Disha
It's been two hours since Ace left yet I can't forget his expression. Was it my refusal that pissed him off or Edward's insult?
" Disha, are you okay?" Roshini asked when she entered the room.
" Yes, what made you ask that?" I asked.
" You are pacing back and front and looked deeply disturbed," Roshini said.
"Yea...well.." I was stuttered thinking of an appropriate answer.
" Why don't you want to meet your mate?" I questioned her which made her shocked for a second.
" My parents have already decided whom I will marry. And I am fine with it also, so why bother to meet my mate only to get married to someone else." She explained.
" But that's your mate...soulmate. The one made especially for you. The one who will make you happy, support and charities you," I quickly spoke without thinking.
" My happiness lies in my parent's happiness," Roshini stated and I just nodded. Like that's maybe because her parents were not toxic like mine. Even though Roshini's parents are strict, they adore her and spoiled her a lot when she was a child.
" You know, you could read about kitsune that will not only distract you from your thoughts that were bothering you but also prepare you for the lesson we have with Chan-lee today," Roshini advised and took her books, the table then left. She, Yasmin, Nina and Haniya usual do group studies just to have relived childhood memories. Asha and I prefer to study alone without any disturbance.
I took her advice and started to study kitsune. Kitsune's originally called Huli Jing. There are two types of kitsune, one is called Zenko which means good nature kitsune and the other one is called Yako or Nogitsune are the evil nature kitsune who loves to create chaos. Similar to the serpent, Kitsune can shift after the hundredth birthday and on their hundredth birthday, they will be able to have Hoshi. A Hoshi is a glowing ball that contains the owner's soul without it, the owner will grow powerless and die. Hoshi is amulets worn in the human form whereas, in fox form, it's usually in the mouth or fasten on their tail.
Furthermore, after hundred years kitsune can grow a new tail. The total number of tails, they can grow is nine. That's why Kitsune are called 'Nine-Tailed Fox'.
According, to the illustration in the book, it shows that Kitsune can emit a glowing version of a fox while being in human form. This reminds me of a scene in a Korean drama named ' Tale of the nine tailed' which Nina was watching. I can't wait to do that, it sounds intriguing.
Kitsune are tricksters, they specialise in art and illusion yet they are rarely perfect.
Studying about Kitsune did help to distract me from thinking about Ace. As I wasn't been able to keep track of time. It was Asha who told me to get ready for our Kitsune class. I am looking forward to it as I am prepared.
" Finally, someone was able to study as she was always busy," Halona teases me.
" You will never leave the chance to mock me, " I acknowledged.
" It's even a thing to ask," Halona remarked.
" Okay, Halona on the serious note. What do you think about Ace's behaviour in the hallway?" I asked.
" It's because of that stupid royal mutt," Halona growls.
" You don't think, Ace is upset because of my refusal?" I express my doubt.
" I don't see why you even refused him in the first place. He is our mate and we belong to him. I was eager to where he was going but you had to stop him," Halona scowled at me.
" That's not what I asked about," I counterattack and quickly block Halona.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Good afternoon, ladies," Chan-lee greeted us with a smile.
We are in the forest, luckily I wore joggers and my least favourite leggings and t-shirt. As my clothes will be filled with dirt and sweat at the end of the class. Nina is wearing a black sporting bra with leggings and dark blue joggers. Asha is wearing an oversized shirt with shorts that goes well with her nude colour joggers. And as usual, my both sisters are wearing identical crop tops and shorts. Lastly, Roshini is wearing a white crop sleeveless top with black leggings and an oversize shirt that acts like a coat.
" There are thirteen tribes of kitsune powers. All of you are well aware of those powers as each one of you possesses two of the powers. Except the one power called Chickyu means earth. Which I possess as I am ordinary kitsune so I can have one kitsune power and that's why I brought you all here in the forest," Chan-lee spoke in an intense tone.
Chan-lee separated all of us and told us to make noises like a fox and follow the noise that is the same as yours to find each other. Fox can make forty different types of sounds so that made this task difficult. As we were making the different types of noises at first, it also helped us to be able to make all the forty noises at the end. It took almost two hours to find all of us and then we decided to categorise the noises as danger, emergency, victory, defeat, etc.
" Do any of you have to know how to assume the age of kitsune?" Chan-lee asked.
" We can assume kitsune's age based on their fur colour. As young kitsunes have red, adults have gold and at last, it will turn into white colour." Yasmin answered.
