The Accidental Luna

Chapter 3: Blood River Wolves

Vanessa rolled on the soft bed. It had been a very long time since she slept in something as comfy as this. Was she with Jake?

No! Jake would never give her such comfort. It would be severe pain and torture from the beginning to the end. Where was she?

She opened her eyes immediately. The room was a beautiful one. There was a fireplace to her left and an armchair with masculine clothes to her right. She squinted her brows at it.

Vanessa adjusted on the bed. She checked out her body. No one had abused her.

"Did you for a moment think that Ryan would touch you in that state?" A voice jolted her.

Vanessa looked to the end of the room. There was another armchair there and there sat a figure on it. The one who addressed her. The memories of her escape came rushing back.

So the headless alpha's name was Ryan...

"What is your name?" She had asked the headless Alpha as they ventured through the woods earlier but he had ignored her.

When she continued pestering him, he replied. "Everyone knows me as the headless alpha. Use that and stop talking or I will be forced to leave you behind."

He had threatened her. The threat had worked. Vanessa sealed her lips till they got to his castle.

"Wow, your castle is so big. How come you came so sudden that to the woods?" She couldn't seal her lips anymore.

"I was going for a walk when I felt something wrong so I decided to check it out. I was about to leave when you fell into my arms. You were lucky," he said as they strolled onto the vast castle grounds...

"Put this on after you've had your bath in there." The man who had burst into her introspection was before her now.

She furrowed her brows at him. "Who are you?"

She had asked as she extended her hands to accept the gown.

"Do you really need to know who I am?" He stood arms akimbo.

Vanessa's heart fluttered. This man was handsome. His frowns didn't deter his beauty nonetheless.

"Fine. Scrap that. I am Ryan's beta, Levi." He introduced himself as the beta of the Blood River Pack.

She was shocked. "Oh, hi. I am…" She smiled at him but he cut her short rudely.

"I know who you are. Ryan has introduced you to me as Vanessa. All you have to do is take your bath, eat your lunch and stay put."

He turned to leave.

"Afternoon?" She was surprised.

Vanessa yanked the bedspread from her body as she ran to the window. It was bright outside.

"Didn't you know? You have been sleeping for over fifteen hours! I thought you were dead." He sneered at her.

Vanessa couldn't believe it. She must have been super exhausted. She smiled as she looked at the green fields outside the castle walls. She would enjoy Archwood.

Her good night's sleep was the first sign. The second was the compelling beauty this castle had. She hadn't even toured the castle's grounds and she felt thrilled already.

"Vanessa, someone's waiting!" A voice reminded her.

"I am sorry. I was looking at the beautiful fie…" She furrowed her brows as she registered with her surroundings.

She had been speaking to herself. No one was in the room with her. Levi had exited when she got lost in her reverie.

Why was she having these feelings for him? Her wolf had an attachment to him. She could feel it already. But why was he acting up? He looked like he didn't like her. Had something happened before? She wondered.

Vanessa strolled to the bathroom to take her bath quickly. She had set her gaze on Levi and she didn't want him to get annoyed.

•••

"Hurry up, we have to go somewhere," Levi said just after she took three spoons of her breakfast.

"Where?" She asked, hoping that they would go together. She needed to know why her body was reacting this way to him.

"Ryan said to take you around Archwood in case you are bored," he informed her and Nessa beamed at him.

He walked away immediately. Why was he avoiding her eyes?

One thing Nessa did notice about the handsome beta was his smell. Her wolf purred at his smell. There was a connection flowing between her and this man, a connection she couldn't understand.

He was her mate. she realized in shock. Nessa knew he sensed it too but then, he was ignoring it for some unknown reason. She would ask him later on when and if she got to know him better.

"Are you ready?" Levi burst into her reverie as he held a black jacket. He looked so handsome.

Vanessa nodded. Her mind did a flip-flop at the thought of hanging around with him.

They exited the castle.

"Where is Ryan?" She asked. She hadn't seen him since last night when he showed her to her room.

"Why do you ask?" Levi growled at her.

"I want to thank him for yesterday. Is that so bad?

"Can you stop being harsh at me already? I don't know what I did to you both. You make me feel bad," she looked sullen.

