The Day It All Started

           Esmere POV

            Three years ago…

               “The alpha is coming back!”

               Cecilia, the head maiden in the northern castle, dashed through the door of my room. “Madam, the alpha is coming back.”

               I placed the book I was reading on the bed and gradually looked at her. “Is it real this time?” I asked with my voice filled with reluctance.

               The head maiden smiled at me and replied, “Yes. I believe it’s real this time.”

               A smile then appeared on my face. I could not hide it — I was so excited to meet the northern alpha again.

               The last time I saw him was six months ago. He went to another continent because of a territorial dispute. Werewolves invade weaker packs to strengthen their number.

               I offered to go with him, but he told me that the journey would be very tiring and that I should stay and wait for him to return.

               And so I did.

               I waited for him every single day for the past six months. Sometimes, there would be news that he would return, only for us to realize that it was false.

               But at that time, I could feel it — he was really coming back.

               “Finally,” I whispered inside.

               I stood up from my bed and told Cecilia, “Let’s prepare the premium meat that the alpha likes.”

               The head maiden lowered her head, “Yes, madam.”

~~

               The Northern Pack was the continent’s strongest and most prominent werewolf pack. It was led by Aamon Hardwin, the northern alpha. He took over the position when he reached the age of eighteen — his father died the same year due to war.

               After becoming the northern alpha, the influential elders of the pack gave him a proposition — find his mate and mark her as the northern luna or marry me, the daughter of the Western Pack’s alpha.

               Our clan, the Western Pack, was relatively smaller and weaker compared to the Northern Pack, but Aamon’s father treated my father as a comrade and an ally.

               After two years of having no luck in finding his fated mate, Aamon finally submitted to the elder’s wish — he married and marked me.

               Maintaining the Northern Pack’s image as the strongest was Aamon’s priority, and every powerful pack should have its own luna, so he decided to accept me into his life.

               He marked me; fortunately, it was not hard for us to get along. Yes, Aamon was aloof and always serious, but he was strong and caring. Although we were not romantically connected, he promised me that he would protect my pack and me from anything, and in return, I should stay with him until the end.

               I said yes to him. In a heartbeat, I said yes.

               Five years had passed, and we were still together. Although I had no luck conceiving a child, it posed no problem for Aamon. He told me that we would be together for thousands of years and that we all had the time to have a child.

               A marriage with friendship as a foundation. What could possibly go wrong?

~~

               My eyes glistened in delight as I looked around and watched the glimmering decorations of the castle.

               I clasped my hands in admiration as I whispered, “I cannot wait to see Aamon.”

               Although Aamon was infamous for being unfriendly and indifferent, it was a different case for me. In my mind, he was always our protector. I always felt safe whenever he was around.

               And his eyes — oh, his eyes were my favorite things in this world. They were the color of the sky when it was about to rain — so gray and full of depth.

               Just thinking about Aamon could make me smile. I could literally stand there and stare at his face for eternity.

               “Are you so excited to see the alpha that you cannot stop smiling, madam?”

               My daydreaming was interrupted when Ophelia, a western wolf who went to serve me when I became the northern luna, appeared in front of me and asked me that question.

               I instantly smiled upon looking at her. “Is it too obvious?”

               She smiled back and replied, “I think everyone will notice if you smile like that for ten minutes.”

               “Stop teasing me,” I said as I gently laughed. Then I saw she was carrying a tray of food from the kitchen. “Let me help you with that.”

               “You don’t need to do this, madam. I can handle it.”

               “No. Let me help you. I want to do this for Aamon.” I replied as I took the tray from her.

               Ophelia awkwardly answered, “All right, madam. If you say so.”

               I helped the maids in preparing the table. Cecilia scolded Ophelia at first for letting me help them, but I told her I insisted on doing so.

               We were about to finish preparing when Rocco arrived.

               Rocco was a beta wolf and Aamon’s right-hand man. He started following the alpha ever since he took over the position.

               Upon seeing that Rocco had arrived alone, I instantly asked him, “W- where is Aamon?”

               He looked at me, and I could see the apprehension on his face. He answered, “He will be here shortly, madam. I just arrived earlier to prepare for an extra room.”

               My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What’s the extra room for?”

               Rocco’s uneasy expression became intense as he awkwardly avoided my gaze. He said, “I do not want to be the one telling you, madam, but you must be ready when the alpha arrives.”

               “W-what do you mean?”

               “Sorry, madam, but I need to go now,” answered Rocco as he dashed outside the castle.

               I followed him with my eyes as I whispered, “Why is he acting so strange?”

               “Madam, are you okay?”

               It was Cecilia noticing that I was staring at nothingness.

               I gazed at her and smiled. “Yes. I am okay. Are there any more things we need to prepare?”

               “No, madam. Everything is ready.”

               “I see,” I replied and tried to let out a smile again, although my mind was a mess — thinking about what Rocco had just told me.

               What was he talking about? 

               I tried to brush that thought off my mind — thinking I should be happy I would finally see Aamon again after six long months.

               Fifteen minutes later and we heard a car approaching.

               Along with the sound of the engine was the alpha’s presence.

                Werewolves have sensitive ears and can hear even a slight noise from a distance if they are focused and concentrated. Aside from that, they could feel their alpha’s presence.

               “He is here,” Cecilia muttered. “It’s the alpha’s presence.”

               “Yes,” I said, but one thing was bothering me — the car.

               Aamon was not a fan of riding a car. He instead walks than be confined in that small space.

               Suddenly, Rocco’s words flashed in my mind.

               “I do not want to be the one telling you, madam, but you must be ready when the alpha arrives.”

               Remembering that remark made me uncomfortable.

               But once again, I tried to brush off the thought and walked to the entrance to welcome Aamon.

               I was standing there with the other northern werewolves when the car finally reached the castle.

               Aamon dismounted from it. He wore long black sleeves with two unfastened buttons. He looked tired, nevertheless still handsome.

               Our gazes met, and I instantly smiled at him, but…

               But he ignored me and faced the car’s door once more.

               And what he did next stunned the hell out of me — Aamon assisted a woman in descending from the car.

               “A woman?” I whispered.

               She was a beautiful woman with brown hair and delicate facial features. She was wearing a light blue dress as well.

               Aamon gently took the woman’s hand and walked with her.

               “Welcome back, master,” the werewolves and other maids greeted him, but Aamon didn’t answer or even smile. He just continued walking into the castle while still holding the woman’s hand.

               Taken aback by his cold-blooded attitude, I tried to call his name. “Aamon?”

               He stopped walking yet didn’t even look back at me. He was standing on his back as if waiting for my following words.

               “Welcome back,” I said, trying to get a reaction from him.

               But it was unsuccessful — Aamon just nodded and continued walking with the woman.

               I immediately followed his steps as I called for his name again. “Aamon!”

               Aamon stopped walking again, and at that time, he faced me. “What?” he said in a callous tone.

               My chest painfully throbbed. I mustered all the courage I had and asked him, “Who is she?”

               “She is Elisa,” he said. He heaved a deep sigh as he looked around us and continued. “She is my fated mate.”