I zip up the duffel bag and straighten up. My eyes drift across the room, taking in the columns of magazines, rows of plushy figurines at the shelves, strings of ferry lights coiled around the bed posts – I want to etch them all to my memory, as if it's my last time here.

But I'll be back, with the clothes and knick-knacks I'm taking with me for my temporary relocation.

Only that, the next time I'll step back into my room, I won't have a mate.

My chest tightens again.

Drowning in self-pity, I don't notice coming to my room. "Ready?" she says from the door.

Snapping out of it, I look at her. Wearing her signature biker jacket and dark skinny jeans, that matches her pixie hair, she leans against the frame with a smirk.

I nod, pointing my hand at the bag that I'd just finished stuffing.

She comes in and picks up both of my bags. "Everyone is waiting downstairs. You can drown in your misery on our way. Come down quick," she says and leaves me alone.

I look around the room once again, hoping for a miracle someone will come running upstairs to tell me I don't have to go.

Till then, I've to do what I was asked to.

As I climb down, I see the living room is full. My stomach twists at the crowd. I told my mom I want to just pack up and leave, without a traditional seeing-off by our coven. But she didn't listen.

I understand, as the next head, the responsibilities I've towards our traditions. But sometimes, I just want exceptions. Especially for exceptional circumstances like the one I'm experiencing now.

My mother sees me and comes over. "Everything packed? Got everything you need?"

"I'm good."

She places her hands over my shoulders with a worried face. ", you know that I would never–"

"Mom, I know you're sending me because we've no other option. I'll be fine. And I won't be alone, Nara and are coming with me. We'll be fine."

My mother doesn't look very convinced, but she nods. "I talked to the Alpha and Alpha's father over the phone."

My stomach makes a flip at the mention of him.

How am I going to do this?

She says, "They have arranged your accommodation there. I also talked to . Rest tonight, and see her the first thing tomorrow. She'll update you on everything."

"Was there any incident today? If so, I would like to see her as soon as I reach Red Peak ," I tell my mother.

"Nothing happened today. That's why you visit Hannah's coven tomorrow morning. Alright," she says, kissing my forehead, "Take care. And make sure those two don't get into trouble."

I smile at my mom's very reasonable worry about Nara and Jenny.

––––

Following over seven hours of driving, we reach a lush forest.

One more hour of driving into the forest and we start to see a clearing. There's a roadblock with a handful of jeeps parked nearby and a group of men spread out.

From behind, Jenny peeks her head between the front seats, whistling. Her red, wavy hair almost blocks my view to the other side. "I'm never leaving," she says.

I smile at her excitement. And as I look at the muscular men, I can see why any of us wouldn't want to leave this place, either.

We have men in our coven. But they are no match for these werewolves. Almost everyone here are bigger, muscular, taller, tanner, and overall, hotter.

And Jenny, being the flirt she is, is going to have a hell of a time in Red Peak.

"I want to touch them all," Jenny says.

While I'm shaking my head, Nara says, still looking at her phone – she's always attached to that thing – "You know they heard you, even from this far, right?"

Jenny smirks. "I already asked Cassie to put the mutum spell on us."

Nara looks at me from her phone. I nod. She goes back to her phone.

When I pull to a stop near the roadblock, one of the guys comes to us. I recognize him. He's , the Beta of Red Peak.

Knowing the Beta is here, I scan the others for him, with a racing heart. The last time I saw him, I was ten years old. But I'm sure I can recognize him even now, the way I recognized his Beta who also I saw the last time when I was ten.

Now I'm eighteen, and they are twenty years old.

Jack bends in towards the window as I bring it down. "Welcome to Red Peak, Cassandra," he says with a bright smile.

I smile back. "Thanks."

He points to a jeep in front of us. "I'll drive ahead. You follow me."

"Okay."

––––

Ten minutes later, we start to see houses. The houses get bigger and denser as we drive further in. There's a whole town here.

We reach a large mansion, flanked by equally impressive houses.

After we stop at the front door, I see him coming outside.

Involuntarily, my palms tighten around the steering wheel.

