Chapter 7


    It’s around 1 am when we arrive at Shadow Crest. I wake up to Ryker carrying me in his arms. It’s dark


    and quiet.


    ‘Ryker, I can walk, you know?’


    ‘I know, but I want to carry you, he says with a grin.


    ‘Put me down, Ryker.’ He gently puts me down.


    We are at the mansion’s front entrance. It’s three stories high. A giant white staircase ascends to the


    second floor. The balconies on the second and third floors are to die for, and I


    admire the white French doors and windows. Manicured green hedges border the mansion, and


    flowers grace the garden sweetly. A giant water fountain sculpted in the shape of two wolves is a


    mourous outdoor focal point.


    ‘This is where we live. This is the packhouse, Ryker says proudly.


    ‘It’s a massive house for just two people,’ I say.


    ‘Oh, many of us live in this house.’ Ryker scratches the back of his head nervously


    ‘You never said I’d be living in a house with a bunch of werewolves,’ I say.


    “It’s normal for the Alpha and Luna to live in the packhouse with the beta, gamma, omega, the cook.


    Guests from other packse and visit too, he exins.


    ‘How can I stay with so many werewolves I don’t even know?’ || ask, crossing my arms.


    ‘Astrid, no one here is going to harm you. On the contrary, you being here will bring a lot of excitement


    to Shadow Crest. I know it’s a big change, but please give it a few days, and we will talk about it if


    you’re still ufortable,’ Ryker says.


    Sighing, I say, ‘Okay, fine.’ Ryker opens the front door. Seth is behind us.


    ‘Well, I’m going to jump into bed with my mate. I look forward to you meeting her after your rest Luna,


    he smiles.


    ‘I prefer Astrid for now, I mumble. Seth and Ryker exchange their thoughts on what I ask of with a


    hesitant look over my shoulder before he leaves and goes to his room.


    ‘Come. Our room is on the top floor,’ Ryker says as I follow him upstairs.


    ‘Wait. Our room? Don’t I get my own room for now?’ Ryker pauses, and after a moment in thought, he


    nods.


    ‘Your room, for now, will be the room beside mine.’


    ‘Thank you,’ I nod.


    We make our way to the top floor. This ce is immense. There are so many rooms and hallways.


    ‘This is where I sleep, Ryker says, opening arge door. It’s an


    enormous room with a king-sized bed and walk-in wardrobes on either side. The windows are the


    I look forward to seeing what the view during the day will be just as beautiful as the view at night.


    ‘This way. Ryker motions for me to follow him and steps into the room beside his.


    ‘This room is your room. You have a walk-in wardrobe, a bathroom, a king-sized bed, a balcony, and a


    nicefy couch in the corner here, Ryker says. It’s a beautiful room, only slightly smaller than his.


    Make yourselffortable. This is your home now. There will be fresh towels in the bathroom when


    you wake up, and I’ll ask Seth to see if his mate, Mia, can loan you something to wear. Then, when


    you’re ready for breakfast, could you wait for me so we can go down together? Then I’ll take you


    shopping for clothes, and you can meet some locals, Ryker smiles.


    ‘Okay, thank you,’ I say appreciatively


    ‘Before I go. You’ve been through a lot tonight. Will you be okay on your own? I know you aren’t


    for a moment.


    ‘I think I’ll be okay, Ryker.’ He nods and leaves, closing the door behind him. I let out a yawn and walk


    over to the bed. It’s


    so fancy and pretty and looks expensive. I eye the couch for a moment, curl up on it with a nket, and


    fall asleep within minutes.


    I look at the clock on the wall. It’s just after 7 am. I sit up, rub my eyes, remembering everything from


    the night before, and look around the room as I realise everything that happenedst night wasn’t a


    dream.


    I open the bathroom door. It’s just as morous as the bedroom: the marble sink and the granite floor,


    the gold taps, and its chess. In a cupboard, I run a bath and find many soaps, bubble baths, and


    lotions. All these beauty products are every girl’s dream. Taking one of the bubble baths, I squirt it into


    the bathwater and ce a body wash and shampoo on the side of the bathtub. Finally, I remove my


    dirty hoodie and jeans. I’m just about to discard my bra when there’s a knock at the door.


    ‘Who is it?’ | ask.


    ‘Hello, Luna. It’s me. Mia! Alpha Ryker said you need


    something to wear. I brought you one of my dresses. It will be warm today,’ she says loudly and


    excitedly.


