by Nana Adu
"Let's go get breakfast then. I love to eat with a sour taste in my mouth." He smiles and grabs my wrists, pulling me to the dining room.
"Yeah, I could really eat right now." I agree, hurrying to catch up with his pace. He turns and rolls his eyes.
"It's like I disappear when food is around. Who do you love better? Me or a bowl of pasta?" I freeze, looking away from Noah's eyes.
He can't just put me on the spot like this. This isn't fair.
"I don't think you should be comparing yourself with a bowl of pasta." I try to laugh off, Noah scoffs.
"So the pasta?" He laughs and continues pulling me forward. I chuckle.
That's way too hard to answer. He has to chill.
"Whatever. Let's just go." I grin, hurrying ahead of him as he pouts behind me.
I'll always be here to support him.
CHAPTER 40
Noah POV
"They went quiet? What do you mean?" I ask Kai as he stands in front of my desk.
"There hadn't been any notes or strange smelling rocks or dolls, sent to us for a day. It's all stopped." He says.
That makes no sense.
"Do you think it means something?" I ask, Kai as he shrugs.
"Maybe they realized meaningless threats weren't going to do anything to get Eliana back." He comments.
"So they might be getting an attack ready?" I reason.
That's the only thing that seems possible. They've sent something everyday without fail, despite our guard.
"Maybe. I'll get more guards on our boundary." Kai leans against my desk and smirks down at me.
This can't be good.
"What do you want?" I ask him as he smirks harder.
"I noticed you marked Eliana." He draws out Eliana's name.
"You're late. I did that a couple days ago." I say, grabbing a pile of files for our finances and shifting through them.
"I remember someone saying he didn't want a mate, but since she's got here, she's all you talk about." He chuckles. I scoff.
"She's not what I expected. I don't have to explain this to you." I say, sighing as I put the first pile down, picking up the sheets next to it.
"Aw, you're shy." He whines.
No, I'm not.
"Kai, don't you have to eat right now or something?" I ask, as he shakes his head.
"No. When are you going to make her Luna. I know you it planned for somewhere next week." He states. I nod.
"I want it done as soon as possible so she can feel accepted. Next week is the fasted you guys can set it up." I say, dipping back in my rolling chair. Kai nods, the smile on his face softening.
"I'm happy you found someone to be happy with. You seemed like you were always going to have a stick up your ass but, I guess love changes you." He walks towards my door, bumping into my stack slightly.
He's such a mess.
"Thanks. I 'm happy too." I say, as he waves to me and leaves the room.
Was I really that bad? I did everything I could for the pack until the day I was given the Alpha title and even then it was to ensure the safety of the pack.
I didn't think of bonding with my members because I had done them wrong. I had hurt one of our own, my sister.
The papers in my hands silently land on my desk as I place them down.
It was hard to go on with my life after my sister's death. In my eyes, there should've been something anyone could've done to save her. I should've been able to do something for her.
That's why I threw myself into work for the pack. I wanted to do all I could so that no would be in that kind of a situation, so helpless.
With Eliana, it's easier to see the worth of living beyond what I do as the Alpha of this pack. It's easier to want something other than peace and quiet in this lonely room.
I want to enjoy being with her and exploring everything with her. From the human world to under our blankets in bed, it all feels like an adventure with her.
I scoff.
When did I become such a bitch? The old me would laugh at who I am now, but that's fine too.
Everything's fine now.
I'm still working on the pack and finding those who killed my sister but I'm also living.
I'm letting myself live again with Eliana.
Eliana POV
"Do you feel the water passing through your fingers? Let your emotion and power flow like this, don't float in it, stand instead." Robert says, leaning against a tree as my hand freezes in a cold stream.
He's always taking me out to nature for these things and honestly, I think a session of that yoga stuff Alyssa does would help me out better than this.
I'm just not getting it.
"Think of the feeling you get when your panic takes over and you feel the blessing overwhelm you. Channel it." He repeats.
Ok, easier said than done, but I'll try.
It's always feels like I'm floating, then I come back to reality and I'm breathing heavily. It's scary.
The water runs by my fingers as I plant them, firm against the wave.
I'm in control. I can't be swept away.
"Good. That's all for today. You can open your eyes." I blink, as he starts his walk back home.
He always ends these so abruptly.
"Why can't we do more? I can handle it." I say, getting up from my crouching position, wringing out the water on my hands.
"The books say not to rush it. So I won't. This should be enough." He says, as I jog to catch up with him.
"Sorry, I guess I'm in a hurry because it's unpredictable. This whole thing seems unreal at times." I state, yawning as the afternoon sun makes it's way down the purple sky.
"I think I know what your mark means now." He says, stroking through his beard.
I was wondering when he would bring that up. Noah and I asked him days ago.
"It seems like because of your Royal blood. You given something to Noah, through marking. One of my books mentioned how if a Royal and a werewolf were mates, the Royal would give her or his mate some strength or power. It's so that both parents are equal and the Royal can trust their mate to protect the noble blood." He states, as I listen with wide eyes.
