Naya's P.O.V.

I didn't get a chance to speak to Ocean during the meeting but when I found Macey in my room overly excited about me going to Darkwood with her, I realised Ocean was serious about last night. He really did want me to leave with him. 

My heart dropped at the abruptness of my departure. I wanted to go with my Mate. Desperately. But the suddenness of it twisted in my gut.

I despised change.

"I have to speak to my parents." I haven't had a chance to speak to them over dinner with Alpha Dalton, Sasha, Ocean, Aaron, Macey and her family being there. 

Instead of Aaron visiting Macey's home, I decided to invite them so they stood on neutral territory. Alpha Dalton tried to talk about me and Ocean but the glare from me shut him up even though he laughed inside.

 I've known him my whole life and he was like an uncle that always annoyed me no matter what and gave me the most extravagant presents during holidays.

Sasha was pregnant with their first child and in her late 30s whereas Dalton was in his mid-40s. I always wondered why did they wait so long considering their child would be the next alpha but it was none of my business. 

She was a reporter for the News Channel here and travelled frequently but choosing career over Alpha duties were frowned upon by some old fashion packs.

 I thought she could do whatever she wanted. She was too smart to waste her talent.

With her black curly hair and warm brown eyes, she could have been a model with her figure but she was only a couple of inches taller than me. 

Alpha Dalton, on the other hand, had the lightest blue eyes and looked almost white sometimes. Black and white hair framed his face and head. They were a handsome couple.

"Your mum cried when she saw me." I rolled my eyes at her hearing about the antiques of my mother. She was slightly over dramatic. "I missed Esaya's cooking." She groaned getting under my blanket. "Also, are you taking this bed?"

"No, you munchkin, I'm just going to get things sent over. It feels so weird to be moving for someone I hardly know about." I confessed, finally sitting down on the sofa. She wiggled around to face me.

"I was the same way. But can you see yourself without him?" My gut twisted at the thought of that. I wanted to talk to him, kiss him and-

My lips tingled at the thought of what we did last night.

"You're right." I wondered if he spoke to my dad about delaying his flight. "I need to speak to my parents."

"I know but I actually have no idea on where they are right now." She turned on the TV mounted on the wall opposite of my bed. "They were there for dinner but then they left with Dalton and Sasha and my mate."

"Speaking of mates, did you see Lucy today?"

Confused, I replied. "Yes, she made snacks for the meeting today, why?"

"I was speaking to Connor while he was waiting for her, you know when you guys were in the meeting. And Oh My God! You should have seen the daggers she was throwing at me. GIRL, I wanted to take a picture so I could show it to you." She strongly disliked the poor girl.

"I don't even bother nowadays." I was bone tired from arranging everything running around like crazy.

I felt Ocean's arms around my shoulders and my back before it replaced the fluffiness of my bed. 

Where's Macey? He planted a soft kiss on my forehead and lingered around for a while before leaving. The room fogged over suddenly, smoky mist rose from the ground. 

I was suddenly laying in a chaise lounge with a dark sheet covering it. I looked around to find myself in a room full of arches, easels, rolled papers, dark mahogany designer furniture littered around. 

The outdated state of the room didn't surprise me as much as the numerous painting of myself from different angels did. A small easel blocked my view of the face behind it.

He wore a white cotton shirt with lace woven through the top section of his front like a shoe lace. The section was wide open. Brown pants covered his legs leaving his feet bare. Not understanding what was happening I moved my arm that was thrown over my head towards my torso that was... bare?

Startled, I tried to cover myself up with the sheet when a familiar voice stopped me.

"Mio Amore, hold still, si prega di."

The vibrant smiling face of Ocean popped around the easel.

Jerking up I realised I had fallen asleep. The curtains were drawn and Macey was gone. The phrase My love, hold still, please lingered around the fogginess. 

I didn't remember much about the dream but I felt unbelievably uncomfortable and exposed after that. Drawing the covers up to my chin I turned nuzzling deeper in my pillow. 

I was still wearing my jeans and t-shirt which I quickly swapped for long pyjamas. My phone read 1:54 when I checked it before sleep lulled me under once again.

"YOU CAN'T leave this quickly. That is absurd." I was quite surprised by my mother's outburst but I did agree with the fact that the move was very abrupt.

"Dad already fixed it. I spoke to him this morning about it and he managed to get all four of us on a flight to Northern on Tuesday. He can't wait any longer considering the risks for them." I tried to explain calmly.

"But you just got here." I hunted her down to her room. She was definitely trying to avoid me in order to prolong this confrontation. "No, no, honey-"

"Mom, you didn't leave here for a whole month when you met dad. Come on." I sat down on the light grey chaise at the foot of her bed. The feel of it triggered a certain type of memory that was far away to grasp clearly. "You'll come visit anyways. Its tradition."

"Oh Goddess, I've always wished for your mate and now he's here, taking you so far away-"

"You are such a drama queen, I'm old enough now, I would have gotten my own place if he hadn't come along." I rolled my eyes at her theatrics.

