New Beginning : A Beautiful Ethereal Creature (Spirit Wolf Book #1)

by Jacqueline Hakitten

  “Not much longer. Rei, could you come here please?” Zack called from the kitchen so I stood up from the sofa I was sitting in the living room with Calen and went to him. Calen stood up too but I asked him to stay here. His protective instincts started to kick I assume. He would be tailing me everywhere. I gave a sigh. ‘Come on, you are enjoying his attention. Soon you would get used to attention from others too.’ Maat laughed at my pretending. She was right. I did enjoy his protection and attention.

  “Yes, Zack?” I replied once I was at the entrance of the kitchen. “Okay, look.” She turned to me the display of that thing Calen called a tablet and was now showing me his drawings of what he prepared. “This here is your kitchen and the space around the cabin. The woods here are farther so we could extend it which would give us space to make the bathroom and living room also quite bigger, and give us space up which we could use. Also, if we move the walls closer to the trees, I could actually implement them into the structure and make the upper floor partly as a tree-level floor which would give you space for another two bedrooms or bedroom and storage room or working room, whatever you would want.” I have to admit his skills are amazing. The drawing is pretty precise and I could seriously imagine the new space he could add into the cabin without actually destroying anything around it. I was impressed. “That’s actually good. I didn’t expect something like this but it would mean you need to rebuild more than half of the cabin.” I noted him out loud and he nodded but the smile on his face didn’t disappear. I guess this is something he actually loves.

  “I know, but I couldn’t just leave all of this potential. With two bedrooms I could still perfectly assure your privacy and honestly, we could use the cabin for others who would like to get some you know, privacy. So, the other rooms would be guest rooms. About the basement, well, there I could add some security measurements and make it more secure and private just for you. It could be your working area because I saw you have actually some serious chemical equipment, better don’t want to know where you got it.” He started to laugh at his last comment and I wasn’t sure if I would like to actually share my cabin with more people or leave it completely so at the same time, I felt a little bit ashamed. My equipment had a story of its own. “Anyway, it is up to you. I could leave everything as it is and only extend the upper part so you would get porch all around the house.” He told me and showed me another picture. “You did those drawings while just walking here around?” I asked him, confused. Those were really detailed and amazing plans for the potential changes. I was never very good at imagining the stuff and was expecting that he would walk around with me and tell me what he wants to change. This would save us a lot of time because I could literally see the options and choose the one that suits me.

  “Maybe you should consider the rental for the cabin for people from our pack. Anyway, you would be most of the time in pack land or with me traveling to other packs and meetings.” I heard Calen call from another room. “In your dreams Alpha,” I replied to him teasingly and heard him growl back at me with disagreement. Zack was enjoying and laughing at our small bickering. “I see you found yourself a little devil as a mate. I am sure she would put you in line.” He replied on behalf of his Alpha too and this time Calen stormed into the kitchen. I and Zack were laughing seeing his furious face. “Joking on my account you too?” He asked us and Zack nodded. “You started commanding around,” I replied to him and his expression changed into a painful one but I knew he was just pretending as I felt amused aura around him with a little bit of shame.

  After a while when Zack finally finished his every single alternation, he had in his mind for my cabin he said he would give them to me in the pack land and I could check them in detail and choose the one I want, but it was getting late and we should be on our way back to pack. I remember that Calen asked me to meet today with one of the elders and honestly if I am supposed to meet with her, I would at least want to look cleaned up.

  I quickly jumped up into my room and took some more representative clothes. It is not like the one I already took yesterday are bad or something, I just picked casual clothes like sweatpants, hoodies, and loose shirts and so on. I want to take at least one dress or some skirts. ‘I spoke to Thoth.’ Maat interrupted my flow of thoughts. ‘This elder is actually Calen’s aunt. He said that she is the last family he has left.’ She informed me. ‘So now I understand why it looked like this meeting is very important to him.’ I replied to her. ‘It is but he is not depending on the meeting itself. Whether you like each other or not he doesn’t care but sure he would feel better if you could find a way to like each other.’ Maat told me and it made me feel more at ease. I am happy that he wants me to meet the rest of his family and doesn’t push on the relationship with her.

