Chapter 8: First Meet
1364 Words
Liam: Flashback
I am holding the head of the dead rogue wolf in my hand, and it is in wolf form with its mouth open and its tongue out.
I am welcomed by deafening cheers when I walk through the door of the wooden house, wearing my shorts with my body covered in sweat, dust and bruises that are already healing.
"How are you, son?" Beta Duncan, who is my adoptive father, gets up from his seat, and walks towards me, standing taller than usual, and he pats my back with a wide grin that he struggles to hide.
I just nod to indicate that I'm okay.
I drop the head on the table, in the centre of the meeting house where the elders are gathered, and look I around the elder pack members who are looking back at me with pride on their faces.
"If my daughter’s head wasn't filled with ideas about romance, I think the moon goddess would've chosen you for her." Alpha Hunter says with his lips curling up a little.
I smile sheepishly, and I feel the pride surging within.
"It was my daily plea to the moon goddess for you to match up with my daughter." He purses his lips.
I bend my head to show respect, and I nod. The elders all get up and my dad motions towards the door. They walk with me to the beach, where there is a bonfire, and the entire pack is gathering to celebrate our heroic fight.
"Dude, this is the biggest party the pack has ever held for warriors," my friend Hugo says, and I glance at his beaming face.
I have led the younger pack members into victory, and we killed the king of the rogue wolves which has been taunting us for months. I have finally gained the alpha's respect.
I walk to the corner where Jessica, the alpha's daughter is sitting with a group of she-wolves, who seem excited to see me walk in their direction.
I wave at them, and I decide to talk to Jessica when she is alone. They all wave back with a few giggles.
I walk to my adoptive parents, who are probably thinking that adopting me has been the best decision they ever made.
"Liam, can you believe it? You were supposed to be a beta, but it seems like you are going to be an alpha." Daisy, my mother, brushes my arm, and I smile in response.
At the end of the celebration, I fall sleep begging the moon goddess to please bring me my mate, while also hoping that it would be someone of high rank, and I would be a step closer to becoming an alpha.
*****
I wake up at sunset for my morning run, when I see a shadow without a scent.
"Mother?" I whisper while looking around for extra caution.
“I still can’t believe that this i***t who calls himself alpha thinks this forest is enchanted.” She chuckles.
"I know."
"If it was really enchanted, I wouldn't come and go as I please."
"I won't leave the pack defenseless when I'm the alpha." I motion for her to sit on the bench under a tree.
"I can't wait to see Apha Hunter's face when he realizes that you are my son, when we take over the pack."
"He wants me to choose his daughter if I don't find my mate."
"Do you want to?" Her eyes widen.
"If it will get me the title of an alpha faster, I will do it." I say nonchalantly.
"Lets play our cards right. If you choose his daughter, she is going to be a nuisance, and she might try to speak for her dad."
"You right." I say, hoping it will get her to keep quiet and be on her way.
"I want us to kick them to the curb. Get a mate from the pack, someone that Hunter respects. "
"I wish I met my mate already," I sigh.
"You can get a fake mate. Romance and happily ever after with intended mates are not for people like us."
"But I deserve to be the alpha, no matter who my mate is. I take care of the pack, and Alpha Hunter likes me."
"Really?" She eyes me sceptically.
"You have to go. The trees also have ears, you know."
"No, I just want to understand this. You want a genuine relationship with this pack?" She gets upand puts her hands on her hips.
"This pack raised me and gave me everything when you were nowhere to be found. Mother." I spit.
"Because I had to leave you here. You have no of idea the pain I felt everyday thinking about you."
"You left me here to use me as a weapon, but they genuinely love me."
"How do you think Hunter would react when he discovers that your biological mother is a hybrid?" She smiles deviously.
"I was hoping he would never find out." I glare at her.
"I won't let you be part of this pack and shut me out. I will ensure that he finds out, and he will not like it."
"Are you really my mother?"
"Yes, and I'm protecting your interests right now."
"I need to be alone." I say dryly.
"I will see you soon. Send my regards to your ridiculous alpha and don't think of doing anything stupid."
She disappears between the trees and I cancel the run.
'Mate!' My wolf says excitedly.
I smile a little, hoping that she is who I think it is.
I get up, and I follow the scent of the captivating jasmine as it gets stronger, and I run, thinking about how my feet can't carry me fast enough.
I freeze when I see the beauty of the vision in front of me. Then my shoulders sag when I notice her. She is that girl I saw a few times on campus, and she is completely human. What is she doing here? And how did she move past the enchanted entrance?
Alpha Hunter's image comes to my mind, and I know I have to kiss my dream of being an alpha goodbye.
I get weird thoughts that urge me to get rid of her. No one would know what happened to her. She is at the Cursed Forest after all, but my wolf pleads with me not to make a stupid decision.
"Nice to meet a brave soul in the Cursed Forest." I try to sound as cheerful as possible.
"You are one of those people who believe that the forest is haunted?" She scowls.
I chuckle, and then I nod.
"If that's the case, what are you doing here?" She looks up at me.
"I uh, I..." I falter.
"Let me guess. You think you are so daring and so brave. So you are going to take pictures to brag to whoever who can listen?"
"Are you an ice queen?"
"There is no need for compliments. If you would excuse me, I have a job to do." She says dismissively.
My wolf howls in excitement, loving her feisty nature already.
Doesn't she feel the mate bond as well?
"What kind of job?" I follow her.
"I want to prove that this Carkeek Park is not cursed. I chose the topic for my botany research."
"How about you let people believe that the forest is still cursed? So that we can enjoy our time alone together?" I try to put on my best smile that usually gets everyone crazy.
"Who said I want your company?"
"I will come anyway, because I feel like our souls are connected."
"Stop with your poetry, Shakespeare. I won't tell you when I come here."
"And every time you come, I will be here within ten minutes, because your soul will always call for mine, and mine for yours."
Her cheeks turn crimson, and I smile at her suppressed smile.
"I'm Liam by the way."
"I'm Willow, and I can't wait to test your theory." Her lips curl up.
I motion towards the rock next to river, and we sit in comfortable silence while watching the water.
- Writer
