Chapter 2 One

Cruz's POV "Ashi's on her way," I told my Dad, Eric. "I don't understand what's happening, Dad." My voice can't stop sounding frustrated. I was with my Dad on a pack meeting when Dad received a message from the enchantress through the mind link. He's the Beta. Every concern comes to him. Today was the Mapping where the She-Wolves who reached the age of eighteen will know where their mate is from. Something goes wrong with Ashira's mapping process. That's what I was sure of. We immediately drove home once we received the news. "Let's wait for Ashira. She must be looking for answers, as well. Once she's home, we'll talk." My Dad said and he entered the door to his study. My mom, Ophelia, followed right after. My Dad is the Beta of our pack. Regal pack. Alpha David's son, Victor, will take over the pack in a few weeks. He'll be given the Alpha title once his 21st birthday comes. My Dad, as the Beta, will also step down once Alpha David invokes his title as Alpha. That's when I'll take over the Beta position. I heard a loud thud of a Wolf getting nearer. My sense of smell tells me it was Ashira. I ran towards the back door. She must have shifted! I took a robe hanging as I'm on my way out. Ashira's white wolf stopped in front of me. Her wolf is really beautiful. She's not my real sister but I treat her like one. I prepare the robe and held it wide with both hands. I made sure that the robe will conceal Ashira's naked body from my eyes once she shifts back. 'Close your eyes' her wolf said to me through our mind link. I did. Like hell, I'll like to see that. I thought, almost rolling my eyes. I felt her grabbing the robe from my hands. A few seconds later, I opened my eyes, her being wrapped with the robe. "What happened?" I asked. Ashira walked past me. She walked inside the house, probably toward my Dad. "I don't know. Something went wrong with my mapping. I'm yet aware of what that means." I followed her as we walked inside our Dad's study. He is already seated on his chair, holding an old book. My mother standing beside him. My Dad looked at us and my mother rushed to Ashi and held my sister in her arms. "Everything will be alright," Ophelia assures Ashira. Ashi just nodded and looked at my Dad again. "The Enchantress called me a 'stealer'." She said to my father. I can hear her voice shaking but she sounds more confused than scared. "She can't be wrong. You might be." My Dad said as he took a deep breath. "What does that mean? The way she said it to me, it's like I'm a danger." We took a sit in front of father. I was just listening to our conversation, trying to understand every bit of it. "It's not like that. You're not dangerous, Ashi. Being a stealer just means," Eric paused for a second as he waits my Mom get near her. Once she wrapped her arms around Dad, he continued. "You're able to produce a pup even with someone who's not your mate." My eyes widened by surprise. That's rare! No, that's new! I haven't even learned that. A wolf is destined with a mate. We can only have a child with our mate. So hearing this makes me confused as hell. I decided to speak when Ashi didn't. "Does that mean she can have more than one mate?" Ashira is eighteen years old and the main reason why she can participate in the mapping ceremony. With her age, she'll be able to feel the mate bond once she met the one. But as per my Dad's words, does that mean that Ashira will be able to feel the mate bond with every wolf? "No. Of course not. Her mate is the only one who can feel the bond. As well as you." My dad looked at Ashira as he said the last words. "That's something too special to share." Eric held Ophelia's hand as he said that. "I heard a 'but," Ashira stated, sounding a little more calm than earlier. Maybe the thought that everyone won't fight over her because of her failure-mate bond is making her less worried. "They will smell it on you." Sabi ni Eric kay Ashi. "Those wolves who's lost their mates will recognize you as a 'stealer'. Once they do, they'll bend everything to get you." My mom's hand moved to rub on my father's back. I just noticed how my father is shaking. His wolf is getting angry from the thought. "B-But why? I-I'm confused.." "They may not feel the mate bond with you but since they lost their mates, they'll be able to know you're a stealer. And even though they are not your mate, they will settle with you because their wolf will be pleasured. Like your truly their mate. It's as if a second chance to have a mate for those who already lost