First Look

Alexandra

I reluctantly finished showering, knowing that I would quickly miss the warmth of the scorching hot water blazing against my skin. The warmth also brought comfort, a comfort that I haven’t felt since Luna Fraya was alive. Given the sudden commotion at the washroom door, I was sure Beta Jax would be back quickly if I didn’t emerge soon. That man was certainly serious about his pizza although he was easy going and relaxed, casting a veil of safety that my wolf trusted enough to slowly peek through.

I opened the cabinet door as I ran my fingers through my gentle waves. I felt my eyes widen when I saw the stacks of plush white towels, all nearly folded in the same direction on the shelf. The organization was impeccable. I hesitated before reaching for one, nerves clouding my judgment if Alpha Liam knew that the rogue he had spared was using such a luxurious set. They were crisp yet fluffy to the touch, there was no doubt they were brand new.

I had once felt the shipment of new towels while restocking the washrooms for an Alpha’s visit that had been delivered to my old pack house, they felt just like this. I had rubbed it against my cheek, only to be caught red handed by Alpha Axton - naturally, a punishment was quick to follow. Luck never seemed to be on my side.

As I wrapped the towel around my body, I snuggled into the material for a brief moment. In fact, it felt much better against my body than it did when I rubbed it against my cheek.

I carefully lifted the clothes from the pile Mia had brought for me, pulling on the matching white lace bra and panty set first. I wondered if in fact I was still unconscious and this was all nothing more than remnants of a dream.

I thought about pinching myself but then decided against it. If this was nothing more than a dream, I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted, knowing how different my reality was to this privy life.

I carefully slipped on the white fuzzy cardigan, it held a v-neck shape and sat just under my navel, exposing more skin than I was used to. I pulled up the dark denim jeans over my hips, surprised at how well they hugged my curves then proceeded to tuck the emerald necklace into my back pocket for safe keeping while slipping on the pair of pristine white sneakers.

I inhaled deeply, mustering all the courage I had before turning the doorknob and walking out of the washroom. I had caught Mia and Beta Jax talking in a low inaudible whisper, I strained my ears but still fell short and couldn’t quite make out what they were talking about.

Mia gasped when her lavender eyes landed on my body in the door frame, “well, damn. Wait until the Alpha sees you,” she said in a chuckle, excitement strangely evident in her playful voice.

I swallowed hard, “the Alpha?” My heart began to thunder in my chest, emotions piling over me.

Beta Jax choked on a laugh, as he turned at the waist towards me, “don’t listen to her, she means you look nice Lexi.” I didn’t miss how he turned back and shot Mia a scolding look.

I nodded, I was still uneasy about whenever the Blood Alpha’s name was muttered, it never failed to send shivers up my spine. Consequently, I also felt a tinge of longing to have those big blue eyes hovering over me again. They were so dark yet so inciting, all at the same time.

I pushed my jumbled thoughts away, none of them serving to make any sense. I followed behind Beta Jax and Mia, closing the bedroom door behind us. We walked down a long hallway. My eyes bolted from side to side, taking in the exquisiteness of the pack house. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was far bigger than Alpha Axton’s and it was grand and modern.. The floors were of a light oak hardwood with large portraits of wolves hung along the walls.

Feeling a magnetic pull towards a particular painting of a magnificent white wolf, I stalked towards the the portrait, running my fingers over the fine brush strokes that made up the wolf. The wolf seemed so happy, leaping through the forest with no cares in the world. It reminded me of Anna and how her beautiful white coat shimmered similarly in the moonlight.

I wasn’t sure what put me in such awe of the painting, I was so intently focused on the beauty of the wolf that I didn’t hear the stalled footsteps at the end of the hall. Mia returned beside me, her too taking in the glory, “it’s beautiful, isn’t it? The Luna Mary always had a talented hand. These are all her paintings,” she said in a low, pained voice.

I nodded, for some odd reason sharing a painful sear through my chest too. “Does she still paint?”, I asked curiously.

“Sometimes. Not like she used to though, a lot has changed since she became ill,” she replied.

I cast my gaze down, “we should go,” I said in a low voice. Mia chuckled, “that would be a good idea.”

I became engulfed in my own thoughts, the shred of hope that I could take refuge in Alpha Liam’s pack suddenly gone. Even if I was lucky enough to stay hidden from Alpha Axton, it was only a matter of time before Alpha Liam could take me as his own. I had been down this rabbit hole before, I knew where it would undoubtedly lead once the Luna died.

While Alpha Liam was much younger and far more attractive than Alpha Axton, for a mere second, I almost wanted to serve the Blood Alpha’s needs. I could hear Anna’s soft purr, she had no objection to that thought, rather she entertained it. The omegas here were treated better than the ones in my old pack, maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible after all. I pulled myself out of my lingering thoughts, I had just escaped one cruel reality, only to find myself in the same cruel reality just in another pack. It didn’t matter how his pristine blue eyes made my core quiver or how breathless I felt around his butterscotch scent, what I really wanted was my own freedom.

I followed behind Mia and Beta Jax towards a large winding staircase that held a massive crystal chandelier above it. The crystals reflected the light and made the pack house that much more luxurious.

I felt the lingering eyes narrowing in on me before I even cascaded down the stairs, leaving me to feel so vulnerable and exposed like a sheep amongst wolves. The pack house was lively, filled with shifters of all walks of life. When I reached the last step of the staircase, silence filled the air as now every pair of eyes was now set abruptly on me. My unease took hold of me and I couldn’t rip my gaze off of the floor. Submit, I chanted in my head. If I submitted and was careful not to upset anyone, I might just get through this day without a lashing. A mix of discomfort and anxiety raced through me, both of them causing my face to heat up.

Mia shot her head back and pulled her arm over my shoulders, making me flinch at the sudden contact. “Hey, listen to me. There is no need to be scared. They can feel you’re unnerved. There is no need to bow your head either, unless it’s to the Alpha. No more of that, got it?” she said in a hushed voice and then gave me a wink.