FORTY. Urban Wolves

POV- Lillia

As the date of our trip got closer, I became more and more nervous. I found it difficult to sleep at night; memories of my childhood and my treatment by Urban Wolves kept resurfacing in my head. I was also scared. These allegations against my mother and me made me anxious. Deep down, I felt there was no base to what was said about us, and I was hopeful, but the what-ifs were another thing plaguing my sleep. I knew omegas in the Redwood Pack were treated differently from how I was, but the thought that Urban Wolves were different because that’s just how they ran things entered my thoughts. I wasn’t keen to find out what Alpha Marcus and Luna Cheryl had to say.

I hardly slept the night before our flight to Matraville. I watched the time on the alarm clock slip slowly over, frustrated that I couldn’t sleep and wondering if I would. By morning, I realised I must have slipped off to sleep. However, I woke up feeling tired still. The insomnia was getting to me.

“You’ll be fine,” Elijah tells me as he turns around and grabs my hand. I nod and gulp, looking over at Bear, whose eyes are wide open. Like Bear, the sight of the aircraft was astounding.

“No. Nope. Not happening,” Bear says, trying to turn around. Two Royal Guards step forward to stop him.

“Come on; it’s a huge metal container that’s supposed to fly in the air? You’re kidding, right? The engines are tiny! And did I mention that thing is huge?” Bear complains.

“And you’re trying to tell us that your wings could fly you there quicker?” One of the guards scoffs. Bear angrily furrows his brow.

“If we were on Sprigganage, I’d be wiping that smirk off your face,” Bear complains, turning around and looking at Elijah and me.

“We can do this; I’ll hold your hand,” I say, reaching out for him. Elijah growls, and I slap his arm. Reluctantly, Bear takes my hand.

“We can do this,” I say again, watching the big man nod and walk with me into the plane.

The inside of the jet is different from what I expected. It looks more like a home than a vehicle that takes passengers from one place to another. The first compartment has a bar and a large round table in the middle with seats. There are also single seats against the wall next to a window with tables in between. The next compartment looks like a living room, with black leather couches arranged in an L shape against the dividing wall and plane hull.

“That door leads to a bathroom, and the hallway leads to two bedrooms,” Elder Diomedes explains as I look around at everything.

“Thank you for arranging this, Your Highness,” Elijah states, squeezing my hand.

“Yes, thank you,” I agree. I follow Elijah to sit in the living room, and Bear follows me.

“Hello, I’m Marissa; I’m the air stewardess for this flight,” a young, well-dressed human woman says, walking into the room.

“I just need to go through the safety procedures with you,” she smiles, handing us each a laminated A4 sheet. I swallow the air I’ve been holding in, trying not to show how stressed I feel, and listen.

“Oh, my gods!” Bear yells once Marissa finishes her spiel.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“There are instructions for if this thing crashes into the ground! There are even seatbelts! Do we have to wear seatbelts if we’re sitting? Are you sure this is safe?” Bear asks, his voice showing signs of panic. For some reason, I feel comforted by his apprehension; it’s not just me who feels nervous.

“Travelling by plane is much safer than travelling by car,” Marissa laughs, leaving us to walk back into the first room.

“So she says,” Bear complains, folding his arms and leaning back against the chair. I shake my head and chuckle. Bear’s panic makes me feel more at ease as if he’s taken on the fear for both of us.

“You okay?” Elijah says, whispering in my ear. I nod and lean into him, taking in his warmth.

The captain then makes his announcement, greeting us and talking about the current weather in Matraville. I smile as I watch Bear frantically try to buckle his seatbelt around his waist. He just manages to make it fit. The engine sounds start, making Bear flinch, and I smile. The plane begins to roll, and I feel strange as the wheels lift off the ground.

“Have we landed yet?” Bear asks, making the people in our room laugh.

Bear shakes his head, looks out the window and gasps at the view before sliding the blind back down and turning around.

“Who wants to watch a movie?” Elder Diomedes asks. Bear nods, although I’m sure he doesn’t know what a movie is exactly.

“Hmm? Where are we?” I ask as Elijah begins to pick me up.

