Run! The Lost Princess of the Black Wolves

Chapter 3 - The arrival

”Chloeee!”

The very second Chloe stepped out of the sleek black SUV, she was tackled by Freya who threw her arms around her. "I can’t believe you're finally here!" Freya exclaimed, giving her a big hug. She was like a whirlwind of red hair and freckles, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement and Chloe couldn’t help but smile. Her best friend's enthusiasm was infectious! She had missed Freya terribly, and their reunion felt like a breath of fresh air. It was hard to believe that only a few months had passed since they last saw each other… To Chloe, it felt like several years.

As she was enveloped in Freya’s warm embrace, Freya's parents, Eyvind and Astrid, came to join them and greeted Chloe with open arms. "How was your trip, dear?" Astrid asked with genuine curiosity.

"The flight was fine," Chloe replied, a small smile playing on her lips. "But the car ride here was quite... tedious. You do live quite far from civilization, don't you?"

"Yes, we do," Astrid chuckled. "But instead, we have this beautiful scenery!" She gestured towards the breathtaking landscape around them, and Chloe couldn't agree more. It was stunningly picturesque.

Nestled on the borders of the Western, Eastern, and Northern territories, the Emerald Lake pack was the peacekeeper between the three regions, maintaining a delicate balance that was constantly under threat. Despite their neutrality, however, they shared a special bond with the Western tribe, thanks to their collaboration with the Western tribe and Chloe’s pack, the River Valley pack… Or as most people still called them - the 'Black Wolves’.

Emerald Lake pack had therefore been a natural setting for interregional meetings and was also often a very appreciated destination due to its beautiful setting. The lands of Emerald Lake pack were breathtaking, especially now since everything was covered in bright white snow. It was surrounded by towering mountains and dense forests, but most spectacular was undoubtedly the magnificent lake that graced the grounds, shimmering with a vibrant emerald hue. The green colour was a result of the rare minerals that were renowned for their healing properties among the werewolf community. Some even believed that bathing in the lake would stop aging! Not that the members of the Emerald Lake pack aged any differently than others, though, but they did have a very healthy and vibrant look to them.

Despite the Emerald Lake pack being the home of her best friend, tahis was Chloe’s first time visiting the pack. In fact, Chloe had not even traveled beyond the borders of the Western region before, and she was thrilled to finally be able to explore the world. However, she couldn’t get rid of a sense of unease that crept over her as there was one person she was anxious to meet…

"Where’s Marcus?" she couldn't help herself and asked, her heart fluttering. She was sure he would turn up any moment now, and her gaze wandered, looking for him.

“He’ll join us later,” Freya averted her gaze, leaving Chloe with a bad feeling. Was she withholding something from her? “But now, let’s get your stuff inside. Goddess, one could think you’re moving in permanently!” Freya giggled, eyeing Chloe’s abundance of bags with amusement.

“Well, what can I say? I might have brought my entire wardrobe,” Chloe chuckled.

Freya grinned with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “We do have washing machines, you know!”

“Ha-ha,” Chloe made a face and stuck out her tongue.

“You must be hungry,” Astrid intervened and gestured towards the mansion. “Let’s go inside and get you something to eat.”

They all began strolling towards the colossal white mansion with its grandiose pillars, situated by the lake. Though Chloe was no stranger to impressive architecture, having grown up in the River Valley's Packhouse and Alpha house - both of which were even larger - she couldn't help but marvel at the Emerald Lake pack's main building. Unlike her secluded home tucked away in the forest, the pack's central structure stood tall and proud, commanding attention with its striking presence beside the glistening lake.

“Aren’t you scared humans will find your pack?” Chloe frowned. “The house is not covered with any trees whatsoever. It feels so… open. And vulnerable.”

Eyvind let out a loud, rumbling laugh. “There are no humans out here,” he bellowed, the snowflakes clinging to his lengthy crimson beard, causing Chloe to stifle a laugh. “It’s too far for anyone to even bother to come. And we rarely shift. We only shift when hidden by the woods of course.”

“You rarely shift?” Chloe arched her brows in surprise.

“More or less only during the Full Moon celebrations,” Astrid smiled softly. “And of course, our fighters shift when on patrol. Otherwise, we prefer to stay in our human forms.”

“But we’re not like the Northerners,” Freya filled in. “They don’t even shift during their Full moon celebrations!”

“What? Why?” Chloe didn’t understand a thing. Why would a werewolf not shift?

“The Northerners take great pride in controlling their wolves,” Eyvind shrugged and gestured for Chloe to enter the main entrance to the mansion. “Only their warriors practice shifting regularly…”

“But anyhow, enough talking about those Northerners,” Astrid laughed nervously. “Freya, show Chloe to her room, will you?”

Freya seized Chloe's hand and dragged her through the house, chattering endlessly about the exciting adventures that awaited them and how much fun they were going to have. Despite her friend's infectious enthusiasm, Chloe couldn't shake off the nagging sense of unease that crept up within her. What was the deal with the Northerners and their peculiar aversion to shifting?

Back home, in Chloe’s pack, it was common knowledge that the key to mastering one's inner wolf and being able to control it was through shifting. Frequently. And spend a lot of time in one’s s wolf form! Chloe could even recall that her brother John had been away for several weeks in a row, living on his own out in the wilderness, more or less constantly in his wolf form. And she didn’t know anyone better at controlling his wolf than John.

