Chapter 4 ~ Preparing to Move
Zarina
I had just finished setting out all the clothing I will need for the next few weeks.
"Well, Ivory, I think that is all I will need for the next few weeks. Do you think there is anything else we will need?"
"No, I think that is all you will need, Rina. You got all the essentials."
I am folding my last article of clothing, and there is a knock at the door.
"I wonder who it is, Ivory?"
"It could be Rose. She said she would come by in a bit to help you."
"Hmm… maybe. But it has only been about an hour or so since we left her room."
Zarina goes to the door and answers it.
To her surprise, there was a good-looking male wolf with shoulder-length brown. And his eyes were brown with flecks of gold. He looked to be in his early forties.
Zarina knows him that she have seen him leaving the Alphas office twice a week. He is one of the pack's warrior's.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Zarina asks.
"I am Zafir. I have been sent by your father to help you bring some of your belongings to the packhouse for your temporary move." He says with a smile.
"Oh… ok. Well, then I'm sure Rose could use your help as well."
"I am more than happy to help both you and miss Rosa with your move to the packhouse. You will love it there." Zafir smiles.
"You can start by getting my bags from the closet and I will start loading the bags with my belongings."
"Yes, miss."
Zafir goes into the closet and comes out again bringing along two of the bags.
"Where would you like them?"
"Set them over here by the bed, Zafir. Would you please grab two more, then can you see if our room at the packhouse is ready for us to move our belonging over?"
"I will, miss Zarina." Zafir excuses himself and leaves the room.
"Rina, does he seem a little off to you?"
"No, I am sure it is fine. He is just quiet and very polite."
"If you say so, Rina."
~
Meanwhile, outside Zarina's room.
"Hmm… I thought this was going to be more difficult with her being the daughter of the Alpha. I guess without her wolf, she is just like a child. I can complete this job by tomorrow night." Zafir said to his wolf, Devil.
"I think you might be right, Zafir. I wonder why Ella wants us to kill her now just before her wolf emerges. I know she complains about her, but it seems strange that suddenly she wants her dead. Zarina seems like a nice enough girl." Devil laughed.
As Zafir was heading down the hall towards the stairs, Rosa was exiting her room, and he smiled at her in passing.
Rosa smiled back. When Zafir looked back, he noticed her enter Zarina's room.
"I'm glad I showered before I went to see Zarina, or they would know what I did." Zafir explains to Devil, and he laughs.
~
Back in Zarina's room
About two minutes after Zafir left, Zarina had almost packed one of the four bags.
There was another knock.
"That's probably Rose, Rina." Ivory advised.
"Come in Rose," Zarina called out and Rose entered.
"I saw this male wolf as I was leaving my room heading from your room. He was handsome for an older wolf, and he did not appear to be mated yet." She says with a lewd smile.
"Yeah, I don't think he is, but he might be a bit old for you." I roll my eyes.
"Maybe you are right, but still, I can dream." Rose sighed.
"His name is Zafir, and he was ordered by the Alpha to help us with the move to the packhouse." I ignored her comment.
"Hmm… the Alpha is full of surprises today."
"Yes, but Ivory doesn't trust him."
"Well, he seemed nice, maybe because you don't get help frequently, she doesn't trust him. What all do you need to pack now?"
"Everything that is on the bed and that is it."
"Wow, you got a lot more packing done than I thought you would. Usually you would still be trying to find what to bring with you," Rose said with a serious look on her face.
I picked up a pillow and threw it at her.
"Ok, Rina I'm kidding." Rose threw the pillow back at me.
We both looked at each other for a second.
Rose and started to giggle.
"Rina, you know what this move means sleepover."
"Yes, I can't wait to hear you snore," I said with sarcasm and laughed.
"I do not snore," Rose advised with false modesty and a fake pout.
"Uh huh, sure." I say with sarcasm, "Why don't we pack more of my things in the bags before he gets back so we can move over before lunch." I continue.
"Sounds good. I would love to get done quickly so we can get lunch after we unpack."
We pack the remaining clothing in three bags.
"Why don't you go get your toiletries and cellphone charger and whatever else you will need." She hands me the smallest bag.
"Ok." I head toward the bathroom.
I grab what I am going to need.
While I am packing my bag Ivory asks.
"I wonder if Rose thought of anything that we can do to solve our problem?"
"I'm not sure." I pause, "I will ask her."
I finish packing what I am going to need out of the bathroom and head out to the bedroom to talk to Rose.
"Hey, Rose, about what we talked about earlier, did you think of what we should do about the early shift situation."
Rose directs me to go sit on the couch with her and once we have sat.
"The way I see it, Rina, you have two choices."
"Ok, what is choice one."
"We tell the Alpha, and get him to change his mind about the marriage. And then we can explain your feelings toward Curtis, and how he acts with you."
"What about the consequences for not telling him sooner?"
"They will only be some anger. But he should understand as long as we can get him to see your side."
"Ok, and what is the second option?"
Rose sighs and looks at me with concern.
"We run before tomorrow so that your shift does not happen on pack lands. You will not become an adult of the pack. With no connection to the pack, your father should have a harder time finding you. So, you are not forced to marry that toad. Besides, Lu has been more and more aggressive of late right."
I look at Rose with concern.
"Yes, that is all true. But once we do this, we will be rouges. Packs tend to kill rouges on site."
"Yes, but I thought what if we became a Rouge pack and were a two-wolf pack?"
"Yes, that is true. We could. After all, I am an Alpha's daughter and with my ability to shift early, it could work."
As Rose was about to answer, there was a knock outside the door.
"We will talk about it later at the packhouse. We can have lunch in our room there"
"Ok, and I think we should really think about this. Both of them have a valid choice and they are both big decisions."
I walk towards the door and open it. The same warrior from this morning that woke me is at the door.
"Well, what a surprise seeing you at my door twice in only a few hours," I say with a frown.
"Yes, sorry, miss Zarina. But the Alpha, your father, has summoned you again to his office and you will be meeting the Alpha alone this time," he advises me.
I notice his eyes never travel past my chin in respect of what happened earlier.
I smile at the young warrior, "Ok. When am I to meet him?" I ask.
"In fifteen minutes." he turns to leave.
"Wait if we are to see each other more frequently? Might I know what your name is, warrior?" I inquire.
He stops and looks back, "Why do you want to know, miss?" he asks.
"Well, I figure I should know the name of my warriors as this is my pack, and my father is the Alpha. Oh, and call me Zarina please."
The warrior smiles.
I close the door.
I wonder what he wants. Twice in one day. That is really a record.
I guess with my birthday tomorrow he is feeling nostalgic.
I say to Rose, "I'm sure, Zafir will be here soon. I am going to meet father in his office. I will meet you at the packhouse as we are almost done anyway."
"Ok, see you in a bit." Rose smiles sadly at me.
I exit my room and head toward the stairs as I get to the alpha's office.
I knock on the door, and I hear my father speak.
"Come in."