AYARU

CHAPTER ONE: In Which She Is Different

Third-Person POV:

“Ayaru! Ayaru!! Where are you?” the woman scans the environment in search of her daughter. Unknown to her the person she seeks is above her, on a tree mischief glistening in her eyes. The young lady watches her mother with amusement in her eyes. She giggles, and her mother quickly spots her hiding in the tree. The mother glares at her daughter.

“When I get my hands on you young lady, it’s not going to be funny” the mother scolds. “Ayaru, get your ass down here right now!” the mother orders.

AYARU’S POV:

I try my best to stop myself from laughing at my mother, who is currently searching for me, I am on a tree, watching my mother, and I laugh out loud, this leads to my mother glaring at me.

“When I get my hands on you young lady, it’s not going to be funny” my mother threatens, I wanted to push her buttons further, but I knew that would not end on a happy note if I did.

“I’m coming mother, I’m coming” I reply as I swiftly descend from the tree and skilfully and on my feet. I give my best smile to my beautiful mother.

“Hi Mum, good morning” I greet my mother. She smiles back, then she smacks my head and pulls me by my ear, into the house.

“Ouch! Mum, I’m sorry…ouch!” she begins to twist my ear, as we enter the house and see Dad, I signal to him to save and he comes to my rescue

“Let her be, my love, she is sorry, let it go already” Dad tries to coerce Mum.

Mum lets go of my ear. It stings. I turn to look at her and see a worried look on her face. “I’m fine Mum, I swear, I’m alright, I’m strong, these things don’t bother me.”

I smile softly at my Mum. She takes a deep breath and smiles back. I hug her. I wave to her and Dad goodbye, as I leave for the training field.

Hi, I’m Ayaru, I am 19 years old, and I am a member of one of the most prominent packs in the continent, The Alfheim Pack, I am the second daughter and last child of the Starlings, and my Dad is the Beta of the Pack, I have two elder siblings, a brother, and sister. Cyril, is the firstborn and future Beta of the Pack, and my sister, Bellona, is the prettiest she-wolf in the pack, although unmated, she is still sought out by different men, whom she turns down. I have two best friends, Aife and Tyra. Tyra is the Alpha’s daughter and her brother Dustin, is my brother’s best friend and future Alpha of the Pack.

I am 5’9, with long wavy black hair, bright green eyes, and a modest body figure, I may not be as pretty as my sister, but I try to believe I’m cute. Above all of this, I am wolfless, which is currently my only flaw aside from my inferiority complex. All wolves generally awaken their wolves at the age of 16, it’s been 3 years since I turned 16, and my wolf hasn’t awakened. It was worse in high school, I was bullied daily, and I was a constant target of bullying, my parents, siblings, and best friends, always helped, aside from my external struggles, I also battled internal struggles.

I gave up crying and praying to the goddess and decided to train my body, I decided that I wasn’t going to let myself down because I was wolfless. I was encouraged by my sister to go for training every day, and I reluctantly agreed, it’s been more than a year since I started training and it’s been amazing so far, I have experienced tremendous changes in my body, and I have become my fit and healthy, my thinking has become more optimistic, the only thing on my mind is meeting my mate, because I learnt that meeting my mate may trigger the awakening of my wolf. I hope he loves me despite all my flaws.

I get to the training field and start my normal routine, I keep up with the training and avoid the sparring sessions to avoid injuries. I watch the others fight, putting their training skills to use, all I can do is watch from a distance and train harder.

“Ayaru, come and join me for a walk” The Delta calls me over, he is the one in charge of training of fighter in this pack, tends to give me advice from time to time and encourages me when I feel down. After all, He is Aife’s Dad. We take a walk, while others spar. We talk and I enjoy the conversation flowing between us, he treats me as if I’m his daughter.

“I know everything will be fine Ayaru, you are special and nothing can change that… we all love you just the way you are” he rubs my hair, and I nod as we walk back to the training ground. I spot my best friends sparring and enjoying themselves.

“Aife, Tyraaaa” I shout out and they both turn to look at me, with big smiles on their faces. Although sweaty, they look like models. Aife is dark-skinned, with long brown curly hair and baby blue eyes, while Tyra is brown-skinned, with long red hair, green eyes and freckles.

“Hi Aya, how are you doing?” Tyra asks and I nod in response while giving her a thumbs up. The sparring sessions end, meaning training is over, and everyone is now prepping to leave the training ground.

“You and Dad enjoy gossiping a lot, it makes me wonder what exactly or who exactly you are gossiping about” Aife states, making me and Tyra laugh, we all walk back to my house. We make jokes and we laugh about it.

“My brother is coming back next week, I can’t wait” Tyra informs us, she has missed her brother. Dustin will be back soon, I haven’t seen him in two years, and the same goes for Cyril, and they both went for further training. But Dustin will return earlier than Cyril, due to the difference in duties and timing, Dustin is becoming our next Alpha, while Cyril is training to be the next Beta.

“Mum and Dad are throwing a party to welcome him back, another party will be held when Cyril returns” She blushes when she mentions Cyril, Aife and I give her goo-goo eyes. We all know about how much Tyra likes Cyril. We cease our teasing, and we are not too far from my house when we meet three people I love to avoid. The CY sisters are the biggest meanies and sluts in the whole pack.

“Well, well look who it is girls, it's weak Ayaru and others” Stacy mocks, as her minions cackle like hyenas behind her.

“What do you want Stacy?” Aife asks, annoyed. She rolls her eyes at the meanies in front of her, trying to contain her anger.

