You Rejected Me. Remember?

Everything was going normally in the pack. Philip healed completely and was allowed to go home. He agreed to join their army as soon as the doctor allowed him to start training. As days passed by, Asena grew stronger, hence increasing Monica’s confidence. Her relationship with Cade flourished. Slowly yet steadily, they were adjusting to their new life. They continued their lives, heedless of the brewing storm.

Meanwhile, Baron made sure he found every ingredient Amelia wanted so that the potion they needed could be prepared. Within three days, she was done and it surprised Baron.

“She seems to be a talented, and powerful witch. We need to keep her around.” Baron whispered, after making sure that no one was close enough to hear their conversation.

Smiling involuntarily, Elijah nodded as he grasped onto the cold metal of the railing of the balcony. He couldn’t be prouder of his mate. She had managed to do what they asked for within a few days.

His smile slowly widened until it stretched into a wide grin, as he started at the greenery of the pack. They were standing at the balcony of the grand room on the first floor of the pack house. Baron had called Elijah for a short discussion.

“Has she agreed to accept you as your mate already?” Baron’s question made his heart race. He shook his head and sighed.

“No. She says I will have to make her fall for me. That I’ll have to prove that I’m worth it.” Elijah solemnly replied.

“Then what are you waiting for? Take her on dates, rides. Bring flowers. I don’t care what you do. Make her fall for you. Then she surely won’t leave.” Baron urged.

Scratching his head, Elijah faced his alpha.

“Dates?”

“Yes! Dates!” Baron took the keys from his pocket and handed it to Elijah.

“Here, take my car and give her a ride around the pack ground. Ladies love cars. Do anything you can and impress her.” He instructed. Elijah reluctantly took the keys and forced a smile.

“But…what do I say to her?” It was clear that Elijah was anxious.

“Sweet Lord you are clueless! Haven’t you tried to flirt with anyone?” Baron couldn’t believe that he had to explain how to woo a female to a younger wolf.

Elijah’s face flushed in embarrassment. “I…yeah. I never thought about girls much. I don’t know…. I didn’t find time for them.”

“Wow. You don’t know what you are missing out on lad.” Baron mumbled, making Elijah let out a humourless laugh.

“Alpha…when do we look for the vampires? I think we shouldn’t delay. The potion is ready and I believe that the sooner the better.” Elijah diverted the topic.

“You are right. We will leave tonight. Tell the men to be fully prepared to go vampire hunting. The bloodsuckers will be active during the night. They will sleep all day long.” He sighed. “But unlike last time, this time we must all stay together. Vampires are unpredictable. And we have to travel further towards their territory. They live in the outskirts of their habitat. I think the environment is suitable for them,” Baron shrugged.

Just then, an enchanting fragrance that he adored invaded his nostrils. Elijah inhaled deeply.

“She is coming,” he managed to breathe out just before they caught the sound of her footsteps approaching. Their wolf sense of hearing allowed them to hear sounds from a gold distance away.

“Yup,” Baron prepared to meet her. They turned around just in time to see her slender figure walk in through the entrance of the grand room.

“So, alpha. I believe that my work is done. Can I now leave?” She asked.

Elijah went stiff.

“Leave?” His eyes dilated.

Running his tongue over his lips, Baron shifted his gaze from her to Elijah.

“Uh… I thought you were going to stay. Because he is your mate,” he commented.

Shrugging, ” yes. Me too. But he doesn’t seem to be interested in me. He didn’t try to speak with me or get to know me…. I think I should leave if I’m not needed here,” she said.

Baron’s jaws clenched as he glanced at Elijah. He gave him a little push and gestured to him to say something.

With a racing heart, Elijah tried to swallow down the discomfort in his throat before he started to speak.

“I… I’m sorry. I’m not used to this. I never flirted with anyone before. I mean…. I don’t know how… I…” Elijah stammered and Baron facepalmed.

“Oh come on!” Baron rolled his eyes. He looked at Amelia who was now grinning in amusement.

“He means to say that he wants to ask you to go out with him.” He told Amelia, trying not to laugh out loud.

Elijah’s face reddened. Amelia giggled and Elijah’s gaze turned to her at once. The sound of her giggles were like music to his ears.

“Yes. I’d love to.” Her grin didn’t stagger even for a second. Her eyes sparkled as she held eye contact with Elijah. “So when? Tonight?” She asked enthusiastically.

His heart fluttered in excitement and his wolf jumped in joy. She had agreed to go out with him!

“Uh.. Tonight, we are going on a little expedition to find the vampires,” Elijah finally found his voice.

Amelia sighed. “Okay.”

“Maybe tomorrow night?” Elijah suggested and she nodded in agreement.

Smirking Baron stepped away.

