Chapter 8 - Acceptance

CHAPTER EIGHT

VOLK

It's the third night since Rudina had arrived and I had only visited her while she slept. On the second night, I ended up spending so much time watching her and left just before dawn. Yesterday, she had been having a nightmare, tossing and turning in bed, screaming words I could not make meaning out of. I began to stroke her, as I did her body eased and she continued her slumber. Watching her in pain only made my heart ache even more. Whether I was willing to accept her or not, something drew me to her and I could not deny that I felt more at ease when I was around her. 

I lay in bed tonight, and the last time I checked, it was about 3:30 a.m. Dad was to arrive by morning and I was still firm on my decision. I didn't want her as my Alpha female. Now, It wasn't because she was weak, it was more because I feared the position would be too much of a burden for her to carry. Deep down, I knew I was just giving myself a reason to feel less horrible about myself. 

I start to imagine what her past must have been like. What pack had she been from originally? How did she end up in the Blood Moon pack? Where were her family? 

So many questions keep running through my head as I eventually feel sleep taking over me. I close my eyes and I find myself thinking of those beautiful grey eyes.

I wake a few hours later as I hear Ashina talking to Lowell just outside my door. 

"Do not wake him." Lowell says in a warning tone.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Ashina tells him.

Her voice was low and she sounded unhappy.

We lived in a 6 bedroom condo. I and my parents stayed upstairs while Lowell and Ashina stayed downstairs. It was two floors and each had 3 bedrooms and a living room. Lowell, Ashina and the twins had downstairs to themselves. The room where Rudina stayed was beside mine so It made no sense for them to be in front of my door.

I get on my feet and head for the door. I open it and see that Ashina was just about to reach for the knob. She wears a glum expression and I look to Lowell. He simply shakes his head and walks away. He had been ignoring me since we arrived and it was a lot more to deal with when even Conri would not speak to me either.z

"What's wrong? " I ask my sister.

" It's Rudina, she hasn't eaten a single meal since she arrived." She says.

"Why isn't she eating?" I ask.

Ashina shakes her head, saying nothing

Three days had passed since we arrived and I could not imagine her being on an empty stomach since then. I am about to head for her room when I hear Dad's voice.

"Volk." He says. A single word and I can tell I underestimated how displeased with me he was. 

I turn to see Dad heading towards us and I close the distance. 

"Welcome home, Dad." I greet him then I walk over to mum who was beside him. I take my hand in hers and kiss the back of her palm. I look up to see her glaring at me. This wasn't going to be easy.

"I hear you've found your mate." Dad says.

I do not say a word to him as I head to the living room and take a seat. I did not have to take his shit and already, too much was going on in my head. 

" You do not walk away from me, Volk." He barks. 

He appears for me, standing in his full gait. I feel electricity spark between us and I wonder how other wolves felt if they were his enemies.

"I shall not take her as a mate." I finally say, never meeting his eyes. 

I hear the air in the room still and it is as if no one breathes for a second. I catch Ashina and Mum watching us from the side of my eye.

"You shall, and you have 3 months to do so. As a Delta and Beta, Lowell has every qualification to become the Alpha. He is married to your sister, currently, the strongest female in our pack. If after three months, the girl does not accept you, Lowell shall become the Alpha of the Red Crescent." 

His words hit me like ice and I feel a stab through my chest.

"You can not do that!" I growl.

"He can and he would. You are a disgrace. I didn't raise you to be so proud." Mum finally speaks.

I watch from her to Dad and then Ashima who looks triumphant. 

I find it impossible to believe that they intended to strip me of everything I had ever worked for. 

I quietly walk out of their presence and head downstairs. I spot Lowell, Qareen and Qar'een who were enjoying some chicken roast in their living room. All of them were my Betas but Lowell was the strongest in the pack after me. He had risen to a Delta in no time. He was level headed and always used logic before strength. This only held out because his personality subdued his wolf instincts.

I could never resort to brawling with Lowell and even though I knew the fight would be brutal, I still would win. As a Delta, it was natural to be power-hungry and want to become the Alpha. It was a miracle that Lowell and I were best friends and I knew he fought his bestial nature more often than not. In other to prevent any unnecessary future wars, I knew what I had to do.

"Could you excuse us? I want to speak with Lowell." I tell the twins as I take a seat beside Lowell.

They quietly take their plates and head outside.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Says Lowell.

" I am sorry, Lowell. I never intended to be such an ass about this. You know more than anyone how much my status means to me....." He puts a hand out and stops me mid-sentence.

"You are the Alpha. I cannot question your decisions. I shall refrain and stick to being your attack dog. I shall keep all opinions to myself and never question your authority." He says blankly without meeting my eyes.

"I am not here as an Alpha, I am here as your friend. I need your help." I say truthfully.

He then meets my eyes with a straight face.

"I will not help you return the girl." He states.

I chuckle. 

"I want to know what I am supposed to do and how to fix the wrong I have done. I have barely slept since we visited the Amaroks. I can't bring myself to face the girl." I admit.

"Is that why you visit her at night?" He smirks.

"Ashina has a big mouth."

I watch as his eyes blue eyes flash orange and I know I have angered his wolf. He blinks and they return to their original colour. 

" You do not want to anger dreagar. He takes his mate very seriously. Unlike someone." 

"She must hate me" I tell him.

"She has gone through a lot, Volk. She finds it most difficult to trust and from what Ashina has told me, memories of her past haunt her daily." He says.

I remember how she cries and kicks at nothing in her sleep, screaming and pleading with no one in particular. 

" She suffers from nightmares too." 

The words leave my mouth and I realize my mistake.

"You are not so tough in the end." He says with a wide grin then continues.

" You need to take things slow with her. You have starved yourself for years and I do not know how you have been dealing with the heat. As you get to know her and become closer, all of your emotions would be on overdrive. You would feel everything intensely but you must go at her own pace. Love and sex are the same, rhythm could ruin everything." He says the last bit with a smirk.

In all of my 25 years, I had never had a girlfriend. I had focused on increasing my strength and becoming the Alpha for as long as I could remember. I never fancied the girls in my pack and I had always believed no one could be better than my mate. 

"To my dismay, I've heard you and Ashina in the kitchen, I doubt you pay any attention rhythm." 

This gets a full-blown laugh out of him and I smile for the first time in days. I had my friend by my side again. All that was left was Conri and to get Conri back, I had to claim my mate.