I exit the boardroom hastily.

It has been two days since the night of the warning and we have no leads to whoever might be the one assisting my parents' murderer who should be dead.

Yes. He is or should I say was dead.

I saw him die with my own eyes, as did Mia (the one who killed him).

A hand on my shoulder pulls me out of my thoughts.

I turn around to see Anastasia and Kaden, my future Gamma and Beta respectively.

"You okay, Chloe?" Kaden asks, his voice laced with worry.

I shrug Anastasia's hand off my shoulder and stop walking.

"I still think this is the work of the witches." Anastasia says avoiding my gaze.

"No. The Witch Queen Emalyn gave us her assurance that they were not involved in this. And I believe her." I say coldly.

"You know what? Let's take our minds off this. Movies? Ice cream?" Kaden says trying to lighten the mood.

I'm up for a breather. It's been days since we got out of this crampy castle. Kasey decides to add.

I internally roll my eyes at my wolf.

"You guys go ahead,I need to check on pack matters." I say.

"No. You've been cooped up in here long enough. Let's go."

Anastasia gives me no time to respond to her as she starts pulling me towards the exit.

Kaden chuckles and follows.

These two annoy me to bits sometimes, but I know that they're only doing what they think is best for me.

"Lawrence, we won't be needing guards thanks." Anastasia yells at the group of five guards who were trailing after us.

"It is under the regent Alpha's instruction that we protect and watch the Alpha Princess, future Gamma Anastasia." one of the guards says.

"Okay, how about you follow from a distance? It would be more dangerous if everyone sees Chloe and us with an entourage." Kaden inputs.

"Yes, future Beta Kaden." Lawrence says.

The guards disperse and conceal themselves in the foliage of the forest.

"Let's shift. It's faster that way." Kaden suggests.

"Why not?" Anastasia and I say simultaneously.

We all strip off our clothes in a bush and tie them to our ankles.

Nudity isn't an issue with us, as werewolves. Besides, nothing we've never seen.

I hear bones cracking as Kaden shifts first into his big brown wolf that matches his hair. His bright green eyes scout the area for anyone looking at something they shouldn't be seeing.

Anastasia shifts next, her skin being replaced by pure white fur that is a complete contrast to her raven black hair. Her wolf is beautiful with her brown eyes indicating that she is in control.

I am the last to shift. Thick, silvery grey fur replaces my skin as my bones crack and twist. The first few shifts are unbelievably painful, but as the years go by, it becomes more bearable,it can be compared to popping your knuckles.

My wolf towers over Anastasia's and Kaden's, making them show their necks in submission to me.

I give them a firm nod, satisfied at their respectful gesture.

What? They may be my friends and second and third in command, but I am still their Alpha.

Let's go. I say through the mind-link.

I take off first, giving Kasey full control of her wolf body. She swiftly runs past trees and picks up speed. She slows down a little, giving the two wolves behind us a chance to catch up.

Soon enough, we hear their paws pounding on the forest floor as they run.

Kasey picks up a whiff of multiple scents. She tenses up at first, but relaxes when she realizes it's only the guards running with us in their wolf form.

We reach the end of the forest in a matter of minutes and shift back before throwing our clothes back onto us. Kaden's shirt tore a little when we ran here, making a reluctant Anastasia hand over her oversized grey hoodie.

We step out of the bushes and head off to an ice cream parlor close to a bookstore.

Upon our entrance, the people inside bow their necks in submission to us as high ranking wolves.

Kaden gives them a curt nod, signalling for them to continue with their business.

I slip into a booth and Anastasia plops down next to me while Kaden sits across us. A blonde-haired waitress makes her way to us.

"Good afternoon, Alpha princess, future Beta and Gamma. May I be honored with taking your order?" she says beaming at us, but avoiding eye contact which is a direct challenge to our authority.

We all order the same chocolate fudge swirl we've been ordering since we were kids.

As we ate, we discussed pack business first and later, the topic changed to school and pack training.

