"Come on, don't give up now!" My father shouts as my juvenile brother on the ground grunt in agony and glare at father.
"I'm not going down without a fight, Father!" He groans and rises to his feet, and father's face lit up with a proud grin.
"That's the spirit!" Father shouts, and before he could prepare for the attack, the juvenile charges at him and grabs his neck. His leg comes up in an attempt to kick father in the belly, but father intercepts his knee, grabs him by the torso, and flings him to the ground with a swift flip. Father turns around and stares down at him on the ground.
"You have to be quicker than that if you want to leave a scratch on your enemy." As he took a few steps closer to him, Father remarks.
"Beta Hanniel!" Father turns around when a warrior yells his name and bows his head. "Alpha Lain has asked for your presence." Father nods his head and without a word, leaves with the warrior.
I smile as Demir rises to his feet and walks up to me, with a forlorn expression on his face.
"You did great!" I say with a kind smile and offer the pitcher of water I am holding. He takes it and sits down beside me on the grass under the shade of the tree.
"I did horrible. I could not even get a single blow on him while he beat my ass. At this rate, I don’t think I can be his successor.” He speaks his mind while looking down. I could tell he was hurting and the pile of expectations on his shoulders was only making it so much more harder for him.
"You still have plenty of time to get better. You just have to train and never give up. I'm always here for you." I say as I loop my arm around his shoulder and he smiles up at me.
"I loved that move you did back there, Demir! The way you went around and grabbed his neck. I could see the surprise on father's face." I cheer trying to cheer him up and it seems to work as his face lit up.
"Really? I learned it from a warrior a few days ago. Though the move was a bit sloppy."
"Father is an experienced warrior, while you are still learning. All you need to do is practice. And I believe you can defeat him as well as much more stronger warriors with that move and many more." I enthusiastically cheer and a grin form on his face. I try to stand up and Demir catches me as my feet wobble slightly. He helps me stand up and scoops up the blanket and pitcher off the ground. He folds the blanket and hands it to me which I take with a grateful smile.
"Thank you. Now let's go; mother and I have prepared your favourite fish stew." Demir's face brightens up as soon as I inform him and we start walking toward our house.
"You are the best sister!" He cheers as he hugs me from the side, and a peal of hearty laughter rings out in my chest.
"There you guys! How did you find training, dear?" As we walk up the foyer, our mother runs over to us.
"Father thrashed me yet again. But other than that, I'm all good!" Our mother Bertha smiles as Demir speaks up.
"He did an excellent job, mother! Believe me! He was fantastic!" Mother turns her attention to me as I cheer from the sidelines.
"Goddess! Nesta, you look so pale! I told you not to get out! Your fever will recur!" She anxiously hollers and places her palm on my forehead, checking to see if I was still feverish. I giggle and walk inside.
"I'm fine, mother. I sat in the shade of a tree, watching him practice with father. Now serve him some food." I remark as I sit down on the little couch in the living room's corner.
"Yes, mother! I'm famished!" Demir exclaims as he sits down on one of the dining table's chairs. Mother smiles as she pours him a bowl of fish stew and brings him some toasted bread. She walks to me and sits next to me while Demir delves into his meal. While we chat, Demir finishes his meal and went upstairs to his room. After quite a while I see Demir coming down the stairs, freshly bathed and dressed in a clean pair of clothes.
"I'm going out with my friends, mother, and I'll be back before dusk," Demir remarks as he heads towards the main door with a slightly excited bounce in his step.
"Your father would not want that, Demir. Wait for him to return home." Mother stated sharply, and Demir's face sags slightly.
"But mother! They are awaiting me!" He argues
“You are the next Beta, and you must be fully prepared to take your position!"
“But, mother-
“There are no buts, Demir. You are not going out. Inform your friends.” Mother once again states sternly, and Demir had no room to argue.
I had nothing to do but give him a sad smile as he stare at me with begging eyes. I had no voice whatsoever in the situation, and I could not aid my younger brother no matter how much I want to. As the first child of the Beta, I was most likely to inherit my father's title, but as a female and so frail, I could never do so, hence the position was given to my younger brother.
