CHAPTER 003

Audrey POV:

“Audrey Hill.”

The guard looked at me with a blank expression for some seconds, causing me to inwardly squirm. “Proof of identity?”

I reached into my bag for my ID, feeling sad. Diane hadn't come to pick me at the gate. As usual, she'd left me to fend for myself.

And as usual, I was accepting what seemed like the inevitable. I'd never been her priority anyway. It'd always been Tanya, seeing as I wasn't her blood.

Sometimes I'd doubted I was my father's blood, too. But at least he tried his best.

“Identified. Welcome, Audrey Hill, daughter of previous Gamma of Rhinestone Pack, Bernard Gatrix-Hill.”

Gatrix. My grandfather's name. It'd been so long since I heard anyone say it in relation to my family. Before my dad's death, Gatrix-Hill had been my last name, too. But Diane refused to bear it, saying it was somewhat ‘tacky’.

At the time, I kind of agreed with her, and had been terribly grateful when she convinced him to change it for me too. But hearing it from the guard for the first time in over five years, I couldn't help but feel emotional.

I really missed being among my people. As the reality hit me, I nodded at the guard as the gates swung open and took a deep breath before taking my first step in.

It was like stepping into heaven.

I'd once heard someone describe stepping foot into one's home as being surrounded by hundreds of fluffy teddies with big smiles on their faces. It was true; at least, it felt true, because as soon as I walked through those gates, my heart began to beat faster, and my wolf that had been quiet for a little over a year stirred.

I was alive.

Inspite of myself, I grinned at the electrifying energy coursing through me, unlike any feeling I'd ever had before. It was like I was on fire, but I wasn't burnt. Instead I was harnessing the flames and riding on them like they were made for me. Like I was-

“Audrey?”

And just like that, the fire went out.

Tanya stood behind me, looking every inch like the goddess Diane had often described when we were little. She wore a cute sundress with ice cream patterns on it and had her hair in a bun with tendrils escaping down the sides of her face. Her eyes were as bright yet calculating, and I couldn't resist the memories that kept rushing into my mind by the mere sight of them.

As the sun shone on her figure, I couldn’t help but think that she was so…beautiful. Anyone passing by would probably think I was her maid.

“Tanya,” I managed to choke out, not bothering with a smile.

“You've arrived,” she said, her face showing relief. “I'm so glad. When Mother told me you mentioned arriving in two days, I almost didn't believe it. But here you are, safe and sound.”

She still had the silky voice that had come to comfort me whenever Diane got mad and overdid my punishment. The same voice that I’d heard during multiple dinners flattering my father. She'd grown, gotten even more beautiful, and she was even engaged now.

But she still had the same voice.

I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground. “Yes. Here I am, safe and sound.”

My voice sounded so scratchy and lifeless. I cringed.

Suddenly, she beamed and looped an arm around me, startling me. “Well, good for you! I’m just returning from the Alpha's quarters and going back home. Come on, let's go together!”

“Sure,” I replied. “I, um, would love that. It’s just- I just…I have luggage.”

She looked at me for a moment, looking bewildered. Then she smiled, and I thought my eyes would begin to hurt from the brightness of that smile. “Oh! You brought wedding gifts?”

Wedding gifts.

Shit.

It suddenly occurred to me that I didn't tell Diane about my housing situation. Tanya probably thought that I was visiting and would be around for a few weeks before returning to the human civilization. Any luggage I'd have here would only include my clothes and…wedding gifts.

But I hadn't even known about her wedding until two days ago!

Immediately I faked a smile that was so wide, my face hurt. “Right. That. Of course. There are…gift items.”

Like gift cards and vouchers that could most definitely not be used at the pack house.

“Aw! You really didn't have to!”

“...um.”

I really didn't have to lie. I knew that as well.

So why did I just-

I flinched when she placed her palm over mine. “Well, Audrey, I look forward to seeing what you brought for me. In the meantime, I'll get someone to take the luggage for us.” As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes flashed gold, and I knew she was speaking to someone via the mind link.

I hadn't used that in so long.

Well, to be honest, I didn't exactly have a cause to use it that much. After I grew up, I mostly interacted with one word replies, and only ever spoke to my childhood friend, Jacob. Could I still use it?

I tried to ask Tanya, but she was already talking again and dragging me across the street. Just as she used to when we were kids.

Some things never changed.

“...and he laughed, Audrey. Can you imagine?”

I blinked when I heard my name, confused for a moment before realizing she'd been talking to me all this while. I'd been so lost in the beauty of the pack house I'd forgotten she was speaking to me. “Who are we talking about?”

“The Alpha!” She looked offended that I hadn't been following. “People say he has this dark expression on his face every time, but it always softens when he sees kids. Also, he has the most beautiful laugh!”

“Um…good for you?”

She gave me a disapproving side glance, then shook her head. “You weren't listening.”

“I wasn't. I'm sorry.”

“It's fine.” Her eyes looked disappointed. “He listens to me. That's all that matters.”

I sighed inwardly. “Right. I…I'm sorry. I just…I'm just very tired right now. I promise we can talk all about him later. Also, Diane told me you want us to go shopping; we could do that too, whenever you want.”

She gave me a surprised look. “Are you sure? You've never been one for the outdoors.”

Ah. So she remembered.

“Well…it's your big day. I can make the sacrifice.”

She beamed when she heard that. “That's wonderful! Come on, let's get you home. You actually look tired.”

We walked down together, and I forced a smile on my face as she chatted non-stop about her fiancé and all the things he'd done for her.

They seemed like they were in love. So that meant…

“Tanya, how does the mate bond feel like?”

She paused, her expression changing faster than I could imagine. “What?”

“You…and the Alpha. You two are mates, right?”

Contrary to the expression I thought she would get on her face, she frowned. “Does it matter?”

I blinked. Hadn't Diane said they were fated by goddess Luna? Approved by the elders? A match?

Or had I heard her wrong?

“I…”

“Whether we’re mates or not, it doesn't matter. We love each other, Audrey. That's what matters,” she interjected, a sharp look in her eyes.

In other words, it was none of my business. I understood the warning.

I closed my eyes and nodded. But I couldn't understand how someone would accept to be tied in a relationship when they most likely had a mate elsewhere. A relationship as serious as marriage, for that matter!

I knew that Diane and Tanya disregarded tradition a lot, which was why many elders didn't like them.

But I didn't expect the Alpha, who was supposed to uphold tradition, to accept such a thing.