"It's gonna be okay," Nara says. Jenny gently places a hand over my shoulder. I take a deep breath and repeat, "It's gonna be okay."

We step out of our vehicles.

He comes to where we are. "Welcome to Red Peak," he cordially says, without any expression on his face. It's as if he's welcoming his business associates.

I struggle to find my voice. Nara steps in and says, "Thank you, Alpha."

He leads us to the living room where a group of older men are sitting. One of them, his father, stands up and says in a cheerful voice, "Cassandra! Welcome to Red Peak. How was the drive? I hope it wasn't too troublesome."

If one more person says, "Welcome to Red Peak," I'm going to slam my head against a wall.

"Thank you, Mr. Pressman. The drive was good."

"Please, Cassandra, call me ."

I smile, unable to bring myself to address the former Alpha of Red Peak by his first name. Us witches, we don't do well with first names.

He laughs at my hesitation. "Your mother called us in the morning. We've readied everything here for you and your friends' stay. If you need anything, feel free to ask us anytime."

"Yes, sir. Thank you."

He gestures a girl around our age to come forward. From her face, I'm guessing she's George's daughter, his younger sister.

"Meet my daughter, ."

"Hi," she says, beaming at me. "Nice to meet you."

I'm already beginning to like her for not welcoming me to Red Peak. "Nice to meet you, too."

"She'll show you the guesthouse where you'll be staying," George says. "Clean up and rest a bit. Then you girls will have dinner with us."

I was hoping he would not mention that last part. Dinner with the host is a common courtesy. I know they would ask me and my friends to dine with them one day or another. But right away like this... I'm starting to see just how difficult my stay here is going to be.

Sabrina takes us to the side gate. We walk through a breathtakingly beautiful rose garden to reach another house.

"This garden connects the main house to the guesthouse. The gates are always open. You can visit the main house anytime you want," she says.

Inside the guesthouse, I see that it's big.

"I filled the fridge and pantry with anything you might need. I also filled the bathrooms with some bath products, just in case. Your bags are in your rooms. If you guys need anything else, let me know."

"Sure," I tell her. "Thank you."

She takes out her phone and gives it to me. "Give me your number. I'll give you a missed call, then save mine."

I hesitantly take her phone. This is the first time someone asked for my number.

After Sabrina leaves, Nara and I crash on the couches while Jenny rummages the kitchen.

I lie down and look up at the ceiling, recalling his face.

It's considered bad for a werewolf to have a mate who's not a werewolf. And for an Alpha like , it's important to have a strong she-wolf for a mate. Not a witch.

When I found out he was my mate, at the age of seven, I was told that after he turns 21, the elder witches will break our bond, so he could mate with another werewolf.

I was asked not to think about Leon, so when it's time, I could amicably break my bond with him.

I listened to what I was told. So even though I'd a mate, I spent my days feeling jealous of the witches who had partners.

Naturally, one day, I slipped. I was ten. I begged my aunt to take me to see him. After lying to everyone we were going to an amusement park, my aunt took me to a mixed event in a fancy hotel.

That's the first time I saw a lot of werewolves in one place. It was a charity event a lot of the popular werewolf packs, vampire and witch covens attended.

From afar, my aunt showed me Leon. I was allowed to only see him.

I saw, like, half of his face, but that was enough for me to instantly like him.

He looked taller for a twelve-year-old. He was talking and laughing with Jack.

I saw him for a couple more minutes, remembering everything about him I could. Then my aunt took me back home.

Growing up, there were moments I wondered how he would look like now? How tall he'd grown? How big he'd gotten? How does his face look?

But now I wish I hadn't found out.

He has grown so much. I was enthralled by how handsome he was as a kid, but now... he's the most handsome man I've ever seen. Sharp brown eyes, angular jaw, soft locks, straight nose, muscular torso, and an impressive height. He's everything a girl could dream of.

And he's not mine — even when he is.

"Don't think about him," Nara says from the other couch, still looking at her phone.

I sigh. "I know." I drag myself upstairs to my room for a shower. She's right. If I don't want my heart broken more than it already is, I shouldn't think about him, and keep my distance.