Dedicated to- OdonnaPickell
Ms_JulieAnn
Alkira's pov -
Some people say that when we wait to see a person whom we hold close to our heart after a long time we get butterflies in our stomachs. We can't stop ourselves from revisiting the memory lane filled with happy moments with them. A stupid smile is there on our faces the whole time. The excitement laced with longing makes it a bitter-sweet moment. The wait is worth it if, in the end, we get to spend the rest of our life in their arms.
Others say that the waiting period is cruel. It slowly kills them as they have to wait for their special person. Each passing second is a burden as they were separated from their loved ones. They want time to increase its pace. They are restless and anxious to meet them.
But what can anyone say about my case?
My so-called mate loved me like there is no tomorrow but it turn out to be a lie, a big fat lie. He played me like a pawn in his own games. So how can I wait for him with a welcoming smile and twinkling eyes? Like nothing ever happened and everything is fine! My heart is filled with so much hatred for him that sometimes I fear for the people who are with me. I am afraid that maybe I will pollute them with my malice. They are good people. I am afraid if they saw me like this they will leave me for good and I will be broken-hearted, once again.
'Kira, don't you dare to think that. You are nothing like what you are saying. It is all rubbish. You are a good person. You are heartbroken by the fact that 'he' whom you once loved was the one to hurt you.
You are only sad and to add to your sadness you didn't mourn your family and pack members. It is what is eating you alive and you are too stubborn to admit it. But don't worry someday someone will knock sense into your thick skull. And for now, all we can do is wait. So no more self-loathing, get that.'
"Okay, Sira," I mumbled in my mind. My exasperation was clear but I couldn't say more.
I had changed into comfortable clothes which included a light red color tank top and blue shorts. It is a bit revealing but I have worn them with a purpose. My mate was informed an hour ago and till now he has been a no-show. Dr. Russell told me that he is in a meeting. He called me Luna when he saw that I was awake. To make my act better and more believable I shed a few tears and refused to accept the title saying that my mate died several years ago when my pack was brutally killed in a rogue attack.
He tried to convince me but I was inconsolable. The best part was when the doctor's eyes moistened a little at the end of my play showing me that he was completely trapped in my lie.
I felt a little awful for playing with his emotions but that was the demand of the situation. I did what needed to be done.
"Una."
I shifted in my seat and looked towards the door. There was a little girl standing by the door. She was around nine and her lisp was adorable. I motioned with my hand for her to come inside. She was wearing a pink color frock with a matching hairband. All in all, she was a cute little thing. I instinctively stretched my hand. She grabbed it and settled herself in my lap.
"What is your name, sweety?"
"Wose, Una."
"You can call me Kira."
She nodded shyly and made herself more comfortable in my lap. In her wiggling, she winced a little alerting me that something was wrong.
"Are you all right Rose?"
She remained quiet. Looks like I need to change my tactics for her to open up to me.
"Sweety, I am your Luna, right? And Luna is like a mother to all the pack members. A mother takes care of her children. Won't you tell your mother what is bothering you?" I said while gently stroking her arms.
"He whited me."
Her voice was a mere whisper but I heard it loud and clear.
She was whipped.
My blood boiled at the thought of someone hitting a nine-year-old. What sort of people live here? They are not people, they are monsters.
"Who hit you darling and why?"
"I was a woughe. They caught me and whittd me. But meewa di saved me."
Rogue. She is just a child. How could they?!
That's it. I am taking her with me. She won't be able to survive here. I will take care of her.
"What if I say you can come with me to my pack and live there, will you come with me?"
"eally?"
"Yes, now go and pack your bag. I will talk to your Alpha."
She got off my lap and bounced over to the door. I was about to shout for her to be careful when my nose picked up a scent. It smelt like lemons. My wolf too became alert.
"Ira. I missed you."
I didn't get the time to respond as the next thing I know that he was hugging me. His hands caressed my back leaving a trail of goosebumps as it went. He was also saying something to me but I was no longer listening.
