The Shifter in me

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

Sarah

I went back to the hotel after my boat ride. I really want to explore the mountains but that weird man freaked me out. He was offering me a ride to the mountains. A day in the mountains with a strange? Talk about trouble. While I was on the street trying to ignore that strange man, I desperately wished that the Uber driver arrived sooner. Remembering the strange man though, he is attractively handsome. He was wearing a gray suit with a dark colored tie. He was way taller than me. Not that I'm tall, being a 5'3 woman. That man can be a basketball player with height. He's a bit lean but those arms are definitely stacked. His dark brown hair was disheveled from the wind by the lake but his eyes are like of a wolf, or maybe a vampire?

Going back to my room, I checked if I had brought my pepper spray. I thought that I didn't need it considering that this is a small town. Finally, I found it in my suitcase. I was about to get it when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered without looking at the phone register.

"Hey Sarah! Did you arrive at the hotel?" a familiar voice asked.

"Yes, I just arrived yesterday. Wait, Is this? Are you Shana?" I exclaimed knowing it was her.

"Of course it's me," she laughed, "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to pick you up at the airport.

"It's fine. Besides I understand that you're really busy. Are you excited for your wedding?" I asked her.

"Very. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation. Did you see my sorority friends though? I think they just arrived," she said.

"Oh I have not seen them," I replied. Shana was in a sorority when she was in college. "Want me to check on them?" 

"Oh no, it's okay. Just stay in your room and relax before the wedding. Oh and another reminder Sarah, do not go into the mountains. Please, okay?" she told me. She sounded desperate.

"Why what's wrong? I read in the magazine that there are camping sites on the mountains," I told her.

"Just don't go there. Those camping sites are for some residents only and not for tourists. I mean it Sarah. The mountains are dangerous. There are a lot of wild animals like........wolves," she said hesitantly.

"Wolves? And what kind of camping site opens up to some residents only? Is it that dangerous there?" I asked curiously. I want to explore the mountains but if it's dangerous to go there then maybe I shouldn't.

"Sarah, it is dangerous so please don't go there. Some rogues might show up there," she said. Wait, what? rogues? Like in X-Men? "Please Sarah, okay? Don't go there, Okay?"

"Okay, fine but I still want to take pictures of your hometown. It's nice here and the view is amazing. Want me to put my own restaurant by the lake?" I asked her laughingly, "just a thought though. I still have to finish my apprenticeship. I'm waiting for emails from the restaurants that I applied for."

"Wow, that's awesome! And by the way, I would not mind you setting up your own restaurant here. Your restaurant would be popular and I will get to see you and eat your food so it's a win win for us," she said excitedly.

"Thank you Shana, really, for inviting me," I told her sincerely.

"No worries Sarah, I'll see you at my wedding okay? Matt says your quiet talkative," she told me.

"Matt? He was a bit talkative too. He spoke fondly of his sister," I replied.

"Matt doesn't usually talk and he is grumpy but he's a kind person," Shana told me.

"I know. Oh I should unpack. Then I'm going to a cafe and try some pastries and delicacies," I said. I should try the town's specialties so I decided to go again to the lake.

"Alright. Enjoy yourself and I'll see you at the wedding," Shana said before she hung up.

I thought about what she said about the camping site and the wolves. I won't go there but I'm still curious though. I stood up and got my suitcase. Maybe I need to arrange the dress that I will use for the wedding. Shana just told me to prepare a pink dress with lace so I decided to choose a simple knee length one. The sleeves of the dress are just over the elbow. The skirt is decorated with laces, intricately sewn to show a bit of elegance. I don't wear colorful and overly decorated clothes so I bought this dress.

My phone beeps while I was unpacking my other clothes. "Congratulations!! This is Leslie Jones, manager of Good Eats restaurant. I sent a message to inform you that you're one of the applicants who are accepted for the culinary apprenticeship. Please report to the restaurant next month on the 16th. Thank you for applying."

Wow. This is awesome. I'm going to be an apprentice to a top chef in a restaurant. I can't wait to tell Shana. I was about to dial her number but suddenly thought of an idea. I'll keep this secret for now. Telling her after the wedding would be a good timing. I'm sure she's busy right now with all the wedding preparations that they are doing. I tucked my phone into my pocket and continued to arrange my stuff while smiling to myself. Maybe I'll just order room service for dinner. A celebration with champagne and pasta sounds delicious, while reading a book.

***

Levi

I arrived in the building and went directly to the meeting room. Grayson was waiting there, standing by the window.

"Alpha Hawkins," he said with a slight bow to me. That's Grayson. He's always been formal but he can be stubborn sometimes.

"Grayson, I'm glad you're here. I need you to do something," I told him, "Sit."

He sat on a chair in front of a long table. I position myself in front of him. There are a lot of folders on the table. Fletcher did good arranging the files to be sent to the other alphas. I handed one folder to Grayson.

"Those rogues need to be resolved. I'm thinking of sending these folders to the other alphas. If they won't give me any reply still then I need you to come with me and visit them," I told him with a stern expression. When it comes to pack security, the alphas shouldn't take things lightly. I'll make sure they'll listen to me. I'm not that college kid anymore who they mocked years ago.

