CHAPTER 3

The following day is overcast, and everyone is terrified of what they see in the sky. Lana struggles to get herself to get out of bed. Every time there is a cloudy day, this happens.

There was a spectacular storm on the day she turned 23. It was during that storm that Lana Wilcott realized she was single.

When she was in this state, it was better to leave her alone, but York and her parents still checked on her.

She felt defeated, and her chest swelled with despair. Being unfortunate presented the following issue: Positive, overpowering feelings were prevented by a mating relationship. You were totally on your own if you didn't have one.

She got up because she was sick of looking at the ceiling; the emptiness was still there. She assumed it was always there, but being surrounded by people made it easier. Looking for the medications she had been prescribed for these moods, she rummaged through the drawers of her bedside table. Two tablets are dry sucked down by the woman, who whimpers as they pass.

Lana spends the entire day in silence, gazing at the exterior walls of her surroundings. A knock eventually snaps her out of the trance-like state. She calls out, her voice breaking from lack of use. A little woman with purple hair enters the room and climbs into the bed next to her niece with a pitying expression on her face. "Hi poppet," she beams as she encircles the girl and squeezes her. "I hear you're feeling down today, Lana," she says, nodding, but lacking the energy to combat it.

She gently eases her niece out of bed like she always does, saying, "We're going to go see the kids; they have so much enthusiasm that some of it have to rub off on you, dear. "Does it ever improve? Staring at herself in the mirror, Lana asks haltingly. To avoid her niece's sight, Faye throws her a garment with a sunflower print from the wardrobe.

She gently responds, "No, but you learn to live with it," pulling a pair of black boots out of a drawer and setting them next to the bed. Lana is being guided by Faye on a peaceful stroll to the pack orphanage. Lana is completely unaware that some of the people watching are talking about her as she stares blankly in front of her.

As the two of them observe from the windows of the mansion, York adds gloomily, "This can't keep occurring." "I know. Yet this is how she is destined to be. He sighs as she tells him, as she did last week, that she's as useless as a human, so she doesn't have a mate and never will. She is shifting less now since it is all she can do.

York shrugs and scratches his ill-fitting beard. We could always try to introduce her to someone, right? Richard shakes his head in disagreement as he makes his son a suggestion. He mutters, his chest constricting with sympathy for his oldest child, "Everyone else has a partner, and if they don't, they don't want an unfortunate."

Instead of chattering nonstop like schoolgirls, why don't you find something unfortunate for her? With a mug of coffee in hand, Marie suddenly bursts into the office. Because they were both engrossed in their conversations, the two guys were taken aback by her sudden appearance.

They each stumble a little, offering justifications while their faces progressively start to get redder. The last thing York can say before being slightly startled by his mother's arrival is, "They're all low rank." Marie raises her brow and shakes her head.

She murmurs, "I have it on good authority from Alpha Logan's mother that there is another Alpha who is unfortunate," and then she leaves the room once more. "Who?" Richard clings on to York as he cries out and chases for his mother.

"I don't know," You should have to do some of the labor yourself, I can't do it all, she responds, closing the kitchen door in their faces.

The moment Lana and Faye enter the orphanage, they are surrounded by young children, each one happier than the last, and the boys recoil in astonishment at Marie's quick departure. 'Lana! Lana' A particularly tiny child squeaks out, hopping on her feet and beaming broadly.

Before two others could grab her hands and yank her into the dining area, Lana grinned, leaned down, and petted the child resting on her shoulder.

"Lana! We completed our examinations and did the study you advised! What is the prize? One person yells, "Yes!" while another repeats it. You mentioned that if we did well, we might win a prize.

When she turned to face the boys, Lana grinned and knelt next to them. The reward? Now it's your turn to pursue the catch. The boys screech as they follow her, shouting as she sprints off in a whisper.

When Faye hears her niece and the kids taking heavy steps, she yells, "No running in the house!"

After a moment of silence, those responsible call back, "Sorry, Aunt Faye!"

The kids are overjoyed to have someone else at home, and there is a palpable sense of happiness and excitement in the air.

Lana feels better as she spends more time in this cheerful little bubble. She has a distraction, yet the sadness is still there.

She turns around as soon as she is tagged and quickly walks in the direction of the kid who caught her. Tiny Mark laughs as he tries to run but trips over. Halfway through his tumble, he transforms into his wolf pup and appears utterly perplexed by what just occurred.

As she approaches to pick him up, Lana breaks out laughing. She carries the tiny dog as she descends the stairs and enters the garden, passing Faye.

She catches Faye's attention, who gives them both a friendly shake of the head while glaring at them. She chases after them, yelling "No shifting in the house," while flinging a pair of shorts out the door for Mark.

Mark squeaks in pain as Lana places him on the ground. She smiles while placing her hand on his head and gently massaging in between his ears. She reassures him, taking a step back, "Just picture yourself in your human form. "She then hears the sound of rustling clothing and the cracking of bones.

His face is a brilliant bright red, and he mumbles, "I hate when that happens."

He is embraced by Lana as she sighs. He was an exceptionally early switcher. Typically, pups begin to shift at about twelve. He had changed just before his seventh birthday, and since no one knew who his parents were because they had abandoned him at the border soon after his birth, it was impossible to determine whether it was genetic or an accident.

You're just seven; you'll soon be capable of handling it. Lana notices that he still appears a little distressed and comforts him by giving him a back rub as she guides him back inside. After directing all the kids to the play area, Faye heads to the stove and starts stirring something in a big pot. What's going through your big head, anyway? She looks at Lana and asks with a smile.

'Bad Mark,' He gets teased about his erratic shifts by a few of the others, but he has no control over it. She hesitantly muses, running a hand through her hair, "I was wondering if I could train him. "After a brief pause, Faye turns to face her niece and frowns slightly.

She responds, casting a sidelong glance at her niece, "That might be good for him, but you might have to take one or two of the others who have shifted too." "Why?" Standing up from her seat inquisitively, Lana asks. Faye pauses, bites her lip, and then turns back to the stove as tears sting her eyes.

"Why?" As she moves toward her aunt, Lana repeats. As her niece immediately assumes a dejected expression, Faye says softly, "Because people aren't sure you have complete control of your wolf since she has no mate. "Lana sighs and makes her way back to her seat.

She says, clearing her throat, "I'm going home," and Faye turns to face her. Would you mind staying for dinner? Faye inquires while keeping a wary eye on her niece.

Lana snaps, covering her mouth with a hand while furrowing her brows, "My wolf might attack people, you know since she doesn't have a mate."

Lana quickly bursts out of the room and into the cool, dusky evening, "Sorry, I'm sorry, she didn't like hearing that."