" That's correct, each of your wolves has twenty per cent of kitsune. Use your kitsune side today and observe each other's kitsune then tell your thoughts. Now connect to your kitsune side," Chan-lee instructed.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This helps me to clear my thoughts and made me feel calm and free from my thoughts. I only thought of happy memories mainly about Ace. His charming smile and his enchanting greenish-blue. Making me lose deep into his eyes and transporting me towards the light shining in the deep forest. Taking me into the ocean where I am attracted to the darkness of the bottom of the ocean. My desire to explore deep into the ocean was supported by the water itself as it was helping to swim deeper and deeper. I started to hear a melody in the darkness, the desire turned to determination. The melody is filled with sorrow, love, happiness, fear, regrets and most prominent of all was a promise to protect. As I reach the end to touch, I was travelling to a different dimension. Only to see I came out of the river where I can hear the melody clearly. It was coming from a man was have long white hair till his knees. The man was able to sense my presence and was about to turn his head...
" DISHA," I heard Ace screaming that pulling me where I started my journey. The voice was filled with possession that scared me so much that I open my eyes. I looked around my surroundings, I am in the forest with others and everyone was staring at me. But I can't feel what they were feeling or what their auras were as the aura felt foreign.
" You are not letting go... that's making you not connect to your kitsune side," Chan-lee point out.
I nodded and tried to concentrate but it failed. I must have tried numerous times and each time it was Ace's voice or his smell or his hand pulling me away from that mysterious man. I can't fight it when memories of Ace are pulling me.
" Why don't you take a break, Disha and then start over again," Chan-lee suggested and I gladly obeyed.
"Why can't I connect to my kitsune side?" I question Halona. Who was laying on alert and slowly swinging her tail. That meant she is confused and is thinking about the issue.
" What kind of WolfQueen I will be? I should be able to achieve my powers to their maximum yet I couldn't. I should be the one that is first, best and ahead of others yet I am falling behind. How can I be the WolfQueen?" I cried out to Halona. I wasn't finished with self-pity and could have done it for hours but my phone rang.
It's Ace.
" Hello, Mate. Where are you right now?" Ace sounded in panic and I felt there was slight anger as well.
" I am in the forest where Chan-lee is training us. And what happened? Why are you panicking? Is everything okay?" I question him.
" Ron connected to me. It was for a minute and he was growling where he wanted to be with you as he felt you are drifting from him towards a man with white hair singing a lullaby. I don't know what he meant by that but he was scared. My injuries aren't healed yet so Ron should be resting...But what he felt caused him to be aggressive to stop himself to heal. I am confused, mate," Ace explains the cause of his sudden call.
" Ace, today I had to connect with my kitsune side but I failed. The man you mention that was playing lullaby...I saw him when I was trying to connect...it was like a vision but your voice or hand or aura kept on pulling me back from connecting to my kitsune side," I shared my experience and I was able to sense everyone except for Yasmin and Nina heard what I said.
" Then don't connect to your kitsune side," Ace commanded.
" But Ace, I am WolfQueen. For that, I had to have to maximise my power which includes connecting to my kitsune powers," I explain to him.
" I don't care, mate. I never sense Ron...the way he was behaving... I can't even describe it. So don't connect to your kitsune side," Ace spoke harshly.
" There has to be a reason behind this... We have to..." I tried to explain again but he yelled at me saying," I am your mate and you have to follow my words," Then Ace cut the call, leaving me completely still by his outburst. Maybe, Ace is stressed out for Ron...otherwise, he won't do this...Won't he?.
" Disha, are you doing to try again?" Chan-lee asks to confirm.
" No, shall we practice something else?" I asked.
" Without connecting to your kitsune side. You can't do the further practice," Chan-lee said.
" What did you see, Disha?" He asked.
I tried to avoid answering that question but then I started to hear Sabrina saying, " I will appreciate that you girls share with me anything. Something like this can have significant meaning. Are we clear?", this made me feel light-headed and I shared everything not sparing a single detail or even my feelings to Chan-lee and his aura depicted surprise. Why did I share? I didn't want to share but I did. How? How couldn't I control myself? And this isn't the first time, whenever I face difficulties or had a strange feeling during lessons, I end up sharing with whoever teaches us. I usually ignore it as I don't find it a big deal but this time... I didn't want to share it yet I did. I was lost in my thoughts that I didn't realise when the lesson was finished.
" Did any of you ever face this... where you don't want to share something with the council yet you do?" I question everyone once we all settle in the car.
" I do. And it feels wrong as I end up sharing information that is irrelevant to the topic," Asha answered and everyone also agreed.
" Don't you think it's weird how all of us face the same issue?" Nina raises a valid point.
" Let's us ask Eddi and see if we are facing is normal or not," Haniya suggested.
" What will Edward do if we find out, it's not normal?" I asked annoyed tone unintentionally.
" He is a prince and has control of almost everything in the werewolf community and over the council as well," Haniya looked offended and quickly defended Edward.
" Okay, I didn't mean it that way," I said and deliberately not apologised.
