A year after he rejects her 86

Zara’s POV

A tremendous sense of anxiety washed over me, and I began to pace the room.

My appetite had gone with Mariana’s account of events, and I began to fear the worst when she informed me that Nicolas had been called to an emergency council meeting.

I didn’t want to stay indoors anymore, yet I knew I couldn’t just go outside and explore the territory.

Mariana looked anxious and confused, as if she didn’t know what to do.

“Luna, please calm down,” she pleaded. “I have faith that everything will turn out just fine. Even in death, Alpha would fight.”

“I know. I know,” I sighed as I sank into the chair, letting out a sigh. “However, you are aware of the unpredictable nature of the council, and Alpha Noah is not without his tricks.”

Carefully, Mariana drew near enough to grasp my hands in hers. There was a great deal of worry in her kind blue eyes. Her momentary reluctance was likely due to her fear that I could sneak out and do something foolish.

“I have an idea, Luna,” she eventually said. “Come with me.”

“Where to?” I asked, carefully.

“Obviously, to enjoy some fresh air,” she remarked with a smile. “Your time spent confined here has come to an end. Perhaps some fresh air might help.”

“But wouldn’t that leave Alpha Nicholas furious at you?” I asked, concerned.

“I am already in trouble,” she stated with a grin. “But I will try to convince him that going for a run was best for his mate’s mental health.”

I couldn’t take my gaze off of her gentle, blue eyes. She was right. I should probably just go for a run and get some fresh air. Kaya has been whimpering nonstop, and maybe it might calm her down a bit.

“Besides,” she went on to say. “We will not be going far. I promise.”

Mariana stood up and motioned for me to come with her to the balcony.

I obeyed the silent order, curious to see what she wanted to show me. She gestured down below, and a soft smile appeared on my lips.

“Alpha Nicholas has a huge private garden where you can spend some time without anyone seeing or bothering you,” she said. “The canopy of trees conceals it all. There you can privately shift into your wolf and spread your legs. Your wolf is probably making you feel even more anxious.”

That took me by surprise. Somehow, she knew that.

“I really would like to shake out my fur,” Kaya stated. “We both need to.”

My focus returned to Mariana, and I gave a silent nod.

“Seems like a good idea,” I responded. “Lead the way.”

Mariana grinned and gave a nod, then gestured for me to follow her.

I was surprised to find out how big Nic’s living space was. I was sure we were not in the packhouse. The only scents that I detected were those of Mariana and her granddaughter.

“Does Alpha Nicolas stay here?” I inquired as we proceeded down the hallway.

We have passed around eight other doors in the hallway and a couple of black and white abstract paintings, but nothing that kept my attention longer than a few seconds.

“Not really,” she responded, sounding saddened by that fact. “Alpha mostly lives in the pack house.”

“Any reason why?” I asked, curiously. “It’s a beautiful home.”

“I guess it’s more convenient for him to live among his pack members in the pack house,” she stated.

“Then why have you built such a big home?” I asked.

Before responding, Mariana paused.

Was she trying to avoid the question?

“Alpha built the place for his mate a couple of years ago,” she replied.

As we stepped into the living room, my attention shifted from the puzzled expression on my face to something else entirely.

“Oh, wow!” I gasped wide-eyed, taking in everything around me.

A white fluffy rug on the floor, delicate white armchairs, and a cozy fireplace tastefully adorned the living area.

All about me, I could see the same black and white design.

“Alpha has always preferred understated elegance,” Mariana stated proudly. “Come on, let me show you the garden.”

Mariana made her way to the high double doors, and she pulled the heavy curtains open, revealing a hidden treasure.

“Alpha designed the gardens himself,” she said as she unlocked and opened the door. “He has put a lot of effort into it.”

The most captivating thing was the lovely, gentle aromas that filled the air as I stepped out onto the veranda, which had a pool, a bar, and a fire pit.

“If you continue along that path leading into the forest, you’ll come across a waterfall toward the end,” she pointed out, indicating a route that led inland. “It’s absolutely gorgeous down there, and if you go that way, you will find the gardens with beautiful sculptures.”

Feeling a surge of enthusiasm, I gave a subtle nod. I was prepared to venture out and discover.

Maybe a run wasn’t such a terrible idea.

“Will you be coming with me?” I asked. I was terrified that I might lose my way or, even worse, cross the boundary.

Mariana shook her head.

“I might smell like a wolf,” she stated. “But I am mostly human.”

“Oh,” I said, my voice filled with surprise. “I am so sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be, Luna,” she replied. “Accepting myself as I am is something I did a long time ago. On top of that, it doesn’t mean I can’t manage on my own. I am still able to heal, smell, and hear like a wolf. I simply can’t shift into one.”

“Don’t you have a wolf at all?” I asked.

“That’s exactly the problem, Luna,” she said, and I furrowed my brow in response. “I have one, but I could never shift. The same goes for the rest of my family.”

“That’s odd,” I stated. “Any particular reason why?”

“The goddess’s fated mate cursed us for defending her in the great war,” she said, gazing into the distance. “He cursed our wolves to never shift and roam the earth again.”

“Seems like your bloodline carried strong wolves,” I commented.

“We were powerful wolves in our time,” she said proudly. “But now, our abilities are lost to the world.”

Mariana turned her attention to me. Her eyes bore the marks of her sorrow.

“Our family prefers to keep to ourselves,” she went on. “We do our part, but we will never be able to protect and defend our pack.”

As I nodded, my heart went out to Mariana and her loved ones. I wish there were some way that I could help her.

“Why don’t you try and help her?” Excitedly, Kaya let out a yelp.

“And how do you expect me to do that?” I asked, startled by the idea.

“Easy, use your magic,” Kaya said.

“I don’t even know how to use it,” I argued.

“I will do my best to assist you,” she said. “Just get Mariana to accept.”

What happened next was unreal to me.