CHAPTER 5 I Don't Trust Him
1394 Words
Raven's POV
I plaster the perfect fake smile across my face while Beta Brent shows me around the new Blue Moon Pack. I meet both important members of the pack and unimportant ones. I shake hands and hold babies. Every time my smile falters my father reminds me that I am the Queen. By the time we retreat back to the pack house my feet are killing me and I am mentally exhausted. I haven't been around this many people in a long time.
Beta Brent shows me to my guest room in the Blue Moon Packhouse and I quickly shut the door behind me. Kicking off my shoes, they fly across the room and I wiggle my toes against the lush rug in the center of the floor. I wander around the room and take in my new surroundings for the week.
The room is surprisingly nice for a pack that is up and coming. I will have to remind myself to ask about their finances. There is something about Alpha Leo that I simply do not trust. Not only was he completely rude when I fell up the stairs to his pack house, I can't get the vision that I had out of my mind. Something about seeing dozens of women in his bed makes me irrationally angry.
The visions started when I turned sixteen and Rose showed up in my mind. As far as I know, I am the first werewolf whose wolf has been in her mind for a full two years before I am able to shift. I have to be touching someone in order to have a vision. My visions are also not a perfect science. I cannot tell if I am seeing the past or the future half the time. They are confusing and frustrating and it makes it extremely difficult to have a relationship with anyone.
Plopping down on the bed I begin rubbing my sore feet when a knock on the door interrupts me. "Come in," I call out, not caring who is on the other side.
The scent of fresh grass fills the room and it immediately has Rose's attention. She begins to prance back and forth in my mind. I look up and see Alpha Leo standing in the doorway of my room.
"Hello," I say as I reluctantly get back to my feet.
Alpha Leo shuffles awkwardly from foot to foot. "Luna Queen," he says as he bows his head in my direction. "I want to apologize for this afternoon. I believe that we got off on the wrong foot."
I can barely think as his scent swirls around me. I take this moment to study the man in front of me. He is young. If I remember correctly he is the youngest Alpha of the three packs that the Elder Council accepted this year. He is tall and muscular with dirty blond hair and striking green eyes. There is a constant cocky smirk that plays on the corner of his full lips. His face looks as if it were chiseled out of stone. All except for his nose, which is slightly crooked.
I catch myself memorizing all of his features when he clears his throat loudly filling the silence. I don't know how long I have been staring at him but it must have been for a long time. Embarrassment washes over me and I know that my face is probably several shades of red. I avert my eyes from his and glance just over his shoulder.
"What makes you say that?" I try to keep my voice aloof.
Alpha Leo stares at me strangely. "Are you serious?" He begins to laugh but he quickly stops. "Listen, I just don't want you to judge my pack harshly because of how you feel about me."
"I don't know what kind of person you think I am," I step forward to defend myself. "But I would never judge a group of people over a single person's actions. But just so you know, it would serve you well not to laugh at other people's misfortunes. I was very nervous this morning and that is why I tripped. Or perhaps you have not been an Alpha long enough to know the proper protocol."
I can hear him grinding his teeth and I know that I have struck a nerve with him. My lips turn upwards into a slight smile at the small victory.
"I hope that you will accept my apology and will join us for dinner," Alpha Leo says through gritted teeth.
"Of course," I say shortly. "What time should I be down?"
"Seven," Alpha Leo says.
I nod my head in understanding and Alpha Leo turns to leave my room.
"Wait," I call out after him. He turns around and I am met with his startling green eyes. "I need your help."
"What can I do for you?" Alpha Leo raises an eyebrow as he looks at me.
My throat becomes thick and I am unable to find the words. Swallowing hard, I clear my throat." "Tonight will be my first shift," I begin and blush begins to rush to my face. "I will need a secluded place to shift alone."
The shock is apparent on Alpha Leo's face. It is clear that he was not expecting this request. "You haven't shifted yet?" He asks.
"I have not," I try to stand taller as I speak. "Today is my eighteenth birthday but please don't tell anyone. I don't want to celebrate without my twin brother."
Alpha Leo's green eyes rake over my body and I feel uncomfortable. He looks at me like he knows what I would look like without my dress on. Crossing my arms over my chest, I take several steps back and trip over my feet. Luckily the bed is behind me to soften my fall.
Alpha Leo stalks toward me like I am his prey but stops just shy of my bed.
"I would be honored if you would let me be part of your first shift," Alpha Leo says almost sweetly. "You shouldn't have to shift for the first time on your own."
"I won't be alone," I tell him as I get back to my feet. "My father will be there."
A confused look spreads across Alpha Leo's face. "Your first shift is something that is supposed to be celebrated," he begins and I hold up my hand to stop him.
"While appreciate the sentiment, I am not in the mood to celebrate. But thank you for your concern." The smile that I have had plastered on my face all day falters as I speak.
"Of course," Alpha Leo says quietly. "I will see you for dinner."
He hesitates before leaving my room as if he is waiting for me to ask him to stay, but I have no intentions of doing so. Picking up a book on the bedside table I sit down on the chair in the far corner of the room and pretend to read. I hear Alpha Leo's frustrated sigh as he leaves my room and the door shuts gently behind him.
'You should have taken him up on his offer,' Rose says in a huff. 'He was right. I am supposed to be celebrated.'
'And you will be celebrated,' I tell her as I flip aimlessly through the pages of the book. 'As soon as Kieran and I can celebrate together.'
'You don't have to do everything with Kieran,' Rose growls. 'I am a part of you too. Doesn't what I want matter?'
I slam the book shut and drop it on the table beside me. 'I don't want to shift in front of a bunch of strangers. Surely, you can understand that.'
Rose huffs again loudly and curls up in the recesses of my mind but not before she growls at me one last time. 'Don't be too hard on Alpha Leo. He might end up being just what we need.'
Now it is my turn to scoff. 'You saw the visions. He has a different woman in his bed every night. That is not the kind of Alpha I want to be associated with.'
'Your visions are subjective,' Rose reminds me. 'Not everything you see is fact.'
'I don't trust him and that is final,' I hiss back at her.
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