Getting To Know The Island
Wisteria Pov
My eyes followed as he left the room, and my mind raced. What fucking irony is it that I ran away from home to avoid fighting over land only to be captured and forced into a land dispute anyway? Was this the moon Goddess condemning me? Her way of telling me that I should have fought for the gifts passed down through generations? Well, no matter. I have no choice anymore. The large ship started to shudder as it pulled away from the harbor. Here we go, time to sit here and wait to die. The person on this ship gave us a bit of leeway, and we were able to sit, stand and look out the window. When we weren't training on the upper deck, I worried about who I'd be up against. Soon the ship melted away, and I was on land. Our commander used his forefinger and pinky to let out a whistle. That sound meant we were forced to shift. I felt Ella's agonizing scream ripple through me as she was forced forth. My paws sunk into the soft sand, and the salty air threatened to calm me. No such luck, though, as faceless comrades stood beside me and nameless men stood before me.
"GO" yelled our captor, and my body lept forward to attack the man in front of me. Dodging left, it avoided an arrow that came flying towards me. Getting low, it lunged at nameless man one, and before it bites down on his shoulder, I found myself gasping for air as I sat up in a sweat-soaked panic. My head swung left and right, trying to figure out where I was. The lavender walls and the light-colored wood floors reminded me that I was no longer under the control of the witches or the carnies. I threw my legs over the right side of the memory foam mattress to sit on the edge of the bed. Looking at my legs, I chuckled, and my body lightened a bit at the thought of being able to tell my legs how to do anything. It was a marvelous feeling. Then, shock once again hit me about how I caught myself thinking about controlling my body. Most, including me, never give a thought; it's just something that is. Now I often find myself marveling at having the automatic functions of my being back. Shaking my head, I got off the bed and walked to my studio room's bathroom area in the ladies' guest house. Getting undressed, I stared at myself before getting into the shower. It had only been a week since alpha Linus rescued us from the warships, and I was still in shock about the drastic changes in my life over the past year.
Staring at my frame, I could see that I had already put on much-needed weight since being here, but it would take a month to get back to the healthy way my body looked. Running my hands through my hair, missing my short curls, I wondered aloud when I should cut it again. Linus flashes across my mind, and I wondered if he preferred long hair on women. Stepping into the corner of the shower, I turned on the water and fiddled with the gold knobs till it was hot. Stepping out of the corner, I let the hot water cascade down my back and thought about the rest of the day, which started to get me pretty excited. Beta Lupin assigned us to chore rotations, but we only observed and learned what we would be doing once everything was sorted out. Last week I was on outdoor duties, so I watched the farming, animal care, grounds maintenance, and hunting. This week I was told that it would be indoor things, like cooking, cleaning the castle, laundry, and other such things. Cleaning is cleaning, so that is nothing to really get gassed over, but the excitement was ever-present. Still, everyone in the Lonefang pack is very welcoming, and it'll be nice to get to know as many as I can. Not to mention it would be nice to be able to run into the Alpha again. His handsome face came rushing to my mind, and I could feel the tingle as my nipples got hard. I couldn't look at him much when we were on the boat, but I could get a better look at him through stolen glances while doing chores. His green eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and his blonde hair was the perfect compliment to them. Closing my eyes to get a clearer picture in my mind, I reached up and adjusted the showerhead, so the two streams were tickling my nipples. My hands caressed my nipples as his bright smile flashed across my mind. His firm, commanding voice when leading others in the pack caused one hand to trace down my stomach to my Yani. Imagining what he and I would look like together naked under the moon on a still-warm night made my fingers and clit weave together in a heated dance. My back rested against the cool tile as my fingers danced in time to the motions of the bodies in my mind. His strong hands massaged away my pain and struggles, and he filled me with rock-hard happiness. My back arched off the tile as my fingers reached the climax of its dance. Linus was my mate and my brief escape wrapped in a robust masculine frame. Opening my eyes, I was able to enjoy about 10 more minutes before the pain slowly seeped in at the corners of my mind again. Letting out a sigh, I turned off the shower, stepped out, and toweled off. My self-love is just a minor distraction from what my life has become, but it was nice while it lasted. Stepping out of the bathroom, I walked to the drawer across from the bed and shuffled through some clothing we were given.