“I wasn’t talking to you bozo, I was talking to the one who acts strong even when she is wolfless, weak and useless,” she says, her words don’t get to me. I roll my eyes, ignoring her completely. She continues talking and talking, talking and her minions cackle behind her like hyenas.

“Grab her” In the blink of an eye, I am suddenly grabbed from behind, I’m forced to kneel. I get a kick in my ribs for resisting. Aife and Tyra fight off Lacy and Nancy, but I'm still held down. Stacy bends and grabs my jaw, forcing me to look at her.

“I would love to hear how bones of wolfless, c***k, right girls” She laughs.

“Let…go of her!” Tyra growls. Stacy raises her hand, I close my eyes waiting for the punch or slap.

“Lay a finger on my sister, and the only cracking you will hear and feel is the cracking of your bones” My sister growls at them. She may be pretty, but my sister can be pretty scary when she wants to be. Bellona moves closer to us and grabs Stacy by the throat. She glares at the minions holding Tyra and Aife. They run, leaving their leader behind.

“Bbbbb…Bellona” Stacy chokes out. She shivers under my sister’s glare.

“For a pack member, you sure have been crossing a lot of lines, what makes you think you had the right to touch them, do you have no fear, Stacy, hmm?” she asks.

“The daughters of the Alpha, Beta and Delta of this pack. Do you want to be banished, living with wild rogues?”

“Noo..oo” Stacy replies

“Good girl, Stay the hell away from my sister and her friends, you got that?” Stacy nods

Bellona drops her, as Tyra and Aife help me up.

“Now, Scram” Stacy runs off without looking back. I’m pulled into a hug by my sister. She sighs.

“Are you alright, Aya?” She asks while scanning my body for any possible injuries. She hugs me again, I swear she is like my second Mum.

“I’m fine, Big sis, thanks for helping us out” I smile gratefully at her.

“Thank you Aife and Tyra, you guys are true friends” she thanked my besties.

“Anyone up for ice cream” we all nod as we go to my house. We get home, and Bellona reports the incident to our parents who inform the Alpha. Stacy and her minions are punished accordingly.

The week goes by, the days flying by like the wind.

“beep beep beep” The sound of my digital alarm wakes me up, today is Saturday, meaning that Dustin is returning today, wait, that means that there is no training today. I look outside and see no sun. Dammit, I forgot to switch off the alarm. It’s still 5: 30 am, meaning I could still sleep.

I switch off the alarm and quickly write a note addressed to anyone who comes in to wake me up that I slept by 5:30. I wrap myself with my blanket and go back to sleep.

5 hours later

“Ayaru, Ayaru, wake up” I hear someone calling my name, I groan because I still want to sleep.

“You have slept for 5 hours already, you need to go to Alpha’s house to help prepare for Dustin’s welcome party” Mum states again, trying to wake me up from my slumber.

“Fine, fine, I’m up already” I whine, I get up from my bed and go to my bathroom. I freshen and get dressed. I pack extra sets of clothes since I might need to freshen up again when I get to the Alpha’s house. I pack up my long hair into a not-very-neat bun. I walk to the Alpha’s house, it's not far from my house.

I spot Dad’s car in Alpha’s driveway. I run to the front door and knock. Before I open the door, the door is opened, by none other than Dustin, who looks more handsome than the last time I saw him. I scan him from head to toe. Wait, Dustin!

“Dustin!” I almost shout.

“Ayaru, how are you doing?” he greets me. My mouth is still open wide. Dustin is here. Well, he was meant to return today anyway so I shouldn’t be surprised.

“Am I not going to get a hug?” He walks back a bit, giving me space to run and hug him and that is exactly what I do, I drop my purse, then I run to hug him, he catches me and lifts me, spinning us around. We laugh as he drops me, I feel a little dizzy, so I grab his arm for support and I start feeling this tingling sensation all over my body. This only happens when you meet your…

“MATE!!” we both say at the same time. He hugs me tightly, smiles at me, and whispers into my ear.

“Let’s see at the welcome party, mate” he winks at me, leaving me at the doorstep, I’m still shocked. I get myself together and join Aife and Tyra in the backyard, which is wide enough to contain all the pack members. Aife is holding on to the ladder for dear life, while Tyra loosely holds the bottom of the ladder.

“Trust me Aife, the ladder is safe” Tyra assures, but Aife doesn’t seem to believe.

“Aife, Tyra” I shout out, I run across the backyard to meet them.

“Aya, save me from this goblin” Aife pleads. I helped her down the ladder, then I set up the ladder properly. I hug them excitedly.

“What’s up with you, you look sugar-high” Tyra asks as she looks at my excited face

“IjustmetmymateanditsDustin” I rush out. They look at me weirdly.

“Take it easy, rewind, repeat and slow down,” Aife says. I take a deep breath and I breathe out.

“I just met my mate and it's Dustin” I calmly repeat, causing the both of them to squeal. I tell them to calm down.

“Shhhh, calm down, he said we should see at the party” I calmly inform them.

“But I'm scared, I'm different from everyone else, being wolfless and all, does this mean I finally get my happily ever after” I state worried about everything. Where is it heard of that the Luna of a pack is wolfless?

“Don’t stress Aya, it’s the mating link, the goddess paired you both for a reason, be positive, alright” Aife encourages me and I nod

“Plus, we get to be sisters for real, that’s awesomeeee” Tyra squeals and I hush her immediately.

“Calm down, I don’t want anyone to know yet” They both nod simultaneously like little kids

“You don’t want anyone to know what?” a voice asks

SHIT!!!!