Meeting The Beta

Luna's Pov

"And there is the entrance to our pack." I could barely contain my excitement as I stared at the huge golden gates that looked on the top of a hill. The gates that were the key to my freedom. I imagined running up and out of this cursed place but his next words dashed my hopes completely. "It always remains closed unless we have urgent business to attend to outside. That is to prevent outsiders from finding this place."

"You mean to say you have no dealings with the outside world? Like you don't trade or..." I let my words hang in the air between us.

He chuckled. "Of course, we do. There are trade routes."

I waited for him to say more but it soon became obvious that was all he was going to say. I gritted my teeth as the gates that had looked so pleasing to me just a moment before now seemed like an evil machination intended to keep me bound in here forever. The gates stood atop a hill. A design that was as strange as it was effective. Strange because most of the territory was spread out on flatlands and effective because no one could sneak up on them. Not unless you could make yourself appear invisible and that wasn't a thing, was it? I sighed. It was one of disappointment but Jamil read something else into it.

"The tour must have gotten you tired out. We should get you back to the palace so you can relax and have something to eat while you are at it." He muttered as he turned. We had come to the top of a hill which afforded a bird's eye view of the entire pack. I followed him with not half as much enthusiasm as I had when we first started out. As we walked past farms, houses and passersby, everyone greeted Jamil with the respect you offer to someone that cannot be trifled with while they stared at me with an equal mix of dislike and distrust. I couldn't blame them. From what Jamil told me, a human had not been in the pack since forever. "Humans and wolves do not mix." He had said.

Whether it was curiosity or perhaps it was just an innate desire to annoy him but I had asked, "I am human, aren't I?" To which he had grinned.

"One brought by Indrik. That is the only reason you are still alive and kicking."

"You would forgive me if I don't think Indrik is highly valued amongst your people." I had tweaked my nose to show just how much I didn't think it.

He had sighed which I had noticed was the first time he had since I had met him. "We should go." He had proceeded to brush it off, the way he had for a lot of things that morning.

Back to the present and I ignored all the wolves which didn't take much effort because everyone, children included was making sure to stay out of my way like I had a plague or something. By the time we got to the palace, the sun was already starting to burn and I was glad we didn't have to walk under that.

"You must be hungry. You should go freshen up while I do the same." He muttered when we arrived before the slightly open door that led to my room and left before I could respond. I wasn't feeling very hungry but the other day had thought me a lesson so I went on to my room to do just what he had suggested. Luckily, I did not run into any more hostile faces. I splashed some water on my face and decided I was good to go. It wasn't too long before a knock came on the door.

Opening it, there was Jamil as I had expected but he had dumped his black top and trousers in the favour of blue ones. Looking at him, my eyes widened as I had a sinking feeling.

"You are not dressed?"

"Dressed? What for?" I gestured at my dress to which he slapped his forehead.

"Of course!" He groaned. "My bad! I forgot to inform you that we would be eating with the Beta today. He requested for your presence." My heart jumped into my tongue and almost nearly slid out from the narrow end when I replied.

"What do you mean by that?" I tried to keep my voice neutral but I was failing very badly at it.

His hand suddenly found something interesting in the back of his neck as he started a back and forth rubbing motion. "Are you ready?"

"No! Of course not. Haven't I already faced the council? What do they still want with me?" I questioned, feeling like a rat that was stuck with fire in a hole.

"Not they. He! And you don't have to worry about him. I am sure he only wants to talk."

"Beta Green. That is Ulo's father, right?" He nodded. He sure wanted to talk. The same way his son spent all day talking. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth as I stepped out of the room. "Alright! Let's go then." I muttered.

I had many conjectures in mind about how this our glorious second meeting would turn out but as it usually is with imagination, none of them played out in reality. Walking into the dining room, I did a double take as I wondered if Jamil had mistakenly led me into the throne room or something. If not for the chairs that were arranged around the round table and the food that was currently being dished out by one of the helps, I would have turned back immediately. The room was huge for one. Apart from that, it was an immaculate white, a feat that would have been totally impossible back in The Haven.

"You are late!"