I pulled out a light yellow short sleeve shirt and some light blue jeans. I tried to push away the images of the nightmare as I walked towards the packhouse. The layout of this part of the island was beautiful. The main packhouse was nestled in the valley of two mountains. There was a thick patch of trees all around the edge of lonefang territory hiding away the sprawling encampment. Within the patch of trees is a winding trail that leads you to the mansion, which is perfectly in the middle and fills the entire width. The only way to the guest houses in the back was to go through the central estate or around Mt Andrea. If you went around Mt. Alastair, you could still access the barn and guest houses, but it would take much longer as you would have to go through the mid-sized village that housed all the omegas. It was broken up by male and female townhouses and then the single-family houses in the town. If you were single, you were in a townhouse, and then once mated, the couple could upgrade to a home. During my time on the grounds, I got to really explore the area, and it was large, plush, and beautiful even during winter. The sprawling trees were peppered with winter blooms, and the snow-capped mountains were a sight to behold. I would dare to say Jestan was still more beautiful and lush, but a girl could definitely get used to the place. Finally arriving after 20 minutes, I walked into the entryway and was met by the pack's lively energy. Beyond the entry was the large living area that had a modern design. The dark wood floors were in great contrast to the light grey walls. Large l shaped couches with plush cushions were expertly placed among square grey love seats. Entering the middle of the living area, I admired the room's centerpiece, a beautiful sleek glass coffee table. Some of the Omegas that I have gotten to know over the past week smiled and waved to me. Waving back, I picked up my speed as everyone gathered in the dining room.
"My name is Sophia Ray, and I'm the female Delta of this pack for those of you who have not met me yet," she said as she swept her long chocolate brown hair away from her face.
"The indoor chores are broken up into groups, and you'll be as well to tackle them all. There are breakfast duties, kitchen cleanup, laundry, and upkeep based on the floor." Sophia continued turning towards the front wall of the kitchen. Her wide hips sat nicely on her thin frame as she sashayed across the room. Pointing to the wall that contained 7 clipboards.
"If you don't see your name on one list, just check the others. Once you find your name, report to the omega in charge, and they'll instruct you on how to do your duty. If you do not see your name on any list, please come see me at the table, and I'll find a place for you." Sophia then stepped out of the way and walked past the dining area into the kitchen. Looking around, I remembered seeing many of the faces around me on the ship. It seems everyone is thriving during their time here. Cheeks were filled out, and I could see the sadness slowly being etched away.
Once the crowd died down a bit, I checked the boards to find that I would be on kitchen duty until the official sorting party. Blake and the 14 others I would be working with were gathered in the hall that led to the second living area. On arrival, I listened as he told us we would be observing food prep for breakfast and dinner. Lunch was not communal, and we were free to spend the time that we were not making food as we wished. Once we dispersed, I went out to spend time with the barn animals. There were many spare hours since breakfast was taken care of; I transformed and ran around with the herd dogs.
Since I have been here, I've liked the farm animals and the dogs in particular. Without the therapist provided for us, I am not sure I would have taken the time to enjoy something so simple. Said therapist told me to take time out to find something that I could get peace from. After searching, it ended up being the animals and going for runs. Eventually, blending the two activities and playing with the dogs in wolf form made sense. It was interesting to have a werewolf therapist. This has to be something unique to this pack, but I had come to appreciate it. Thanks to therapy, I am not over the horrors that happened to me by a long shot, but I'm now closer to Elly.
The daily sessions allowed me to share my authentic self when I couldn't share with anyone else, which was a weight off my shoulders. The Alpha informed us that those sessions would drop to weekly when we were sorted, then change to as needed.
Losing my train of thought, I rubbed away the goosebumps I always got when thinking about my Alpha. Knowing he is our mate should be a joyous occasion, but I am the only one who seems excited. Whenever I brought it up to Elly, she would agree, but I could also tell that she didn't seem happy about it. Finding your mate is supposed to be a celebration for both counterparts, but Elly insists that something does not feel right.
A bell chimed off in the distance to let me know that the dinner crew would be gathering to start prep. Running back to the barn, I shifted and observed the dinner crew.
Tonight's catch was rabbit, and the head chef informed us that we would be having rabbit cacciatore. The rabbit is browned first in olive oil, then braised with onions, garlic, red bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs picked from the garden. There were roasted potatoes on the side and a red wine pairing. As the days passed, that was the pattern I could see. Those on hunting duty would drop off their fresh catch, and the staff would prepare a rather fancy dish for everyone. If there was no catch for the day or not enough meat, they would supplement with chickens from the farm. The kitchen was hectic, but it gave me enough time to think about why the bond was not all-consuming for me since we were only watching.
