5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

-Reese-

L ast night’s sleep was dreadful. While cuddling with Rosa usually brought me comfort, there was an unsettling vibe about it this time. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was, leaving me tossing and turning all night.

Come morning, I gently extricated myself from her embrace and decided to go for a run. The sun had barely risen as I made my way through the woods, hoping the exercise would ease the suffocating feeling in my chest. Unfortunately, it persisted, refusing to dissipate.

Even my inner wolf seemed unsettled since last night’s dinner. He paced restlessly within me, yet he couldn’t communicate his needs. Despite our run, his agitation only intensified, leaving me at a loss.

“Your pacing is distracting,” I growled as I slowed to a walk, trying to regain my focus.

Sorry , he murmured.

“I thought we agreed to focus on our mate, not this strange feeling. Why the sudden change?” I pressed.

I... don’t know. Something feels... off.

“Off?” I prodded, hoping for clarity.

That’s the best I can describe it. Something feels... out of place , he confessed.

I wished he could articulate his feelings more clearly. Without a proper explanation, I could only speculate, and it left me feeling irritable. We were on the verge of preparing for the official ceremony, and I was striving to assume my role as Alpha. This should have been a time of joy and anticipation, not confusion and frustration.

Instead, a discomfort settled in my body, an unease I hadn’t felt since before I left. There was a reason I had fled this place, and it wasn’t because I felt at home here. Why were these old feelings resurfacing now? I had anticipated the possibility, but this time I returned with a different purpose and a mate by my side to anchor me.

Despite the uncertainty lingering in my mind, I decided to head back to the house. The air was alive with the stirrings of awakening, voices gradually filling the rooms. Feeling parched, I ventured into the kitchen, intending to quench my thirst and fetch something for Rosa. However, as I approached, a sweet giggle reached my ears, the kind that quickens the heartbeat.

Pushing the door open, I was met with the sight of the female wolf from yesterday—who I was certain was the wolf from my past—already busy preparing breakfast, with a male wolf seated nearby, eliciting smiles and laughter from her. Yet, as they noticed my presence, they fell silent, their attention turning toward me.

The situation unsettled me in a way I couldn’t quite articulate. I glanced between them, noting the resemblance between the female wolf and the young girl from my memories. Her large green eyes held a question, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she might also harbor a hint of fear from our previous encounter. I disliked the thought, yet I wondered why she would fear me when she was the one who had bewildered me with her scent.

“Alpha, can we assist you?” she inquired politely.

“No,” I curtly replied, striding into the kitchen and past her. However, as I hurried by, a familiar whiff of her scent reached me, halting me in my tracks. I turned my head to look at her, but she appeared oblivious to my pause.

She continued frying eggs, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the breakfast was intended solely for the two of them, given the early hour. It unsettled me to see her catering to this man, whose evident attraction toward her fueled a strange anger within me, growing with each passing moment.

“Is that breakfast for the entire pack, Naomi?” I questioned. She seemed surprised by my inquiry, but her reaction to hearing her name confirmed fully who she was.

“Um, no, Fran handles that. I just came in a bit early,” she replied, turning to face me.

“So did someone else,” I muttered irritably, glancing pointedly at the male pack member who still had his eyes fixed on Naomi, a gesture that irked me to no end. He had no right to look at her like that!

Naomi caught the way I looked at the other wolf, and her sudden blush did not escape my notice. Did she have feelings for this male wolf? Were they involved romantically? Why did I even care? I reminded myself that I had a true mate, shaking my head in an attempt to dispel these intrusive thoughts.

Grabbing two water bottles from the fridge, I turned around, only to find Naomi placing food on two plates. So she was indeed making him breakfast?

No, it is not my concern , I scolded myself inwardly, preparing to move past her. However, Naomi needed something from my side, and as she turned just as I was about to leave, we collided. She emitted a small sound of pain, taking the brunt of the impact due to her smaller stature. Despite her discomfort, she quickly regained her composure, retreating until she bumped into the counter.

“I-I’m so sorry,” she stammered, avoiding my gaze as she gestured for me to go ahead.

I felt a pang of disappointment. I longed for her to look at me, to meet my eyes with that familiar gaze that reminded me of the forest. But she kept her head down, and I knew better than to vocalize my desires. They were perplexing and best left unspoken.

“Next time, watch where you’re going,” I scolded Naomi, though my frustration wasn’t aimed at her.

She nodded obediently, and I hastened out of the kitchen before I succumbed to an utterly insane impulse—an inexplicable urge to grab Naomi and take her right there in the kitchen, a disturbing image that filled my mind the moment I stepped away from her.

I froze in my tracks, bewildered by the sudden flood of sexual thoughts about her. Why were these inappropriate desires surfacing? Glancing over my shoulder, I heard murmured voices on the other side of the room. Tempted to eavesdrop, I resisted the urge. I shouldn’t concern myself with their conversation. Hastily, I departed before I acted on my unsettling impulses.

-Naomi-

On my way to the pack house, I ran into Thomas, an early riser like myself. Despite my shy nature, Thomas and I shared a strong friendship. They say opposites attract, and it seemed true in our case.

I offered to make us some food, but the unexpected presence of the Alpha had caught us off guard. I had expected him to spend the morning in bed with his mate, not out on a run. Yet, as he moved around me, it only intensified the allure of his scent.

I tried to focus on preparing food, ignoring the temptation his proximity posed. But when our paths crossed... Oh, his smooth skin... I even touched it! I knew I was disappointing the Goddess, but it wasn’t my fault the Alpha worked out shirtless! Though I doubted this would earn me a place in her divine realm later.

“He seemed tense, didn’t he?” Thomas remarked, breaking the silence.

“Um, I’m not sure,” I replied with uncertainty.

“You didn’t notice how angry he looked?”

I couldn’t discern his mood amidst the overpowering scent that filled the room, causing my head to spin.

“Perhaps he just had a rough night’s sleep,” I suggested.

“Or maybe he’s already clashing with his mate,” Thomas speculated as I brought the plates over to him and settled beside him.

“No, that can’t be. They’re true mates.”

“True mates can still have disagreements,” he reminded me.

“I know, but it seems too soon. They’ve only been together for three months,” I reasoned.

“But she’s also the enemy’s daughter.”

“We’re no longer enemies. The former Alpha established peace with their pack. Now our packs will be united through our new Alpha and their Luna,” I countered.

“But it’s understandable if there’s still tension between them,” Thomas insisted.

I rolled my eyes, prompting Thomas to nudge me playfully.

“Hey!” I chuckled, nudging him back, eliciting a smile from him.

“Don’t dismiss my theory so easily. It holds weight.”

“I just think we shouldn’t rush to conclusions. They’ve only just returned, and we’re about to enter a stressful period,” I reasoned.

“A stressful time?”

“We’re going to be busy with the ceremony where they’ll mark each other. Don’t you think we’ll be working tirelessly on that?”

“True, if they make it that far,” he teased, and I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Have a little faith.”

“Not when the Alpha seems so irritated in the morning. Shouldn’t he be over the moon? I know I would be if I had a mate,” Thomas pointed out.

“Perhaps he’s just a bit stressed,” I suggested.

“But he’s got the most desirable thing in his bed.”

I rolled my eyes in response.

“Are you jealous?” Thomas teased, causing my heart to race with unease.

“What? No, why would I be jealous?” I laughed awkwardly.

“You know I was just kidding, right?”

“Yeah, exactly,” I replied, trying to ease the tension, which made Thomas chuckle.

He shook his head gently as he began eating, but I found my appetite lacking. I kept glancing at Thomas, pondering if I truly had Moon Sickness, would he be willing to support me?