CHAPTER 9

HANNI POV

I froze.

I was torn between answering or ignoring her for a minute. Who knows me here? Or did the Alpha go search for my 'aunt?' But it was a lie!

He didn't know that though.

I stood up and walked gingerly to the door, without opening I asked, "who please?"

I heard a chuckle at the other end of the door and she said, "my name is Simone, Marcus's mate. You have met him right? The slightly chubby one with the Alpha. I heard from him that Alfred have found his mate…finally and I was so eager to see you, I'm so sorry for I know it's late...do you know what? I can just come tomorrow."

Yes it's very late, but her voice sounded so cherry and I couldn't resist seeing her face. So I opened the door immediately, not wanting her to leave. Also, I wanted to be polite and besides what can go wrong?

"Here u are!" She exclaimed and gave me a big hug, then pulled back and looked at me in the eyes, while I shyly looked away, amazed by her enthusiasm. She is a head taller than me with a pale white skin that shone brightly under her red curly hair that cascaded her face as she jumps up and down unable to contain her excitement.

I opened the door wider, gesturing her in and I watched as she gracefully counted her steps with a big smile on her face. She took a quick glance at the room and turned to me with her eyes glinting.

"Hanni right?" She asked.

I nodded, speechless.

"I'm sorry to disturb your rest dear…"

"No, you didn't…" I cut in, but she waved my words off hurriedly as she smiled and shook her head.

"I couldn't wait to see you in the morning for a formal introduction and I wasn't able to resist the urge to get a glimpse of you. So now I've seen you, I'm fine now….see you in the morning" she said and made to leave, but I don't feel like staying alone for the remaining hours of the night and and decided on being in her company.

"It's fine. Simone right?" I asked, not waiting for a reply I moved towards the sofa and and sat down, facing her and smiled. "I couldn't sleep anyway, so you aren't disturbing and I will really appreciate your company."

"Oh…why can't you sleep?" She asked as she sat on the sofa by my side, "I thought you might be tired from your traveling…exhausted, in fact, because Marcus told me the location he found you….lying in the gardens, beside the fountain."

"I know" I replied in a small voice, wondering if I can tell her the truth because I know we are getting to the part where she will inquire about my identity.

"So…why can't you sleep Hanni? Or is this room uncomfortable for you?" She asked, her eyes scanning the room.

"No…no it's not the room, I'm just bothered" I said with my head bowed.

She shifted closer to me and held my hands, I raised my gaze to meet hers and I strangely felt comfortable in her presence, like a sister or a long term friend. Like Josh. But I decided not to spill just yet….maybe a snippet?

"It's just that, I'm not comfortable with this mate thing, I know that this bond is crucial for us wolves but I have doubts right now for this is all new to me. I am a virgin you see? And all my life, I haven't experience any form of male affection…well, except Josh, who is my best friend and all of a sudden, two men wants me."

"Two?" She asked shocked, "you can't have two mates…well except you were chosen by one."

"I was" I replied, nodding my head, I felt a sprinkle of relief for it felt good talking to someone that wants to understand me.

"But I refused him and he wasn't so happy about it, then I had to leave my pack so as to be able to make my own choices, then I saw….."

My voice broke as I placed my face in my hands, taken over by emotions.

She looked at me with concern in her eyes, unable to find the right words to console me, she suddenly brightened up and held my shoulders close to hers and placed my head on her shoulders and said, "Let's start small shall we?"

"Small? How?" I said with an hiccup.

"First of all, his name is Alfred, not 'the alpha', secondly, start looking at him as your mate, look I know it's hard for he is a stranger, but little by little, open your heart to accept him."

I sat up and nodded, unsure of how to start. She must have noticed because she smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear and that felt relaxing.

"Don't worry, you have a friend here now, I will help you settle and find your footing here so if there is anything, anything at all that might need, don't hesitate to holla, ok?"

I nodded.

"Also" she continues "Alfred…a.k.a 'the alpha' is a very nice person. Well sometimes he can be hot headed, but if you get to know him, you will see that he is not that bad. Besides, I feel he likes you, if not, he would have rejected you on the spot, that's the kind of person he is."

I smiled and hugged her tightly as waves of relief washed all over me. I was so happy she came for she calmed my worries to an extent.

"Thank you Simone" I said as she stood up to leave, "I'm so happy you stopped by."

"C'mon anytime" she replied with a big smile, "And I'm always available for any Alfred's gist, infact I have a lot to tell you."

"A lot? Simone really?" A deep voice said at the door.