Silver Mist

Chapter Four

As fast as the pain in her body would allow, Dani ran from the Chalet and made a dash for the tree line behind the bigger cabins. Her eyes had turned and her hands and feet were slowly becoming paws.

“Please,” she begged, “just wait.” A quick glance about and luckily there were very few people around to witness her loss of control.

Dani couldn’t hold it for long and was on all fours the second she passed the first few pines. Her body shook with sobs as she powered through the snow, wanting as much space between her and the Chalet as possible.

How was this possible? What had she done to deserve such a mate? She was a good person, a hard worker and a loyal friend, why was the Goddess punishing her like this?

The pain became too much and her trembling body collapsed. Dani couldn’t stop the mournful howls that echoed through the quiet forest. She didn’t know how long she laid there, her mind going just as numb as her body.

She could hear the soft crunching of paws on snow but couldn’t muster up the energy to care. Her whimpers and whines had obviously attracted the attention of somebody else out for a run.

Dani opened her eyes to see a large sandy wolf stood not too far away, she didn’t recognise him or his scent.

‘Please leave me alone.’ She projected, her mental voice even shaking with tears.

‘Are you hurt?’ He asked, stepping closer and looking at her fallen limbs.

‘I’m fine, please go.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t do that, you’re obviously in pain, I could hear you a mile away.’ The wolf stepped next to her and sat on its haunches. ‘Warren, at your service,’ the wolf bowed its head slightly. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Dani,’ she sighed. ‘I don’t want to even believe it’s true let alone talk to a stranger about it.’

‘Well you know my name and I know yours, I think we are past strangers now, don’t you think?’

Dani sighed again, Warren clearly wasn’t going to leave anytime soon. She rested her head and closed her eyes.

‘I found my mate.’ She murmured sadly.

‘Well now surely that’s a good thing?’ He said.

‘Unfortunately for me, no. It’s definitely not a good thing.’

‘Not possible,’ he stated, ‘the Goddess always chooses wisely.’

‘Just because your happy doesn’t mean everyone else is.’ The bitterness clouding her voice. She noticed his bright hazel eyes dim slightly.

‘Well actually your wrong, I haven’t found my mate yet and I’m definitely not happy about it.’ Warren snipped at her.

‘I’m sorry.’ Dani glanced up at him, tears filling her eyes again. ‘I’m not normally this hostile.’ His eyes went soft and he stretched out his front paws to lay down next to her.

‘I’m sure it can’t be that bad.’ Warren tried to reassure her. She huffed in a half laugh.

‘Do you want to know how I found out he’s my mate?’ She asked ‘I’ll tell you, him and his girlfriend walk into the same room as me and start having sex.’ She stares Warren down, challenging him to say anything against her now. If the look of horror on his face is anything to go by, she won that round. ‘I lost control, wolfed out and just ran until I was too numb to move.’

There was a brief silence while he composed himself.

‘I’m so sorry,’ he murmured quietly. ‘That is just…’

‘I’m a good person, how did I end up with someone like him?’ Even Dani’s mental voice was breaking, trying to hold back the sobs that were threatening to take over again.

‘Didn’t he say anything?’

‘He didn’t know I was there, he’s not 18 yet.’ Warrens eyes flashed in recognition, Wills reputation was well known in the pack. His wolf stood up and bowed its head.

‘Luna.’

‘Don’t, I am no Luna. I’m a waitress for crying out loud!’ She cried. ‘What do I know about running a pack?’

‘Nothing that can’t be learnt. Now come on,’ he nudged her shoulder with his paw. ‘Get up, you’re a Luna now, you can’t go moping about for hours.’ Warren pushed her again before turning and walking off in the direction of the resort. Dani sighed and dragged her tired body off the snow. Shaking her dark fur of the melted drops she trotted to catch up.

‘Do you know him?’ She asked quietly, still unable to bring herself to say his name.

‘We’ve met a couple of times through my work in the Guards.’ Warren glanced sideways at her, ‘I wouldn’t say he was particularly friendly, it’s all just business; he’s the boss, we are the workers.’

Dani had personally never spoken to Will, given her families position within the pack she doubted if he even knew she existed. It was known through the grape vine that he was an arrogant boy, with little regard for people below him and a huge flirt with the female guests. The rumours of his s****l exploits had always been vague but were seemingly well founded.

The walk back to the cabins had been long and tiring on her already exhausted body, the light was fast fading and it must have been late in the evening. Dani was trying not to think of her recent revelation, Will wouldn’t know for a few weeks, so it would give her some time to come to terms with it herself before having to deal with his attitude problem.

Just out of reach of the tree line, the two wolves shifted back to their human forms. Dani had lost her hat along the way but all her other clothes seemed intact. Turning to her companion, he too was fully clothed.

Warren was a lean build and towered over her. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“Ah thanks but not necessary.” Dani assured with a small smile.

“Ok.” Warren agreed, pausing he glanced up to the top floor of the Chalet where the Alpha family lives before looking back to her, “You know, it may not seem like it now but as I said, the Goddess is never wrong. Maybe it just takes a bit of time and understanding to realise it.” He smiled warmly before turning and setting foot towards the back entrance to the dorms.

Dani took a deep breathe and sighed. “Hey, Warren?” She called, he stopped. “Thank you.” She dipped her head as a sign of respect and he copied her before continuing on into the building.