Chapter 7

There would be no need for rumours, as I initially thought, as Alpha Warren was right here to witness it all first hand.

I wanted to run and hide, to bow my head and show submission. This was the worst possible outcome that could have happened, it was a blatant disregard of an Alpha's orders and I'd be lying to myself if I thought there wouldn't be some kind of repercussions for this.

Aether looked down at me sympathetically, his face morphing immediately back into one of more seriousness as he looked back to Alpha Warren and stepped in front of me slightly.

"I said, what's going on here?" Alpha Warren repeated, meeting Aether and I were we were in the hall.

I winced as his anger seeped through the air and agitated my wolf. She was whining, tail tucked between her legs and submissive. Even her slight defiant nature was wavering under the watchful eyes of Alpha Warren.

I didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. It wasn't as if we had been caught in a compromising situation yet, even for wolves, being with an unmated male as an unmated female was frowned upon. I didn't have an explanation but as Aether began to talk, I willed him not to say anything out of line or anything that would get me in to more trouble.

"Nothing," Aether began, his voice hard set and his jaw tight, "Just a harmless conversation."

Alpha Warren's eyes seemed to get impossibly darker and his fists balled by his sides as he stood up to his tallest height and puffed out his chest. Even with those actions Aether was still over a foot taller than him and towered over him with ease.

"Didn't I tell you not to pursue her, Aether?" Alpha Warren spat, omitting the title.

I cringed and sucked in a breath behind Aether, feeling anger seep out of him. I didn't want him to get in trouble, not as a visiting Alpha, that would surely cause more problems than if it was just me getting into trouble as a pack member.

"It was my fault, I bumped into him." I squeaked out, stepping out from behind him. It came out quieter than I had expected and while I cursed myself for being less assertive, I knew it would calm Alpha Warren's wolf to see I was being submissive.

Aether looked down at me, but I willed myself to ignore his enticing stare and keep my eyes in the direction of Alpha Warren, who's own eyes were upon me with fury and rage. I shrunk impossibly smaller at his gaze and bit my lip anxiously, wanting to be anywhere but here.

"No, it was me, I smelled her scent and purposely went to look for her." Aether admitted suddenly.

My eyes widened in shock, and I couldn't stop my gaze from snapping to Aether's.

Was he telling the truth? Or just lying to take the blame off me?

There was no indication of either of those as he didn't meet my eyes but kept his gaze with Alpha Warren's. I held my breath in disbelief, confusion running through me when my wolf suddenly propped up, tail wagging violently and submission thrown out as she picked up a scent.

Ares.

It was faint, but it was there. He was coming this way. Either he had just entered the building, or he had already been in the building and was coming this way.

My heart surged and I began to feel the tendrils of the mate pull working its way through my body. I wanted to run past Alpha Warren and find Ares and embrace him, the thought of doing so compelled me so much I had to physically hold myself back by rooting myself in place.

Warren must have realised too that Ares was quickly approaching because he looked behind himself before quickly turning back to us, the anger on his features dissipating and turning to slight concern.

"May, leave, now." He instructed, and he didn't have to tell me again as I swiftly turned around and walked opposite the direction of Ares' scent, even thought everything in me wanted to walk towards him.

As I was leaving, blood rushing to my ears and heart pounding, they resumed their conversation and I slowed down as I turned a corner, wanting to hear it, despite the chance that Ares could pick up on my scent at any moment and come for me. The carpeted floor beneath me did well to muffle the sound of me stopping and I craned me ears to hone in to whatever they were saying.

"You can't keep her away from every male she comes across just because Ares is defiant to you." Aether's quiet, but powerful voice rang out, and I held my breath so as not to make a single sound.

"And you cannot pursue her. You're a visiting guest, and Ares will not allow it." Alpha Warren dictated, anger present in his voice.

"Ares will not allow it?" Aether spat venomously. "Has Ares not seen her? She's skin and bones, no doubt the fault of the mate pull which probably ruined her appetite. She was one of your best warriors a few weeks ago and now look at her."

I couldn't lie, it hurt to hear that so blatantly, but it was true. So much of me had withered away since that fateful day.

"That's none of your concern." Alpha Warren replied, no shaky voice or hint of concern present at all.

My wolf itched to come out, Ares was drawing nearer, and all these conflicting emotions were making her more agitated. It was getting harder to control her, I could feel her power growing, both due to the discovery of her mate and the lack of restraint. I could only hold her back for so long.

I bit down on my lips hard as Ares' scent grew stronger, wanting to turn the corner and peak around to see if he was there. It was like an uncontrollable hunger, like the first time my wolf was set free and was given free rein to hunt as she pleased. It was like a primal instinct was slowly taking over and my human instinct was being pushed to the back. Every fibre of my being wanted to see Ares, to run to him, but I knew I couldn't, not after being so close to Alpha Aether. And with the thought of Aether, the mate pull, however strong it was, lessened ever so slightly.

It was like Ares was the poison, and Aether was the antidote.

-

"You've been gone so long, I was starting to get worried." My mother chided as I walked through the door, quickly taking off my shoes and tossing them into a corner.

Our apartment in the pack house brought a sense of safety and security I didn't have when I was outside of it. I could truly be myself at home, no Ares or Aether to worry about, no mate pull to nag me and my wolf stayed mostly quiet too.

I chuckled at her, watching as she shuffled out of her room in one of her elegant dresses and fiddled with earrings she was trying to wear. I frowned at her, wondering why she was so dressed up, then I suddenly remembered.

