Chapter 11: Run in the Woods

Aurora

I walked into the kitchen, still thinking of the recent encounter between Wolfgang and Tallulah.

They seemed very familiar with each other.

I found Mrs. Kala busily ordering the cooks around as they ran from side to side, preparing dinner.

“Oh, Rory. How are you feeling so far? Did you like your room?” asked the older woman, looking up from the tablet she had in her hands, on which she had been making a list of to-do tasks for the day.

“Yes ma’am. It’s alright,” I answered.

“Come here. Let me show you around,” she said as she escorted me deeper into the kitchen. “You already know some of the kitchen staff. Here is the head chef, Beau Mullins.”

Beau was a large, buff man, with honey-brown skin and thick dreadlocks. At first sight he seemed intimidating, but his eyes were kind and warm.

“Over there is his sous chef, Tony Gibbons.”

She nodded at a medium-height man with auburn hair and green eyes, who was busily kneading bread on one of the counters.

He gave me a brief smile before returning to his duty.

“There’s Lily, Corey, and Luca.” She pointed to a trio busy chopping vegetables near the ovens.

“And of course, our sweet pup, Isaiah, Beau’s son.” She waved to a cute kid with golden-warm skin and bright hazel eyes, who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen.

He was washing dishes. “He’s learning the ropes so he can take over the kitchen once his dad decides to retire,” Mrs. Kala explained.

“Everyone, Aurora has joined our household as the alpha’s personal maid. I expect all of you to welcome her and make her feel at home,” Mrs. Kala said, speaking loudly and patting my shoulder to get their attention.

I hated being the center of attention.

“Really?” someone whispered.

“Personal maid? I’ve never heard of that,” another commented. All I could do was play with the hem of my shirt, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

“Oh, dear, I forgot. Are you hungry? You haven’t had anything for breakfast or lunch? Beau, would you mind whipping up something quick for Aurora here?”

The head chef nodded and smiled, then turned to get something out of the fridge.

“No, that’s okay, Beau. But thanks.” I said before he could begin.

I turned to Mrs. Kala. “Umm, actually, I was trying to find the backyard door? My wolf has been pestering me to go for a run.”

“Oh, sure thing, dear. Right through that door, and then take a left. Don’t stray too far, though. Remember, that the borders aren’t that safe,” she said with a smile.

Everyone resumed their work.

I followed Mrs. Kala’s directions and found myself in a beautiful rose garden yard. The aroma was incredible.

~“It’s so beautiful out here Aurora!”~ Rhea exclaimed in my mind.

~“Yeah. It is,”~ I thought as I looked around for a place to take off my clothes that would shield my nudity from others.

Being a wolf, you were supposed to be used to having people seeing you naked. It’s only normal because we have to strip off our clothes in order to shift.

But I still wasn’t ready for that.

I walked through the yard until I came to the edge of the forest. I took a quick glance behind me, then ran to the biggest oak tree I could see.

I took my clothes off and folded them neatly, then put them in a little squirrel hole close to the ground, covering them with a brush of dried leaves.

I mentally prepared myself for the excruciating pain I’d felt like last time, but it was bearable this time. Sooner than I’d expected, I was in my wolf form.

“~Very good Aurora! You’re starting to get the hang of it,”~ Rhea praised me.

I couldn’t help the wolfish smile that crept over my face.

We sprinted through the forest, crisscrossing between the trees and jumping over puddles, enjoying the feel of the wind against my fur.

It was a feeling of freedom. Like nothing could ever go wrong. We spent the next hour running, until we realized we were hungry.

I looked up, through the tree branches, to see that the sky was already turning hues of orange and purple as nightfall came.

I decided to head back to the pack house.

“~We’d better hurry back to the house Rhea,”~ I told my wolf. She murmured in agreement.

Once I was back at the leader’s house and had pulled my clothes back on, I walked back through the rose garden.

I couldn’t help but to stop and admire the flowers. Whoever was taking care of them knew what they were doing because they all looked crisp and beautiful.

I bent down near one of the bushes to sniff a rose closer, and sighed in delight. I made a mental note to ask Mrs. Kala or Aspen if I could clip a few to put in my room.

“It’s a breathtaking garden, huh?”

A voice pulled me out of my train of thought. I jumped up in surprise to see Beta Barone walking down the stairs that led to the mansion.

I quickly bowed my head in respect.

“Didn’t I tell you there was no need for formality?” he chuckled. “What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

“Oh, I came for a run and then I couldn’t help but stop to admire these roses. They’re really beautiful,” I said with a smile at the beautiful flowers.

“They sure are. This was Alpha Wolfgang’s mother’s garden. He’s taken care of them ever since she died,” he commented.

My eyes widened in shock. Who would have thought that a mean, grouchy guy like him had such a soft side?

Then I remembered the day I saw him arguing with Alpha Gudolf while I waited for Dad, that day of the meeting.

“I had no idea.” I smiled as I looked over the roses once more.

“So. How have you felt so far at the mansion? Do you like your room?” he asked.

“Um, sure. It’s really big, especially because I didn’t bring much with me, but it’s nice,” I answered.

“Well, it shocked all of us when Wolfie said he’d take you in as his personal maid but now I see the reason why,” he said, giving me a crooked smile.

“Huh? What reason?” I asked, hoping to find some answers as to why I’d been brought here so suddenly.

“Yeah. You’re a total hottie,” he said, giving me a wink.

I blushed. I knew that the beta was a hopeless womanizer, but I couldn’t help feel flattered by his words.

I had always been the outcast at school; guys had certainly never hit on me.

This was a first.

“You’re already eighteen, right? The guy who turns out to be your mate will be one lucky bastard,” he said.

I giggled nervously.

“~Yeah. That’s me. Lucky,”~ I thought to myself.