4 3

She was interrupted from her painful memory by a knock at the door. Andromeda stood and shook her head as she walked through the doorway and opened it.

It gave way to reveal a young man, about Andromeda's age, give or take a dozen seasons.

"Hey! I'm Colin, the Beta's son. I was sent to take you to dinner," he said. She noted that he had brown hair and brown eyes, something considered extremely attractive amongst wolves.

Looking at him, she thought he was more adorable than attractive with that goofy grin spread across his face. She returned his smile slightly and left the room with him.

"I'm Andromeda, nice to meet you," she greeted, and his smile magnified almost impossibly.

"You as well, fair maiden," he bowed to her and laughed.

Something about him, she thought, is very familiar.

"So," he said, looking down at Andromeda. He was taller than she was by a few inches, "I know what happened," he coughed awkwardly, "then, and I wanted to thank you."

So he was the boy I saw, clutching his father's legs, Andromeda recalled.

Once she had fought off the rogue wolves, she picked up the Beta Female's limp, lifeless body carefully and led the girl, Belina, back to the nearest pack. She was met by the Alpha family, the Beta and his three children, along with a few wolves with no obvious rank.

In the present, Andromeda nodded to him, "Why did the Alpha lie to his pack?"

Colin winced, "I'm not sure. You may have noticed, though, since then, the Luna of our pack has changed. Luna Aglamé disappeared and without an explanation five years ago. The Alpha held a meeting and said she had died and was going on the search for his second chance mate," Colin paused for a moment, seemingly lost in the story that Andromeda was eagerly absorbing, "We didn't believe him, though, as we knew the pack would feel the loss of our Luna through the pack bond. Nonetheless, two months later, the wonderful Luna Elane was brought to us, and we accepted her. She is no ordinary wolf though, neither do you know the caliber of her powers," he concluded and walked with Andromeda to the elevator.

Andromeda laughed a moment, "Trust me when I say, Colin, that she is no match for a 'seemingly ordinary human." He gave her a cautious glance, but she was not lying, and he could clearly see that.

"I hope you shall not eat your words," he said, sending her another genuine smile.

/

When the elevator touched the first floor—the area where the kitchens and main pack dining area was—they quickly stepped out and were met with a group of pack members.

The pair were early, so the room was mostly empty. Of those present, most were sitting around the table, which looked relatively antique compared to the modern yet comfortable appearance to the packhouse main floor.

Some others, mostly the pups and a few teenagers, were roughhousing and running about. A few low-ranked pack members worked around, setting food on the tables and setting the places.

Just as a woman was passing in front of Andromeda, a pup ran straight between her legs, and the plate flew out of her hands. Andromeda caught it, instinct kicking in. The maid shrieked for a moment before turning to Andromeda and apologizing, but she brushed her off and returned the tray. The servant woman bowed her head quickly in thanks before rushing off again.

Before Colin could say anything, Elane spotted the pair and rushed over to greet them.

"Ah, Andromeda! You are looking lovely," she said, and Andromeda thanked her then returned the compliment, "and Colin, my boy, please leave her a seat, A4," he glanced at her quizzically but nodded.

The table, or so it appeared, was separated into sections. The head of the table and the surrounding ten chairs had golden cushions, and the twenty next to them had silver cushions. After that was red, black, gray, then blue.

It was a huge room, with a very long table that looked like it could seat fifty people and it had three more to the right of it.

It looked absolutely ridiculous.

After Andromeda was seated by Colin, who rushed off to goddess knows where not much time passed before the room started to fill in with pack members.

Soon, the food was served, and everyone was seated and present, spare for the Alpha. Andromeda was seated to the left of the head of the table, and next to her was Luna Elane.

Opposite to her was a young man who appeared maybe twelve or so seasons younger than Andromeda was, whom she correctly assumed was the Alpha to be, and Belina, sitting beside him, was practically drooling all over her mate. He introduced himself as Jackson Bernard.

After the meal and the cleanup she wasn't allowed to participate in, Elane pulled her aside.

"I would like to speak with you. Come to the Alpha's library, 11 P.M. tonight," she said, and Andromeda nodded. She hurried away, and she went back to her room to sleep.

/

She awoke from her doze just in the nick of time. The digital clock displayed 10:57 in red lettering. After she wrapped a cloak around herself and left the room, she made her trip down the corridor to a door that was slightly ajar, barely showing the flicker of candlelight from within.

Upon entering, she took in her surroundings. The room was massive and full of ancient texts and scrolls.

Directly in front of Andromeda was Elane, sitting cross-legged at a low, circular table. Placed in front of her were a stone bowl, a small knife, an herb she didn't recognize, and five candles of different colors. Around the room were maybe fifteen illuminated candles, their warm glow sending a flickering luminosity upon the chamber.

"Andromeda, thank you for coming. I have some information about you that I think you would like to know," she said, looking up at the niorette, eyes indecipherable and distant.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Elane's actions were completely different than her typical character.

The Luna waved her hand, beckoning her to sit. she complied, her eyes still boring into Andromeda's.

"I, if you couldn't tell, am a witch-werewolf hybrid," she paused, waiting for Andromeda's reaction, but she simply stared indifferently, wordlessly requesting her to continue. Andromeda hadn't noticed, but she was not surprised. Very few things could surprise her.

"Hybrids are a touchy subject, but not as taboo as when I was a child. Most purebloods believe we are weaker than the average member of either of our species, and that is true, for the most part." Her eyes scrutinized Andromeda's again as if she was uncertain of how she would react.

"Go on," Andromeda said monotonously, and she swallowed before proceeding.

"I am one of the exceptions, which grants me immortality. I have never met one of my kind, in the thousand years in which I have lived. But, Andromeda, I think you might be the first."