The Call of the Lycan

Chapter Nine

"This is Clara, 26" says a younger man reading from a clip board. I see from the corner of my eyes that my mate is seated behind a simple wooden desk, taking notes. His eyes rise slowly to me. My heart is throbbing so hard and I try to slow my breathing as best I can. I make fists so Atticus can't see my hands shaking. I keep my head bowed as all wolves do. To make eye contact with an 'unknown' leader in a pack would be a challenge of authority. "Clara" Atticus says in a low voice. I feel his eyes on me. Is he surprised? I can't tell. "You're here. I've been waiting for you" is all he says. I risk a glance at him and instantly melt. His gorgeous face makes me speechless. I could loose myself in his blue eyes for days. My face burns as I realize I'm just staring. "Hi" I whisper. I lower my eyes to the floor. What a site for him to see me in, looking homeless and rough. "Bring along the next one, take this one to the Robert's lake cabin" says Atticus sharply. He waves his hand looking annoyed. I scramble as fast as I can to the door, not waiting for anyone replies. Beta Steve meets me on the other side of the door and we begin the hike to Robert's lake. It's as far from the pack house as physically possible. Usually for the retired wolves wanting to grow old in peace, according to beta Steve.

The Beta shows me to my new living quarters. Similar to my old living accommodations, I'm going to stay in a small cottage situated deep in the woods, close to the edge of pack territory. This cottage is smaller than my old one but far more quaint & cozy so I don't mind at all. The walls are white washed pine boards & the floor is a gorgeous cedar hardwood tile. I have a cozy brick fireplace too. The place is surrounded by gardens & willow trees. Best of all is a quaint little porch with wicker rocking chairs. I miss the stream I had at my old cottage but I can make do without it. The lake shines serves as a border for pack territory. The beta seems surprised I'm happy about the secluded accommodation. He turns to me before he leaves. "Tonight is the harvest ball, it's required for all wolves to attend to honour the moon goddess. You'll have to swear your allegiance to the Alpha & drop some blood into the coals to be accepted into the pack" he says. So much for temporarily being here. They wanted me IN the pack as a member permanently- not to say I couldn't leave as I had my old pack. I nod & promise I'll be there, anxiety bubbling in my stomach. I spend the rest of the day cleaning my new cottage & trying to be optimistic about my new life. What had I gotten myself into?

After my cleaning is done I sit outside on my porch enjoying the view of the trees & grass. "Hey there miss!" Calls a voice. I jerk my head to look. An older lady is coming through the trees, clearly wanting to meet me. She looks shrivelled up like a raisin but friendly enough. "Hello!" I say waving. I brush off a the rocking chair on the porch for her. She sits down with a huff, wiping sweat off of her brow. "I heard I had a new neighbour so I had to come say hi! A nurse too!" She says excitedly. She smiles revealing no teeth. Her hazel eyes twinkle & I immediately decided I like her. She seems like someone who would be a good friend. "I'm a nurse practitioner actually! Ill be working in the hospital" I say cheerfully. I watch her face to see if she thinks that is bad or good. "Thats wonderful! Our hospital is a fantastic spot! You are a much needed addition" she says enthusiastically. I smile & nod appreciatively. "So, tell me about my new home, what should I know?" I ask. "Well, Lycan blood is a great pack. We've grown hugely in recent years. Mostly Lycans here but they take in the occasional stray like you or me" she says with a wink. I realize she just said its a Lycan pack. "Lycan?" I ask softly more to myself. Inaya starts to whine in my head. "Yes, now mind ya, most packs out there hate us cause they fear us, but the Alpha is a wonderful man. He's a little withdrawn & odd it seems but he does a fantastic job" she says warmly. 'There's no way this is his pack...' I think to Inaya. Inaya whimpers sadly. "No need to fear the Lycans, they're just a little on the wild side" my visitor says with a laugh. "Well, I better be gittin on my way. You're heading to the ball tonight aren't ya?" She asks with a gummy smile. "Oh, yes i suppose I have too. I don't have anything to wear but the clothes I'm in actually. I'll have to go buy something in town" I say with a frown. How would I have time to make myself presentable & get a dress? I cringe at myself for not thinking of this sooner. "Well why didn't ya say something! I have a trunk full of dresses from when I tried selling them for a bit. They're just begging to be worn! I'll have my husband bring em' over!" She says. "Oh thank you!" I say with relief. I could make something work surely. She stands to leave. "Wait, whats your name?" I ask her with a laugh. "Oh, you can call me Janice, I hope we'll get to be friends now!" She says smiling again. I nod in agreement. "My name is Clara. Stop by any time!" I call after her. She waves & disappears into the woods.