"So what does this have to do with me and Noah?" I ask and he hums a yes.
"His stems on his rose are thick and his flower is blooming. This is the sign of strength and the birth of a stronger man. He won't realize it right away, but subtly it will count." Robert continues.
That's crazy.
"What about me?" I ask, my bud has yet to bloom. I'm not even sure if it can even change.
"You are a Royal who hasn't unleashed her true potential. This means nothing in your life has reached it's maximum, even your relationship with Noah. You have to be completely yourself for him to accept you again, and right now, you are getting there. That's why you're a bud." We get to the front of the house, breaking out of the dense woods as I listen to him carefully.
So I have to unlock this curse, don't I? Control isn't enough.
I'll reach my maximum.
CHAPTER 41
Noah POV
Something's wrong.
I feel my hands twitch as the chicken breast and Alfredo is served around the table.
There's something covered up, something I'm not seeing.
A warm hand lands on mine, sending butterflies through my stomach.
"Are you ok, Noah?" Eliana looks up at me, her doe-eyes filled with concern. I put my hand over hers.
"Yeah, just hungry." I say, she scoffs and nods.
"Tell me in bed, ok?" She says, turning and grabbing the bowl of Alfredo and chicken. I grin.
I'm not surprised she saw right through me.
I still can't help the feeling that something's off in our territory.
Eliana scoops some of the food on my plate.
"I'm surprised you're not taking it for yourself." I joke. She sends me a look.
"Maybe I am, you always give me your food, so I'm making sure you get plenty." She smirks, dropping one
last piece of chicken into my small bowl and passing the leftovers into the middle.
"I'll eat everything today, how about that?" I say, picking up my fork and taking a whiff of the food. The seasonings hit my nose and my mouth waters.
How is Eliana even talking to me right now, instead of eating?
"Sure you will." She turns and begins digging in. No mercy. I begin eating as well.
Maybe that feeling from before was nothing. It's probably just a squirrel wandering into our land.
Eliana smirks at me, daring me to eat more. I stuff another bite in my mouth.
Everything's fine.
***
"I told you, you would give me some. I put a lot of pasta in your bowl on purpose." She laughs as I grab the railing heading upstairs.
I'm never eating that much ever again.
"I don't know how you fit all of that inside of you." I groan, reaching the top. She laughs louder next to me.
"Stop being a baby, c'mon. I want to hear what was bothering you downstairs." She says, holding my arm as we continue towards my room.
"It's nothing, just, as Alpha I can feel my territory and the state of it. I can smell everything a lot more here than anywhere else and something's off, I just don't know what." I say, as we enter the bedroom. She holds my arm dragging me over.
"My Alpha doesn't have that." She says. My eyebrows furrow.
"Your pack is weird as fuck already, I'm not surprised." I say, chuckling as I pull her forward, falling in bed on top of me.
"Noah!" She yelps, as I hug her to my chest.
"Let's sleep." I let one of my arms travel under Eliana's pillow and pull out her bonnet. I grab it in both my hands, and slowly put it on her head, she smiles up at me as I laugh trying to push in stray hairs.
"That was cute." She says, leaning in closer to my face. I lay down flat against the mattress and Eliana takes my head in her hands.
"I know." I say, smirking. She presses a kiss against my lips and pulls back, standing back up and heading to the closet. Her warmth leaves a cold breeze flowing down my front.
No warning? I hate pajamas. I love them on her but why does she have to go wear them?
I sigh, taking off my shirt and shoes, throwing them at the laundry basket. I finish undressing and lay in bed waiting for Eliana.
Ever since she slept next to me, the nightmares that would keep me up for hours, have left me. It's weird to sleep and know I'll wake up in the morning with her next to me. It's fun.
"Move over." I flinch as she hops on to bed next to me.
"Why would I? Don't sleep so far away." I grab her arm, moving the covering up and putting us under them as Eliana comes to my side.
"That was all?" She closes her eyes, snuggling into my chest. I wrap my arms around her.
"Yeah, goodnight sleepy head." I say as she yawns and nods.
I know she's been working really hard with Robert and Beth, I won't keep her up tonight.
"Yeah, I love you." She whispers as she falls asleep in my arms.
I smile, looking down as her muscles relax and her lips slightly part.
How adorable.
I hold her tighter to my chest as my heart warms.
Eliana works hard, cares, and is strong enough to stand up for herself. She's kind, sweet, funny. I couldn't tell her all of this, or else she'd get too big of a head.
I chuckle to myself.
She's the perfect Luna. All this time, I thought I could handle being the leader of this pack by myself. I didn't even want a Luna.
I can't get over how dumb I used to sound, purposely driving the people I love away and not letting myself enjoy my youth. 20 years of that gets tiring, but I pretended everything was fine, when I was drowning in my own self-hate.
Maybe, I should try to forgive myself, like what Eliana and my parents are saying.
Would Samantha forgive me? Would she be happier if I let myself embrace life in the moment?
I don't know, but I can try. I can call off the search for the rogues and just accept that my little sister died and I survived.
