Chapter 5

MALORY P.O.V

I pulled away from dada and sniffed audibly. “Call us every day. Okay?” dada asked me and I nodded. “Take care sweetheart and remember this door is always open for you” dada said and kissed my forehead.

“I know” I said and pulled away. “Bye mama” I said and walked to where Cortez was waiting, near his car, along with Tyson.

Five days were over and today, I was leaving with Cortez to his pack. I don’t remember a single day where I stayed away from my parents. I was very close to both my parents and hence it was all the more difficult for me to walk away from them. My wolf loved the idea of going to Cortez, but leaving her parents hurt her too. She stayed silent inside me because she knew we will miss them terribly. I turned back and looked at my parents once. My vision was blurry and so I blinked repeatedly. I waved at my parents, Uncle Matt, Aunt Lynne and Zach, Cristina and my other friends once again.

“Bye Lory. I am going to miss you” Tyson said and wrapped his arms around me. I smiled and returned the hug. There was a low growl from Cortez and Tyson began chuckling at that. “She is just like little bear to me” Tyson told Cortez ruffling my hair.

I slapped his hands away and he shook his head. It felt good to see Tyson happy and cheerful. Ever since he lost Piper, he had distanced himself from all of us but now that he got her back, he was back to being himself.

“Did you tell Piper about yourself?” I asked him curiously.

“Not yet. But I will soon” he said and I smiled.

“Bye” I said and turned to face Cortez. As usual, I was at loss of breath and words when I saw him. All he had to do was look at me to make me aware of every nerve endings in my body. He looked regal and aggressively handsome in his black jeans and black tee. I gulped and looked down at Mumbles who was near my feet, his brown eyes waiting for my next move. Cortez opened the backseat door and I signaled Mumbles to get in. Once Mumbles got in, Cortez closed the back seat door and opened the passenger door for me. Looking at my parents, I smiled once before getting inside the car.

Cortez closed the door and walked towards the driver’s side. He stood there and spoke something to Tyson before hugging him and tapping him in the back. As soon as he got inside the car, I licked my lower lips and looked out of the window. I was aware of everything. Aware of his woody aroma that had my senses spinning. Aware of the way my heart was beating fast, very fast. Aware of the close proximity between us and aware of the lustful ideas my wolf was giving me.

I hate that animal right now.

‘Bye mama. Bye dada. I love you both’ I said using the mind link I had with Regal Pack for one last time as Cortez started driving. I didn’t ask Tyson’s permission to leave the pack because I knew he would allow it.

My parents replied a bye with a love you too and a small smile formed in my face. I glanced at Cortez, who was staring ahead at the road. Sighing, I turned to look at Mumbles who made himself comfortable on the back seat leaving no space for anyone.

We drove in silence and that silence was bothering me. Normally, when I drive alone, I either listen to music or sing a song to keep away from boredom and now the fifteen minutes of silence between me and Cortez was bothering me. I would have baby talked with Mumbles, but that lazy guy was fast asleep in the back seat. So, I took a deep breath and looked out of the window, watching the scenery pass by. We were driving in the woods and woods were nothing new to me.

“Do you need something?” Cortez asked breaking the silence.

“Huh?” I asked confused. He sighed and repeated his question. I just shook my head as a reply but then nodded once. He narrowed his eyes and waited for me to continue. “H-How long is the journey?”

“Three hours to my home” came his short reply.

“Oh! That’s the same between Sinew and Regal” I said with a smile.

“Sinew?” he asked cocking an eyebrow.

“Uh… my mom belonged to Sinew Pack” I said to Cortez who didn’t react at all to the news.

Another few minutes of silence passed and so I decided to talk. “Do you go to job or…uh… are you studying something?” I asked uncertainly.

“I work” he answered. “I took over the as the CEO of the Moreland Company two years ago”

“Oh” I said and bit my bottom lip. “What is your education qualification?” I asked him and he narrowed his eyes. “Never mind” I muttered slowly.

“I am a mechanical engineer” he said and a small smile crept up my face. I was silent for a few minutes before saying, “I am sorry about your father”. Cortez growled and held the steering wheel in a tight grip, which had his knuckles turning white. I leaned closer to the window when I saw his reaction.

One thing I learnt about him was that Cortez was a very short tempered person. I rested my head against the window and continued staring at the scenery outside.

“Wake up” someone said disturbing me from my sleep. I wanted my sleep and so I didn’t open my eyes. “Malory” the same voice called and it was followed by a bark. I opened my eyes and blinked repeatedly. I sat up straight when I realized that the car wasn’t moving anymore and that Cortez was near the passenger side door.

I sucked in a breath when I noticed few people staring at me. There were around ten to fifteen and having so many gazes on me made me uneasy, which caused palpitations run through my whole body. Strangers. They were all strangers, my mind kept reminding me that and I swallowed audibly.

I didn’t know anyone of them other than Cortez here and so I looked at him for some help. Dark brows over blue-green eyes, furrowed when he saw me. He opened the door wider and I got out hesitantly. I am not going to faint.

My eyes never left Cortez’s when I got out of the car. Right now, he was the only one that was familiar to me and I wanted to cower behind him. I was literally standing behind Cortez to hide from these strange wolves gaze. These strange wolves are going to be our family from now on, my wolf reminded me and I bit my lip knowing that she was right. I shouldn’t be like this. If I am going to be the Luna of this pack, then I must be brave.

There was gasp from some people when they saw Mumbles jumping out of the car. As soon as he sensed wolves around, Mumbles started barking, but his barking didn’t have that much power in it because he was scared too.

“A dog?” a black haired girl asked with a chuckle and I looked at her. She knelt on the ground and motioned Mumbles to come towards her. “What’s his name?” she asked me with a smile and it somewhat eased my nervousness.

“Mum-Mumbles” I said and let out a breath.

“Hi Mumbles” she said and slowly Mumbles walked towards her. She patted his head and I smiled looking at Mumbles who began sniffing her.