“We’re here; you want to walk?” Elijah asks, lifting me into his arms. I shake my head and snuggle into Elijah’s chest, enjoying his warmth and smell. Elijah’s chest rumbles as he chuckles, and I smile.

Elijah puts me into a car, buckling me up before getting in on the other side and sliding next to me. As the car drives from the airport, I rest my head against the window pane and watch the world go by.

My knowledge of Matraville outside of Urban Wolves is minimal. We omegas led a very sheltered life, never really leaving the compounds of the pack house and caravan park. Sometimes Alpha Marcus would organise a bus for us and take us to the woods to shift into our wolves, and although mum went a few times over the years, I being a child, never went.

I watched the scenery out the window, noticing the buildings change from residential to commercial as we headed further into the city. Elijah explained that we would spend the night in a motel before visiting Urban Wolves, as Urban Wolves were not big enough to have us. This was all planned before we left and discussed again while I was asleep on the plane.

It is dark when we arrive at the hotel, and Pim walks in to organise our rooms with a Royal Guard, a wolf I heard Elder Diomedes call Arald.

I smile when I learn Elder Diomedes, Elijah, and I will stay in a penthouse suite with Pim and Arald. The suite has four bedrooms, and after some arguments, Elijah and I were given the master bedroom. Because he was the former King, we argued he should have the master, but he insisted as we were newly mated and his guests.

“I’ve sent Arald and Pim to get us Chinese takeaways for dinner if you’re hungry?” Elder Diomedes asks after we return from checking out our room. I blush. Although Elijah assured me the rooms here were sound-proofed, I feel embarrassed that Elder Diomedes may have heard what my mate and I got up to while in there.

“I’m famished!” Elijah smiles, and I swear my cheeks feel hotter.

“Good. Would you both like a drink?” Elder Diomedes asks, walking to the makeshift bar. He explains that he has his personal secretary set up the accommodation whenever he’s away for a business, and although we’re ordering takeaways, the bar and kitchen are fully stocked.

Elder Diomedes pours whiskey into two shallow glasses, then puts two different liquids with lemon slices into a taller glass.

“I hope you like gin and tonic,” Elder Diomedes says as he hands me the tall glass. I thank him and take it from him. I’ve never really had alcohol, curse my secluded life, so I’ve never tried gin and tonic. Tentatively, I take a sip and am pleasantly surprised at the taste. It’s good. Elijah is handed the whiskey, and both men drink as well.

The door beeps open then, and Pim and Arald walk in with two large bags of food each.

“Right on time,” Elder Diomedes says, pouring another two drinks for the men. Both thank him and set the food containers up on the table for us. I look at the many containers, taking in the colours and scents that permeate the air. Some dishes have a spicey scent, while some have a sweet smell.

“Have you had Chinese before?” Elijah asks as he begins to spoon different foods onto a plate. I shake my head.

“What do you mean?” Elder Diomedes asks.

“I’ve only been at Redwood Pack for a few months. I haven’t had the opportunity to try it,” I explain, watching Elijah place the plate before me. Elder Diomedes nods, but I can tell he is unhappy about my answer.

“I’ve never had Chinese before, either. The woman at the restaurant assured me the food is good,” Pim smiles at me from his seat.

I take my first bite of an orangy brown food, moaning at the taste.

“That’s sweet and sour pork,” Elder Diomedes says, smiling.

“It’s good,” I reply.

//\\///\\\//\\

“Your safe; I’ll be here,” Elijah assures me as he holds me in his arms. I nod and listen as his breathing becomes further apart as he falls asleep. We’ve discussed my anxieties about returning to Matraville and Urban Wolves. He knows I haven’t been sleeping well and can see it on my face when I wake up. Tonight I feel more scared than I have since we decided to come here. I know I need to do this, but I’m afraid.

My eyes are tired and full of sleep biogas when I wake the following morning. I notice that Elijah is already up, his side of the bed is still warm, and I throw a t-shirt and pyjama pants before heading out the door.

I follow the sound of voices toward a bustling living room.

“Ah, you’re awake!” Chang Ki smiles as she walks over to me, kissing both my cheeks in greeting.

