Chapter 4

Melissa.

Alan was standing before me.

Alan, who I met last night and who had stirred different things inside me that I didn’t know existed. Alan, whose single touch had sent shivers down my body. Alan, who I couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about last night was here and he looked perfect in his blue robe as he watched me.

And he is my stepbrother? I asked myself, almost screaming loudly inside my head. Of all people that could be my stepbrother, why him?

“What are you doing here?” I blurted out immediately when I couldn’t contain my shock any longer. When he lifted an eyebrow and made to come forward, I shook my head, hating myself for sounding stupid.

“What?” He asked, a smile creeping up on the side of his lips. “What did you say?”

“I asked why you are here.” I repeated, trying my best not to look at his beautiful face, even though that was the only thing I had thought about throughout the night.

“Apparently, I am going to be living here.” He replied, amusement in his voice.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were the Luna’s son?” I asked again, gaining the courage to look at him. He raised an eyebrow, making me look up at his lush black hair that was pleading to be touched.

“My family tree wasn’t a topic of interest when we had our conversation last night.” He replied. When he saw the look on my face change, he cleared his throat, getting rid of the smirk on his lips. “I didn’t know you were the alpha’s daughter either.” He added.

I sighed in frustration, not because of what he said, but because of what his presence was doing to me at the moment. My gaze shifted from his face and caught sight of my training kit sitting prettily on his wardrobe door. Without saying a word to him, I hurried to it, picked up the outfit and dashed out of the room.

Swearing under my breath, I got to my room and locked the door gently behind me, hating the trouble that the moongoddess was placing before me.

Recalling that I was going to be late if I didn’t hurry up, I quickly got dressed in my training kit, took a last look at myself in the dressing mirror before leaving the room, thankful that I didn’t bump into Alan on the stairway.

I heard the chattering coming from the dining room and knew immediately that my father was having breakfast with his new family. I tiptoed quietly and tried to sneak out through the back door when I heard my father clearing his throat behind me. I turned, only to see him holding a mug of coffee in his right hand and a newspaper in his left.

“Join us for breakfast, Mel.” He said to me. It wasn’t a request but an order that came out in the most pleasant way possible. I smiled and walked into the room, ignoring the gaze of my new family members while I sat.

“Hello Melissa” Freya and her mother greeted me at the same time and I smiled politely at them.

"Hello, good morning."

During the course of the breakfast, I listened to their conversation, lost in deep thoughts. My father tried his best to involve me in the dialogue, but I only nodded and smiled when I had to. Few moments later, I looked at the clock again and stood from the table, excusing myself without even eating any of the slices of bacon Ciara had placed before me.

“Melissa.” My father called softly when I was at the door and I turned again, making sure my eyes was only on him. He walked towards me and leaned in, placing a kiss on my forehead.

“Happy birthday, my love.” He said out loud so that others could hear him. “Here is to finding your wolf and mate today and may they be perfect.”

I smiled at him, kissing him on the cheeks. Freya and Ciara said happy birthday to me and I returned the smile also, wanting nothing more than to disappear out of the room.

“Happy birthday, Melissa.” Alan called to me, forcing me to look at him. He lifted his mug towards me with a pleasant smile pasted on his face. “I hope you find your mate today and may he be perfect.”

I raised an eyebrow at the glint in his eyes, but said nothing in return. When he used his right thumb to sensually rub off the bacon sauce from his lips knowing fully well that I was looking at him, that was all I needed to run away from the room.

I continued walking without looking back till I got to the gate of the alpha house and from there, I took to my heels.

                                  **************

The professor left the training hall after the first round of class to allow us take a break and I collapsed on the ground. Chloe, my best friend turned to look at me with a smile on her face, her elbow supporting her head.

“Don’t worry.” She said to me. “When you get your wolf later on, you will have the strength to do more than four trainings sessions at once especially since the blood of an alpha runs through your veins.”

I rolled my eyes at her, before jumping to my feet and excusing myself to use the restroom. As I walked across the hall, I ignored the looks the other students threw my way, knowing fully well that the training kit tightened my body and brought out all my curves.

Once inside the bathroom, I turned to the dressing mirror and sighed at the image in front of me. There was a pack of tissue by the side so I drew one out and was using it to clean off the sweat on my temple when I felt an immediate heaviness in my chest that didn’t last for long before returning to normal.

Surprised at what it was, I ignored it and continued to clean off the sweat, with Alan and his handsome face still occupying my thoughts.

“Well, hello Melissa.” Someone said to me and I jumped in surprise, turning back immediately to see whom it was.

“It is me, silly.” The voice spoke again. “It is your wolf.”

I stared hard at the mirror, allowing myself to get used to the lovely voice, before smiling sweetly at my reflection. “Well, took you long enough.” I said.

She chuckled at my statement and I felt immediately connected to her. “My name is Lia, by the way.” She said again.

“You have a name?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “I thought I was supposed to give you one.”

“No, I have a name. Mother named me before she died.” She answered and I nodded my head slowly, falling in love with the name already.

“Lia, it is.” I replied. “I like it.”

With excitement in my heart, I walked happily out of the bathroom, chatting with Lia, already figuring out how to do so without moving my lips. I walked towards the class and was about to take the turn back to the training hall, when a strong smell of vanilla mixed with marshmallows enveloped me.

I shrugged off the scent, thinking it was coming from the cafeteria and continued my journey, but the scent came back, stronger this time around.

“Mate!” Lia screamed with joy, startling me. I widened my gaze, looking around the hall to check if I would see who she was referring to.

“Where is he?” I asked. “I cannot find him.”

“Well, follow the scent, silly.” She murmured, laughing with joy. I indulged her and the scent led me to the corner of the registrar’s office, where Freya and Alan stood, chatting excitedly with each other.

I turned away immediately, not wanting him to see me, but Lia shouted excitedly again, making me to turn back to look at him. As if noticing that I was standing there, he looked towards my direction, his lips curling into an arrogant smirk. When he waved slightly at me, my heart began to beat heavily against my chest.

“Mate!” Lia screamed excitedly at me again. “He is our mate.”