Chapter 5

• ALIYAH
• I could feel my heart racing every time I caught a glimpse of Brayden in the mansion. The thought of being with him was exciting, but I knew the risks that came with going against pack traditions. He knew he might be mated to his kind, but he chose me—a human girl. I was grateful for that, even though our relationship was a secret for now. Regardless, he promised to turn me in when he became alpha.
• I was lost in thoughts as I walked through the gardens when I noticed Brenda seated on a bench with a book in her hands. Feeling my self-consciousness heightened, I tried to change my direction. It wasn’t that I restrained being instructed, but I really found her intimidating and snobbish. I didn’t want to judge a book by its cover, but that was really how I felt toward her. She was Brayden’s total opposite.
• “Aliyah!”
• Shit.
• My shoulders stiffened as Brenda called me. So there’s no avoiding her now. If I wanted to maintain any impression of politeness, I had no choice but to acknowledge her. Taking a deep breath, I cautiously turned towards Brenda and walked over to where she was sitting. As I approached, she looked up, and I was surprised to see her smiling.
• “Aliyah,” she said, closing her book and tapping the empty space next to her. “Have a seat.”
• She tapped the space next to her, saying, “Have a seat.”
• I paused for a while, unsure whether I should agree with her request. But I swallowed my doubt and settled into the seat she offered, not knowing what to expect. “Do you need something to eat, Beta Brenda? I’ll prepare something for you,” I offered, wanting to make her feel welcome.
• Brenda shook her head, still smiling, and replied, “No need, Aliyah. I just wanted some company. Plus, it’s your downtime. You deserve a break too.”
• I felt as though the weight was lifted off my shoulders at her words. Brenda had always been silent and aloof, and her presence alone was usually enough to make me feel on edge. But her genuine smile and kind words put me at ease. It was refreshing to see a different side of Brenda, and I was grateful for the chance to connect with her.
• As we sat in comfortable silence, my gaze fell to the book resting in her lap. “What are you reading about?” I asked, curious to learn more about her interests.
• Brenda held it up for me to see; it was an old book with a leather cover and gold-embossed lettering. “It’s a book on werewolf history,” she said with a glint in her eye. “I find it fascinating.”
• My eyes widened. “Really? I never would’ve guessed.”
• Brenda’s smile widened, and I noticed she shared some of the same features as her brother—blue eyes as deep as the ocean. Though her hair was darker. “Yeah, I know I seem like I’m not interested in much, but I have my passions, like working in Dad’s pharmaceutical company. And this—history books about lycans.” She pointed at something from the book, getting my attention with the colorful images in it.
• “Who was that?” I asked, pointing to a picture of a fierce-looking Lycan warrior in the book.
• “He was the Great Alpha King Hermes Everhart, the first werewolf that came to North America and gathered the first legendary packs.”
• “Wow...” I couldn’t help but be amazed by the information. The man in the photo really looked strong, with well-defined features. His piercing eyes seemed to hold a sense of wisdom and power, making it easy to understand why he was considered a legendary figure among them. “It was nice to learn that great werewolf personalities are recorded.”
• “But of course, we are civilized as well,” she said, laughing without showing any sign of offense at my innocent remark.
• Our conversation went well. But it wasn’t until the subject of finding a mate came up. I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, especially when I thought of Brayden when he finally found his mate. He said he would mate with me after his inauguration as pack alpha. But what if his fated mate was out there somewhere? Is he going to break up with me? Or, based on their tradition, reject me?
• As we stood up to leave, Brenda turned to me with a serious expression. “Aliyah, I know we haven’t really gotten along in those past few days, but I want you to know that I’m glad you’re here. You’ve brought something new and refreshing to this pack house, and I think we all needed that.”
• I felt a lump form in my throat at her words, touched by her unexpected kindness. “Thank you, Beta Brenda. I appreciate your words. It means a lot to me to hear that I’ve made a positive impact on the pack house,” I managed to say softly.
• “If you encounter problems, don’t hesitate to look for me, alright?” Brenda winked before turning away, her book tucked under her arm.
• My heart-to-heart conversation with Brenda genuinely lifted my spirit. I was more inspired to continue working hard and making a difference in the pack. Now, I became convinced that Grandma Estelle and I were on the right path.
• That night, the smile was still plastered on my face as I set up for dinner in the kitchen. I was preparing a delicious meal of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes, savoring the feeling of contentment that Brenda’s words had brought me. The aroma filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the house. I just didn’t add any garlic because I had read that werewolves have a strong aversion to it. As I set the table, the plate in my hands almost slipped as someone barged in.
• “Aliyah!”
• “B-Brayden?” I frowned. His face was flushed, and he seemed out of breath. “What’s the matter?”
• “You need to come with me right now!”
• I quickly set down the plate and asked, “What happened?”
• “I have no time to explain. But you have to see it!”
• I was about to ask him for more information when he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the entrance of the pack house.
• The next thing I knew, we were entering the training hall. My confusion only grew as I saw a group of pack members gather. Brayden, on the other hand, sat calmly in the front row. He smiled warmly at me and gestured to a chair in front of him.
• Seriously, what is going on?