Moonlight Princess

Destiny

Black hair, toned skin, tall and muscular.

Beautiful... is the only word I could use to describe him.

I lift my head and get lost in a pair of hazel eyes.

The source of that intoxicating smell.

"My name is David. As much as I love your stare on my body, I would also love to hear your voice and learn your name..."

Oh? Have I been staring? It is no wonder... not because of his body, but because of the beating of my heart. And more importantly... the presence of my wolf. A presence I have almost forgotten.

"I'm Ema."

"Ema... too much of a simple name for such a beautiful girl."

"I am looking for someone called Caleb. I was told I could find him in these woods. Do you know him?"

"I do... but why is a rogue looking for my father?"

A rogue? It doesn't sound like a compliment... is it an insult?

"Can you take me to him?"

"Of course. Follow me, my love..."

"My love? When did I become your love? Are you what my nana used to call 'a player'?

It was an honest question. So what did he find so hilarious? Why is he laughing with tears in his eyes?

"You are my mate, love. So how am I a player?"

"Mate?"

"Yes. Do you... do you not want a mate?" he looks at me with such sad eyes that it almost makes me feel sorry for him...

He appears pained. As if he was forcing his words out. If he is not a highly sensitive person... then his acting deserves a prize.

"Not really."

"I get it. Rogues, in general, don't really want mates. I don't know what I was expecting...still rejecting me at first sight--"

"Slow down, man... I don't know if you're acting or not, but please stop looking at me with such pained eyes. It makes me uncomfortable. Not to mention, we literally just met. Even if you're desperate for friends, this is too much."

"Pardon?"

"What? Isn't mate a synonym for friend? Does this word have a different meaning for werewolves?"

He looks at me with such wonder and curiosity that it makes me uneasy.

"Are you being serious?"

"I suppose that's a yes..."

"Hold- hold on... you've lost me... do you not know what a mate is? No, even if you didn't... can't you feel it? And how can you not know it?"

"Damn... you seem so confused that you're starting to confuse me as well. And no, if you're not referring to a friend, then I do not know what a mate is. I do feel something quite strange, but I do not know what this feeling is or what I should make of it..."

"How is this even possible?"

"Well, I wasn't raised as a werewolf, so I don't know much about them. That's the reason I am here. I was sent by someone to look for Caleb as he might be able to help me know more about myself."

Once my words settled in with him, his entire facial expression started to change. He went from sad to confused to happy in a second... how can some people change their emotions this fast? I would never understand.

"So you--"

He stops talking abruptly, and his eyes drift apart.

It is as if he's here, but at the same time, his mind is elsewhere.

Did he have a seizure...?

I reached my hand towards him, but I retracted it just as fast when he came back to his senses and grabbed me by the shoulders.

"I am so sorry, love, but there is an emergency. I have sent for someone to come and take you to my father, so please wait here for a moment."

And with that, he was gone. He ran so fast that I had lost sight of him in the blink of an eye.

He sure is fast... and when did he call for someone?

But sure enough, someone did come.

A wolf came... a grumpy one. He snarled the moment he saw me, then jumped into the bushes. I heard some whistling, and a man came out, wearing nothing but some shorts.

This was the first time I had seen someone like me, another werewolf, right before my eyes. His black hair was dancing in the wind, and his deep-sea blue eyes evidenced his sharp facial features.

He looked both kind and intimidating.

He was quite a sight.

"Follow me. I will take you to the Alpha."

What a short introduction. Still... I do prefer a quiet walk. And yet, I cannot help but feel a bit disappointed by the other man's leaving... Why do I feel disappointed by him leaving?

Disappointed... I didn't think I was capable of having such emotions any longer.

In the middle of the woods, there was a city, and in the middle of the city, there was a house... to be honest, it looked like a castle more than a house.

We climbed the stairs to the second floor and stopped in front of two big, black glass doors. The man opened the doors and walked right in. We were in the Alpha's office, and this man entered without even knocking. He must have quite a high rank, I assume.