theirs." I saw Ashira's body shake. She must be scared. I do. I'm scared for her but my wolf also knows we'll do everything to keep her safe. "Ashira, listen to me. All you have to do is find your mate and complete the mating process." The mating process will start with the guy taking his claim over the She-Wolf. It's done by biting on the middle of the neck and shoulder, not too deep but enough to leave a bite mark. After the claim, both should mate. Or have sex in the simplest form. Some do the claim and have sex right after. Some do the claim first and wait for more time to get to know each other more before mating. "Will that fix what I am now?" Ashira's breathing unevenly. Every piece of her is not liking the situation. Eric shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. But.. someone will own your wolf. By then, your wolf will know who its mate is. It won't be confused once someone tries to take you. But you'll be able to resist those who want to steal you." "She's called a stealer because she can be stoled?" I asked. Not sure if I said the right words. "Yes. But also, she can steal other mates, Son." Eric said. "What? I thought she's just in danger for those who lost their mate." "Yes. That was the danger because she'll be in a lot of trouble once more than one wolf will want her. Since we all know that wolves without mates are a lot. But, she can also steal other's mates. Ashira's wolf can trick some werewolves into believing she is their mate. That happened decades ago and it's tragic." "Tragic?" "A stealer fell in love with an Alpha. The Alpha was mateless-yet, at that time. The stealer wants to be the Alpha's Luna, her greed of power and affection towards the Alpha pushed her to do it. So she seduced him. She tempted his wolf and made it believe she is the one mated for the Alpha. But the Alpha met his true mate. The Alpha was confused. Both She-Wolf holds a deep bond with his wolf." "What happened then?" Ashira asked. Looking attentive. "As I said, it's tragic. The Alpha decided to let both her mate have sex with other wolves." "Wolves? That many? Why?" I exclaimed. "It's to know which one was a stealer." My Dad simply explained. I noticed the silence Ashira was given while spacing out. "That's absurd," I commented. Looking sideways at Eric and Ashira. "Then what happened?" Ashira speaks again. "The story said that the Alpha had his true Luna. And the stealer, well, she got pregnant by some wolf. It's said she was executed with the baby unborn. Some said she escaped. It is an old story so the ending has lost its consistency." I watched how Ashira reacts to the story. She kept moving her knuckles, probably getting nervous about what she is. I don't see her differently even after knowing all this. She's my sister. I knew her. She won't have the heart to do something like stealing other's mate. "Ashira, don't be scared. It's gonna be okay." Ophelia said to her. She glanced up to her and dad than me. She let a small smile before speaking. "I... I don't know what to do." Is all she said. I can feel her frustrations and fear. The Beta blood in me is starting to kick in. "I'll find more information that might help your case. This is rare and none from the Regal pack had encountered this." My Dad said. I nodded and smiled at Ashi. "Everything's gonna be fine." I tried to assure her but deep inside, my wolf and I are so not sure. "For now, avoid being with the crowd. Just have Lucy with you at all times. The worst thing to happen is for you to be found by a mateless wolf." Dad warned. "Do you remember the first pack that showed on the map today?" Ophelia asked. We all glanced her way. Confusion is present in our eyes. Both me and Dad not being sure what she meant. "What? Don't you know? The first one to glow up is where your mate is. The mate bond is too strong that even a stealer can never be an exception from the mapping." My mother answered our question. We looked at Ashira who looked reminiscing what happened earlier. "It was.. the Prime pack." Prime pack? That was the strongest pack of all. Their members are over 500 wolves and one-fourth of it are not fighters. The rest are the best in it. "Having a mate from such a strong pack says you're on the luck's side," Dad said. "Right." Ophelia seconded. "For now, stay away from the crowd as your father said. When the annual mapping party comes, you'll attend the ball. And you need to find your mate. You MUST find him." Though her words put a huge pressure, it's the only way to do it for now.