ALPHA ZEHRAN'S REDEMPTION

CHAPTER TWO

IYRA'S POV

We began the journey that night though we barely made it past the pack authorities at the border, who deliberately made us wait, insisting they needed to verify who we claimed to be. As the hours ticked by, they realized there was nothing else they could hold us with and had begrudgingly let us go. We arrived at the house when the sun was barely peeking through the horizon, the faint glow struggling to brighten up the unfamiliar house.

As I stepped through the doorway, the air was thick with the scent of stale dust and forgotten memories. Cobwebs clung to the ceiling and walls, leaves and debris littered the floor, crunching under my foot as I made my way further inside. It felt like I was in another universe and in a second, someone would appear and demand us to leave.

An old sofa sat against the wall lopsided, its cushions sagging and the fabric tattered. Beside it, another worn out armchair leaned unsteadily as if it might collapse at any moment. The coffee table at the center of the room was littered with papers, old books and a pacifier, as if no one had given it a second thought before leaving. Cabinets hung open, their contents spilled on the floor. The air was thick with the pervasive smell of decay as the countertops were littered with the remnants of a long abandoned meal, plates coated with dried food and the sink filled with stagnant water making it hard to breathe. I didn't even want to start thinking about what the rooms would look like. It was if we were just going about our normal lives and had been uprooted, like refugees fleeing a war zone.

I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of disconnection, as if I was a visitor in a place I should be familiar with but despite the overwhelming feeling, there was a glimmer of hope that flickered within me. This was my home, the place I had taken my first walk and uttered my first words. So, with this feeling of rekindling a long-lost connection, I turned to my parents with a questioning look.

“So, where do we start?”

The sun had sunk below the horizon and given way to darkness by the time we were done with the tenuous work of making the house feel like a home again. I stepped out not really knowing where I was headed to as I scanned the place I would have to accept as my home.

The darkness blanketed the property, save for the faint glow of the porch light flickering overhead. A gentle breeze blew, lifting the strands of my hair, caressing my face with a soft, soothing touch and rustling the overgrown weeds and foliage that had taken over the lawn.

As I wandered down the path, I was relieved to see the familiar outline of a dense forest just beyond the yard. The further I walked, the lighter I felt. I breathed in deeply, savoring the earthly damp scent of the forest. The gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl calmed me, reminding me that my life might have changed, but the forest would always be the same. The towering trees cast a soft ethereal glow, the moonlight filtering through, illuminating the leafy ground.

I made my way to a large oak tree, gazing up at its huge branches stretching towards the sky. I gazed at it, calculating how I would reach its peak and, without a moment's hesitation, I reached up, gripping the sturdy branch, and hoisted my body up. It was as if my body had a mind of its own, instinctively knowing the best path to climb.

I gripped the branch tightly, my hands and feet wrapped around the rugged bark as I pushed forward. I continued repeating the process, pausing briefly to check the stability of each branch before committing my weight to it. I couldn't help smiling bitterly as I thought of how Ethan would probably have been screaming “Monkey! Queen of the jungle.” from down below, and I would turn to him and tease him for being too scared to come up with me, then we would probably end up on a branch of a tree sucking fruit.

The world below me seemed to shrink away, the forest floor grew distant and the sound of the night seemed muted by the canopy of trees around me. It was as if I had jumped into a realm of my own, a safe haven where time seemed to slow to a crawl.

I finally settled myself on a broad, flat branch, my legs dangling freely as I gazed over the moonlight. From here, I could see the faint outline of the house in the distance, a spark in the dark. A sense of peace and belonging washed over me, something I knew I wouldn't be able to feel in the confines of those four walls.

The moon continued its slow arc across the sky. I stared at it amazed at how something so trivial could have a massive impact on my life. The sight of it filled me with a mix of terror and excitement. My eighteenth birthday had passed just a few days ago and that only meant one thing - I am going to have my first shift and that in just a day if my calculations were right.