Admitting that she's dead and there's nothing I can do, is what that would feel like, but there's really nothing I can do.
I press Eliana closer in my chest.
A life with Eliana and our family, without looking for trouble would be great. Taking this burden and putting it to rest doesn't seem right, do I deserve that?
To be care free while the pack that murdered my family is out there? Their children and members perfectly fine after what they did to us?
I clench my teeth and take a deep breath.
It's so easy to keep hating them. I don't want to ever see anyone associated with the rogues. I don't want to hear anything about them.
That's the only way I'll move on. Out of sight, out of mind.
I can do thi-
The window creaks open and I tense.
What the fuck?
Heavy footsteps land in my room and I snap up to see Liam and his father, smirking. A stench comes from them and my eyes widen.
No.
"I told you we'd be back for Eliana. Time to pay up."
CHAPTER 42
Noah POV
It was them. It had always been them? How the fuck did they hide it? Why the fuck did I miss it?!
I get up from my bed, careful not to wake Eliana as they take small steps towards us.
Kai, get the men and get up here now. We have intruders.
The response is silent.
What's going on?
"Did you try to call for your men? Sorry, we have a spell for that one too. They won't be up for at least 30 minutes. Maybe twenty, knowing your pack." Liam holds up a bottle.
Spells? But the only ones with any kind of power here is Eliana.
"You don't have to know where they're from. Let's call them gifts." He says, stepping towards to me as his father stands behind him.
"We were expecting you. I knew you guys would try something." I smirk, my wolf on the verge of taking over.
It's them. It's them.
"I'm guessing you recognize something about us. That's why we need her back, so she can cover up this smell forever and we can live in peace. After all, she is one of us." Liam says, stopping in front of me.
"The rogues from 13 years ago? They were you guys?" I tremble, clenching my teeth and trying to breath.
I checked if it was them. They didn't smell anything like that. Anything like this. It's impossible.
Every time we got anything from them, it would smell slightly different. What am I supposed to think?
"Bingo. You see, there are tons or wolves pissed off with us so we need to hide our scent. That's where Eliana is useful." He says, his smirk still big on his face.
"What do you mean?" I grit out, trying not to wake her.
If she wakes up, she'll be scared. It'll set off her powers and fuck up the progress she's already made.
I promised her she would never have to see them ever again.
Fuck, they really have me cornered.
"You probably know by now something's different about Eliana. She has these abilities that she can use without even realizing she's using, that's how we've survived for the last 13 years." He explains, stopping in front of me.
"Don't come any closer. I'll rip your throat out." I deadpan as Liam looks at me for a second and then bursts into laughter.
"I don't think you see what kind of a spot you're in. My father and I are Alphas, same as you. Two Alpha's against one. It's twice the power." He reasons.
He's right, but I'm letting them leave with Eliana. I'd rather die.
"Why are telling me all this anyway?" I ask, as he scoffs and walks away, deeper into my room, not near the bed.
"I want to taunt you. I want you to know the rogues that ruined your life before are about to ruin it again. I need you to know exactly why before we kill you." Liam smiles, leaning against my closet door.
Fuck him. I'll kill him and his whole pack. Fuck fo
rgiveness, I can't leave this in the past not when It's right here. They came to me, now I have to destroy them.
They've fucked with me one too many times.
"You're going to kill me?" I chuckle. He frowns.
"I don't see any other way of this going. We'll take Eliana, you'll die and your pack we be lost without you. That's the plan." He glares at me.
If they weren't using spells or whatever the fuck, our soldiers would tear them apart. Fuck this isn't looking good.
"I've been looking for you guys a long time now. This is perfect. I get to sink my teeth into you. I'll do what I should've done as a child." My nails sharpen as my wolf leaks out slightly preparing to battle.
"We came ready for this too. We have a taser, some silver spoons, and a gun. You take your pick." He tilts his head at me as I glare at them.
They killed my sister, are trying to take away Eliana, and now they want to kill me.
How can a group be so bad? They shouldn't be left running around.
"I'd rather hand to hand combat." I say, turning to the father, trying to be light on my feet as I charge towards his grabbing his wrists and twisting it. Liam laughs, watching.
His father wears gloves, holding a piece of silver, laying on my side. I brace myself for the seizing pain but a pinch and a tingle barely happen.
What's going on?
"It's not working?" His dad questions.
I might as well deal with this old guy first then. If silver doesn't hurt, I'm invincible. I'll kill both of them today.
I snap his wrists, taking the silver rod in my hands and pressing against the wound. He groans out and falls to his knees, unable to stand the silver burn.
With silver, everything hurts ten times as bad as a normal wound. I don't know why it's not affecting me but great.
"What the fuck?" Liam whispers from across the room.
His father passes out, plopping on the ground below him. I turn to Liam.
"You're a freak." Liam whispers, pulling a knife and a taser out to attack me. I walk towards him slowly.
"You've done too much to my family and now you want to take away the love of my life? It's like you're asking me to end you." I stop in front of him.
My hands tremble as the anger and hatred from all these years build up inside me.
