Chapter 3

Ayla’s mind was elsewhere as the Alpha king gave his speech,even if he wasn’t the one since she didn’t see his face,she couldn’t forget the voice she had heard in her head that day,it was similar to his voice but she was not sure ,had  he come from the lunar sanctum to the boundaries of her pack.

After the speech,they retired to their room before coming out to set up the space for the festivities.

The Alpha king is also present,Ayla watches in fascination as the fire reflects in his eyes.

By the time it was night the festival started. All the wolves gathered around the bonfires in silence, even the loudest among them bowed their heads while the elders spoke the names of their ones. Ayla watched as the firelight was moving across her face. She knew some of the stories, long time battles, old enemies, and victories but the respect hit her in a way she didn't expect.

After the rituals they played various games. Some wolves tested their skill in mock combat, racing, and strength contests then drinking games for the older wolves. Lots of chaotic competitions mixed with skills and luck. Laughter, shouts, and the sound of claws striking against wood filled the air.

Peter, Priscila, and some others all left to have fun in a separate space while the celebration was going on.

Ayla, despite the way she was confused, allowed herself a small smile.This was the kingdom at its liveliest, the pack that had survived despite everything.

Kael found her again as she watched from the edge of the bonfire. “Not joining the games?” he asked with a teasing tone

“I don’t wish to join the games,it is not that they would accept me anyway, it is with luck that I am even here," she said lightly. “I'd rather stay away from them.”

"Come on seriously. What are you? One of those girls who pretends to be tough but has a really soft side in them." Kael said to her in a teasing tone.

"So you think because you are you. Kael, the special kid who everyone loves, I will actually listen to you." She replies him in more annoying teasing tone

"Well it's not my fault no one can resist this." Kael said trying to worship his looks with Ayla giving him a funny look

“Besides,I have

Then he laughed, pulling her into one of the simpler games anyway. She played the games winning a lot more than she lost,and for the first time she felt a small sense of belonging.

As the night went on, the atmosphere of the camp suddenly changed. Wolves laughed, sang around the fires and Ayla quietly stood up to wander off to check out the woods around her,then she smelt it the familiar scent from the night she had wandered off and she knew she was being followed but she didn’t know if she should wander off into the woods or go back to the others.

“It seems like your hobby is to be where you are not meant to be”

This time the voice didn’t come from inside her head, it was in the wind like an echo and she looked around,she couldn’t see anybody but she knew she wasn’t alone.

“What makes you think I am not meant to be here and do you think you are meant to be here too?”she asked back she didn’t know where she had the boldness from.

She moved backwards slowly and she hit him.When she turned to check who it was,it was Kael she saw.

“Are you good? I heard you talking”He asked

“Ohh,I am fine,I was just soliloquizing"she said and she felt the breeze shift back to normal 

“Let me show you around,I have been to this place and I know the perfect spot to get away from the others," he said , smiling at her.

And he grabbed her hands,Ayla was surprised and he led her further into the woods Branches edged towards them ,Ayla started to feel something stirring inside her,the same feeling she had felt after waking up from the dream. It didn't feel like wolf strength or human skill, it felt like something else entirely. Like a flicker of energy,almost like the dreams, pulsing faintly along her veins. It gave her clarity and intuition that she could not explain. It was like something inside of her was about to come alive or trying to come out.

After a few minutes , they reached the river. The moon reflected through it shining back brightly at them,the river also had a spring. Kael was staring at her as she watched in awe at how beautiful it was.

“It is so pretty”she said 

“I knew you would like it”

“So what made the almighty Kael care about what the wolf-less girl will like…huhhh?”Ayla asked teasingly but she meant it why was Kael  suddenly interested in her.

“I can’t just be nice to another pack member”Kael asked as he rolled his pants up and dipped his leg into the river.

“You can be nice to another pack member but not just me,nobody is ever nice to me”Ayla said with a solemn tone. 

