CHAPTER 4

AUDREY'S POV

It had been four days since I gave my father an answer. According to him, he had relayed my respnse to Luna queen Mercedes. But we were yet to receive a message from her, up until now. I was a bit bothered, but decided not to worry too much, especially after the news of the attack against the crowned prince, in the palace some days back. Apparently, the weakling couldn't protect himself, and ended up getting the king almost killed, while trying to protect him. Not that the death of the king wouldn't have made a couple of things a lot easier though.

I stood up from the comfy stool just before the vanity mirror, and threw on a very simple floral sundress. There was no better time to pay my ill and favourite cousin a visit, if not now. A lot was happening, and I honestly wanted him to be aware of it. Denver was my paternal cousin; the first son of my father's twin brother. Yes, my father was an identical twin. Ever since Denver and I were kids, we naturally had a better rapport between ourselves, compared to our other cousins. We were just so alike in a lot of ways. So far, Denver was the only one who could challenge me in a duel, and probably win.

He had suffered a deep injury during our hunt last week, rendering him bedridden for the past week.

Applying very minimal amount of makeup, I packed my extremely full and curly hair into a tight ponytail, sprayed some body mist, before walking out of the door to my room. I made my way out of the house, noting the fact that neither my parents nor brother were home. Now, that made four of us. I hastened my steps as I walked through the busy courtyard of the pack house. There were a lot of greetings here and there, but I only responded to the few pack members, whom I felt like.

All the way to Denver's home, I couldn't stop thinking about the recent happenings. I still found it difficult to believe that I was a few steps away from becoming the next Luna queen. I knew I had great dreams of being wealthy and powerful, but who knew they would come to manifestation, being so lofty? Finally, it felt as if the moon goddess thought about me fondly.

I approached Denver's home and released a sigh, hoping he was now capable of standing on his feet at the very least.

"Audrey!" I recognized the familiar voice and looked up to see the subject of my thoughts, standing at the doorstep and waving me in excitement. Thank the goddess! He looked completely fine now.

"Denver! You are alright." I sighed in relief.

"It appears to be so." He shrugged and chuckled in amusement, as I covered the little distance between us both. "Even I, am suprised, considering how deep the injury had been."

"I'm glad to see that you're fine." I circled my hands around his torso for a hug, which he returned enthusiastically.

"I'm glad too." He whispered onto my head, before we pulled away from each other, and I scanned his completely dressed body.

"Were you on your way out before I got here?"

"Yeahhh..." He whispered, but the clear excitement in his tone piqued my curiosity. "I was heading over to yours."

"Oh?"

"Yeahhh..." He slid his hands into his pockets like a giddy teenager. Okay, what was this about?

"Are you okay?"

"Never been better." He grinned, making my curiosity almost begin to choke me. That was until he finally spilled the beans. "I found my mate Audrey."

"What?! That is great news! How, where, when? Who is she?"

"Wellll... I met her two days back." He smiled. "She has actually been under our noses all along."

"She has?" I asked in suprise, and he nodded in agreement.

"Leah." He muttered, and the smile on my face gradually disappeared.

"Leah?" I asked, and he nodded. What got me the most was the fact that his smile hadn't faltered. "As in, Leah the omega? Slave of the pack?" I asked again, and that was when his smile faltered.

"You shouldn't address her in that manner anymore. She is my mate now."

"But she is just a weak Omega! I can't believe you're really smiling." I blurted out before I could even hold back. The look on his face made me feel chills all over my skin.

"So what?" He asked. "I should reject her because she doesn't fit into your description of a 'worthy' mate? Leah is my everything, Audrey. I had expected this from anyone else, but not you." He looked at me, disappointment written all over his face. "Oh...." He scoffed. "I forgot how power hungry you actually are." And then, he brushed past my shoulder and walked away.

Seriously?! Why was he overreacting?! Everything I said was the simple truth.

