“Apologies, Stella, it was unintentional.” She embraced her in return, yet simultaneously furrowed her brow, turned to inspect her neck, anticipating the presence of her Mark, but observed nothing. She regarded Nolan with a questioning gaze, as Brianna detected a wolf-like scent emanating from her.
“Strange, I acknowledge,” he remarked.
What is peculiar?Stella enquired.
Brianna candidly remarked, “You have a different scent.” Observed the woman dismissively state, “I suppose I utilised Nolan’s body.”
Brianna shook her head and stated, “No, that’s not it.” She gazed at Stella again, inhaling her scent, yet was unable to categorise it. It was evident that Stella was no longer merely human, prompting Brianna to glance at Nolan once more.
“At what time?”“She inquired.”
“Last night,” he replied, seated at the edge of her bed, observing as he pulled Stella to rest against him between his outstretched legs. “He does not remember anything,” he said with a shrug.
“What should be recalled?”Stella enquired, “What am I overlooking?”She gazed at Nolan and then at Brianna.
“Stella, do you perceive any changes in yourself?”Brianna enquired with curiosity.
Observed the woman contemplate the matter before simply shaking her head in negation. “Why am I always alone?””
“Has Carlos elucidated Marking to you yet?””
“Yes,” she affirmed. “This morning, before our arrival, he expressed a desire to mark me tonight.” She murmured, “That is also what Ryder did to you.”
“Actually, Stella, that was Aiden, not Ryder,” Nolan corrected her. “You provoked his wolf into a complete Alpha rage, which is why it occurred.” Ryder would not have acted in that manner without Brianna’s approval.
Is that the reason she is in lockdown?Nolan shook his head, looked at Stella, then directly at Brianna, and sighed, “We were not entirely aware of the situation, so it is prudent to err on the side of caution.” Aiden remains angry with Stella, thus maintaining distance from her at present.
“Someone needed to assert dominance over him,” Stella murmured.
Nolan sighed and remarked to Brianna, “I am uncertain about her type, but she is quite aggressive.”
“What is my type?”Stella appeared exceedingly perplexed. Brianna exhaled audibly, directing her gaze downward at Logan. He sat silently, appearing unperturbed by their discussion, yet he was attentive. She understood, “Stella, upon being Marked and Mated, you will acquire a wolf of your own.” While not all individuals engage in this behaviour, the majority will. Indeed, that is the subject of our discussion.
The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, “I will?””
“Acquired her already.” Nolan informed her, “She has not yet emerged.” “I presume it will occur on the full moon, baby.” Stella frowned, “Similar to Oscar this morning?””
Nolan affirmed with a nod.
“That will be painful,” she whispered.
I heard Nolan chuckle, “You will acclimatise to it.” After several instances, it becomes entirely painless.
Stella’s gaze shifted to Brianna with a questioning expression. “I have never encountered Layla.”
“Mm, Layla no longer transforms.” Brianna shrugged.
Nolan’s eyes visibly reflected anguish as he gazed directly at her.
“Mother?””
She gazed down at Logan, observing his inquisitive expression. “Not since I was twenty.” “I can no longer continue,” she finally informed him.
“Brianna, I sincerely apologise.” It was Carlos. I genuinely endeavoured to locate you throughout those years. I was unable to… I believed I was irreparably damaged.
“It’s not you, Carlos,” she shrugged, acknowledging that the issue lay with her, not him. Absence of odour. How can one discover something unknown, or undetected, that one was previously unaware of? “May I enquire about something?””
“Certainly, Brianna,” he affirmed with a nod.
“Today, everyone has gazed directly at me. I do not comprehend that.
“Indeed, you are no longer concealed from the group; you bear the scent of Ryder, in fact.” The moment Aiden marked you, your scent became apparent to us all.
She was now gazing at him, which was quite peculiar. “How could his wolf mark me without detecting my scent?”Nolan smiled, “I will allow Ryder to elucidate that, but I believe they indeed did.”
Brianna frowned, stating, “It is not feasible.”
“A method exists.” I believe it is referred to as the Dieng way. She exhaled in irritation at the mere mention of Alpha Nathan, stating, “I will not engage with Alpha Nathan.”
“He is your cousin, and I believe he and your great-grandmother are currently in a meeting with Ryder; they will want to see you.” I require a discussion regarding your lineage.
“I am indifferent, Carlos.” I wish to have no association with that man, as he has solely threatened me.
I concur that he is foolish. However, it is imperative that we comprehend the specifics of your wolf species. “If not for yourself, Brianna,” he directed his gaze towards Logan, “then for your son.”
Regrettably, Brianna was unable to contest that reasoning. She did not desire for Logan to mature in the same manner she had, nor would she wish such a fate upon anyone, even an adversarial wolf. “Is the man present?””
“I have just arrived, indeed.”
He exhaled sharply once more, contemplating how he would react to her and Layla striking him directly in his foolishly arrogant face. Unleashing his full wolf strength in response to the threats he had directed towards her.
“Breathe, Brianna,” Carlos instructed. She surmised that the foolish Gamma could perceive her anger.
“No,” she retorted, expressing her refusal. Stella chuckled, “She is angry.”
Nolan remarked, “I am aware; I can sense it.”
“Me too,” Stella remarked, leaning against him. “It’s amusing.”
