5 - Finding the others

It's been a week now and I'm standing in knee deep snow when just a week ago I was swimmimg in a river to cool off.  I walk out of the trees and see two men in the distance, I freeze and move back to the trees and put my back to one.  I steady my breathing to think, my heart is pounding in my chest, when suddenly two men are standing in front of me, both glaring at me.  One speaks, "what are you doing here?" 

I arch my brow at him, "walking, what does it look like?" 

He smirks at me, then looks at the other guy, they both inhale deeply and smile as his eyes glaze over and I know he is mind linking someone.  Grace stirs in my head, "hmm, they look yummy," she purrs. 

I giggle at her, "there not food." 

She laughs, "I wasn't thinking of food, we do have other needs for good men you know." 

The man interrupts my conversation, "you're a lycan, you need to come with us." 

I cross my arms over my chest, "and who are you?" 

He smiles at me, my name is Travis and this," he points over his shoulder with his thumb, "is Chuck our Alpha is waiting for us, so we need to move."  They walk out of the tree line and turn looking at me, he motions with his hand, "come on, you'll freeze out here." 

I look around the frozen landscape and walk up between the two, "so you're lycan's?" 

His smile  is welcoming, "yes, just like you." 

I struggle to keep up with the two huge men, their strides are twice on of mine, "are there many of us here?" 

Travis chuckles, "yes, there are many of us, too many sometimes."  My eyes widen at him as we turn to the left and I stop in my tracks as a ice castle comes into view. 

Chuck laughs, "yea, everyone gawks at it the first time they see it, don't worry, it's actually warm in there." 

I give him a tight smile, "Grace, is this safe, I mean we could be walking into something we can't get out of." 

She scoffs, "you wanted to be with those like us, they won't hurt us, trust me, they are thrilled already that we are here, you'll see." 

I follow them into a cave that has torches on the walls lighting the way and we walk into the foyer, my eyes widen as I take it in.  The walls of ice are so thick they're blue in color, a large staircase in front of me and a chandilier hangs from the ceiling with candles lit, I stare at it for sometime I can't help but wonder how it doesn't melt.  I hear someone clear their throat and my eyes leave the ceiling and fall on a Greek God, with dark blue eyes, black hair and wearing the most perfect smile.  I stare at him taking in his rugged facial features, high cheek bones, sharp jaw line with black stubble tracing to a goatee.  My eyes wonder lower, a tight white shirt stretching across his broad shoulders and chest, top two button open, whisps of black chest hair peeking out, black slacks hug his thick tree trunk thighs.  HIs baritone voice breaks my stare, "my face is up here."  My head snaps back to his face, my cheeks heated as I stare in to his eyes, he has a scar going through his left eye brow and it only enhances his looks, he extends his hand to me, "Alpha King Liam." 

I put my hand in his and my eyes widen as his title sinks into my brain, my voice comes out a bit husky, "Ashley Silver," I bow my head to him. 

His smile widens as dimples appear in his cheeks, "my pleasure Lady Ashley, I'm sure your hungry, there isn't much out there to hunt," he winks at me and motions with his hand to walk as he takes a step.  I walk next to him as we walk through an archway into a huge dinning hall, filled with people.  I follow him to a seat as I look around, this room has actual wood flooring covering the ice, it's warmer than the foyer, he pulls a seat out and I take it, he sits next to me.  "We don't get many visitors up here Lady Ashley, what brings you here?" 

I turn and look at him, his voice is kind and full of curiosity, "I just shifted for the first time last week, I was in a werewolf pack," I shrug, "I had no reason to stay, since I'm a lycan and thought I should be with my own kind." He smiles at the server as he places food in front of us, I smile kindly at him, "thank you," the server looks at me and smiles as he turns to serve others. 

Alpha King Liam looks at me, "eat up."  I waste no time in devouring the food set in front of me, I hear him chuckle and I look threw my lashes at him, he points to my plate, "I was right," he smiles, "you were hungry." 

I look down and my plate is empty as I pop the last of the meat into my mouth and nod.  I sit back and really take in the room, I suddenly realize that there aren't many woman here besides myself,  "uhm, were are all the women?" 

He rubs his neck and looks around the room, like he counting them, "most are here, some might have eaten early, the men out number the woman 20 to 1 here, it's unfortunate but Lycan woman are rare." 

I suck in a breath, "so I'm rare, unique?" 

His smile widens, "you are very special Lady Ashley, so you just shifted you said a week ago?" 

I frown remembering how horrible that day was, "yes." 

His brows crease, "then it was your birthday, why the frown, most shifters can't wait to shift and find their mate?" 

I shake my head, "unless your mate finds you the morning of your birthday, rejects you and leaves you in pain as they smile and walk away." 

His eyes widen at my confession, "Lady Ashley, I can't imagine any werewolf or Lycan that would not appreciate their fated mate." 

I snort, "well you haven't met them all now have you?" 

He archs a brow at me, "I apologize for my rudness, the pain is still fresh in your heart," he looks me up and down and shakes his head. 

I whisper, "it's fine, I didn't expect him to be my fated mate, he never liked me, I wasn't good enough, thin enough, pretty enough, strong enough," I shrug, "I wasn't enough for him, he's is in love with my older sister anyway, she's more to his liking."  I look away from him and blink back the tears that are threatening to spill from my eyes. 

His voice is low barely above a whisper, "he's stupid, if he didn't see your beauty, your worth." 

I look him in the eyes, "thank you, but I know what I look like, I've been told my entire life just how ugly I am." 

His jaw tightens and he speaks through gritted teeth, "do not say such things about yourself, I don't know who these people are that have made you think this, but I assure you, you are extremely beautiful, there is not one unmated male lycan here that would not be honored to have you as their mate."  He clears his throat, "what pack did you come from?" 

I'm staring at him in disbelief and shake my head, "Blue Mountain pack, I denounced it and the Alpha before I walked across the border." 

He sat quitely for a moment thinking, then looks at me, "Alpha Maddon Falcone correct?"