Chapter 4

DAYA POV

     After training wrapped up, I ran some last-minute errands before coming back home. I promised Andre and Ophelia that I would have dinner with them and their chosen mates. I asked them if I could invite Sage over to join us and of course they said yes- they love Sage. I was helping Ophelia prepare dinner when she leaned over the counter, opposite me, as I was chopping vegetables.

    “You know, Dye, you don’t have to do this.” I could hear the concern in her voice. I kept looking down at the vegetables, though my chopping speed slowed down a notch. “Me and Andre want to support you in everything you do. But this plan… it’s… it’s…”

     “It’s what, Ophelia?!” I cut her off and stared her straight in the eyes.

     “It’s too dangerous to go alone.” She met my gaze with a similar intensity. “I get that you’re doing this to honor your father and mother’s memory. But do you really think you can defeat an alpha in a challenge? Then be able to take over his pack, and have those people follow you without hesitation?” She rattled off question after question. This wasn’t the first time we had this conversation. Over the last few weeks, since I made this decision, she has cornered me at least once a week, begging me to rethink this plan of mine. Not gonna happen. I made up my mind. My sisters tell me I’m stubborn to a fault. I prefer to think of it as passionately committed to my ideas. I can’t blame Ophelia for being concerned. She and Andre were part of my original pack and miss it dearly. They felt the pain of running away with me when Father asked them to take me away for my own safety. As warriors, they wanted to stay and help Father defend his pack and territory. I later learned that Father told almost everyone to flee for safety. Too many packs were planning to attack our territory at once and he refused to have innocent lives lost after losing so many to the plague. And Father, like the great leader he was, stayed and went down with the ship I suppose. Andre and Ophelia heard he died the year after we fled to the Eclipse Pack. And now the time has come to take it back, or at least try.

      “I know it’s dangerous, Ophelia. This wasn’t a snap decision. I have been looking and waiting for an opportunity to go back to the original Veritas Pack territory. I think this is my chance. You and Andre have trained me to be the best warrior in the Eclipse Pack. And once I spend some time getting to know the Running River Pack, and observe their alpha, I’ll be better prepared to challenge him.” I let out a sigh and walked around the counter, so I was sitting on a barstool next to Ophelia. “I know this is risky. But, Ophelia, I’m done hiding. I’m done pretending to be Diamond Tannerman, when I’m truly Diamond Stone- an alpha’s daughter, and rightful heir to his territory. I have to at least try and get it back. I owe that much to Father and Mother.” I explained to her, while holding her hands in mine. I could feel my eyes watering up, and I could see her green eyes becoming glassy as well.

      “Then I guess we need to grab an extra couple bottles of wine. Because we are celebrating the first step of the Veritas Pack resurgence.” She said with a genuine smile. I love Ophelia as much as any of my sisters, and I know she feels the same about me. I wouldn’t have the strength to embark on this mission if they hadn’t kept me safe all these years. We shared a laugh and a hug and quickly returned to prepping the meal before everyone showed up.

      A little while later, Katarina and Duncan arrived, and Sage shortly after them. The dinner was going great. Thinking about it more, I’m not surprised Andre and Ophelia didn’t tell me about their chosen mates. They know I’m not comfortable talking about mates, or love, in general. But I’m happy to see them happy.

    “So, Daya, you’re leaving in the morning for New York. How exciting!” Katarina said. I quickly finished chewing some of the roasted carrots and nodded, while wiping my mouth before I spoke.

    “Yea. I got an opportunity to oversee training she-wolves for a pack out there. I guess they have never had a female warrior training program and are finally getting with the times.” I said with an eye roll and half smirk.

    “I wish I could go with you and help you whip those ladies into shape and show them how tough she-wolves of all shapes and sizes can be!” Sage chimed in, always making a case for how size doesn’t matter when it comes to being a warrior.

    “That actually isn’t a terrible idea. Daya, maybe once you’re settled, you can ask if Sage can join you out there?” Andre spoke up. I could read between the lines of his comment. He doesn’t want me to be alone out there. But I won’t risk Sage’s safety.