Levi swallowed. "I'm sorry. Ryan is always busy during the day, you can see him at night."

He had apologized and she nodded to show that she understood.

"Let's seek a truce," he winked at her.

Vanessa was so happy, like some lovesick puppy. This man was so beautiful. She shook his hands. They were already at the market.

"I love everything about Archwood already," she beamed.

"You haven't seen anything yet, I will take you to the tavern. I'm sure you'll love it there," he said

Levi showed her around Archwood. Vanessa could not help the growing attachment she felt toward this man. It was a strange feeling. How could she like a man she had just met?

"Here's the tavern we come to spend our time," Levi said as they stood before it.

She could hear the sounds of the harp inside. She loved music. Vanessa could feel her body jiving to it already.

Suddenly the hairs on her back stood at alert. She felt something like she had felt in the woods. Vanessa turned around immediately. No one suspicious was there. But why was she having a feeling that someone was watching her?

"Are you alright?" Levi asked because her face was pale already.

She knew this feeling. She knew it was either Jake or one of his minions. So they hadn't left after all? Her mind raced in her chest. Ryan wasn't here. Was Levi strong enough to fight Jake? She wondered. Enola had turned back to her spell experiment.

"Are you okay? You look pale," Levi asked once more.

"No, I'm not," she decided to come clean to him.

"What is it? What has happened?" He asked in concern.

"I feel someone is watching me. I just can't pinpoint the person." She told him. Levi chuckled to her amazement.

"Ryan made sure they left already, they can't be here," he told her.

"But I can…"

He interrupted her. "Do you even know Ryan at all? No one dares cross him. Your pack can't find you anymore, I assure you that you are safe with us,"

However, her panic didn't reduce.

"The Velvet Moon Pack will pay dearly if they hurt you, so relax." he assured her.

"I have to run an errand for Ryan, you may go in now," he said.

She faked a smile once more and nodded at him. She could keep up with the facade till she found out if it was true or not. She didn't want to raise an unnecessary alarm.

Vanessa looked back for the last time.

However, she almost spoke the truth. She wanted to follow him wherever he was going.

"And if you get bored, you can go back to the castle. I won't be there long," he told her.

"You can run along, Levi. I will be safe. I can even go back to the castle myself," Vanessa gave him the go-ahead.

Levi nodded and left immediately. It took every ounce of her strength to let him go.

Vanessa looked around, she still had that gnawing feeling in her. The person hadn't left. She was still wearing the phoenix necklace her mother gave her. In it lay the key to Ikrion, she had put it where no one would suspect. The locket was the safest place right now.

Since it was on her, she could carry it about without fear. Vanessa toyed with the locket as the hairs on her back stood again. She turned around but she found no one.

"This time, I will make a run for it," She concluded. She didn't feel safe at all. She had to get to the castle safely. That was her priority. Enola had taken time inside and Levi wasn't forthcoming.

She turned on the path that led to the castle, watching her back frantically. Someone was following her, she was sure of it. Vanessa held the hems of her gown. She began running through the market. The masked man followed her.

She turned on the next path to her left. She didn't know where she was going. All she knew was that she was heading somewhere. That was when she saw it written in red ink on the wall.

"Leave Archwood or it will be your doom. This is a warning," It read.

Goosebumps rose on her pale skin. Vanessa looked back. No one was there. Who had written this and was the warning meant for her? She wondered.

"Vanessa! Why did you run off like that!?" Levi growled in anger as he raced towards her. He had thought she was lost already.

The man who pursued her had disappeared into thin air.

She pointed to the wall. "Look what is written there. I think it's for me,"

"Are you okay? Nothing is on the wall," Levi gestured to the wall.

Vanessa blinked thrice. It had gone off like it wasn't there. Had she been seeing a vision? What would Levi think of her?

She looked around and there was no suspicious movement.

It wasn't enough that she raised an alarm about someone watching her. She had just shown him an empty wall in her state of frenzy. Was her mind playing tricks on her? She had seen it there so why did it wipe off?

She opened her mouth to say a few words but closed it. Levi wouldn't believe her since she had no proof. She had to speak with caution or it would make her look like a liar to Levi.

"I will tell Ryan of your fears, but for now, we need to go back to the castle." Levi informed her and she thought the same too