Chapter 1. Her Home

* Ashley  *

It's been almost a year since I came back to the place where I can call home, my place in the city together with the humans. Bright lights, busy streets, fancy restaurants, fast cars and more people. Those are the things that I consider normal in my life, or in a life of an ordinary person living in the city. It's nothing compared to the huge and archaic palace where the wolves live. Where they follow the rules of one powerful being called the Alpha King.

As I stood on the balcony of my room, I took a deep calming breath from the cool air at the top floor of Hotel Blanca, which stood as one of the tallest hotel in the city. A place I can call mine, a place that is love by the people and as well as my mother who have worked hard to build it.

I try to focus on my work everyday but the image of someone still lingers in my mind, someone who I am trying hard not to think about and yet I always fail to do so. I kept telling myself I should forget about the wolves and move on. But something deep inside of me is aching and I am not going to let anyone know about this, specially the people who sorrounds me here everyday.

I have meet a few men but take no interest in dating, my priority is for my work and my colleagues at the hotel. The sound of my phone ringing in the small table inside the room stop my thoughts from going farther so I turn around and pick up the phone.

"Mom?"

I already know why she calls at this time of night, we have just talked about her visit at the hotel tomorrow morning.

"I just want to remind you about tomorrow sweetie."

"Mom, don't worry about it I remember. You just reminded me yesterday, and this afternoon right?"

The sound of her apologetic laugh is the next thing I hear on the other line. "Well you know we can't miss the event, it is important for the two of us out of all people. And don't you miss him?"

I let out a deep breath and close my eyes for a few seconds. "Of course, I miss Dad. I didn't forget mom, he will always be in my heart and mind. Don't ever doubt that."

"I'm sorry sweetie, I know we are both busy. That's why I keep track of all the special occasion like this so we can have a reason to celebrate together as a family. I'm sure wherever your father is, that he will be happy to see us together just like old times."

"Alright mom, but I do need to get some sleep now and get beauty rest to see Dad tomorrow.  And you do too mom."

I heard her beginning to sniffle on the other line and if we continue talking about my late Dad then she would end up pouring like rain. Again I must cut off the call before she continues. To be in a state of distress is the last thing I need.

"Good night mom!"

She sigh and then wish me a good night back before I put down the phone. I don't want to dislike the life I have in the city now but I feel that there is something that's missing, I feel incomplete and I couldn't say why? Isn't this the life that I wanted.

Before I turned off the lights and close my eyes to sleep that night, the face of a handsome man visited my thoughts again. I rub my eyes and let myself to drift because somehow I know that I am beginning to dream. I continue sleeping and then the horrible creatures appeared from somewhere. Huge wolves with dark fur, long and sharp fangs that hang in their mouths, their eyes are the color of blood and they look at me with so much hatred and anger but I have no idea why.

"Stay away from me! Don't come any closer!"

I mumbled however, they don't seem to care about what I'm saying so I started running while I hear the sound of their footsteps following behind me. My heart beats faster with each passing minute and the sweat begins to break out in all the pores of my body. It does not feel like a dream anymore, I fear for my life and it is for real. I took the path which leads into a vast forest hoping it could help me.

My strength is slowly running out as I start to pant for my breath. The voice inside my mouth couldn't come out anymore, I can't shout for help. The loud growling noises begin to drew near as my knees grow weak from the run. Until I feel cornered in the middle of the wilderness with the tall grasses covering the lands, I feel surrounded. I realize that there are so many of them.

"What do you want from me?!"

I ask in a quivering voice, I know they wanted to hurt me as their eyes pierce through mine. They never said anything but they surround me, ready to attack. If I am going to die and lost my life today then I will have just one regret and that is.

"Ashley! Ashley!"

My mother's voice echoed though the air and I jerk forward from the bed that I was lying.

"Mom!? How did you get in?"

I look around and feel a little bit relief that I am just inside my room at the hotel, looking at the worried face of my mother.

"It is already eight in the morning Ash, I have been calling you and when you didn't answer I came straight here. I've knocked on you door several times but you didn't answer so I ask the receptionist for a spare key. Are you alright? Is it a bad dream?"

She sit beside me in my bed and look at my face with a worried frown. "I am alright mom, I was just sleeping and dreaming of something that it feel so real."

I remove myself from the sheets and got out of bed, I feel bad for waking up really late but my body feels like it ran for miles and the weariness is real. "Mom, why don't you go take a coffee in the lobby while I get myself a hot shower."

She look at me with a worried expression and her eyes travel through the night gown that I am wearing. "You are all sweaty Ash, I think a nice and warm shower is what you need. Meet me in the lobby when you are ready sweetie, and let's talk because if there is anything that's bothering you I am ready to listen."

"No mom, nothing is bothering me. It was just a stupid dream and it happens sometimes so no worries."

She sigh before standing up from the side of my bed. "Alright, I will go and order some breakfast before we head out."

She stand up and move closer towards me then hug me tight before giving my cheeks a peak and then leave. I close the door of my room and look at myself in the whole length mirror. The long silky white night gown that I'm wearing has traces of sweat on the chest and my hair is slightly damp. I feel weary and dirty like I have really ran for a mile but I know it was just a dream.

I hope that the shower would take away some of the troubles that I have this morning. If only I could tell my mother how I really feel, but I'm afraid that she would resort to taking me back in the Langston Palace as a precaution. She still believes in the goodness of the Alpha King for the wolves follow him and will not harm the humans in the City because of his order.