14

Long, dark hair; furless, pale skin; no paws; no tail.

I hated it.

I tried to remember the last time I had looked like this; the last time I wasn't standing on four legs but two and wasn't covered in dark brown fur. Surely there had to be a time, but it was as if I was forcibly being blocked out; like there was a mist surrounding me. In my mind, everything was blurry. The faces weren't actually faces, they were blank. No eyes. No mouth. Nothing. The words? It was like I had something clogging my ears; they were muffled and I was unable to decipher them.

It was like the memories were there but they weren't my own. I was watching from an outside perspective but the audio kept cutting me out. In other words, I didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle.

My eyes darted to the long mirror which stood in the corner beside the bed and a frown took over my face. The clothes that Slater had given me practically swallowed me whole. They were large and baggy. I hated them but I liked the forest-like scent that clung to them.

"Hello, Elder Samuel."

My ears perked up at the sound of Slater's voice coming from the TV room. Who was he talking to? I wanted to know.

The door was left slightly open. Not enough for anyone to see inside, but enough for me to be able to easily open it. I just had to manage to get there.

I stared up at the bed with a plan already forming in my mind. I may have not remembered the last time I was in my human form, but surely I could manage to walk on two feet. Grabbing two fistfuls of the bedding, I used it to pull myself up from the spot I'd been sitting on the floor. I could hear Slater still talking and there was another voice I was unfamiliar with.

I wanted to see it.

After a few moments of struggling, I managed to get myself propped up using the bed and a grin took over my face. I could do this. My eyes narrowed on the door with a goal in mind. Carefully, I let go of the bed and stood there for a minute before lifting my leg and taking one step forward.

My legs were shaking slightly but I didn't stop. I lifted my other leg to take another step and like last time, it went well.

Until my legs gave out and I hit the ground face first. Painfully.

I could hear Slater's voice freeze and the loud footsteps heading toward the room. The door was immediately thrown open and worried brown eyes stared up at me. Slater moved toward me and crouched down, helping me up off the ground.

"Milo? Are you okay?" Slater asked and I could hear the change in his voice. "What were you doing..."

Slater stopped talking when he saw where I was staring, or rather who I was staring at. An older man stared down at me with a look that immediately made me not like him. I was used to the angry expressions and the judgmental ones. I learned a long time ago that when people looked at someone like that it was because they thought that person was weak. This old man thought I was weak.

I immediately didn't like him.

"Elder Samuel, I'm sure you've heard that I've recently found my mate. This is Milo. Milo, this is Elder Samuel. He's one of the older pack members who help around."

I didn't care who he was, I didn't want him here in my space.

The old man, Elder Samuel, stared at me with the same expression. It was like to him I was an ant and he was the anteater.

"Alpha Slater, may I talk to you alone for a second?" Elder Samuel asked. His eyes never left mine.

Slater's eyes briefly shot to mine before he nodded. I half-expected him to just leave me on the ground again, but this time Slater scooped me up and placed me back on the bed.

"Stay here. I'll be right back, alright?"

I didn't respond but I don't think he expected me to. Slater led the old man out of the room and he left the door slightly open once again. My ears perked up as I tried to listen in on what they were saying. There were some things I couldn't understand, but what I did clearly understand was the anger in Slater's voice.

"You wanted me to take a mate. I found one; the one the Moon Goddess gave me and now you're coming here to criticize that choice?" Slater said. His voice was low yet the anger was clear.

"Alpha Slater, please. You know just as well as I do that the wolf in your bedroom is nowhere near fit to lead a pack. To lead our pack."

"His name is Milo and last I checked who my mate happens to be is none of your or anyone else's concern, Elder Samuel. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I am alpha then Milo will be by my side. He will rule by my side in my pack and anyone who disagrees is more than welcome to leave."

There was a silence before I heard the old man sigh.

"Having him here will cause you and this pack more harm than good."

"You haven't even met him and yet here you are, making assumptions," I heard Slater say with a scoff. "I think it's time for you to leave, Elder Samuel."

"Alpha Slater—"

"I've asked you to go."

Nothing else was said. I could hear the sound of footsteps and they were soon followed by the sound of the door shutting.

Was that because of me?

My eyes never left the door and I waited until it opened once again and Slater's eyes met mine. They immediately softened and he headed toward me. He raised his hand and rested it on the top of my head before running his fingers through my long, black hair.

"Come on," Slater sighed. "It's time to eat."

I nodded but the words had gone in one ear and out the other. My attention was too focused on him. Though he was calmer, I could still tell by the tone of his voice and the expression in his eyes that he wasn't okay. Before the old man had come, he was smiling and his eyes were bright. Now they were duller, his smile was smaller, and I could practically hear the tiredness in his voice.

Slater's whole mood had changed and I didn't like it.

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