Chapter 19
Liora
Standing in my temporary room, I carefully finish pinning up the last of my hair. Tonight is the sixth night since Moonfire was attacked, and I will officially become a member of the pack. Miss Maya and her family are getting ready in another room down the hall, as the ceremony with be taking place just outside. In just ten minutes, when the full moon has risen, I will step
outside with Miss Maya and her family and take my place as beta of Moonfire.
1
“Liora?” Luke’s voice sounds from outside my door, and I smile. Setting my comb down on the
vanity, I walk to the wooden door and open it, stepping to the side when he stumbles in.
“Were you leaning on the door?” I ask while laughing, watching as he straightens.
“The door frame actually. I didn’t think you would open the door,” he grumbles, making me
laugh harder. I take in the red–head’s appearance and note that the track pants and t–shirts he
usually wears when running around the pack are gone, replaced by a pair of fitted jeans and a
dress shirt. His usually untamed hair is slicked back with gel. Every part of him screams male,
and I find myself unable to take my eyes off of him.
“Take a picture, it lasts longer,” he teases, making me blush and flip him off.
“I am not used to you being dressed properly,” I snap back, rolling my eyes. He laughs at this,
making his way close to me and wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“Well, today is a special day. We get a new alpha, Luan, and a beta,” he retorts. I smile.
“And I finally get to sleep in my own home,” I add as we walk out of the room I have slept in for
the last six days.
“Yes. We no longer need you in the pack house, now that schedules have been created and the pack is finally starting to show signs of improvement,” he states with a smile, while we walk down the stairs to the sitting room. The ceremony is not for another few minutes, and I am to stay inside until it begins.
“Even though the attack took so much from us, it kicked Moonfire into gear and forced everyone to open their eyes.” I say nothing after Luke lets out his thoughts. He’s been doing this a lot since I agreed to be beta, him telling me about how the change is needed, and how the attack was what this pack needed to no longer be known as the weakest in the country. He never speaks ill of the dead, which I am glad for. They are gone and their souls are at
peace, and we should leave it that way.
1/3
< Chapter 19
+15 Points >
“I have to ask you something.” After silence settles between us, I watch Luke fidget until he
scoots closer to me on the couch we took over.
“What is it?” Curious to see what is eating at him, I lean back into the soft cushions and watch Luke try to form the question.
“So, why did you ask us not to spread the word that you and Alpha Maya would be leading the pack?” Taken aback by this question, I look outside the window beside me and sigh. I am shocked it took him three days to ask this question.
“My mate, the one who rejected me, is Miss Maya’s nephew,” I begin explaining, feeling the dam in my mind crack. I pray for it to hold for just one more night. I can’t crack while at the
ceremony.
“She was the eldest child of the previous alpha at Stormclaw, but due to pack law, only a male could take the alpha position. That would be Miss Maya’s younger brother. It turns out my mate had an engagement agreement with Caroline Cross of Blood Moon since they were pups, and because of this, he rejected me.” The dam cracks some more and I shudder, the
pain I have kept in for so long starting to seep through.
“I feel like there is more to the story, and I would have accepted it had my ex–mate told me, but he didn’t. Instead, he called me a liar when I stated we were mates, at what I believe to be a trial set up by the alpha and Caroline. He rejected me, and that brandished him with the mark of a betrayer.” I turn my head to see Luke staring at me in shock. I try my best to smile and reassure him I am fine, but even I know the smile doesn’t reach my eyes. Luke moves closer to me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling
Mange in for a hug.
“After the rejection, I was so angry I attacked him, my ex. I think I scarred him, but the
Rejection Mark never formed on me.”
“That’s because the bond was broken. You weren’t mates then, and so you never betrayed the bond like he did,” Luke cuts in, shocking me. Pulling away from the hug, I search his eyes and
see that he is telling me the truth.
“So that’s why,” I muse, smiling. Good. Seth deserved that mark for deceiving and lying to me. Now I don’t feel so bad for scarring him.
“Anyways, after I attacked him, the alpha banished me, and Dan stepped in. It was clear my banishment was planned to keep me and my ex apart, and it was the alpha’s idea. Miss Maya stated that they would leave too, and so that was that,” I finish. Silence settles between us as I focus on pushing back the pain. It has become harder to hold it all in, but after tonight I can let it out. I will be safely inside my cottage, and told Luke and the others not to disturb me for
2/3
< Chapter 19
+15 Points >
three days. I needed to let the pain out finally. To hurt and let the broken bond do its thing, and wallow in my tears. I stayed strong because Miss Maya asked, and I don’t think I can be strong past today. Not until I crumble from everything that has happened to me, and start the healing process.
“That still doesn’t explain why you don’t want other alphas to know about you two leading Moonfire.” Luke pulls away and flicks my forehead, making me laugh for a moment. He’s right, I didn’t really answer his questions.
“It’s because the pack is weak. If others learn two she–wolves are the leaders, they will try to attack us. Especially Stormclaw.” I growl at the thought of Kazil and Seth coming to attack my
new pack. Two days ago, we informed the council about our decision to become the alpha family and beta of Moonfire. We also informed them of the change in pack name, as we believe the wolves here need something new to start fresh. They were accepting of it, but
hesitated when we told them not to disclose our names until the pack has recovered and
grown stronger, but ultimately agreed on the condition that when we were ready to face other
alphas, we would inform the council first.
“I see. I’m glad you are worried about the pack. It means we made the right decision in making
you our beta.” I smile at Luke’s words. I know from our first real chat we had that his mate also
rejected him. Maybe, just maybe, he could be the man I spend the rest of my days with after I
have healed.
“Come on, Beta Liora. The ceremony is about to start, and I am escorting you.” He stands to
his feet and offers his hand to me. Without hesitation, I take it.
