Chapter 7: Secret Place

Alinta was in her room holding a handmade sling bag. She packed a dress and underwear while deep in thought, ensuring she didn't forget anything. "Alright, I'm done packing. Are you ready, Ange?"

"As I will ever be! It has been long since we visited our quiet place!"

Alinta smiled in agreement. She quickly undressed and threw a large towel around her. She stepped out the front door, carefully closing and locking it behind her. Scanning her surroundings for any unexpected visitors, she waited until she was sure the coast was clear. Then, she shifted into her wolf form, allowing Angela to take control. With the strap of the bag slung over her neck, she began to run deep into the forest.

It was a long and tedious day for Alinta and Angela. Although work wasn’t an issue, for their day was unusually quiet. Alinta found herself repeating the words Aunt Deanna had spoken the day before, which echoed continuously in her mind. On her toughest days, she would go for a run to their secret place, a hidden location where she and Angela could clear their thoughts and stabilize their emotions.

Their secret place was an enclosed part of the forest, accessible only through a small cave opening. Once inside, there was a crater with an open roof, a large boulder where they could sit, and a small stream that trickled by. Above her were many densely grown trees, but there was a perfect opening through which the moon was visible.

Angela stared at the moon, her orange and golden coat shimmering under the moonlight as though she were on fire. This unique colouration was not unheard of for a wolf, but it was rare. What made her even more different was her fur; not all of it was hair. Some strange fibres resembled downy barbs, which made her look fluffier. When she ran, it created the illusion of flames flickering around her.

Many wolves frowned upon her colouration because it reminded them of the sun. The elder wolf breeds believed that a wolf born with such a coat was being punished for their ancestors' transgressions, and it symbolised that the Moon had abandoned them. Angela also had two long, bushy red tails with light orange tips. Many wolves considered this a bad omen, while others thought it was simply a genetic mutation. Some speculated that she was a hybrid, not a pure werewolf. There was even an old rumour circulating among the townsfolk about Alinta's mother. Many suspected that her mother had mated with a fox breed, which is why no one ever knew her father—because it was a forbidden union.

Alinta paid little mind to the slander; she brushed it off. Her mother had told her that her father was away and that he would return one day. Alinta always remained hopeful, but when her mother passed away, she abandoned that hope of ever meeting her father.

Alinta never hated or blamed Angela for all the negativity that surrounded her. In fact, she felt grateful that her wolf was so different. If not for Angela, Alinta believed she would have been far worse off than she was now. However, something far more pressing troubled Alinta—a growing anxiety she wished she could suppress for just a bit longer.

"You know I love Aunt Deanna to bits, right? Although she meant well, she has no idea how poor in taste her little joke was regarding a certain subject,” Angela said gloomily. She was feeling sensitive today, convinced that her existence was the cause of all of Alinta's misfortunes. Sometimes, she believed that if she had been a normal wolf—or if she had never existed—her person would have been better off.

Sensing her wolf’s brooding thoughts, Alinta turned her gaze from the moon to the silver glimmers reflected in the active stream. She needed to redirect Angela's thoughts to something more positive. "Can you believe it's been almost three years since Oscar vanished?" she sighed.

"It feels like just yesterday, though. I really miss him and Blizzard," Angela replied, her ears drooping with sadness.

"I sometimes still feel like he might come back and take us with him, just as he promised. I know, before you say anything, it’s pathetic," Alinta admitted quickly, bracing herself for a teasing remark from her wolf.

"I wouldn't mind—I’d go with him in a heartbeat! But first, I’d beat the crap out of both of them for just disappearing after we made plans to go together. But still, I would go with them," Angela said with a determined snort.

Alinta released a faint giggle; she loved how quickly Angela's aggression flared up—her fiery temper suited her appearance perfectly. "Maybe if he were our fated mate, he wouldn't have left us. I really thought he loved us back, guess I was wrong. I sometimes think I was the one who scarred him away."

"We might never know," Angela sighed, still looking downcast.

"Cheer up, buttercup! We might find that special someone one day, though I'm not planning to look anytime soon," Alinta said, drawing swirls in the dirt surface of her wolf's mind.

"It would be nice. Damn, I miss Mom. She would have given us the best advice every time we felt like this," Angela lamented sadly.

"It's shitty, isn't it? In just a few days, it’s our birthday, but it’s also the anniversary of Mom's death. We rejected Eddison, and Oscar disappeared." Alinta fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "It’s also the end of this three-year calm. Who are we going to lose next, or what tragedy is looming over us once more? What are we going to do with our lives, Ange? Are we truly bound to a curse?"

