Chapter 2. After Three Years

Alinta Devereaux

I couldn’t help but nod my head in satisfaction as I looked in the mirror. My eyes shone brilliantly as I admired my own beauty. The quantity of makeup applied to my face was exactly right. I also got my hair styled elegantly. I still appear magnificent, as I did when I was still in my home, when I was in my kingdom, in my world.

Looking back, it’s already been three years since I last saw my family. It’s also been three years since I arrived in this strange world. The magic my sister and I cast that day ended in us swallowed here. Or maybe I was the only one unfortunate enough to go through this.

I looked for Nieva back then but couldn’t find her. The realm, which I was currently in, was owned by werewolves. Except for the mermaids who live in the sea, no other creatures can enter.

Some part of me hoped Nieva was also here, only in another realm. Since she was the cause of my predicament, of course, I hoped she was suffering somewhere too. Nonetheless, I also wished she was at home, looking after our parents and baby third sister.

For the past three years, I’ve struggled to accept how this world’s norms worked. But as time passed, I somehow became used to it. I grew accustomed to seeing women with several husbands. I had gotten accustomed to witnessing guys shift into werewolves. And I became accustomed to watching men hovering over the women, like peacocks trying to impress a potential mate.

Heh.

Odd world, indeed.

It was the least of my expectations to see werewolves in a different manner. They were portrayed as overbearing, ruthless, and vicious in the book. But the way I see it, they were far from what was described.

In this world, their only thought was to win the favour of women. The only similarities between the werewolves here and the characters in the book I’ve read were the rogues and the mate thingy.

But the concept of mates was unique. The women in this realm could choose several werewolves to be their mates. Then, once a werewolf branded his soul to the woman, he would forever be linked to her. I don’t know if it was the same with other creatures outside this realm, and I don’t care. I was in a world where only werewolves lived. So, why bother learning about the others?

Nevertheless, to cut the story short, I, an alien, managed to survive in a strange world. I had to tap my chest multiple times to remind myself how courageous I was. I am so proud of myself. Really.

Women in this place were no different from witches like me. With the assistance of a medium, they may summon fire, water, wind, and wood. It was either through a talisman or a staff. However, based on my observations so far, women primarily used staff. I seldom come across somebody who could use a talisman. If there were any, all of them had evil thoughts. What a way to determine evil from good!

“Lady Alinta,” a man suddenly called out outside of my room. “Alpha Drake and Luna Hyacinth summoned you to enter the study immediately.”

I grunted in response. Yesterday, Alpha Drake informed me that today’s matter was important. It’s the reason I got up earlier than usual and applied my makeup by hand, despite having magic that could do it for me. What can I say? I was in the mood to use my hands rather than my mouth.

Three years ago, the portal threw me into a dense forest. The amount of energy this world provided was so plentiful. It almost tempted me to stay. However, whether seduced or not, I had no other choice but to stay here.

After several attempts to open a portal or whatever to return to my world, nothing seemed to succeed. With that, I set out to find a nearby civilization with a heavy heart. That’s how I came across the Dark Region Pack, known to be one of the five powerful packs in this realm.

They welcomed me with enthusiasm without even bothering to investigate my origins.

At first, I suspected these werewolves were harbouring ill intentions toward me. After all, who in their right mind would accept someone warmly without even investigating where they came from?

Later, I discovered that they all treated women the same. They would welcome a woman enthusiastically. As long as the woman did not commit evil, she was welcome in the pack. (Funny how this pack immediately assumed I haven’t done anything evil in my life).

The reason was twofold: first, this world, in general, lacked women; second, in connection with the first reason, they needed a woman who could conceive for them to continue their line.

Although the Dark Region Pack werewolves would not force a woman to mate, they were still aggressive. If not for my strength, which they couldn’t fight against with, they would have done every possible way for me to accept the men of the pack.

Accept the men of the pack—just thinking about it made me shiver. Multiple men hovering abo—

I sighed. It’s better to stop thinking about perverted thoughts. Preserving innocence and purity is a must.

I rose and glanced in the mirror once more before exiting the room.

Beta Tyler stood outside; his eyes sparkling as he peered at me (he should be). He’s one tall man, probably 6′2 in height. Although other women considered him attractive, I couldn’t tell the difference between him and any other men.

