Chapter 63 Arriving in New York City

(Hope POV)

I had endangered everyone. How could I have been so naive to think my maternal grandmother and aunt would want me? I still can't believe my aunt waited for 18 years to find the ring and was very good in disguising her true intentions. It was highly likely she was in cahoots with the Dark Witch. She didn't attend the opening of Alexander's festival at the village. She might have known of the plans of the Dark Witch beforehand.

My mother couldn't stop crying. My father tried his best to comfort her. It would work for a while, then she would start crying all over again. When we finally got on the plane to leave Vancouver, my mother looked at me with tear-filled eyes and asked me, "Hope, how about if we just leave the United States? Have a vacation somewhere like the Maldives or maybe the Bahamas? You've always wanted to go to the Philippines where I'm from...how about we go there? I'm sorry. I just can't live like this." My mother started crying again.

"Come here, Mom. You need to rest. How about you get some sleep?" I put an arm around her and placed a hand on her chest to take the fear and panic away. I felt her relax as I led her to the small bedroom of the plane.  I sat her on the bed and took off her shoes. "Lie down Mom and sleep. Later we'll be in New York and I'll make sure you'll have fun." I covered her with the blanket and kissed her forehead to cast a spell for peaceful sleep. When I gazed down at her face, her face finally looked calm. The nightmare of the confrontation now forgotten. "I will watch over her Alpha." I looked up to find Grace already seated in the chair beside the partition between the room and the multimedia center.

"Are you ok, Grace? Maybe you want to wash up?" I asked her.

"I'm fine, Alpha. I'll wait until we get settled in New York to take a shower," Grace said.

"I need to get out of this gown although New York City is a place where I can wear something like this and I wouldn't feel out of place," I said.

"Hope, love, here's your carry-on luggage. You can change if you want." Alexander walked towards me, placed my carry-on beside me and exited the bedroom. He has been very standoffish since I wore the ring. Maybe he doesn't like my new hair. Wait. I can make it go back to its original color. I went to the mirror and twirled my fingers into my hair to see if I could change it using my power. As soon as I thought of the color black, my hair turned back to my original hair color before I shifted into my wolf, Opal.

"Much has happened, Hope," Opal told me. "He is adjusting to your new role as High Priestess. Be supportive of your mate, Hope. He loves you, whatever color hair you have." I nodded my head absentmindedly, still worried about Alexander.

I opened my carry-on quietly. I grabbed jeans for myself and a pair of denim shorts for Maria and two blouses. If the shorts wouldn't fit Maria, all she had to do was snap her finger.

"Grace, can you call Maria for me please," I mind linked her.

"Yes, Hope?" I was surprised to hear her so quickly. Maria popped her head inside the room waiting for me to answer. Apparently, Maria didn't need to be called. I just had to think of her name.

"Here, let me see if this fits you." I gave her a wink as I handed her a pair of shorts and a chiffon button down polka dot top to change in. "There's a small shower in the bathroom so we can wash up a little for New York." I pointed to the bathroom.

After we had tossed the gowns and were in casual attire, the atmosphere in the plane relaxed a little. I fixed my hair in my usual messy bun and was wearing skinny jeans with a white summer off shoulder long sleeve chiffon top paired with my favorite white sneakers. Alexander's eyes lit almost instantly, happy to see a bit of the old Hope he had come to love. He stretched out his arms, calling me to sit in his lap.

"I'm sorry, my love," he whispered to me while gently moving a stand of my hair from my face.

"Sorry about what, Alexander?" I asked.

"For putting everyone in harm's way. It was foolish of me. Your mother, is she ok?" He asked gently.

"She'll be fine. When she wakes up, she will no longer feel fear," I explained.

"You've changed. You seem a bit older and your hair. A white blonde! I just need to get used to it I guess. How about your taste in clothing? Has that changed?"

"Nope. Same ol' Hope. I'll have Grace and Maria go shopping once we arrive in New York. They seem to be bonding quite well." Grace and Maria were drinking some coffee and eating muffins while talking about themselves. Even Ava, I noticed, was also hanging out with them.

Maria had the body and face of a 20 year old, but her mind was that of Diane's, a very lethal combination. I had asked my ancestors to make her as such so she can have a second chance to experience the youth that was taken from her when she was struck with lightning. I know Diane didn't like seeing Maria in her new form, however, Diane has lived a good life while Maria had spent majority of her years in the shadows.

