Chapter 119: Chapter 3

ADELIE

Elias had drifted off to sleep, his head nestled in my lap.

The driver’s voice broke the silence. “We’ve arrived,” he announced, his eyes flicking to my attire in the rearview mirror, a hint of judgment in his gaze.

I nudged Elias awake. We were surrounded by nothing but open space, the early morning fog already beginning to roll in.

Just Elias and I had made the journey here. Maeve had taken a separate car, assuring us she’d be there ahead of us. We gathered our bags and stepped out of the car. The driver looked at us with concern, “Are you sure you want to stay here? The city isn’t far by car, but on foot, it’ll take you an hour or so.”

We hadn’t chosen a driver from our pack.

We figured it wouldn’t matter who drove us, and if someone from our pack had to, they’d need to rent a car and then drive all the way back.

Plus, I thought it would be a good experience for Elias to interact with a regular human, even though I knew he’d snuck off to the human city before.

The driver filled the journey with chatter about world news, to which I casually agreed, even though I had no idea what he was talking about. Elias listened attentively, only dozing off toward the end.

“We’re meeting someone here,” I reassured the driver, offering a sweet smile. “The walk will do us good. Thank you.”

We waited by the roadside until the car disappeared from view. Only then did I lead Elias into the forest, his hand in mine, our bags in the other.

“Is it far?” Elias asked.

“I’m not sure. But someone should be meeting us here to guide us.”

As we ventured deeper into the forest, the sound of breaking branches reached my ears. Instinctively, I moved to shield Elias. These weren’t my woods, but I was prepared to claim them if necessary.

Laughter echoed through the trees, and I relaxed as two men appeared. “Luna Adelie!” one greeted enthusiastically, bowing his head in respect.

Both men wore wide smiles. “We’re pleased to see you here. Let me take your bags,” the other offered, swiftly relieving us of our luggage before I could respond. They were clearly brothers, with their fiery red hair and matching simple clothes.

Without another word, they set off, and we followed. “How was the drive?” one asked, slowing his pace when he noticed we were lagging behind. I had no trouble keeping up in my ankle-length dress and lace-up boots, but Elias struggled to match their pace.

“Uncomfortable,” I admitted, reflecting on the five-hour drive. We rarely traveled. Sometimes I had to, especially when Elias decided to wander off, but usually, people came to us. We didn’t need to go anywhere.

I didn’t elaborate further. It was clear they weren’t interested in my curt responses. They wanted more details, but I wasn’t one for small talk. “Well…the king has prepared everything to make your stay as pleasant as possible,” one of them assured me. Given the real reason for my visit, I had my doubts.

I could sense the moment we crossed from the human world into the mythical. The scent in the air changed instantly, replaced by the fresh aroma of crops and dew-kissed grass.

As we entered a clearing, the sounds of life began to fill the air. Houses stretched out as far as the eye could see, interspersed with animal farms and greenhouses. An elderly woman was gathering lavender, her gaze discreetly following us as we passed.

We trailed behind the brothers, who whispered to each other as we walked. More people came into view, their eyes fixed on us.

I glanced down at my emerald green dress, adorned with beading and embroidery. I’d chosen it for its simplicity, but their stares suggested it was anything but. My hair was styled in thick braids, with a few loose strands framing my face.

My makeup was bold, with dark green eyeshadow and sharp eyeliner.

I was certainly more dressed up than the rest of them. In my pack, it was a different story. The women occasionally wore something similar to my style, but they still didn’t dress like me. My pack had grown accustomed to my bold makeup. They found it strange when I didn’t wear my usual dark shades.

The Alpha King’s pack was well-planned. The paths led straight through the pack. At the center was a grand park, which I assumed was also used for training. The grass was lush and untouched, a testament to the nymphs who cared for it.

Opposite the park was the hub of pack gossip—a small town complete with stores, a hospital, a school, and a boutique. It had everything one could need. It reminded me of a small human village. I assumed they must visit there often to stock up on supplies.

From a distance, I saw King Leonard approaching, a broad smile on his face and his arms outstretched.

“Adelie, I’m so glad to see you,” he greeted, taking my hand and kissing it. “It’s been a long time since we last met. I can see you’ve changed. All good things,” he added cheerfully.

I returned his smile. “Can’t say the same for you.”

He looked puzzled. “My mate says my gray hairs are a sign of wisdom,” he joked.

Elias cleared his throat pointedly. Leonard looked down at him. “I see you brought a companion,” he said, extending his hand to Elias.

Elias shook his hand, his expression serious. “My name is Elias Murrell,” he introduced himself.

Leonard’s gaze flicked to me. “And how old are you?” he asked Elias, but his eyes were on me.

“I think my age might make me seem more immature than I actually am,” Elias replied. Age was always a touchy subject for him. He never got along with kids his age.

Leonard returned his attention to me. “You have a son?” he asked.

I placed my hand on Elias’s shoulder, a proud smile on my face. “Yes.”

“May I ask how old he is?”

I was prepared for the assumptions. I maintained my smile, though I couldn’t promise my eyes didn’t flash with irritation. “He’s not the father,” I clarified, and Leonard nodded, pressing his lips together.

“I apologize.”

“It’s fine.” It wasn’t. “He’s eight years old. I took him in as my own.” Elias didn’t react. He was smart enough to know not to be alarmed.

“I look forward to learning more about it,” Leonard said, much to my dismay. “Now, let me escort you to the castle and your room,” he offered, leading the way.

“We’re nearing our training grounds. Everyone is training now. But we sometimes like to ease things up. We have a celebration today so I thought they could take a break.” As he spoke, Maeve appeared. All eyes turned to her. A beautiful blonde with curly hair and faintly red vampire eyes. Half werewolf, half vampire. She’d done bad things, but she’d done more good.

Leonard looked to me for guidance, indicating they hadn’t met yet. “This is my beta, Maeve,” I introduced her. I noticed his thorough examination of her but didn’t elaborate. I found it amusing.

“Let me show you where you’ll be staying,” the king said, and we all followed him along the brick road, passersby watching us. Some men, some women.

“Isn’t training going on?” I asked.

“Yes. But we like to always be ready, so they train in shifts. Every person trains every other day,” the king explained.

Soon, a grand castle came into view. It was old and covered in beautiful vines that climbed the walls. The higher windows offered a view of the entire pack.

People greeted the king with smiles and bows as we passed. But I could feel their eyes on me. It was refreshing to be the center of attention after living in my pack where I was just another member. The air smelled nice.

Sandalwood…it wasn’t unusual…but there were no sandalwood trees around. And this wasn’t ordinary sandalwood. It had a unique blend. An odd choice of perfume for someone. But the people around me hadn’t changed. Why was I only noticing it now?

A burning sensation spread across the side of my face as a group approached from the corner of my eye. I hadn’t looked yet.

I thought my wolf had dulled my sense of smell… I was wrong. I knew exactly what it was…who it was.

But I wasn’t about to let it get under my skin. I wasn’t the same Adelie I used to be.