Kael ignored what she had said “would you like to put your feet in the river? It is very cool”

“Yes”Ayla smiled and she rolled up her sleeve and put her legs into the water 

They just sat there in silence saying absolutely nothing to each other and Kael broke the silence 

“How does it feel being the only one of your peers unable to transform?”Ayla was silent for some time because she had not expected that question 

“If you were in my shoes,how would you feel?”Ayla asked him the question instead

“Ohh,I would feel very bad and disappointed with myself”he replied 

“Now double that feeling,that is how I feel”she replied and they kept quiet again 

“We should head back to join the pack for the Lunar spirit run”Kael said 

“As much as I would love to join y’all in the run but unfortunately for me i can’t shift so that won’t be possible”

“Then Let’s head back and you will stay indoors while the pack runs”

“I would rather stay here than stay indoors like some younglins”

“You don’t know the way back from this place,I brought you and I should take you back”

“Kael,I am sure I can manage without you,go run with the pack if you are back and I am not yet back then you should come looking for me”Ayla said although Kael was skeptical Ayla looked convincing enough and agreed and left her alone.

Ayla wanted to be alone to be sure if the grey eyed stranger would show up again and if he does show up she wants to confirm if he was the Prime Alpha or another person but she needs to be sure before this trip is over.

Ayla watched Kael as he slowly went out of sight,removing herself from her legs from the river;she decided to explore her surroundings again.

As she stood up,she heard the howl of the pack members signaling the beginning of the lunar spirit run,she had to return back to the territory at least the same time they get back from the run.

She had been walking aimlessly and she exhaled loudly,it seems like the grey stranger was not going to show his face anymore,and she turned towards the pack path and she felt the prickly feeling again

Then she heard his voice “going so soon? you have given up so easily” and Ayla smirked then she turned he was wearing a mask again just like the night when she first met him

“Are you going to tell me to leave this place and never return ?”Ayla asked feeling bold

“No, not this place”

“I saw you in my dreams”

“Ohh,that wasn’t your dream,you were there”

“If i didn’t dream it then you are one of the witches and how was I  with you and dressed up like you,I never left my room”Ayla gasped she is conversing with the enemy and the grey eyed stranger laughed deeply making Ayla’s stomach flutter.

Ignoring her questions “What is your name,little witch?”he asked, moving closer to her using one finger to stroke her face as he moved closer to her his scent invaded her sense, the fact that she was  unable to shift also means she couldn’t detect scents like the other wolves but right now she could smell him well.

“My name is Ayla and I am not a witch even if I was I won’t be little”Ayla said mumbling the last part 

“My name is Thorne,I think that would be better than the grey eyed stranger you chose to call me”he said his voice dropping to a low timber,Ayla knew that one way or the other he could hear thoughts.

“Thorne”Ayla said like she was testing how it sounded on her lips

“You should go now,before pretty boy starts to get worried about you and you were taking the wrong turn”He said pointing out the right direction 

She turned to the direction he pointed to her and started walking without saying goodbye because she knew she was going to see him again very soon

“Thorne”she thought to herself…stranger name for a strange man and she turned back to get a glimpse of him and she was no longer there

        

Ayla smiled to herself as she walked back into the pack territory,the moment Ayla sighted her mom her smile fell,her mom was walking towards her angrily.

“Where have you been?”Her mom asked 

“I have been around,I went to take a walk in the woods”

“Well you should have been around for the Pack run”her mom said,Ayla looked at her mom shocked this was the first time her mom had said anything to her.

“I should be around for the pack run,have I ever ran with the pack before?”Ayla said 

“Not today,The Alpha asked of you”Her mom said impatiently

“Why would the Alpha ask of me”Ayla asked 

“Well,Maybe you should ask him yourself”

Ayla was confused,the Alpha has never asked of her whereabouts the only time she remembered talking to the Alpha was when she was about to shift the first time and she couldn’t shift.

Ayla walked towards the Alpha Dane who was standing on his own with the strangest expression on his face,the moment he saw her he walks up to her first

“Where have you been?” He asked her 

“Good evening to you too Alpha Dane,I was in the woods by the river”

“Okay,I was just concerned that you were nowhere to be found when the pack wanted to shift”he said without waiting for her reply he left and standing in the corner where he was headed was the Prime Alpha,he was staring directly at her,then he smirked

She gasped and hurriedly left the place.