Having been to many mate balls and speaking with other wolves and hell, even my parents, the bond is supposed to be all I could think about. I feel the pull, but I would find myself thinking about and missing Milo in quiet moments. What must he think happened to me? Did he miss my gentle touch as I missed his warm embrace? I wonder what Alpha Linus' embrace is like. I often found myself stopping during meal prep to shake the conflicting thoughts away. The sessions and the farm made the week fly by. It was a blast making meals for the pack and getting to see how close they are despite the large size. I had no reasonable explanation for my mate's reaction by the time Friday rolled around. The party was being held on Saturday, but the Alpha wanted a grand affair, so prep work was done. The men and women were separated and taken into different bedrooms on the second floor. We were all measured on Thursday, so we would be picking out outfits today. There were racks of dresses in designated ladies' rooms with our names on them. Immediately I went over to the stand labeled Wisteria and ran my hands along with the soft fabrics. There were silks, velvets, satins, and other decadent materials. Milo used to get me pretty dresses like this for our dates, and a small smile crossed my face as I held up a cute red number to my frame and looked in the mirror. I twirled in the mirror in front of me and thought about what I would look like dancing with my mate if I got the chance. The giggles and excitement from some of the other girls were so infectious we all spent way more time trying on the clothes than we needed to. After trying on all of my options and asking the few friends I had gotten to know for advice, I decided on a red sleeveless backless midi chiffon dress. Grabbing a pair of red strappy heels to match, I walked over to Maya and Aliya and twirled for them. The girls giggled and pulled at the fringes lightly as I twirled.
"Your crush, whoever this mystery boy is, will love this dress," Maya said
"Maya, not just her crush; it's her mate." Aliya turned and ran her hands down her black satin high slit evening gown, continuing, " I hope I meet my mate at the sorting."
"I already told you guys I'm not sure he's my mate, which is why I'm not saying anything. However, the tug doesn't feel as strong as it should," I said, looking at the floor.
"Nonsense," said Maya turning us both to look in the mirror, "we were all enslaved, lost control of our bodies, and almost died in a war. That is a lot to process. The bond may not be that strong because we are still processing our traumas." Tearing up, I gave her a hug. Maya seemed strong and could pick me up more than once in the guest house when things were hard. Aliza was a sweetheart, and I am glad to have met these women even under the circumstances. We all spent a couple minutes in a group hug. Aliza was the first to break it and go, "So tell me, what are you ladies choosing? I was living a pretty decent living as a rogue, and I do enjoy my freedoms, especially now." She said, walking back to her changing room. "but if the Alpha is willing to go all out like this just to ask us if we would like to stay or go home, then I think life will be pretty good here. I plan to stay." Maya and I posted to the side of the room door while she changed. "Did they only grab rogues cause I was one as well? Although I can't say that I was living well," she said while looking at me. Shrugging my shoulder, I replied, "they must have cause though I didn't really think of myself as a rouge at the time, I was."
"So," said Aliza stepping out of the dressing room, "does that mean you plan to stay?" Maya nodded her head. "I plan to stay. It'll be 100 times better than how I was living before." Stepping into the dressing room next to change, I said, "I am only staying long enough to explore this possible mate situation. If it doesn't look like I was right about it, then I will ask the Alpha to help me get back to new york." Stepping out of the room after changing back into my jeans and purple tee, I saw both of the girls looking surprised. Stepping in after Maya asked, "You'd really go back to the humans after everything we went through?"
"The humans had help; they wouldn't have been such a threat without the witches. So I figure I never go to another carnival and maybe find a witch friend to have my back; I'll be alright where I was ." Maya stepped out of the dressing room and shook her head at me. "Girl, you must really love new york." I thought about it for a second and decided not to tell them about Milo. I'm not sure what kind of person would make me have a backup boyfriend if Linus is not my mate. "I do; it's a great city, and if I don't stay, you ladies will have to visit me."
"You know we will," Aliza said.
"Let's head back to the guest house and figure the makeup we'll match with our dresses." she finished pulling us out the door. We rushed back to the guest's house. The rest of the night was filled with excited chatter from all the girls. By the time my head hit the pillow, all I could think about was the party tomorrow.