(edited)

We walked to the mall since it's a short walk through the forest from Klara's home. Jade moved closer to Alex as every crunch of the leaves made her quiver. Her eyes swivel every few seconds, making sure no one was there.

Whitney rubbed Jade's back. "Focus on the beautiful scenery, Jade. The leaves on the ground, the bare trees of which we made drawings, the games we used to play, the times when we shifted and nuzzled each other's wolves."

A sweet odor mixed with pine and sea wafted through my nose. "Does anyone smell something funny here?"

"No, why?" Klara furrowed her brows while Whitney spun towards us, her brown hair slapping her face.

"No, must be trick of my mind."

"Em, I guess we should follow it. Your nose can't be wrong; you have Beta blood in your body. Tell me, which word?" Jade used the code word language, even after the incident.

"First word," I replied in the same language. We faced north and headed in that direction, trying our best to avoid the crunching leaves.

Guys, do you think it's one of his men? Jade mind-linked.

Can't be. I can't recognize this odor, Whit replied.

Now you can sniff the person too? I asked.

Yeah, otherwise why would talk about him or her or it or....whatever, Klara said.

We reached the place where the scent was the strongest. We hid behind different trees. I peeked behind the huge oak tree and spotted the most handsome man I have seen.

While my wolf, Aerith, chanted "Mate," I stepped forward from the bushes, where the man shifted towards my direction. His green eyes sparkled with mischief, and his hair gelled back, making it slick. His jacket tied around his waist and his shoes torn from long runs.

"Hey! Call your friends out," the man said with a smile. Slowly, everyone emerged from their hiding spots.

"Tree?" Jade asked, biting her bottom lip.

"Yes, a tree," I replied.

Klara raised an eyebrow. "Book?"

"Not sure," I answered.

"Lipstick. Mine."I kept my eyes on the man.

Jade tensed until the muscles in her body relaxed. "Oh, great then. No need for fox."

The man cleared his throat before he introduced himself. "My name is George, the Beta of Green Moon Pack. I came to see to the arrangements of my Alpha. You are?"

"I am Emily, the Beta's daughter of Lake Moon Pack. This is Whitney, the future Luna, and my sister. Klara, a tracker. Alexandra, a warrior. Jade, the Gamma Female." I introduced everyone.

"Oh! A tour with friends, I see," George stated.

"No, more of a visit to the mall," Klara replied, her green eyes asking an unspoken question - Will he come with us?

"As much as I'd love to go with you, I must go to the Guesthouse. Bye." He answered the silent question and rushed toward his destination.

Before waiting for my friends to tease me, I shifted into my wolf and ran for the mall.

*************************

We spent three and a half hours in the mall, where we went on a shopping spree, resulting in my brother carrying 12-13 bags.

"Make-up at my place!" Jade announced.

"No, at mine," Whit argued.

"My mum will give cookies too. Plus, She can get some drinks too."

"My mum will make us her pack-famous cake."

"Let's vote then," Jade said as if knowing she would win.

"Ok." Whit nodded her head, her brown hair bouncing.

"Well, I vote for Jade cuz her house is closer to ours, and I wouldn't have to drop Em at her house," Ethan said.

Whit clutched her heart dramatically. "How could you? You opposed your sister, just for measly petrol? You hurt me, brother, deep in my heart."

"Well, I'm with Whit. I love her mum's hand-baked cake," Alex said, side-hugging Jade with a mock sympathetic expression on her face. Jade's waved her hand, with a new watch on it.

"I side with Jade. I make her win. THIS is my revenge for eating my part of the cake too, without my permission," I declared.

"YEAH!" Jade fist-pumped the air.

****************************

After dropping everyone at their homes and the make-up at Jade's home, we returned home. I fell on my bed, thinking of my mate. The perfect features, the melodious voice, the lovely green eyes, the small birthmark by the chin. He just gave me another memory to replace the old, bad ones.

Then, an idea struck me. What if I return to the woods in my wolf form? Maybe I'll see him again and spend some time together. What was his wolf like? I bet his wolf would be brown. No, brown and white don't go together. Maybe it's red...no, red and white are contrasting colors. A faint noise almost broke my stupor, but I ignored it. Could his wolf be black, but then, we'd look old together. A muffled yell reached my ears, but I disregard it. Anyway, I'll accept any color of his wolf. I'll buy him a suit on our first date. No, a necklace--no, a watch. Yes, a Rolex watch. It'll look good on his hand.

Without warning, something grabbed my ear, making me yelp. My mother stared at me as her eyes became cold, and her lips curled. "ARE YOU DEAF, EMILY? I CALLED YOU FIVE TIMES! EVEN YOUR MATE IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH EXCUSE FOR DAYDREAMING AND IGNORING ME!"

"Ah! Mom, I am sorry! Leave my ear. Please, I ask you—no--I beg of you, leave my ear."

"Well, Em, eat in your room, without TV. That will be your punishment," Mom declared.

I was about to protest, but once Mom revealed the 'you-argue-I-will-kill-you' glare, I surrendered.

***************

I laid in my bed, pretending to be asleep. Mom must come soon for her routine checks. Eating food without TV is easy as mom left my phone with me and I watched Netflix.

As my mother's footsteps got closer, I evened my breathing and shut my eyes. Once my mom entered the room, she closed the window and left.

I waited for 15 secs before opening the window and stand on the windowsill. Jumping from the third floor of the house may not seem the ideal idea for someone not suicidal, but being a werewolf has its perks. I jumped from the window, shifting into my white wolf halfway.

Task 1 completed, My wolf said, trying to imitate a robotic voice but failing.

Now, the second task was distracting the guards of the pack house long enough for me to run right in front of them. First, I hide my scent by rolling in my deep mud puddle. After that, I picked up a large stone and threw it to my left. One guard rushed in that direction, and I crept outside, making a run for it.

Another scent wafted in my nose, but instead of pine and sea, it was lavender. I still ran towards my destination but on alert.

The man faced me, and I became lost in his baby blue eyes. The wind ruffled his hair, but he did not mind. His tie tilted, shoelace open, proved that he came here in a hurry.

"So, I guess you are my mate," the man said, pulling me from my stupor.

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A/N

1164 words.