4 - The What Now!?

Aya's POV 

Alpha Hans and Luna Jhoanna scolded her to death. And I meant that.. To the point where Lily really cried.

Not even moments later, Johanis arrived. Maybe he heard his little sister crying from wherever he was. He had always been so damn protective towards Lily. We all were..

“Why did you cry—” Johanis took one second to look around and immediately understood what happened. “It was me. I told her to lie to you guys.”

“You think we're dumb and simply believe you? You don't even know what she did!” Luna Jhoanna glared at her son. “Aya was abducted and was sent to be fed to that Bloodbury forest! And you two think it was a great idea to take advantage that your father and I had a mission that day!? To lie!? What if something happened while we were gone!?”

Nobody spoke. Not even Lily nor Johanis. Especially not me!

Alpha Hans just looked at all of our faces as he rubbed his Luna’s shoulder. Trying his best to calm her down. Then he clicked his tongue. “You both owe Aya an apology.”

Lily was already a mess when she came running to me. “Ayaaa! I’m really sorry.” She sniffed. “I was just so happy and excited to see you again that I did such an awful thing..”

“She didn't mean any harm. Please do forgive her.” Johanis quietly said and glanced at me for a second before looking away.

“I know. Lily will never do such a thing.” I smiled at them. Alpha Hans cleared his throat and I saw Johanis bite his lower lip. “We’re sorry..”

I think I should get myself checked because that one line sent shivers all over my body. On the surface it looked like he meant him and Lily but.. I could feel his wolf trying to take control of the reins.

He meant them. Him and his wolf… or at least that is what I wanted to believe.

I gulped and just nodded. Looking away and pretending to find amusement in the dextrose that is connected to my hand. Great. How obvious could I get?

Alpha Hans and Luna Jhoanna sighed when they saw us being so crestfallen. “You can go once your father arrives, sweetie.”

I could feel Lily subtly tense as she is still hugging me. But the moment her parents left she relaxed and wiped her tears. Still sniffing her remaining snots though. 

Johanis flicked her forehead and Lily punched him. I smiled at this familiar sight. He looked at me and was about to say something but he stopped himself. Then, it came back. His cold and heartless demeanor..

Lily could feel it too that was why she pushed Johanis away. She pushed and pushed him until the man really left.

And at that night, it was only me and Lily at my bed.

She was fast asleep when I left to catch some fresh air. I was walking around the infirmary when I felt his presence behind me. I stopped in my tracks and patiently waited.

Waited for him to speak. To ask. To lash out. Anything at all.

But he didn't say a single word and just stood beside me. I want to say something too. To explain my side. To ask for forgiveness.. Or should I just assume that he already knows it?

But I don't want regrets..

“As you might know because it is quite obvious.. I don't have a wolf.” I softly said. And now I instantly regret it because those shouldn't have been my first words. Damn it, Aya! Now you missed a hugeee chance to make him forgive you!

He looked at me and raised his brows. “And? How is that connected to picking up a pen to write me—us.. a letter? It's been bloody years! Won’t you even care to tell us that you are goddamn alive, Ayreil!?”

I could feel his wrath. And he has every right to be this dismissive towards me.

But it still hurts.. Hurts like hell. Physically hurts like my heart has been taken away from me.

And it's much worse because he isn't actually raising his voice at me.. His voice cracked as he tried to control and restrain his anger.

“You probably heard from that gremlin that we have searched everywhere.. And every single time it feels like you guys just don't want to be found..”

“Johanis..” I tried to reach out for his arm but he took a step back. He shook his head and stared at me. With this tearful gaze of his.. “You will leave anyway. So just.. leave.”

And with that he simply left me there all alone as I looked up in the skies to stop my tears from falling.

—----

“Ayaaaa! It's time to goooo!”

I woke up with Lily’s trademark screams… Again. I groaned before answering her, “Uggh.. Go where?”

Goddess, how I hate my shaky voice. It is really evident that I cried last night. Lily noticed it but chose to continue what she was about to say.. “Where else? At Woodhill University!”

“Why on earth would I—HEY!”

And thus the gremlin literally dragged me towards their pack mansion. Where we used to play when we were kids..

“I think I’m not allowed to go there, Lily..” I tried to reason but the girl just continued to tug me inside.

“Didn't I tell you already? You are enrolled! That part is really true, you know!”

I meant their pack mansion but..

“I can just drop out–” I started to say as now she is currently scanning her clothes and putting it up in the air to imagine me wearing it.

“--you can, technically. But that would mean you have to wait for months to continue your last year of university!”

Shit. That's right. Is this why she was so tense last night? Her mother forgot all about this stupid new rule of these universities nowadays..

But I think that's fine.. Johanis is a year older than me, so he is already a graduate, I think.. I should just look for a dorm there since Woodhill University is far from Midnight Pack and…

Wait.. Why on earth am I thinking about this now!? Geez, Lily had really gaslit me!

“Johanis already left. He grumbles about having this ice hockey opening game against those Bloodbury kids. Although I reckon he's quite excited to crush them! He also won't be coming back here at the pack for three weeks, I think? So, if you're really planning to go back with your father once he came here to drag you away, now’s your last chance to see my annoying brother!”

She smiled like she didn't just drop such shocking things.

Nevermind that I’m reminded yet again that my furious father is marching his way to pick me up but.. Johanis is still at university!? Why and how on earth did that happen!? It is impossible for him to skip school! I literally just can't imagine him doing so.

And…

“Ice hockey!?!”

Lily jumped out of shock with my shrill voice. “Uhh, yes? Hani’s the captain actually.”

The captain of the what now!?!?!

“There's an ice hockey rink here in the South?!” Another shocking truth that I only found out now.

“Have you been living inside a cave all this time?! There's an ice hockey rink everywhere now! Even at Bloodbury and at the far far west of Redburg!”

Well, yes.. I kinda lived inside a cave but I don't want her to know that. She might actually cry because this kid is so softhearted. And Cladbridge is on the northern side so our place there is icy and snowy, which is why ice hockey is quite common there, but.. here?? In the south???

Anyways, Lily finally found me a cute and simple blue dress. One that is quite new. She said that it doesn't fit her so she gave it to me. With this evil grin written all over her face. I don't even wanna know why..

Since I can't wolf out, and we have lots of things to bring (Lily actually had three luggages), there was a car parked in front of us.

And one Beta Rio bickering against their young mistress. It seems like he's still the beta here at Midnight.

“As I said young mistress—”

“Don't call me that! It makes me sound like a child!”

“You are actually still a child—Oh! There you are Aya!” Beta Rio smiled as he saw me. “So this is why the young master was extra sulky this morning.”

“Huh?” I blinked twice, wondering what he meant.

“I heard that you’re going back up North? Which was why he's now invested in taking revenge to those innocent Bloodbury players..”

First, Lily. Now Beta Rio.. Johanis wouldn't really be that harsh on them, right?