"I understand alpha. I'm not very fond of those alphas who think that they could just ignore rogues and hope they won't enter their territory," Grayson replied. He's very protective of our pack and that loyalty is one of his assets in this pack.

"Speaking of rogues, I want you to scout the area around the mountains and look for any rogues. Make an estimate on how many rogues are there. I need that information to know if they are dangerous or if they are on the run," I ordered Grayson.

"Yes, alpha," he replied. Knowing Grayson, I bet he's already thinking of ways to scout the mountains. I stood up and continued, "You're dismissed Grayson. Make sure to send me the reports after the wedding. And be sure to go to the wedding. Shana's being persistent on this," I told him lightly.

Grayson just grumbled. What a bear. We stepped out of the office to see Fletcher talking to someone on the phone. He's smiling like an i***t. I'm sure he's flirting to some woman again. That's why he and Dylan make the best investigators in my pack. I am just amazed as to where they got those information. They are big assets to my pack, Blue River pack.

I decided to go back to my office and continue arranging documents for another meeting. I have been an alpha for a lot of years ever since I was in college. Back then, the other alphas thought that I was a pushover so they didn't take my words as one of the leaders of a pack in the south, so I became determined to graduate and learn the ropes in different areas. Being an alpha, doesn't limit me to my pack and their security. I want them to be secured financially and not depend on other packs. After I graduated, I set up different businesses around town and luckily, they prosper. Then, I picked several members of the pack to manage the businesses. Employees are the other members of the pack who need to earn money. Blue River pack became one of the richest packs in the south.

Ever since then, the other alphas invited me to their meetings and I started to gain their respect. But they seem to ignore this rogue issue. The rogue disturbances in the mountains are increasing so I need to find out who are those werewolves and what do they want in my territory. The information from the other alphas would be a huge help only if they talk or reply to my requests.

On the day of the wedding, I made sure to arrive at the hotel, Luxuria, where the outsiders are checked in. Several guests poured in, including those sorority sisters Shana talked about. They've been smiling at me, especially the woman on the red dress. Crap, I know what they want so I decided to go outside the venue for a while. Dylan and Fletcher are in the hallway so I decided to join them,

"Grayson is not here yet," Dylan said while looking at his phone.

"Did you call him on the phone? You know you can just reach him through the link, right?" Fletcher asked.

"I know but I'm trying to be normal since there are humans here man," Dylan replied with an eyebrow raised.

"He'll come. Don't worry. I ordered him," I told them. Dylan and Fletcher both turned to me, astounded.

"The alpha ordered Grayson to go to his cousin's wedding. So you used the alpha power I see," Fletcher said grinning.

"Of course. It's only natural that he should go to his sister's wedding," I said with a smile.

"Hey, speaking of the wedding, did you see those women from Shana's college? They are gorgeous," Dylan said while smiling at Fletcher. Oh I know what he's thinking of doing.

"Dylan, behave," I warned.

"What? We haven't done anything yet. Although from what I saw earlier they are more interested in alpha," Dylan said.

"I'm not interested and besides I will only focus on my mate," I told them.

"Which is not here yet, your mate will understand alpha. Come on Levi, you need some adventure," Fletcher urged grinning like an i***t.

"Shut up man," I said. As if on cue, the lady from earlier who was wearing a red dress approached me. Her arms clung to mine. This is irritating. Dylan and Fletcher just grinned at us, the bastards. I'm thinking of ways to give them many tasks when we went back to the pack.

"Hi, I was wondering where you went," she said smiling slyly. She eyed Dylan and Fletcher and grinned at them, eyeing their body, "My name's Katy. What's yours handsome?" She continued with that silky voice of hers. Dylan, the i***t, grinned at Fletcher and they both chuckled.

"Hi Katy, this right here is our boss, Mr. Levi Hawkins, who by the way owns this hotel," Fletcher said, proud of what he's doing. These idiots want me to have some fun. Their version of fun is flirting with women and doing one night stands. But I'm not interested in that. I am waiting for my mate. When I found her, I will take care and focus only on her. If I can remove this woman's hands on my arms. The host of the wedding announced that they would begin and the bride had arrived so we went to the hall. Katy clung to me all the way inside while those beta of mine continue to grin like idiots.

We stood beside Ollie, who's waiting in front of the altar. Shana entered the wedding hall. She looks beautiful with her wedding gown. She loves laces so much that she requested the designer to make a gown made of laces. A sleeveless mermaid style lace wedding gown really fits her. Suddenly, I caught a scent, the same intoxicating rose scent by the lake. Then, I heard a faint whisper, "mate."

My mate? Where is she? Then I saw her. The lady by the lake. The lady who ditched me. The rose scent was hers. She's walking beside Shana and assisting her with her gown. I wonder what her name is and how they are related. She's wearing a pink dress with laces. Her hair is arranged in a bun with small tendrils of hair escaping. She looks ethereal and beautiful. She is my mate and Shana's friend. But, she's human? After they reached the altar, my mate went to one of the chairs in front and sat smiling.