Sabrina was my best friend since I learned to walk. She was my only friend to be precise. We grew up together and pretty much did everything together. Even though I was seven months older than her, that never bothered either of us.

    She was a beautiful woman with a tall, slim body structure and thick raven black hair which she always cut up to her shoulders. they barely touched her shoulders now as she walked towards me, she probably cut a few edges again.

    Her doe eyes lit brightly as she walked towards me, her hand moving up to wave at me.

    I thought about what mom just said. The least of my worries was finding a mate. I still couldn't shift yet. But I knew my wolf was somewhere deep Inside me and she's probably too lazy to show herself.

    Sabrina was lucky. She started shape shifting after she turned fifteen and she had never stopped. She's yet to find her mate too but she had less to worry about than me.

    " Hey, Rose, what's up? " She called out before she reached me. Looking behind me ,she asked " still busy in there? "

    " Not anymore, I wanna get out of here "

    " Not now, young lady " my father said from behind me. I turned to find him towering high behind me, a big scowl on his face.

    My father was our Alpha's Beta and he held a rank within the village as the council leader. He took this very seriously and would always frown upon anyone who tries to stop his ruling. When the Alpha isn't around, he acts as the alpha for his friend.

    The Alpha had a daughter but no son and she was mostly away from the park. I always wondered why but my mother told me she leaves for protection. Wars were coming.

    " Where are you off to again, woman? " His voice is deep and demanding.

    " Dad! " I chuckled nervously.

    " Sabrina? " He called sabrina who stood behind me. " Where were you two going? "

    " We? Nowhere! " She replied, chuckling sheepishly.

    He sighed unbelievably, then said " come with me ". Dumping his heavy council book on my hands, he turned away. I felt like screaming as I watched him go. He's gonna make me sit through his council meeting again!

    Sabrina placed a hand on my shoulder and laughed mockingly before saying " I guess there's no skatering the woods tonight then "

    " No way, we're definitely going, " looking up to the starry sky, I added " the sky is full of so many stars tonight, I wouldn't miss that "

    I walked ahead with Sabrina, towards the pack's council house. I walked inside, the long table already surrounded with twelve members with four other seats empty. Alpha Jamie was off on a journey to another neighbouring pack on an alliance meeting and my father currently held the meetings around here. He stood tall at the head of the long wooden table, a white paper folded up in his hands. Placing the book he'd given me earlier on the table before him, I walked back to where Sabrina stood at the door and stood beside her.

    I knew the perfect time to sneak out of here.

    " I am very sure that you all know the reason why I'm calling this meeting so late in the night, " my father started " there's been word from the boundary watchers. The night stalkers are invading territories and are heading towards North now. We all know that Jonah's team are still yet to return with the alpha from the white mountain pack. According to our boundary leader, it's only going to take a few weeks before the Night stalkers reach our territory"

    " So what do you suggest we do, Beta? " Harris, one of the council elders asked " pack up and leave here? "

    " I never suggested that, chief, " my father replied boldly " running away is never an option. The blue moon has always been known before of this place which our ancestors strived to protect. I called this meeting so we can put heads together "

    "Jonny reported that the night stalkers were last seen at the outskirts of the Ago pack, south, " Polka, another of the council members spoke " it's only a matter of time before they reached here"

    I found myself, for the first time listening deeply to the conversation happening before me. I never took much interest in listening at these meetings like my father would've wanted but at this moment, I couldn't help picturing scenarios about what they were talking about in my head. The night stalkers scattering other villages and killing them.

    The night stalkers I've heard were as fierce and inhumane as the tyrant, Emi from many decades ago, from the werewolves' history. Today he was a story told to the little children around the pack. The night stalkers were known to travel in packs, invading other territories and forcing their women into slavery. They were ruthless and the thought of them entering our territory frightened me.

    " I would suggest that we wait for the Alpha's return " one of the men suggested.

    " While doing that, I think we should come up with a plan, " my father replied " we need more warriors "

    " Warriors? You know we do not have much men to spare, Beta " Polka replied

    " Then should we say we're doomed? " My father asked, the seriousness in his voice reaching out to me.

