Chapter 1. Five Years Gone

Chapter 1 — Five Years Gone

It was only a matter of time before I would be forced to face him again. Five years of living in the human world masking my scent. Five years of misery, missing my parents and brother. Five years of heart ache after he rejected me for another woman in front of the entire pack. His promises of protecting me, cherishing me and telling me I would be his Luna. Nothing but lies.

After Adrian rejected me, I left the pack rejecting the alpha, not my family or my friends. They supported me and were none too happy when he went back on his word to me and chose that she bitch over me. Aldrich, his father the former alpha, was not pleased either but he was unable to change his son’s mind about rejecting me.

So I left and never looked back.

Five years I built a life for myself. I slowly recovered from the rejection and I and my wolf Sylvie’s bond became that much stronger. I acquired the necessary skills to work in the human world and became successful at what I did and was finally able to open my own bakery.

I was in the back when the door sensor alerted me someone had come in to the bakery. A familiar scent wafted above the bread baking and my stomach clenched. It was my brother, Elias.

“How the hell did he find me?” I muttered.

I wiped my hands and went front to meet him. I came through the double doors and approached the counter. He stood there looking as if he wanted to buy something, but his scent and posture said otherwise. He raised his head up and looked at me. That’s when I saw the jagged scar on his left cheek. I hissed when I saw it.

“Who the hell did that?” I asked.

“The family was attacked two weeks ago,” he said.

I looked at him coolly.

“And what has that got to do with me?”

He waited until my assistant had finished.

“Luna Sarena sold us out. Alpha Aldrich is critically injured. It took me this long to find you to let you know, Alara.”

I looked at my brother with a steely gaze. I did not want to be harsh with him, but he was the Adrian's Beta and I knew why he was here. To bring me back and perform my healing duties for Alpha Aldrich.

“The pack has plenty of healers that are capable to heal the old alpha.”

My brother winced when I said that. He knew I had caught the lie. I knew immediately that the old dog was alright. That had been the lure to bring me into Adrian’s trap.

“Brother, the truth. Spit it out now or leave and never bother me with family business again.”

His next words were rushed.

“It’s true the Luna betrayed us and when Alpha Aldrich found out, he went berserk and killed her without trial. He also suffered critical wounds in the fight.”

The she‑bitch got what she deserved. Karma can be quite cold.

“Alara, Adrian knows he was wrong when he rejected you, his fated mate. He has not been himself since your rejection or that bitch’s betrayal.”

His eyes plead with mine to come back with him.

Another customer comes in and I go over to them and hand them their order and take payment. I make my brother wait for my answer. I let my assistant off for lunch and lock the front of the store and turn off the open sign.

“And again what has any of what happened with the family have to do with me?” I asked again.

“The pack needs you. Most of the healers were killed protecting the Moon Healing Temple. And… Adrian wants your forgiveness,” he said.

Sylvie’s hackles rise and it makes me stiffen my spine. My brother flinches as he feels her aura for the first time.

“Forgiveness!? He betrayed his oaths to me, he rejected me at our mating ceremony and he wants to ask for my forgiveness? The Moon Goddess only blesses you once in a lifetime a fated mate, Elias. I will probably never get a chance at a second fated mate.”

He winces as I and Sylvie rage at what that bastard Adrian wanted from me. I continued my tirade, my brother taking the full brunt of my pain and suffering those first two years after I had left.

“Two years Sylvie wanted to die because of him. Two years I fought to keep her alive after the rejection. I finally now have some peace with what I have built and you come in here as his beta, not my brother, and ask me to come back and forgive him. I would think, Elias, that you would support me over him. I’m blood, not obligation.”

He lowers his head as I remind him that family always came first with us.

I stride over to the door of the bakery and unlock it. I sharply look at him and point to the door.

“Beta, return to your alpha. Tell him if he wants forgiveness, then he needs to speak with the Moon Goddess herself. I have none to give him. Now… GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK.”

I may be an omega, but Elias knows when to stop pushing me.

His shoulders sag in defeat. He knows Adrian is not going to like the fact that I refused his summons.

I really don’t give a damn.