Unlikely Mates

Explanations and Friendship

Amanda P.O.V

Unfortunately, I feel like I've just sealed my family's fate with that manoeuvre; what's coming next will be my fault. I look up fearing the expression on his face, but it's not quite what I expected.

"hahaha"

It's anti-climatic. The Alpha is smiling and chuckling like there's no tomorrow, I am dumbfounded at his behaviour. I would like to know what he's thinking.

"Just, kidding, ha-ha, so serious."

He gracefully moves off the bed and saunters over to the door, and turns around to face me.

"Remember not to leave this room without my permission, I'm locking the door so don't try to leave, or jump off the balcony, we’re too high-up, or I'm going to enjoy what comes after."

He twists his body around, exiting the room quickly. I'm left there in the spacious accommodation in a stationary position upon the bed, legs slightly apart and head against the board staring off into space, wholly confounded at the events that had occurred moments earlier. I don't understand him. His previous words echo in my head. I rattle my brain for what they could mean. I keep thinking, but at some point, I start to yawn, my eyes feel droopy. This bed feels comfy. I lower myself, so my head is in line with the soft, fluffy pillows, slowly close my eyes and quietly doze off.

I dream about my family, mum's nagging about household chores, Dad checking to see if my homework is complete, and my little sister, Jenna binge-watching Disney. I miss them; it's hard, but I'll get away from this cult that has me contained, one way or another.

I open my eyes, awakening from my slumber. A tear rolls down my cheek, from my dream, my family. I wipe my tear away from my blurry eyes and twist my body over, looking up at the sunlit ceiling, 'I have to protect them from him, whatever the cost, even if it costs me my freedom and my life, this I vow'. At the end of my vow, I pose upright. I allocate my feet on the floor over the right side of the bed. I glance around in the vicinity of the bed. My vision now clear, I discover, there, lying at the end of the bed some clothes stacked neatly.

Someone must have brought them while I was asleep. I don't know if I should feel grateful for this, but I am dirty, according to the clock it's after four, so I grasp the clean clothing and hobble over to the bathroom. When I enter, I encounter a white tiled floor and walls, a porcelain toilet in the back left corner, a sink next to it, with two towels on a rack beside the large shower with a pull-push door, opposite a spacious bath big enough for two. I close the door behind me and lock it, I walk over to the sink and open the cupboard above it, out of habit. Astonishingly, it's got everything I need to clean up. I grasp the shampoo, conditioner and body wash and make my way over to the shower placing the clothes down next to it. I get undressed and enter the corner shower; the water is at a suitable temperature. For a cult, they're certainly are living well. I always thought they dwelled in cramped spaces, under someone's house, chanting and stuff. 'Ah well’. I sigh and continue to cleanse myself. I spend a long time in the shower, cleaning myself up, how long I'm not sure. When I'm sure it's enough, I exit the shower, grip the dry towel and proceed to dry myself off. I get dressed in the clothes that were left out. I slip on a powder blue chiffon long dress and sparkling white dress shoes. The dress is beautiful and fits perfectly to my body shape. I wonder what this dress is for; surely, this is not typical attire for threatened servants. I place the towel back on the rack, exit the bathroom, only to find a strange woman waiting for me at the vanity mirror, who looks around twenty.

"I have been ordered by the Alpha to get his Luna ready for the ceremony tonight."

She mouths it graciously and bows her head as if afraid of making eye contact with me, but lifts her head again; there goes that theory.

"So please, if you could sit down here."

She asks, well more like orders, when I show no signs of movement she strides over with an annoyed look on her face and forces me onto the chair in front of the vanity, and begins styling my hair. I believe she doesn't favour me much from the force she inflicted upon me, regardless of the mutual negative feelings; this will be an excellent opportunity to find out more about this cult of theirs.

"Excuse me, may I ask you some questions about this place?"

"No, you may not."

She says it without an ounce of hesitation and continues styling my hair, in a remarkably gentle manner. She doesn't like me but still is doing it gently, strange girl. Due to her silence, I get the feeling she doesn't want to talk but to get her job done, come what may I need to get some answers.

"Please, I need to know where I am, who you people are and who the Alpha and Luna are?"

She abruptly finishes my hair in an up do. I admit she did well on my hair. The girl steps beside me, she leans her slim body down, her blonde hair dangling in the air, her flawlessly tan face is close to me. Her ocean-blue eyes are peering right at me as if trying to spot any evidence of a lie. The girl leans back away from me, standing up straight, I didn't notice before, but she's tall.

"So, you don't know what this place is or who we are."

"Nope, not a clue."

I voice my confirmation, shrug my shoulders and look at her, hoping that even if she doesn't like me that she may at least enlighten me.

"Help me to gain an understanding of your situation, and I'll see what I can do in return."

