Episode 2

☾☾☾

SASKIA'S POV

☽☽☽

"Really, I am so proud of you, Saskia." He says, leading the way into the house after the wolves have returned to the training quarters with the excuses of ridding the adrenaline rush built up from the fight by getting in some practice.

I had only scoffed at their lies as it was clear that no practices would be held. Not when the secret door in the challenge court existed, and I was certain as I had caught them throwing loud, illicit parties a few times—even joined them a couple of lonely days when I was drunk deep in the sorrows of my single life.

"You know that, don't you?" The Alpha asks unnecessarily as he paces around the poorly lit room, which has served as the spot where he does his meditations for as long as my memory holds true. And it suddenly hits me all over in a rush how much I hate the echoing emptiness of it all.

"Thank you, Alpha," I reply placidly, without a trace of emotions on my face. I want him to be proud of me, but not for this. Not for agreeing to marry a man I hardly know. Not for an alliance threatening to drive me insane whenever I dare think about it. I honestly don't think about it anymore. It's better the way I've chosen, to just do without worrying.

"I know what your thoughts are, Saskia."

"No, you don't!" I snap for absolutely no reason. Wade must have short-circuited the ends of my forbearance as my anger is only a few buttons away.

"You are my only daughter—my own flesh and blood." He flashes that same smile he always does when he knows I'm about to lose my cool. "No one can ever dispute that fact. Now tell me, how do you expect me to not be aware of how you reason, especially in times like this?"

"That's a weird logic, but okay, Alpha." I shrug as I adjust myself on the only sofa available, already tired of his gruelling. I wish I could leave and return to my room so I can freely lament my life, which is headed towards the ditch with a contract marriage looming over my head. I'd rather that than serve as a source of his amusement. Yet, I know I wouldn't do so even if he let me go.

Going back to my room would be a waste of time as I had already taken a quick shower, and 'lamenting over my life' wasn't really one of the few things I liked to do. Moreover, spending the fleeting time I had left with the one I loved was a much better option.

"I know you are ticked off because I said I was proud of you, and you think I am referring only to the fact that you will be helping this pack by becoming the Luna of Mikael's pack." Maybe he does read my mind. I think with a mirthless smile. Sometimes, he isn't that far off from a witch. Amelia must be rubbing off on him. I deduce carelessly.

"That's not it." I return defiantly, still trying to hold my ground when I know I've already lost this round to him.

His voice is soft, accompanying his sad expression, and I conclude he almost looks like any other father when he says, "I'm always proud of you, Saskia. I'm proud of your successes and failures because I know you never dwell on them as you instead move forward in an absolutely inspiring manner. I'm proud of you for stepping up to the crown you wear. You even lead a unit better than most of these wolves." He chuckles at this, then runs his hand through his golden-brown hair, which is exactly like mine underneath all the dark dye.

There is not a single grey strand visible, and I nurse a little jealousy as I muse on how quickly I would grow old and how he, on the other hand, would stay the same with hardly any changes. "I'm pleased with the results you brought today. You did well rounding up those rogues. It was tough, wasn't it?"

"A bit." I nod grimly. "They did not want to give in right from the beginning, just as you said. I think their plans were to knock my unit out in order to send a message to you."

The Alpha scoffs at this as if the idea were as absurd as the thought of unicorns existing. "That could never happen." It's a good thing he wasn't there to see me almost get ripped apart by the Beta wolf. He would have thrown a fuss and made it a bigger deal than it actually was. In fact, I know that if he ever finds out, he'd make sure my movement was restricted even in the house of my future husband. Thankfully, Sage is one to keep secrets.

"Sure."

"I know you, Saskia. If there's anyone I could bet my life on returning from an operation. It's you." He grins, and I catch the tears forming little pools. "I'm gonna miss you, my girl."

"Come on," I say, feeling a bit emotional as well. "Bring it in, old man." I stretch my arms to encircle around him in a big embrace.

"You'll visit as much as possible, won't you?"

"I will. Of course, I will. This will always be my home." I swallow with difficulty as a burning sensation encroaches upon the passageway in my throat. I do my best to force back the tears as I am not one to put my inner emotions on display, and I also do not want him to feel any more depressed than he already is. "Alright. Alright. Don't get too mushy on me. You're still the Alpha, you know?"

"I'm your father first." He counters.

"I think you were Alpha before I was born." I frown, pretending to think deeply.

"That's not the point!"

"Whatever you say, Alpha."

"Why is it so hard for you to call me dad?" He pouts like a child at this. It is almost hard to believe that the man in front of me is hundreds of years old.

"That's because you are the Alpha." I shake my head at him.

"I order you to call me dad."

"Nice try, Alpha." A snort makes its way out of my mouth before I can stop it. "But I'm not bound to you like your werewolves, so you can't order me around."

"You'd think I'd get that in my head after twenty-three years."

"It's tough. I know." I laugh softly. Staying mad at him was honestly close to impossible.

"Let's talk later," he nods at the exit. "I'm sure Crystal's practically bouncing off her feet in excitement at seeing you. We'll finalise the plans before your journey tomorrow."

"Alright. I'll text you if anything comes up. Use your phone more Alpha." I say, hinting at the fact that he never replies to texts as making use of electronic gadgets still hasn't grown on him.

