Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
Ryker and Seth are talking just outside my room.
‘You know this isn’t going to go down well with Alice,’ Seth says.
‘I know, but I have my mate now so things have changed.’ I open the door; they go silent and smile at me.
‘Luna, that dress is very flattering on you,’ Seth smiles.
‘Thank you,’ I smile. Ryker walks over to me.
‘You look beautiful, Astrid,’ Ryker says; his face lights up with a big smile.
‘I’m so hungry,’ I announce.
‘Well, you’re about to meet Alice downstairs. She’s the cook,’ Ryker says.
Ryker insists on holding my hand down the stairs in case I fall. I know it’s just because he just wants to be close to me, and enjoys our closeness just as much as I do.
We enter the dining room; a plate smashes to the ground.
‘What is the meaning of this?’ The older lady asks, staring at our hands.
Everyone stands at the table as we walk in.
‘Alice,’ Mia says, ‘the special guest I was telling you about, is actually our Luna. Can you believe Ryker finally found his mate?’ Mia says in a bubbly and chirpy tone. Alice looks at me and glares.
‘Now that you’ve met Astrid, your Luna, you can now finish serving breakfast,’ Ryker says, smiling at me. Alice huffs off back to the kitchen. What’s her problem?
Taking my seat at the table, Ryker sits next to me. Seth sits beside Mia and kisses her forehead.
‘Astrid, you already know Seth and Mia. This is Gamma Kane and his mate Hayley.
‘It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,’ Hayley says.
‘Luna,’ Kane says, bowing gentlemanly.
‘Nice to meet you. Is Alice always this grumpy?’ I ask. Everyone laughs.
‘Actually, yeah. She can be a bit full on at times but just ignore her.’ Hayley smiles.
‘Oh ok.’ I reply.
Alice comes out from the kitchen carrying a stack of pancakes while glaring at Ryker, and plonks them down onto the table; Ryker follows her into the kitchen.
‘Excuse me, Astrid, I need to get myself some water.’ Moments later we hear them arguing.
‘Is everything okay?’ I ask. Everyone passes knowing looks across the table.
‘I’m sure everything is fine, Luna,’ Hayley says, giving me a reassuring smile.
‘So, you’ll be eighteen soon?’ Mia says.
‘Yes, in nine days,’ I smile.
‘How exciting! You must be excited to meet your wolf?’ She asks.
Ryker said something about shifting into a wolf on my eighteenth. I’m going to turn into a wolf. I don’t want to shift. I don’t want to meet my wolf. What if I hurt someone or kill again? I can’t repeat what happened to mum.
My chest suddenly feels heavy; I start hyperventilating.
‘Luna, are you okay?’ Mia and Hayley ask. With teary eyes, I stand.
‘I’m sorry. I can’t do this! I can’t be here!’ I run out of the dining room and down the hall until I find the front door. I run down the street and just keep running, with no idea where I’m heading.
It’s around 1 am when we arrive at Shadow Crest. I wake up to Ryker carrying me in his arms. It’s dark and quiet.
‘Ryker, I can walk, you know?’
‘I know, but I want to carry you, he says with a grin.
‘Put me down, Ryker.’ He gently puts me down.
We are at the mansion’s front entrance. It’s three stories high. A giant white staircase ascends to the second floor. The balconies on the second and third floors are to die for, and I admire the white French doors and windows. Manicured green hedges border the mansion, and flowers grace the garden sweetly. A giant water fountain sculpted in the shape of two wolves is a glamourous outdoor focal point.
‘This is where we live. This is the packhouse, Ryker says proudly.
‘It’s a massive house for just two people,’ I say.
‘Oh, many of us live in this house.’ Ryker scratches the back of his head nervously
‘You never said I’d be living in a house with a bunch of werewolves,’ I say.
“It’s normal for the Alpha and Luna to live in the packhouse with the beta, gamma, omega, the cook. Guests from other packs come and visit too, he explains.
‘How can I stay with so many werewolves I don’t even know?’ I ask, crossing my arms.
‘Astrid, no one here is going to harm you. On the contrary, you being here will bring a lot of excitement to Shadow Crest. I know it’s a big change, but please give it a few days, and we will talk about it if you’re still uncomfortable,’ Ryker says.
Sighing, I say, ‘Okay, fine.’ Ryker opens the front door. Seth is behind us.
‘Well, I’m going to jump into bed with my mate. I look forward to you meeting her after your rest Luna, he smiles.
‘I prefer Astrid for now, I mumble. Seth and Ryker exchange their thoughts on what I ask of with a hesitant look over my shoulder before he leaves and goes to his room.
‘Come. Our room is on the top floor,’ Ryker says as I follow him upstairs.
‘Wait. Our room? Don’t I get my own room for now?’ Ryker pauses, and after a moment in thought, he nods.
‘Your room, for now, will be the room beside mine.’
‘Thank you,’ I nod.
We make our way to the top floor. This place is immense. There are so many rooms and hallways.
‘This is where I sleep, Ryker says, opening a large door. It’s an enormous room with a king-sized bed and walk-in wardrobes on either side. The windows are the largest I’ve ever seen in a house.
I lock forward to seeing what the view during the day will be just as beautiful as the view at night.