The Unmarked Mate

Chapter 72

Catriona

With all this snow, I had spent my days organizing some of the guards to clear the streets and send a few of them toward the human part of town to help. Tom had gone to help too. As I went home, exhausted after the day, yearning for my bed and my mate's arms around me, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. I saw it was Elestren calling, it made me smile, we hadn't spoken in quite some time.

"Hello Elestren, I thought you had forgotten about us by now." I greeted and I heard her chuckle.

"I could never. I miss our training." Her low voice said.

"So how is life in Crimson Moon Pack? When are you visiting? I shouldn't tell you that, but I saw James yesterday morning in a meeting, he looked miserable, I think he misses you." It killed Tom to see his best friend like that, but no one dared to tell him so maybe telling her was the best way to go.

"Crimson Moon Pack is doing fine. And well... I was miserable too, I arrived last night..." she started.

"What? No way? You're here! When can I see you? I can't wait to show you around! You're gonna love it here!" I burst with excitement. She laughed at my enthusiasm.

"Well I do need you to show me around. I have a meeting tomorrow with the council, I'll explain you why and the day after there is a ball, to welcome the Southern Territory King and introduce me, so I need clothes, what I brought is not suitable for the council." I sighed. Shopping wasn't exactly what I preferred, and she always looked fine, the council was a bunch of stuck up man, she didn't need to wear anything to please them. But if that was needed for her to feel comfortable, I understood.

"Tomorrow morning?" I proposed.

"Perfect. Where do I join you?"

"I'll join you at ten at James' house, it will be easier, I don't live very far from his house."

"Great, thank you Cat, you're saving my ass!"

"Nonsense! See you tomorrow Elestren!"

"See you!" On that she hung up.

The following morning, the town was buzzing with the announcement of a reception. We hadn't had one of these events in a long time and lycans liked to party. I went to James' house and rang at the door. When Elestren opened the door, she smiled up to her ears and hugged me. The challenge was almost two weeks ago and we never really had time to speak after that. She had been an inspiration to me, I had never seen someone, yet alone a woman, fight like that. It felt right. I was sometimes unsure of my ability to be chief of the elite guard, I was the first woman to ever hold that position, and watching her fight for a title of Alpha, a title rarely bestowed on women as well, it showed me anything was possible. And I wanted to learn to fight like that. She had her own style of fighting, she had learned from different people, Serena had told me. And she created the style that suited her best. Some only saw the sheer strength of her, but the moves she pulled against him when he had shifted and she was still in human form, that wasn't only blunt force, it was elegant and swift and calculated. I had to admit the badass move of removing the silver knife from her stomach and licking it was a bit too dramatic for my taste, but it was so fun to watch the faces of all the lycan warriors.

When she let go of the hug, she invited me inside to finish what she was doing. I assumed it must have been breakfast, but no, she was working on a computer on the kitchen table. I frowned. She should really learn to rest and to delegate.

"You're working?" I asked, still not believing it.

"Yeah, James had meetings to attend to and I thought I would use the time to get a bit of work done myself before you arrived. I have a bit of a conundrum to solve."