"The pack dinner." I groaned out, shoulders slumping as I collapsed onto the sofa.

"Yes, I did remind you this morning." She continued, satisfied with how her earnings looked and now looking down at me.

I groaned again and threw my arms up, pulling the strings of my hoodie so the hood enclosed around my face.

"I know...well I was kinda out of it this morning. I didn't exactly agree to go." I mumbled.

"Well, quickly freshen up and wear one of your nice dresses." She answered, completely disregarding my subtle hint that I didn't want to attend.

"Please, mother, I don't want to go." I said, deciding to make my desire more explicit.

"It's Alpha's orders," She said sympathetically, leaning over to take a look at me. Her lips tightened into a thin line, and I knew she realised the pain it would cause me to attend, but we both knew not attending would elicit some sort of punishment.

"I won't even be able to sit with you, will I? Everyone will stare." I whispered, feeling my heart suddenly begin to race in my chest.

Wolves sat in tables of ranks during eventful pack dinners like this; Alpha's and other high ranks together, warriors and other middle ranks, then the unranked wolves. My mother was unranked, but I was ranked as one of the higher warrior wolves and would not be able to sit with here, even if I tried someone would surely come and move me. It was only if an Alpha invited you to sit at another table, or if you were instructed by an Alpha, could you get away with it.

The thought of me walking into the hall, wolves recognising me while their curious eyes flittered between me and Ares. It made my stomach lurch, I wouldn't even be able to make eye contact with anyone, let alone eat anything. I'd be a sitting duck.

"No, they won't," My mother reassured, coming round to sit by my feet, "They'll be too focused on the food and the event to focus on you."

I nodded at her, but I knew she was wrong. It was entirely possible to focus both on the food, and the obvious elephant in the room that would be Ares and I. I was sure the news of our mating had quietly been made known to the pack by now, as well as the situation, and while my mother still assured me the pack would be quietly on my side, they too had a duty to agree with what their Alpha decides on for the fate of us all.

I wanted to tell her about seeing Ares on my walk today, but the words would not come out. Most likely because I knew it was a bad idea; it would not persuade her to let me stay, it would just make her angry and me even more nervous, so I elected to keep my mouth shut and quickly freshen up.

I lifted myself from the sofa and dragged myself to my room, stripping off my clothes once again and taking a quick shower. I watched the water cascade down my body and into the drain, hoping the mate pull would do the same one day, and left as quickly as I entered, not wanting to dwell on unwanted feelings.

I rifled through my closet for the smallest dress I could find, one that would still look presentable on my new figure and found a tight fitting satin black dress that never quite fit me when I was bigger, but would surely fit perfectly now.

I shrugged it on, averting my eyes from the mirror as best I could so as not to discourage myself. Once all of this was over, I would do my best to get my old body back, I'd work hard and even redo the warrior training if I had to, but right now I was a shell of my former self, it was a miracle I still held some curves in the right places and was still somewhat pretty.

I did my makeup light and did my best to tame my hair into something presentable, letting small curls fall down and frame my face, which now had prominent cheekbones where I used to have slightly chubbier cheeks. I wondered again if Ares noticed the change in me. Surely, he did; you noticed everything that changed with your mate. Even I noticed Ares' broader frame and slight stubble, yet it seemed he had no concern with my new appearance.

Aether did, though, I reminded myself, thinking back to the conversation I listened in on between him and Alpha Warren. I scolded myself for thinking about him but truthfully, I couldn't stop myself.

Was he really telling the truth to Alpha Warren when he said he had come looking for me? Did he really care for me?

I couldn't keep thinking about all of this. It was giving me a serious headache and my wolf...my wolf...how strong she was growing because of all these feelings. I could feel her longing to break out and confront them the way she knew how to. Every now and again I felt my head spin and I wondered if it was the moment she would take control.

This couldn't be good for my health.

"May, are you ready?" My mother shouted to me, and I was eternally thankful for the distraction once again, pushing my thoughts down as I grabbed a small purse and made my way out my room.

My mother looked at me with an encouraging smile as I slipped on my shoes and we left the apartment, my bubble of safety interrupted as we began to walk to the hall.

I tried my best to calm my nerves, not wanting to seem an anxious mess as we walked down the stairs and drew nearer. Other wolves greeted us, but I cast down my eyes and tried to blend in as much as I could as the crowd thickened, and I held onto my mother's arms for dear life.

We filtered in through the doors, wolves parting ways with their families to find their seats and I looked up finally, seeing that despite my fears no one was really looking my way or paying much attention to me. My mother stepped in front of me, squeezing my shoulders reassuringly.

"You'll be fine." She whispered and let go of me to find her own seat.

I stayed rooted where I was for the moment, scanning the area to find where the other warriors of my rank were seated. I felt an immense weight begin to lift off my shoulders and I relaxed a little, no sign of Ares or Aether so far and it looked like the table I would be at was far away from where they would presumably be sat.

I began to walk towards my seat, feeling the anxiousness dissipate as I neared it. Then, just as quickly as it left, the nerves came crashing down once again as a man caught my eye, rising from his own seat and making a beeline towards me.

I stumbled back slightly as he came to a stop in front of me, my eyes widening as I clutched my purse and my wolf's hackles raised instinctively.

"May Bard?" He asked, and my eyes cast down as I sensed he was a wolf of higher rank, yet I had never seen him before, and he was not from my pack.

I nodded, feeling a wave of dread crash over me once again as he spoke, and my illusion of safety was shattered once again.

"Alpha Aether requests that you dine with him today."