    I looked down, my mind traveling far into my own thoughts and drifting away from the talks and voices. How serious was this?

    They continued to talk about the matter and soon their voices became distant to my ears. Looking back up, I saw my father spreading out the folded white paper across the table and the others moving closer to look into it.

   . . . . . . . . Rose P. O. V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    I looked back to Sabrina, who seemed engrossed on what they've been talking about and said " let's get out of here, Sabrina "

    She nods and walks out before I followed. We took the narrow paths that led to the tall rocks behind the pack territory. We walked through the shorter woods and came out towards the water fall. The water hitting the rocks remained soothing to me each time we came to this side of the woods. I climbed up the fallen tree trunk after Sabrina, walking carefully so as not to slip. Sabrina jumps off on the stones and I did too, the tall water fall coming into view from the upper surface.

    The air was much stronger here and it dragged our hairs behind us. I looked up and found the stars in astonishing numbers. They were beautiful, the most beautiful thing the moon goddess ever blessed us with.

The air was much stronger here and it dragged our hairs behind us. I looked up and found the stars in astonishing numbers. They were beautiful, the most beautiful thing the moon goddess ever blessed us with.

    " Well that's new " Sabrina said as she watched the stars too.

    I smiled lightly and replied " yeah "

    She sits down on the rim of the rocks, throwing her legs over it, down the steep rocky walls that stood opposite the waterfall, where we could see all the water running down. I sat down next to her, throwing my legs over the rocks too, shutting my eyes and throwing my chin upwards and letting the wind kiss my face and neck.

    Zoning out, I let my mind dwell on the thoughts in my head. I brushed my hair behind my ear, and tried to listen to the wind and not think but even that was failing miserably. I couldn't escape this thoughts.

    I opened my eyes and took my face down to face the waterfalls, the sounds of water smashing against the rocky bed soothing me.

    Just as I opened my mouth to speak, Sabrina beat me to it, saying " do you think my mate would want me? "

    I looked beside me to her, " everyone loves you, Sabrina, you're a lovely person and I think he'd be a fool not to want you, " I replied " he will definitely want you even more "

    She turns to face me,giving me a silent smile. I smiled back and looked forward, up towards the sky, towards the stars.

    " I don't think I'd believe that if you had told me, " I told her " I keep trying hard to get over these feelings but they keep coming back to me, right here and right now. That what if. What if my mate. . . . . .is dead. . . . . . . . ."

    " Rose! Don't say that "

    " Why the hell isn't he here yet then?. Doesn't he want me? "

    " Rose. . . . . . . . .  I think our pack has put this believe in our heads and it's so stuck up there. I think they've made us believe that having a mate is the most important thing in the world but it really isn't, Rose. I mean who cares if we don't get someone to tell us 'i love you' every single day? Just think about it. I know I wouldn't die. "

    I looked away from her, my brows furrowing at the realization of what she just said. She could be right. What would I do if he even sprouted up one day and rejected me. Sure I wouldn't be able to live with that but that doesn't stop me from living. And I would live as a strong woman.

    " Hey guess what? " Sabrina's voice brings me back from my thoughts. " There's this really awesome show happening at the yellow stone pack tomorrow. I think we should go "

    " The what now? "

    " You know. . . . . . . the neighbouring pack village north south, " she explained " they have another one of their shows tomorrow "

    " Oh. . . . . . . . . " I lost track of my own words.

    The yellow stone pack were known for their festive occasions which they always held at their place. They threw circus shows and many a times, Sabrina and I has managed to sneak off and watch them.

    " Are you up for it? " Sabrina asked as she saw the reluctance in my face. I wasn't at all sure about that. She knew better than anyone how much I loved going places but I just didn't think these were the best times to be wondering so far.

    " Are you sure? I mean I just think these aren't the best times to be going that far "

    " Come on! Normally, I would be the one telling you that " she chuckles mockingly.

    Sighing deeply, I replied " fine. It's not that I'm scared or anything "

    " I know right? What could go wrong? "

    I laughed, shaking my head at her.