Page 3 of The Wolf

I stare at him, then around the table. “Can I just have one day to be with her? In peace?”

“We’ve been waiting long enough,” Katia cuts in, her voice sharp. Her arms are crossed as her blood-red eyes narrow slightly in my direction. “We’re all glad you finally found your mate, and trust me, hearing you two going at it all night long was just delightful—” her sarcasm drips like venom “—but you still have duties that require your immediate attention.”

Farah exhales heavily, rubbing her temples. “Come on, give them a break. One day won’t hurt.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Katia presses, relentless as ever.

I glare at her, the tension rising in my chest. “Why are you trying so hard to ruin this for me?”

“Uh, stop being a baby and taking it personally,” she shoots back, dismissive as always.

I lean forward, my voice low and menacing. “Katia, tread carefully. I won’t tolerate any further attitude.” I straighten up, as protective instinct flares up within me. “I’ll attend to the matters, but only after I’ve ensured my mate is settled and feels safe here. You’ll respect that.”

“Yes, my Lord!” she responds cynically, showing her fangs.

Penny pinches the bridge of her nose, clearly done with the conversation, probably wishing the peace and quiet of the last two months with me being gone would stretch just a little longer.

Clara, ever the optimist, chimes in, her smile soft and genuine. “For what it’s worth, I’m truly happy for you two.”

“Thank you,” I say, offering her a small smile in return. “Julia can’t wait to become best friends with you.”

Her smile grows wider and her eyes shine bright. She’s been waiting for decades to have a fellow human woman around as a sister, it must be so exciting for her.

Speaking of Julia, my ears perk up as I catch the faint sound of her little footsteps approaching.

“Can you guys please act normal and try not to overwhelm her? She’s been through enough.”

They all exchange looks with each other.

“What?” I hiss, annoyed at the whole conspiracy.

“You don’t have to be so protective of her all the time,” Penny says, leaning back casually in her chair. “It’s just us now.”

Regarding yesterday’s battle, I had so many feelings but being terrified was the best description of how I felt. I’m still on edge, shaken up. So much has happened in the past couple of days that it was a lot for me to wrap my head around, and I hardly had any time to process it.

I can only imagine how it must’ve affected Julia…

2.

Queen

The air grows chill as I leave the sleeping chamber in the tower, the heavy oak door groaning shut behind me. The wide staircase spirals downward in a dizzying curve, lit by the flicker of glowing orbs of pale bluish light embedded in the stone walls, casting eerie, shifting shadows. Each step echoes in the hollow silence as the stone beneath my feet is slick with the sparse damp moss that seems to cling to every corner of the castle.

At the bottom, I turn into a long corridor that stretches endlessly ahead, a procession of thick, wooden beams crisscrossing in points overhead, dark and gnarled with age, giving the illusion of a ribcage, as if the castle itself is alive and breathing. Tall, arched windows line the walls, their glass cloudy, partially covered by poison ivy. The light from the orbs mingles with the spectacular aurora borealis outside, projecting a colorful glow ghosting in the hallway. The scent of aged wood and cold stone fills my nostrils, the sound of distant wind slips through the cracks in the ancient casements.

At last, I reach my destination. Nervous but thrilled, I step into the grand dining hall the size of a football field… Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. However, a basketball court could easily fit inside. The vaulted ceiling looms above in a cathedral-like arch, and the chandeliers above sway lightly in the draft, glowing faintly with the same magical energy, barely illuminating the far corners. Everything feels suspended in time.

Alex’s immediate family is gathered around the rectangular table—the tallest and longest I’ve ever seen—seated on enormous chairs, each spacious enough to accommodate the werewolves’ large frames.

In the light, I notice that Edwin’s fur is visibly more of the darkest brown shade than Alex’s pure black, and his eyes are hazel, not amber, which makes it very easy to tell them apart.

Next to him, Clara welcomes me happily, with just the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. She’s wearing a head wrap tied in a bow in front, adorned with a few brooches, her Afro peeking out at the top. She pairs it with a colorful, patterned mid-century A-line dress featuring a defined waist and sweetheart neckline that looks handmade. I make a mental note to ask her if she sews. Perhaps she could even teach me how to, as I can only assume all this free time might get old fast.

Beside her sits Penny, with Katia right next to her, both giving me weary glances, both dressed in leather, outdoorsy attire—for convenience, I assume. I notice a flush of color across their cheeks, and I’m actually surprised they look nothing like a pasty Hollywood version of the undead, aside from the terrifying crimson eyes and very straight posture.

How are you gonna live among vampires and still be the palest one around?

Penny, without any doubt, is a female version of Alex, with sharp facial characteristics and unique physical attributes I now recognize as Ancient Babylonian—the closest connection to thefirst civilization possible. Even seated, her tall, fit figure stands out gracefully. She has long, thick, inky hair and medium-deep skin with a golden olive undertone. While Katia has luscious, rich-chocolate hair, tossed over her shoulder in a braid, and a warm tan complexion. She’s about Penny’s height and build, only a bit curvier, although still slim. Both of them look like supermodels to me, and they make one hell of a good-looking couple.

---