"Alpha, here's the rogue I told you about."

Told him? When?

"Ah, yes. Have a seat. You can leave now, Elias."

Elias bowed and left.

I took a seat on the chair across the Alpha's desk and glanced around.

Everything in this office was elegant and looked expensive.

A rich pack, I see...

"So, you're the rogue girl that trespassed our territory."

He took a pause, analyzing me, and when he saw I wasn't in a hurry to give any answers, he kept talking.

"What is your business on my territory?"

His eyes pierce through mine, and for a moment, I wished the earth could swallow me.

I don't know why.

I am not scared.

But there's something about this man that I can't put my finger on...

It is his gaze. It's intimidating... it is familiar.

He looks at me just like my dad used to do when I did something wrong.

For a moment, I went back to my childhood... before everything happened... before this hell called life.

I let my emotions get the best of me, and a sad, salty tear began to form.

I shift uncomfortably and curse myself silently for allowing someone to witness a moment of weakness, something I swore to never let happen again.

"Where is your pack?" he softens his tone and changes the subject.

"I don't have one."

"It seems you like to play with words. Then, allow me to be more precise. What happened to your pack?"

"Perhaps it was me that wasn't clear enough. I never had a pack."

"Were you born a rogue?" he raises his eyebrow, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

Here's that word again. What the hell is a rogue? Is it a rank of sorts?

"I suppose so..." I answer, unsure of myself as I don't recognize the term, and he looks at me strangely.

"You suppose so?"

"I'm not sure what a rogue is."

I tell him honestly, but he doesn't seem to believe me.

"If you came here to play, I suggest you leave."

"I was raised by humans and didn't even know I was adopted until, after a terrible pain, I looked at my reflection and saw a wolf instead of myself."

This seemed to have caught his attention.

"That's strange. Werewolves don't usually abandon their pups, let alone in the human world."

"Well, mine did. Now, what's a rogue?"

"Wolves without packs. Most rogues were banished from their packs after committing serious crimes that didn't warrant their death but couldn't be allowed in the pack any longer. Of course, there are exceptions, such as yourself, when one was born a rogue or became one after their pack was annihilated."

"Or abandoned..."

"That couldn't have been the case. I'm sure there were circumstances."

"There always are."

"Why are you here, little girl?"

"My name is Ema. I was sent here by Mr. White. He said you might be able to help me learn more about myself and my origins."

He raised his hand to his chin and pondered for a moment.

"Mr. White... I don't seem to recall anyone. Is he also a werewolf?"

"No. Mr. White was a druid."

"Was?"

"He died recently."

"I see... condolences. Druids are as rare as they are wise. If he sent you here, I am sure there must be a reason. Can you tell me exactly what he told you? Why did he send you to me?"

"Well... he didn't exactly send me to you. He sent me to the Shadow Wolf pack. There was a map attached to the letter he left for me, and there were packs marked on the map, along with the Alpha's name. That's how I learned about you."

"In that case, he might've sent you to someone else. Someone residing in this pack."

"No. He... more or less told me to look for the Alpha."

"More or less? Do you not remember his exact words? A druid's intention cannot be understood without knowing his exact words."

"He said I have a destiny with the Alpha to be... and he stopped. Maybe he forgot to complete his sentence or--"

"I'm sure he meant it literally. Alpha to be could refer to the next Alpha. Your destiny could be with my son."

"Seriously? Destiny? I'm sure he meant--"

"That is exactly what he meant. Druids have the gift of premonition."

"I don't really believe in things such as fate and destiny."

"Believe it or not, that is for you to decide. But we are all bound by fate, and we all have a role to fulfill. It is past midnight, so you can spend the night here. Elias is still outside. He will guide you to our guest room. We will talk more tomorrow."

"Thank you."

Elias did take me to a guest room on the 1st floor and left without a word.

Just as I was about to close the door, a scent hit me. The same mesmerizing scent.

I suppose this means David is back.

I can't believe how distinct his scent is... and how easily I seem to follow it.