THE MISFIRED SOS CALL

"Well, this is splendid!" Alpha George announced in his booming voice, "It's not everyday a girl can stand up to Henry."

"Actually it's the first time." His Luna smiled.

"Tell you what, William, why don't you and your family stay at the guest suite here? Seeing that your daughter will soon become our Luna, it would definitely be safer for you to stay here. I know you wanted a place near the shopping district but I'm sure Peter can arrange for a guard and driver to take your wife and daughter out as they please." Alpha George suggested. Straight after that, he decided to take his own suggestion, all by himself.

He then turned to Peter, "Where is my Beta?"

"Dad is still in the video conference meeting with Alpha Andre." Beta Peter informed him.

"Tell him to hurry up. Your new Luna just showed up. Go prepare our best guest suite!" Alpha George ordered.

"We really don't want to trouble you." Dad started. He gave a quick glance at my mum and then at me.

"Yes, I think the service apartment you had reserved for us was perfect!" Mum chimed in.

I took the cue and nodded vigorously.

But Alpha George only laughed it all off, "It's no trouble at all. Please, make yourselves at home."

Wolf Alphas... Sam was like that in her own way. But Sam was different too. Sometimes we went out to a nearby cafe to study, Sam would ask me, "Where do you want to sit?" And then she would take me straight to the booth I looked at even before I answered.

So Sam was totally like that in her own way.

Wolf Alphas...

And so we ended up watching helplessly as warrior wolves brought in our luggage up to the newly added penthouse apartment on top of the pack house. Everytime, they passed us, they would duck their heads in a bow, which made me feel super uncomfortable.

And the more uncomfortable I was the more Beta Peter would snap at the warriors to hurry and leave, which made me even more uncomfortable.

"Please enjoy your stay here, Luna, and Mr and Mrs Laurel." Beta Peter bowed in parting.

I didn't recognized that I was the "Luna" until he had left.

Finally, we were alone.

"This is a really nice place." Mum admired.

Along with our luggage, the penthouse had also been hastily furnished with bottled water, wine, fresh fruits, and cut flowers. There was even a card with the WiFi network and password left on the mantle. I immediately set up. It just felt very hotel like...and that was the first thing I did whenever my family stayed at a hotel.

Home was where the WiFi connected automatically.

Dad travelled a lot in recent years, and he would bring mum and me along, even just for the weekends.

"Mama, we need to think of a solution quickly." Dad said to Mum. Dad used to refer to Mum as Mama when I was little. I could tell he was panicked just by the way he reverted to it.

The last time this happened, our plane was delayed in the other continent and I was about to miss school on Monday.

"What's wrong, Papa?" Mum asked mischievously.

"The Alpha's son has got his eye on our Chrissie." Dad said, "We need to leave quickly."

"He seems nice." Mum said.

"You can't mean to let him mate with our Chrissie!" Dad said.

Mum shrugged, "Better a Lycan alpha than an unfaithful human."

Dad looked at Mum like she grew another head, then he shook his head, "You don't understand, Mama, Lycan are beasts... Who knows what they'll do to our Chrissie?"

Mum shrugged, "I heard they're good in bed."

"Mum!" I scolded. What in the world has gotten into Mum?

Dad looked perplexed.

Then Mum said, "I've met a lot of Lycan lately. And they had all been rather lovely people. Maybe a bit traditional, but I've always thought it would be nice if Chrissie met her mate in one of these nice young men. Some one strong and loyal to protect her for us. An old fashioned love like ours, you know?"

Dad sighed, "And you think this Alpha Henry is the right guy?"

Mum nodded, "They say the mating bond does not lie."

Dad sighed again, "You've made too many Lycan friends over the years."

Mum laughed, "It's true. All my closest friends are Lycan ladies I've met in the last few years now. How do I put it? When you click with a Lycan, it's a soul connection. They are very loyal and caring. But this is really perfect. I won't have to worry about Chrissie anymore."

"Why would you worry about me?" I asked.

"Well, you've always been kindhearted and sweet." Mum said, "I guess I was always worried you'd be taken advantage of. A strong and smart guy would be able to take care of you even after your dad and I pass on."

Dad still looked worried, "Maybe I'll give a call to Alpha Kingsley. He had daughters... Maybe he would be able to help. I doubt even Alpha George would dare attack the Moon Bell Pack."

"Dear, give it up." Mum said, "Let it happen naturally."

"Naturally? She'll be mated by the end of the week!" Dad exclaimed.

"Oh!" Mum said, "Tell him that your Mama wants you to have a wedding. With a white dress. Don't agree to sleep with him till it happens. Even though he is a wolf, you are a human. Your Mama wants to see you happily married."

