Friends of the past Two

Friends of the past Two

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"I want you to call me Diana, Anna not mistress or madam or whatsoever. You are not my slave, I know a lot has happened but we are still friends are we not?" There was a quiver in her words like she was the one that was dealing with a broken heart and a broken life.

"I can't mistress" I declared, I truly couldn't, it was not about my pride or anything else, rather I was embarrassed at the situation, I cannot simply act like three years had not breeze past us and I had not been locked up for three years in the same pack she lived in. "We are not friends, not anymore, so I cannot call you by your name Madam " I added though each words felt like a dagger to my chest

Diana immediately grabbed my hands, enclosing them in hers. But almost as soon as it happened, I pulled my hands away from her and took a few steps back, creating distance between us. I bowed my head down once again.

"What happened to you?" She asked and my head immediately snapped back up,

I chuckled sarcastically for a second before staring back at her, was she really asking me that?. Rage had already built up in my chest, and it felt like my blood was boiling. I hadn't felt that much anger in three years. Instead, I had only felt despair.

"I don't think that should be a question, Diana. You have lived in this pack since the day you were born, and you still do. I'm sure the sad tale of Louisiana is not one that hasn't been heard by every pack member here and possibly beyond."

"Louisiana!" Diana cried.

"Your tears are a little late. Your precious tears should not be wasted on the daughter of a madman" I said out of spite.

"I wanted to help you, Anna. Believe me, I wanted to. But father sent me away a month after your punishment. He promised to free you after three months, and I agreed to leave. I have just returned, and when I saw you in the dining hall, my heart broke. I soon realized that you had been in captivity for three years," she cried, and my heart shattered at her confession.

For three long years, I had firmly believed that she had forgotten me, that she had callously abandoned me to my cruel fate.

"I have missed you," I managed to utter, tears streaming down my cheeks as my friend enveloped me in her embrace.

"I am so sorry for what you had to endure all that Anna. It hurts to think that I was not here to help you, you back you up," she cried, holding me even tighter.

I inhaled her floral scent, finding solace in its serenity—a peace I had desperately longed for. "I am grateful to you for rescuing me now."

"I have done what little I can. I cannot comprehend Father's actions. There is no justification for you still enduring punishment for a crime you did not commit. If I had not returned now, your suffering would have persisted," she said, releasing me from her embrace. I refused to let the coldness that followed her departure affect me; instead, I forced a smile.

She took hold of my hand and led me to the bed. "I will do everything in my power to help you and, one day, set you free. Perhaps I have the mate dance to thank for this opportunity."

"The mate dance?" I asked, puzzled.

"Yes. It is the reason I had to return. I have yet to find a mate, and this year, the mate dance will be held in our pack," she replied.

"Oh," I responded softly. The mate dance was once something Diana and I eagerly anticipated, a chance to find our destined partners if we hadn't by the age of eighteen. But now, I no longer cared for such prospects. I secretly hoped I wouldn't find a mate; my name was already tarnished, and no man would desire me due to my tragic past. I felt irreparably damaged, incapable of facing the humiliation of rejection. If the Moon Goddess chose to grant me a mate, I would be the first to reject him.

"Many werewolves from various packs will be attending. It will be a grand event, and surely, we shall find our mates," Diana exclaimed with excitement.

"We," I almost choked on the word, offering Diana a sad smile.

"You're not excited?" Diana asked, puzzled. I responded with a knowing look, and she sighed. "Oh," she said, understanding my unspoken pain.

"I am genuinely happy for you, though," I smiled at her. Truly, I was ecstatic on her behalf. If I couldn't live out my dreams, she should be able to.

"Surely, my father cannot deny you the opportunity to mate. This is absurd. The issue does not lie with him. I see no reason for this madness to persist. I will speak to him immediately," she declared, about to rush towards the door. I quickly grabbed her hand, halting her in her tracks.

"There's no need, Diana. Even if you were to convince him, I doubt anyone would want to mate with me given my history. This is my destiny, and it's okay. I accepted my fate long ago. I am simply grateful that I can speak to you like this again," I reasoned.

Diana hesitated, then settled back down on the bed. "This isn't fair. It's meant to be fun—a gathering where people come together, dancing, music, and freedom."

Freedom, the word resounded in my mind. The mate dance could indeed be my chance for liberation from this pack and from this life. With so many wolves present, engrossed in the festivities, no one would likely pay attention to a mere slave bus and wellbeing. Perhaps this was a sign from the Moon Goddess, maybe this little freedom is what I need.