*** At the Bayou Up Town ***

The just risen sun spread its golden fingers across the blue sky ushering a new day with hope.

A gentle knock on the old wooden door suddenly awakened Jake. The gentle knock was followed by a few more and then a full-fisted knock.

Jake got up, stretching himself and emitting a loud yawn. "I am coming." He had a rough night and didn't feel like leaving the bed. His legs were feeble but he managed to slide down and teetered toward the door. "Who is it?" he inquired. He didn't forget the warning of Mr. Mike last night. He has to watch his back.

"Who else but Andrew?" a voice declared from the outside. "Come on, open up!"

Jake didn't wait anymore. He unbolted the door. The old wooden door creaked as he opened it.

"You are still asleep, dude!" Andrew said with a sense of disappointment.

"My night was hectic," Jake said, emitting another yawning like a hungry hippopotamus.

"Hmmm... What's that smell?" Andrew fixed his gaze on Jake. "It's that your breath?" His eyes widened with curiosity.

"Dude, don't insult me," Jake said as he turned away from his friend and walked straight to his bed. He didn't feel like stepping out today.

"Dude, your breath is kicking and you are still in bed," said Andrew. He is just making jokes and didn't mean to insult him. "Get your ass up. We need to step out."

Jake rolled on his bed and covered himself with a blanket. "I don't want to step out," he said. He wants to enjoy the comfort of his little cabin next to the bayou. He likes living in the woods and enjoys the damp smell of the woods.

All his life has been in the bayou and he was born there too according to the tales of his great-grandmother. Amongst the werewolves, he prefers living old school and ancient just like her great-grandmother taught him. Living elsewhere is like taking a fish out of the water.

"Come on, Jake you need to get..."

Jake quickly got up from the bed as if he heard something besides Andrew's words. He shushed Andrew, pushing back his words.

"Don't shush me, dude!" Andrew furrows his brows. He hates being interrupted.

Jake narrowed his eyes on him, "Seriously, dude, you have to hush." He quickly slid down from his bed and moved closer to the door. He focused on his enhanced hearing ability to pick sounds from afar.

"Is everything alright?" Andrew became intense. He's a wolf from Jake's clan but having difficulties focusing on his enhanced hearing ability.

"Someone is coming," Jake whispers. He could hear the crunch of the leaves underneath someone's feet.

The wind whistling through the trees brought a scent to him. The scent is familiar and settled deep into his soul. It was the scent he never wished to stop perceiving. The scent of his Luna.

"What is she doing here?" Curiosity crossed his face.

"Who?" Andrew asked feeling lost.

Even from afar, wolves could pick up a smell and sound. That's some of the abilities they have that made them change the narrative of their curse and declare it a gift.

Jake ignored Andrew's query and quickly rushed into the shower to tidy up.

Before Andrew could even yell for an explanation, he started picking up footsteps from some few paces away. "Someone is coming," he muttered to himself. It's now clear they have company. But who is it that could make his friend rush into the shower without warning?

He didn't wait for the footsteps to draw nearer to the door before he opened up. He quickly walked outside, making a profile of Helen.

She flashed a dazzling smile, saying, "Hey, I am Helen. Is Jake home?"

"Uh..." he's lost and distracted by her beauty. His jaw dropped in shock, wondering what the daughter of alpha Cage was doing in the bayou.

"Hello," she waved her hand in his face, getting his attention. "Is Jake home?"

"Oh... Jake?" Andrew widened his eyes further with a shocking expression. "Uhm... He is in but busy." He can't believe his eyes. How can the alpha's daughter be in a place like this?

"You mind if I come in to wait for him?"

"Of course, come in," Andrew answered. He doesn't know how to express himself before the alpha's daughter. After all, they considered them inferior, so what is she doing here?

Jake finally walks out not looking as surprised as his friend. He is fully dressed. "Hey, Helen," he said, flashing a charming smile.

"Hey," she smiled too, standing on her feet. She moved away from the sofa and closer to Jake. "I am sorry I came unannounced."

"It's okay," Jake said. "How did you find where I live? Can't remember giving you my address."

She smirked. "Have you forgotten we are wolves and can easily find anyone with their scent?"

Jake's scent didn't leave her soul after last night. Like Jake, his scent also settled deep in her soul.

"Oh, yeah... That's right."

As Helen was about to speak further, Andrew pushed back her words, coughing repeatedly to be noticed. It's a signal to Jake to fill him in with what's happening.

Jake turned to Andrew understanding what the coughing meant. He apologizes and introduces Jake to Helen. "This is Andrew Bliss, my childhood friend and best friend," he said. Turning to Andrew, he continued, "This is. Helen, alpha Cage's daughter and my soon-to-be Luna."

Andrew drops his jaw with his eyes widen with surprise. He knows who she is but her being a Luna to Jake is shocking. "What?" He glanced at them both. "How did this..."

"I will fill you in later, buddy," Jake interrupted. "Right now, Helen needs my attention."

"Sure," Andrew nods. "I will see you later then."

He walked out feeling bad and disappointed that things had been going on and his friend didn't fill him in. They don't keep secrets. They tell each other things. It's not Jake's fault though. Things are happening fast. However, what is shocking to Andrew is how is it possible the alpha agreed to betroth his daughter to Jake, knowing that their clan is considered inferior.

"So, what can I offer you?" Jake politely asked.

Instead of saying what she would be offered, she drew closer to Jake, throwing her arms around him -- she kissed him. "I wanted to do this last night."

"It's never too late," Jake smirked, gripping her waist gently. "It's never too late," he said once more, bringing his lips closer to hers.

The door flung open startling and interrupting their moment.

It's Andrew, he forgot his phone. "I'm sorry, I forgot my phone," he said, making his way to where he left it. Picking it up, he turned toward his friend with a smile, "Enjoy the rest of your day." His anger just vanished seeing his friend kissing the daughter of the alpha. There was a sense of relief in him and hope that if this could work, their clan would no longer be considered inferior.

He walked out and shut the door behind him.

Jake sighed with remorse as he apologized to Helen for not locking the door.

"It's not too late to lock the door," she smiled flirtatiously. She brought her lips closer to his ear and whispered to him, "We need time alone and for me to feel your dominance."

*** Somewhere Downtown ***

Mr. Mike paces up and down in his sitting room and finally halts close to the fireplace. With indignation in his eyes, he snorted. "It should have been my son, Jude and not that inferior, poor wolf boy!"

He's still pissed at alpha Cage and it's written all over him. Cage's choice of mate for his daughter had filled Mr. Mike with fury.

"There's nothing you can do about it," said one of the omegas with him last night. His voice was polite in order not to incur Mike's wrath. "You need to let this one go."

Mr. Mike's father has always opposed the previous alpha in his every decision because of familiarity, whether in secret or before their clan. He has been a pain in the ass to the previous alpha's decision.

Mr. Mike was wrong thinking Jonathan Cage would give in like the previous alpha. He was expecting to see the same reaction but was disappointed. Instead, the alpha showed him dominance. Alpha Cage can't be controlled. He's the alpha and always shows dominance to anyone who dares to cross him or disobey him.

"No!" Mike gnawed. "My son, Jude is already on his way back to Chicago. When he returns, he will take his shot and claim his Luna. As for that inferior wolf boy, his days are numbered!" As he spoke his face turned mean and serious as he furrowed his brows.

He has marked Jake. His advice to Jake to watch his back isn't a bluff. After all, a wolf never stops chasing after his target when marked.