glad my friend is here for a few more days. I hope to see more of him - who knows when we will next meet. I lean over and grab an omelette and some fruit, picking at my breakfast. Drew seemed agitated, looking at the doorway waiting for something."Isabella, how did you spend your evening?" Her hair was pulled over her left shoulder, as she played with it, twirling it around her finger. She looked up at me with her brown eyes, seeming to have a flash of panic, though she hid this reaction quickly. "Oh, me? I spent some time welcoming in the packs, then I er..." She cleared her throat "... I ran to the border, it felt like the right thing to do with so many of us in one place." She smiled and then diverted her gaze to her food, picking at the leftover breakfast cake on her plate. Sparing me a suspicious glance. Gwyneth places a new jug of freshly squeezed tangelo juice, I catch her eye and smile. "Would you like me to pour you a glass, Miss Katerina?" Oh, the thought did sound enticing. I agree with my thanks. Once poured, she places the glass in front of me with a slight courtesy wiping the juice that dripped onto her hands on her white apron. She turned to offer the rest of the family a glass, each turning her offer down, my father, with a slight no gesture shook his hand from side to side, Isabella stated she appreciated the offer and Drew far to distracted, watching the door to answer when first asked. "Drew." My father sharply spoke. "Miss Gwyneth is offering you a glass of juice, would you be so kind to acknowledge her."

"My apologies Gwyneth, no juice for myself - thank you." The older lady was grateful for the answer and finally placed the jug upon the table, before leaving. After finishing my omelette, I took a large drink of the tangelo juice. Sara would love this. I'm surprised she has not joined us. Excusing myself from the table, I headed up to see Sara. I tapped on her door a few times but I got no answer, feeling panic that was not my own rise in chest, I knocked again. "Sara, I can sense you are in there. Let me in... please?" I waited a few more moments but again with no response. "Sara, I need to know you are ok so either let me in or I will kick down the door it's your choice." I was not joking and I am sure she could sense it. Counting down in my head 3...2...1, I lifted my leg ready to kick just as the door unlocked opening slightly. I walked into the room, she had the curtains drawn so the room was very dark. Too dark to see clearly. I didn't realise she had drunk so much last night - did she have a hangover? "Are you feeling ill Sara?" She seemed to take a long time in answering me. "No, I'm OK." She whispered, something felt off here. I walked over to the curtains and opened them. The light flooded into the room as I turned to examine the room. Nothing seemed out of place, everything was as neat and tidy as ever - except her bed as she was still sitting on it, having returned as soon as she unlocked the door. She did not seem unwell, but something was amiss. Her fiery hair was falling in an unnatural way. "What's going on Sara?" She looked sheepishly at me but shook her head.

"Nothing, I am fine." As she shook her head, her long auburn waves moved, giving me a glimpse of purple marks on her neck. I moved toward her, removing the hair from her neck. "Who did this to you!?" I demanded, she shook her head looking ashamed, her eyes filling with tears. "It's nothing." I widened my eyes at her and she knew I would not accept anything but the truth. "Honestly, I am fine. I would just like to spend some time alone until they heal."

"Who?" She had still not given me a name. Had one of the pack hurt her, I would personally make sure they were punished. The door creaked and Sara's eyes shot to the door. A shooting pain went into my heart at the same time. What in Domilia? I spun to the doorway to see Drew standing there looking sheepish, his eyes glued to Sara and hers to him. I look back and forth between them a number of times before it hits me. "What did you do to her!?" I stormed over to him, hand raised as though I would choke him at any moment. "Leave us please Katie." He tells me.

"No I will not, did you do that to her?" I demanded once more.

"Leave. Please." I glanced back at Sara who was still wrapped in her blanket. She nodded it was ok for me to leave. Begrudgingly, I leave, slowly stopping at the end of the hallway to listen in. "Sara, please, I am sorry if I have hurt you." I heard a sob leave her before she replied. "You did not hurt me, Drew, I wanted to be with you. I have to ask you to leave me alone. I am not strong enough to fight my feelings for you alone."

"I am not strong enough to stay away from you, Love. From before we even met, I have been drawn to you - I try to control it, but sometimes I lose that battle."

"I do not understand. You have met your soulmate, you have known you were meant for each other since you were children." I hear another crack in her voice. I feel as though I am intruding, but I cannot leave yet. I knew they were close. I had not considered they could be more than attraction between them. Could he love her? He replied clearly "I have known we were to be mated since we were children, yes, but this was not a choice of my heart. Yes, it's true, Addison is to be my mate in the laws of the wolves, but my soulmate she is not. The love I hold for her is nothing more than friendship. I had always hoped when the time came it would be enough, but now..."