The prospect had me shaken to the core and though my parents had tried consoling me that it wasn't as terrifying as it sounded, I couldn't help but doubt them. I had heard the stories, whispers from older pack members and from Ethan too. But to actually experience the transformation myself was both thrilling and scary. What would it feel like? Was it as painful as it sounds? Would I be able to control my wolf?

These thoughts frightened me, but the one that frightened me the most was the matter of finding my mate - a lifelong bond that is created specially by the moon goddess. I wondered more often than I would like to admit how it would be to have such a person. It was exciting but terrifying. The uncertainty swirled in my mind like a vortex, making my heart race and my palms sweat, though my parents' bond was a sort of comfort to me, a reminder that such a union was possible.

I ran my fingers over the rough bark of the branch, willing myself to calm down as I took a whiff of the crisp forest air, feeling totally at ease.

The air grew colder as the night deepened and feeling like I'd got my full dose of energy for the days ahead and keeping in mind my dad might come out any minute searching for me, I began the thrilling descent down the tree already missing the sturdy branch.

***********************************************

The aroma of pancakes wafting from the kitchen woke me up the next day. The sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. As I sat up, trying to blink the sleep from my eyes, I couldn't help but feel disorientated as I tried to figure out where I was. The unfamiliar surroundings took a moment to register before the memories of yesterday came flooding back.

Letting out a soft sigh, I ran my fingers through my unruly strands. For like the first time since I got here, I really took in the room. The walls were painted a soft, pale blue, giving the room a calm feel. An old wooden dresser sat against the far wall, its surface bare except for an old family picture. The floor was covered with a simple beige carpet and across the bed was an ancient-looking armchair that sat facing the large window and that's where I saw him, perched on the windowsill, his dark feathers a stark contrast to the pale blue walls. He⁹ gazed back at me, watchful and still. I felt a small smile creep onto my lips as I took in the familiar sight of the bird.

“Hi Zephyr.”

His beady eyes met mine, unblinking as if silently acknowledging my greeting, and just then, a loud clatter echoed from downstairs. I instinctively glanced towards the door, my brows furrowing with concern and just as I returned my eyes to the windowsill, Zephyr had vanished, the spot where he had been perched mere seconds ago now lay empty, his dark silhouette nowhere to be seen.

Sighing, I rose to my feet, not feeling particularly surprised by Zephyr's mannerisms. The aroma of the pancakes seemed to come in stronger than ever. My stomach rumbled, feeling the need to be refreshed first. I made my way to the bathroom.

For a moment, I simply stood there taking in a deep breath, then moved to the sink, turning on the faucet and letting the water run for a few seconds before cupping my hands underneath.

The cool liquid felt soothing against my skin as I splashed it on my face, the sensation helping to fully awaken my senses. As I reached for a towel to dab my face, my gaze lifted to the mirror. My hazel eyes stared back at me, as my wild and untamed silver hair sat in an unruly mess as usual. I had long since abandoned any attempts to tame the unruly mane and had learnt to embrace it.

I drew closer to the mirror, tracing the birthmark along the side of my face. It was in the shape of a vine disappearing into my hairline. It seemed to have a life of its own, faintly glowing at times.

Stepping back, I took myself in one more time before making my way downstairs to the kitchen. My parents were bustling about, with my mum at the stove flipping over pancakes while my dad set up the table. They both looked up at me and greeted me with soft smiles.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” My father said with a chuckle. “We were beginning to think you'd sleep the whole day away.”

I returned their smiles, making my way to have a seat. “Sorry, I guess I was more tired than I realized."

After breakfast, they both suggested we head to the local market to get some essentials for the house. Not feeling pleased in the slightest but knowing it would be useless to protest, I agreed to join them.

I proceeded to make my way to the bathroom to freshen up, got dressed and with the list of groceries and equipments we needed for the house all written up, we made our way out.