Chapter Eighteen: What we are

I quickly got changed into my clothes and the top that was given to me. It was slightly large but I was ok with that, I liked loose clothing.

As soon as my shoes were on, I went towards the door. Before I opened it though, I wanted to get my thoughts together, as Alpha Lukas was making me swoon. It was such a strange feeling but I know I wanted more. The issue was that I felt I could stare at him and forget about all my worries. That was the issue.

I need a few minutes to clear my mind. So I was a werewolf. Had I come to terms with that? Hell no. I understand now why Athena had come to me and I’m grateful for her, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed being on my own as much if I were on my own, especially what happened in that forest. But why did she arrive three years too late? What else am I missing, or haven’t found out yet? I suppose that light has a big influence on it…but I still don’t know what it was or what caused it. Why was I in the human side of the world, adopted by humans?

Then there was the actual Alpha. He was being really sweet with me and also never commanded respect like he did to Valencia….was that because she did something she shouldn’t have? She had called him Alpha, along with Doctor Lowe, yet he had asked me to call him Lukas…

Something wasn’t quite adding up here, and the more I thought about it, the more I didn’t understand. Why does he smell so good? He also said I smelled like the sweetest thing, or something like that. Apart from being slightly creepy from both of us, what does that mean? I don’t remember the Doctor or the woman called Valencia smelling so divine.

I brush aside the thoughts of the beast from the black tree and the river, as I don’t want to start off the day with Alpha Lukas in fear. I can think about that monster another day.

Before I go to open the door handle, the Alpha opens it and pushes the door into me.

“Oh, sorry. You were just in there a while and I wanted to make sure you weren’t planning an escape again.” He says, whilst laughing hesitantly.

“Oh…well if you haven’t noticed, you’ve got me at the top of the tower with no window to get out.” I laugh loudly, knowing that it probably wasn’t meant to look like that, but it is what it is. “I was just thinking about a few things from the last few days. I think I’m just a little bit tired of it all, so I’d like to have a walk, if that’s ok Alpha Lukas?”

The Alpha smiles adoringly at me, which makes my heart flutter. I doubt I’ll ever get used to it, but he lifts his arm up slightly, inviting me to take it. I place my hand through it, feeling the sparks bounce. He starts walking along with me, arm in arm.

“So, Alpha Lukas. Can you tell me exactly what the differences are between a human and a werewolf?” I ask, interested in the answer. “I understand so far that we can speak to our wolves in our mind, and from what you said, that a werewolf’s’ senses and healing ability is ten-fold from a human, which I’ve been finding out as I go.” I say, remembering back in the valley and the dark forest that my sight and smell were much better than before.

“Aliana, please. Call me Lukas.” He starts and I roll my eyes. He sees it and smirks. Looking at him doing this heats my cheeks up. Oh how embarrassing!

“A werewolf, as you have already stated, has higher senses and faster healing ability’s than a human does, and we can speak with each other in our minds. But you’re forgetting the other point I mentioned earlier this morning.” He says and then tsk-tsks me. I give him the side eye and he smiles before continuing.

“We can also shift into our wolf form. I’m actually surprised you haven’t already…but then I guess you’ve only got your wolf under strange circumstances.” He says, and stops, waiting for my reaction.

I continue walking with him, down the stairs whilst thinking about that. I stop suddenly, with my arm in his causing him to stop also with a slight frown on his face.
“Hold on a moment please.” I say, and he places an even bigger frown on his face.

“Athena? You heard all that, right?” I ask her in my mind, hoping that she was listening in.

“Yes, of course Ali. You know I hear and see all you do now, right?” She says with slight amusement in her answer. Yeah, of course she does, she can’t help herself.

“Do you remember when we first met, and you said you did have a body of your own but we couldn’t see it just yet?” I ask her, trying to get her to understand what we both just heard.

“Ohhh…..well, that’s cool.” She says, getting slightly excited at the fact that her true physical form is that of a wolf.

I smile and look at the Alpha, who is currently watching me, with a slightly worried expression on.

“Sorry Alph….I mean Lukas. I was just speaking with my…wolf. She’s excited that her physical form is a wolf.” I say, whilst slightly trying to budge him to keep moving.

He keeps his eyes on me and we start moving again. “It’s strange that not even your wolf knew you were a werewolf. But then we are told from birth and they see our memories and just know from that. What’s her name?” he asks smoothly.

“Her name is Athena. She had her own name when she first started talking to me. Is that normal? What did you mean that it’s strange I’ve not shifted already?” I ask, wondering if this is what usually happens when someone meets their wolf, or if there was something wrong with me.

Alpha Lukas seems to think for a few moments, as if trying to remember….how old was he? Surely not too much older than I. “Yes, I’ve known those who’ve had to name their wolves though as they’ve not come with one. Athena is a lovely name though.”

“Does your wolf have a name?” He must have a wolf. I’ve not seen him in wolf form but my interest piques thinking about what it would look like.

He chuckles. “Yes, he does. His name is Ares. He also came named.” Hmm, Ares. This name seems to ring a bell from my past but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Before I have time to think on it more, we’re at the bottom of the stair case heading for the glass door. Before we get to it, Alpha Lukas stops us and turns to face me directly.

“Aliana…usually when we get our wolf, it is on the day of our eighteenth birthday. The same day, we usually shift into our wolves for the first time. The fact that you have not bothers me, and I wish to take you to the Elders. Today, we can talk and walk around the territory, but I must insist tomorrow we go to them.” He says sternly. For some reason, it feels like he’s trying to command me, but I brush it off and place it as him worrying for me.

“Can I think about it please? I’d just like to continue talking, if that’s ok.” I return, thinking nothing of it.

“Hmm, no one has ever done that before.” He says. What’s that supposed to mean. I give him a quizzical look and he shrugs.

“There’s a perk to being an Alpha, and one of the strongest of a pack. Usually my word is law, so if I were to command someone, they would have to obey without question. You however, seem to elude that.” He says but smiles. He places a hand on the small of my back and the other on the glass door, pushing it open.

“Is there something wrong with me?” I ask him sceptically. I’m too new to understand everything, but when he says it like that, it makes me think I’m some sort of outcast.

He seems to pick up on this. “I can’t say I know. The sooner we see the Elders, the sooner we’ll know. But it wouldn’t surprise me, considering what you are to me.” He says, then plasters a huge grin on his face which makes me melt slightly. I don’t fully understand, so I chase it up.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He stops me at the bottom of the stone steps. He places his hands on both my arms, giving me a tingling sensation, making my stomach do flips.

“I know you feel it too, you just maybe don’t understand it. Whenever we touch, when we’re with each other, there’s a sort of pull, right?” he says, and carries on before I get a word out. “When I smelt your scent back in the dark forest on that stormy night, I finally found something I’ve been searching for since Ares came to me. I had thought I would never find you after years of waiting, searching. And then when you showed up the other night, battered, bruised and bleeding….I….I thought the worst. You gave me a heart attack, but at the same time I couldn’t move as I as mesmerised. I had finally found the one I had been waiting for.”

I understood what he meant about feeling drawn to him. He smells amazing. But I’m not entirely sure where he’s going with it, then I start to remember something Elijah said…

He notices I’m trying to process everything he’s just said, so he sighs slightly, and then a soft smile plays on his lips. He places his hands on either side of my face gently, before whispering “You’re my Mate, Aliana. I’ve been waiting for you to come to me…to find me.”