“I’m here to help you get ready, of course. Silly girl,” Chang Ki smiles when I give her a puzzled look.

“She hasn’t had breakfast yet, Chang Ki,” Elder Diomedes says, standing up from his seat. I notice he has a make-up artist doing his face and smile at the vanity of it. Elder Diomedes looks good, but he’s already good-looking, so why use make-up?

“Oh, of course. Werewolves. Always eating,” Chang Ki sighs, raising her hands.

“Where’s Elijah?” I ask.

“The gym. The man is intolerable. Wouldn’t let me near him with a make-up brush. Does he really think I have ill intentions?” Chang Ki complains.

“Well… you are a vampire…” I laugh.

“She has you there,” Elder Diomedes comments, making Chang Ki roll her eyes and complain under her breath about werewolves.

“I got some coffee and muffins…” Bear says, walking into the room. My stomach grumbles as I turn around and look at him.

“What’s the time?” I ask, following the scent of apple-cinnamon muffins.

“Eleven. We are leaving at two,” Chang Ki complains, “and no one is here to get ready.”

“I’m here,” Bear says, a goofy expression on his face as he watches Chang Ki.

“You don’t count,” Chang Ki sighs, throwing herself dramatically on the couch. Bear shoves the bag of muffins into my chest and walks over to Chang Ki. I take the bag without dropping it and give Pim a look, who just shrugs.

“What are you?” Bear asks, crouching to look at her.

“Well, that’s a bit rude,” Chang Ki complains, furrowing her brows. This doesn’t hamper Bear’s questioning.

“Well, what are you? You’re not a wolf or human. What are you?” he asks again.

“I’m a vampire,” Chang Ki sighs.

“That is so cool!” Bear shouts, jumping up onto his feet.

“So, can you fly? How come you’re out during the day? Do your burn in the sun? Do you drink blood? How often do you need to drink? How come you’re not wearing black?”

“Oh. My. Gods,” Chang Ki states, looking at Elder Diomedes and me.

“First time in this realm,” I explain. Chang Ki nods and looks back at Bear, who looks like an inquisitive toddler trying to figure out the world around him.

My stomach grumbles again, telling me I need to eat, and I take the bag into the kitchen, placing the muffins onto a plate and putting it in the microwave to heat up.

“Muffins are ready,” I call out once done, and I place the plate on the table. Pim and Arald join me, and we begin to eat breakfast.

“Hmm,” I sigh, taking another bite of my muffin as warm arms wrap around me, sending tingles through my body. My eyes close as I take in my mate’s scent, his smell more pungent now that it has heavily mixed with sweat.

“Are you happy to see me, or just happy to be eating that muffin?” Elijah whispers in my ear.

“Both,” I reply, making him chuckle.

He joins us at the table and begins to eat when Chang Ki walks into the room and claps her hands.

“Hurry up and eat, then shower; you both stink,” she tells us with a smirk.

“So, can you eat muffins?” Bear asks, walking in behind her. Chang Ki rolls her eyes, and I laugh.

//\\///\\\//\\

“We are cutting it fine,” Chang Ki mutters under her breath as she steps away and looks at me. She’s spent the last half an hour putting on my make-up and instructed me to get into the dress we picked out a week ago. I picked a maroon-coloured A-line V-neck dress with a built-in bra and long leg split. The material is chiffon, so it is soft and flows nicely to the floor.

I walk out of the bathroom and look at myself in the full-length mirror.

“Oh! You look fabulous!” Chank Ki gasps, clapping her hands. I nod; I look… different. Not me. My long brown hair is pulled into a low bun with an adorning crystal and pearl comb. I’ve had eyelash extensions put in, making my eyelashes look thicker and natural but darker. My lips are coloured in maroon lipstick, matching my nails and dress. It feels too much.

Chang Ki takes my hand and leads me away from the mirror and out the door. She walks me toward the living room, where the men stand in their dark suits and talk.

“Our Princess is ready,” Chang Ki announces proudly. My cheeks heat up as everyone stops talking to look at me.

“Wow,” Elijah is the first one to speak. He walks up to me and wraps his arms around my waist, “you look beautiful,” he adds.

~

Edited with Grammarly