" I know you have issues with Eddi's personality. Keep it aside and remember the fact he always helped us instantly so, please be respectful and nice towards him," It was Zarita who said it and Halona took control from me right away. Then she laughs humourless and was about to say.
" CAN YOU GUYS STOP IT. AS AN OUTSIDER, I DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A FAMILY MANNER RIGHT NOW. DISCUSS YOUR ISSUES AT THE APARTMENT," Roshini harshly yelled.
All of us were shocked since Roshini hardly shows anger, and then I look at her. I feel her aura, it was shown that she is disturbed, destructive and scared.
" Is everything okay," Asha asked who was sitting next to her.
" I don't want to talk about it," Roshini said.
" Here, have some chocolate you will feel better," Nina offered her oreo chocolate to Roshini. She smiles a little bit and thanks, Nina.
After having the chocolate, Roshini was calm. Chocolate can be a great source of stress-free for a person. Thinking about chocolate is making me crave brownies. I can use raspberries for the brownies, wait I have a better idea. I will make raspberries mocha mousse brownies, I saw the YouTube video about it recently. The brownies are vegan and gluten-free and I don't need to bake them as well. But I have to buy some ingredients, for that.
" Yasmin, stop at the nearby supermarket. I have to buy ingredients for the brownies I am going to make," I said.
" What type of brownies are you going to make?" Asha quickly asked.
" Raspberries mocha mousse brownies," I replied.
" Whose recipe you will be following?" From thereon, Asha and I talk about the brownies until Yasmin parked in front of the supermarket.
Every one of us spread out, each of us was in our interested aisles. Asha was checking for groceries, and Haniya was in an aisle filled with devices like headphones, speakers, etc. Whereas Yasmin was looking at chips, Roshini was picking some beauty products and Nina was looking at stationery products. While I was picking some ingredients, I got a call from Ace.
" Mate, whatever I reacted earlier..." I didn't let him continue and said, " I understand Ace, you were in a panic mode because of Ron. It's totally fine,"
" Is everything fine? You are sounding different," Ace asked seriously.
Despite shopping, or being excited to make the brownies, I can't shake my feeling and thoughts about the earlier scene where I can't help but end up sharing everything with the council.
" Ace, I notice that I can't help myself but to share my thoughts, feelings or expression with the council even though I don't want to. And I am not the only one who is facing this," I share my worries with Ace.
" Mate, do you feel light-head while you are sharing with them and after the sharing the information, you feel relieved like something was holding you before," He asked and that is what I felt.
" Yes, that's what I exactly felt," I shared.
" Mate, you are under a spell. The council have spelt you under their control," Ace accused.
" That's a serious accusation Ace. We don't have evidence to prove this..." Ace interrupted me by saying, " I am coming to your place," and then he cut the call.
I later share this with everyone, Asha was on my side that we can't accuse the council without any proof but Nina debated against it, while others are confused and didn't have any opinion on the matter right now.
When we entered the apartment, Ace was already there with Edward and both of them were angry.
" Why are you both angry? Is everything okay?" I asked, hoping that they aren't angry with each other.
" Ace told me, he suspected you all are under a spell. Before sharing any information with the council, do you hear a voice telling or compelling to share?" Edward spoke.
All of us agreed which just added fuel to their anger. And Edward release a growl that scared Ace which made me growl back shortly. Edward didn't look offensive as he knew it was a reflex action after seeing the reaction of my mate.
" I will speak to the council and if they did spell you all. They will be punished as it's a crime to spell on a royalty and your all rank is higher than the council," Edward told.
" Chan-lee was surprised by the way I was sharing the information in detail. Maybe he isn't aware of us being under a spell," I shared my thoughts.
" There will be an interrogation then we will know who is responsible and the culprit will be punished accordingly," Edward stated.
" What if they lie? " Roshini raise a question.
" We have ways to compel them to tell the truth," Edward answered.
" What are the ways?" Nina asked.
" It's confidential for you to know now," Edward said.
All this is giving me a headache. How can I believe or have trust in the council if they have spelt me? what do they think of themselves? I am WolfQueen and spelling me! This only concludes they are power-seeking people as Ace describes them. I swear I will make them pay for this. Halona is agreeing with me by howling.
" Ace, I am going to make Raspberries mocha mousse brownies. You have to stay to taste them," I said while giving my seductive smile. This made Ace smirk and say, " Of course, mate. I love your desserts so why will I ever say no to that,"
I quickly went to my room to refresh and wore my sweatshirt and leggings. As Ace is here, I apply some make-up as Ace likes to see me in make-up it is because it hides the dark circles, I inherited from Dad.
I went to the kitchen right away. While making the brownies, I was eavesdropping on what was happening in the living room. Edward excused himself and left after a while. I was glad about it, now Ace can relax and be comfortable. Nina and Roshini were accompanying him until their roommates freshen up.
