A gentle tap on my cheeks woke me up from my slumber. I was leaning on something solid but cozy. I nuzzled my face on it and refused to open my eyes. It's way too nice to let go.
"I appreciate you finding my shoulder comfortable enough for a nap, but we need to feed your lil stomach some food. Wake up," I stiffened. Kalix chuckles lightly.
If people were looking at us now, I'm pretty sure that they would be able to make out my blushing face. I'm prone to embarrassment these days. I slowly moved away from his shoulder with my eyes still closed.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"You okay, Mavis? Is your arm okay? It's not bothering you?" that question came from Luke, and I was forced to open my eyes.
The car stopped, and we were parked at a fast-food. The smell of the food was wafting in the air, and it's making me hungry. The travel was longer than I expected. It was inevitable.
"I'm alright, don't worry about me. I'll tell you if it isn't." I smile at him gratefully. He might be the boyfriend and me the mate, but he's a genuine human.
"Let's go eat. We're still a couple of hours away from my pack," my eyes landed on Atlas as he exited the car first without looking back. I saw Luke frown as he left the car. Did something happen while I was asleep?
"Come on," Kalix held my uninjured hand and helped me down the car. It's quite high from the pavement. Another murmured of thanks, and Luke placed his hand on my back to guide me. I don't find it unpleasant, and it feels harmless, so I let him.
"What would you like to eat?" He asked me when we were about to enter the establishment. My mind screams for some pasta, but I doubt they serve it here.
"Pasta but burger will do," I readied my cash for the payment.
"I make a mean pasta, you know," he shared without me asking. "I can make you one but for now, let's go with the burger," he led me to the table Atlas and Luke occupied. The table was beside a huge window overlooking the traffic outside. "I'll order it. How about you Alpha, Luke?" he politely asked the two after he had me seated opposite Luke.
"Atlas already knows what I want. He can order for me," Luke sweetly smiled at Atlas, who also smiled back at him. Imagine how my face went sour from their display. It was terrible.
"All good then, wait here, Mavis," Kalix was about to leave along with Atlas when I held on to his jacket and gave him my share of the payment. He nodded and let go of him.
The awkward silence between me and Luke was deafening. I want to say something, but I can't particularly think of something that doesn't involve Atlas.
"Atlas's pack is gorgeous. It's way ahead when it comes to its pack business. I'm not saying your pack's lacking, but there's freedom in there. Atlas's hard work was successful all throughout those years. You'll love it there," Luke's eyes were dazed while telling me about it, and I'm starting to think that it is what it is.
"What do you mean freedom?" everything he said was good, but what he said about freedom didn't sit well with me.
"Oh, I mean, the bond thing wasn't that enforced. You can choose whomever you want to be with. It's futuristic, well, for you werewolves. The rest of the world's already doing it." he said nonchalantly.
Then the cold air wafting around the establishment did nothing to clear my head. My head can't be wrapped around the idea of it. How the hell does it work? I know I'm in one, but what happens to the pack? The bond does make a werewolf bound to it, but that's what makes us what we are. Cracks in the bonds mean a rift in the pack's harmony. We, werewolves, thrive in it.
Packs had suffered a lot in the past when several of their members thought of rebelling against the bond. It did not end well for the pack. Pack's today were aware of the consequences, hence, rejection seldom happens. That's also why I've never confided to anyone about Atlas. I don't want everyone in my pack to walk in eggshells around me. I don't want to be a burden because we are all somewhat interconnected.
To learn that Atlas encourages the breaking of the bond in his pack was horrifying.
"Are you saying that everyone's rejecting their mates in Atlas's pack?" there's nothing in the world that can describe what I'm feeling right now. I wanted to hear the answer so bad.
"Mostly, everyone's cool with it, though. Everyone made peace with it. I'm sure you and Atlas would get through this without fail. I know he'll be fine. He might be hurt, but he'll be fine. So, you better double time to make him reject you," there's something in Luke's eyes when he said those. My jaws unhinged.
"I'm afraid that I'm not gettin--" my words were cut off when Atlas was now approaching our table. Their trays were filled with food. Kalix followed him next with my burger and two cups of a sundae. He sat beside me.
I'm restless. Everyone's rejecting their mates back in their pack? But how? What happens to the pack's system? We, werewolves, are keeping our traditions and customs first and foremost. We're a different species, and we're bound to things that humans won't ever see the need to. A handful of rejections might be fine, but a huge number of them would spell trouble for the pack's harmony. It might cause discord. The idea is making my heart race and not in a good way.
"I know you didn't order this but humor me, please," Kalix grinned at me, and I forced a smile back. I looked at Luke, wanting to continue our conversation, but he was no longer paying me attention anymore.
"What were you two talking about?" It was Atlas.
"It looks interesting," Kalix also mind-linked me, and I looked at him, not linking anything back. He placed the burger in front of me along with the drink and sundae. I picked up the plastic fork just to stop myself from asking Luke further.
"Nothing much. I was just telling Mavis about the pack." my fist clenched in agitation. I think this vacation is going to be a disaster.
