Chapter 55
Scotland—a rare and beautiful land where everything felt different. The atmosphere was calmer, the pace of life slower. I marveled at the serenity that hung in the air, from the misty mornings to the quaint cobblestone streets. It was nothing like the bustling, fast-paced chaos of America. Here, it felt like everyone had an unspoken agreement to be patient—with life, with each other.
As our car cruised through the city, I watched in awe as a driver waited for a little girl to cross the street, even though he had the right of way. I smiled, appreciating the kindness as we drove by. We were leaving the city, heading towards our pack’s territory, which Jake said was far from any human settlements. I found myself glancing at him in curiosity. I didn’t understand why we had to live so far from civilization—humans weren’t really a threat to us.
“Why do we have to live so far from people?” I asked, leaning closer to him as the car bounced along the road.
Jake’s answer was brief, but direct. “It’s how things are in Avalon. The rules are different, and we have to keep a low profile. There are traditions, rules. Some of them are old, some strict, but it’s how we maintain our way of life.”
I sighed, leaning back in my seat. I had never been a fan of rules, especially not the kind that felt like they were keeping me isolated from the rest of the world. And living in the middle of nowhere? That wasn’t exactly my idea of paradise. As we passed the last few buildings on the outskirts of the city, a sense of dread settled in.
"I can't believe we’re actually going to live in a forest, miles away from civilization," Fatima groaned, her head resting against the window of the Range Rover.
I chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "That makes two of us."
Jake glanced at us through the rearview mirror, amused. “It’s not that bad. You’ll get used to it. Give it an hour or so, and we’ll be there.”
Fatima and I both turned to him, eyes wide. “*An hour*?” we exclaimed in unison.
“Yeah,” he said nonchalantly. “Might as well take a nap or something.”
I rolled my eyes at him. A nap? On this bumpy road? His casual attitude was infuriating, the kind that could make even a Zen master snap. Fatima, on the other hand, responded by dramatically bumping her head against the window again, making me frown. That had to hurt. She was human, after all, which meant I needed to be extra cautious around her. I’d have to keep a close eye on her now that we were entering pack territory.
"Are you okay?" I asked her softly, concern lacing my voice.
She sighed, sitting up straight with a furrowed brow. "Kind of. I'm just scared. I don't know what to expect."
I reached over and squeezed her hand, offering her a comforting smile. “You don’t have to be scared. I’ll take care of you. You know that.”
Fatima smiled weakly and rested her head on my lap. “I know. I just wish I could shake off this anxiety. It won’t go away.”
I stroked her hair gently, feeling the same unease bubbling in my stomach. “Trust me, I feel it too. My nerves are all over the place.”
She squealed, sitting up abruptly. “Don’t you *dare* throw up on me, Prisca!”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Fatima grinned, her playful energy returning as she closed her eyes, trying to relax again. “Just don’t remind me that we’re heading into bug country. Forests mean no network, no civilization, and did I mention bugs? Ugh, mosquitoes.”
“Please, don’t remind me,” I groaned, closing my eyes as well, hoping to sleep the last leg of the journey away.
***
I woke with a start as a hand gently shook my shoulder. “We’re here,” Jake’s voice murmured softly. There was something in his tone that stirred my wolf inside me, making her want to curl up in his arms for comfort.
I opened my eyes, immediately locking onto his. There was a shift in him, something different. He seemed more intense, more focused, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
"What?" he asked, giving me a strange look as if I had done something odd.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, quickly breaking eye contact. I turned to Fatima, who was still asleep, her head resting against my lap. I shook her lightly, and just like that, she was awake. Fatima had always been a light sleeper.
Jake gestured toward the cabins ahead of us. “Follow Chris. He’ll show you around a bit. I have some business to take care of. I’ll meet up with you in a bit.”
Before I could protest, he was gone, leaving me standing there in the middle of a strange territory. My chest tightened with frustration. *We’re in a completely new place, and his first instinct is to abandon me for ‘business’?*
“Don’t bother,” I muttered a little too loudly.
Chris, who had just appeared out of nowhere, chuckled. “Lucky for you, he didn’t hear that.”
I jumped, startled by his sudden arrival. “I meant for him to hear it,” I lied.
Chris raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he didn’t push. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”
Fatima gripped my hand as we followed Chris through the territory. I took in the surroundings—small, neatly arranged cabins with little gardens behind them. The pack’s settlement looked almost like a quaint village, but there was something more. There was a sense of community here, of shared purpose. Men were building new homes, expanding the settlement, ensuring that everyone had a place.
“This place looks like a village,” Fatima remarked, her eyes scanning the area.
Chris smiled. “It may look like a village now, but this is just the beginning. We have more land than we know what to do with, and soon, we’ll have everything we need. This is where our people will thrive.”
I nodded thoughtfully. He was right. What mattered was that our pack had a place to call home. No more hiding, no more isolation.
As we walked, I felt a strange tension prickling at the back of my neck. That’s when I heard her voice.
"What did you expect, witch?" came a cold, sneering tone from behind me.
I turned, and my heart sank. Bella’s mother stood there, glaring at me with pure contempt. Her face was twisted into a sneer, her eyes full of hate. If looks could kill, I’d be buried six feet under by now.
“What do you want, Selena?” I asked, my voice laced with caution. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, on guard.
Selena’s lips curled into a malicious smile. “I want you to understand something, dear. Just because you’re the Alpha’s mate doesn’t mean you belong here. You’re an outsider. You always will be.”
I stiffened but didn’t back down. “I am Jake’s mate, and that means I’m here to stay.”
She took a step closer, her voice dropping to a low hiss. “We’ll see how long that lasts, won’t we?”
Before I could respond, Chris stepped in front of me, blocking her path. “Enough, Selena. This isn’t the time or the place.”
She shot one last venomous look my way before turning and stalking off into the forest.
Fatima clutched my arm, her face pale. “Who the hell was that?”
“Trouble,” I muttered, watching Selena’s figure disappear among the trees.
Chris turned back to me, his expression serious. “Don’t worry about her. You’re the Alpha’s mate. No one can take that from you.”
I nodded, though my mind was already racing. I knew this wasn’t the last I’d see of Selena, and something told me that she wasn’t going to make life in the pack any easier. But I wasn’t going to back down—not now, not ever.
I was here to stay.
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