Sometimes it is best not to hide

I turned my head quickly to see the stranger.

A girl was standing with an amusing smile just a few steps away, Long pin straight luscious light brown hair reached below her waist, her eyes were a combination of green and yellow as she stepped closer I got to see her flawless skin. She walked gracefully in her floral dress like a stream of water flowing down from the mountains. 

Her eyes sparkled with a smile as she stood in front of me, "Who are you hiding from?"

I looked at the young girl speechlessly, "Why do you think I am hiding from someone?"

She let out a small rich laugh covering her mouth with her fingers as she laughed, "Look around, this is not a place where you see people walking around daily just for fun."

She grew serious suddenly, "Most people can not even find this place. I guess this place picked you for a reason."

She sat down on the grass and started looking at the water with a smile.

I followed her action and took a seat next to her, "This is a forest, and werewolves like forests. Why don't people come here?"

She lifted her delicate shoulders, "This place is off limits for most people."

My eyes widened hearing this, "I am sorry, I did not know....I will leave.."

Before I could say anything else she started laughing once again, "Relax, I am Flora."

"I am Ruhee," I was still not sure about sitting there with the strange girl but there was a peaceful aura around her. 

"Ruhee," she repeated, "you are not from here."

"I...uh...no."

She nodded, "What are you hiding?"

"I am not hiding from anyone," I replied a little too fast, thinking she must be asking her previous question again.

She turned to see me with a knowing smile. 

"We all are hiding something in our hearts, some bury their secrets thinking no one would ever find them."

"What are you doing here?" I changed the topic.

She once again lifted her shoulder, "I like the forest."

She appeared young, I assumed she must be a teenager.

"Why is this place off-limits?"

She kept looking at the forest on the other side of the river, "Ask the Alpha."

I bit my tongue hearing his name. 

"You must mean something to him if you are here," she further added.

My breath got stuck in my throat, "I...no I did not know this place was not for everyone. I do not mean anything to the Alpha."

She did not respond but turned her head to look at me.

I knew she was staring at me so I kept my eyes focused on the trees. There was a silence between us before the girl decided to break it.

"You should go back, someone might be worried about you."

I scoffed at her words, "Trust me that is not an issue. I am here just for a few more days then I will be gone"

I instantly shut my mouth, what was I doing? Telling a strange girl what I did not tell a soul.

I stood up and started removing the dry leaves from my clothes.

"It was nice meeting you, Flora," I said with a smile as I turned around to leave.

"Sometimes it is best not to hide."

I paused and inhaled a breath through my mouth. Hiding was the only thing I was good at, I hid from my bullies when I was young, I hid from the world once I realized I was a no-one. 

I turned around to respond but to my surprise, the girl was gone. I looked around to find her but there were no traces of her anywhere.

"Flora?" I called her name but when no one responded I decided to head back. 

I kept on following the trail of crosses I left on the way and pretty soon I was at the end of the forest. I did not realize how many hours I spent away from the mansion but the orangish-red sky was telling me it was more than a few minutes.

Walking slowly towards the front door I opened the door quietly.

I ignored the two men who paused once they saw me and continued walking towards the stairs until a loud voice stopped me.

"Where were you?"

The deep voice sent shivers down my spine, my whole body froze. I dug the nails inside my skin as I felt his presence behind me, my breath was becoming shorter. 

"I asked you a question," he repeated, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. 

I gulped.

"I.." my voice was barely audible. I cleared my throat, "I was just outside."

"Aren't you familiar with the rules, princess?"

He was closer to me, his mouth was near my ear. I did not dare to turn around and face him. 

"I...I.."

"You belong to me now, did you forget that?" There were no emotions in his voice, just coldness like on his face.

My eyes widened upon hearing this. It was the first time he was talking to me. 

"I did not know who should I ask before leaving, Alpha, and I did not want to bother you."

There was a loud silence, my heart was jumping inside my chest. He was standing so close to me, I could feel the warmth of his body. I did not know for how long I could just stand there.

"Hmm..." his mouth was near my neck. 

"Orion!" A loud screech came from someone making Alpha Orion growl a little.

I knew Chelsea was standing behind us. I turned halfway but did not look at her directly. 

"There you are," there was a relief in her voice, "I have been looking for you. There are some people who want to see you."

Alpha Orion was still standing in front of me because of him I could not see Chelsea clearly.

"Go to your room."

He did not have to repeat those words. I ran without stopping until I reached the room and locked the door thinking about what just happened.