I'm puzzling it over, wondering whether or not to tell her. I don't know if I should, because the Alpha may harm my family if he ever finds out that I told the truth about how I came to be here. I'm weighing the pros and cons here, without warning, there is a slam of the door and someone bursts into the room. The girl whom I think is around my age, glances at us already dressed in a neat long-sleeved red dress, and glares at the woman next to me. 'I'm assuming that these two don't get on well.'

"What are you doing here Rebecca."

She asks almost aggressively, but politely none the less; 'it could be my imagination but did her eyes change to black for a moment.' I disregard it, thinking it's impossible, although there is still a sliver of doubt in me because he did it too. Not wanting to dwell on it, I shake my head and wait for the dialogue to continue.

"Not that it's any of your concern, Laura, but your brother sent me here to help prepare our future Luna for tonight."

Rebecca steps away from me and walks over to the Laura by the door.

"Why don't you help her to finish up then, I've got other things to do?"

'Okay,' is all that comes to mind as Rebecca glances back at me with a mischievous smirk, and leaves the room. Then Laura gracefully glides over to me.

"Wow, it's almost like she's royalty."

"ha-ha, I guess you could say that."

I cover my mouth with my right hand immediately.

"Oops, did say that out loud?"

That thought is supposed to stay in my head. She touches my shoulder as she speaks.

"Yes you did, but don't worry, it's a compliment."

At her response, I can't help but chuckle; this girl seems friendlier than Rebecca. A thought occurs to me.

"If you don't mind me asking, who's the brother she was talking about?"

Maybe she can give some clues to the puzzle.

"Oh, forgive me, you must be new in this area, my brother is Damian, Alpha of the Moon blood pack, your mate."

"My mate?"

I inquire as to what she's telling me, but it's in vain.

"Would you look at the time, it's nearly six, the party's half an hour."

I gander at the clock on the wall, and she's right, but I still want to know what she was going on about earlier.

"If we don't hurry and finish preparing you, my brother will throw a fit."

She speaks so playfully and carefree, she doesn't convey the impression that she's part of a cult. I think I can try to become friends with her so that she can help me soften her brother enough to let my family go.

"Can you enlighten me about tonight's event?"

I question her hoping to get some better results as she begins delicately putting makeup on.

"Sure, it will take place in the open space behind the pack house, there will be a stage in which you must climb and stand beside the Alpha, and he will announce you as our future Luna, then everybody shifts and goes on the hunt."

I breathe and take a moment to process what I've just heard; she doesn't seem to be lying. My guess is from the information I've gathered that they're some kind of wolf cult, who worship werewolves. It's strange worshipping fictional creatures but hey, whatever floats their boat. 'How about this Luna thing?' From what I've read, she's like the mother of the pack and the alphas soul mate. 'Wait, hold the phone, did she say I'm to be Luna.'

"Thanks but I decline, after all, I'm not even seventeen yet, I can't get married." I try making up excuses so I can pass on the full Luna and marriage ordeal.

She puts the finishing touches on my makeup and sprays the perfume that I left there earlier after pulling it out from my pocket, and gazes at me with a look of admiration and curiosity in her emerald eyes.

"Why not? He's your mate, and besides, you'll be eighteen next year, right? In which case, you will become our Luna, or so he told me."

I let out a breath of relief that I have time to figure a way out of this mess.

Her eyes glaze over, and silence reigns in the room. I can help but think that it's a family trait because I've seen him do it as well.

"Looks like my brothers calling for you, it’s time."

follow me; you're still new here."

She gestures for me to follow excitedly, I can't help but oblige. I stand up and push the seat back and follow her out of the room. On the elevator ride down, I have to ask something.

"How did your brother know that you were with me? Is he psychic?"

She chuckles at my genuine question. I can't help but smile, this girls fun to be around, a little on the wolf crazy side but fun.

"aren't we all? You're talking as if you're human." I give her a quizzical look.

"But I am human as are you and everyone else here."

She stops chuckling, and her smile froze over.

"Explain something to me if you're human, how come you smell like a wolf."

It's amusing her devotion to this wolf thing; I can't help but bend over a little, laughing at her for believing it, it's the first time I've laughed since I got here, got to hand it to her she is funny.

"Did I say something humorous?"

"No, No, nothing at all."

I wave my hands in surrender and dial down the laughter; all that matters is that she believes she's a wolf.

"You're a strange one, but that's okay, it makes things more interesting, Wannabe friends?

I smile and nod at her request; maybe just maybe she's my ticket out of here. She hugs me, squeezing tightly. I pat her back to get her attention.

"You're kind of hurting me."

She quickly jumps back, so we're now at an arm's length.

"Forgive me; I don't have many friends, so I got carried away."

"That's okay. I don't have many friends either."

As it turns out, I can relate to her, maybe a genuine friendship is possible.

"Well, you have one now."

She grins widely, and I give her a small smile in return.

The elevator sounds, and the silver doors open. I almost forgot about the event that's happening tonight. How could I have been so careless? Laura guides me out, down the steps of the grand staircase to a set of doors to the right of the main hall. We approach slowly, she grasps the door handles and opens the doors up to an unfathomable scene.