A Final Twist of Fate... のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

The moment Cleo had opened that door it had been so hard not to rush to her. Tell her how sorry I was for acting the way I did. Try to fix things. Because, no matter how she may say things were okay, I had a feeling they weren't. But, my Mum was by my side. I didn't need to be explaining everything to her right now. There was far too much going to add additional complications. And watching Cleo as we walked into the house, I could see all my girl needed was a hug. She was struggling...But, I think, given that she had just lost her Grandpa, that was understandable. They were a close family, and her Grandpa meant a lot to her. Plus, I knew Cleo, she would struggle to see her Mum battle with the grief of losing her Dad too. I just desperately wanted to be there for her. Yet, I could hear Cleo making her excuses to my Mum about what was wrong, and I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else bothering her. She didn’t seem herself, and while I understood grief affected everyone

I sat out in the gardens of our family home, enjoying the small amount of sunshine the day was attempting to offer. A coffee in my hand, and sitting watching the wildlife passing back and forth across the treeline near the end of the garden. I had always loved our large garden of the family home, so well looked after, and so beautiful with all the flowers. Plus, there are so many places to escape to and hide when growing up. The many hours we used to have fun playing hide and seek…Mum and Dad coming looking for us… the squeals of fear and excitement from me and my brother as they found us… I smiled at the fond memories. Back when Mum was still fit and healthy too. That seemed like such a long time ago now. It was difficult to remember her that way when I think of it now. Even though this illness has only been ravaging her body for the last couple of years, it feels like forever. Seeing her body slowly fading…She was having a nap at the moment, allowing me a chance to rest and enjoy

I had chosen to attend warrior training this morning. The beginning of my plan to get myself involved a little more with the pack. This, after all, was going to be my pack. My people. I hoped the more I told myself that, the more I would start to believe it. The more I could accept that I could be an Alpha, because I could not shake the doubt within my mind that me replacing my Grandpa as Alpha was going to be the fall of the River Ash Pack. The fall of the pack that had been in my family for generations.It had been so good to see Kaleb at training too. Being able to spend some time with him after only briefly seeing him yesterday, and most of that had been distracted by the fact I had discovered I was fated for his sister. I hated that I could not share that piece of news with him, but at the same time, I knew he would hate me for the fact I planned to reject her. Hate me for the hurt I would cause her. But, a part of me did wonder if he would understand I was doing it with her best

My feet felt heavy on my legs as I made my way down the corridors of college. Earlier, I had wanted to get home, now it was more a case of I needed to. I needed to be in my own space to fall apart in privacy. I would not allow that piece of shit to see the effect his selfishness had had on me. I was better than that. I needed to get away from Lukas. From the lies and deception he had built around the bubble that was us. I was nothing but a fool. I know that now. Admittedly a fool in love it would seem, going off the pain within my heart, but a fool non the less…I had fallen for all his charm… all his words telling me how I was everything he had dreamed of in a woman. That he had never met anyone that fitted with him like I did. That he was excited to see what the future could hold for us... how beautiful our children could be. That coming to teach here had been twisted into fate because it had meant he had met me. But then came the lies, the reasons for not being able to be with me i

I was in the one place in this pack, a home away from home, that brought me peace. It was a place my Mum had brought me to, to escape the madness of the house one time, her place of peace too when she had grown up. And now, I felt a sense of calm spread over me as Finn’s arms embraced me. I knew he wanted to be there for me. To try to make things better for me. I just wish he could. But right now, I don't know how to make all of this better.I stared down at the pool of water at the bottom of the waterfall. I could spend so long, lost in my thoughts just watching the water falling. I needed to clear my thoughts. Try to decide what I do from here. How I move forward knowing the life with a fated mate I had expected would now no longer be happening…I felt Finn’s arms tighten around me as if he sensed my unease, pulling me closer, more snugly against his chest. The warmth of his body spreading through my own. I could not feel anything but safe in his arms. Safe and content. Something I