But my father never saw me as incapable of being his heir, he wished despite I being a female, I would take over his title. But the Goddess may have had different plans, as since a child, I was frequently sick and I was frail. I could never attend school, or go out as I would always fall ill constantly. Hence my parents had chosen to home school me. Even so, they had hoped that my health would get better when my wolf would awaken, but at the age of twenty, I was still wolfless. Whereas most juveniles wolves awakened on their eighteenth birthday, I had never even sensed my wolf. As a result, the pack and the elders constantly looked down on me. I know they would not admit this up front but they thought me to be cursed. My family, on the other hand, was constantly at my side, no matter what. And because of that, I never really had any remorse. I might not have a wolf, but I have my wonderful family, a sweet younger brother and loving parents.
Demir walks toward me, with a dejected look on his face. Mother gets up and disappears behind the walls of the kitchen, while Demir sits down beside me, with his face sagged and his head lowered. I am overcome with sadness instantly as I pat Demir's back encouragingly. He was just fourteen years old and is undergoing such rigorous training. His training had begun earlier in his childhood, but it had not been as severe.
"It's all right, Demir. You have a very significant role ahead of you, and you should give it your all to be the best match for it. Nobody should ever have any doubts about your abilities. You'll be on the Alpha's left, so make sure you're worthy of that position." I smile, and Demir raises his head.
"But I, too, want to have a lot of fun with my friends!" I encouragingly smile again as he said with a mournful voice."Demir, do you want to be the next Beta? Do you wish to take over father's title?""Yes, of course, I do!""To attain our objective and get what we desire, we must work hard and forego some of life's joys, such as not going out with our friends. But things improve, and brighter days await you, where you may have a lot more fun than this.""Are you certain?""Yes, I am! I'm confident that when you're older, you'll be a fantastic Beta and have a lot of fun. You will get your wolf, find your female and have a lot of children!" I exclaim; his cheeks flush slightly. I could not help but laugh as he looks down."Is that a blush on your cheek?" Demir shook his head as I poke his slightly chubby cheek from the side."No! I'm not blushing at all!" I giggle as Demir exclaim."You're so adorable!" I coo,"I am kind of adorable." Demir wonders and laughter booms through my chest.
With the flowers that were like dancing rainbows, I rush to the packhouse with a gentle smile on my lips. As the gentle summer breeze flows through my hair, my wild brown hair dance with the wave of breeze.My feet bounce with excitement against the soil as I stroll across the yard of my home and reach the packhouse. A slight scowl forms on my brows as I notice wolves run to the packhouse with huge grins and excitement. I, too, move towards the packhouse's door, protecting the blossoms from being crushed by the crowd. As I ascend up the foyer, the wolves shift slightly to make way for me. I drew a deep intake of breath and my eyes widen as the final row of the crowd scurry aside, revealing the wolf they were so enthusiastic about. My lips slightly open as he whirls around on his heel to face me. In front of me stands a fully grown Alpha male in place of the lean juvenile I knew, long gone the childhood friend of mine. His lean muscles are now toned, his shoulders are flared up and he
Ciro steps in and his gaze wander over my room as I stand by the door. My room was not as large as his, but it was cosy, with off-white walls and a queen-size bed draped in a hand-woven blanket identical to the one I had left for him in his room. The little windows on both sides of my room are open, and the light white curtains are swaying in the summer breeze. I attempted to neatly organise my room, and one thing that I feel would catch anyone's attention the most is the flower arrangements and green plants that I have put around the space to make my room look like somewhat a miniature version of my garden. I watch as his fingertips run over the delicate petal of a wildflower, and a grin blossoms on his lips. I was correct, the flower arrangement did catch his attention. Abruptly he turns around to face me, and I instantly glance away trying to not meet his gaze directly.“I have heard that you have decorated my room by yourself?” His voice is delicate and soft as he asks and I only
