Chapter 9

• Ashira's POV
• I run fast and free. At this moment, nothing bothers my mind as if every hard thought I have now faded. My wolf is enjoying herself, telling herself that she belonged here. That this is where she should be.
• I reached the clearing to be amazed by how beautiful the scenery is. Clear blue waters gushing freely in the river, green grass, and tall trees surround. I love it!
• The river is calling to me, for me to jump and take a swim. I did.
• I jumped in the air, ready to fall in the cold water. Just when I was about to land in the water, I shifted back into my human form, making a perfect dismount.
• The cold water made my naked skin shiver, almost painful but also relaxing. I swam until I'm out of breathing.
• I inhaled deeply, letting the air flow back to my lungs, filling it.
• Suddenly, I snapped my neck to my right. I can smell a wolf. Someone's here!
• I hid down the water, crossing my arms on my chest. Feeling visible under the clear water.
• Bones snapping and clothes stretching is what I heard next. The wolf just shifted in his human form.
• A guy around my age showed himself coming behind a tree. He's wearing a short but left his chest bare. He has blonde-brown messy hair, tall and lean.
• "Why are you here?" His voice sounds irritated. With knotted forehead, he eyed me boldly making me wrapped my chest more.
• He took a step forward but not too close. My breath is hitching from the cold.
• "I..."
• "Are you one of the guests?" He cut my words, focusing his eyes on mine.
• I nodded. Unable to speak from shivering. Damn, I need to get out of the water now or I'll die from freezing!
• "Walk out of the water. And wear this." He threw a black shirt on the ground and turned his back on me, giving me privacy.
• I hesitated at first but when another cold wind passes me, I pulled myself out of the water.
• My moves are quick, needing to get out of the cold. I grabbed his offered shirt and wear it, the hem reaching mid-thigh. The fabric is not helping the freezing feeling tormenting my skin.
• The guy looked my way again once I'm dressed. My arms are still wrapped in front of my chest, trying to have a self-warmth that eventually failed. I'm freezing!
• "I'm Nick, the Beta of the Prime. This part of the land is off-limits!" His voice raises a bit and hasn't changed, still irritated and a bit tired at that.
• So he's the Beta. I only know pack information and the names of those in higher rank positions but not how they look. This Nick is good-looking. Cruz would be a Beta like him in a few weeks. How I missed that guy.
• "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I promise I won't come here again." I said, trying to control my shaking voice. I'm not scared, just freaking freezing!
• Nick sighed, dropping his eyes on the ground before shutting it tightly.
• "I'm sorry I raised my voice. I'm just too tired handling everything while our Alpha is out there nowhere."
• I was shocked by his change of mood. He just started whining to a stranger, he might not be too strict as he looked.
• I saw how Nick's eyes widened, probably realized what he had just said.
• "Damn it!" He cursed under his breath. "Pretend you didn't hear that." He ordered but his expression is almost child-like. He looked cute in a way.
• "I didn't hear every word you said," I said, grinning ears to ears now. I'm still freezing but I'm starting to enjoy talking with Nick.
• He sighed in relief and smiled at me.
• "Let me walk you back to the guesthouse." He said, starting to be friendly.
• We walked forward to the forest. I'd like to shift back in my wolf form since I'm still freezing but since Nick offered me a company back to the guesthouse, I thought I shouldn't.
• "So where is your Alpha?" I decided to ask. I've been curious about it when he mentioned that earlier. Alpha's must be present at the ball tonight. It's a pack tradition and it's the Alpha's job to witness every new She-Wolves his pack will have. Also, if the Alpha is mateless yet, he must be there.
• "You said you'll pretend you didn't hear it." Nick's eyes are looking at me, widened in disbelief. I chuckled. His face is so funny right now.
• "Sorry. I was just curious. It's the mapping party later and Alpha's should be there."
• He sighed agreeing to my words. "I don't know where he is. I've been looking for him but I can't find him anywhere. Every work was left behind and I finished all of them on his behalf. That doesn't make me happy." His whines are so childish. If I'm not in the mood for humorous talk right now, I might have said it's his job as a Beta. But I just laughed at him.
• "That river is my last resort. If he was not there then I don't know where he is. That's his spot. That's why it is off-limits. If he's the one who found you, you could be dead right now."
• "Well, I guess I'm lucky it is you who found me."
• "You bet." He said grinning at me.
• I laughed again. He's so full of himself but whines because of overworks. I'd like to say it to his face but didn't.
• He paused walking and stare at nowhere. I was confused before I realized he must be talking with someone through his mind.
• He closed his eyes and sighed a heavy breath before looking down at me. "I need to make a detour. You can go back by yourself?"
• I nodded my answer and said my thanks. He nodded at me, his face looking serious again before turning his back at me. Running with his inhuman speed.
• As for me, I decided to shift on my wolf saying sorry to Nick's-now ripped shirt and run back to where I left my clothes.