ELOISEI could hardly believe that I was doing it. Coming out clean. "I don't have a choice," I told Fergus."He's threatening you?"Well, that part was not wrong but I wished that was truly all there was to it. However, that was not the case and someone deserved to know. Now more than ever. The bond between Matthan and I was not something I had intended to hide from my parents but I had believed it would scare them. The concept of mates and werewolves seemed all too complicated but now, that wedge was gone. They knew it all. No point hiding it now."Matthan is my mate," I confessed. It was no easier saying the words aloud than it had been thinking them.I expected some negative reaction; maybe an overreacting gasp but that did not happen. Instead, they simply nodded solemnly as if they already knew."That would explain why the Beta is acting irrationally." Fergus surmised. "Love can make us do crazy things. I assume he is doing this because you want nothing to do with him?"I nodded.
MATTHANIt was hell. Knowing I had done something so unspeakable to someone I surely could not leave without. My fascination. My quest to discover who Eloise Carter was and I had left the most important stone unturned. Her father. If I had known, I wouldn't have done it. But what was the point of regretting it now? I had done it. I had to put her in danger. With my own hands, I had sent hail into her life once again. I could teleport to her house and promise to protect but it was crystal clear even for me that she wouldn't want me there. I wouldn't even want myself there. I remained that way for a pretty long time. The curtains were down so I could not tell how much time had gone. Not that any of that mattered much. I just wanted to remain in my bed. Kept alive by misery. Occasionally, it crossed my mind that hurting myself was not going to fix all the things I had broken. Common sense would tell me to think and make an attempt to fix things. My wolf would do the same but he had also
ELOISEI don't think I've ever had a lucid dream. Dreams to Eloise Carter were a rare experience. Nightmares and terrors of the night were more of my forte but being completely aware of my actions in a dream was new to me. A wise person once said by embracing your subconscious, you gained a different way of seeing and experiencing. An expanded doorway that explored hidden vices of oneself. I had half expected tonight to be riddled with horrible replays of that unfortunate night but there I was having a heart to heart with Matthan. He looked real. He looked flesh and bone but I knew this was a dream. Since it was nothing but a dream, I didn't hold back. I said every word that lingered at the back of my mind. Things I didn't think I had the guts to say in front of Matthan Gardenia when I finally woke up from this moment. Once I said it all, I left it all. I figured the only way to end the dream was to walk back through the door I had used to come in. I closed my eyes walking through, hal
ALICE I monitored Declan the day after his drunken confession, hoping that perhaps he would realize that I knew his secret but he went about his duties as usual, and now that I knew why the Alpha of the Gardenia pack would never be interested in me. It was painfully obvious that at any opportunity he got, Declan would try his best to avoid me. He would spend his nighttime in his office doing 'official business' and when morning came, he would continue the same thing. It got frustrating and despite knowing the truth, I refused to accept that it was just going to end there for me. I sacrificed my future with Matthan for him. His sexuality sure as hell was not going to fuck up the future I had envisioned for myself. So on the second night after Matthan's party, I wore something slutty. A short and near-transparent dress, grabbed some alcohol, and headed to Declan's office unannounced. I knocked lightly twice and entered as soon as I heard his muffled grunt. Declan was standing behind hi
DECLAN Alice was mad. If I had a choice in the matter, she would probably be six feet under. But she was given to me. The whole pack was expecting that we consummate whatever we had going on all because history had shown again and again that an Alpha was stronger with a mate. It was one of the reasons my parents had forced this arrangement on us. Apart from the fact, that it would align our separate packs to become a single body, it would set their minds at rest that I was not waiting for my fated mate to arrive. I wish I got it honestly. For most of my life, the fated mate concept was what I had used to keep my parents in check but as time went on, they got impatient and wanted things their way. I couldn't say no of course because then they would ask questions. Questions that had answers I knew they wouldn't like. The Moon goddess did not make me wrong. No. I wasn't the first and no one could call me unnatural because if I did find my fated like others like me, my parents' fears woul
ELOISE The morning after my sex dream, I woke up to the smell of bread. You see, my mom had taken this unusual hobby of bread making. You'd see surprised how many kinds there were and the different ways they could be prepared. I was the lab rat used to test the success of her new recipes. However, something was different in the air this time around. It was clear because mom had never brought them to my room.I could see it in her face as she cut a generous slice from the loaf to butter. Mrs. Carter had questions and I had a great inclination as to what her question would be."Good morning mom." I did my best to break the ice. I knew she was hesitant about speaking. She didn't want to spook me."How was your night Eloise?" She asked, handing me the buttered bread."Great." For the first time in a long time, I believe I was being honest. That did not seem to ease my mom however though. I could not blame her. I had said the words great several times and failed miserably at it. Plus Dad
ELOISE There was this glum expression on Matthan's face as he took a seat. He looked stressed. So in a show of hospitality, I did the kindly thing."Would you like a glass of water?""No." He respectfully declined. "I think it's better if we get this over with before your adopted parents get here. I wouldn't want to spook them into believing you are joining a cult or something.""We don't have to worry about any of that. My dad isn't in the dark and my mom is out shopping.""What about him?" Declan asked and I followed his gaze to where my father was talking animatedly to a large, broad-shouldered Clay in a black hoodie."That's Clay. My brother." He's harmless.""Well, your brother keeps staring at me like I'm about to pull out a gun any second now and go wild," Declan said in response. "It is almost menacing."Of course, he was menacing. Clay was probably looking for opportunities to come running at me and ask questions. Considering how things had ended between us the last time, I
ELOISE Clay came over as soon as Declan left my side. They did share another awkward gawk at each other when their paths crossed but that was all there was to it. The trance soon broke and Declan went for the don't while my brother dragged his feet over to my chair."How are you Eloise?" He began. The start of a forced apology. Old me wouldn't have minded a soggy apology but I was thriving for difference this time around, if there was a possibility that after being sheltered, my father could still find me and finish what he started, I would rather have lived a life of no regret and a life like that started with putting myself on a higher bar when it came to Clay."Do you really care how I'm doing brother? Apologies, you probably wouldn't want me to call you that. What matters is that you don't have to do this if you don't want to. I can tell either mom and dad wanted you to come patch things up with me. But it doesn't have to happen if you don't see me as a decent human being worthy