The Scent of Destiny

Painful discoveries

When I got home, I went straight to my room and took off my workout clothes. There was a tall mirror right next to my bed and as I undressed, I took a good look at myself. My curly brown hair was way longer than a year ago, almost close to my lower back, my face wasn't that round anymore either, my features were slimmer and more defined. It reminded me of how elves are described in the fantasy books I loved to read.

I never thought a year would change me so much, but I guess it was just natural in werewolves. I walked closer to the mirror and stared straight into my hazel eyes, as I laid my right hand on the mirror.

“No one’s going to hurt me, I will never let that happen", I said to myself as I closed my eyes and sighed. But how could I protect myself against an Alpha if the rumors were true? What if he tried to hurt me? What if he tried to harm my family?

As the surge of different thoughts flooded my head, I was suddenly surrounded by a calming feeling that came from inside of me, deep inside my mind, that somehow made me feel safe, secure, protected. It was then that I heard her voice for the first time.

"I won't allow anyone to hurt us, little one, for I am here to stay with you until the moon goddess calls us home" said a gentle, serene voice in my head that made me open my eyes in surprise, "My name is Kida, and I am blessed to be your wolf", she then sent me a mental image of her appearance; she was a beautiful slim white wolf, with silver and grey stripes on her sides and tail. Her forehead was adorned with a perfect round circle of grey and silver fur, which I thought was a curious-looking mark.

I sighed, closed my eyes again and smiled, “Kida… that's a beautiful name". When I opened my eyes, she was somehow there in my reflection. My wolf was here with me, “We are finally together”, I said with a smile.

"There's something you've been wanting to ask me, little one. I could sense our connection even before you turned of age, and I have but an unfortunate answer for it... I have no sense of smell, just like you". As I looked into the mirror, I saw my cheerful expression disappear. The moon goddess should've known I was born without a sense of smell, so why would she pair me with a wolf with the same condition?

"This... has to be a mistake... why...?" I couldn't formulate the question out loud. Many ill thoughts rushed through my mind, and I felt heaviness in my chest like I'd never felt before. What would I tell my parents? I didn't care if my wolf couldn't smell, but I was going to get kicked out of the pack, which at this point, I couldn't care less, but my parents were resources Carlise needed, and I knew he would never let them go if they willingly came with me.

"Do not fret, Alice, I am as powerful as you are. No one will be able to harm us or defeat us", she had a certain confidence about her, which somehow gave me comfort.

"I know... I... I don't know... It's not that Kida, I'm just...", I felt my legs grow weak. The anxiety and nervousness kicked in, so I sat on the edge of my bed before I fell to my knees, "I don't know what I'm going to do if I get kicked out. Carlise says that a warrior will never be perfect or whole if he isn't able to track or smell the enemies coming".

"The alpha is but a fool. Being able to fight requires more than just the ability to smell. If you trust your abilities and the rest of your senses, you'll always be able to win", the aura she projected was calming, and somehow, I knew what she said was true, but Carlise had a different take on the subject.

Kida and I had this whole mental conversation while I showered and got to know each other more while the warm water cleansed my whole body. She enjoyed this moment as much as I did and it was fun having her around. She was laid back, confident, and somehow very mature and wise. I covered myself with my towel as I stepped out of the shower and then laid on my bed, just staring at the roof.

"I can feel how much you doubt yourself, Alice. You have more power than you actually think. WE have more power together".

"I haven't even been in a real fight. How am I powerful, Kida? I must prove myself somehow... I don't care if I get kicked out. This pack became a living hell, but my parents will want to come with me, and I know Carlise won't allow them to leave. He doesn't care about anything but his own interests. His word is final".

“Tell them about your fears then”, she said bluntly.

“Kida, it’s hard, I already tried to have this conversation with them and it didn’t work out. It…”, before I could finish, I heard the doorbell ring and then heard my father opening the door for whomever decided to visit.

"Hello sir, is Alice home?" I recognized his voice immediately; it was Claude. Why was he here though?

"Yes she is Claude, please come in", he said very politely and with a weird cheerful tone, and then he yelled, "Alice! Claude came to visit".

