Shock and Confusion

Octavia’s POV


The address that Leon texted me had brought me much further into the human city, to a humongous, extravagantly *fancy* hotel. I wondered who could own and manage such a large building, it must take *hours* to clean everything.

I gawked under my motorcycle helmet, where I hoped nobody saw me, at the glorious structure I had just approached. There was no obvious parking lot, so I just pulled straight into the large gazebo cascading out from the entrance of the beautiful building.

I took a large gulp and attempted to relax myself. *’He really… went **all out**. How can he afford this?’* I thought to Lucia in amazement, my eyes following every shiny thing that passed by.

*’Seems we both have much to learn about our mate…’* She chuckles simply.

I slipped off my helmet and ended the map on my phone, before taking a brief look around me. I absorbed the environment around me carefully, watching as many people dropped their expensive vehicles off with the Valet drivers by the sidewalks.

*’So many humans in one place, it smells like a circus!’* Lucia makes a gagging sound, dramatically forcing an image into my head of a stinky garbage can. *’Get a load of this guy, he smells **terrible!**’*

My eyes darted towards a large, heavy weight man passing by the front of my bike to drop his keys off with a valet driver.

*’My God, he smells like rotting turkey.’* I think to my wolf, wiping a small bead of sweat from my forehead. When did I start sweating? It isn’t even that warm out.

*’Well… it might not be **all** humans. I smell a few wolves too.’* I take a swift breath in, catching the scent of multiple female wolves nearby. *’Wolves? Here? Isn’t this **human** territory?’* Lucia’s curiosity peaks, as if her ears and eyes perked up at something interesting. Her presence stays aware, watching those around us like a hawk.

I pull out my phone and open my messages with Leon, asking him where I should put my bike and if he was already here waiting. Simultaneously as I sent the message I heard a faint ding across the courtyard, causing my head to shoot that direction.

*’I smell **mate**!’* Lucia howls happily as I sniff the air, a gentle pine scent billowing deep into my airway. Her little tail wags in my head, and our eyes begin to search the crowd.

I look around, looking for him for a few seconds, until my eyes land on a small group of female wolves. Huddled around something- or rather- someone. My mates scent coming from that general direction. *What the heck was going on over there?*

Suddenly I see him push his way out of the middle of the group, looking very stressed and irritated. The female wolves practically threw themselves at his feet, pouting for attention when they were rejected.

“Ladies! I said IM NOT INTERESTED. Please leave me alone!” He groans, passing by a Valet driver and walking inside the hotel's grand doors.

Shocked, I sat there for a moment. Processing what I witnessed. Why were there so many females clinging to him? Maybe he is well-known here. But they all seemed to pine over him? Ugh. *Why do I feel so jealous!*

A low growl gurgles in the back of my throat, unconsciously. *’He is **our** mate, jealousy is part of the package honey.’* She grumbles begrudgingly, the skin on my neck crawling at her irritation.

After what seemed like an eternity of thought chasing, a Valet driver approached me and brought me back to reality.

“Hello Ma’am!” A very tall, slim, blonde haired young man waved at me and smiled. “The Alpha asked that I park your um…” He looks down at my motorbike, awkwardly, then back up at my face once more. He clears his throat gently. “Your motorcycle. He wants it parked in the penthouse garage.”

“Oh…” I chuckle, removing myself from the bike even though I was confused. Alpha? *Penthouse?* So this man is a wolf, and to top it off… an Alpha knows I'm here? Am I missing something?

“Thank you.” I smile at him, and set my helmet on the seat trying not to give away my curious thoughts. I tilt my head and point to the large ornate doors leading into the hotel. “Could you tell me where I should go from here?”

“Ah! Yes. Just as you pass through the door there should be two counters, the Left is for VIPs. There they should be able to show you the rest of the way!” He grins, drooling over my bike while simultaneously instructing me.

“Thank you- again.” I wave, turning over my heel and walking inside. “Oh and please, don’t rough her up too much. I just got her back.” I laugh over my shoulder as I walk inside, gesturing to my bike, and readjusting my bag against my leather jacket.

“Y-yes ma’am.” He sighs awkwardly, I could sense his slouched shoulders and pout.

As I pass through the entrance of the hotel, a large golden sign is displayed in the center of the room. Around it are many vines and flowers, in the center it says ‘La Villa Royale’ in diamond letters. Scattered throughout the room are many guests and bellhops, making their way down halls or into lines. My eyes tingle, feeling slightly overstimulated by all of my surroundings.

In a small waiting area two male wolves sit talking, dressed in suits and ties. They were.. very handsome. Though their auras seemed weaker than my own, they didn’t seem to notice me.

*’Good thing our aura isn’t familiar to the wolves here, it could get us caught.’* Lucia assures me, cautiously.

She was right. It is good these wolves don’t know my aura, my father would have known I was here immediately. They must not be in our pack, most of the wolves in our pack were told to notify my father of my whereabouts if they saw me. Though, here in the human city these wolves could be from anywhere. They could even be *rouge*.

I shiver at the thought of being near a rouge, they are supposedly really dangerous. Alot of them sell out packs to hunters, human or witch alike.

I take a deep breath, striding towards the reception desk to the left like the valet told me todo. The line leading to the VIP desk was long, yet not quite as long as the one at the guest desk. I stepped up the the end of the line, people watching as I waited to get to the front.

“Why does the Alpha always treat us like that!” A female wolf grumbles to her friend behind me. I can smell her perfume in the air on top of her pheromones, her bracelets jingle as she moves.

“I know. It isn’t fair, he doesn’t even have a mate yet. He should just take one of us as his mate, or at least have his way with us!” The other sighs as she rants, “he obviously needs it. He seems so pent up.”

*’My god, these females have no dignity.’* My wolf whispers, I can feel her overwhelming desire to roll her eyes. *’at least keep your drama to yourselves in public.’*

“Tch.” I shake my head at her annoyance, sometimes she could be so nosey. Not to say that I’m not, it’s just that she actually comments on it. I find her quite funny.

I tone the girls behind me out as I finally reach the counter. Before I can even say a word the woman behind the counter greets me, almost sparkling she smiled so big.

“Hello! You must be our *special* guest. Nice to meet you, Luna.” My Jaw dropped, as did the two female wolves behind me. *’What does she mean, “Luna”?’* I thought to Lucia, my face still frozen with shock. Alas- my wolf had retreated, suspiciously. How ironic.

“I am Colette. Manager and operator of La Villa Royale. The Alpha is waiting for you, follow me this way.” She begins to step down from behind the counter and walk towards a large, shining elevator.

“W-wait! You must be mistaken!” I yelp, insisting frantically as I wave my arms and follow her. “I’m only here to meet with someone… I’m not anyone's Luna!”

She stops walking, turning over her shoulder to look at me intensely. “You *are* here to meet with Alpha Leon Ansel, correct?” She watches me, quizzically.

*’**Alpha** Leon?!*’ I internally scream at my wolf, who again, ironically stays silent. *What. The. Hell.*

“Right then.” She giggles, as the door to the elevator opens. “Follow me miss.”