Chapter 9: The Curious Mate

Chapter 9: The Curious Mate

Emma stirred from her long slumber as the fading warmth of the evening sun filtered through the towering windows of the Alpha’s pack estate. There was no wolf device to measure time—no glowing screen nor ticking wristpiece—only the shifting scent of dusk and the soft dimming of daylight across the Pack Den. The air carried the faint aroma of herbs and roasted meats, a lingering signature of the Alpha’s meals. Her senses, sharpened by winters of being an omega, absorbed everything: the distant howl of a wolf, the clinking of utensils, and the subtle hum of life within the pack estate.

Sliding from the Luna’s bed, she stretched her limbs, feeling the tension of sleep release from her shoulders. She adjusted her steps, careful not to disturb the quiet pack halls, and followed the faint aromas drifting through the corridors, guiding her to the Pack’s Grand cookhouse. Each step echoed softly, but her heightened instincts seemed to make the echo unnecessary; her wolf was guiding her more than her eyes ever could.

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