"Denver!" I tried calling him back, but he didn't stop or respond. Was this how my envisaged perfect day was going to end? I hadn't even successfully told him what really brought me here. About Queen Mercedes' proposal and my intended marriage to Prince Sebastian.

Rather than going after him, knowing he would love to be alone, I took a different route back home. It was what people normally tagged a lonely road, but then, I am Audrey Chadwick. What is there to be scared of? Absolutely nothing.

I continued on the 'lonely' path care-freely, but that was until I heard a shuffle from the bushes. Yeah, I forgot to add that it was a lonely path, in the middle of a bush. The shuffle had been very light, but given my extraordinary ability of hearing, it was as clear as possible. Instantly, I became alert and aware of whatever lurked in the bushes, slowly girding up myself for a fight if necessary. For all I knew, it could be just a lost animal, which would hopefully be dinner for my family. I kept walking but stopped on my tracks the moment I heard the shuffle again. This time, it was closer to me.

"Don't be a coward, and just show yourself." I muttered distatefully, wanting to be over and done with the drama already. I guess whomever it was, was truly a coward because the next minute, the rather largely sized wolf was pouncing on me from behind. What the hell?!

I wasted no time in falling backwards to the ground, with as much force to inflict injury on the back of my assailant. The wolf released a painful howl, giving me the opportunity to jump out of its grasp. Without wasting anytime, I shifted into my wolf form, ripping my poor gown in the process. If this was gonna be a fair fight, then I should as well not be in my human form.

Almost like the speed of light, the wolf was back on its feet, slowly making its way towards me. One look at how healthy and neat it looked, I knew it wasn't a rogue wolf. So who the hell could this be? I tried connecting through mind-link, but was brutally resisted. Fine then! He or she didn't want this to go the easy way. I could as well unleash terror now.

We made for each other at the same time, my primal instincts on a hundred. I aimed for its neck, hoping to puncture an artery with my sharp fangs. I had already gotten so close to my aim, and wasn't expecting the solid kick against my chest, making me stagger backwards a bit.

I quickly jump back to a solid stance, reminding myself that in a fight, a second of laxity could get me killed. I wouldn't be put down without a good fight though. This time, I made my move towards it, with the sole aim of biting off its head. Once again, I was so close, but didn't hit the target. Its claws had sunk deep through my furs and into my skin, gaining a good hold on me and being able to flip me, my back hitting the hard ground.

Fine! Enough with being fair, it was time to get nasty. What was the point of having a fair fight, when I could put an end to all these with the aid of just a single one of my abilities?

Moreover, whomever this was, didn't play fair by attacking me in my human form, from behind. The wolf growled in my face and snarled loudly, displaying its sharp and long fangs in the process. It was about biting down on my neck when I invoked my latest ability. I hadn't really learned how to use or control it so well, but it was my best bet, given the current situation. I focused my eyes on the head of my snarling attacker, the task being a bit difficult as I wasn't in my human form. But luckily, it seemed to be working. The wolf released a low and painful howl as it's grip on me slowly weakened. It was in a confused and weak state in matter of seconds, and I thought it my best time to strike.

I was already aiming for the neck once more, when the wolf suddenly shifted into his human form. He was showing me his face, and that only meant one thing. Sparing time was over.

Eventually, I shifted back to my human form, with this strange and naked good looking man, hovering above me. I had expected a whole lot of reactions, but not the smile on his face.

"Impressive." He muttered. On a normal day, I would have asked him to get the hell away from me, but for unknown reasons, I couldn't. It was probably the aura I felt around him.

"And who the hell are you?" I frowned slightly, only making his stupid grin grow wider. He may have been good looking, but all I wanted to do right now was snuff the breathe out of him.

"As tough as they say. But at least, I am stronger. I put your back to the ground." He muttered cockily. 'Before I made you lose half your consciousness, and almost ripped off your head!' I screamed in my head. "It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Prince Sebastian." And I literally froze.