    “Oh! That would be awesome! I was telling Dye how she and I would be able to meet some good candidates for chosen mates out there. She shot that idea down fast.” Sage laughed while nudging me with her elbow.

   “Ugh. How many times do I have to remind you all that I’m not interested in a chosen mate. I am perfectly happy on my own. Nothing good comes from having a mate… of any kind.” I said softly while looking down at my food. It’s because of mates that this whole thing started. Fated mates died during the plague. Who knows what the Moon Goddess was trying to accomplish with that. How anyone is brave enough to take a mate of any kind after the Fated Plague is mind-boggling to me. I’m not scared of many things, but taking a mate, that’s one I will openly admit to being fearful of. 

     Everyone dropped the mate talk after that. I really like Duncan and Katarina. I could see how excited Andre and Ophelia were to take them as chosen mates in a couple of weeks, on the next full moon. That is one reason to look forward to full moons anymore. Before the Fated Plague, every full moon, packs would have festivals and celebrations, all with a different theme depending on what month it was. This month, being January, is called the Wolf Moon. I vaguely remember Father giving speeches at festival and everyone would run through the woods in wolf form. Some people would find their mates and announce their bond to the pack. I remember Mother telling me one night at a festival how special the mate bond truly is.

18 Years Ago...

     “When the moon is full, it allows our wolf spirits to sense their mates if they are close enough. Your body feels overcome with energy. And that energy wants to pull you closer to your mate, and them to you. You will feel your wolf become restless at the thought of sensing their mate. And once you see them under the full moon, your wolves will officially recognize one another as mates.” My mother explained to me, while running her fingers through my hair. I was almost 6 years old, and she was pregnant with my youngest sister, Pearl, so she sat out on the run with the other wolves.

    “What happens if a wolf senses their mate, but cannot find them under the full moon, Mother?” I asked her sweetly, engrossed in the tale of fated mates.

     “Oh, well, if two wolves cannot find each other the night of the full moon, the bond doesn’t fully snap into place. In the morning, when the moon is gone, your wolf will know its mate is close by, but won’t be able to sense them until the next full moon. Which can make both individuals, and their wolf spirits antsy to find one another.” My mother answered my question gently. Trying to reassure me that not being able to locate your fated mate under a full moon is so rare if your wolves have sensed one another.

     I snap back to the present moment. Me and Sage are in my room, packing up the last of my clothes. Sage is laying on my bed, with her head hanging over the edge, her dark brown hair in rare form, not pulled back in a braid, instead it is hanging loosely, skimming my bedroom floor.           

    “Are you at least packing sexy underwear in case you decide to finally have sex with someone?” Sage asks me so bluntly. I snap my head at her and roll my eyes.

    “Seriously? No. No I didn’t pack any sexy underwear. No interest in that.” I replied curtly.

    “Yea. You’re not interested because you don’t know what you’re missing.” She picks her head up and points at me. “Honestly, Daya. You’re gorgeous. You know how many of the guys on the warrior ranks have been waiting for you to give them any sign that you’re interested in touching them in any way besides sparring?” She so kindly provides me with this new information.

    “Sage, I haven’t met anyone who incites any form of sexual arousal or temptation in me. I have no interest in just having sex with someone just to get it over with, knowing it will probably be awful and confirm that I’m not missing out on anything.” I responded. Crossing my arms and flicking my ponytail over my shoulder.

    “Well, then I guess this will be a waste of a gift.” She says, getting off the bed to pulling something out of her bag. A pink gift bag with frilly tissue paper sticking out the top. She hands it to me with a devious grin on her face.           

     I open the bag and gasp, while I feel my eyes almost bug out of my head. My eyes scan the contents of the bag: I see lace, silk, strings, and glitter. Underwear. Wait, no. None of these counts as underwear. These are butt floss and cheek chillers. How am I supposed to comfortably walk while wearing any of these? I thought to myself as I pulled out a black, lacy thong.

     “They are a lot more comfortable than they look.” Sage chirped, trying to hold back a laugh. She was failing miserably because she frickin’ snorted. I couldn’t help but start laughing with her. As I tossed the thong at her face, and she picked it and threw it right back.

      “Oh, my dearest friend, Sage. I will certainly miss you most of all.”