Chapter 5 Haunted Thoughts

Sera's POV

Still Moon Pack

I stare at myself in the mirror as I brush my teeth. It had been three weeks since I ran away from my mate, and I still couldn't get him off my mind. Thoughts of him occupy my head day and night. The tantalizing scent of wood and musk follows me as I attend to my pack duties. It is my mate's scent, the mate I abandoned.

I shook my head to steer those thoughts away.

I had more important things to do today than to be plagued with thoughts of my mate. A mate I can't recognize. Amary has been giving me the silent treatment since that unfortunate day. She has always been taciturn, but now it is even worse. But I don't mind it one bit.

I am also angry at her for disregarding my opinion on the mating. I could do whatever I wanted the way she could.

As I get ready for the day, my mind goes to my itinerary for the day. Fresh additions to the pack arrive today, and I have to screen every one of them to ensure they are safe for the pack. The pack is underpopulated, with most being helpless women and children whose husbands and sons died in the battle with the pack's former Beta, Ralf. The remaining men were just enough to protect the pack's borders. They were men whose dedication to my father and me was unquestionable.

Together, we are keeping the pack alive.

I leave the shower and move towards my closet to find an outfit. My closet is brimming with dark-colored clothes. After the battle that claimed the lives of my family a year ago, I then favored dark clothes over bright clothes to match my mood. The only bright spot in my dark world was the twins, which I kept away from harm by sheer luck. At that thought, I am drawn back to those nightmarish memories.

Flashback***

"Dad, Beta Ralf is planning to rebel with Dylan. They have shifters camped outside the pack right now. I held them discussing in Dylan's room," I said, my voice filled with anguish as I whimpered.

My parents stared at me in confusion.

"Are you sure of what you are saying?" Dad said with a serious expression.

"Yes, I am, Dad. We have to act fast!" I said. I spoke with urgency. Ralf's plan must fail, or my family will die. And I was determined to protect them.

Dad went into Alpha mode.

"Go with your mother and siblings to the pack's safe house and hide. Gather the women and children to the safe house as quietly as possible. Try not to alert the enemy. I will speak to the Delta and gather the enforcers to protect the pack. Go now!"

"But Dad, I want to stay and fight by your side. Besides, there are barely any enforcers in the pack. Marc took most of them out to train. We need enough shifters to defend the pack!" I said.

"You don't think I know that? But someone has to protect the women and children. Your mother is still weak, and we have two little pups in need of protection. I trust you to protect them and keep them safe." Dad looks me in the eye, and I see the trust and responsibility he places on me.

I had to keep the women and the children safe and protect the twins from harm. I nodded firmly, determined to fulfill this task. Although I had not shifted, I was a mighty warrior, the strongest of my peers in the pack.

I picked up my siblings and watched Mom turn to Dad with a concerned look.

"You must come back alive." Her voice shook as she spoke. I'd never seen Mom so serious. "If you die, I'd follow you. I mean it." She had a stern look on her face. Dad nodded firmly as they hugged.

"You take care of my mate," Dad said with a grave expression as he turned to me.

"I will," I replied as I hugged him. My throat was tense, and a feeling of dread filled my stomach.

We leave as Dad looks for the pack's Delta, Stone. I helped Mom to the safe house and gathered the weak women and children of the pack, doing so as quietly as I could. I gathered them all with the help of my friend Millie and the Delta's son, Miles, an enforcer-in-training. We then waited in pensive silence.

****

"Alpha, the new members are here." Miles mind linked me from the pack's border, disrupting my thoughts. Moving to my closet, I pick out a sleeveless brown top and black shorts appropriate for carrying out pack duties.

I move to the mirror by my bedside and ruffle my hair with my hand. My medium-length, thick, chestnut brown hair was always unruly. I brush it into a temporary shape and head down for my meal.

I arrive at the table just as the pack's cook, Cindy, comes out of the kitchen with my meal in her hands. Cindy has been the pack's cook for as long as I can remember. She watched Marc and me grow up; she is like my mother.

"You are up. I was about to look for you in your room. Everyone else has had their meal except you." Cindy places a plate of bacon and eggs with a cheese sandwich on the table.

"I slept in a little since there is nothing important to do before the new members arrive." I pick up the sandwich and take a bite.

Cindy looks at me in concern. "You should take things easy and try not to overwork yourself. The pack needs shaping up, but that does not mean you can't take a rest."

I can't help but admit that she is right. Lately, I tire easily, and my energy is getting sapped away. This morning, it was a struggle to get out of bed. We glance towards the door of the pack house as Millie comes in.

"I thought you would never come down. The twins have been asking of you, and Daphne is having difficulty coming up with excuses for your absence," Millie said as she strode into the pack house. Daphne was a little Omega in charge of caring for the pack's pups while their parents were away. She also doubled as the twins' nanny since I am always away.

I have not spent time with the twins because I have been busy with pack duties. I feel a stab of guilt at neglecting them and make a note to get them new toys as a peace offering. Ruby would be so excited when I got her the doll she had always wanted. I smile at the thought.

"I would go see them after the meeting with the new members. Miles informed me of their arrival," I inform Millie as I reach for some eggs. I immediately feel nauseous at the smell.

"Alright, I will lead them to the meeting area," Millie said as she left.

I finish my bacon, leave the eggs, and proceed to the meeting area.

Everyone rises as I enter and have a seat. The room has ten fresh faces, six males and four females. The males look lean and muscular; they are all Beta wolves. They would be a pleasant addition to the team of pack enforcers. The females look thin and weary. Two of them are Omegas, and one is a Beta. I stare at the last one. I couldn't sense her wolf, and that put me on guard.

She is petite and delicate, with soft blue eyes. Although she looks harmless, the absence of a wolf aura puts me on guard. With the recent power struggles in the Werewoods and the disappearance of the Maniac Rogue, it was wise to be extra careful.

"What's your name and where are you from?" I asked her with a guarded look.

"My name is Aria. I woke up by the roadside about a month ago. Although I know basic things, I have no memories of my pack and family. My name is the only thing I remember. I went from pack to pack seeking refuge, but no one would in a person with no identity like me. I heard your pack was seeking new members, so I came here," she sobbed as she talked.

She looks thin and harmless, and my heart can't help but soften at her plight. I glance at Millie and Miles, and they seem to have no objection. All three of us decide on pack matters together.

Millie and Miles question the other people, and they all give suitable answers. We conclude the screening, and an enforcer takes them to settle in the pack.

"Miles, send someone to confirm their stories. Pay special attention to Aria's background." Although they checked the right boxes, it was better to be careful.

"Yes, Alpha," Miles said.

I move to stand as I suddenly feel dizzy. The room sways as I black out.

"Sera!"