Chapter 7: Old Alpha’s Orders

“Sera? Are you okay?”

Sera was crying loudly when Damion found her out in the street. The sounds of her sobs hurt him. He hadn’t meant to upset her.

“Damion? What are you doing here? I’m fine, honestly! Go be with Miriam. She’s upset. Go comfort her,” Sera says, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

What is he doing out here? And now he’s caught me ugly crying! This is so embarrassing. She sniffs deeply and tries to regain her composure.

          

“I’ve come to check on you,” he tells her. “And you don’t look fine.” He takes a step towards her but she takes a step back.

“Nonsense. I’ll find my way home,” Sera says. “I’d really prefer to be alone right now.”

“Father has sent someone to take you home. It’s late and it’s dark. I’ll wait with you.”

They stand in awkward silence for a few minutes, with only the sound of Sera’s sniffles to break it up.

          

But it’s not long before Mathew pulls up. Mathew sees them both and heads towards them, but Damion intersects them. He pulls Mathew to the side, away from Sera. “She’s really upset,” he says to Mathew. “Take her home. Make sure she’s okay?” But Mathew shakes his head.

          

“I’m here to take Miriam back. Stephen’s orders. He also said that you need to go home with Sera,” Mathew says bluntly.

          

“What? No! I need to go with Miriam. She just got in and-“

          

“Alpha’s orders,” Mathew says. Damion eyes his brother, clearly not impressed by these orders. “Luna June’s not well. Alpha Stephen’s worried. She feels really sick again and her cough is getting worse. Her fever is back. They need you and Sera. Sera can help.”

          

“And Miriam?” Damion asks. There is a tense silence for a moment. The boys lock eyes. He wants to go back with Miriam, not Sera. And he has a sinking suspicion that Mathew is a little too happy about the change of plans…

          

“I told you. I’ll take Miriam,” Stephen replies. Neither of them speak, they just stare at each other in silence, like some sort of stand-off. “Look, you have no choice,” Mathew finally says, breaking the silence. “It’s an order. If you don’t obey, he’ll send Miriam to another pack. That’s what he said.”

          

Another pack? Over his dead body! Damion relents. He clearly has no choice.

“Fine. But if ANYTHING happens to her,” Damion threatens.

“Down boy,” Mathew laughs. “She’ll be fine. I promise.” And with that, Mathew strides into the pub and Damion leads Sera to the car.

“What’s happening? Where are we going?” Sera asks, confused.  

“Mom’s still sick. We’re going to see them. Old Alpha’s orders,” Damion says dryly as they get into the car.

          

Sera feels really bad. She knows that Damion would rather be with Miriam, but an Alpha’s orders must be obeyed. “I’m really sorry, Damion,” she says softly.

          

“It’s not your fault,” he states quickly, but there is no emotion in his voice. He pulls out of the parking lot and sighs, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

He’s mad he has to be with me right now.

          

“Is Mathew not your Beta? I never see you with him,” Sera says, trying to distract Damion.

          

“It’s complicated,” Damion says. “He used to like Miriam. When we were younger. He thought they were going to be mates. But then I chose her. I told him that we would be together, and that she’d be my Luna one day. This upset him. So he moved out of the village to take care of Mom and Dad.”

          

Of course Mathew loves Miriam. Everyone does. Sera’s heart hurt as she looked out the window, thinking about Miriam. I can see why, though. She’s beautiful and smart. She’s a true princess. Not like me. Look at me! I’m a nobody! If I hadn’t been adopted, I’d just be a lowly rogue. No wonder he chose her over me. I can’t compare. Not even close. And now poor Damion is stuck with me, again. Hopefully this is the last night. I’m tired of being in the way…

***

  (In the pub)

          

“Darling, what were you thinking? Asking Damion to chase after that girl? Why would you do that?” It’s the woman from the shadows speaking. Her voice is thick with frustration.

          

“I’ll tell you why,” Miriam spits out, without the slightest hint of drunkenness in her voice. In fact, her whole demeanor has changed. She seems oddly sober, although only a minute ago she’d been slurring and stumbling around. “Because that’s the bitch who’s been with him for the past three years. Did you see her face, Mother?” The woman nods. “She looks a lot like me, don’t you think?” Miriam chuckles.

          

“But what if he has feelings for her?” Julia, Miriam’s mother, asks.

          

“Be real,” Miriam scoffs. “He doesn’t love her. He was just using her. She’s nothing but a cheap substitute!. I’m back now though and he doesn’t need her anymore. it will all fall into place. You’ll see. I just have to play my cards right.  I had to be compassionate. Understanding. To keep him on my side. Don’t forget, Mother, there’s still those two old croons to deal with. Stephen and June,” Miriam says, rolling her eyes. “Ugh. They hate me. Always have.”

          

“They’re retired! They can’t get in your way. Not anymore,” Julia says.

          

“Retired, yes. But still powerful. Don’t underestimate them, Mother. They’re harder to deal with than Damion.”

          

Just then, they hear the door open. “Sshhh. Someone’s coming,” Julia says and before Miriam can answer, her mom has flown back into dark corner of the pub, completely covered by darkness.     

          

Mathew heads straight for Miriam.

          

“I hear you’re the new Beta now?” Miriam asks, batting her eyelashes at him. Mathew sees right through her attempts at flirting, though.

          

“I’m here to escort you home,” he says, barely glancing at her. “Old Apha’s orders.”

          

“Lucky me,” she smiles coyly. He shake his head and sighs deeply.

          

“I also have a message from Old Luna June.”

          

His mom. Great. The bitch that hates me. This ought to be good, Miriam thinks. “Fine. Let’s hear it.”

          

“She said that you will NEVER, EVER be in our family. She’ll never allow you to be Luna.”

          

Miriam has to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Instead, she forces a fake smile. “Yes. Thank you. I am aware of that.”

Mathew suppresses a smile. “Good. Let’s get going then.”

“You know what? I think I’ll get myself home. I don’t need your escort.”

“Suit yourself,” Mathew says, and without even a moment of hesitation, he turns and leaves the pub.   

          

He just left me? Just like that? The asshole! Anger swells inside her, but she pushes it back down and remains calm on the surface.