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Two

Alana

Driven out of Ionia, I refused to surrender to despair. Determined to find a pack that would embrace me, my search continued fruitlessly until nightfall enveloped the woods.

Eventually, I stumbled upon an abandoned cave and decided it would be my shelter for the night, hoping to resume my quest come morning.

Awakening to a body wracked with aches, my sleep had been tormented by haunting nightmares of my adoptive parents' demise and the unjust blame cast upon me.

Ousted by furious mobs and rejected by the city, I blinked back tears as the harsh sunlight pierced the cave, illuminating the stark reality of my plight. The events of the previous day replayed in my mind in a relentless cycle of despair.

Feeling doomed, with nowhere to go and no place to call home, hunger gnawed at my insides. The need for a shower and fresh clothes pressed upon me, and with my funds left behind at the motel where the tragedy unfolded, retracing my steps was unthinkable. Worse still, I had the daunting task of searching for my mate, who for all I knew, might already be dead.

I never liked the idea of being mated by the Goddess to someone you haven't even met, it felt like an arranged marriage and I definitely wasn't a fan of arranged marriage. I mean what if my mate was someone I detested? Was I expected to conjure love overnight?

Yet, at this juncture, that seemed like my only hope. Finding my mate could provide shelter, a semblance of family, and perhaps even clues to the identity of the person who had callously abandoned me at the orphanage.

The hitch in this plan was my misplaced map, leaving me clueless about where to start. And, hunger threatened to overwhelm me if I didn't find sustenance soon.

I trudged on for hours, days even, hoping to stumble upon another pack city. Each night, I sought refuge in whatever cave I could find, continuing my journey with the dawn. Surprisingly, my stamina endured, bolstered by frequent stops at rivers for water in a futile attempt to stave off hunger.

On the third day of my aimless wandering, I arrived at Viola, another pack city. While Ionia had its charms, Viola's splendor was unparalleled. I couldn't help but wonder about the capital I had seen on the map, but that was a journey for another time.

As I wandered down the streets, trying to ignore the stares, a delicious aroma captivated my senses. Following the scent, I found myself at a restaurant, where all eyes turned towards me. My appearance must have screamed beggar, and I likely smelled like one too.

Approaching a waiter, I offered to work in exchange for food, but she declined, stating she wasn't the owner. Desperate, I pleaded with her to introduce me to the owner. Just as she was about to refuse again, a well-dressed, beautiful woman approached us. The waiter addressed her as "madam," and I realized she was the proprietor.

"What's your name, young lady?" she inquired.

"Alana," I responded, meeting her kind gaze and feeling an inexplicable trust towards her.

"Joyce, take Alana to the back, prepare a bath for her, give her some clothes and food, then bring her to my office," the owner instructed. I began to thank her profusely, but she stopped me, asking me to come to her office once I was ready.

Following Joyce to the back, I took a thorough shower and changed into the uniform provided. Joyce then escorted me to the boss's office, where I learned her name was Felicia.

"Alana, come in and have a seat. You can work in the restaurant and stay in one of the rooms I use for rest until you find a place of your own. Don't worry; you'll be paid just like the other staff," Felicia offered. After sharing my story, I could sense her pity, but it didn't bother me. At that moment, I had nowhere else to turn.

I settled in quickly, and in a flash, it was two years later. During this time, I had managed to save a bit to get a home of my own and was on the lookout for a more decent job. Yet, I wasn't ready to leave the restaurant; Felicia had been taking care of me as if I were her own daughter.

I now had a phone of my own, which I used to explore the history of Exteros. Each discovery amazed me. They had the internet, just like in the human world, and I opened an account solely to follow their trends, not wanting to feel left out.

I woke up earlier than usual this morning. Damien, the son and heir of the alpha king, was on his yearly patrol of the packs, and he always made a point to stop by the restaurant. My boss had been his mother's midwife, earning his deep respect, so he would always stop by to eat and say hello.

I was excited because I would finally meet the legendary Damien this year. I couldn't pinpoint why I felt so happy; I had missed him the past two years, always being on an errand to the market or another pack when he visited. But this time, I wouldn't miss him.

Lost in thought, I was brought back to reality when Joyce, who had become a bit of a work friend, tapped me. “Hey, daydreamer, the guests have arrived, and the boss said you should go and serve them. But don't worry, I will assist you,” she said. I felt both happy and scared.

“Oh, Joyce, is Damien really as handsome as his pictures? Are there any do's and don'ts I need to know before approaching them? Because I'm scared,” I replied.

I had heard stories of how ruthless he could be, though I doubted their truth. Whenever I saw his pictures on Insta, he always appeared kind and extremely handsome.

Joyce tapped me again, pulling me from my daydream. “Don't worry, I'm here with you. Nothing will happen. Just treat him like a normal guest, and you'll be fine,” she reassured me. I carried the food and headed to their table. I could see his back, and for some unknown reason, my heart was beating faster than normal. I eagerly awaited him turning around so I could feast my eyes on his beauty.

And as if he heard my thoughts, he looked at me just before I set down the tray, sniffing the air. Our eyes locked, and my heart skipped a beat. We both subconsciously uttered the word “mate.”

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