Chapter 7: Princess

Fog scattered around my feet as I trudged through an empty forest. It was dark, and I couldn't see anything in front of me. I looked down to see I was in wolf form. Although it wasn't my coat colour. When transformed, I was a regal dark chocolate brown, similar to my natural hair colour. But this wolf was white. I'd never seen a white wolf before.

I lifted my nose and sniffed the air, hoping to catch a scent to lead me in a specific direction. Except there was nothing. I moved forward cautiously, feeling the twigs and rocks underneath my paws, praying that I wouldn't run headlong into anything.

Finally, I saw something dark in the distance. I moved ahead, keeping my senses heightened for any unknown sounds or smells. Eventually, the darkness grew, and the fog dissipated, and I was standing directly in the entrance to a deep cavern. I looked up to see what it was attached to, but the fog was too thick above me.

I then looked back into the eye of the cave.

A strong emotion presented itself. It wasn't fear or pain. It was…guilt.

I took one step forward and entered before I was engulfed in black.

***

The sound of my alarm startled me awake, causing me to jolt out of my very visceral dream. I flipped over onto my side and slid the button on my phone to 'off', then rolled back over, groaning. It was mid-morning, and the last thing I wanted was to spend it with Leo—especially with a giant hangover.

I lay still for a few minutes. That dream…I hadn't had one that vivid in years. Sometimes, when I was younger and major things in my life were about to happen, I'd get glimpses of it through a cryptic dream before it happened. Kind of like the average person, but this was different. It felt different.

This was the first time it was so clear, almost like it was a memory. Only, it wasn't mine, and I wasn't me.

I was snapped back into reality when I heard the sound of clinking pots downstairs and the low resonance of my father's baritone voice trail up the stairs as he made his way to my room. Sh*t, I needed to get a move on.

I quickly hopped out of bed, barely withstanding the blood rushing to my head and immediate pain, and changed into a pair of high-rise, light-washed mom jeans with a plain white t-shirt. I grabbed a random hair tie off my nightstand and tossed my hair into a messy bun before opening the door to find my father with his fist raised on the other side.

His eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he lowered his hand. "Oh, you're awake."

"Right on time, no?" I asked, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind me.

"Oddly enough, yes," he continued.

I smiled at him and went to make my descent downstairs when he stopped me.

"Nia, I need you to listen to me, alright?" I turned to see my father staring back at me, his eyes large and focused. "I know we've had our differences with the Mortensons over the years and that you and Leo haven't always seen eye to eye, but I need you to help me with this. It's only for a few days, and I'd really appreciate you pitching in to show the others that we can overcome, alright?"

I didn't speak. Instead, I nodded. My father was a patient and respectful man, but I knew how much Ronan's betrayal hurt him—choosing power over friendship—and I understood it wasn't an easy decision for him either.

He reciprocated my nod and then smiled, placing a hand on my back to guide me downstairs. "Now, let's eat before your journey, huh? I heard your mother's making blueberry pancakes."

***

After breakfast, I tossed on my leather jacket and opened the front door, only to be met by Leo waiting, surprisingly patiently, by the side of the house. His face turned when he heard the door click shut, and he smiled.

His hair was tied back into a half-up style, with the red streaks showing prominently through to highlight his jaw. But it was really his outfit that pulled it all together, consisting of black jeans and a fitted grey t-shirt tossed under a long, brown peacoat.

F*ck. I could already feel my wolf becoming restless. I cleared my throat and sighed.

"What?" I asked, a little annoyed at his consistent smirk, despite how luscious and idyllic it was.

"Nothing," he said, raising his hands to surrender. "I just was thinking of how rare it is to see you on time, that's all. Especially after how many drinks you had last night. What was it again? Eight or ten?"

"For your information," I started, beginning our walk around town. "It was five. And I'm always on time, thank you."

Leo laughed at this; his chuckle was deep and unbothered, and I felt the heat rising to my cheeks at it.

"On time? Face it, Nia. You're the worst person for being on time. Remember when we were ten, and you were almost late for hunting? Your dad almost lost it. Or when we were eighteen, and you almost missed graduation by a wolf's hair?"

Goddess, was I really that bad?

I huffed and started leading us toward the center of town. "I don't see your point," I retorted, trying to hide the fact that he was right. "Besides, I'm here and on time now, aren't I?"

Leo grinned again. Screw him and his stupid a*s grin. "Maybe that's because you secretly wanted to see me, huh?" he said, bringing his voice down low enough so only I could hear it.

It teased my senses in a way I didn't know was possible, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to awaken myself from its hold.

I breathed deeply and focused ahead. "I'll secretly want to see you when the time comes for you to finally get over yourself."

At this, he smiled. Actually smiled. And I internally melted.

"Fair enough," he responded.

We walked in silence for a minute, heading down the path into town. The closer we got, the more houses lined the streets, and soon, they switched to cobblestone and brick stores, selling everything from medicinal items to clothing and weapons.

"So, this is the main square," I said as we entered the center of town, marked by a large, circular fountain with decorative landscaping and benches. "Over there is the park, and then just down that ridge, before the mountain peaks, is the training grounds."

A hand stopped me, placing itself in the bend of my arm, sending electricity through me.

"Nia, I know the Nature Eclipse grounds. You don't need to give me a tour."

"But so much has changed," I continued, hoping talking about something else would deflect my feelings. "That cinema down the road, it's now a mini-mall, and they tore down the car wash and made it into the new theatre. It's ten times the size as the old one, and they host some good movies from time to time."

I was rambling. He knew I was rambling, and when I finally got the courage to look at him, I saw his one eyebrow raise at my exposition.

I sighed. "Fine," I said in defeat, sitting on a nearby bench. "Just give me a minute before we go plead your case to the pack members."

Leo sat down beside me. "Plead my case?" He shook his head. "Thanks, but no thanks."

I looked at him dumbfounded. "What?"

He rested his arms on his knees and leaned forward slightly. "I know it's probably out of pocket to you, as a people pleaser and all, but I don't want to 'plead my case' to those who don't want to hear it. I'd rather do something useful with my time."

"I am not a people pleaser," I scoffed.

Leo rolled his eyes. "Says the woman trying to appease the masses."

"I'm trying to make them comfortable," I sneered. "They're only on edge because of you."

"Well, I'm sorry about that, and I appreciate what your father is doing, but I'm only here temporarily. Once I'm gone, they'll relax. I don't mean to be blunt, but I don't care what they think of me." His eyes darkened into a caramel colour, and he stared directly at me. "I've only come to care about what you think of me, princess."

I could feel my wolf howling with joy and pushing me ahead, but I placed my hands firmly on the edge of the bench, gripping it tightly. Not today. Not here in the open under the eyes of hundreds who would go up in arms over this mateship.

Instead, I searched deeply until I found my voice. "So, what is it you want to do?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"You said you'd rather do something useful with your time. What do you classify as 'useful'?"

Leo took a minute, and then a sly grin passed his lips. "Come with me."

And before I could reply, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away back the way we came.