Chapter 2: The Stranger

Zora's POV

The scent hit me even before I saw the wolf. It was a mix of Raspberry, sandalwood and grasses. I never thought this was ever gonna happen in my 18 years of life. It was in front of me and it was a wolf that looked similar to the wolf in my dream. This time it was a black wolf that has shiny furs with gray blue eyes that was looking intently at me.

Oddly I wasn't scared of it. Why was a wolf out here in the first place?

"Why are you out here?" I felt like I could talk to it.

The wolf bent its head a little to the side looking at me like it couldn't believe the question I just asked then back to the way it was. Then the wolf decided to move.

The moment it moved closer to me, I held my breath. The wolf sniffed around for a few minutes.

'You have to go now' I heard. I looked around but it was just me and the wolf. It had stopped sniffing. Then I had a snap behind the tall grasses.

The camping site was a cleared path just before the waterfall. People hardly take this path that's why it serves as a sanctuary to me. I became a bit scared.

I think I really have to go now because it was already weird as it is.

I carried my backpack and headed home with one last look at the wolf.

"I'm home" I shouted and headed straight to my room and pulled everything off in the shower. I needed it. Strange things keep happening to me. I couldn't sleep.

What's going on and why was I even talking to a wolf, why did it feel like I could talk to it and why wasn't I scared of it. I must be going crazy. I thought.

It felt like my dream was coming to reality. I needed to talk to my mum. I left my room and headed straight to her room, which she kind of shared with Cassey. Well Cassey shares everyone's room with them, it just depends on his mood for the day.

I opened the door gently and checked the room but she was not there. Firstly, my mum hardly ever leaves her room at night. Once she gets into bed then that's it.

I entered the room, switched the light on but the room was empty. Even Cassey was not there.

I was more scared now. "Mum!!" I called but there was no answer.

"Cassey" I tried again but nothing.

I decided to go downstairs, the scent from earlier was coming from there and I noticed the light was on. Getting to the 3rd step I saw my mum's back, I almost signed in relief. Just then I noticed someone standing in front of her. She was trying to make the person leave before I got to the last step. They stopped talking immediately and my mum turned back to my direction. The strange man was roughly in his late twenties with smooth silky brown hair and grey eyes or so looking straight at me. I felt a sort of boost in energy kind of, the fright was gone and I didn't feel any threat at all, same as the wolf. The difference this time was the pull I felt towards him.

"What's going on and who is he" I asked my mum, still looking at the stranger.

"It's late Zoe, I will explain everything when it's morning." She tried to convince me.

"That's the point Mum, it's late and there is a strange man standing right here in our sitting room. So yes I deserve an explanation right now." I was becoming agitated. From the dreams to the earlier event, I don't think I was in for any more drama. But here it was looking at me right in the eye.

My mum signed looking confused and turned to the man who looked at the man who didn't take his eyes off me.

She turned to me and moved a little closer to where I was standing.

"I'm sorry, sweetie" she held my hand and took me to the sofa closest to us. I hesitated at first but followed her anyway. She gently sat me down while she stood.

"Mum" I called her when she didn't say anything for the first few minutes.

"Forgive me Zoe, I should have told you this when I had the chance but I couldn't bring myself to tell you." she started.

I'm sure I had a look of confusion on my face because I don't think there is anything my mum has done that deserves forgiveness.

"Your Dad and I adopted you 13 years ago." she said and looked at me before she continued. I'm sure horror was etched on my face.

"We saw you right beside the mountain alone on our way back from the camping vacation with Jay, you looked not more than 5 years old then and you only had your necklace which had the letter 'Z' on you, no other form of identity, no name, no family. It was just you.

Leaving a child alone out there was a dangerous move. We decided to take you to Kendra's orphanage home." She kept talking.

I didn't know what to feel at that moment, I mean all my life had been a lie.

"We signed the necessary documents and left before we got home that day. The head of the orphanage had to call us back because you didn't stop crying and kept saying you wanted to go with us." mum continued with tears in her eyes.

I fought the tears that were threatening to fall.

"We brought you home and named you Zoe because of your necklace. The necklace is safely stored in my keepsake '' She said.

"You will always be my daughter and believe me, I would have told you earlier but I was scared you would leave if you found out." The tears were streaming down her face.

"This man right here says he knows you." she sniffed

The information was too much for me but I had no choice. My life was about to go on a rollercoaster. I could feel it.

"He was here about two weeks ago, demanding for you. At first I was scared but when he told me all he knew about you and most importantly the dance, I was shocked but I hesitated to say the truth right away.

I told him to give me some time to prepare myself before he showed up tonight.

"There is more?" I looked at my mum.

She looked at me with pity and slowly nodded. Her gaze turned to the man whose presence had a strong effect on me.

"I couldn't stay away from you anymore, it was driving me insane" he spoke in his deep calm voice for the first time.

I felt warmth inside but I didn't show it.

"My name is Kenzi and you are my mate." He confidently said.

"Mate..?" I asked, looking more confused.

"What is that?" I asked again

"Mate are like soulmates for werewolves and they are paired together by the moon goddess". He finished.

"What does that have to do with me?"

I felt the next information was going to be the top of the icing.

"You are a werewolf, Zora." He answered looking a little bit concerned.