Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Marcy was surprised by this question. “Uhm… no.”
“Good. Good.” Alpha Edward’s smile widened. “I have things to do, so I will leave you to your mother.”
Luna Layla had the schedule ready. “Darling, you must be hungry. Are you jet lagging? We didn’t want to overwhelm you today. There will be a bigger welcome party tomorrow evening. For today, I scheduled us a full spa treatment and in the afternoon a few of my friends will come for tea. They know you as a little girl with freckles. I’m sure they will be surprised to see you…”
Marcy raised her hand, to stop her mother’s chatter. “I could eat. Can you send the food to my room?”
Luna Layla confirmed. “Shower, and the food will wait for you. You have one hour until we leave for the spa. No matter how tired you are from the trip, the massage will relax you and we can eat there as well.”
Marcy responded with a tight smile and went to her old room.
Everything was how she left it in the room that was dominated by pastel pink and purple colors. A queen size poster bed with a side cabinet, on the right was a desk with a chair, and two doors lead to bathroom and walk-in closet respectively.
A wall shelf next to her bed still had plushies that she collected as a child. Teddy bears mostly.
It all brought back memories, but Marcy didn’t have many warm and fuzzy feelings about them.
She was confused by the abrupt summon which came with urgency and now that her family welcomed her like this was planned for some time, Marcy felt uneasy.
Just as Luna Layla said, by the time Marcy got out of the bathroom, food was waiting for her on the bedside table. A sandwich, an apple, and a cup of tea.
Marcy plopped on the bed and chewed a sandwich absentmindedly while thinking about her current situation.
She left behind friends, an apartment with her private belongings, and a part-time job in a small café. She had a life there and she didn’t plan to return to the Red Moon pack for more than a visit.
There is nothing wrong with the Red Moon pack. It’s the second-largest pack in North America, and as the oldest child (and the only daughter) of Alpha and Luna, Marcy is the princess with access to all the luxuries she can imagine.
The packhouse is massive, and Marcy has her own suite on the third floor, everyone is sucking up to her, but this doesn’t compare to the vibrance of Europe.
What Marcy has in Europe and not here is… freedom.
In Europe, she could go when and where she wanted, with whom she wanted, and here she needs to follow a protocol as the princess of the Red Moon pack. For Marcy, this opulent packhouse is no more than a golden cage.
Marcy took a deep breath and told herself not to freak out. It’s a culture shock and she will get used to it. After all, considering all the money she has, Marcy can travel to Europe anytime, right?
Marcy consoled herself with one big positive. While on the territory of the Red Moon pack, she can shift into her wolf form anytime without worrying that someone will see her and call hunters or the zoo.
Marcy was spacing out with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in…”, Marcy called while wondering if her one hour passed already.
“Hello…”, a polished brunette said when her head peeked into Marcy’s room.
Marcy thought that she looks familiar, but she couldn’t put a name and a face together.
The brunette smiled helplessly. “It seems you forgot about me. I’m Nora, my father is Beta Raymond. Luna Layla told me to see if you need anything. I will join you for the spa outing.”
When Marcy heard that Nora is Beta’s daughter, she remembered a small girl with pigtails and freckles on her nose.
Nora grew into a tall brunette with a slender figure and curves in all the right places.
Marcy understood that she was looking at her new best friend.
This was another thing Marcy left behind in Europe, the freedom to pick her friends.
Marcy decided to focus on the positives. At least Nora is her age and not her mother’s tea companion.
Marcy mused that she and Nora should have at least something in common. If nothing else, based on Nora’s shiny hair and flawless skin, the two of them can talk about hair and makeup, and Nora’s outfit was branded as well.
“I don’t need anything.”, Marcy said. “But you are welcome to come in if you have nothing else to do. We can chat.”
“Sure!”, Nora said cheerfully and entered the room.
Marcy took a bite of her sandwich and eyed Nora.
“Do you know why my parents called me to return suddenly?”
This was the question that was eating Marcy from the inside since she received her mother’s call. Marcy didn’t ask her parents for an explanation because she knew that if they wanted her to know, they would tell her. It was always like that.
Nora stared at Marcy with her mouth half-open, obviously caught off guard by this question. “You should ask Alpha Edward and Luna Layla.”
Before Marcy could ask anything else, Nora switched the topic. “Tomorrow is your welcome party. The invitation was sent to almost all pack members from eighteen to thirty years old. Your parents think highly of you to have such a big crowd. It’s to announce to everyone that you are back and for you to make friends. We all know you because you are the Alpha’s daughter, and you probably forgot about us. There will be more than two hundred people…”
Marcy was grateful for her parents, but everything seemed forced, and it reminded her of how things used to be before she left for Europe.
Marcy’s childhood was filled with a strict schedule of lessons, training, and planned outings with a selected group of people.
After ten years away from home, Marcy forgot about the environment she endured as a child. At that time, she thought it’s normal and she accepted it, but after experiencing freedom, now it was all coming back in painful fragments which suffocated her.
…
The next day…
Marcy’s welcome party started at six in the afternoon.
Nora and Marcy got dressed and helped each other with hair and makeup.
The two of them were fashionably late, coming out at six-twenty and they exchanged approving smiles when they saw that their impeccable styles put them above the others, just how Alpha’s and Beta’s daughters should be.
Marcy observed the massive room on the first floor that opens up to the garden via two glass French doors. She remembered that this is where guests would gather for birthdays when she was a child.
Nora was sticking close to Marcy and making sure to introduce everyone who came close to them.
Marcy felt like royalty, and not in a good way. She was standing and shaking hands with a fake smile on her face. After the twentieth person (or so), Marcy stopped trying to remember their names.
Objectively, the party was well organized. The music was upbeat, and the dance area was packed, the food was tasty and plentiful, and there was a wide selection of beverages. The mood was good, people were friendly, and they all tried to leave a good impression on Marcy.
Marcy thought how after initial formalities are over, she might be able to relax and enjoy.
It was shortly after eight o’clock when her wolf stirred as the most seductive scent of sweet clover invaded her senses.
‘Mate…’, her wolf spoke inside Marcy’s mind, and her insides trembled.
The wolves don’t speak unless it’s to notify their human half that the mate is nearby. She dreamed about this moment for a long time, and now it’s here!
Marcy’s twenty-first birthday was four months ago, and she lost hope that she will meet her mate. This was totally unexpected.