His hug

We walked up the stairs and all the members welcomed me with a warm smile, it was more of a welcome to the pack. A man with a dark complexion and zero cut hair came forward, "Selene you look so slender since I last saw you! Haven't you been eating enough?", asked Sam.

Sam was the first person acquainted with me when I joined the pack, he helped me around the village and was going to introduce me to the pack when the emergency of Channing being attacked delayed that process.

"I have been working my brain too much, guess it used up all the nutrition", I Said shrugging to which he rolled his brown eyes and replied,

"Have I not told you, You are very bad at making such jokes!" It immediately made me remember how I tried to make such a stupid joke in an attempt to make a nice impression, but it now stays as an embarrassing memory in my head.

A smile surfaced on my lips, totally forgetting what I was here for. I was utterly afraid that everyone would be against me, but they were talking about it so casually. "I would love to get to know you all!", I said without even realising it.

"Yes absolutely, we want to get to know you as well Selene!", Suzan beamed at me "Let us go camping when you are released today!"

"sure-"

"She is going back to prison", a rasping voice cut off my happiness in an instance.

"She is a murderer! Killing our Beta, she must be sentenced to death!", another voice came from the back.

Few people standing in the back were looking at me with hateful eyes, they all looked hurt but more of anger boiling inside them.

"Just ignore them!", said Sam standing in between me and them.

With a forced smile, I replied, "Ignored!". Both Sam and Suzan laughed at my reply, but all my fears were triggered at that moment. I tried to erase Chief Jack's words as they surfaced up in my head.

Suddenly Suzan jumped cheerfully at someone behind me, it made me jolt with my heart speeding up. "Channing! Where were you!? Look Selene is here!"

The name felt like jingles to my ears, my fears of him not coming here were all in the dust. I turned around slowly and saw him dressed in all formals, a white button-down shirt that hugged his bulky body along with black pants. My expectations from people to keep their promise were so into the ground, that looking at Channing right now made me feel like I had received the entire world.

I didn't know what was making me feel so giddy at the moment - a fulfilled promise or the way he looked? like some prince charming saving the princess. I closed my eyes and opened them wide in shock, what was I thinking about! Wow, I am betrothed to someone and what stupid thoughts are crossing my head, my face cringed at my own self.

Channing came close to me and stopped, "Hello Selene, What happened to you? You look so pale!", he asked with a concerned expression. I relaxed my face and smiling blissfully raised my head just to see Chief Jack joining him, he had a rather gleeful face but mine couldn't comprehend that emotion anymore.

"I was just too worried about the case," I replied, "But how are you? Haven't seen you around at all!"

He patted my shoulder in an assuring way as his face lit up, "I promised something to a beautiful lady back in the hospital, I was working very hard to fulfil that promise"

My face crinkled at his comment, Was he flirting? But he broke the eye contact almost instantly and looked at Suzan, "Thank you for taking care of her Suzan!"

"Come on Channing, Don't you always tell us to stand by our own people in times of need! I just did that" Suzan held her nose high proudly to have gotten an indirect compliment. Suddenly she came onto me hugging, as I struggled to take her uncalled weight on me and balance, she was as tall as me and was pretty healthy.

A sheepish laugh escaped Channing's mouth, "Give her some break Suzan, I have something to talk to her so I'll be taking her with us" He pointed towards himself and chief jack with the rolled paper he was holding. "You guys hang out all you want after the trials", and extended his hand forward asking me to take it.

I looked at it awkwardly and looked back at everyone, "Let's meet again later properly" turning back towards Channing who still stood there with his hand stretched forward. My cumbersome thoughts made this simple gesture extremely uncomfortable, I took his hand sluggishly and he practically dragged me with him without any warning.

"All the best Selene, we are all with you!", I heard Suzan shout behind me and it instantly gave me a confidence boost.

Doing a little run I matched Channing's pace and we gaited into another foyer taking a left. It was huge, supported by similar large pillars, vines were growing up the pillars and the sunlight flooded the perfectly painted white place making it look like heaven.

As soon as we stopped Channing spoke up, "I have been meaning to tell you a lot of stuff Selene," he talked like a five-year-old, "I went to the place where I was attacked was no man's land it was not against any villages law to kill me"

"What?" I was confused, although I knew the law, how would the attack be not legally charged!

"I will explain all that later, but most important of all I found out that Waterwoods got a legal notice from the court as well. I guess they have no choice but to come. If you are lucky enough, their Alpha will attend as well and you might get to see the most handsome specimen this kingdom has given birth to!" Channing sounded as if he was in love with this man, even though they were from the enemy village.

I couldn't help but make weird images in my head, and it took me a solid second to erase them.

Channing continued, "But here is the thing, they confirm that the attack on me was done by some newcomers in their pack! They were actually provoked as well as tipped to do so!"

This was it, a question burning inside me finally found an opening. But Jack was here, I awkwardly shifted in my place knowing that this is the information I didn't want chief Jack to listen to. Not knowing how to tell it to Channing, I awkwardly looked around and said, "Umm...Channing..." and I glanced at Jack.

Channing, as expected, immediately understood what I meant and turned to Jack, "Chief, would you give us a moment?"

Jack looked at me with a cynical smile, "No problem Channing, I trust you"

Chief and the other lady officers left, finally leaving my side.

"Better?" He asked me and I nodded a yes, "What is it?"

"So someone tricked you, that is why you went to no man's land that day?"

Channing clapped the rolled paper on his palm and said, "Exactly! And I think you might be right about John because he was the one who told me that the Waterwoods were going to ambush that night. So I went there to negotiate with their Alpha, but before I could cross the no man's land I was ready for my journey up to the heavens!

"But Selene, the Waterwoods pack is wild by nature, it didn't feel odd to be attacked but now the pieces are falling into place," he had a rather sad aspect.

I spoke up in a little protest, "But Channing you weren't on their land!" I was practically frustrated, but the fact that he was matching the pieces together was enough.

He held me by my shoulders, calming me down, "Selene, let me finish!" I sighed and let him continue, "Thank you. So while I was in Waterwoods I met one of their Betas, she admitted everything but denied any attack from their side to kill John; And she couldn't tell who provoked the rookies there!"

This would get complicated, I do remember seeing a wolf who came from and went back to Waterwoods. "But how can that be..." before I could finish Channing put his finger on my lips and I sighed again, keeping quiet.

"Their Beta will be attending the trials today, she is coming to clarify the attack. She said she will bring their Alpha with her if possible, there are high chances he knows about who killed John and tipped their rookies" Channing finally breathed, finishing his information.

I raised my eyebrows and exclaimed, "Woah! You had to make an entire story out of it! You could have just said it straight away instead of creating a whole plot of mystery"

He laughed awkwardly scratching the back of his head like a kid.

There he was, that one pure guy whom I somehow trusted with my life this time. I couldn't help but laugh, "Okay let us head inside, it's about time."

I turned halfway to leave but Channing held my hand turning me to face him. It was a bit of shock as he covered the distance between us and pulled me in a hug. An odd feeling engulfed my heart as he said his next words, "Don't be scared, I promise to stand with you through it all Selene, just like you did for me back then."