Submitted to Love

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

--Adrian--

"Wakeup dude.....At least it would make more sense if you had some she-wolves by your side...it is already 10 in the morning." Justin was yelling near his ears.

"What is your problem ?"

"My problem is I am getting married in a few days and my best man is busy sleeping in late into the morning" Justin was looking amused.

"Stop smirking i***t. I am getting up...I have been working my ass off , if you have not noticed" . I yawned loudly and ruffled my hair.

"The girls are coming today...the guys are excited to find their mates or at least get some action in the coming days " Justin was munching on a bacon he kidn*pped from the breakfast table.

"whatever..."

Adrian is going to be eighteen next month and hopes it would be a while before he finds his mate. The mate bond is legendary. The attraction between mates is known to change a man. But Adrian is an ambitious young wolf who is the automatic Alpha to the Dark Moon pack. He has many plans for his life. Getting a university degree is one of them. Settling down with a mate is not a part of his plan in the near future. He aspires to revolutionize the villages which the pack control, especially the education system, the agriculture and the infrastructure.

Adrian has never been fond of one night stands. Yes, he has been in an on and off relation with Clara when they were sixteen ,but it lasted only a few months. Clara however still pines for Adrian, well mostly pines for his power and wealth. But Clara is not like the typical b***h she wolves who are always fighting to get his attention. Yet, Adrian is not sure how Clara would react when he finally meets his mate. Hopefully there would not be much trouble.

Which is probably why Adrian has no interest in the bunch of girls coming to help in the castle. Though it sucks that they are forbidden to shift when the humans are here.

"Dude , I think Joseline might be pregnant.." Justin mentioned with a worried face.

"What? Why would you think that? ...what have you been doing man? Your wedding is just around the corner" I laughed at him.

"That is the point dude...her hormones are sucking me dry. I mean I love making love to her ...but I really am exhausted every morning."

"Justin ...do you not want kids? You should have had this discussion before marriage. I do not want my Beta and his mate falling out on something as important as this..." I was cut off by Justin.

"I always wanted kids mate and so does Joseline. I just did not think it would be this early......" Justin was looking out of the window, deep in thoughts.

"Get a test done mate. You have the whole pack to support you ...trust me mom is never going to leave your kid alone." I said rolling my eyes. I put a hand on his shoulder. Justin is eighteen and a few months older to me. We grew up together and were closer than brothers.

"Justin , it is a huge responsibility and I know you are scared ...but man I am with you and you will make a great father....and honestly uncle Adrian is going to be their favourite person" I told Justin with a wink.

Justin laughed lightly. Probably a little relieved thinking he will have the best support system for this kid.

"Yeah you are right man...." Our discussion was cut short when there was a loud knock on my door.

Joseline hurried in looking dishevelled . She was looking at Justin with blood shot eyes.

"Umm...darling ..Adrian's room is not the best place to ...you know..." Justin started to look at Joseline and me.

"Oh shut up...I just .." Joseline turned towards me. "Adrian ...would you mind leaving us alone for a couple of minutes?" I nodded with a smile and walked outside to the balcony.

Joseline was rescued from an allied pack when they were under a rough attack. She was one of the few survivors. Blood moon pack became everything for the orphaned five year old. Soon she became friends with Justin and him. That is why it is normal for her to address Adrian by his name. Normally people would address him as Alpha , though he is yet to take the formal responsibility. Joseline trained hard and studied harder. She is one of the important strategists in the pack. Though she is a year older to Justin and Adrian, she is way smarter than both of them. A kind hearted girl with a soft smile adorning her lips, Joseline's battle skills were formidable. Her political shrewdness was deadlier still, even at this young age of nineteen.

Leaning down I could see the girls being ushered into the castle. The human girls were always excited to get an invitation from the castle. One for the money they get for their service ..but more than that it is an opportunity for them to find their mates. The humans are not aware of mate bond , but they have sometimes seen girls in the village stay back in the castle. I sighed looking at the group. Irrespective of whether you are a wolf or a human, money and power entice everyone away.

Suddenly I felt a shiver run down my spine. A girl has looked up and staring openly at me. I find it odd. I was standing at a position from where I would be able to see those who enter , but the guests would not be able to see me. There are several such spots in the castle to give the pack some vantage points , in case it comes under external threat.

She was looking up with wide guileless eyes. Eyes that seem to see the soul inside me. My heart thudded inside my chest. I was sure she is not able to see me because she is searching for something around her. I found myself watching her figure. Her loose and baggy dresses were not attractive and neither is the backpack she is carrying. Why though ? Girls would usually wear the most revealing dresses and the best make up they had when they visited the castle.

