Chapter 3 Uncharted Origins

The two women introduced themselves immediately, while the males turned and walked back into the forest.

Dammit.

The taller female, covered in tattoos, was Honi, and the shorter woman with red hair down to her ass was Loveta. They tilted their heads to Ashina slightly, waiting for a response. She half-smiled, half grimaced and nodded at them briefly.

"So...Should we follow them?" she asked.

Both women shared a look and stood on either side of her. Loveta cleared her throat, linking her arm with Ashina's and asked, "What pack are you from?"

Ashina shrugged. "I don't think I have one." Although her memories were fried, she felt in her gut that she was at least half right.

Or is that just the hunger pangs?

Both women frowned, confused. "What species are you?"

'Fae.' A whisper echoed in her mind with a fading hush like trembling leaves in a gentle wind.

Ashina's brows shot up. "I think I'm Fae?" The disclosure was made so slowly that it came out like a question.

Lovetas brows shot up as she looked over Ashina's grubby body. "I've never met a Fae before."

"How old are you?" Honi piped up, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Not sure. Maybe like twenty-something? Early twenties?" It was infuriating to Ashina that she couldn't remember her age, only guessing the answer based on her reflection from the creek earlier. Her face lacked the soft roundness of a teenager but also any budding signs of wrinkles.

"Same, " they replied with soft smiles. An overwhelming sense of welcome poured from both women, especially Loveta, but Ashina couldn't help but feel disappointed that the mystery male wasn't walking with her. She could see his outline up ahead next to another guy who kept peeking back at them with curious azure eyes.

"What are their names?" she questioned her companions, jutting her head toward the men.

"Well, that one," Loveta lilted, pointing at the youngest-looking man who sported short chocolate waves and a hunched posture. "His name is Jed. He is Alpha's brother and one of our Gammas."

"I'm the other Gamma," Honi boasted proudly.

Ashina smiled and nodded despite having no clue what the gibberish words meant.

"The brunette bodybuilder over there is my mate, Rule." Loveta smiled, starry-eyed, as she pointed to her left.

A scowl appeared as he peered at the women before softening on Loveta. The puppy love in his eyes was undeniable.

"Both of us are Delta's. And the one next to Alpha is Waya. He's our Beta," Loveta stated as if her words made perfect sense.

Ashina's curiosity got the better of her, "Am I supposed to know what it means when you say Beta or Delta or mate? And please tell me his name isn't Alpha. So pretentious."

Loveta's eyes shot open wide, and her cheeks flushed. Honi, on the other hand, stifled a laugh in her palm.

"N- no, it's Farkas," Loveta stuttered. "It's our rankings. Or titles, I guess. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, then Delta... His name is, uh..."

Ashina scrunched her face, giggling at Loveta's sudden onset stammering. "Spit it out already!"

Her almond eyes flitted to the men ahead before whispering, "Lopus."

"Why was that so hard to say?" Ashina felt warmth hearing the name and wanted to sound it out, but not in the presence of so many strangers. She saw Waya chuckle but didn't think Lopus had Even been talking.

Weird.

Honi nudged Ashina's shoulder slightly with a smile, "Normally, we refer to... Lopus as Alpha as a sign of respect."

"Why?"

"Because we're dogs, little one." Waya had appeared out of nowhere with a grin. "Hierarchy and such."

"Waya!" Rule groaned, now also much closer. "Shut it."

Ashina's curiosity was piqued. "Are you like those other things that kidnapped me?"

"Wolves, sweetie. We are wolves." Waya put on a strange accent and bowed deeply.

"Don't patronize her, you idiot," Jed growled. They moved unnaturally fast, so it wasn't exactly surprising that they weren't human.

Waya's hackles rose slightly before another wicked grin crossed his face. "You're just jealous you didn't talk to her first."

Ashina quite liked all the attention, but Lopus still walked ahead by at least twenty feet. She wanted to talk to him the most.

"Where are we going?" She directed the question at Waya, but Jed answered first.

"Packhouse."

That doesn't explain much. Ashina pressed her lips together and marched on. Quiet settled over the bunch for a while until the Fae couldn't stand the silence anymore.

"What is your, um... Pack name?"

