Chapter 4 Fresh Start

POV: Lena

The south was warmer and not just the weather but the people too. The community is closely knit. Everybody walking in twos and threes. All happy doing what they're doing.

From the moment I alighted, I could feel the fresh warm winds welcome me. For a moment, I forgot what season and time of the year we were in. I asked to be taken to the Alpha and to my utmost surprise, my request was granted easily.

Here I was, in front of this large castle. I was ushered into the hall way where I stood mesmerized by the beautiful architecture. It was precise. Maidens busy with duties here and there. One olderly woman whom I assume is the matron of the castle came to me.

"Oh dear, who do you say you're here to see again?"

"The Alpha of Moonstone Pack, ma'am."

"Is he aware of your arrival? Is he expecting you?"

"Not really, ma'am"

"Is there a problem?"

"Not something to bother you with ma'am. Where I come from, it's only mandatory to show yourself to the highest order of the community for proper introduction" I smiled at her, softly.

"Ok. Let me let the the Alpha know he has a guest", she walked down the long hallway way to a room while echoing instructions to the other maidens.

While I waited, I couldn't help but enjoy the art work of this beautiful place. Each frame told a story that I could decipher in my own way. A few minutes passed and I was so engrossed on the walls that I turned my back on the entrance

"Hello there, I learnt you were looking for me?" the soothing baritone penetrating to my ears before I could turn.

The moment I did turn, I froze at what was standing before me. This tall, blonde man eluding strong masculinity. His eyes crystal blue like the ocean, hooded by his angular brows. His jaw cleanly shaved that I could see how defined his jawlines are. Drops of sweat dripping down his forehead with his shoulder length hair half-packed in a ponytail. His linen shirt half open up to his torso that I could see his chiseled abs, his boots alight muddy that one could tell he was coming from the fields.

This well built muscular man had me on a chokehold with wild imagination. For someone that was in such devastated condition, a man should be the last thing I should be thinking of but this particular one standing in front of me made me almost forget why I was in the south.

"Hello?" He waved in such a calm way but with a tiny bit of nonchalance. Oh my! Did he catch me stare? Did I freeze for long? Did he catch me off guard? Oh Lena, you shouldn't need doing this.

"H-h-hi", I managed to stammer. But I snapped back into reality, took my stance, raised my chin up and confidently began to speak.

"I'm Luna, from the Shadow Pack in the North. I'm here to make a request to the great Alpha of the Moonstone Pack, are you him?" I said with authority.

"Urhmmm, that depends. Is there a problem in particular? Are you... is it on an official Royal basis?" he asked nonchalantly while folding up his sleeves. Was he doing that for me to see the veins pumping out his skin?

"No, but close. It's a matter of security. A life is at stake. If you're him, can we go somewhere private and if you not, can you show me to him? I wouldn't want to disclose something such delicate to anybody else except the Alpha" I said, while clutching to my bag.

He paused and raised his eyes to look at me. If I had frozen earlier because of my first glance at him, now I feel the cold because oh his glance at me. He looked like he's been offended and I was scared that I had blown my one good shot. Only for him to release his clenched jaw a let a brief soft smile before he spoke.

"Come with me then", he signaled to me as he took the lead.

I don't know where we were headed, I thought he wasn't the Alpha because he seemed to be too calm to be one, but while we walked the hallway, maidens and guards greeted him with so much respect that he seemed so overwhelmed by. If I had a doubt he was Alpha, that moment proved otherwise.

"Well, let me be honest, the Alpha is my dad. He's sick and old and as his only son, we all know who this is to be passed down to", he shrugged with a smirk. I could sense that was a tease. Was he flirting with me?

"So, do you still want to meet with my dad regarding your distress or do you care to tell me?" He paused in front of a huge door.

"Ok, I can lay my request with you. Let me not bother the sick old Alpha. I'm sure you also can grant me my request", I pleaded.

He then opened the door and led me to a banquet hall and asked me to sit, which I did.

"So what's a woman like you in dire need of?"

"I'm Lena, daughter of Sebastian Yakov and the Luna of the Shadow Pack in the North. I was the mate of Abel, the Alpha of the Pack. Based on the circumstances that my father asked me to be his Luna and he insisted it was for the greater good. I have been humiliated and bullied since I became his mate, I have suffered so much disrespect, verbal, emotional and physical abuse from him" I took a deep sigh before I continued my story.

"My father, the only relative I had passed away of recent. Since that very day till now, I have known no peace. The humiliation I received from Abel only grew worse since I got the news from him. I couldn't take it anymore so I left him.

As his mate, he has marked me. There is no way I could be totally free from him if he doesn't unmark me. Leaving him was a heavy blow on his face as he didn't think I would be courageous enough to do so. To get back at me. He did not just stop at disrespecting me, the whole of Shadow pack is humiliating and publicly shaming me on his commands, except for 2 people" I narrated as tears welled up my eyes. The Alpha quickly passed me a napkin to wipe them.

"It became serious when my life was being threatened and there was a bounty on my head, it even got to involve the life of my dear friend at risk. As a result, I had to flee my home especially after receiving anonymous letters warning me of the trouble lying ahead of me. The letter instructed that I come as far as the south cos Abel would stop at nothing to get me...

"I was assured a safer haven here with the promise to be welcomed and secure. So I made my way here without any hesitation.

"All I'm asking of the Alpha is to please do this one thing for me as my life is currently at stake. But the whole region knows not to cross the Moonstone pack. I desperately need this for the time being, I left my pack with nothing. Not clothes, gold or money. All that you see here is all that is left of me. I can't even..."

"Oh, that's such a touching story. I'm sorry you had to go through that. You look like you don't deserve any of it, but that's life for you", the Alpha interjected.

"We can host you here till I speak to my father about this. I will get the maids to prepare one of the rooms in the castle and give you fresh towels to clean and new clothes to change in for the night, is that okay by you?", he stared with deep concern.

Like I have a choice, I thought in my head but replied "absolutely, that will mean so much to me. Thank you"

"Before you leave, it's customary for us to meet for dinner at the Royal Hall, I'm sure you're too hungry to say no to dinner. I will be expecting to see you there"

We went out of the banquet hall and he sent for a maid who took my bag and led me to 'my room'.

Oh! What a day I have had. I really hope this goes well. Looking back to where I am coming from, this treatment and welcome I am receiving here is too good to be true. The maid smiling at me only reminded of Annabella, my sweet old Chaperone. I took a deep breath as I laid flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The next thing I know was that my mind and body gave in to sleep. Like they knew we were home, the rest was blissful for the first time in a long while.

*****