Angela cast a scowling gaze at the moon, sharing Alinta's doubts about its existence. Alinta's eighteenth birthday marked the beginning of her misfortunes; every three years on that day, something disastrous occurred. On her 21st birthday, her mother passed away. At 24, she found her mate but chose to reject him. Then, on her 27th birthday, Oscar abandoned her. Now, as she approached her 30th birthday, her anxiety and fears were overwhelming.

Alinta only had three people left in her life whom she considered family, and she dreaded the thought of something happening to any of them. Understanding Alinta's feelings, Angela suddenly had an idea that made her tails wag with excitement.

"I have an idea! Why don't we travel to Bare Mountain Shadows? We can discover what the gathering is about, and then we’ll have a story of our own to share with Aunt Deanna. Who knows, maybe by getting away, nothing will go wrong for anyone here."

Alinta's face lit up at the suggestion. "You know what? That's a great idea! What do we have to lose?"

"Who knows, we might even find a potential mate," Angela snickered slyly.

Alinta laughed and shook her head at her wolf. "Only you would say that! Finding a mate is the last thing on my priority list. I've had my fair share of misfortune with that," she replied.

Angela's expression turned serious as she recalled something important. "We still need to make sure everything is completely severed, regardless of whether we find a mate or not."

Alinta understood what Angela meant and looked down at her fidgety hands as an old memory resurfaced.

**November 25, 2018**

"Allllllintaaaaa! It has been three days since we felt him close to us!" Angela complained in her mind. "Come on, let's go hunting and see why he hasn't tried to look for us!"

Despite feeling down, Alinta couldn't help but smile at her wolf. "You're right, Ange, but I'm dreading what will happen if we see him. Will he reject us? The fact that he hasn't tried to find us worries me."

"Well, think about it this way: would you want to be forever bonded to someone who doesn't care enough to look for his mate? On the other hand, it might just be a misunderstanding, and he could have a reason for not coming after us." Nonetheless, we must find out for ourselves otherwise I am going to lose my shit!" She cried desperately

"Okay okay, we will go find him," Alinta said in defeat.

"Yay happy birthday to us!"

Alinta laughed at her wolf, then closed her eyes and focused on her bond that was pulling at her heart, she packed her bag, and as soon as she shifted, Angela sprinted until she reached the village hall. She ran to the public bathroom to quickly shift back into her human form and changed into a pretty dress. Alinta checked her hair and applied a bit of makeup.

"Seems like someone wants to give off an alluring first impression," Angela teased.

"I said it before and I shall say it again, you are such a naughty wolf!" Alinta laughed with bright red cheeks.

"Grrr, makeup or none my human is a hotty, our mate will cuss himself to not meeting us sooner," Angela wolf-whistled.

"Haha, oh stop! You’re making me blush now. Besides, we are what makes each other beautiful. It's not just me; you are my confidence, strength, grace, and beauty."

Angela blushed, then snorted, "Ahem, you’re just being polite!"

Alinta laughed, knowing her wolf couldn't handle compliments. After finishing brushing her red locks, she put her items away and refocused on her bond. She walked out of the bathroom and discovered it had guided her to the town hall.

Alinta was surprised to realize her mate was currently at the great seminar taking place. This esteemed event only happened once a year and involved a large gathering of elites—wealthy businessmen and woman werewolves from all over the globe—sharing ideas and forming potential partnerships for their own benefit. This year, it was Bellinor's turn to host the gathering in Umbre Valley.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Angela urged.

"We can't just barge in without an invitation," Alinta exclaimed, feeling uneasy about what Angela would do.

"Oh, come on! Where's your sense of thrill and adventure?" Angela said, crouched down in a pouncing position, wagging her tails.

"Not if it means potentially getting arrested," Alinta scolded warily.

"Alinta?" called a familiar voice from behind her. Her body tensed as she fearfully turned to face a man she had been avoiding for the past six years. Bellinor stood in the shadows, looking at her with a mix of longing and intrigue.

"Evening, Mr. Crassus," Alinta whispered, her heart racing with anxiety.

His eyes followed her hand over her heart, and his expression deflated as he understood the reason for her presence. "So you finally found him?" he asked, almost emotionlessly, his gaze darkening. Alinta couldn't tell if it was the shadows playing tricks on her.

"Yes, he is in there," she replied cautiously, pointing toward the large building.

He closed his eyes and sighed. When he looked at her again, he managed a bleak smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Come, I shall escort you inside. It is the least I can do." He moved closer, extending his arm firmly, which Alinta hesitantly accepted.