CHAPTER TWO: THE INVITATION

Kayla’s POV

The next morning, I was in my office going through the paper works of the new warriors when I heard someone knock.

“Come in!” I called out.

I looked up to see Michael, one of my pack members, enter the room. I waited for him to speak, but he continued standing there with a nervous look on his face. 

I frowned as I noticed his unusual behavior. He was usually a stoic guy who was quick in business. What was wrong with him now?

“Yes?” I prompted when he continued standing there with a hesitant look.

“Alpha, I found my mate!” he blurted out.

“That is great. But why are you so nervous about it?” I asked with confusion.

“Well… she would love to join our pack,” he said hesitantly.

“Of course. One of you has to join the other’s pack. I am glad that she decided to join our pack. I would have hated to lose a loyal wolf like you,” I said.

“You mean, you have no problem with her joining our pack?” he asked with surprise.

“Why would I have a problem with that?”

“Well, I thought…”

“You thought what?”

“I thought you would not allow her to join the pack,” he said in a low voice.

I sighed and stood up from my seat. Then I walked over to him and met his gaze before speaking firmly.

"I don't have any problem with your mate joining this pack as long as she is willing to train and contribute to the pack. Is she ready for that?" I asked.

"Of course yes, Alpha. I have already informed her that she would be required to do that. She is willing to do anything as long as you grant her the permission to join our pack," he said desperately. 

"Good. You can submit the paper works for her transfer," I informed him.

His shoulders visibly relaxed on hearing my words, and a smile lifted the corners of his lips.

“Thank you, Alpha!” he said while his eyes twinkled with happiness. 

"And Michael. Remember one thing. Your mate is leaving her home and coming to this strange pack just for you. Don't ever make her regret that. If something like that happens, you will have to answer me!" I warned him.

"I will never hurt my mate," he vowed, looking horrified at the thought of ever causing pain to his mate.

I nodded at him, satisfied with his answer.

"You may leave now," I said.

He bowed down to me and left the room.

I was about to go back to my chair when I felt the presence of someone else in the room. I looked up to see Ethan watching me with a peculiar look on his face.

“What?” I asked.

“Did you see how happy he was?” 

“Yes. So?” I asked with confusion. What did that have to do with me?

“Don’t you want that in your life?”

I stiffened on hearing his words.

“You took over as Alpha at the mere age of sixteen. No one thought that a teenager who just turned for the first time, a girl at that, could do it. But you proved everyone wrong. Everyone thought you were just a weak girl who was the Alpha in name only because no one else was left. But you faced everyone who challenged you and emerged the victor,” he said and paused.

I stood still, knowing that he had not finished speaking yet.

“You garnered the respect of everyone and built up the pack from scratch again. And now, even if we are lesser in number than most packs, we are still one of the most powerful because the members we have are all strong fighters… All these unbelievable achievements in a span of just seven years. I am so proud of you, Kayla. I am honored that I am your beta,” he said and sighed.

I looked at him and saw that his eyes were filled with pride… and pain…

“But… Among all this, you have forgotten to live. With your mind filled with thoughts of bringing the pack to its former glory and avenging the deaths of your family members, you forgot what happiness is… You are holding the weight of every responsibility alone on your shoulders. You need someone in your life to share your burdens…”

“I am perfectly fine with my life. I don’t need anyone to share my burdens. They would only turn out to be burdens for me. You are the only person who I will let talk like this to me. And that is not because you are my Beta. It is because you were Martin’s best friend and we share the pain of losing him...” 

“I didn’t just lose Martin that day. We all lost people that meant the most to us… But still, I have learned to live my life and I want you to do the same.”

“Enough! I said I am fine! I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

Ethan looked as if he wanted to say something more. Then he shook his head and met my gaze.

We had a stare down and I refused to back down. Finally, he averted his gaze with a sigh. 

He glanced at me once more with a defeated look and left the room.

 After he left, I dropped down to my chair with a sigh.

‘I am fine. Just because I am different doesn’t mean I am broken,’ I told myself.

I closed the file I was checking and leaned back in the chair with my eyes closed.

I have seen how happy the wolves were after finding their mates. But I have also seen mighty warriors turn soft and cuddly once they find their other halves. I didn't want to find my mate only for him to become my whole world and me to forget my missions. I would not let anything come between me and my missions...not even my mate… And I knew that if I had a mate out there, it would be most likely an Alpha because women from Alpha blood almost always had Alpha mates. And that would mean he would expect me to go to his pack. And I would never do that! 

So, I just hoped that I would never find my mate. I didn't care if others found my existence pitiful. I was absolutely fine as I was…

I stayed in that position for a while until I heard yet another knock on the door. 

"Come in," I called out tiredly.

I opened my eyes and saw that it was one of the servants. 

Then my gaze fell on her hands. I narrowed my eyes when I saw that she was holding an envelope..

Suddenly, I had the feeling that something huge was about to happen… something life altering. I felt goosebumps on my arms as I stared at whatever she was holding…

I shook my head to snap out of it. It was ridiculous to think such silly things!

"What is it?" I snapped.

The girl flinched as she held her hand out.

"This came in the mail for you, Alpha!" 

I received it from her and noticed that it was an invitation card. Again, the feeling that something important was going to happen washed over me… 

I observed the golden envelope that had stones embedded in it as if it was the invitation to a royal wedding.

I absent mindedly noticed the timid girl scurry away from me while my attention was riveted on the envelope. 

On the envelope, my name was written in bold letters; Alpha Kayla Xanders. I stared at it mesmerized and felt as if I was holding the secrets of the universe in my hands.

With trembling fingers, I slowly opened the envelope and took the letter out…