The Secret Mate

Chapter 3 (Rewritten)

As I looked out to the water I couldn't help but feel content. Something inside me felt alive and happy. It was a level of happiness that I have never achieved before. My wolf Laura was fully aware and present showing she was happy herself. "Katie? Katie, where are you?" I heard a male's voice call, I enjoyed the new nickname he had given me. It was different; I liked it. I got up from my spot going towards the voice in hopes of finding the man. In the distance I saw a tall male like figure, I began to run towards the man and his voice. He continued to call out for me and not in a worried way, but a playful happy way. It seemed as if I was unable to reach him. He was getting farther everytime I felt like I got closer. He began to slowly disappear while still calling out for me, "No, wait! Come back." I hollered for the figure over and over again until he was out of my sight.

I jolted awake and saw I was still on the plane. I looked to my left to see another female wolf named Hannah was wide awake reading a book. At the lay-over she boarded the plane and we got to talking. Hannah was from a small pack that sat on the border of Colorado. It was her third time attending the ball and she was hopeful she would find her mate this time around. Hannah was the youngest of three and that her father was the Gamma of her current pack. She said they were attacked before she was even born by some rogues which resulted in a large amount of casualties and damage. Her parents and some remaining survivors found that it would be best to start over. It was oddly refreshing to hear about other wolves and their experiences outside of my pack. I found it hard to think about attending the ball in hopes of finding your mate just to turn up empty handed. It's almost depressing. Hannah didn't let it show as she was more hopeful and excited than anything.

"Attention passengers, please return to your seats and buckle your seatbelts. We will be landing in Charleston, West Virginia here shortly." The said pilot across the intercom. Hannah must have just realized that I was awake as she took out her headphones and put her book away. "Oh good, you're awake. I realized that I never gave you a chance earlier to tell me about yourself. I was about to ask you, but saw you were already asleep and I wasn't about to wake you." Hannah said, turning her body and attention towards me. I was slightly caught off guard as I didn't realize that I had not told her about myself. I knew that I didn't need to tell her details, but she was not going to let me off this plane without sharing my life story as well. I took a deep breath before trying to figure out where to start.

"Well I am the middle child of my family. I have a younger brother named Michael and an unofficial older brother named Eric. My parents are the Alpha and Luna of the Black Stone Pack and this is my first time to attend the ball." I finished my sentence hoping she wouldn't ask many questions. It was simple and straight to the point. "That's cool." I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding. I didn't really want to tell her about our pack life, nor did I want to tell her about my relationship with my family. Just like Eric, I tend to be a private person, but only with strangers.

"Where are you staying this weekend?" Hannah had asked me. In all honesty, it never crossed my mind. Since I'm not really here for the traditional reason and a man is already waiting for me, I just assumed it was taken care of. I knew that I needed to answer her, "With some of my mom's relatives." She nodded in understanding and I was thankful that she dropped the topic.

Hannah and I continued our conversation for a bit longer, talking about different things. "Katharine, have you ever heard about the Lawrence family and the White Moon Pack?" I was slightly caught off guard by her question as I have never met anyone else besides myself and my mother who have openly spoken about that family. "Actually, yes. My mother told me a story about them growing up, which I have now passed on to the kids in my pack." You could tell that she was shocked that I knew about them. We spoke some more on the topic and both became more intrigued on the Lawrence family and White Moon Pack. While talking, I found out that according to a family story Hannah had been told growing up, her grandfather had met Alpha Gregory Lawrence and his Luna before their pack was attacked. She said that she was always told by her father that he became a close alliance to Alpha Gregory, but after the attack never spoke of the family again.