    ‘Okay. Let me unlock the door.’ I open the door to see a very sweet-faced, blue-eyed girl with brown,


    shoulder-length hair, around my height, and only a little older than me. I’m guessing no older than


    neen. Her face lights up with the biggest smile before it changes into a look of horror.


    ‘Luna! What happened to you? There are bruises everywhere!’ She says, dropping the dress and


    covering her mouth with her hands in shock. I look down at all the bruising as I stand in my ck


    underwear and bra. Then, ashamed, I hug myself and look away


    ‘Mia, just leave the dress and go, please,’ I say.


    ‘But Luna! She says before I shut the door and lean against it so nobody can enter. ‘Just leave the


    dress there, and go, Mia! I say, wanting her to leave.


    The bath is about to overflow. I run to it and twist the taps off. Then, removing my undergarments, I


    toss my underwear and bra on the floor and lower myself into the water. My whole body stings while I


    scrub my body, wash my arms and legs and shampoo my long brown hair.


    After the bath, I dry myself off. I find a neatly folded, maroon coloured dress with a bra, some


    underwear and slip-on shoes. The short-sleeved dress sits just above my knee, hiding some bruises.


    The sweetheart neckline, unfortunately, doesn’t hide much.


    I find a brush behind the mirror door and see my reflection: my green eyes, small nose, and full pink


    lips. The bruising around my eye has faded a lot, thankfully. I apply a bit of foundation | find to hide


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    what remains of the bruising.


    Ryker and Seth are talking just outside my room.


    ‘You know this will not go down well with Alice,’ Seth says.


    ‘I know, but I have my mate now, so things have changed.’ | open the door. They go silent and smile at


    me.


    ‘Luna, that dress is very ttering on you, Seth smiles.


    ‘Thank you,’ I smile. Ryker walks over to me.


    ‘You look beautiful, Astrid, Ryker says. His face lights up with a big smile.


    I’m so hungry, I announce.


    ‘Well, you’re about to meet Alice downstairs. She’s the cook, Ryker says.


    Ryker insists on holding my hand down the stairs in case I fall. I know it’s just because he wants to be


    close to me and enjoys our closeness, just as I do.


    We enter the dining room. A te smashes to the ground.


    ‘What is the meaning of this?’ The olderdy asks, staring at our hands.


    Everyone stands at the table as we walk in.


    ‘Alice, Mia says, ‘the special guest I was telling you about is our Luna. Can you believe Ryker finally


    found his fated mate?’ Mia says in a bubbly and chirpy tone. Alice looks at me and res.


    ‘Now that you’ve met Astrid, your Luna, you can now finish serving breakfast, Ryker says, smiling at


    me. Alice huffs off back to the kitchen. What’s her problem?


    Taking my seat at the table, Ryker sits next to me. Seth sits beside Mia and kisses her forehead.


    ‘Astrid, you already know Seth and Mia. Over here are Gamma Kane and his mate Hayley.


    ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hayley says.


    ‘Luna, Kane says, bowing gentlemanly.


    ‘Nice to meet you. Is Alice always this grumpy?’ I ask. Everyoneughs.


    Actually, yeah. Alice can be full-on but ignore her.’ Hayley smiles.


    ‘Oh, okay.’ I reply.


    Alicees out from the kitchen carrying a stack of pancakes while ring at Ryker and plopping


    them down onto the table. Ryker follows her into the kitchen.


    ‘Excuse me, Astrid, I need to get myself some water.’ Momentster, we hear them arguing.


    ‘Is everything okay?’ | ask. Everyone passes knowing looks across the table.


    I’m sure everything is fine, Luna, Hayley says, reassuring me.


    ‘So, you’ll be eighteen soon?’ Mia says.


    ‘Yes, in nine days, I smile.


    ‘How exciting! It must excite you to meet your wolf?’ She asks.


    Ryker said something about shifting into a wolf on my eighteenth. I’m going to turn into a wolf. I don’t


    want to shift and don’t want to meet my wolf. What if I hurt someone or kill again? I can’t repeat what


    happened to mum.


    My chest suddenly feels heavy. I hyperventte.


    ‘Luna, are you okay?’ Mia and Hayley ask. With teary eyes, I stand.


    ‘I’m sorry. I can’t do this! I can’t be here!’ abruptly, standing up, I run out of the dining room and down


    the hall until I find the front door and run down the street and keep running, with no idea where I am


    going.