Nature's Destiny Page 6

  “We’re heading West?” I asked as I turned right at the junction.

  “Yeah, we have a big plot of land that’s surrounded by woods. I don’t want to tell you too much because I’d think you’d prefer to see it for yourself.”

  I kept a safe distance between us and the Kuga as I twisted and turned around the winding road.

  “Can you at least tell me something about where I’m staying?” I asked.

  “You’ll be living in the Alpha house until we can get a place built for you. I have quite a large pack, and most of the pack mates have their own little houses or cottage.”

  I listened intently, and soaked up the information.

  “The Alpha house is the main premise. I live there, obviously, as does Nick and Shane my co-Beta’s. Shane’s mate Roxy, and my sisters Faye and Lara live there too.”

  Riley had sisters?

  “The house is always full of people coming and going. There’s never a dull moment.”

  I was thinking about what he’d said when it dawned on me. Riley was the Alpha. My brain had clearly decided to take a vacation.

  “Is that why I dreamt of you when I’d been bitten?” I blurted, forgetting Riley wasn’t attuned to my thoughts - that I knew of. “I mean, because you’re the Alpha? Was that another signal like when you tapped into my mind?”

  “Um, no, I don’t think so. You dreamt of me before we met?”

  Shit. Now I was embarrassed. I’d thought it was a part of my new wolf life, but apparently not.

  Good one, Luna.

  “You know what, never mind. I was on some prescription drugs then so maybe I was hallucinating or something. I take it you’re my Alpha then? What does that mean exactly?”

  I was eager to move away from the subject of my dreams, I didn’t even want to think about what that meant.

  “The easiest human way of explaining it is like being the boss. I’m the head protector of the pack, and it’s my job to look out for everyone. I deal with all the pack problems, finance, safety, business etc. As Alpha, I have a lot of responsibilities as well as extra abilities.”

  Whoa! Riley seemed way too young to be in charge of so much.

  “For instance, the pack has to do what I say. It is our law to obey the Alpha, or face punishable consequences. I don’t abuse my leadership, and I take my title very seriously.”

  I didn’t doubt it, there’d always been an underlying tone of authority about him.

  “I use my skills for the greater good. I’m a protector first and foremost.”

  “So it’s like being the big daddy?” I instantly regretted the words after they left my mouth. It sounded so wrong. Luckily, he was laughing.

  “I suppose you could say that.”

  I decided to pay a little more attention to the road after that. I didn’t want to embarrass myself even more. I was on a track record with Riley. I didn’t think I’d ever made a fool of myself as many times as I had in such a short space of knowing someone. And to think he was my almighty ruler!

  We didn’t speak for the rest of the journey. It was a pleasant drive, full of country lanes and greenery. I could see what Riley had meant about four-by-four’s being necessary. It certainly helped to see around the bends, especially when the road was only wide enough for one car to pass at a time.

  I realised privacy was probably top priority to Riley and the pack. The roads were excellent for keeping people away. It was the type of road that put doubt in the driver, the kind that made them think they’d taken the wrong turn or driven too far.

  We were getting close. I could tell as woods encompassed the road, growing dense the further we travelled. Riley was smiling at me like he couldn’t wait for my reaction. The Kuga turned left into a long driveway and I followed.

  This was it. My new home.

  Chapter Nine

  My stomach churned as we neared the property. I was really anxious. I focused on my breathing and attempted to calm down when the beauty of the place hit me.

  Large oak trees protected either side of the gated entrance into Nature’s Destiny. It was an intricately designed metal gate full of interloping twists and vines. As the Kuga stopped ahead of me, I watched and waited for it to open.

  “It’s electric?” I asked.

  “Yes. I take the security of my pack seriously, just like your father did with you. I can’t afford trespassers on my land.”

  I waited for Riley to elaborate, but he didn’t. I couldn’t imagine someone just happening to walk through, it wasn’t exactly in the middle of a popular area.

