Fated: Alphas of the Compass

Chapter 7 - A New Beginning

I take the alphas through the whole pack house, and we spend the rest of our tour talking about the different exports each pack specializes in, seeming like a topic each of them know well. I'm just happy to listen. All four are so passionate about their packs that it's hard not to get sucked in. Each is so wildly different.

Aurora is to the north, and is cold and harsh. Mountains cover a good portion of the land, and the mines inside are the most prosperous in our world. Dawnrise sits to the east, and borders the sea. The cliffs there are extremely dangerous, but the breeze you can get at the top makes the trouble of getting there worth it. Nocturne is the southern pack, and is filled with more forests, but the darker kind. It's much warmer there, and the trees look like they're on fire. Where there are no trees, the land is harsh and dry. In Duskfall, there is water everywhere. Another sea borders the land there, and it is warm and tropical all year round.

We finally make it back up to the second floor, where I go to leave the alphas so I can pack my things. "I'm sure you all want to freshen up for dinner with the king tonight, so I'll leave you here," I say, turning back towards the stairs. Emron stops me, grabbing my arm gently.

"I thought we were going to help you?" he asks, and my other mates look to me in confusion. I sigh, and Ronyn looks at my other mates as I see understanding dawn on his face.

"Priestesses don't have very much in their rooms. Clothing, basic hygiene products, and whatever they brought with them from their home pack. Since you were from Aurora, you don't have much, do you Stella?" he asks, and for the first time, I see shame written in his features. He's ashamed that you were thrown out by someone in his pack. I shrug, wishing that I was anywhere but here.

"It really isn't a big deal. Less to move when I eventually leave with one of you, right?" I say, trying to make the most of an awkward situation. I don't want their pity. I've been getting piteous glances from other priestesses for years because of what happened. I don't think I could deal with my mates looking at me the same way.

All four mates look at each other, and it seems they all have the same thought. Elias clears his throat. "I think we're going to have to change that. We can help you bring your things over, and Erylis and Ellyana if they need help, and then we're taking you get anything you may need."

I stare at him in shock, but the others are nodding along. "No, it's fine, really. I don't need anything. I have everything I need, I promise. Like you said, clothes, hygiene, and I even brought my calligraphy set from home. I have everything that matters." I begin walking down the stairs, hoping to get away, but they follow.

Ronyn grabs my arm at the bottom of the stairs, and I look at him, expecting pity but only seeing concern. "You may not necessarily need anything, but you're a future Luna. You can have anything you want now. Any and all of us would find a way to pull the stars from the sky if you gave the word. You may not truly need much, but we want to give you everything, Stella. Anything you want," he says, letting go of my arm and holding my gaze. I can't help but stare in shock. Ronyn, the one who hates priestesses, is looking at me like I hung the moon. All four of them are.

Not knowing what to say, I take his hand and squeeze it, smiling and nodding in assent. I start heading through the foyer, into and through the kitchen and formal dining rooms, and outside. I take a deep breath of the cold air, remembering home, and look down at the fingers intertwined with Ronyn's. I could go home. I could finally be someone worth my family's affection.

The thought gives me pause, but I continue to the temple. I can think about that later, but I won't get my hopes up. They threw me out. I'm dead to them.

When we finally arrive at my room, Erylis and Ellyana are there packing my meager possessions into a few boxes. Two of the boxes are marked only as clothes, and the third is filled with all of my things. My calligraphy kit sits neatly packed on the side of that box, carefully placed so as not to break anything.

Both females are smiling and chatting quietly, and I take a moment to just watch. My two friends are the only people I've had supporting me through the past few years. I can't imagine starting this new chapter of my life without them. When they finally notice me standing in the doorway, mates in tow, they scurry over and pull me into the room.

"We didn't know what you would and wouldn't want to take with you, so we just packed everything," Erylis says, gesturing to the three boxes. "Our rooms are also packed, with fairly similar results. I didn't realize my entire life could be packed into three boxes until today. It's a little sad, honestly." She rubs the back of her neck, and Ellyana grabs her hand, squeezing reassuringly.

