Run! The Lost Princess of the Black Wolves

Chapter 16 - Love letters

After breakfast, Chloe and Freya continued to sort through their outfits for their trip. Freya was determined to make a lasting impression on the northern wolves, and every little detail needed to be planned, from her jewelry to her nightgowns. As she held up a fine piece of lace negligée in front of her, a grin spread across her face. “One never knows, maybe I get company,” she chuckled.

Chloe watched her with amusement. "You really have thought of everything, haven't you? I haven't put that much thought into it," she admitted. Chloe wasn't much of a planner; she was more impulsive and preferred to go with her intuition.

“That's because you've already given up,” Freya said, giving her a meaningful look. "If you hadn't known who your fated mate was, you would have been just as excited and prepared as I am."

“Maybe," Chloe shrugged. "But it is what it is. I'm not as unenthusiastic as you think I am! I wouldn't mind a little flirting,” she wiggled her brows, crossing her legs flirtatiously.

Freya pointed at her, "Yey! That’s the spirit. I think the distraction would be good for you! And men will fall at your feet. They always have.”

Chloe looked up, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Maybe. If they can handle me,” she added wryly, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

Freya burst out laughing, "Oh, but no one can! Especially not with your fiery temper."

“Me? You think I am hot-tempered?” Chloe widened her eyes with feigned innocence. “Have you met my brother?”

“Oh yes… I can’t believe we even tried to set me up with John,” Freya sighed. “Thank Goddess he didn't fall for it! He would have left me the second Isabel walked into his life.”

“Probably,” Chloe agreed with a grimace. “They're perfect for each other. I can really understand the Moon Goddess match when it comes to them. I just don't understand why I had to be paired with the greatest villain of our lifetime?”

“Oh, you don't know that, though,” Freya pointed out. "Maybe Nolan's not as wicked as we think? I'm not saying you have to give him a chance, but...” she paused. “What if he's good, deep down…? Just waiting for someone to really care about him to bring out his inner good?"

“You sound just like my wolf,” Chloe scoffed. “And just like those women who go to prisons to find their future husbands, thinking they can save them and bring out their inner goodness. Guess what? It doesn't work that way.”

“I was just thinking…” Freya trailed off as Chloe's irritation grew.

“Freya, no,” Chloe interrupted firmly, seething with anger. “He killed my brother, remember? He attacked us, schemed against us, and went for Pine Ridge pack, taking Joanna hostage and killing a few of her pack members before. He's a monster! And I don't want to talk about him anymore.”

Freya winced at Chloe's harsh words. "Sorry," she murmured, looking remorseful. "I wasn't thinking…"

“No, you weren't,” Chloe snapped but quickly softened as she saw Freya's guilty expression. She couldn't blame Freya for trying to be more balanced about the situation, knowing she meant well…

The problem was that nobody could truly grasp the overwhelming turmoil that Chloe was going through. Day and night, she struggled with her own wolf over their fated mate and her right to choose her own destiny. The mere concept of fated mates had become a trigger for her, making her blood boil with anger, and she saw red just at someone mentioning it...

Nevertheless, she tried to keep her frustration to herself, not wanting to dash Freya's hope of finding her own true mate and being happy. After all, there were plenty of success stories like John and Isabel, and her own parents, who were matched by the Moon Goddess with great success! But that only made Chloe even angrier and more disappointed. Why did the Moon Goddess have to play such a cruel joke on her?

“I’m sorry,” Freya repeated, her gaze dropping to the ground. “It was really stupid of me…”

Chloe let out a deep breath. “It’s okay. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

“Hey, do you want to head to the library and see if we can find any information about the woman who's been haunting your dreams?” Freya quickly suggested, seemingly grateful for the reconciliation.

“Sure,” Chloe smiled faintly. “If you’re done packing.”

Freya nodded eagerly. "Definitely. Let's go."

The Emerald Pack's library may not have been as grandiose as the one of the River Valley Pack, but it possessed its own unique charm. The expansive windows offered breathtaking views of the glimmering lake, imbuing the room with a sense of serenity, and just entering the room, one could sense the history pulsing through it. The antique furniture gave off an aura of sophistication, adding to the peaceful ambiance of the space. The bookshelves, crafted from rich dark wood, were fully stocked with a diverse range of genres, and the faint scent of aged leather and paper lingered in the air, as if time had stood still.

"I just mindlinked one of our omegas," Freya gazed up at the high bookshelves. "He's going to help us... Oh there he is," she smiled brightly as Aiden, one of the pack's male omegas, entered the room. "We need those books," Freya pointed at the most ancient books, perched on the highest shelves.