  “Is it passcode protected?”

  “We change it frequently just in case. Better to be safe than sorry.”

  I agreed, and moved the car through the gates when the vast expanse greeted me. I was shocked. Riley owned a tremendous amount of land.

  I could see different paths leading off to the houses further afield. They were obviously the homes he’d mentioned before. He wasn’t joking when he’d said he had a large pack. It was like an estate!

  I continued to follow Nick and Shane as we winded along the road. I couldn’t even see the main house yet. There was no way I could’ve imagined it.

  “You’re quiet.”

  “I’m flabbergasted Riley, this place is enormous! Are all those houses for pack mates?”

  He nodded and shrugged like it was no big deal. I suppose I’d gotten used to money and its splendour having grown up with it, but I couldn’t have imagined the fortune Nature’s Destiny would have cost.

  There were lush green fields and grass everywhere. I’d always liked to be enveloped with nature, and it was one of the reasons I’d loved my house. I was getting the chance to live in the woods every day. It was spectacular, and my jeans and Converse wasn’t going to look out of place. It was the perfect example of the lifestyle I loved.

  I slowed down as I spotted the house, and it was massive like a mansion. I opened my mouth and gaped in awe, speechless.

  The houses on the way in had been made out of wood like big log cabins, the kind you’d see in America. I was amazed by them, but you could’ve easily fitted ten of those into the main Alpha house.

  From the ground to the middle of the house it was made of stone bricks, but from there up was beautiful wooden logs. The contrast worked effortlessly well.

  I sat still as I ogled the workmanship. There were wooden steps to the right of the house that led up to a balcony that crossed the front of the second floor. If that wasn’t sensational enough it was showcasing the floor to ceiling windows that adorned the centre of the building.

  The porch encasing the front door was beautiful. It had been carved into several stars that joined together, almost like a lattice effect. I could imagine the nights’ spent gazing at the sky as the inspiration for it.

  Nick and Shane had driven into the garage ahead of me that was cleverly disguised as part of the house. It was easily hidden, if you didn’t know it was there.

  “There’s plenty of room for your car too.”

  “I’m struggling to tear my eyes away from the house. I don’t know what to say Riley, this place is amazing!” I beamed at him, I was in heaven. He sat chuckling at my reaction.

  “Whenever you’re ready, Luna.”

  Amazingly he waited with me for a few extra minutes, allowing me the time to stare. If the rest of the house was as spectacular and beautiful inside as it was outside, then I was in for a treat. It was crazy to think I’d lived in Wales all my life and I’d had no idea a treasure like it existed.

  The inside of the garage was brightly lit, shining upon the many cars that occupied the space. Next to Riley’s Kuga sat a few more in various colours - silver, navy and blue - obviously a preferred vehicle choice.

  I jumped out of my car and walked throughout the garage as something elegant had caught my eye. I was drawn to it the second it caught my attention. Silver and sleek, its body screamed high performance and speed.

  “Is this the new Aston Martin DBS?” I asked,
shocked.

  “Mmhmm,” Riley mumbled.

  “Whose is it?”

  “Mine,” said Riley with great delight and possession colouring his tone.

  His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and I could understand his enthusiasm, I was just as excited. The metallic paint glistened with cleanliness.

  “You play your cards right and I might let you drive it one day,” Riley winked, and smiled at me.

  I didn’t know how much more I could take. I was bowled over by all the extravagance.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” I replied.

  “Get in line Luna, I’ve been waiting ages!” Nick cried.

  I giggled at his exasperated expression.

  “Do you think you can take your eyes off the Aston long enough to come inside the house? Or am I going to have to drag you?” said Riley.

  “I suppose I can tear myself away,” I sulked. “For a little while.”

  “We’ll sort your stuff out. Enjoy the tour.” said Shane. I’d almost forgotten he was here.

  “Thanks, guys.” I handed over my keys, trusting them entirely.