I head inside to start my ritual of preparation for the ball. I usually dont care about these events but I get a small thrill thinking about tonight. It's a whole new group of people, who knew nothing about me. I could put my best foot forward & impress them. I have a long bath, scrubbing myself with several different soaps & creams stocked in my cottage. I take extra care with my hair & style it in an elegant loose low bun. I paint my nails a nude color & try to apply some light makeup like my mother always prompted me too. Janice makes good on her word & a brown parcel appears at my door a while later. A note on it says 'I thought this one would look best on ya dear'. I gasp when I see it. It's a baby blue silk gown thats a sheath style, with spaghetti straps. It was gorgeous & so simple, yet so elegant. It was a little tight on me but I thought it looked incredible. I could feel Inaya wondering if our mate would like this dress. She's hoping this is his pack. I told her not to think about him. 'He doesn't want us. And chances are this is not his pack' I say gently. Inaya whines & cuts off our link.

When I arrive at the ball I find its much like the balls we had at my old pack. Lots of young wolves dressed up in their finest clothes, sniffing other wolves looking for their mate. I stifle my eye rolling as I get sniffed occasionally. Waiters moving around with expensive drinks & finger foods. Soft music plays & expensive looking decor fills the ballroom. This ballroom is far larger & I can tell this party is way more expensive than any party my pack ever did. So far this pack seems much more well off than my pack was. I try to stay close to the wall & avoid dancing with anyone. I make light conversation with a few women who seem nice enough, introducing themselves as some of the pack nurses. Time would tell if they were friends. We hear a loud tapping on a crystal glass. A beautiful older lady in an gorgeous red dress steps up on the grand staircase. "Welcome, all! To our annual harvest ball at Lycans Red Moon Pack!" She says excitedly. Everyone claps politely. "We have 4 new wolves to welcome into our pack today!" She exclaims happily.  More polite clapping. 'That is the Alphas mother. He hasn't taken a Luna yet so his mother often steps in for Luna roles' whispers one of the nurses to me. I nod, feeling anxiety about swearing myself to this pack. "Do you think she minds? Or does she want him to take a Luna?" I ask the nurse hesitantly. The nurse gives me a dubious look. "She likes being the center of attention well enough, but she wants him to make Lily his Luna. Lilys father is very wealthy and it would be a good financial investment for the pack." I feel my chest squeeze at this.
"Everyone please file into the ceremony hall for the ceremony to begin" alphas mother says enthusiastically. The ceremony hall looks like a throne room out of a luxurious castle. A huge black pit of coals is roasting in the middle of the room. Everyone gathers around the pit. It's very packed in here. Everyone is sharing hushed whispers of excitement to see the alpha. Inaya whimpers in my mind & I can instantly feel it though the mate bond. He's here. I can smell him faintly as we wait in the ceremony hall. My eyes dart around looking for him but I don't see him. Maybe he's with the alpha? My heart beings to pound wildly. "The alphas coming!" Someone whispers. Suddenly I question who the alpha IS. Inaya huffs in my mind as if I should have guessed sooner. 'There is no way. There is no way' I think panicked. I need to leave. I can't be in his pack. He's gonna think I planned this somehow. I feel vomit rising in my throat at how humiliating this would be for me. He will surely expose me on the spot to be cruel. I try to make my way toward the exit slowly when I bump into someone. It's Beta Steve. "There you are! The pit is this way!" He says in a laughing tone as if I'm confused. He hauls me over through the cheering crowd to the lineup of the other 3 wolves that are joining the pack. I feel my breathe coming rapidly as I realize there is nothing I can do. Maybe run away again if I find an opportunity. Then... I smell him before I see him. I know he's here. My stomach flips & a clammy sweat covers me. The wolves faces light up like a Christmas tree when he comes in the room. The cheers for his arrival are deafening. I briefly realize this confirms that I am mated to a very powerful Lycan alpha. I want to look at him to see if he's as gorgeous of a man as I remember but I force my eyes to the ground. I pray the ground will split open & swallow me up. This will be incredibly humiliating for me when he assumes what any logical person would: I found his pack & came here like a stalker to be with him after he told me he didn't want me & I should take a chosen mate.