Chapter 9
POV: Tamara Davis
She spent her entire day just inside her room. She wanted to have time for herself and mourned for her parents’ death. Aunt Rania and Uncle Lorenzo as they told her to call them were so patient and considerate towards her actions that she was so grateful for them.
She knew that she was indebted to them big time.
And in time, she would pay their kindness to her.
She went out of her room didn’t even touch her dinner given by the servant. She was not starving and just wanted to tend to her devastated self.
She slowly walked down the stairs ignoring the curious looks from the guards, who just remained stagnantly glued to the ground as she passed them.
Tamara found herself in the middle of the garden maze in front of the Lunar Mansion. She saw a mix of wood and concrete Victorian style gazebo defined by a complex and luxuriant ornate detail with decorative braces and double roof style.
Her long black shawl didn’t even protect her from the gushing cold wind and softly brushing her delicate skin.
It was soothing, though.
She tightly held herself with her both hands as she touched her arms to give herself a little warmth.
She sat on the railing as she stared at the dark night. The half-faced moon was illuminated brightly with the stars painted in the dim sky.
Tears were silently falling from Tamara’s cheeks that turned into loud sobs while firmly hugging her upper body with her shawl.
She wanted to be strong, yet she must mourn for her lost, first. She wanted to regain herself from her deceased parents.
Besides, mourning wasn’t a sign of being weak; it was a step towards moving on from the loss of a loved one. Her tears were proof of her acceptance and a eulogy for the memories she would forever treasure.
It wasn’t easy but little by little, she hoped she’ll get through it.
Because she would use it as strength to keep her going.
“Mom, Dad, I hope you watch me and guide me from where you are. I miss you so much. I promised to bring justice to your death.” She breathlessly whispered in between her sobs as she gritted her teeth calming her wolf from being restless inside her.
***
POV: Someone
In that exact same moment, a man was standing behind the huge lofty tree. He had jet-black hair with a golden crown placed on top of his head gently sparkling in the midst of the darkest woods.
He hid himself more as his gaze dropped towards the dazzling woman sitting on the railing of the gazebo. Her mesmerizing dark brown eyes glittered with her precious tears.
The man clenched his fist tightly as he held the trunk of the tree he’s hiding from urging his inner wolf to be calm.
He closed his eyes firmly as the roaring wind intensified, dragging the woman’s scent towards him making him growl inwardly.
His sharp claws elongated and sank in the trunk as his jaw clenched tightly.
A burning sensation crept within him making his inner wolf agitatedly move wanting to take over his whole being.
Before he could do something that was not supposed to, he needed to stay away or else he might ruin his plan.
He needed to contain himself and the mixed sensations he felt. He needed to think rationally and not to follow his emerging emotions.
But it didn’t mean that he couldn’t do something.
His lips curled upwards as he wanted to tear apart those people that made her cry.
He wanted to break their bones using his bare hands that they wouldn’t even have the strength to scream their pain.
With that in mind, he silently walked away engulfing by the darkness of the forest.
***
POV: Tamara Davis
She was now in the dining area with the whole Vikesh Family or the leaders of the Lunar Pack, as they call it to have their breakfast.
She was playing with her fingers and her head down because of awkwardness when Shahara who was sitting beside her, suddenly whispered.
“Before eating, you must let Luna and Alpha eat first, then if they have already allowed you to eat, then you may.” She whispered lowly.
She genuinely smiled at her feeling grateful and nodded.
Her eyes flew to the long dining table full of food. At least it was all cooked and not raw she sighed in relief.
“You may now eat.” Uncle Lorenzo seriously declared, and they started eating.
The servants behind her started to put food on her plate.
She could feel her stomach churned because of hunger especially when she saw her favorite, beef bourguignon and Salisbury steak. She was salivating at the mere sight of it.
Besides, she remembered she didn’t have eaten her dinner last night because of her grieving state.
“Dig in, don’t be shy.” Shahara lowly said and sweetly smiled at her, and she did.
The food was awesome and delicious. A few minutes later and all that could hear in the entire room was the utensils the spoon and fork ticking on the plate.
“Did you like the food, Tamara?” Aunt Rania asked her after they ate and now just sipping her green tea with mint leaves.
“Y-yes. They were all delicious. Thank you.” She shyly answered.
“Good.” She smilingly said while nodding her head lightly.
Uncle Lorenzo cleared his throat, trying to catch everyone’s attention, then placed his elbow on the top of the table as he intertwined his fingers together.
“Let’s talk about your situation, Tamara.” His voice was deep and full of seriousness, making Tamara tremble a bit with awkwardness and embarrassment.
“I-I am grateful that you accepted me in your humble abode, Uncle Lorenzo, Aunt Rania, and Shahara.” She started and had the courage to finally look at them one by one.
“B-But I don’t want to be bothersome to you, so I decided to le-”
“Tamara, please. You are not bothering us, dear. In fact, you are so welcome here. You’re p-parents are our close friend, and we will gladly help you, especially now that you have already learned how to shift. So, be at ease. We are here for you. Besides, the council already agreed that you could stay with us.” Aunt Rania cut her in and smiled gently at her.