"But now?"

"But now you have turned my world upside down and I fear without you my wolf will tear us in two. I do not know what I am to do, I have a duty as heir." I heard the anguish in his voice. Having heard enough, I turned away, having to gain some advice from someone older than me.

-----------------------------

” I think he may love her, Grandma! Like really love her...” I exploded.

”No, he cannot!" snapped my Grandma.

”Why not? Why can’t he choose her? She is a better fit for him.” I argued back.

Barbara lets out a breath as if it is obvious “She is human Katie - Drew is going to be Alpha. No, it won’t do, he has been promised to that lovely girl. What is her name again?”

”Addison.” Her Grandpa’s voice joined the conversation.

”Oh, Bill, tell her, she’s talking nonsense.”

Katie turns to face her Grandpa, who has just sat in his favourite chair as he is brushing flour off of his cardigan- he must have been baking. The smell of freshly baked bread permeating the air made Katie’s mouth water. “I know you want the best for him, Katie. My darling, we all do. Your brother is promised to another, the only way to end that is for him to find and mark his true mate before the rituals. We’ve allowed years for him to find her and he hasn’t yet.” Grandpa’s eyes well up, Katie knows he isn’t happy about the arrangement. In fact, he was the one who fought for it to take this long. In a normal mating arrangement, the wolves mate as soon as the youngest turns 18. Grandpa Bill wanted to give Drew the chance to find true love. He would say “I could not imagine living my life without my Barbara, I wouldn’t be - whole. How can we take that from him?” He managed to get Drew an extra 3 years. We don’t know how he did it, as it seemed impossible, but he did. We all know Grandma and Grandpa are not soulmates but they act as though they are.

”This is crap!” I exclaimed.

”Language, young lady!” Grandma Barbara chastises.

”Well it is Grandma, there must be a way!”

Barbara is clearly flustered and retorts “Your judgement is clouded by your opinion of the girl! What would you have him do, give up being Alpha and run to the sunset with some human?!” It wasn’t so much a question as a sarcastic remark. Barbara was seething. The Alpha blood came from her side of the family. Grandpa inherited the position when they mated. Grandpa was silent, his lips shut tight, but the way he was staring at me, he wanted to tell me something, I just couldn’t work it out. Flinging my arms dramatically into the air, frustrated, I headed for the door.

 Well, that was useless. You would think, being the former Alpha and Luna, they would know how to help. Needing to let loose, and get rid of some pent-up energy, I quickly ran home and changed into something with a little more movement. I settled on a silvery, sparkly halter neck vest and some shiny black leggings. It was decided I was going to the Omnis.

 Finally, I arrived at the large stone archway, ivy curled around it creeping into the cracks and crevices as if holding it in place. A quick nip of my finger lets the blood seep out, I feed it to the stone. Glancing around, I was feeling extra cautious with so many more wolves about. The purple sea between the arch flowed gently, luring me in. Every cell in my body was electric as if they were already dancing. Stepping into the Omnis, I had hoped to be greeted by Arius - however, he did not seem to be there. Heading straight for the bar, I ordered a drink. "The best one you have Axil." He reached his hand up into his hair, scratching just behind his horn as I pulled up a stool. "Hard day?" He asked, expertly mixing a drink in a tall glass, finishing it with a spring of Aelmweed. I give him the 'do you really want to know' eyes and he laughs "Come on hit me with it, what's up K?" I consider talking to him but it's bad enough I'm here, should it be found out I shared pack information I would hate to see the consequences.

"It's fine honestly. Wolf stuff." I rolled my eyes, he accepted this and left me to my drink. Swirling the glass, it shimmers and smokes, the smell is floral with hints of apple. I nurse the glass, unsure why I am here and still unready to leave. The mirrored wall copies my reflection back at me. I find myself staring back at myself for the longest time as though I was going to work out a solution. A sharp movement behind me in the reflection caught my attention to a man sitting in all black. He was sat on a black leather sofa right in the corner, watching me - how long had he been watching? I did not move my body, swirling my drink but kept my sight fixed on the reflection. I wanted to be sure he was watching me before I caused a scene. Gulping down the last of the sweet liquid, my body feels light and airy. With the extra courage I had from the drink, I stood up and spun around, making my way over to the dark corner to give him a piece of my mind - I could feel the eyes of the people here burning into my back as they watched me march over. A quick glance to the left and I spotted Meridiana. That one second distraction was all it took, for when my gaze readjusted, the guy was gone, leaving nothing but a long black feather on the table. I instinctively picked it up, turning it in my fingers- the light hit of the shiny black feather gave it an almost navy appearance. It only made me wonder more - who was that?