"Shit..." I said in a low voice, and then yelled, "I'm coming! Let me change!". I grabbed the first thing I saw in my closet and put it on. Once I looked decent enough to entertain a guest, I opened my door and then right outside my doorstep was Claude. He was facing down, but when he saw me he looked up and smiled. My dad had let him come all the way to my room, which was odd.

"Finally... We can finally be together, Alice!", he said, ecstatic.

"What the f...", I stopped before I said something rude, I sighed, and then reflected on his last words, "Wait, what are you talking about? Be together?", his words were somehow confusing, but deep down, I knew what he meant.

"Alice, we are mates! I've been dying to tell you, but I didn't want to scare you off since you hadn't got your wolf, but then, I heard you talking to yourself as I was walking by, you know... Wolf senses and all, I didn't mean to be a creep...", which was honestly kind of creepy, I thought to myself. It then hit me; I was talking to myself this whole time instead of holding a mental conversation with my wolf. I felt really dumb and I blushed, "...I was honestly just walking by; Bryan's house is just down the road and well... I just assumed you had finally got your wolf, and came here to claim you as my mate", his loving gaze confirmed that what he said was true, and it looked like he truly wanted to be with me.

My mouth was wide open in disbelief. Claude my mate? It wasn't the fact that he was my mate this whole time and he had known this for almost a year that made this crazy, but something of much more importance, something else that made me shiver…

I couldn’t feel the mate bond.

"Claude... Honestly, yes, that is kind of… odd, but to a certain extent I understand, the bond compelled you to do so since you've probably known for a while, but... I am so sorry", I said with shame and regret, "I can't feel the mate bond for some reason. I can't smell it, or feel anything from you". I could see disbelief in his expression but he then laughed it off.

"I know that you can't smell silly, but you can ask your wolf to give you her sense of smell. That will help, just like your father did".

I looked at him and I was pretty sure he could notice the worry in my expression. I couldn't dare look at him straight, so I looked down instead, "She...", I felt a knot in my throat while I tried to hold in my tears, "She can't smell either". His endearing gentle gaze wasn't so endearing anymore once he heard those words.

"So you are telling me that YOUR STUPID WOLF isn't able to smell either?", he laughed cynically, "Why would the moon goddess mate me with a she-wolf who can't even smell? Worst of all, with a she-wolf whose wolf has the same problem as her? You can't even mate because you can't smell me at all!", he yelled. At this point, his intention to make fun of me was clear.

I couldn't care less about him trying to do so, but having my wolf targeted like that was not something I was willing to let go, especially since I just got her. Kida certainly had an issue with that as well; her anger was making my body boil, but I wasn’t transforming into a wolf, instead, I felt a transition of consciousness as she took over my body, and I could feel my eyes shifting into hers.

"YOU are mad because you can't be corresponded by her?", Kida yelled in his face, furious. My voice was different; the same voice I heard in my head when we talked, was the same one coming out of my mouth, "You can't even imagine the issues she's dealing with, and I'm never going to allow you to disrespect us ever again. She apologized and felt sorry because you are the first one who she had to tell this to, with no intention of trying to hurt you, AND SHE FOUND OUT JUST MINUTES AGO! But you come here and try to shame her like this? You are not worthy of her or anything she has to offer, nor worthy of the ground you walk on, or the air you breathe. You dare disrespect us again, and I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry about finding a mate, permanently".

Once she was done, she gave me my body back and the look in Claude's face made me feel a whole lot better. His eyes were almost popping out of his eye sockets. I'm pretty sure no one has ever heard of a wolf talking through their human counterpart like that. I was surprised myself, since I wasn't aware that was even possible.

"I guess there isn't much to say after what Kida said, because that's her name. Not stupid wolf. Kida", I stood straight and looked into his eyes, no shame in my expression this time, "I thought you were better than this, and I'm deeply disappointed you ended up being as pitiful as you've proven yourself today, so allow me to spare you from the 'pain' of being with someone like me. Claude Von Putlitz, I, Alice McQuaid, daughter of Maya McQuaid, pack leader of the fifth division, hereby reject you as my mate". When I pronounced those words, his expression changed from shock to a mix of anger and hurt.

