Her Faded Memories

Chapter Five

Nick

Every morning, the wolves in the pack would gather around the massive table to enjoy breakfast. I would encounter these wolves daily, while the rest of the pack I would only see at events and pack gatherings. I thought I had built great relationships within our pack, and I had met all the members, but clearly, I hadn’t. Thinking back to yesterday, I had never seen the girl sitting under my sister’s blossom tree nor did I know her name. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realise Freya was trying to get my attention. Her hand was waving in front of my face as she shouted louder.

“Earth to Nick?”

Freya stood out as a true beauty among the fake she-wolves in the pack. Her large blue eyes and stunning smile had the power to melt hearts. Leaving the pack and hoping to find my mate at Mountains Pride made me feel guilty, though I’m certain she had the same thoughts. In werewolf culture, we emphasise the significance of mates from a young age, as they are our equals and enhance our wolfish abilities over time. According to my mother, it was ridiculous. She opted for my father over her mate, claiming that choosing a mate would give high-ranking wolves an advantage and avoid emotional attachment in case of any unfortunate events. She called it selfless; I called it selfish. I couldn’t stand in front of my mate and reject her. The agony you would feel is unimaginable.

“Huh,” I finally snapped back to reality.

Freya shook her head while wearing a smile.

“Your birthday? At midnight, will you be able to find your mate?” She asked hopefully.

I nodded and smiled at her.

“Freya, it will be you. I have a strong sense that we make a great team together.”

Okay, that was a lie, but I would not hurt her feelings and tell her I have a feeling we won’t be mates. From the corner of my eye, I could see Sierra frown. Thinking back, I probably would reject Sierra if she turned out to be my mate. I don’t think I could listen to her voice for the rest of my life.

“You know, it’s my brother’s birthday today.” Sierra snapped at us.

“How could we forget the giant’s birthday? Where is the birthday boy, anyway?” Freya said, her nose scrunched up.

He went for a run early on, but he should have made it here by now. It’s possible that you genuinely angered him by throwing lasagna in his face last night.”

Freya snorts before grabbing her orange juice.

“I highly doubt that.”

After eating my toast, Hunter asks me to go train with him.

When our training sessions reach the one-hour mark, I suggest taking a break, but he simply scoffs at me. There was something occupying Hunter’s thoughts, causing him to unleash a barrage of punches at me as if we were engaged in a genuine fight.

“Talk to me Hunter?”

Warriors turned their heads as he flung his water bottle across the training ground.

Hunter? Is it about your mate? Have you found her? I linked him to make it more private.

No, I haven’t found her. He links back with a more irritated expression.

After patting him on the shoulder, I went to retrieve Hunter’s water bottle. A young warrior, ask him for a practice round. That’s when I saw the two girls up on the hill watching us.

Oi hunter, do you know who the girls are on top of the hill?

Ceasing the fight, he shifted his gaze towards the two girls.

Raven is the girl with black hair, while Sierra mentioned that the one with ginger hair is Elodie. Sierra, along with the two of them, is in the same academic year.

Elodie, I said to myself.

Have you ever come across Elodie?

Besides your parents and my sister, no one at the pack house is involved with her. She cleans in the morning and sometimes in the evenings.

Taking a gulp of water, I observe the girls engaged in conversation.

Thanks, mate. I link back.

I disconnected our link and greeted the girls with a wave once they caught me staring. I smirk when they both scamper off.

The afternoon came by fast as everyone made preparations for Hunter’s birthday celebration. The omegas worked diligently to clean the communal areas of the pack house and set up party decorations for the arriving guests. Other neighbouring Beta members will be present tonight to introduce themselves to Hunter and also additional she-wolves would be present as he has not yet found his mate within this pack. We always believed that our mates would be within this pack since we were young, and as we grew older, we hoped to find them at Mountain Pride to ensure strong connections. However, when I observed Hunter, he seemed different. Was he genuinely upset about not finding his mate here?

Plus, I was concerned about Freya as I hadn’t seen her all morning despite her promise to meet me at the training grounds. I needed to focus and stop fixating on Elodie. The only reason I had her on my mind was because I was concerned about her welfare.

Sure you are. Levi snickered at me.

My idiotic wolf made me roll my eyes. He interpreted everything I did as a motive, but I was simply being friendly.

What’s the problem with that?

I pay no attention to my wolf and go upstairs to prepare for the night’s event. After showering, I put on a pale blue button-down shirt and black jeans. I headed towards Hunter’s door when I heard Freya and Hunter yelling at each other once more. This argument appeared to be more intense than usual. Positioned on the stairs, I eavesdrop on their conversation.

“There’s nothing I detest more than you, Hunter.”

“I hope your mate dislikes you just as much as I do, so you can experience the joy of being rejected. Dont think for one second Nick will be your mate.”

Freya let out a gasp, accompanied by a loud smacking sound that filled the room. When I looked around the corner, I saw Hunter with his head tilted to the side and Freya in a state of hyperventilation. Trembling with anger, she strides down the hall towards her apartment and slamming the door shut. I walk out with my arms crossed and looked at him. He let his long black curly hair down, a change from his usual bun, and wore a black shirt and jeans. He glanced at me, then looked away.

“That was a new low even for you, Hunter.”

He looked at me with sadness in his eyes before rubbing his face with his hands.

“I know, but things escalated, and she really got under my skin, mate.”

Even though Freya had a reputation for being challenging, Hunter had to control his anger. Since he hadn’t found his mate yet, he couldn’t direct his frustration towards Freya and he knows it.

“C’mon, mate, we should go to the party and you can say sorry when she shows up.”

Nodding in affirmation, he accompanies me down the remaining two sets of stairs, where suddenly booming music greets us from every room. Many individuals were socialising, eating, and dancing, and it appeared that everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves. I made Hunter a whiskey on the rocks and took them out into the garden, where the music was less deafening and the air had a cool breeze. She-wolves kept stopping to greet us and would look at Hunter waiting to see if the mate bond would activate but no look. Sipping his fifth whiskey, he no longer seemed concerned. Alcohol doesn’t have the same impact on us as it does on humans; we can consume a lot before feeling any effects, but it took the edge off when we were in a bad mood.

At long last, Freya arrived and settled into a swinging egg chair, wine glass in hand. With her choppy short hair and a flattering yellow skater dress, she looks as beautiful as ever.

It’s time for me to apologise to Freya. Hunter links me.

I see Hunter going to Freya and softly taking her hand to help her up from the egg chair. As they stroll into the gardens, I have a feeling they’ll patch things up. As I sit with my whiskey, I spot Elodie carrying a hefty bag of rubbish out from behind the kitchen. I gulp down the last drops of my drink, then rise to my feet and approach her.

“Let me help with that.”

Every time I speak, all it does is make her jump and this time dropping the bag onto the floor. I knelt beside her, assisting her in putting the empty bottles in the bag before effortlessly disposing of it in the bins.

“Thank you.” She whispers before hurrying back inside.

Truly, she was a peculiar girl. I smirked silently as I headed indoors to fetch another beverage.

By around eleven, I was becoming bored as Hunter was busy talking to other betas and Freya was hanging out with her friends. All I had was Sierra constantly approaching me, asking to dance. The girl was unbearable, so I strolled around the front of the house, sitting on one of the wooden benches. I spotted Elodie leaving and noticed someone trailing behind her as she walked to the dark, unlit park.