  “Ready?” I heard voices from down as the boys were already impatiently talking to each other and calling me in order to push me to leave. “Almost,” I replied to them. I swiftly checked my wardrobe. “Take those blue. They are neutral, modest yet look really amazing on you.” Maat told me when we were staring at our dress section. There were totally five of them. I couldn’t actually imagine that I have five dresses. I felt so rich now. I listened to her advice and took those blue ones placing them carefully into another backpack I had in my home. I took some makeup, mascara, and lipstick. Let’s show him that I could be feminine too, not only the tomboy. ‘You are not a tomboy. You are tough because of your past but your appearance is feminine even without makeup.’ Maat praised me trying to put some self-confidence into me again.

  “Okay, I am ready,” I called when I was taking stairs by two jumping down the last ten of them and stormed out of the house with both of them behind my tail. After the door closed there was a click sound and Zack turned to check what it was. “There is an auto locker. I don’t know who installed it but it recognized my voice so I guess it had to be some of my pack members. Or maybe it was my mom preparing this place for me a long time ago just in case. I would never know now.” I informed him with a cold voice trying to suppress the memories of my mom before they filled my mind with and I would start to cry. I really missed her so much.

  ~*****~

  “Where are you going to take her?” I heard Calen arguing with someone outside his room where I was currently residing. “Not so far, relax boy. I just want to talk to her in private. That’s all.” The female voice said and I could hear they are coming closer. The knock on the door announced that they arrived. “Can we enter?” I hear Calen asking me. “Yes, sure.” I allowed and the door opened showing two people to me. The woman standing beside the Calen was over fifty with most of her hair grey. Her eyes were unique holding two colors of green separately. They were reminding me of the malachite veins I saw in the cave nearby my cabin.

  “Good evening.” I greeted both incoming and she gave me a bright smile. “Good evening.” She replied to me. I have to say the aura radiating from her was impossible to read but at least I felt positive feelings. I put on that blue dress that was tight around my chest loose from my waist down up to my knees with the short sleeves and not really big cleavage. She checked me from head to toe and I think I saw approval. Wait, do I need her approval? I asked myself. ‘You don’t need it but it is better to have it.’ Maat told me. She was always the strategist.

  “Alright, this would do. I would take you on a small trip.” The woman told me. I had flat shoes without heels so I guess that was her main concern when she was checking my feet. “Where are you taking her?” Calen demanded to know but she just turned to him giving him ‘don’t talk to me this way boy’ look and he backed up immediately. I have to ask her to teach me this look if it has this kind of effect on him.

  “I am ready,” I told her and took my hand and led me out of the room to the main door. “Don’t worry, I would not steal you.” She turned to me as we were walking and gave me a warm smile. “I am not afraid of that,” I told her and she smiled wider. “Good, then I think we would be able to establish an amazing relationship,
but first I would need some answers from you and I am sure you are not ready to share with everyone so that’s why I want us to talk in privacy.” She explained to me and I was seriously curious. I was told she just arrived and in the Windfield, there was no such place where we would have privacy so where she wants to take me? I had no idea and Maat was also quiet in the presence of this woman.

  ~*****~

  “I had no idea there was such a place.” I was amazed. She actually took me to the mountain that was above my cabin and from where the waterfall was falling down. There was a cliff and the route into it was hidden and clear without any obstacles. We were standing together up there looking to the east where the last soft beams of light were showing themselves before the night would fully approach. “How do you know about this place?” I turned to her.

  Her aura changed again and her face took seriousness which I didn’t expect. I still didn’t feel her be a threat but something around her was intimidating. “You are Reina Elain Indegard, aren’t you?” Her question surprised me and I was left speechless. How does she know? “You don’t need to answer.” Her voice was cold. ‘Maat?’ I called her and she was the same as I was. She couldn’t read her. We didn’t know if she was a threat or what she wanted.