Emron steps into the room, clearing his throat. "I don't mean to interrupt, but we've already told Stella that we would take her to some of the shops and get her outfitted with other things she may need and want. I — we, I mean —" he looks pointedly at Ronyn, who ducks his head and nods, "would like to extend the same to you, if you'd like. We realize life as a priestess is meant to stay simple, but there's no law against priestesses having nice things as well." My friends both smile shyly at him, at ease already.

Ellyana responds softly, "I cannot speak for Erylis, but I think it would be nice. I haven't worn or had anything that wasn't provided by the temple since I left my pack to join. I really, really miss wearing pants." Her last comment makes everyone chuckle, but I agree. There have been many days where I would have given my left arm to have a pair of pants in the cold winters instead of the thin priestess' gowns we wore. They're beautiful and comfortable, but not very warm.

Even Erylis nods at this. Her mother left her pack at 20 to get away from her family, and was pregnant with Erylis at the time. She was the head priestess for years, so all Erylis knew was the temple. "I would love to experience something new," she says, never shy about her opinions like Ellyana. "I grew up here, and I love this temple, but seeing the other packs and experiencing life sounds like a dream."

We all chat for awhile about how exciting this is, before the clock on the tower chimes seven times. The alphas have dinner with the king and prince in an hour, and my friends and I still need to move everything to our rooms and unpack. We all gather our boxes, and with the help of my mates, we manage to get everything back to the pack house and into the Opal suite in good time.

I turn to my mates in the sitting area of the suite after the last box is put into my room. "Thank you for your help. All of us appreciate it, and your thoughtful offer earlier," I pause, making sure my friends are in their rooms and not knowing how to put what I want to say. "I know you're my mates, and you want me to think the best of you, but you don't have to butter up my friends to get to me. I don't want them used like that." I cross my arms, looking defiantly at the four males.

Luka looks at me for a moment with his brows creased, then finally responds, "If we were going to use your friends to get to you, we would have offered them money in secret, or jewels, or anything they wanted." He pauses, letting his words settle. "We weren't just being nice to get to you. They obviously mean a lot to you." The other males nod their agreement.

Emron pipes up, "If they don't really want to go, we won't be upset. I thought you might like to go shopping with them, as it could be overwhelming being around all four of us, alone." I nod, his statement making sense. It really is overwhelming being with all four of them alone.

"So, if you all want to come tomorrow, we'll be at the door to your suite at eight tomorrow," Ronyn says.

All four males agree, and Emron clears his throat. "Until then, I think we'll let you be. It's been a long day for all of us, but I'm sure it's been the longest for you. Finding out you have not one, but four mates has to be overwhelming." I nod my agreement, grateful he understands.

"Get some rest, mate. Tomorrow will be another long day. Sleep well and dream of me," Ronyn says, stepping forward and taking my hand. He gently presses a kiss to it, giving me a wink before walking into the hallway.

Luka steps up next, taking my other hand and putting it to his heart. "Sleep tight, little Luna. Tomorrow cannot come fast enough," he whispers before kissing the side of my hand and heading out after Ronyn.

Once he's out of the room, Elias carefully wraps me in his arms and places a gentle kiss on my temple. I give him a quick hug back before he steps away. "Goodnight, my mate. I hope you have the sweetest dreams, preferably not of Ronyn." We both chuckle before he walks out the door, and I'm left with Emron.

He pushes my hair behind my ear before leaning in to kiss my forehead. His lips barely brush my skin before the gentle touch is gone. His hand caresses my face, and I place mine on top and lean into the touch. "Sleep well, my love," he says so quietly I barely hear it. "I thank Lumina for meeting you today. You, my darling, are an answered prayer. " He kisses my forehead once more before letting go and walking away.

My hand touches the spot where he kissed me, and my whole body tingles. Sleep well, my love.