Since I joined this pack, he’s been attempting to attract my attention and even suggested to be my man. But I’m not the type to consume every piece of meat coming to me. Despite countless attempts by men to become my mate, none were successful.

“Your beauty is truly remarkable. It brightens my day, Lady Alinta,” he remarked. Then he kissed the back of my hand, which I allowed.

Courtesy, people. Courtesy.

“Oh my,” I exclaimed, smiling. “I’m delighted to have contributed to your pleasant day.”

After exchanging pleasantries, we proceeded to the alpha’s study room.

One thing I had to stress out. If I’m not interested in someone, I always draw the line. I don’t want the other party to think they had a chance when they didn’t. It was better to be plain and clear.

As soon as we opened the door, I noticed the alpha and luna sitting together, holding hands. They appeared to be a newlywed couple, looking sweet and all. However, the two had been married for five centuries.

It comforted me that creatures could live for more than a century. Otherwise, how am I supposed to explain my immortality?

On the left side of Alpha Drake was his gamma, Lake. To summarize the werewolves’ features, they were all tall and muscular, with golden eyes shaped like a crescent moon and hair as black as ink. I had trouble figuring out who was who at first. In my opinion, they all looked the same.

Later, when I became more familiar with the Dark Region Pack, I could finally distinguish who was who. At least the Alpha, Luna, Beta and Gamma became familiar.

“You must have gotten up earlier than you should have. I apologize for the inconvenience,” Luna Hyacinth said gently. She reminded me of my mother in specific ways. They were both surrounded by a calm and caring atmosphere. It was difficult to be upset with such women.

“It’s okay; I woke up naturally,” I responded, trying to sound amiable. Luna Hyacinth and the others must have been traumatized when they suddenly woke me up two years ago.

I can’t blame them, though. After all, at the time, I nearly destroyed the entire pack.

I seldom get a decent night’s rest. As a result, when they bothered me, they unleashed the demon within me.

Nobody attempted to wake me up after that. If they needed me the next morning, they would inform me the day before. Today, for example.

“What happened? I haven’t seen Alpha Drake as agitated as yesterday,” I inquired. We need to get down to business straight immediately.

Pleasantries not my kind of thing. I find it annoying when ministers of the court back in Hex Kingdom started spouting nonsense. Not talking about the important thing, only knew how to praise endlessly.

Alpha Drake exhaled a sigh. On the contrary, Luna Hyacinth bent her head in embarrassment while Tyler and Lake gulped, not out of terror but out of anxiousness.

Looking at their behaviours made me raised a brow. They seemed to be children who had done something wrong and were frightened their parents would spank their butts.

Intriguing.

But I wasn’t concerned. I wouldn’t have bothered remaining here if it weren’t for the kindness of this pack. Additionally, the Dark Region Pack would not be able to get away if they plotted against me. They knew how vicious I was in retaliation. So, they wouldn’t risk it.

At least, that was how I saw it.

“I know it’s too much to ask a favour from you after everything you’ve done for us,” Alpha Drake stated with a heavy breath. Because I didn’t respond, he continued, “But can you attend the summit gathering in our place?”

“Ah?” I asked, blinking. “A summit? The one you usually went to once a year?” It was a gathering of alphas from all over the realm. Once a year, they would gather to report events happening in their packs, such as rogue attacks and other calamities. Under the supervision of the great five elders, whose identities were equivalent to those of deities, they would hold this summit. They appeared to be the ancestors of all werewolves.

My companions nodded.

I couldn’t help but frown. “Didn’t you attend the summit seven months ago?”

“The summit this time is an emergency,” Alpha Drake explained. “The elders received a warning of a certain disaster affecting the werewolves’ society, and they asked the alphas to come back and discuss it. But Hyacinth,” he glanced at his wife affectionately before continuing, “she’s pregnant. I’m scared of just leaving her here, and I’m also terrified of taking her with me. The unborn child might not bear the hassle of travelling.”

I nodded in understanding. A pregnant woman in this world was more sensitive than the one in my world. One mistake and they could risk losing the child. Given this, the elders would neither condemn nor criticize Alpha Drake and his wife for not attending the gathering.

Reproduction was also difficult in this world. Take, for example, Luna Hyacinth. Even without the curse, Luna Hyacinth would undoubtedly get pregnant after many centuries. And her pregnancy right now was only achieved through my assistance. If they lost the unborn child because of attending the summit, the elders would severely punish them.