  The garage door led into the kitchen, and the room sparkled immaculately. Everything was modern from the fitted appliances to the island in the centre. A long dining table, much like my parents’, sat at the end of the kitchen.

  “We eat in here mostly, and generally the table is big enough to sit everyone. We have a big function room for the special occasions though.”

  I followed Riley out of the room, and entered another that I’d assumed was the living room. The walls were a mixture of light green and dark chocolate brown. They were the typical colour of a forest which was perfect for the room.

  A brown corner sofa with seats wide enough to fit two people per cushion, angled towards the sixty-inch TV screen along with matching armchairs. They matched the colours of the wall perfectly. I couldn’t understand why Nick had been impressed with my TV when they’d had their own monster-sized one.

  “My sisters and Roxy use this room more often than Nick, Shane and I do, but that’s mostly because we like to stay in the games room upstairs to wind down. Not that we get the chance often, duty calls and such.”

  My curiosity peaked at the mention of a games room.

  “Come, I’ll show you.”

  He showed me the way towards the staircase and I blinked, and then blinked again. It was a grand affair! Unlike most staircases, there was two sides that met in the middle with a glorious wooden balcony, and the luxurious carpet cushioned my feet as we walked.

  As I reached the top I could see the games room ahead of me and I instantly recognised it as the room I’d seen outside. The one with the amazing windows.

  A collective muffle of voices grew louder as I walked into the room, and beside a pool table stood two young women.

  “Luna, this is my sister, Faye,” he pointed to the female on the right. “And this is my youngest sister, Lara,” he said.

  I held out my hand ready to shake theirs, when they swamped me with their bodies. They hugged me simultaneously, and squeezed every last breath out of my body.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I spluttered.

  “We’ve been waiting for days to meet you! I’m glad you’re here now. Was the journey OK?” Faye asked.

  They were both beautiful and tall. Faye had rich, brown, shoulder-length hair with a sweeping fringe, and Lara had her lighter, chestnut hair up in a ponytail. There was no mistaking they were sisters. Though Lara was the youngest I’d have said she was in her late teens, and Faye only slightly older in her early twenties like me. Riley was clearly the eldest.

  “It was fine, Faye.” Riley sighed.

  “There’s no denying we’ve been bugging Riley for all the juicy details about you,” said Lara.

  I was a little unnerved, but I didn’t have much time to dwell on it as they whisked me away.

  “Where are you going?” Riley asked.

  “To make dinner. We have a lot of ground to cover with our new sister,” said Faye.

  “Yeah, you go take care of business, the phone’s been ringing non-stop since you’ve been out! Don’t worry, Luna’s safe with us!”

  Entering the kitchen, I watched as they began to pull the makings of dinner out of the fridge with an ease and grace that showed it wasn’t their first time working together.

  “What are you making?” I asked. It was only small talk, but I didn’t know what else to say. My brain had decided to switch off.

  “Usually we’d make a roast on a Sunday, but as you were turning up we didn’t want to waste time slaving over the stove pot when we could be getting to know you,” said Lara.

  “We have steak, jacket potato and salad. Does that sound good to you?” Faye asked.

  “Lovely,” I said. “Can I have mine well-done?”

  They laughed. “You are a Werewolf right?” Lara asked.

  “Supposedly,” I said, humiliated as they laughed some more. What was I missing out on?

  “Well, in that case you’ll soon love your steak juicy and pink in the middle,” Lara finished.

  I looked at them disgusted. I hated ‘juicy’ steak, it was only the pleasant way of saying bloody. Yuck. “You eat yours rare?” I asked, shocked.

  “Of course not, we’re not animals. Well, I guess we are, but that’s not what I meant. Wow, I’m complicating this aren’t I?” said Lara. “You know what, never mind, when your appetite changes you’ll see what I mean.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” I asked, eager to switch focus.

  “Sure, there’s a lot of chopping, slicing and dicing to be done for the salad. Why don’t you take those cucumbers and tomatoes?” said Faye, and pointed to the mound sitting on the counter.

