Chapter 6

So, you do not want to tell me who he is, is that it?” Number 39 asks as they walked.

“I do not know what you are talking about, 39, that is why I cannot answer.” Number 28 says trying her best not to let her voice show the fact that she was smiling. They were returning from their duty outside the pack house.

Turning to face her, Number 39 smiles. “Fine! It’s okay if you do not want to tell me, as long as you are happy about it. At least, for the first time in your life, you are happy, I see that every time I look at you these days.”

“I rarely take off my veil so how do you –

“Your eyes, they tell me when you are happy.” Smiling, “I have stared at them behind that veil long enough to know when you are smiling.”

They continued to walk in silence until they entered the pack and noticed an unusual atmosphere. Everywhere was busy, and Number 28 could notice some strange faces.

“I do not think I have seen her before.” Number 28 says nodding at a lady headed for where their Alpha and Luna stood. “Not that I know everyone in the pack, but she stands out. She is beautiful. Who is she?”

Smiling, she looks away from the lady Number 28 had nodded her to “That she is. I belief that is why the mating is happening after all. She is Isabella, only child of the Alpha of the West-East mountains. But asides her pretty face and body, I do not think there is more to her.”

Turning to look at Number 39. “She is getting mated?” Number 28 asks.

“In five days’ time, during the full moon. And two weeks after that, they will be married.” Number 39 sighs, “I guess that will officially make her our new Luna.”

Her brows furrow. “The Alpha is taking a new mate?”

Shaking her head, Number 39 rolls her eyes, “What hole have you been hiding, 28? No, the Alpha is not taking a new mate, we all know he loves Luna Victoria too much to ever do that, although we all know how she is just too good to have been paired to him except the mother goddess is partial, which I believe she is not.”

Her steps begin to slow of their own accord. “So, who then is she getting mated to?” Number 28 asks her eyes following the lady until she stops and hugs someone, wrapping her hands around that person. Number 28 got her answer even before Number 39 answered her.

“The Alpha Prince, 28, who else!” Number 39 says shaking her head. “I think – “she turns around and realizes that Number 28 had stopped following her. “28.” She calls but got no response. “Number 28!”

Number 28 snaps out of her stare, turning to look at number 39 briefly, before she returns her stare back to the people standing a distance away from them. She was just about to look away when their eyes met, the Alpha Prince Chan, and she looked just long enough for him to see her pains before she turned and bolted away from there, back in the path they’d just come from.

“Number 28!” she calls again, trying her best not to be loud in order not to alert any of the controllers or guards. Sighing, she picks up the things Number 28 had dumped on the ground in her rush away, and decides to head to their basement and keep them first, before going in search of her.

~

He found her! After long minutes of searching, he finally found her seated by the river bank with her legs in the edge of the water. Sarton had almost torn his way out when he had turned and saw Ianna staring at them with pain in her eyes as she watched him hug Isabella. No, as Isabella hugged him. The damn girl had gone ahead and hugged him even before he could protest. He had been standing a good long distance away from where she and one other Doulo stood, but that was not enough distance to hide the pains he had seen in her eyes as she watched them. Why in the goddess name did she have to be there at that moment? And even before he could pull away from Isabella, she had run away.

He had excused himself to leave and go after her immediately, but his father had stopped him and ordered him to stay until the discussion with Alpha John, Isabella’s father was over. Trying his best to persuade Sarton that they will find Ianna the moment the guest was gone, he had stayed until minutes ago when he could leave despite his father’s decision for him to stay more with him. Chan knew that if he spent one more minute there without finding Ianna, Sarton will tear out of his body and do so himself. And with the full moon approaching, he would rather he find Ianna than let Sarton do so. As the days pass, Sarton was becoming more needing and desiring of Ianna. Chan feared what Sarton may do if he found Ianna as himself, and in an emotional state.

He stood, watching her for some minutes as she sat on that floor, her head resting on her thighs, her feet in the water. He was short of words to say to her. How was he going to explain the fact that he was already betrothed to Isabella? He has been avoiding this situation for a long long time, but Chan doubted he would be able to do so today. Sighing, he takes his first step towards her.

“Do not come any closer!” Number 28 says, her head still resting on her knee.

“Ianna I –

“Do not!” She says finally raising her head. “You have nothing to say to me.”

“Just let me explain.” He says taking another step.

“Explain what, exactly?” She questions rising to her feet and turning to face him. Chan could see her eyes glazing either from crying, or because she was about to cry. Shaking her head, “I do not want any explanation.” She says looking down, her head bowed in despair.

He took a swift move and was standing in front of her even before she could stop him. “Iann-

She shakes her head, taking some steps backward, but even before she could go too far away, he grabbed her hands. Number 28 protests, trying to get her hands out of his grasps, and she almost did, but when Chan saw that he was losing grip of her hands, he pulls her flush against himself and wraps his hands around her in a bid to stop her from leaving.

“Am sorry, Ianna, I am sorry.” He begins to say, his hold on her tightening.

Against her wish, the tears begin to escape her eyes and roll down her face. “Is it true you two are betrothed?” She asks him.

“Yes.” He answers.

“Is it true you two are going to be mated on the full moon?”

“Yes.” He answers again, and felt as she broke more in tears. “But that was before I found you. That was before I knew you were my mate, Ianna. All of that is going to change.” He says, his hands wrapping more around her as if afraid she will disappear at any moment. “I am going to cancel it all.” He says.

At his words, Number 28 slowly begins to pull away from him, until she was looking him in the eye. “What!” she exclaims, her voice barely above a whisper.

Eyes on her, he nods. “Yes Ianna. I am going to cancel it all. I am going to introduce you to father.”

“The Alpha?” Number 28 questions.

“Yes Ianna, the Alpha, my father. I am going to introduce you to him and mother.”

Batting her lashes, “But –

He grabs her on both hands, shaking his head. “I will let them know I have found my mate, I am sure mother will love you, and then I will I will cancel my engagement to Isabella.”

“And her?” Number 28 asks.

Shaking his head, “I will explain things out to her.” He sighs, “She will not accept immediately, but eventually she will. I will make sure she does.”

Number 28 sniffs, looking down. “I am sorry I am not –