“This is your room,” Freya interrupted Chloe’s ruminations as she flung open the door to reveal a stunning room complete with airy white curtains and a queen-sized bed adorned with a lavish canopy. “What do you think? I’ve decorated it myself!” Freya beamed and made a little twirl. “Consider this your sanctuary, your home away from home.”

“Wow, Freya… It’s great!” Chloe eyed the room appreciatively.

The walls were painted in a soft pastel hue, and the ceiling was adorned with intricate floral motifs that seem to bloom before her eyes. There was also a vanity table with intricate carvings and ornate decorations, and a plush armchair that was nestled in the corner of the room next to a small bookcase. The whole room was infused with an air of elegance and charm, a room fit for a princess.

“I know, right?” Freya let out a playful giggle, her blue eyes sparkling. “Come sit,” she sat down on the bed and patted the soft bedding next to her, gesturing for Chloe to sit down. “Now tell me… How are you holding up?”

“Oh goddess, where should I start…” Chloe sank down onto the plush bedding with a heavy sigh, resting her head against Freya’s shoulder. “My mind’s a complete mess,” she continued hesitatingly.

“No wonder!” Freya patted Chloe reassuringly on the arm. “Everything happened so fast.”

Chloe nodded, her eyes distant as she thought back to the tumultuous events just a few months back.

"It's taken me some time to process it all," she admitted. "How Nick could betray us, his family, his own flesh and blood... And then his death. It's all taken a toll on me."

"I understand," Freya murmured sympathetically, drawing Chloe closer. "And then finding out your fated mate is an asshole."

"Not just an asshole," Chloe corrected her fiercely. "A monster! That image of him, standing there nude and covered in blood... it'll be forever etched in my mind. And the way he claimed me, and how my wolf and body responded, knowing that he was the one who murdered my brother! It was so awful. And I can't forgive myself for failing to reject him."

"But Chloe, you were in shock," Freya protested, squeezing Chloe's hand. "You did the best you could at that moment. I’m so impressed you even thought of rejecting him, or shooting those arrows at him for that matter! I would probably just have frozen.”

Chloe shook her head, tears springing to her eyes. "I missed," she whispered. "And now I have to live with the consequences. Knowing that he's still out there. Knowing that one day, he will come for me. Knowing that I won't have peace in my soul until I've rejected him..."

"Hey," Freya said firmly, grabbing Chloe's arms and turning her to face her. "Don't let it consume you anymore. What happens, happens. We can't change the past. But now, we need to look forward. We have so much to look forward to! Forget about your fated mate. Let's find you a chosen mate instead. We've been planning this trip for so long, and I'm so glad you're here and ready to have some fun! We're going to have the time of our lives!"

A small smile tugged at Chloe's lips. "Well, at least we'll try to find yours," she said. "For me, I think I need to stay out of trouble for a while and stay single until I figure out what I want with my life. But I'm excited for you! I really hope we find your fated mate, and that he's awesome!"

Freya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, I've been fantasizing about him for so long," she admitted with a chuckle. "What if he's a fancy Northerner? Or a terrifying Esterner? Or a cowboy in the South? I hope we don't find him too soon, I'd like to try them all!"

“You naughty girl!” Chloe laughed and punched her friend on the arm.

"Well, how can I know what I want if I haven't tried it?" Freya teased, batting her long lashes seductively.

"Touché," Chloe grinned.

"Speaking of…" Freya said, her tone becoming serious. "How do you feel about seeing Marcus again?"

Chloe's expression darkened. "I don't know," she admitted. "We parted as friends...kind of. And now...well, I just don't know. Why, has he said anything?”

Freya shook her head. "No, not exactly. I just hoped you'd say you're totally over him."

“I have to be honest, I still think your brother is hot as hell!” Chloe smiled. “But it’s complicated.”

She couldn’t help but grin as she thought about Marcus, Freya’s gorgeous brother who had stayed with the Black Wolves to train over the last weeks of summer. His body was like something out of a magazine, sculpted and toned to perfection, with a perfect T-shaped frame that made any girl drool over him.

She would never forget the time he had showed up wearing only a towel, his perfect abs glistening in the sunlight, before he "accidentally" dropped his towel, leaving her and Isabel speechless! While her sister-in-law had turned red as a tomato, Chloe had been giggling like a little schoolgirl. She had had a good time with Marcus, and he had charmed her in every possible way, always making her laugh. However, their kiss at John's inauguration had been something else entirely - fierce and feverish, leaving Chloe aching for more… That was, until hell broke loose. Marcus had been very supportive through it all, but the turbulent events had completely choked the life out of their budding romance. Nevertheless, even though she didn't want to admit it, she was aching to see him.

Lost in thought, Chloe was jolted back to reality by the sound of a familiar voice. His voice! Where did it come from? She rushed towards the window, heart pounding in her chest,

“Wait, Chloe,” Freya said urgently. “I need to tell you…”

But Chloe didn’t hear her. She was too focused on Marcus who came strolling out there in the snow, seemingly unaware of her presence. He looked dashing in a dark brown winter leather jacket, his auburn locks and freckled skin standing out in stark contrast against the white snow. But her joy was short-lived, for Marcus was not alone... A cute brunette was by his side, giggling at his jokes and fluttering her eyelashes at him.

"Who's that?" Chloe demanded, her eyes locked on them, her heart sinking as she watched Marcus wrap his arms around the girl and plant a kiss on her cheek.

“Sorry,” Freya grimaced. “I wanted to tell you… It’s Juliette. Marcus' new girlfriend.”