  “Relax.” She said seeing that I was stiffened and took a defensive posture. “I am not gonna hurt you. I told you I want answers which are probably not ready to give. I knew your mother, so for sure I am not going to hurt the mate of my nephew.” She spoke, taking a seat on a nearby stone watching me. I couldn’t say that her words calmed me down but at least I could hear her out.

  “So, ask me,” I said hiding my fear and worries deep inside of me and the voice came out the same cold as hers. “Everyone thinks you are dead. How did you survive the m******e? We were searching for the areas of the whole pack and didn’t find anyone or anything that would lead us to you.” She asked me. “You know that they burned everything to the ground. We could not even give your parents a proper burial. And the scent we found around was only those rogues, not even yours.” She told me and my eyes started to water hearing that my parents could not be even properly buried.

  “My mother hid me and covered my scent. I ran once they disappeared from our territory before the fire took my hideout.” I told her to keep my voice from cracking. “Did you see who did that?” She asked directly and I nodded. “Do you think you could recognize him if you see him?” She asked another question and I nodded again. “Do you know what they wanted? Why did they m******e everyone and destroy everything?” She continued and I gave another two nods. “Me,” I told her in reply and this time she nodded her head in understanding.

  “What do you remember from that time? Could you someone point out who did it, how many of them, who led them? Could you search your memories to find any memories that would help us to find out who did it?” She asked me with urgency and importance. I knew she was thinking about the risk that my presence would bring to the whole pack and she wanted to know what they would be standing against.

  “Most of them were rogues, but I noticed some of them were wearing the marks of their emblems on their hands right below their shoulders. But I am sure the man who was leading them wasn’t a wolf.” I told her and her eyes widened. There was never a pack or rogues working together and especially not under the leadership of someone who was not a werewolf. Even I knew that and was afraid that she would think I am a liar.

  “I see. You know your wolf is kind of special, don’t you?” She changed the topic and I nodded. “Good, which means it would be easier for you to understand why I am asking those questions and why I am now asking you to hide your wolf for now.” She told me and I could see her expression was changing into a worried one. Now I was sure she is really not planning to kick me out of the pack or hurt me but she wants to keep me safe the same as she wants to keep the whole pack safe.

  “I am already kind of different when it comes to my hair and eyes,” I told her, understanding her way of thinking.

  “Only people who are currently inside our newly built pack saw you and as I checked their minds not everyone actually saw you. Those who already know would be ordered to stay quiet. I need you to cover your hair at least for some time when the rest of the pack would arrive. Taking a spirit wolf into our pack is a huge responsibility and danger at the same time. I am sure no one in our pack would voluntarily betray us but until I am sure they all would keep it a secret I want you to keep it secret. I would explain to Calen.” She told me and I gave her a pleading look. I didn’t want Calen to know about this for now. “Don’t worry, I would not tell him what you are or who you are. I would figure out something.” She assured me.

  “Why are you helping me,” I asked her and this time I could see care and love in her eyes. Her aura became also warmer and I finally felt welcome. What was wrong with this woman? She could be so intimidating in one moment and the seconds after the warmest person you would ever meet. ‘She is different. Not like us, but she is different.’ Maat warned me.

  “As I said I knew your mother and I knew you when you were five years old. I owe to your mother but at the same time I need to assure the safety not only for yours but for all of us.” She told me hardly without going around with the words. I liked that she talked straight to the topic. “The hair dyes don’t stay for long on my hair, no matter what colors I use,” I told her and she nodded. “We would figure that out. I guess the biggest problem would be your wolf. I guess the dye is messing with her fur and she couldn’t shift properly.” She really knew a lot about me. “How did you know I have a spirit wolf? My mother never told anyone outside the clan and even inside the clan no one really knew since I never shifted.” I asked her curiously.