"Ah. I don't even know where it is. I should find it before Amelia causes a volcano to erupt because I did not answer her calls." He hurries towards the door, and I mentally facepalm as I head out after him. This is the millionth time the man has lost his phone in a month, and I honestly can't comprehend how forgetful he is.

"Well, shit!" I slow whistle as I catch sight of Amelia and Crystal marching towards us. My stepmother's gaze zeroes on my father, and I can tell she is ready to chop his head off. "Good luck, Alpha."

"Don't leave me." He mutters under his breath, but I've already locked arms with Crystal with the goal of leaving before the current scene becomes one of murder.

"Hi, Amel. Bye, Amel." I greet without waiting for a reply, then slip out of the house with the only werewolf I have as a close female friend. Pathetic, I know.

Crystal keeps silent until we walk a few feet away from the house, then she hugs me and shrieks so loudly that my eardrums vibrate in pain. "Saskia!"

"I know. I missed you too." I laugh after shaking my head vigorously. "Keep it down a notch, will you?"

"So tell me," . I roll my eyes, already predicting where this is going. "Did you meet some hot, sexy beasts that you wanted to bang right there and then in the middle of the woods?"

"As if."

"Aw shucks. I wanted some stories."

"You always want some stories." I groan, not in the mood for her talks about men when I'm about to be married off to one I scarcely have an idea of.

"I heard the Alpha's a stud."

"Isn't that what you say about virtually all Alphas?" I stop to shake a pebble out of my shoe. I'm not sure how it got in from nowhere, and I faintly wonder how, until a light footstep behind us catches my attention.

"Yup. Especially your dad." A shudder violently rips through my body at the disgusting memories of Crystal having a humongous crush on my father. It still ranked as number one on my collection of most cringe-worthy shit ever witnessed.

"Please not today, or any other day, for that matter. And Wade, can you quit stalking us? It would be much appreciated." I slowly turn back to face the wary darkness, and there my culprit is leaning against one of the fake yet real-looking shrubs in the yard. Amelia just will not stop buying loads and loads of the plastic nonsense.

"I wasn't stalking," he raises his hand in self-defence. "I was told to get you to the hideout by you-know-who." He directs this at me as if I wasn't headed there before his interference. "Didn't know you'd be with Miss' happiness' in werewolf form." Crystal, in response, bares her canine teeth in a threat, and I scoot away from the middle of their contretemps.

"You better shut the fuck up before I snap your neck, Wade. That would take days to heal, you know?"

"I know you're fast, Chris, but I am more powerful than you could ever be." Wade grins at his statement as if he'd just made the funniest joke in history.

"Stop living in dreamland, Wade...and stop fucking calling me Chris. Stupid bitch."

"Okay, can we like not blow this into an actual fight?" I complain in the background with my hands raised in a pleading manner. To my surprise, they both fall into step beside me, and we all head to the challenge court in an unspoken agreement.

"Sage," I whisper, my heart thrumming to an odd rhythm as I feel the shivers sent down my spine by the building anticipation. I really can't wait to be with him.

"I'll text you." Crystal whispers in my ear and hurriedly disappears into one of the tiny rooms where I'm certain Drew is; they've been strangely close recently.

Weirdly, there is no one in sight, unlike the usual image I had of half-naked bodies wildly thrashing to deafening beats and sometimes getting into deadly fights, all in the name of a party. In sharp contrast to the loud music that I've come to know as the anthem of the hidden club, slow blues bubble out of the mega speakers while the coruscating, purple lights paint every corner in soft, scintillating glows.

"You should get going, shouldn't you?" Wade speaks, and I turn to him, startled as I had forgotten he was still behind me. "I don't think the rest of the night will be enough for you both." he wriggles his eyebrows in a suggestive manner, and I twist my face in disgust.

"Mind your darn business." I blow him off and bimble down the empty hallway to the fifth door on the right with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign covering almost half of the wooden barrier. My double knocks are soft on the framework, and I hear shuffling from inside the room before a tall, slim figure fills my view.

"Hey," his grey eyes regard me with a glazed expression as he invites me in and shuts the door. He seems tired, but it's clear he's even sadder. "It's okay," he says to me, and I shake my head in refusal.

There is only a single bed that takes up most of the space in the room, and I'd normally lay on it without any hesitations, but not today. I'm too tense to sit, so I stand. "Nothing's okay, Sage," my voice holds none of the strength nor power it had before, and he takes note of my doleful mood as he reaches for and encloses me in his strong arms.

"Shh. It's okay," he tightens his embrace around me, and I slip my hands under his shirt, caressing his firm shoulders, running my fingers over every dip and rise, then feeling his toned muscles pulse, alive in my touch. "I will always love you, Saskia." His lips are tender on my forehead, and I feel his breath on my skin, warm with hints of licorice lingering on. The man did favour the candy. "I love you. I love you so much."

"I'm sorry," I whisper as my eyes well up with tears.

"It's for the best." he avoids my gaze while he speaks. "I just wish it doesn't have to be this way. But I wish you happiness even though..."

"Shut up, Sage," I say, pressing my trembling lips against his. "Make me forget everything one last time."