After showing Stormie around, Tal stepped out. Since then, she'd been waiting for someone to show up, if not anyone, at least her mate. The mansion had similar architectural designs to the previous one. Thinking about her life, Stormie never knew she was a werewolf. She went to human school like other humans and never had known her dad so much so; she did not know what family her mate came from. Or what his duty as an alpha king was. All she wanted right now was to go back to her family and live her life the way she last remembered.
The sun is like an abstract painter, generously dimmer paints on the face of the darkening sky. Stormie stretched her slim body onto a black leather couch. It felt comforting, like a splash of water, and her buttoned eyes stared at the tiled ceiling. Just then, the door crackled and Stormie pulled up at once. The familiar sandalwood scent cut her off the bore thoughts. Rushing to see who it was, a smile lightened her face. It was who she expected.
"Welcome back."
"What are you doing awake?"
"Waiting for you," Stormie replied, and her smile dropped. "I've been alone all day."
"Yes, you need rest. Why would you wait for me? Do you have anything important to tell me?"
"No, there's nothing I want to tell you. I just think it's a good thing to wait for my mate before going to bed."
"Your mate?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, you are my mate, aren't you?"
"Of course," His long legs stroke forward and he sat next to where she sat. "Of course, I am your mate, but that doesn't mean that I see you as my mate."
"W... What does that mean?"
"You seem delusional, but I understand it's because you are in a new environment. Let me explain to you how things work here, little one. Just because I am your mate means nothing. I don't believe in mates. I never have, never would." His fingers unbuttoned his dark-grey suit that perfectly hugged his muscles. Stormie caught his glittering onyx eyes, glitter darker with spite as he pointed out.
"Are you rejecting me?" Stormie stuttered, feeling her eyes stinging with tears.
"No, I'm not, but you'd wish I rejected you." A dark grin rippled on his lips as he gave a half smile.
"Is anything funny? I want to go home. I see no reason you still have me here!"
"Have you seen yourself in the mirror?"
Just then, it occurred to Stormie that as she hadn't seen herself for a while. No… it's been a very long time. Her tiny finger sprayed over her face and neckline.
"Is something on my face?"
"I don't know if you've noticed, but you are still a 15-year-old-kid. You are not fit to be... Mate." He gave her an irritated look and Stormie's mind suddenly went blank.
"Excuse me." He hissed before walking out.
A solemn tear rolled out of Stormie's left eye. She wanted to stop him from leaving. To call him back, but the words didn't come. The door banged, and the sound echoed into the gigantic building before she realized that he had left. A hand wiped out the tears, and another drop followed. She was stunned by the thought. Stormie couldn't help but wonder, how come she never knew?
The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world. Getting up at the crack of dawn, Stormie's eyes raised and the events of the night before flooded in. She was just getting better. Her head ached with pain, with eyes clouded.
'Why would he say such a thing to me just because they drugged me? Does it make any sense that he is rejecting me because he thinks I am a kid?' She paused at the disturbing thought.' Am I a kid?'
The door pulled open, and footsteps walked towards the entrance. Stormie didn't care who it was. She wiped out her eyes, not wanting anyone to see her tearing up. It was a lady with light blonde hair and a pretty gown.
"Good morning, Luna." She said with a smile as she stepped into her bedroom.
"Good morning." Stormie sniffled. "Nice to meet you but I'm not your Luna, yet."
"But you are our, Alpha's mate." Her gentle smile spread,
"He has not marked me yet."
"Even though you are his chosen mate so, I will call you Luna. He doesn't have to mark you to be one."
"Who are you and why are you here? I wonder why I keep seeing different people every day?"
Her smile beamed in a florescence of gratitude. "My name is Lucinda Duncan, but you can call me Indy. I am the bata's mate. I'm here to take you to breakfast."
"Oh, why can't I have breakfast here? I remember seeing a kitchen... Why am I in a mansion, this big and I would have breakfast else where? I can cook anything, just get me foodstuffs." Stormie requested.
"No, I won't be able to do that. We usually eat together in the pack house so that they can do the head count and you need to be there. Especially now that you're discharged from the hospital."
"Is it compulsory we eat together here? What if I don't want to?"
"Only if you don't want to, but it's necessary. You follow me now. We don't want to be late." Indy explained.
"Alright, let's go." Stormie followed her outside, and they walked towards an enormous castle. It was a fifteen minutes walk away from where she had spent the night.
Stormie delayed her footsteps once they reached a place. She caught the few of the roofing staring through her window last night. It was a villa. Stormie guessed it was her Mate's house, the interior decoration differ from the other buildings she had come across. Hurrying inside, Indy took her to a huge dining table. The marble table was long enough to hold 20 guests. They dressed it in a fine red and black tablecloth and there were a few guests seated around it.
"Why does everyone eat together?"
"You don't have to."
"What do you mean?" Stormie leaned in, dragging her feet to get all the information before they get to the table. Everything seemed organized, everyone has a role.
"The Alpha eats with the executives while the lower ranked eats with others."
"Oh, so where are we going to seat?"
"I'll seat here right next to my mate while you'll seat there." She pointed.
Her seat was facing the right side of her mate. He sat at the head of the table. Stormie smelled him once she entered the pack house, but she didn't see him until now.
Stormie walked up to where her mate sat and quietly pulled into the chair. Everyone seemed familiar with each other. No one noticed her. Stormie stared, wondering if she was really here. What country was she in? These people looked really different, and she wondered if she would ever meet her family.
"Are you going to watch us all day or you're going to eat?" Ivar muttered harshly.
'He still hasn't told me his name yet, and why does he have to be so rude?'
Stormie gently grabbed a golden fork, deepening it into the spaghetti and putting it into her mouth.
"Just because you are sitting here doesn't mean I've changed my mind about you, little one."
"No problem, I understand."
"Good, because I'm never going to crown you queen. I don't need a Luna!"
"Why?" The word came in a sudden push. A memory of what she used to be flowed through her mind, like an electrical current. A flashback of the former Stormie.
"Because you think I am not worth enough to be the Luna? In case you've forgotten, I am the Alpha of Wolfsberg. I single-handedly killed thousands of vampires, so don't think less of me."
"Along with your elder brother is an omega, oh... He must be a beta now, who cares?" He crackled into an evil laugh. It was low that others, concentrated in their discussions, weren't distracted. "Let me remind you, that was 15 years ago. And so far, that has been your only achievement."
"Why are you so unfair?" Her eyes inspected his.
"Why do I have to be fair, huh? Even if you're an adult, I won't treat you any different." He shook his head negatively while his lips gave a half smile.
"Why?" Stormie 's eyes clouded once more, but she held it in.
"Because you are not a woman and I don't need a 15-year-old girl to make things difficult for me."
"How would I make things difficult for you?"
"The only thing your gender contribute is to make men weak and I will not fall for that. I don't need to explain everything to you. My decision is final. I'm never going to make you Luna. So just stick that into your head."