Ciro's gorgeous face flashes a small satisfied smile as his hand yanks open the passenger side door of his car. He offers his hand and a pale hand of a petit female grasps lightly onto his. Her lengthy legs are the first to exit the car and land on the soft earth, followed by the rest of her body. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the female. Her vulcanite-black hair cascades over her shoulders. She has a slender body with a shapely figure. Her waist is wasp-waisted, and her complexion is a gleaming pale. A pair of rapture-blue eyes sits beneath her slender brows. Through her velvety eyelashes, she gazes up at Ciro tentatively. Ciro's eyes gleamed with love and at that moment I knew. I knew my reality and my wretched fate.Ciro with the female by his side turns around towards the foyer of the packhouse. Luna Croía and Alpha Lain smile as they step out of the packhouse to greet Ciro. The immediate expression of surprise on their faces, however, reveals to me that none of them
Delila, my best friend, sprints toward me across the living room with a dazzling smile on her face, and a smile forms on my lips."Delila!" I exclaim as Delila engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug. "When did you come back?" As Delila steps back, I question."I returned just a few moments ago. I went to your house and your mother told me you were here!""Yes, I was preparing some wheat cakes.""Why? You shouldn't do anything but get dressed and look pretty for your Slava!" Delila says, frowning, and my eyes widen. I glance down trying to hide the flash of sorrow in my eyes, Delila's scowl intensifies."The Slava is not for me, Delila. It is to welcome Ciro's female." With a sorrowful smile on my face, I quietly say and look. Delila's confusion grows, and she drags me out of the packhouse."Please don't tell me it's someone else!" Delila pled, and all I could do was smile solemnly."He is blessed with a very beautiful female, Delila. And I know she will be perfect for him and our pack.""Y
“You have to go with me, Nesta! It would be amazing and we would have so much fun!” Delila pleads, and for the hundredth time this week, I shake my head. Just like every year, a wolf party is hosted for the wolves to mingle, and as always, I don't want to go, but Delila is adamant about dragging me there.“I don’t wish to go, Delila. I don’t like these parties. You should go.”“I will go but I want you to come with me! This party only happens once a year!” Delila exclaims, and I completely ignore her very presence and focus my attention on the pups surrounding me."You shouldn't mix with such speed; you will end up ruining the batter," I tenderly say, and the pup nods and mixes the better for cake slower. Delila rolls her eyes and groans.“You forgot how to be fun!” Delila grumbles, and I chuckle as I focus my attention on the pups.It has been a few weeks since the ceremony, and I am in the packhouse kitchen, teaching several eager pups how to make a cake. It's another tranquil day,
My gaze is drawn to the enormous table, and I have the feeling that all eyes are on me. There are expressions of sympathy, pity, contempt, rage, and disgust. My sight wanders across the room and settles on my brother, who is looking down, it must have pained him to see his sister being humiliated like this, and then my gaze falls on Delila, who is seething with rage and has her eyes closed. She opens her eyes to look at me, and I offer her an appreciative nod for not lashing out. I close my eyes and dash out of the dining hall and the packhouse, my head down.Despite the fact that everyone knew, no one ever said it aloud that I am wolfless. Even if they believed me to be cursed or simply thought that I was deemed unworthy to the Goddess, they never voiced it aloud. And, while I am aware of the vile rumours about me and Ciro, no one has ever branded me a whore in front of everyone. Everyone talks about me behind my back, but this is the first time such things have been said directly to
Before we knew it, the moment had come for slower thinking in that soothing amber glow. As I enjoy the soothing breezes brushing my skin through my window and bathe in the symphony of crickets, I feel the tranquil spirit of nature wash over me. When we start getting ready, I feel fully at ease. Delila applies makeup on my face, concealing the dark circles beneath my eyes and the paleness of my skin from the restless night of weeping. She assists me in applying red lipstick and blush in an attempt to make me appear more vibrant and less pale as if I am ill."Isn't this a little too short, Delila?" I anxiously ask, my gaze fixed on my reflection in the mirror."Absolutely not! You have beautiful legs, Nesta. Show them off girl!""All right, fine," I respond hesitantly as I look in the mirror at myself. After a long time, I stepped into a dress that curves and digs into all the contours of my body, making me look like all the females whom males are fascinated in. This dress makes me look