  “This would be the story for another day. For now, we should head back otherwise my head would explode from your mate trying to open the mind link and find out where we are.” She laughed as she stood up looking for the last time to the whole area in front of us visible from this cliff. I could see the lights of the town and also from our pack. It sounds so nice. Our pack.

  Chapter 18

  CALEN’S POV:

  For the past two hours, I tried to open the link between me and my aunt Hannah. I have no idea where she took Rei and despite being sure that my aunt is not gonna hurt my mate I didn’t feel particularly great about the idea that those two were alone who knows where.

  ‘Relax my boy, we are coming back now.’ My aunt opened the link out of the blue and I almost jumped from hearing her voice inside my head. I kept it open and tried to bang on her mind walls to make her talk to me but her sudden reply startled me. ‘Why did you block me out?’ I angrily burst at her and she laughed. ‘There were some things I needed to talk about with your cute mate and I wanted for her to be it in private. One day you would understand.’ She told me and yeah, it didn’t make me feel much better. ‘Don’t do this to me next time. I was worried about both of you.’ I whined and she gave me another laugh. ‘I am sure you were worried about her, not me. Anyway, we would come back home in less than twenty minutes. We are already on the way.’ She told me back. My body relaxed from her words a little bit but I would be happy the moment they cross the borders of our territory and I feel their presence here.

  “What were you talking about with my aunt?” I asked Rei when we were sitting alone in the kitchen. Honestly, I was curious about what it was that it needed to be done in secret. “Do you trust me?” She asked me back. How am I supposed to reply to this, of course, I trust her, she is my mate? ‘Just reply to me, you dumbass.’ Thoth scolded me. “Of course, I do,” I told her and eyes widened and more sparks appeared in her gaze. “Then please wait. I promise when I am ready, I will tell you everything. But at this moment I couldn’t speak about the things your aunt asked me. By the way, thank you for telling me that she is your aunt.” She explained to me. After her last words, I felt kind of ashamed. I didn’t tell her that Hannah is my aunt.

  “Oh, sorry about that,” I told her sh
yly and she gave me a soft smile. “It is alright I figured that much.” She told me. “I am a little tired. Do you think it would be okay if I go to my room and go to sleep?” She asked me but her face was telling me something else. Despite trying to put a warm smile on her face her eyes were elsewhere. I think the thing she talked about with my aunt made her think a lot. Now I want to know it even more. “You are not going to reject me, are you?” I asked her not really confident about hearing the truth. I didn’t like seeing things like this. When women think it is never good.

  She looked at me confused and shook her head. “Why should I reject you?” She asked me as her eyes were holding this confusion. “Because of the talk you had with my aunt. You seem to me thinking about something and now you even want to go lay down. I have seen this many times with my mom and dad. Every single time dad did something to make my mom angry she had this look on her face and wanted time alone. And every time she came back, I am sure my dad was suffering from the conclusion my mom made at those times.” I explained to her and first I could see her eyes widened as her mouth was holding the o shape but, in the end, she started laughing. “No, don’t worry. It is true that your aunt gave me things to think about and I should also make decisions on my own. I told you I might bring death to you and your clan and I was serious about that. There are many things in my past you have no idea about. You asked me to give you the time until my eighteenth birthday but I am sure the moment I would feel fully our bond I would not be able to leave or reject you, and I am not planning to at this moment but I like you and I like your people. I don’t want anybody to get hurt because of me. If I become your Luna or even the member of this pack, you all would start to wear a target on your backs. I want to think about what I should do before I would place this target on your back. Your aunt actually gave me a clear idea about her intentions to protect this clan including me. Your aunt could be very intimidating but at the same time very warm and protective. I think I just want a little time with Maat so we could figure out what we should do to protect this clan too.” She spoke slowly emphasizing almost every second word to make me understand and I did. She was planning to stay, stay beside me. She was planning to become my Luna but at the same time, she wanted to make sure no one would suffer from her decision. I could help you with that and I am sure about that.