"Of course, miss Freya," he nodded sincerely, staring wide-eyed at the bookshelf in question. Carefully, with shaking legs, he climbed up the ladder, casting wary glances at them.

Chloe and Freya watched amused as he teetered on the top rung, trembling with nervousness, and the girls couldn't stifle their giggles watching him.

"You're a werewolf, Aiden! Don't tell me your afraid of books?" Freya teased as he let out a sigh of relief as he stepped down on solid ground.

Chloe let out a laugh and took charge of the situation. “I’ll take the next shelf,” she chuckled, positioning the ladder against the next set of books and nimbly climbing up to the top.

"I'm sorry, my lady," he lowered his gaze. "I'm afraid of heights."

Freya chuckled at his confession. "Don't worry, Aiden. Luckily, Chloe is fearless enough for both of us."

“No problem, can you just hold these for me please?” Chloe gave him a friendly smile as she handed Aiden a stack of dusty old books. If there was something she had learned from her upbringing, it was to be kind to the omegas. After all, they were the backbone of the pack.

"Of course, my lady," Aiden said gratefully, accepting the books.

Both Freya and Chloe were soon completely absorbed in the task of going through the history of the house, devouring old diaries and family trees.

“Look!” Freya exclaimed as she approached Chloe, clutching a bunch of old envelopes in her hands. “I found these. They're hundreds of years old love letters between Lady Elizabeth Rackham and her secret lover, Christopher. I heard about them when I was a child, but I had forgotten the details." Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Maybe she's the woman in your dreams? Maybe she's trying to communicate something about her old love life and broken heart!"

“Interesting theory,” Chloe smiled. It was a long shot, but it was worth exploring. "Tell me more," she urged.

Freya eagerly opened the letters, reading aloud some of the passages. "My dearest Elizabeth," she intoned in a hushed voice. "Every moment of every day, my thoughts are consumed by thee. In my dreams at night, I yearn to feel thy presence beside me. Oh, how I ache to hold thee in my arms once more, to feel the warmth of thy touch! But alas, my father's demands are cruel and unyielding. He has forced upon me the burden of mating with mine own cousin, and despite my fervent pleas, he remains steadfast in his refusal. My heart is heavy with sorrow, for I fear that our love may never be realized."

Chloe's heart ached with sympathy. "How tragic."

"Oh, but listen to this one," Freya continued, with a mischievous giggle. "My darling Elizabeth, my heart overflows with great anticipation at the mere thought of our imminent reunion! These few weeks will pass with haste, and I humbly ask thee, my beloved, to refrain from all washing and bathing before our meeting.”

“He doesn’t want her to shower for weeks?” Chloe wrinkled her nose.

“Oh, there’s more, listen,” Freya wiggled her eyebrows. “I so long to experience the pure essence of thy scent, the unfiltered aroma that emanates from thy being! I ache with great eagerness to enter between thy legs and lose myself with passion. With unbridled ardor, for ever yours, Christopher."

Chloe gasped in surprise before the two erupted in laughter. “Oh my!” she squeaked. “That’s one dirty lover!”

“I know!” Freya's small frame quaked with laughter, her body shaking uncontrollably as she struggled to catch her breath. "It's hilarious!"

“But I doubt this Elizabeth is my cloaked stalker,” Chloe chuckled, dabbing her eyes from tears of laughter. “She looked very clean to me!”

"Maybe she's just missing her man, Christopher,” Freya's snort echoed through the room like a horse's whinny. “But seriously, their love story ended really badly," she regained her composure. "It might be her.”

"Do you have any pictures of her?" Chloe asked curiously. One could never be too sure.

"Actually, we do," Freya replied as she gestured toward a large painting on the wall. The painting depicted a regal-looking woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, resting her hand on the back of a white wolf. "That's her right there. She was the daughter of a powerful Alpha from the north, and Christopher was some Beta’s son from the south. Her father didn't think he was good enough for her. When he found him in her bed one night, when they were doing their... dirty... business, he just resolutely grabbed him and killed him instantly."

"Oh no..." Chloe pouted. "Well... At least she's not the woman who's been haunting my nightmares,” she continued. “But what happened to her in the end?"

Freya grimaced. "She never mated with anyone... she refused all her father's suggestions of what he considered suitable mates, and her family line stopped there."

Chloe looked up at the painting on the wall, feeling a wave of melancholy. "That's really sad," she bit her lip. "Why does anyone, be it the Moon Goddess, parents, or any other force, have to interfere?" she continued, feeling frustrated. "Why can't we just follow our hearts and choose who we want to be with?"

“But that’s what we’re going to do, babe!” Freya gave her a tight hug. “Loosen up. You will find someone, and together you can tell Nolan to f**k off.”

Chloe gave her soft smile in reply. Maybe she was right…