Chapter 3

Astrid's POV

I was about to reach home when I spotted Kieran outside my front door. "Kieran, what are you doing here?"

He smiled at me. "I heard you've been feeling down these past few days, so I came to keep you company."

I nodded. "In that case, come in."

I led him inside and brewed him a pot of coffee.

He took it from me. "Did Dorian and Ronan give you a hard time?"

"Not really. They have their reasons." I poured myself a cup of coffee.

"Look at you, all grown up now; you're starting to see things from other people's perspectives. Yet, here I am, still treating you like a pup." His smile was still gentle as usual. "To be honest, there's something I came here to talk to you about."

"I'm listening." I had a hunch about what it was.

"You're the Alpha's only sister, so you can pretty much have your pick of the pack's warriors. Remember how you used to tell us that none of the three of us were good enough for you and that you were going to find a mate a hundred times better than us?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I did say that."

"I'm going to hold a mating ceremony with Maeve," he continued gently. "You know how hard it's been for her to raise her pup on her own. I want to have a legitimate reason to take care of her. You're the best little sister I could ever ask for, and you're the person I'm closest to. I hope I can have your blessing."

I was dumbstruck for a moment. Then, I found the entire situation absurd.

"Do you realize how hypocritical you sound right now?" I inquired.

This time, he was the one who was dumbstruck.

Clearly, this wasn't the reaction he'd expected from me, and he was suddenly at a loss for words.

"We used to be close, and I did imagine that my future mate would be one of you."

I paused for a beat before continuing, "However, that was on the premise that we were still the most important people in each other's worlds.

"Yet, now, you want to hold a mating ceremony with another she-wolf, and you still came to me to ask for my blessing? What am I to you, some kind of joke?" I asked.

Just then, several vegetable leaves were thrown against my door. I walked outside.

Maeve's pup, Simon Smith, was right outside my door. He glared at me viciously, as if he wanted to devour me whole. "You're pure evil! What gives you the right to stop my mom from forming a mate bond with Kieran?"

I looked at Kieran. Instead of standing up for me, he lowered his head and remained silent.

I looked at Simon. "Your mom is free to choose who she wants to bond with. It's none of my business. I've never stopped anyone from being with your mom."

He abruptly charged at me, intending to bite me. I shifted into my wolf form and dodged him.

I instinctively dropped into a battle stance, though I had no intention of hurting him.

All of a sudden, Simon sat down on the ground and burst into tears.

I stared at him. Before I could even figure out what to do, Dorian rushed over, with Maeve right on his heels.

Maeve immediately shielded Simon. "Stay away from my pup!"

Dorian stepped in front of them as well. "I can't believe you'd actually hurt a pup. What the hell is wrong with you?"

I looked him dead in the eye. "You don't even know the full story, but you're already assuming I'd hurt him. Is that how little you think of me?"

For a moment, I couldn't bring myself to smile anymore. It felt as though all the years of friendship between us had been thrown down the drain. "I was so wrong about you. I can't believe I ever thought you were an honorable person."

His expression shifted, as if he was wrestling with his conscience. Yet, it soon hardened. "Here we go again; you're making a mountain out of a molehill."

"Oh? What exactly have I done wrong?"

Dorian was stumped.

The three of them had expected me to cry, make a scene, and point fingers at everyone else. When I didn't do any of those things, they had no idea how to handle me.

"Well? Don't just stand there, Kieran. Tell them. What did I do to this pup?"

Kieran walked over. "Astrid didn't do anything this time."

I walked up to Simon. "Did I hit you? Tell them."

"No," Simon muttered under his breath. Clearly, he was reluctant to tell the truth.

"Apologize to me." I looked at both Maeve and Simon.

Simon didn't want to, so Maeve lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, Astrid."

I didn't want any part in their games. I was baffled by the way they treated me. I needed some time to slowly sort through my thoughts.

I walked past the rowdy crowd and slowly made my way home.

There was only one day left before the members of the Moon Guard Pack came to the White River Pack.