Chapter 21 Hunt or Be Hunted
1620words
We approached the downtown core of Midnight Moon Pack, and I stared in utter disbelief. The whole town appeared quite modernized, with wolves roaming through shops, pups playing together in the town square, and all the streets lined with impeccably landscaped strips separating the sidewalks from the roads. Happiness and peace filled the air. It was no wonder Midnight Moon Pack held the reputation as the most powerful werewolf pack. Strangely enough, it felt like home.
Beta Don hurried over to the car door to open it for us. I kicked my legs over the seat and jumped out, Sophia following behind. "Thanks, Beta Don. I'll call you once we're ready to get picked up. You should head back to the pack house though—I can guarantee this won't be a short trip," Sophia giggled as she waved goodbye to him. He gave us a knowing smile and smirked, "Women and their outfits—I'm sure you'll both look beautiful in whatever you choose." Climbing back into the SUV, he honked the horn as a final farewell and drove off, leaving Sophia and me with a long afternoon ahead.
We passed by numerous shops, each slightly different from the previous one. I was known for my love of shopping, and seeing all the unique styles in the windows excited me; I wanted to try everything on. I found most of the wolves friendly. Most smiled at us, and some even said hello. A few scowled at the mere sight of us, and I realized I was the one they resented. It didn't surprise me—wolves were possessive, and I was an unfamiliar wolf in their territory. I giggled to myself, knowing I might have reacted the same way if the roles were reversed in Silver Moon Pack.
"Alright, Soph, what are we looking for exactly? Color? Length? Style? What are you envisioning?" I asked, tossing my hair over my shoulder.
"I couldn't tell you. All I know is it needs to be perfect. Alphas and their Betas are coming from all over to witness the coronation. What if one of them happens to be my mate? A girl's gotta be ready for anything," she said with determination.
I winced at her. "Wow—I didn't realize it was going to be that big of an event. I've never been to a coronation before. Alpha Max was already the pack Alpha by the time I was born. I've heard stories from my parents, but I'm not sure it was truly as great as they say—seeing as it was at Alpha Max's coronation that they met." The mention of my parents brought a smile to my face. Leah and I had always admired the love they had for each other. I had spent much of my childhood dreaming of my mate; now that I'd found him, I was sure he'd soon reject me as if I never existed and continue his life with his chosen mate, Beverly.
Sophia pulled open the door to a small boutique. I saw that mischievous twinkle in her eyes again as she turned to me. "Really? Now that's the kind of 'How I Met Your Father' story I want to be able to tell my pups one day. What about you, Adeline? Do you think you'll meet your mate tomorrow? ...Maybe he'll even ask you to have dinner with him."
My wolf paced inside me, growing more irritated at being away from my mate. I wondered if Alpha Jaxon's wolf felt the same. Who was I kidding? He probably ordered his wolf around for being an Alpha, not the other way around. Sophia's suggestion about meeting my mate and having dinner made me think she either knew something or was baiting me for information. I was ready to tell her. Right now, I desperately needed to talk to someone, and she was the only one I trusted.
We entered through the door and walked deeper into the boutique where the gowns were. They were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. They glimmered and sparkled under the store lights. I thought about how perfect any of them would look for tomorrow. Then, my mind raced to what Beverly would be wearing—no doubt she'd be hand in hand and standing in support with Alpha Jaxon as he became the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack.
Sophia reached over to feel the material of a deep green ball gown, but I stopped her, standing directly in front of her. I placed both hands on her shoulders. She must have assumed it was important because she cocked her head at me in confusion, giving me her full attention. "Spill," she insisted, her eyes locked on mine.
"I'm pretty sure Jaxon is my mate..." The words slipped off my tongue faster than I had hoped.
She shot me a smug smile and retorted, "YEP. I figured as much."
Confusion clouded my thoughts, and I felt dizzy. "Wait—what? You knew? Sophia, you played me!" She had dropped hints whenever she could, but I thought she was just teasing, assuming I wanted to sleep with her brother like many other she-wolves in the pack.
Her anger rose, and she placed her hands on her hips. Her actions put my wolf on high alert. "WOAH, let's not get crazy. I would never have played you. Regardless of whatever is going on with my brother, I really consider you my friend." I could tell her words held truth. "I told you I saw you two at The Lone Wolf. Since my brother announced his intentions with Beverly, he's been fully committed to her—until he met you. He took the mating seriously, thinking it would strengthen his wolf and the pack. Then I heard she had you sent to the cages, and I saw how difficult it was for him—there was no way he would have let anything happen to you. He blamed himself for allowing her to put you in harm's way." She let out a deep breath and continued, "If that wasn't suspicious enough, he gave you some silly story about it being late so you wouldn't leave. And in the morning, when I saw the moonflowers, I knew you had him wrapped around your finger. I've never seen him care about anyone like this."
I tried to hold back the joy her words brought me, but before I realized it, I had my arms up and was hugging her tightly. "Do you really think he cares?" I whispered into her ear.
"Addie, wake up! Of course he cares. Now tell me—what's this about dinner that Mark was talking about? And when did you realize he was your fated mate?" Her voice was filled with excitement for me.
I felt a shiver run down my spine, as if someone were watching us. But aside from the shopkeeper at the front, who I was sure was out of hearing range, no one else was around.
I gently pulled back from our embrace. "I'm not sure. In that box you saw, there was a note mentioning a birthday dinner and a surprise. I was thinking about going, but when Beta Don talked about the week's events, I realized Alpha Jaxon is going to reject me. And if he doesn't, I'm going to have to."
Her eyes filled with tears, and I could feel her pity pouring out of them. "But why? Adeline, he's in love with you. Do you know what would happen to both of you if you reject him?"
I nodded in understanding. "He's an Alpha. His wolf is the strongest I've ever seen. He'll be okay. Beverly is stronger than I am. She'll challenge me and tear me to pieces. In some strange universe where I beat her in the challenge, the wolves in your pack would never accept me. They love her; they know she's right for the pack."
A demanding voice called out from the change room, and the shopkeeper rushed over. "Carly! I'm ready to have this dress pinned." Out emerged Beverly in a long, flowing white gown. My jaw dropped open—she looked like a Greek goddess. Her eyes darted and met mine as she walked over to Sophia and me.
"Well, if it isn't the pack's newest slut. What's this about dinner I hear?" She let out a loud laugh and focused back on me.
"Let me make this crystal clear: if I return to the pack house and you're still there, I'll personally make sure Jaxon follows through with his plans—and you, along with your pathetic family, will become our newest family of Omegas."
Horror mixed with embarrassment washed over me, and I dropped my gaze in submission. I felt her smirk at my reaction, and swiftly Sophia stepped between us. "Try again, Beverly. Adeline is my friend, and if I choose to have her at the pack house, I'm sure my brother—YOUR ALPHA—won't object."
I was thankful my friend had defended me when I couldn't find the words, but the thought of my family becoming Omegas made guilt buckle my knees. Beverly didn't respond and returned to the shopkeeper to have her dress pinned.
My wolf wanted to fight. She didn't care about the cost. I turned to Sophia and choked out a sob, "Thanks for that, Soph. I'm going to get some air." With that, I turned on my heels and exited the boutique.
Unable to control my wolf or my emotions, I quickly shifted. Before I realized it, I was running through the forest as fast as my four legs would carry me, trying to distract myself from the burn in my heart. My paws hit hard against the forest floor until I crossed into Silver Moon Pack's territory lines.