Within five minutes, Asha came to help me. Making Raspberries mocha mousse brownies can be divided into four parts. Those are the base, mousse, raspberry coulis and garnish. Asha took the responsibility for garnish and raspberry garnish. Then turn on the speaker to listen to music, Asha and I love to listen to old romantic Bollywood songs.
It took one hour to make the brownies. For the drinks, we choose to have creamy milk stouts which lucky Roshini brought ten of it from the supermarket.
When I entered with the plate of brownies, I saw Ace staring at Nina who is wearing a dark red bra top with a coat that isn't helping to cover up anything and a sweatpant. Instant jealousy shoots up and then thought is raised. Is Ace attractive to Nina? is it because she doesn't have a flat chest like me and her tattoos were showing making her body look ten times more attractive. Her tattoos are black and dark and some even represent death. This is the first time I am seeing her front body filled with tattoos. This only makes me insecure about my flat, plain body.
" WHY ARE YOU NOT ATTACKING NINA FOR SLUTTY ATTEMPT TO SEDUCE OUR MATE?" Halona roared making me nearly slip the plate.
" Because that's Nina who will never seduce Ace or even think about it," I told to Halona and block her.
" Brownies are ready to eat," I proclaimed while keeping the plate on the table. And Asha came carrying the tray filled with the bottles and kept it on the table.
" Thank goodness, I badly needed something cool to have since my whole body is feeling hot," Nina sighed in relief after having her first slip. That's why she is wearing a bra top otherwise she mostly chooses to wear comfortable modest clothes.
All of us talk about numerous stuff, like what will happen after accusations turn out to be true, or Yasmin and Nina had any recent vision which was no. Then we watch Batman. DC movies are dark unlike Marvels, they are light-hearted, comedy movies.
After having dinner made by Yasmin and Haniya, Ace left without giving the kiss. When I ask for it, he said " Oh, I thought you are not ready for it," and then left. This means he was upset about me stopping him to take the kiss further ahead earlier. But I wasn't ready... isn't he should be understandable. Halona tried to say something but I block her again as I wasn't in the mood to hear her whining about Ace's behaviour or lecturing me about mates and the mating process.
Today was a long day yet I hardly felt tried, the advantage of being a werewolf. Yet the sleep that comes from being tried is pleasant as I fall into a deep slumber. The dreams are vivid enough that confuse me between the dream and reality after waking up. How does Yasmin can be sure of her dreaming or having a vision? Even though she answered it, I wasn't satisfied.
" Disha, are you okay?" Asha mind-linked sounding worried. As we are in the bed and Roshini has already fallen asleep.
" What makes you ask that?" I question her after turning towards her.
" I notice your reaction when Ace was staring at Nina's boobs, " Asha said. Even though it was obvious where he was staring, I didn't state particularly where Ace was looking to lessen my sadness.
" I am hurt...I quickly stop myself to think any further negative thoughts," I said.
" I strictly told Nina not to wear such clothes," Asha spoke.
" How did she react?" I asked as Nina doesn't like to be ordered specially by Asha without any valid explanation.
" As usual she was pissed," Asha mumbled and I felt there is more than Asha is letting out.
" Tell me," I ordered.
" Well, she and I fought. She said it was Ace who is the problem, not her clothes. As Ace shouldn't have looked at her in the first place. I tried to explain to her that the top is too revealing...she started to compare Ace with Edward," Asha nervously said the last sentence as I don't like Edward much.
" What did she say?" I am attentive to listening to know how Edward is better than my Ace.
" Edward doesn't even bother to look at anyone unless it's Haniya," Asha shared making me feel worse than before as it's true what Nina said.
" I am feeling sleepy," I lied.
" Listen, Nina is an impulse, childish and short-headed person. Just don't take it to your heart," Asha advises.
" I know, that's how younger siblings are. Hoor is the same. Anaya, Haniya, Yasmin and I have to bear her action at times. So it's okay and it sucks to be the oldest," I told the truth. As Nina and Hoor are the people who rarely sugarcoat their words. And why should I be angry with Nina? Her clothing wasn't as revealing as Asha just told. Since Nina wore her sweatpant up to her waist that cover almost her stomach.
" Tell me about it," Asha agreed with me that it sucks to be the oldest.
" Tell me honestly, Nina's clothes weren't as revealing as you just said. And to be honest, you have worn more revealing than her. So why?" I asked why she got involved which resulted in a fight.
" Because you were hurt. I knew you will find some way to blame yourself. It's not your fault or Nina's" She explained and I agreed. And understood the hidden meaning in her words.
" It's Ace's fault and I will talk to him," I claimed. I was avoiding confronting him as I don't like to see him hurt and at times I get scared of his anger.