“I’ll leave you kids alone for sometime. Maybe you guys can get to know each other a bit,” he said as he walked away.

“So, you have never dated anyone before?” Amelia smirked. As she leaned against the railing of the balcony.

“Yeah.” Elijah mumbled, scratching the back of his head.

“You mean… you didn’t have a female in your life before? You didn’t sleep with anyone?” She asked and he nodded. Her smile widened.

“I’m glad. I was wondering how many she-wolves I will have to turn into toads if we were to be in a relationship. I’ve heard stories about some wolves being the worst playboys of all time.” She laughed.

Elijah’s lips parted as he glanced at her, wondering if she could turn anyone into toads for real. Suddenly feeling grateful that he wasn’t among the flirts in high school, he chuckled nervously. A moment of silence passed when Elijah kept thinking about it.

“You really can turn us into toads?” He finally blurted out.

Laughing, she faced him. “Why not? I didn’t pass the magical academy with flying colours for nothing.” She studied his face. With a defined jawline and dark wavy hair she wouldn’t mind running her fingers through, Elijah was an eye-catching fellow. She liked how shy he seemed to be, in addition to not being a great man-whore.

“Will you show me your wolf?” She asked, surprising him.

“S….sure… why not.”

“Can I ride on his back?” She asked again, making his grin widen.

“Of course, my wolf is already excited.” Elijah expressed his wolf’s passion.

“Great! We can run through the woods! I’d love that!” Amelia clapped her hands together. Elijah glanced at the keys Baron had given him.

“Would you like a car ride?” He asked, holding the keys up.

However, she grimaced. “Car ride! Who wants a car when you can ride a wolf!” She exclaimed and glanced at the greenery of the forest.

“I love this place. It is so mesmerising….” She sighed.

Elijah stared at her in contentment. She was everything he needed. She was perfect. He was certain that he could win her heart.

If only they manage to keep the reality of their past a secret forever….

***

Amelia stayed back in the packhouse when the warriors gathered to leave. She watched from the balcony as the small group of wolves howled towards the moon and sprinted together, into the wilderness.

A small smile curved her lips. Elijah didn’t seem like a bad person to her.

“Perhaps this was the fate that I was supposed to find in the woods.” She chuckled when they disappeared into the trees.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Let’s see how this goes.” She mumbled and walked into her room and closed the door behind her.

***

The wolves sprinted towards the vampire territory. As planned, they were travelling together with Baron’s wolf leading the way. After travelling for more than two hours, they halted. They had reached the vampire territory. In this part of the woods, the trees were different and so was the humidity of the atmosphere. The thick fog made it hard for the wolves to see through them, despite their sharp eyes and the gift of night vision.

The trees seemed to be eerily twisted. And it seemed as though the whole place was haunted. They hesitated, however, after ignoring their fear, they entered the territory. Some of them had shifted back, hoping that it would make it easier to communicate with the vampires.

“Stay close. And keep your eyes and ears open.” Baron instructed them through mindlink.

Their hearts thudded in their chests. Hisses were heard. They knew the rogue vampires were around them. Most probably hiding in the trees. The stench of death kept seizing their snouts, indicating the presence of the vampires.

“Hssssss” a young vampire jumped out of the trees and grabbed one of the warriors who was in their human form.

“Aaah!” He screamed in fear.

Baron was quick to shift back. “Wait! We come in peace! We want to offer you something!” He quickly stated.

The vampire who was now baring his fangs as he held his prey in his hold, looked at the alpha wolf. His red eyes glimmered in the darkness. Sneering, he tightened his grip around the warrior. All the wolves heard the sound of bones crushing and the wolf let out a cry of agony. The grip of a vampire is said to be deadly, and they were now witnessing it.

“I don’t believe you,” the vampire hissed.

“No. We aren’t lying. Why else would we step into your territory like this?” Baron pleaded.

However, the vampire scoffed. “What can you offer me, anyway?”

Baron held out a small bottle of the potion he had taken to show to them.

“This. It will give you the ability to walk in the sun. We have a witch in our pack who made this potion for us.”

The young vampire narrowed his eyes on Baron.

“And in return?” The vampire whizzed, still holding the wolf in his hold.

“Join our army and help us get revenge,” Baron proposed. “I need to strengthen my army. If we join forces, we can make an army that is invincible.” He said.

A sly grin curved the vampire’s red lips.

“I like the sound of it. But if you want an army, we must meet the leader of all rogues.” He whispered.

Baron’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

The vampire let out a little laugh. “Draven, our dear prince.”

“The prince!” Baron’s confusion increased. “But…the king….”

The vampire laughed eerily. “Not the crown prince, fool. His second born…. When he knew he stood no chance at inheriting the crown, he became our leader and has been training us in secret for years. We won’t go against his word.”