"So, when do you think you'll find your mate?" Anastasia randomly asks Kaden.

"I honestly don't know. Like, I've been looking, but it's getting old now." Kaden replies giving a sad smile.

He turned 18 about three months ago, meaning he is able to find his mate. But he still hasn't found her yet. He's saving himself for his mate, meaning he has never been with another girl.

"What's the point of wasting my time with a girl that possibly won't be my mate?" he once said.

"Don't stress it, Kade. You'll find her soon enough. For now, just enjoy singlehood with us." I reassure him.

None of us have found our mates yet. I will be able to find mine when I reach 18 and become crown princess. But that's in about two months. Anastasia is also yet to reach 18 around the same time I do.

"Besides, who wouldn't want to be mated to such a handsome devil like myself?" Kaden says with a smirk.

"Me."

"Ditto."

We all laugh at mine and Anastasia's fast refusal. I notice a few people laughing or smiling.

That happiness is short lived for me as my bladder decides that I have to excuse myself.

"Uhm, guys, I'm headed off to the restrooms, be right back?" I ask almost nervously.

"Yeah sure. We wouldn't want poor princess to have an accident, would we?" Kaden coos at me.

"That would be horrible, right Beta?" Anastasia says before laughing.

This is exactly why I do not like public restroom breaks. I am constantly reminded of an accident that happened at Kaden's parent's house.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.

I rush to the ladies room so I can get this over and done with quickly.

As soon as I step out of the restroom I collide with someone's hard chest.

I look up at the person. He's a wolf.

Of course he's a wolf. There aren't any humans living on our territory. Kasey adds her unnecessary comment.

Watch it. She says.

He stares at me while I visibly scoff at my wolf. I mutter a quick apology and hold my hand out for him to shake and offer an apologetic smile.

Instead of shaking, he looks at it with a blank face. His stormy grey eyes hold no emotion and his stance is not predatory, neither is it submissive. I clear my throat and prevent a growl from escaping my throat.

He looks up at me. His jet black hair brushes his forehead as his emotionless eyes scan my face. He finally makes eye contact.

A low growl escapes my mouth.

He first declines my offer of friendship, now he challenges me?

Before I could say or do anything, a barely audible whimper makes it's way out of his mouth. He bows his head in submission and dashes out the place.

Wait...what?

No! I didn't mean to frighten him.

I don't want my pack members to fear me, I just want them to respect me, just as I respect them.

I sigh in frustration before heading back to Anastasia and Kaden.

Luckily, they hadn't seen what had just happened.

They continue talking with me barely contributing to the conversation.

What was up with that guy? Why was he so closed off? Did he not like me? That's probably not the case, since he appeared to be omega-like. A male Omega? That's rare. I've never even met one before.

Well, technically I just did.

He is vaguely familiar though. Like I've seen him briefly once, or a long time ago. He looks about my age. I wonder if he attends the high school in our pack's territory.

It would be no surprise if he did. Anjelica Halo High is the only high school in our territory and it accommodates all supernatural beings. Vampires, werewolves, witches, shifters, hybrids, all except humans though.

He wasn't unfit or weak-looking, but he did not look as big or as strong as a warrior.

"Chloe!"

"Huh."

Anastasia's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Are you alright? You kind of zoned out there for a while. We just asked if you will be coming back to school tomorrow?" Kaden asks.

"Oh, uhm yeah. I don't think so. Mia thinks I should stay in the castle for a few weeks while they investigate about you-know-what."

I avoid mentioning that because we are in a public space and you never know who's listening. (even though our pack has the best security system, I take no risks.)

Even the walls have ears.

They both nodded in agreement.

I notice that it's getting late and ask the waitress for the bill and kindly tip her.

We head out of the town and run back to the castle in wolf form.

~

I slip into my nightgown and brush my hair, untangling the knots after a long bath.

I stay up for a few minutes in bed, texting my best friend Darcy.

I drift off to sleep thinking about omega boy and stormy grey eyes.

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