Diane went to sleep on the small couch in the bedroom. I placed a blanket on her and kissed her forehead to cast a spell for her to have a peaceful sleep as well. I felt the hurt in her heart, but I know Diane will understand. Diane was the rock of her group of friends as well as her family's. She will truly see her worth soon.

My father, on the other hand, was having a great time playing poker with Yuri and Alarick. I knew he found Alexander and Howard too proper for him so, I was glad he found buddies he could be himself with. If I hadn't casted the spell for peaceful sleep on my mother and Diane, they'd probably be awake from all the noise the four, including Oliver, were making.

Yuri and Alarick were huge men, they were wide as they were tall. Alarick had red curly hair with a beard to match while Yuri's brown hair was clean cut, obviously former military. Yuri was a brown werebear. He was turned by one of his comrades when he sustained life threatening injuries during an ambush by insurgents. Werebear are usually loners, but there is a community of werebears in the Himalayas hidden from people where they are able to live in peace.

Alarick and Yuri met during a peace corp mission at Papua New Guinea and became inseparable. Alarick brought Yuri to the United States and built him a small cabin at the edge of his territory between the borders of Washington and Idaho to keep the borders safe. When any of the neighboring packs need help, Yuri is usually called in as reinforcement and is paid well. Whatever monetary payment he recieves, he donates to the werebear community in the Himalayas. "I'm good with a bottle of vodka and some salmon." That was Yuri's tagline.

After five hours in the air, we arrived in New York. My biological father had property here, a building were the Stella Foundation Headquarters was created. The High Elder told me three floors were transformed to living quarters for visiting VIPs and no one is as important now than the newly appointed CEO. He called ahead to make sure that my entourage and I will be well accommodated. It is my building after all.

Two limousines were parked in front of the hangar to take all of us to the Stella Foundation HQ. Yuri, Alarick, my father, my mother and Mark went in one while the rest rode with me. My mother warmed up immediately to Alarick so I knew she would make friends with them.

A young woman and man were waiting for us when we arrived at the building. They were happy I would be with them for the week and hoped I would join them in a few board meetings. They gave me my schedule for the week and a bunch of keys to the various suites in the building. We went to the third floor from the top first to see the living space and who would like to stay with who. 

On the third floor, there were four two-bedroom apartments. Alalrick and Yuri took one and before they closed their door, I gave them a credit card and cash to go do some shopping. My father and mother including Diane took another apartment on that floor. They said they would all go shopping with the two men. I told them a car is on standby for them and would take them wherever they wanted to go. My parents kissed me on the cheek and finally, I saw my mom smile. Thank you Goddess!

Grace, Oliver, Ava, Maria and Mark all wanted to stay on the floor below the penthouse. They all argued it would be easier for them to serve us. So, we all hopped back in the elevator to the second floor from the top.

This time it was three rooms, the one room, a suite with 3 bedrooms. The girls took the suite while Oliver and Mark took the apartment beside their's. I gave Maria some money and told her I would give her a credit card in her name when I get the chance. Right now, she and Ava can charge things using Grace's card.

"Me too?" Ava was surprised I would also provide for her during her stay in New York.

"Of course. Grace, you have the card I gave you right?"

"Yes, Alpha. Right here." She showed me the credit card I gave her as my new Beta.

"Ask Oliver and Mark if they want to come with you. Go have some fun. I gave Oliver keys to a car. Don't worry. Alexander and I will be fine alone." All the girls smiled at each other and when I closed the door, I heard them squeal like teenagers.

"Alexander, sweet, it's just you and me." I grabbed his hand to take him to the elevator.

"Yes, my Luna." When the elevator doors closed, he gave me a long kiss. I trembled from the intensity. "Still my girl with the golden eyes. I need to get used to your hair color. When I met you, you had black hair."

"I can do that." I twirled my fingers in my hair and my hair changed into black.

"No. That isn't you anymore. I want you to be you, with those golden eyes." He took me in his arms and kissed me again, long and hard. The elevator made a tinging sound signalling our arrival to the top floor, but we didn't care. We just wanted to be like this for a moment longer. Unfortunately, the man standing in front of the elevator doors seemed to mind. He coughed.

I knew that cough. I pulled away from Alexander and stared into the direction of the light coming from the windows. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the light, then I saw him.He was smiling warmly at us with his arms outstretched.

"High Elder, Your Excellency. My goodness! You surprised us," I exclaimed, smiling at him while trying to hide my awkwardness.