"You should be begging me to be your mate. You have no rank, Alice, your mother may have one, but you don’t, and I don't think you ever will. This was probably your only chance of staying in the pack, knowing you aren't even worthy of being a warrior, since either of you can't even smell. Not even Carlise can deny the mate bond".

He was probably right, being with him was probably my only chance to stay in this pack, and be protected somehow. Carlise wouldn't go against the wishes of the moon goddess, or so I supposed, and I didn't want to be away from my parents, but I refused to let myself be with someone as stupid as Claude, since he's proven to me that he isn't who I thought he was.

"You are right, but I won't allow US to be with someone as ridiculous as you, not even for a place in this pack. You've shown your true colors, and we deserve so much better than that. So, do you accept my rejection?" I said coldly.

"I...", his voice was shaky, deep down he was also in pain, but then there was also hatred in his expression this time, written all over his face. I only felt sorry for his wolf, it was a big punch in the gut for them, "I, Claude Von Putlitz, son of Harald Von Putlitz, pack leader of the second division, accept your rejection". He turned around and glanced back at me while walking away, "I won't forget this, Alice, you'll one day regret rejecting me like this".

He walked out the house and slammed the door so hard it made the whole structure shake because of the strength he put into it, making me flinch. I just stood at the entrance of my room, staring at the wall right in front of me. There were pictures of my family and I together, and I stared at each one of them. I then stopped on the last one; it was a picture of my mother and father on the day of their wedding. I grabbed the picture and then went into my room and sat on my bed and stared at it. Despite my dad's condition, my mom was so loving and understanding, and they complemented each other perfectly. They had something beautiful, and I only hoped to have something remotely close to what they had one day... But after the events of today, that being possible was a far away dream.

"I'm destined to be alone", my eyes flooded with tears as I laid on my bed, hugging my parent's picture and cried my heart out. I heard footsteps approaching. I guess I had forgotten for a moment my dad was home this whole time.

"Don’t worry honey, I gave Claude a piece of my mind as soon as he stepped outside. You guys had quite an intense argument. I didn't barge in because I knew you could handle yourself against him, you never needed Daddy’s help", he sat on the side of the bed, behind me, and placed his hand on my shoulder, "I'm so sorry sweetie, I never thought he was like that, he really seemed like a good kid. He told me before your birthday he was your mate, and I was really excited for you guys. I didn't expect he would end up rejecting you. Do you want to talk about what happened?".

I turned around and looked at my dad while I sniffled, "Dad, I was the one who rejected him". My father's calm expression turned into one of confusion.

"You rejected him? Why would you do that? He was excited to be your mate!", he said with concern.

I told him the details about my interaction with Claude, and how my wolf couldn't smell either, leading to me not even being able to smell the mate bond.

"Oh my, that's just... Damn Alice, I... This is all my fault, sweetie, you are like this because of me. Your condition was inherited by me", he transmitted true pain in his eyes, "I'm so, so, so sorry my dear daughter. I truly am".

I hugged my father so hard and cried on his shoulder. "Dad, don't apologize, it isn't your fault, I'm just sad I had to find this out on my birthday... Today was supposed to be a good and happy day, and now I just feel horrible inside. I don't care if we can't smell, I'm just so scared of being alone my whole life, the thought of never finding my mate is terrifying. No one will ever want to be with someone like me. Even if I'm strong or beautiful, no one will try to make me their mate by choice. You know how hard that is for our kind. That's for humans, not us".

My dad sighed, gave me this loving gaze and smiled softly as he gently caressed my hair, trying to comfort me, "You are right sweetie, it is hard for our kind to become mates by choice, but it's not impossible. If that person truly cares about you, he will have to fight with all he has for your love, because you are worth it. You're so young honey, and your destiny is not set in stone, it's what you make of it, and I am sure that your future is bright and so full of accomplishments and happiness. I know you are destined for greatness".

Somehow, his words gave me a bit of comfort and relief, a sense of security. Despite what could happen today, or the upcoming weeks, there was still hope. I jumped into my dad’s arms, hugged him so hard that he even complained about my grip, and then I cried until I fell asleep.

"We still have plenty of time to find someone who will cherish us for who we are. You'll never be alone if I am with you, Alice". Kida's words resonated in my subconscious, comforting my wounded heart, and dispelling the awful thoughts from my dreams.