I nodded, more because I was too stunned to do anything else.

My mum had definitely been putting in a lot of thought into this aspect of my future.

"He's not allowed to mark you till after the ceremony either." Dad added, "Nevermind, I will tell him myself."

"Good idea, Papa!" Mum smiled, "Papa, you always know what to do!"

I excused myself into my room. I needed to revise those 12 webnovels again. Or no, maybe I should just call Serene. I scrolled through the contacts of my phone. But if I called her, I would have to explain what happened and she might start saying how jealous she was...

Oh, that's a little stressful for me. I don't like to make anyone feel jealous. I don't really think I was in an enviable position right now to begin with.

And then my eyes caught the name just above Serene's on my phone's contact list, "Samantha".

I remembered the kind note she wrote me. I'm just asking for advice right? I took a deep breath and pressed the dial button. The phone rang a few times, and then a man answered, "Hi, is this Christa? This is Ben. Sam's busy now, can I take a message?"

Eh? Opps. I panicked. I totally didn't mean to be calling Ben. OMG what should I do?

"I..it's o...o...kay. I mean, nothing's wrong. I mean, I just needed to ask her something. It's not important..." I rambled desperate to hang up.

"If it's not important, why are you calling?" Ben asked, "Are you in danger?"

"No... No... It's nothing." I said.

"Where are you?" Ben asked, "Need me to send someone over?"

"Ah, no... It's ok. Don't. I'm fine, I think..." Opps. I didn't sound sure enough, "I mean, I just... My soulmate is a Lycan, and I don't know what to do. That's all."

I face palmed when the words fumbled out. I kind of expected Ben to scoff at it and hang up or something, but he didn't.

"Did he hurt you?"

What? I shook my head, then realised I was on the phone, "No. He didn't."

"Is he rogue?"

"No?" Okay, he was the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, very not rogue, "I mean, no. He has a pack."

"Then it should be fine." Ben decided.

"No! I mean, I just met him. I don't want to..." I trailed off. I can't believe I was telling this to Ben. I've never spoken directly to Ben ever! He was always aloof. And in my panic right now, I wasn't even sure what I was blubbering to him about.

"Just ignore him." Ben advised.

That surprised me. I never thought Ben would bother this much.

"Ah, okay thanks." I said. I was going to end the call when I heard someone on the other line say, "Who're you talking to?"

"It's Christa." Ben answered.

"Is something wrong? Put her on speaker." The someone said.

Suddenly the line sounded hollow, "Hi Christa, Ki here. What's wrong?"

"Eh...no... No..nothing's wrong. Sorry for disturbing you guys..." This was pretty embaressing. I really shouldn't have called.

"She met her mate. He's a wolf. She needs advice" Ben supplied.

"And you asked Ben?" Ki started laughing.

"I was calling Sam." I managed in a small voice.

"Why? Did he hurt you?" Ki asked.

"No... Not at all. I just... needed advice." I said.

"Put on a sexy dress, and make sure your undies are made of lace. Then go with the flow." Ki advised.

"Eh, no... That's too fast." I said, "How do I make him slow down?"

Why am I asking these two guys? I'll never be able to face them ever again. How do I hang up?

"What's up?" Third person entered the conversation, "What are you guys doing?"

"Hi Harv, it's Christa." Ben said.

"Is everything alright? Do you need help, Christa?" Harvey was immediately concerned.

"Ah yes, I mean no. I mean everything is alright, I don't need help. Thanks." I clarified quickly, "Why do you guys assume I would need help?"

"Why else would you call?" Ben asked.

"You've always been pretty independent, so if you called us, it means it has to be something bad, right?" Harvey pointed out.

"She was calling Sam." Ki corrected, "Sam's phone."

"I see." Harvey paused, "Why did you answer the princess' phone?"

"She left it with me." Ben said, "When I saw Christa's name, I assumed it was an emergency."

"Harv, you have a sister. Say she met her soul mate, but he's going too fast, how would you advice her?" Ki asked.

Harvey actually answered without a moment of hesitation, "Are you sure he's your mate?"

I nodded and then belatedly answered, "Yes. I can't even touch him without sparking."

"Lucky bastard." I heard Ki comment.

"Rogue?" Harvey asked.

I shook my head.

Ben answered for me, "No. She said pack wolf."

"Then it's fine." Harvey said satisfied, "If he does anything you don't like, just cry."

"Tears are your most powerful weapon." Ki concurred.

"If he doesn't stop, I'll come over and beat him up." Harvey promised.

