Forest Of Our Destiny

The Library Encounter

The library in our small town was quiet and smelled like old paper and lemon polish. I sat at a large oak table with my best friend Sam. We had our biology textbooks spread out everywhere but neither of us was actually reading.

Sam is my age. She is tall with curly blonde hair and bright hazel eyes. She shifted when she was sixteen. Her wolf is a beautiful light brown color. She is the only person besides my brother who actually treats me like an equal.

"So Chloe was at your house again this morning." Sam whispered loudly across the table. She leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands. "She is literally acting like a parasite. I swear she just attaches herself to Asher and refuses to let go."

I sighed and closed my textbook. "She slept in the guest room. She made sure to tell me she was up late helping him with pack paperwork."

Sam rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Please. Asher does all his own paperwork. He probably just let her organize some files so she would stop bothering him. Everyone knows he does not actually want her as his chosen mate. He is just running out of time."

That thought made my chest ache a little bit. The pack elders were putting a lot of pressure on him. An Alpha needed a Luna to help balance the pack energy. If he did not find his true mate soon they would force his hand.

"I just wish she would stop treating me like dirt." I said quietly. I traced the edge of my notebook with my thumb. "She told me she hopes my wolf is as tiny as I am."

"Do not listen to her Maya." Sam reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "You are going to be amazing tomorrow. I can feel it. Your brother is the Beta. You have strong blood in you. Your wolf is going to be beautiful."

"I hope so." I smiled a little bit. "I am just nervous. What if I cannot shift. What if I am completely wolfless."

"That is not going to happen." a deep voice said from right behind me.

I jumped slightly in my chair. A warm shiver ran straight down my spine. I knew that voice. It was rich and smooth and made my heart beat entirely too fast.

I turned around. Asher was standing there.

He looked incredibly out of place in the small human library. He was too big too intensely masculine. He wore a dark grey Henley shirt that stretched tight across his broad chest and faded blue jeans. His black hair was slightly messy from the wind. He was holding a stack of old town records in one massive hand.

"Alpha." Sam said quickly. She sat up straight and lowered her head slightly in a show of respect.

"Hello Sam." Asher replied politely. But his striking blue eyes were focused entirely on me.

He pulled out the empty chair next to me and sat down. He was so close I could feel the solid heat radiating off his body. His scent of pine needles and fresh rain completely overwhelmed the smell of the old books. My breathing hitched slightly.

"You are going to shift tomorrow Maya." Asher said softly. His voice was meant only for me. "I can already smell the change in your scent. Your wolf is right there waiting just beneath the surface."

I looked up into his eyes. They were such a vivid intense blue. "You can smell my wolf."

He nodded slowly. His gaze dropped to my lips for a fraction of a second before returning to my eyes. "Yes. Your scent is getting sweeter. Stronger."

My cheeks flushed blazing hot. It was a very intimate thing for an Alpha to comment on an unmated females scent. It usually meant they were taking a specific interest. But Asher was just being reassuring. He was just looking out for his Betas sister. That is what I told myself anyway.

"Are you ready for the ceremony." he asked.

"Caleb said we are going out to the clearing by the lake." I replied. I tried to keep my voice steady. "He said the moon will be full by eight o clock."

"It will be." Asher confirmed. He rested his large forearm on the table next to mine. Our skin did not touch but the proximity was electric. "The entire pack will be there to welcome you. But do not worry about them. Just focus on Caleb and focus on me."

I swallowed hard. "Okay."

"Good." Asher smiled. It was a small rare smile that made his handsome face look even more devastating.

Suddenly the library doors swung open. The sharp clicking of high heels echoed loudly across the quiet room.

Chloe walked in. She was wearing a tight red dress that was completely inappropriate for a small town library on a Tuesday afternoon. Her eyes scanned the room until they locked onto our table. Her face immediately tightened in annoyance when she saw Asher sitting next to me.

She quickly plastered on her fake sweet smile and walked over.

"There you are Asher." Chloe said breathlessly. She completely ignored Sam and me. She placed her hand possessively on Ashers broad shoulder. "The elders are waiting for you at the pack house. We have to discuss the seating arrangements for the ceremony tomorrow."

Asher did not look at her hand but his jaw tightened slightly. He stood up from the chair. His massive height towered over all of us.

"I am coming Chloe." he said evenly.

He looked down at me one last time. The connection between us felt heavy and thick like a physical string pulling us together.

"Study hard Maya." Asher said softly. "I will see you at home."

He turned and walked toward the exit. Chloe gave me a nasty triumphant smirk over her shoulder before she hurried after him.

I watched them leave. My heart felt incredibly heavy. He belonged to the pack. He belonged to his duties. And very soon he might belong to Chloe completely.

Sam let out a long breath next to me. "Wow."

"What." I asked softly.

"Are you blind Maya." Sam stared at me with wide hazel eyes. "Did you see the way he was looking at you. He practically purred when he talked about your scent."

"He is just being a good Alpha." I argued weakly. "He takes care of everyone."

Sam shook her head slowly. "I have never seen him look at Chloe the way he just looked at you. Tomorrow is going to be very interesting."