Chapter 9

• "When are they coming?" Luna Elodie asked, looking to see if everything was arranged in the pack.
• She checked if everything was fine and alright, in their best places, and if the maids were working to the appointed time.
• "They're already here, Luna" the head maid answered, rushing away with a bowl of plates to the kitchen.
• "What? So fast" Luna Elodie said, walking down the stairs as she dusted her clothes.
• She looked upon the twins entering the pack house, looking dusty and dirty.
• "Where are you guys fighting again?" I knew they never liked each other after she left but I can't seem to understand why it had so much effect on the twins. She missed it when they both played together.
• She missed her husband and mate but now, there was nothing she could do.
• "Go take your bath, we have visitors and they're already here" I rushed them, bushing their dirtied and dusty bodies away. "Go clean up, now"
• I rushed to the door and stood, awaiting them to step in any time and they did not fail.
• The door opened and both of them walked in.
• "Bob, Sally. Welcome to my home and pack. It's been forever" Elodie laughed lightly with Sally as she spoke:
• "Here, let me show you to the dining".
• "Nonsense," Sally interrupted. "We know our place around here, we were pack members once".
• Luna Elodie nodded, unsure of what to say next but to just let out a small smile. She was not a fan of them as they were relatives of her late husband.
• Together, they all went to the dining room.
• Several seconds later, Katie walked in, her eyes immediately locked on the two strange people sitting beside Luna Elodie.
• "-and this is my son's mate, Katie" Luna Elodie said, her smile never wavering but it didn't meet her eyes.
• Katie stood there in shock as the two people stared at her, their scrutinizing gaze devouring her from head to toe.
• "This is her?" The older strict-looking man asked, looking at Katie with an unusual expression on his face. "My nephew's Mate!"
• "Oh, come on, Rob. Don't be judgmental." A kinder-looking woman said, her smile warm and inviting. "Don't mind my husband, he's sometimes a little too full of himself. I'm Sally. And you must be Katie right?"
• Katie nodded, still in a daze, as she took a seat beside Luna Elodie. The tension in the room was palpable, almost suffocating even.
• Katie looked around and couldn't help but feel like an outsider. She didn't belong here and when she glanced at Rob, who was still eyeing her with a critical, analyzing gaze, and then at Sally, who was smiling warmly at her, she knew she didn't belong.
• So, she did what she always does when she was feeling this way, she folded her body within herself. Hoping no one would notice or mind her presence.
• "So, Katie," Sally began, making Katie shrink more, "So, how did my nephews get to meet such a lovely girl like yourself? Tell me more about you, What do you do?"
• Katie hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She turned to Luna Elodie for help but she was busy cutting through her stakes. When Katie looked back at Sally, her mind, eyes and happy smile seemed to put her at ease, and she found herself opening up like a book.
• "I-I'm a police of-officer" Katie stammered out, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
• Rob snorted. "A police officer? Is that not a man's job?"
• Katie suddenly felt a surge of defensiveness at his words, but Sally intervened before she could respond. "Not now Rob, not here or in this place. Katie, please, ignore him. We're just glad to finally meet you."
• "And you can call me Aunt Sally. You're my favorite nephew's mate"
• Immediately after she said this, the door burst open and Caden walked in first, his dominance adding to the already suffocating room. He walked with an aloof dominance that screams respect. He was dressed in a leather jacket and jeans and as usual, he wasn't wearing shoes, preferring to feel the earth beneath his feet.
• Behind him was Jace, looking responsible and dressed in a fine suit that complimented his pale skin and tall stature.
• If one was to look at them, they were different and the same simultaneously. Like two pieces of the same coin.
• They balanced each other, one reserved and responsible, the other, adamant and ragged.
• Katie couldn't help but swear as she watched them walk into the room, dragging all the attention to which she was thankful.
• "Aunty Sally, Uncle Rob" Jace greeted, bowing respectfully at his elders, and his family from his father's side.
• Caden only nodded his head and totally ignored everyone instead, sat beside Katie, throwing her a smirk.
• "And it's nice to meet you, Caden. It's been years" Aunt Sally said, coughing to ease the tension.
• "Likewise Aunty" he replied before digging into his meal.
• The dinner continued and most of all, it was awkward, with Rob continuing to make snide comments and Katie trying to disappear in her seat and ignoring him.
• But Aunt Sally's kind words and warm atmosphere made up for her husband's rudeness, and Luna Elodie's attempts to keep the conversation light and cherry helped ease the tension.
• Katie looked around and saw that the day was coming to an end and she couldn't be more joyful but her praises were cut short by Bob.
• "You reek of human scent, Katie. It's pungent, "he said, making everyone freeze in their seats. The amount of hatred he poured into his statement was heavy enough for Katie to know that he was not a fan of humans. He despised them so much.
• "I-I'm a human……" Katie started but was interrupted by Jace:
• "She's a human lover. Katie is the kind of werewolf that thinks werewolves and humans should co-exist."
• Uncle Rob's face squeezed in disgust. "I thought so too. She already looks so weak like a human. This girl can't be the Luna of this pack"
• "My brother made sure this pack was the most powerful in the country and having a weak Luna would only make it weaker. Another pack would see us as weak when the leaders are weak. Do you want your father's legacy to go down the drain?"
• His words seemed to put everyone in a bad mood.
• "Uncle, She is my mate," Jace interjected, desperation inches in his tone. "The moon goddess chose her for a reason".
• Caden couldn't help but notice his brother's word of using "my" instead of "our" when calling Katie their mate. He only gritted his teeth, refusing to blurt out what was in his mind.
• "Then choose another mate. One that is strong and from a high range in the pack. A weakling cannot be Luna and this stammering weakling would never sit on that throne. I'll make sure of it" Bob raged, storming out of the dining room.
• Aunt Sally smiled, her eyes not reflecting it. "Don't mind him," she laughed. "He's just moody, that's all. He'll come back to his senses"
• Katie especially nodded, her mind still stuck on the words of Bob. She didn't care about being a Luna or anything. She just wanted to stay alive and find time to figure out how to find her parents ' murderers.
• "Excuse me" Katie ran out of the room, despite the shouts following her. She needed some air, to think and clear everything out.
• Everything has just been compiling, weighing heavily on her heart as it seemed the weight of the world has collapsed on her shoulders.
• Katie reached the highest part of the mountain, the same place she first was led by Caden and Jace to the pack.
• She took in a calming breath, savoring the freedom.
• "Hello, Katie." A gluttery voice said behind her making her jump. "You shouldn't be out here alone. Dangerous forces are out here, don't you know that?"