04 - To Witness Different Mysteries

Katara's POV

I got different vibes, from our environment, and that made me peek from the carriage curtains. I could see lots of people chattering. It resembled a market square, with numerous villagers moving around, in an exchange.

“Prepare yourself, my Luna.” one of the guards knocked the door, saying. “We would be hitting the main packhouse soon.”

At his words, my heart commenced beating rapidly in fright of what I was going to meet. Alpha Kai didn’t show up anymore, after the third visiting. Something made me suspect it would be like this, often.

I clenched the hems of my gown, tightening the loosened strap that instant. In a few minutes, the carriage halted.

“It’s time,”

I came down, from the carriage, with the help of a guard. Looking around at everything, it was a big pack house, indeed, almost resembling mysteries of a palace.

“I will escort you to your chambers, my Luna.”

“Okay, t-thanks.” I replied the guard nervously, at the fact that I would have a room, a privilege I didn’t get in my previous pack.

Alpha Kai disappeared but I could scent a bit of him, lingering in the air. I figured as the Alpha; he definitely had much work load to do.

One of the entrance doors was opened and at it, my eyes widened. Never had I seen a building as big and vast as this. This wasn’t compared to our little pack house; I grew up in.

“The Alpha’s mate has arrived! Pay your respects! Our Luna has finally arrived! Everyone pay your homage!”

A guard announced as we moved. I shuddered in my spot, as everyone bowed down at me. The maids, workmen, and guards at their given posts.

We reached a quarter, and I begun to feel a totally different vibe from the section of the hallway. I saw another opening, with a woman in total black, bowing at something which resembled an altar.

“W-who’s that?” I asked the guard beside me.

“Dowager mother,”

As he said those words, I moved to carry on, getting an eerie vibe from her. She was dressed in all-black, covering every part of her body, minus her face. I looked back, staring at her, and she caught a glimpse of me, with blood shot eyes.

I immediately looked forward, snapping out of my daze.

What was I doing? I needed to focus.

“Here is your room, my Luna. The Alpha would be joining you soon.” The guard who has been escorting me, all along, said.

“Thanks.” I replied, opening the door to it.

“Call any maid or guard nearby, if you need anything.”

“I will…” I trailed out, running a hand through my frizzy curls so it stayed in place.

“I’m Kade, the Delta of Valmore pack.”

He said, just like he had read my mind.  The Delta. So, he was Kai’s Delta.

The door closed behind me, leaving me alone in the room, as I sized it up. Four times bigger than my previous room, there were numerous high jars for water.

A large bed, just in the middle, with a burning fire at each corner, which lit it up. Wooden cupboards positioned at different sections, with a dresser. There were furs, made of animal skin at the wall, giving the room an essence of power.

“Perhaps, he lives here too.” I said to myself, pacing back and forth. My eyes searched at how I was going to keep my secret safe, when I would be living with him.

A knock high lighted the door the minute I sat on the bed.

“Come in.” I murmured, only to sight a young girl, about my age, entering. She had a maid attire, and her eyes was connected to the floor. “My Luna,” she started off.

“I’m here to take your measurements, shoe size, skin tone, and guide you on everything you need to know about Valmore pack.”

I stood up at her words, taking long strides to her.

“Your name is?” I asked.

“Capria, my Luna.”

I extended my gloved hands towards my back, so I didn’t hurt her. “It’s alright, you can call me Katara.” I said, but the minute I did, her eyes widened. Capria dropped to the floor, holding my feet.

“Please, my Luna! Calling your name would cost my life! I’m a new recruit, don’t make my stay short-lived!” she pleaded, crying out immediately.

My hands shook on spot at her actions.

“It’s okay, get up.”

She did as I asked, with her eyes still on the ground. “Capria right?”

“Yes, my Luna.” she answered hastily.

“The least you can do is look me in the eyes, so I feel sane.”

Her eyes still pierced to the floor. I had to use my hands to bring her head up, and her gaze met mine.

“Was that hard?” I asked.

She nodded a ‘no’ at my words. Hurriedly, she brought out a tape and commenced measuring me, doing the same for my foot. Her fingers glided my skin, to check my skin type, which I guessed was to make the right body fragrance.

“All done, my Luna. I’ll get going.” she said, with a bow, rushing out and closing the door behind her.

Poor thing.

She reminded me of myself, just in Artic Wolves pack. Timid, helpless, someone who had no choice. Hoped this new pack treated me like I meant something, at least, my life of suffering would be taken away.

As I moved to my bed, I heard another creak from my door. My wolf sniffled a scent approaching.

“Did you forget something?”

I asked, that instant. I blinked my eyes, not seeing anybody in sight. Thus, looking down only to see a young girl about five, coming through the door. Dirt was all over her face and her hair was disorganized, almost like a bird nest. Her clothes were in shreds and patches, with dirt on them too.

My hands clenched the bed, in awe at who she was and how she found her way here.

“Hello there,” I called out. She looked at me, like she was scared. Her lips in a pout, and a clean skin, which went down her face, like she had been crying.

“You’re the Luna who came to save us, right?”

I wriggled my brows at her words, making my way towards her.

“I’m Katara dear, what’s your name?”

“Elise.”

My hands rested on her shoulders. “What happened to you, dear? Where are your parents?”

“T-they’re dead!” she cried out. “Few days ago, my pack, the Carriers, were attacked and I got away…”

“Sorry dear, so sorry that happened to you.” I mumbled, feeling bad.

“I miss my mum,” she let out, sniffling more. I moved to hug her and she froze in shock at her spots. Even though I never knew actual parents love, I felt my heart soften for this little girl.

I had to do something, anything in my power to help.

“Come with me,”

I said, walking her to the tub which was just at an entrance. “Sit in.”

Just as she did, I helped remove her clothes, using some bath gel and sponge to clean the dirt off her skin. No little child deserved this, not at all.

“Thank you, Luna, you’re so kind.” she muttered, huskily.

“Wear this,” I said, giving her one of the night dresses situated inside a wardrobe. I combed her hair, and applied oils from the dresser, on it.

“There, dear,” I said, with a smile at her. She intertwined her fingers together, shyly, giving me a hair pin.

“It’s pretty.” she said, tucking it in my hair. Elise came down from the chair; twirling around in the night dress.

“I have to get going, My Luna.” she said. “I cannot be seen here by anyone,”