Loveta grinned and sighed audibly as if the silence was weighing on her too.

"Invictus. It means unconquerable in Latin."

The group all seemed proud of their title. Ashina wondered if they decided it themselves or someone gave it to them. The possibility of the former statement being true made her chuckle quietly.

"You guys really like your old languages," Ashina remarked with a smile before picking up her pace. She tried to catch up to Lopus without breaking into a trot, but it appeared that she would remain well behind him unless she sprinted. The Fae was not going to lower herself to chase after a man.

She would yell at one, though. "Excuse me, Lopus. Can I ask you something?"

The whole group froze as his body turned towards hers. Ashina had continued to walk unfazed and was now only a few feet from his towering form. His eyes flickered behind her, and she heard five pairs of feet running parallel to them until they faded into the trees.

They were alone.

"You didn't have to make them leave. I just wanted to talk to you for a bit."

Lopus's chuckle soothed her soul, his previous confusing frown completely gone. "Go ahead."

Ashina pulled a face as Every thought she ever had suddenly escaped her. "Uh- What do you know about those, um, wolves that were with me?"

He sighed as he looked down at her, thinking. "They are from a neighbouring pack. Their Alpha is not someone you want to meet. He kills for sport. Ernouf murdered his Beta; ripped his damned throat out..."

A strange pain shot through Ashina's chest while Lopus looked forward with distaste. The pain got worse, and she doubled over slightly. And they're the ones who have my mother?

Warm hands clasped her shoulders, and she shivered beneath their touch. "What's wrong?"

Ashina shook her head, "Not exactly sure," she half-lied. "I woke up last week in a Fae realm with no memories." Or clothes. A flush wrapped around her torso, easing the coldness of her dripping outfit.

"Nothing at all?"

The young woman shook her head again, looking at his curious face. He was so cute.

"But you're a Fae?" He had heard their conversation earlier.

So that's why Loveta whispered.

"I think so, yes. At least half."

His look hardened ever so slightly. "And the other half?"

Her shoulders shrugged up to her ears as she continued walking. Lopus followed a half step behind, and she could feel his gaze on her back. "I don't know. Probably human, I guess."

"Half breeds aren't common, Ashina." His low voice sounded cautious. "They are usually the product of illegal means..."

She shuddered from his words, but they felt very wrong to her. "No. Not me. Pretty sure I was born from love." Ashina chuckled at the odd word choice, but it sounded like something she had heard before.

My mother must have said that. She buried Louve's words of her mother suffering again, hoping Lopus wouldn't notice.

"I thought you said you had no memory." His voice sounded guarded again.

"Sometimes, things just come to me," she replied quickly, clasping her trembling hands. "Are we almost there yet? My feet hurt."

His gaze shot to her cracked bare feet, dirt and mud mixture squelching between her toes.

Before taking another step, Lopus scooped her into his arms and pressed her against his chest. She protested and scowled at him for the unexpected movement, but he felt so warm. She stilled, letting his body heat thaw her frozen digits.

The earthy scent rolled off his neck too, and she confirmed it was cinnamon she could smell earlier. "Why do you smell so nice?" Ashina asked innocently.

He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. At the sudden movement, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck.

Rolling her eyes at his non answer, she grumbled, "You're carrying me. The least you could do is answer my questions."

"I did."

"You shrugged."

"Yes, because I'm not sure."

She rolled her eyes again and leaned her head back as if unconscious. "I can see something over there." It looked like a little upside-down shed, with barred windows and a sagging roof covered in orange pine needles.

"It's our holding cells. For young wolves to shift safely." His voice had a softness that made Ashina melt deeper into his touch. His clothes dampened from her soaked attire, and she cringed as realization set it.

"We must almost be there then." Her excitement rose as the so-called 'Packhouse' was closer than ever. The allure of a warm shower almost had her moaning aloud before she lifted her head again and let it rest against his hard chest.

A rhythmic thumping sounded in her ears, and she felt her pulse slow to match it. Ashina looked up at Lopus one last time, and his ticking jaw made her pause. She watched as his Adam's apple bobbed slowly, his gaze hardening on the tree line.

"Almost there," he replied.