chapter 15

“Hi!” I say, waving awkwardly before turning towards Dean, my tone almost business-like. “Zane says you are my mate too.”
Dean chokes on his sip of coffee, his eyes flickering towards the beta Zane briefly before landing back on me. “Yes I am, don’t you feel it?” He asks.

“I like your smell.” I say, “but I never knew people had dated mates, I’ve only ever known them being chosen.”

“They are chosen in a way!” Eve interrupts, her voice high and sweet. “The moon goddess pairs us with those who she deems worthy.”

“I am worthy of an alpha and a beta?” I ask, unsure how it all works.

“You are the Red wolf, you are worthy of the pack.” Dean answers with a swift nod, not once seeing me as a slave.

I appreciate the way they treat me, the way they act as though I am an equal, but I think it may take some getting used to on my part, I’ve never been treated as anything more than an object. But I was curious about me being this mystical Red wolf and what all meant, I had never deemed myself as anything worthy of anything. But a pack? I didn’t know the first thing about ruling anything, let alone a whole town of people with their own minds.

“Anyway, let’s eat I’m starved.” Eve laughs, and I can’t help but smile, wondering if we could be friends.

I’ve never had a friend before and I had always dreamed of the day I would find one, I would like Eve to take that role, she was amazing and sweet. She was also funny and wasn’t afraid to stick up for me in front of people like Sarah who would see me as nothing but dirt.

“I agree!” I shout, raising my hand.

“Someone’s enthusiastic!” Eve laughs, handing me a full plate of food with a little bit of everything on.

I waste no time in digging in, my stomach growling audibly and my mouth watering. “Never pass on an opportunity to eat.” I say between shovelling food into my mouth.

“I like her.” Eve chuckles, “she’s smart.”

The others dig into their food, smiling and talking as they are, whilst I mostly listened, not really knowing what to say.

“We’ll have to notify both the Full moon pack and black lake pack of her arrival soon.” Zane sighs, changing the direction of the conversation.

“They don’t need to know.”growls Dean, making me frown.

Zane scowls at his alpha, “It’s part of our alliance and you know it, withholding this could cause war.” His voice is cold as stone. “Or worse, they’ll take her by force.”

“I don’t understand, what do you mean?” I ask, “who else needs to know I’m here?”

Would the information of my whereabouts make it back to Balthazar? Would he come for me? Panic was seeping into my bones, I didn't want him to find me and I wanted it didn't want to go back. it wasn't an option anymore, I have seen what free life could be like and i wanted it, I wanted a life with Zane and Dean. I wanted a normal life, yet as they continue to argue I realised that it might not be possible, that being this red wolf has a lot of burden that comes with that.
I didn't want to sound ungrateful I'll make them believe I was leaving, but I also didn't want them to tell anyone I was here, how would I say such a thing? ask them not to let anyone know where I am, the danger it could bring. Zane mentioned war, would they really fight them over me?

“I don't want you to tell anyone.” I say, “if it goes back to Balthazar he will come for me.”

“The packs in our alliance can be trusted, Dean just doesn’t want to share you.” Says Zane, his voice once again cold.

“Share me?” I frown, my voice shivering a little. “I don’t want to be shared.”

“It’s not like that.” Eve steps in, “these idiots aren’t explaining it that well. Before you were born an alliance was made between our pack and two others.” She explains, her mousy brown hair swept over her shoulder, her eyes the shade of roses in bloom. “It said that when the Red wolf comes they would work together to protect her and in return she would protect all three packs. That if one pack found her they would have to inform the others.”

“You knew I was coming?” I whisper, still confused.

Eve shakes her head, her smile showing her freckles. “Not in the way you’re thinking, we knew that a red wolf would come in our lifetime, and oracle told us, but we didn’t know who or when.”

“I don’t want to be this red wolf, I want to be Annalise. I can’t help anyone.” I say, tears forming in my eyes.

“Hey… it’s alright.” Soothes Zane as he rubs circles on my back, “it’s also said you will come into your power just before your nineteenth birthday. How old are you?”

“Eighteen, I’m nineteen soon. A few weeks maybe.” I say, a frown littering my features, I didn’t know the exact date.

“You don’t know?” Dean frowns, though his was more of a scowl. “How can you not know?”

“Balthazar didn’t tell me the date and their was no Calendar where I was, I don’t even know the month.” I whisper, embarrassed and unsure.

“I want to kill this warlock.” Growls Dean, his eyes flickering to a darker shade. “I’ll rip him apart.”

“He’s too powerful.” I say, “and he knows how to subdue even the strong ones of our kind.”

“He won’t subdue me.” He snarls, slamming his fist against the table.

I jump backwards, the chair I was sat on skittering across the kitchen, my heart racing in my chest.

“Calm down you brute.” Eve scolds, slapping her brother on his broad bare shoulder.

“Sorry Annalise.” Apologises Dean, his eyes soft once more.

I realised for seemingly the first time how actually large the alpha was, he was twice the size of me in both height and weight, built to fight and take others down. How did I not notice how hot it was? How much I wanted to kiss him when he lost his temper. What is wrong with me? You don’t kiss someone when they lose their temper, you run!

“It’s o-ok.” I stammer, confused by my own reactions.

I yawn suddenly and Dean smiles, jumping to his feet, “it’s my turn to lay with you.” He says, scooping me up and rushing from the room despite Zane’s loud protests.

We’ll, I guess I get time with the alpha.