~
We are only an hour away from Atlas's pack. The conversation I had with Luke a while ago weighed heavily on my mind. The conversation inside the car flows smoothly without me contributing anything. Luke dominated the talk with Kalix. Atlas would join simultaneously, but all in all, it was Luke.
I focus my gaze on the scenery outside. In this part of the Atlas's territory, the forest was already covered in a thin layer of snow. The white forest made me shiver unconsciously.
A thick midnight blue scarf was gently wrapped around my neck. I turned my head and saw Kalix's smiling face. "Thank you," I mouthed. I can feel the stolen looks from the driver's seat. I did not dare check. I don't exactly know why Kalix's doing this, but if it's not hurting me in any way, then I'll let him do it.
A few moments more and the white forest started to thin. It gave way to a grand mansion house. It blends with the trees with its white paint. If I'm not mistaken, the mansion's three-storey or more.
"We're here. Welcome to Sterling pack." Luke turns to us and gives us a huge smile. Atlas also did the same thing, and I can tell that he's missing the pack.
"It's huge," Kalix commented, and I nodded.
"It is," I smiled at them. "Do you house all the pack members here?" I curiously ask in no one in particular because I'm kind of getting the vibes that Luke will just answer all of my questions.
"Most of the pack, yes. We have a few of the members scattered around the territory. Atlas's parents are one of them," Luke indeed answer my question.
"Dang, you should. I bet that mansion can house a hundred pack members. I wonder how it looks inside," Kalix's amazement is getting to me. I looked at him and saw his eyes sparkling with excitement. He's a furniture designer, so I'm sure the idea of seeing the interior of the mansion would fascinate him. He's surprisingly adorable.
"Let's go in," The grim in Atlas's voice stole my attention. We all turned to face him but only saw his back as he walked ahead of us.
'What's wrong with him?' I thought.
Luke's smile drops a little, and he nods at Kalix and me.
"Let's go," he followed Atlas. I hesitantly shadowed Luke. While Kalix is still looking around the place, mesmerized.
"I'm expecting an interior with a breathtaking design. Please, don't fail me," Kalix clasped his hands and looked at the sky.
I laughed out of the ridiculous display Kalix was doing. He winks at me. Yes, there might be hope for this vacation.
"Gotta enjoy this vacation," He grinned and grabbed my hand gently to keep up with Luke. I beam at him. Though, I'm a little slow because I don't want to agitate my splint arm. Atlas was already on the mansion's door, looking at us. The grim on his face is still visible.
"Oi, hurry up, Mavis. Alpha seems like he's in a bad mood. I've never seen an Alpha who changed mood that fast." I pulled my uninjured hand from his grasp and smacked him playfully.
"You better behave, man. We're not in our pack, and if you offend the hell out of them, we're dead meat." I chastised him, still smiling. If we ever did offend the pack we are at right now, we can't exactly ask for emergency rescue from our own since the mind link doesn't work that far.
Kalix chuckles and dramatically cuddles the shoulder that I smacked. "Are those hands or a bat?" he whines comically with matching sway of his body.
"Stop it, dumbass," I laughed and walked ahead of him.
"No! Don't leave me! I can't leave without you! Oh, Juliet!" Kalix was so deep into the character that I was about to hit him again when he ran far ahead of me.
"My goddess, that idiot," I looked at the entrance of the mansion and found the three of them waiting for me. Now feeling pressured, I walked faster while carefully cuddling my sling.
I just step on the patio when Atlas opens the massive door of the mansion. It must've been heavy for one person, but we're talking about an Alpha here. They're way superior when it comes to strength. Atlas opened the door with ease.
"I thought you're gonna take forever," the sass out of nowhere in his voice took the little fun I had. What did I do now?
My face reddened in embarrassment.
"Don't say that she's injured after all," Kalix moves beside me. Atlas just went ahead and disappeared from our sight.
"Don't mind him. I'm sure he's just exhausted from all the driving. Let me show you to your rooms." Luke forced a smile and led us the opposite way Atlas disappeared to.
We followed Luke, and I glanced in Atlas's direction. I have no idea why he acted the way he did. Did we annoy him or something? He offered me to stay in the first. Why is he getting mad all of the sudden? Did he regret having us over?
"You're straining your neck," Kalix tapped my cheek. I look at him with my eyes squinting. He's getting too familiar.
Grins. "Where's everybody, Luke?" Kalix asks the man instead, walking with him side by side.
"Around this time, they'll be at the training grounds. Or, just wandering around, I guess." Luke replied with a smile.
"How do you even meet your packmates with this deadass mansion? That's a badass sculpture." Kalix added, looking at a cherub sculpted in one of the pillars.
I'm lagging behind as they talk more. I look at the doors we passed by. They sure are detailed with design. I was particularly smitten with one of the oak doors design when someone came out of it, quite in a hurry.
I fell down while protecting my injured arm. Doing my utmost best not to jostle the splint.
"Oh damn, sorry-- wait, who the fuck are you?" the apologetic voice turned to a snarl when she saw me. I gather myself. Situations like this need to be handled smoothly. I can feel it in my bones. A numbing chill spreads across my back. A feeling that this is not going to go down well.