CHAPTER 3

“Why are you out without drying off your body?”

He stared at her before grabbing a shirt that was hanging on the hanger, he hurriedly put it on. He had just finished bathing, his hair was still dripping wet. The atmosphere was warm, all thanks to the fire. He sniffed in the air, there was something mixed with the air and he could read that scent. He sniffed again and rubbed his nose. He had been perceiving that scent since he was in shower, he tried to ignore it but the scent was stronger and alluring. He had to find it, his wolf was walking to and fro inside him, trying to come out but Adrian was not going to let him out. The scent had made him jump out of shower and get dressed without drying his body.

“I have to go Mother it is important.” He answered.

Before his mother could speak, he rushed out. She stared at him, a cloth in her hand until he was out of sight. She had picked a cloth for him to wear for the festival but he had took a shirt and ran out like something was bothering him. Adrian hurried towards the festival, he had went there before heading to bath, no one had scented like that. He was sure someone knew had attended the festival and the person owns that scent. He guessed that might be the scent of his mate that he had been looking for a very long time.

When he reached the festival, he kept on sniffing, following the scent. He stopped beside his sister, his sister was rubbing her eyes and yawning loudly when he poked her on the arm.

“Ouch!” She yelled, raising her head to stare at him. “Adrian?!” She rubbed the spot he had poked. “Took you long enough to come, after the goddess had already left.”

“Left? Who?”

He glanced around, wondering who his sister was talking about. He perceived the scent again, without realizing what he was doing. His wolf bent to the chair beside his sister and sniffed it, the scent was there, right on that seat. The owner on the scent must have sat on that chair and must had left before he arrived. Phoebe looked at her brother confused seeing his sniff the chair.

“What are you doing?” She inquired.

What was he doing? Adrian took control and stood up immediately. ‘Bad wolf. Bad wolf’ he yelled at his wolf. His wolf scoffed at him before finally settling down.

“Did anyone sit here?” he asked.

“Yes, a goddess did.” Phoebe said, excitement written all over here face.

The tip of her nose had turned pick, Adrian knew what was going to happen, she was about to start talking non-stop. So he nodded at her to begin.

“Her name is Luna, beta Bartram’s daughter. When the beta brought her, she was smiling non-stop and then I asked her to sit beside me, which she actually did…”

“Beta Bartram has a daughter?” Adrian asked stunned.

He never knew Bartram had a daughter, he waved the thought off his head. He was never so close to Bartram but he had never seen a young lady with him before.

“Yes he has a daughter, everyone knows he has a daughter. Don’t they?”

“You are wrong.” Adrian muttered.

“How?” Phoebe asked, a frown crossing her face.

“I don’t know he had a daughter.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes at him and continue taking. “You should have seen her eyes, it’s so dreamy and moonlit. Her hair is so long and dark, such a graceful presence to see.  Her lips were gorgeous, she looked like a goddess.” She paused and waved her head. “No.” she pouted. “She is actually a goddess, I can’t believe she is related to beta Bartram. She look so…” She paused to take in a deep breath. “Unreal.”

“Where is she?” Adrian asked.

Phoebe studied her brother’s reaction, “Why are you asking? Do you feel any connection to her?”

Adrian nodded. “Yeah, it feels like she might be my mate.”

Phoebe lips made an O-shape without a word, “I noticed that, she haven’t found her mate yet and I was wishing she was your mate. She left, she might come back and you have to wait for her.”

Adrian ruffled his hair, “It would be better if I find her.”

He turned and ran. “Good luck!” Phoebe screamed after him.

Alpha Dean glanced at her direction, alongside Bartram.

“Where is he going?” Alpha Dean asked.

“To find his mate.” Phoebe said blushing.

At the mention of mate, Beta Bartram glanced around for Luna. He frowned when he could not find her.

“His mate?” Alpha Dean inquired. “He found her?”

Phoebe blinked her eyelashes. “Yes, she was sitting right next to me. Luna.”

It was then Beta Bartram smiled.

⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕⁕

“I am just going to make some flower beds.” She said, dipping her hand into the ocean.

The moon was shining bright on the ocean, the light reflected on Luna.  Making her dress glow, she giggled silently as she watched a fish take a peek at her and swam back into the water. She waved her hand in the ocean, feeling the coolness and soon, flowers began forming a bed in on the lake. Luna watched it form and when it was done, she took back her hand and climbed the bed. She laid down on it with a heavy sigh, she placed her hand behind her head and she laid on her back. She stared up at the moon, she could have swam but she doesn’t feel like it. Taking off this dress was going to be a huge problem for her.

She just felt like sitting watching the moon till sunrise, the day was quite easy. She had not expected to be able to leave the festival so easily. Her father had seen her leave and didn’t try to stop her. It was great though, she was far away from Phoebe. She did not know Adrian’s sister was going to be a talk active. She wondered how Adrian would talk since they were both related.

“Boring.” She muffled, tossing and turning on the bed.

She laid on her belly and stared into the water, she dipped her hand into it and began playing with it. She retrieved her hand, facing her palm together, she curled them. A bright blue light emitted from them, creating a magic ball. A brush of memory rushed through her.

“Try rolling your palm facing each other, if you create anything you can throw it at me and I would scream; ‘Glow, ouch!’” Assy whispered into her ear while she giggled.

They were sitting on the roots of a tree, she was bored and needed something to do. Assy had suggested they play a game and when she asked what the game was all about. He whispered into her ear, she refused at first because of the thought of hurting him.

“It might hurt you Assy.”

“I will heal.” He assured her.

Luna rolled her hand even harder, making the ball even bigger. “Why did you leave without say good bye?”

She still couldn’t think about what happen that made Assy leave, they were in good terms but he decided to leave. It was as if he just disappeared into thin air. She threw the ball into the woods with all her might, she watched the ball create light in the darkness at it went. She sighed, this was going to be great since she was going to see a view in the darkness. The ball kept on going and then she saw someone talking and moving forward. It was a man and she could not see his face properly, he was not looking at the direction of the ball. Luna stretched her hand, ready to scream for him to get out of the way or maybe retrieve the ball somehow. She took back her hand in a fast motion, the man was going to know she was the one who had create the ball and her secret was going to be revealed.

‘Let it hit him, he won’t die’

She placed her palm on her face and peeked from the spaces in her fingers. The ball was so close to him now, he turned around to look at the ball. Just then the ball came in contact with his belly, lifting him off the ground and pushing him backwards. Luna closed her eyes, ready to hear a thud or maybe the sound of cracking bones. She silently prayed he wasn’t injured or even worse dead. Why had she thrown the damn ball in the first place? She silently prayed nothing should happen to the stranger if not she was going to never forgive herself.

“Glow, Ouch!” She heard far in the distance.

The words hit her like a hard fist, her heart missed a beat. She knew who it was, he was back. Her eyes shot wide open, her silver moonlit eyes shinned even brighter. That words, that voice. She sat up immediately, her eyes focused on the direction she had heard the voice, she hurriedly stood and jumped off the flower bed. She had totally forgotten that there was water there, beside her. Falling into the water in a huge thud, she choked out.

“Assy?”