Her eyes look disappointed. Brown was never my favourite color...it was not until now. And I wanted to show myself to her. I wanted to take away the disappointment in her eyes....odd... why did I think she was searching for me?

Once again she was staring at me. Then she pushed a lock behind her ears, sighed, smiled a little and bit her full lips to hide her smile.

WHAT THE HELL! That simple innocent action twitched my c**k. Why is my body reacting like that ? I always had control on my hormones.

An emptiness descended on my heart when she left to catch up with the group. Again I was baffled at the effect this stranger had on me. Maybe Justin was right. Maybe I need to get laid .

I rubbed my eyes and was about to knock on my door to alert the love birds. When they both came out with tears in their eyes.

"Adrian...I am..."Joseline whispered, holding her stomach. My eyes widened and I hugged both my Beta and his mate into one of my famous bear hugs.

"I cannot believe I will be an uncle guys...Joseline be prepared to have your child besotted with his or her Uncle Adrian...if it is a boy I will be surely teaching him the tricks of the trade..if it is a girl, her mate has to pass my tests before he can even look at her.." I yelled excitedly. Joseline laughed freely wiping tears from her eyes.

"Oh Adrian...you dumbass..."

"Hei! That is your future Alpha lady..."

"Future Alpha my ass....you two cannot even decipher a simple code from the rival pack without me ...." Justin and I were looking dumbstruck at her while she walked away.

"Is she for real?" I asked Justin.

"Yeah man. And she is pregnant now." Justin sighed and smiled hugely. He looked at me with expectant eyes.

I laughed and said "Go after her man. You can pick up your training tomorrow again" .

My mind wandered away to that brown eyed village girl. I was yearning to see her again and find out more about her….This will be one long wedding...I breathed out loud at the thought.

-----------------------*****-----------------

--Isabella--

It was not long till the castle guards were ready with the carriage outside Bella’s house. Isabella sighed deeply and was mentally preparing herself for what lay ahead. A huge part of her heart was hoping she would return soon enough but a small part was curious as well to see what happens inside the mysterious walls. Who would have known her eighteenth birthday would be spent in fear and uncertainty. She of course never expected a huge celebration but this was not even in her worse dreams.

Helena was standing with pursed lips. Despite her instructions to dress well and powder her face, Isabella has spent the better part of the morning packing books and journals for her stay.

“Well it seems like you have no competition with all the glitters here….” Helena made her usual snarky remark seeing the other girls. They were dressed in their best clothes and have put on generous amounts of face paint. Some of their clothes barely covered their bosoms. It is obvious, the huge amount of effort that has gone into dress up just to attract a castle dweller.

…………………..

Soon the carriage was pulling away from the familiar terrain of the village to unknown and peculiar flora. Suddenly the carriage window curtains were pulled down. An eerie blanket of darkness settled down inside the carriage pausing the lively chitter chatter of the girls. All of them were uncomfortable not knowing which path the carriage was taking. They also felt the other carriages which were till now following the same route have diverted to different paths. Soon the carriage gained tremendous speed and it was not long before the curtains were lifted and they found themselves at the gates of the magnificent and humongous castle.

The gate opened letting all the carriages in. All around it was bustling with life. The resplendent garden surrounding the castle was a heavenly sight. It seems most of the residents were well built and athletic. Isabella felt they all had a very comforting yet a dangerous aura. She was not a stranger to nature growing up in the village , but the beauty of nature around the castle seemed to take her breath away. It seems mother nature has donned her most exquisite look for the castle.

“Hello girls. I will be your host for the afternoon. I am sure you are hungry and tired. Follow me as I lead you to the dining hall. After supper you will be guided to your individual rooms for the stay. Relax and enjoy the castle today. Your work begins tomorrow” . Said Mary walking towards them. All the girl bowed to her as she is known as the queen to the villagers.

Isabella felt uncomfortable when Mary stared at her longer than usual. But she shrugged away the feeling when all started walking inside the castle.

Suddenly she felt unquiet. It felt like someone was watching her intensely. But the invisible eyes felt longing and curious and not harmful. If Bella is being honest to herself, the feeling was nothing like anything she has experienced before. Her heart was thudding lightly and her face was flushed. She felt a sweet shiver down her spine and tingling between her thighs.

But there was none to be seen. Bella sighed and smiled lightly at her unseemly reaction. Shaking her head lightly she rushed to join the girls ahead while they all entered the dining hall...