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Chapter Five

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Aveline Meadows

I journeyed back to Glendale Pack for eleven days with Lumi tied firmly to my body, stealing food from orchards and vegetable carts when my coins ran out. I slept with back against trees anytime we were turned away from the inn, and I hated that I had to put Lumi through this. I hated that I wasn't a good mother that she was supposed to have, but there was no time for tears. I had to push forward.

"Stare your name and your business in this pack!" The pack warrior at the gate asked in a loud, commanding voice.

"Aveline Meadows." I said tiredly, and watched as his eyes widened in shock.

"Meadows? Is that what you said your last name was?" I couldn't blame him for the shock on his face as my surname was now popular since Angel got married to the Alpha.

"Yes, Angel Meadows' twin sister and Margaux Meadow's daughter." I leaned against the gate to support my weight. "I know I don't look like much because of stress, but please believe me. You can confirm from my father if you're in disbelief."

And they were in disbelief as they kept m outside, under the hot scorching sun until my father appeared in a hurry, his eyes glistening with tears when he saw me, and I was filled with so much emotion I didn't know I was holding back when he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly.

"Papa..." I cried so hard in his arms, thinking of everything I had been through in the past four years. My eyes burned and my throat tightened.

"I'm so sorry, Aveline." He cradled my cheeks in his hands. "I searched for you, believe me. Your mother..." He shook his head. "It was like she didn't care, but I looked for you. I searched the packs for you. I..." His voice faltered and I burrowed into his arms again.

When we pulled away, that was when he noticed Lumi. His eyes widened as he stared at Lumi who was sleeping heavily and wasn't bothered about the ruckus or change in environment.

"Is she..." He looked at me before carefully looking at her.

I nodded with pride. "Yes, she's my daughter. Your granddaughter..." I wiped away the furious tears that poured from my eyes.

"Come on, let's go home." He began to lead the way. "You've grown slimmer than the last time we saw you. Life must have been so harsh on you, my child."

"You have no idea." I smiled sadly as he led us towards a carriage that was already waiting. "A carriage?" I turned to look at him with a small smile.

"Your sister..." His eyes beamed with pride for her, and the dull pain of jealousy throbbed in my chest, wishing that he would also look at me like that one day. "She got us this saying that it was wrong for the Luna's parents to walk on their feet when horses could do the job."

"How thoughtful." I forced a smile on my face, but something he said caught my attention. "Luna? Hasn't the coronation happened already? Isn't she supposed to be the Luna Queen?"

Father's face fell. "I know, right?" He shook his head sadly. "The coronation could have happened last year, but from what I'm told, the Alpha fell seriously ill during that period, and because of that it had to be postponed to this year."

Something tightened in my chest as I thought about him. Alpha Ash Caden. Lumi's father. What had happened? Was he better now or was he managing his health for this year's coronation?

"Come on, I'm sure your mother will be excited to see you. Especially her." He motioned to Lumi who stirred slightly.

*

But my mother wasn't happy to see either of us. She was having tea with the high women of the pack when my father announced my presence.

The women got up to see, some whispering behind my mother.

"She has another daughter?"

"Why does she look filthy and unfed?"

"Why does the pup with her look so unhealthy?"

"Is this a family secret? How come no one knows about her?"

My mother's face tightened in disgust as she dragged me out of the living room, taking me to the back of the house where my room usually was.

"How dare you come back, huh? How dare you bring this filthy child from whichever man you spread your legs for? How dare you bring this thing to my home? Why do you always bring shame to me anytime you're around?"

"Margaux, that's enough!" My father said from behind us. "Aveline is our daughter too, and I'm done standing back and letting you treat her like she doesn't matter."

"You did that very well for the last twenty years or so... What makes you think you can speak now?" My mother shot back at him.

The guilt in my father's eyes was back, but he didn't back down. "Your daughter just came back after three years, and this is how you welcome her?"

"I only have one daughter!" My mother deadpanned with gritted teeth. "Angel is my only daughter, and I couldn't care less if this one lived or died. In all honesty, it would have been better if she died. She's dead weight in this household." She turned to leave. "And if she thinks that she can bring this rat called a child to eat off my food, then she should better rethink and go back to wherever she came from. Or else..." Her eyes narrowed. "I'm going to have her arrested and locked inside the dungeons alongside her pathetic child!"

"You wouldn't do that..." My father shook his head, not believing a word from his mate's mouth.

But I did. Her eyes were dead set, and she meant every word that came out of her mouth. She was going to do everything she said because she didn't bluff.

"It's fine, dad. I'll just go." I thanked him for standing up for me for the first time. "I'll find some place to stay."

"There's no other place to stay, Aveline." He tried to explain. "People are not hiring Omegas again, especially with your... unique condition."

He meant my wolflessness, and even though it hurt a little, I was already used to it by now. I came here for solitude to hide from Kael, and it seemed like everywhere I went was a dead sentence.

"You know what?" He held my hands. "Why don't we ask your sister? She is the Luna now, and she could find something suitable for you to do, and a place to stay. She would take good care of you, Aveline. After all, you're one of the reasons why she was chosen as Luna.”