"What nonsense." She sat down next to me. Before she could say anything else to baby me I took the lead.

"Let's be honest, this is going to happen whether you want it or not. He would have moved if he wasn't an Alpha but that's not the case. And we both knew I never wanted the title." I waved my hands around trying to animate my words. "Alpha LoRusso was a Beta turned Alpha and look how well he's done."

"He's lost 20 members in last 30 years." She countered. "The Northern part is a dangerous place."

"I know but it's not his fault. You'll visit me next month and we'll talk on the phone so please mum don't worry."

I wish that was the last conversation I had with her about my departure. She was trying to persuade my dad to stop me from going. 

At one point she even asked Ocean to delay it further but I refused to keep him away from his endangered pack. That's how I found myself hiding away deep in the garden -behind the tall hedges- on the eve of my departure. 

I was itching to shift and waiting for night fall to change into my light grey coat. I couldn't run but at least let the beast out. A distinct sandalwood scent hit my nose.

 I rolled my eyes knowing exactly what that scent represented. I was irritated with her. I was irritated with everything. I just wanted to get over with it.

"Are you trying to hide from your mom?" His accent was different and it made him sound even sexier.

"Is it that obvious." I retorted while pacing.

"You do realise she's a werewolf right? She can find your scent." His expression remained stoic but one side of his lips curled upwards when I halted to narrow my eyes at him.

"I need to shift or I'll go crazy." I carried on pacing.

"So you came out here to shift?" He crossed his arms over his broad chest. The sleeve of his black T-shirt ended on his biceps accentuating his muscles.

I curled my fingers into a tight fist. My half transforming sharp nails bit into my flesh. When the first drop of blood splattered on the fresh white snow his eyes widened in concern. 

A loud moan involuntarily existed my throat when my spine bent forward threatening to break into a different form. His arms circled me immediately holding me with all his might trying to keep my human body intact.

"It's my fault. I haven't marked you yet and its hay wiring your system." His touch soothed me slightly but not by much.

"This is not supposed to happen." I gritted out through my fangs. "It doesn't happen to others." The sudden urge of rage towards him was puzzling.

"I know. I'll explain it all but I need you cool down first."

He shoved me in the snow.

No, he fucking buried me in it.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?"

"Just wait."

The snow was a coffin and he was the damn lid. His stupid touch intensified the roar in my blood. 

I was inches away from clawing his arms but the cold wetness of the snow seeped through my dark turquoise jumpsuit. I could physically feel the beast inside of me subside slowly. Retracing it's steps backwards behind it's hideout. My claws slid back.

 My internal battle cooled down enough to feel the external weight of my mate. The heat of his body melted most of the snow around him.

"You know I could have just shifted right?" Finally lifting his face from the crook of my neck, he inhaled. Even though my stomach quivered my eyes turned to slits. He pulled me up with confidence with a frown between his eyes.

"How long has it been that you haven't shifted?" He asked curiously. The loss of his hands allowed the coldness to extend further into my skin.

"Three months."

His eyes widen in slightly in horror but not much else changed on his face. "You know that's not good for you right?"

"We don't have the security to do that. We live among humans, it's a sacrifice we have to make." Survival of the fittest. One had to adapt in order to survive and we did. 

Our wolves were hungrier and more aggressive when they came out and maybe we didn't the finesse as werewolves who had the privilege to change often but our strength made up for it.

When we reached the top of the staircase together, soaked in snow, I knew I had to ask him all the questions but he always found ways to disappear with other Alphas. Sighing I opened my door waiting for him to come in.

He hesitated.

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"I know you're not telling me things and I understand because we just met but-"

"Don't." The vehemence in his voice frightened me. "Don't devalue yourself that way." He shoved his hands in his pockets. Eyes focused on me only.

"That's not what I meant." I shook my head from side to side in denial.

"You'll be able to change into your wolf whenever you want once we get to Darkwood." He paused before planting his feet on the threshold of the door. "Anytime you want." His eyes adverted towards my open suitcases near the entry of my walk in closet.

"I want to help you Ocean." I wanted to help his people find a better way to keep the hunters at bay.

A loud guttural groan escaped his throat. His body physically relaxed, mouth slightly parted. I wasn't thinking when I vocalised his name. 

Wondering if he was upset at the insubordination- wait! I had Alpha blood but I an alpha in training and usually it was customary to refer to them with Alpha.

Ah Fuck.

He stared at my lips. I wanted him to kiss me again. Not the sloppy – I couldn't wait any longer kind- but the soft sensual kind. But I wanted him to come in and come to me.

"Get a good nights' sleep. We leave early in the morning tomorrow." He turned towards his room. "Then you shift whenever you want. You can be free Naya." There was something more behind his last words. 

Maybe the indication of my wolf being confined but his eyes spoke differently. There was deeper meaning to it and wanted to know what it was.

I was going to find out one way or another. 

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