  I had to remind myself there were many mouths to feed. There was a lot of salad to prepare.

  “You’ll have to let us know what you like to eat so that we can work meals out together,” said Faye.

  “I’m pretty easy on most things, I just have to be wary of certain items as they upset my stomach. Wait, does that change now that I’m a Werewolf?” I asked, hopeful.

  They both looked at each other, unsure.

  “I don’t really know. We’ll have to ask Riley. We haven’t met many humans that have become like us, and when we did it was in passing. You’re our first hybrid!” said Faye as she squeaked excitedly.

  “That would be cool though, if your new genetic code affects your diet in that way,” said Lara, reminding me of the appetite change she’d mentioned earlier.

  Maybe there was a way. It was certainly a part of my human life I was willing to have had changed.

  “How much do you know about being one of us?”

  “Not much really. I think Riley’s been trying to take things slow. I didn’t react well the last time he told me something big,” I cringed.

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “Well, when Riley told me I had to move into the pack I got drunk, and acted like a spoilt brat to prove I was an independent woman capable of looking after myself. It didn’t work very well. Apparently, I owe your brother for saving me from drunken men.” I blushed as I remembered the morning after.

  “That sounds like our brother!” They laughed together. “He’s always been protective even before he became the Alpha. Honestly, it was a hard job trying to keep a boyfriend when we were growing up, it’s even harder now!” said Faye.

  Lara put the jacket potatoes into the oven, and grabbed a bag of bell peppers while Faye was busy marinating the steaks in her homemade barbeque sauce.

  “Riley said you’ve just finished Uni? What were you studying?” Lara asked.

  “Creative writing. My mum’s an author, yet it wasn’t until I did my English A-Levels that I realised how much I loved writing.”

  “That’s cool. I bet your mum is proud of you. Are you doing a masters?” Faye asked.

  “I was actually about to jet off to Europe and begin travelling while I wrote my first novel. But, I
guess fate had a different plan for me.” I sighed, remembering all too clearly the night my world had turned around.

  “That’s rotten luck,” said Faye.

  “Maybe.” I hadn’t decided yet.

  “How do you feel about the change?”

  “I don’t really know. It’s all new and so far it’s been manageable.” I smiled as I thought of Riley, that was a whole lot of good.

  “I’m sorry your plans were changed.”

  “Me too Lara, but it wasn’t your fault,” I said matter-of-factly. “Besides, I’ve surmised this is as much a new journey for me as travelling would have been.”

  “That’s a great way of looking at it,” Faye smiled.

  “This is a new journey, and we promise to make it fun for you!” said Lara.

  Chapter Ten

  “Let’s go tell the others dinner is ready, and I’ll show you upstairs,” said Lara.

  We walked out of the kitchen, and turned left into the hallway towards the front door.

  “This is Riley’s study. Most of the pack business is dealt with in here between Riley, Nick and Shane. Other members come and go when they have questions to ask, but big pack meetings are held in a separate building outside. We often use it for celebrations and such.”

  “Riley mentioned a function room earlier,” I said.

  “This door is always kept closed, Riley’s rules, and we always knock before going in.”

  “Got it.”

  I felt like I was at the headmaster’s door, like some naughty child. It was a little intimidating hearing about Riley in his Alpha capacity.

  Lara knocked twice before entering. Riley and Nick were discussing something, and concern radiated off of them. That couldn’t be good.

  “Dinner’s ready,” she said.

  “Give us a minute. Shane’s upstairs with Roxy.” Lara nodded to Riley, his clipped sentences dripped with stress. Riley’s furrowed look worried me. What was the problem?

  I couldn’t believe how attached I’d gotten to everyone already, and I’d realised if there was a problem with the pack it affected me too.

  I tried to push my feelings aside, and concentrated on what Lara was showing me. We’d gone right at the top of the stairs, and I belatedly noticed all the doors we’d passed by.