"Yeah, that'll work. But don't provoke him. You don't want his wolf to take over. Keep it calm and civil. Avoid looking or smiling at him unless you want him to approach you." Ki added.

"So if I ignore him, it'll make him keep his distance?" I asked hopefully.

"Nah, it'll just make him try harder." Ben laughed. I've never heard Ben laugh before. It was a deep kind of rumbly laugh. Very sexy.

I wonder what kind of sound Henry would make if he laughed.

"If there's something expensive you like, now it's the time to let him know. He'll want to give you a mating gift." Ki said.

I shook my head, "No... It's okay."

These guys.

They were laughing, all three of them. And then suddenly they quietened, "Alpha Sam is here." Ben intoned.

"It's Christa. Her mate is a wolf. She wants him to slow down." Harvey summized.

"Is he rogue?" Sam asked.

"No." I answered. Sam was the Alpha who defeated the Rogue King, right? Maybe she hated rogues.

"Hi Christa." Sam said. I could hear her smile.

"Just calling you for advice. That's all." I said. Please don't start another war with rogues or anything.

"If I were you, I'd punch him, hard and see what happens." Sam decided.

"She's not you, goddess. And she's human." Ki reminded Sam.

"I think it's a good idea." Ben said, "If he hits you back, we'll kill him."

Wait no! Don't kill Henry.

"Guys who hit their mates are no good." Harvey said.

"Yeah, hit him as hard as you can." Ben sounded really into it now.

"No...urm... I've already slapped him just now." I finally admitted. It's not like there was anyway I could be more embaressed than I already was.

The guys all burst out laughing.

"I panicked." I said.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt him." Ki told me.

"Pity." Ben muttered. I nearly didn't catch it.

"Did he hit you back?" Harvey asked.

"No..." I answered.

"Good." Harvey said, and then more darkly, "If he does. I mean it, I would go down and beat him up for you."

"Yeah, and Chris?" Sam sounded suddenly unsure, "Look, I know I haven't been the best room mate, like I wasn't around a lot. But we're friends. Like you can tell me if you're in trouble and I'll protect you okay? I'm strong. I can protect you. So ah... Well... I'm not sure if you like this guy or not. But I'm kind of happy if he is a good pack wolf, he'll take care of you..."

"If he's not, we'll take care of him." Ben finished for her.

"Beta Ben, you're really into it huh?" Ki mocked.

"Christa is the kind of girl who is fun to bully." Ben explained.

"True." Ki considered it, "Christa, don't forget to ask him for something big and expensive."

"Ah no... That's okay. My mum and dad already asked for a wedding." I said.

"Oh, a human marriage ceremony?" Ki took it in.

"In a white dress and everything? I want to go." Sam immediately said, "I've never been to a wedding."

I laughed at that. It was uncomfortable and embaressing but I felt better now, "Okay. If it comes to that, I'll definitely invite you."

"Us too!" Killion pipped in.

"Yeah, okay." I promised, "Thanks for all the advice. It helped me a lot."

I blinked back the hot tears. Dammit. I cried too easily. It's a good thing we were only on the phone.

"No problem, bye!" Sam said.

"Bye." I hung up quickly.

Okay, I was going to be okay. I wiped the tears off my face with my palm. No more crying. I got it.

I can't ever win by brute strength, but I had advice I could work with. I had a plan: Keep calm, don't provoke his wolf, and smile. I was going to work with level-headed diplomacy.

The mate bond was aggravated by our reaction towards each other. What the guys on the phone said made sense, by ignoring him... Keeping calm, polite, and avoid eye contact, if I don't have to smell the autumn leaves, if I don't have to look at him, or touch him...

Right now, we were two reactive agents. The mate bond was just a series of chemical reactions. I just need to keep us apart. Simple chemistry.

And if all else fails, I'll dilute the chemical reaction with my tears. I certainly cry easily enough.

And if that doesn't work... Then I could always call Sam again. Wait no... If one Alpha fought another - wouldn't that be an inter-pack war? Ah... No. I have to deal with this myself. They've already given me lots of good advice.

Anyway, alphas are really busy people. Sam was barely in our dorm due to her schedule. And even if she was, she was always working or thinking.

Henry was an alpha too. If he was the same age as Sam, then it means he was in the process of or already taking over reins of his pack... Which is very time consuming, I hope. Well, it sounded like time consuming work. It's not like he would have time to meet me.

And I would be busy too. I would go out with my mum everyday, and spend the rest of the time safe in my room. I had my phone, free WiFi, my paints and a new book of watercolour paper. I even have this new journal to write in. Lots to do.

In a way, it sounded a little like living in the dorm all over again. But that's okay. A quiet and peaceful winter break was nice too.