Oh, how she missed her mom!
Tamara’s eyes moistened as she felt the warm sincerity and endless support from this family.
“I can teach you so you can control your inner wolf and all the basics of living as a werewolf.” Shahara instantly presented herself to be her mentor as she sipped her watermelon juice.
Tamara looked at her and she just gave her a friendly and sweet smile.
“T-thank you.” She said shakily and tried to control her tears from flowing down her eyes.
Get a grip of yourself, Tamara. She mentally thought.
“The only thing is, you must not share with anyone that you are Tamara Davis, nor that you are the daughter of Winston and Ameia. There are people who were running after you, so we must be careful. We shouldn’t trust anyone right now. Good thing, you change your name in the court room.” Uncle Lorenzo icily said then heaved a sigh.
“Well then, she can use Tyra Amaris as her name for the mean time. Aside from that, you need to act as a servant omega in the mansion… for the mean time. Don’t worry, because Shahara will assist you and teach you the things that are needed to be done.” Aunt Rania carefully explained.
Tamara nodded her head as she listened precisely to them.
“And please, stay away from the Dark Wood Pack.” Shahara cautiously warned her.
Her forehead was creased. “Dark Wood Pack?”
“Yes. You already met them during the court trial Lamina and her family.” Aunt Rania agree to what Shahara had said.
Then she remembered the woman who was eagerly trying to accuse her, and the man she had just saved and left her hanging there. Tamara deeply sighed. Well, at least she knows now.
She nodded in agreement with what they had just said.
“Good, you can ask Shahara or us when you need help or you have questions, alright? Do not hesitate, we are your family now.” Aunt Rania sweetly smiled at her.
“Thank you.” She smiled sincerely at them.
She was indeed grateful.
For now, she needed to be strong if she wanted to know herself more.
She needed to endure if she wanted to avenge her parents’ death.
And she would she was determined to do so.
***
POV: Shahara Vikesh
Shahara and Tamara both went to the study room after what they had discussed in the dining room for their possible set-up. She presented herself to be Tamara’s mentor for the mean time.
She was ecstatic finally, she could have a sister and a friend now.
Being an only child wasn’t really fun. Most especially if she was the daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Lunar Pack the leading pack in the West.
All of her actions were calculated, and she needed to master her inner wolf flawlessly.
She didn’t have any friends well, real friends for they just wanted to be close to her and stabbed her in the back afterwards.
Shahara sadly sighed and gently shook her head to erase those melancholic memories before facing Tamara who was now mirrored with gleaming eyes while staring at the pile of books which was neatly organized in the shelves.
“So, you can find a lot of books here in the study room. You can definitely read them when you’re bored, or I need to do something. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me, okay?” Shahara smilingly explained.
“Now, before you start practicing the shifting process, you first need to understand the basic knowledge of being a wolf.” She patiently discussed as they sat on the wooden chair both of their arms rested on the table in front of them.
Tamara just nodded her head and was intently listening to her.
“Werewolves have two forms the human form and the wolf form. There was no explanation as to when and where we started shifting. Say, for example, you just shifted a few days ago while I learned how to shift at the age of five. Maybe I can find books for you so you can read it in your room as I explain to you the basics.”
Tamara’s eyes widen in great astonishment while looking at Shahara who stood up and looked at the shelves while talking to her.
She already knew how to shift at the age of five?!
It was incredible! She remarkably thought.
“Shifting can be triggered by various things like anger, too much pain, uneasiness, even too much joy, or loneliness. Heightened emotions can be a probable cause of shifting into our wolf form. We can shift at any time and it can be uncontrollable the thing is we must master how to shift back to our human form.”
Tamara was attentively listening to whatever Shahara was explaining to her.
“Another thing is lust when you finally meet your mate.”
“Mate?” Tamara curiously asked.
“Yes. Mate. He is someone destined to be your husband. But now, the were-elders or the oldest wolf in the pack just believe in arranged marriages just to preserve the bloodlines’ purity.”
Shahara stopped a bit and looked at her, then back to the arranged books in front of her.
“How do you know that you have already found your mate?” Tamara asked curiously.
Shahara’s forehead creased as she crossed her arms in front of her chest her index finger tapping her chin she was thinking about how she would explain it in a way that she could easily understand it.
“Well, if you feel as if there was something intense within you ticks and sends you a burning sensation. Or if you fall in love with someone making your heart beat fast. Or when you smell him, and you feel lightened or addicted. Something like that.” Shahara patiently explained, and just shrugged her shoulders, then continued browsing the books on the shelves.
Tamara bit her lower lip as she slowly tapped her fingers on the table. Her heart beat quickened as she remembered the King’s intense gaze and how her body had reacted during the court trial.
She shook her head, trying to erase those thoughts creeping into her mind.
No.
It was impossible.
Maybe she just shifted because of the heightened mixed emotions she felt. She even reacted to silver which she was allergic to. And also, weakness to all wolves thanks to Shahara, she knew that now.
So, it was really impossible.
It was indeed impossible for her to be the King’s mate.