I was a mess, a huge emotional mess.
His voice is the same as before just a little more deep and sexy. He is more built. I can feel his firm chest and solid muscles pressed against my soft form. He smelt of lemons and his favorite deodorant.
I had prepared myself for many scenarios but in each and every one I hadn't thought about him touching me. I don't have any romantic feelings for him that is clear but what can I do about the mate bond? It is weak, very weak but it is still there.
My eyes glistened, thinking about how his hugs used to provide me warmth and comfort. But now it is empty and cold just like a winter night without stars. His words, his romantic gestures that used to be my solace are now nothing more than rustic distant memories.
He broke the hug and saw moisture in my eyes. He mistook them as tears of joy and hugged me again this time more tightly. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and my arms tightened a bit thinking about the past. He doesn't deserve my hugs and smiles. He doesn't deserve even an ounce of happiness from me.
Cries of distress from people of my pack filled my ears, and images of women and children getting slaughtered by those brutes swarmed my mind. I strengthened my resolve of getting revenge. My mind took over my heart and I firmly grasped the reins of this situation. This time I broke our hug and whispered shyly.
"I missed you too. I thought you were dead along with everyone. But you are alive!"
"Yeah."
He said quietly and kissed my forehead. I felt so dirty. It took everything in me to stop myself from taking a step back. I was repulsed by his kiss. I held my breath and counted to three before releasing it. I had to keep myself under control. So instead I gave him a small smile.
"How did you survive?" I continued my act and said lightly.
"First, you have to sit down. You just got discharged and need to gather your strength. I don't want you to faint on me again. I don't like the feeling I get whenever you are hurt. It hurts me too."
His sugary words have no effect on me but still, I nodded and sat down on the bed. He too sat beside me and captured my small hands in between his large ones. He applied slight pressure to shift my attention from our joined hands to his blue orbs and began speaking.
In my mind, I was again counting but this time to a hundred to even out the bubbling anger. I prepared myself to hear out his lies with full attention like it will solve the big mystery that is my life! But I would be lying if I say that I am not the least bit interested in hearing his story. So with fake concern and little curiosity, I began my torture.
"It was the scariest night of my life. Everywhere I turned my head and the farthest my eyes went it was red. War cries can be heard from miles away. I tried my best to help anyone I could. I was severely injured. My head was throbbing with pain and blood was gushing out of the wounds all over my body. I heard you shouting for help and went in the direction but I had only taken a few steps when I lost consciousness." He kept looking at me to see my reaction. So I played along.
"Your uncle was the one who found me. He took me under his wing and helped me. When I was healthy enough, we together begin our search to find anyone from our pack. First, we went to the packhouse. As we reached it my mind became blank. The house was set on fire. What once was a beautiful place full of life and energy now was nothing more than a charred and broken structure devoid of any sign of life.
But still, we searched for months to find any clue which will indicate that any of you were alive but we got nothing. My connection to you was also not there so I thought to end my life."
I gasped a little and to give the desired effect I widened my eyes and grabbed his hand a little tightly. I shook my head showing him that I was not willing to believe it.
"It is in the past Ira, I am fine now. No need to stress about it." He said a bit firmly. I choked on my words and told him to continue.
"I was about to jump off the cliff when Samira stopped me. She told me that if you were to be watching over me from heaven you would never want me to end my life like that. She also asked me who will take care of her if I die. She was right. So I continued with my life taking care of her but from inside I was dead.
After a year, she said that I should date someone else as she would never want me to live my life alone and depressed. I tried to move on for her sake but wasn't successful. You were always on my mind. After some months when your uncle's health started declining, I stopped dating and dedicated all my time towards his health and his duties. He was impressed by my work so he offered me to be his beta. I accepted that offer thinking it will help me to take my mind off of you and indeed it helped. Samira too helped me. Sometimes she and I would sit together thinking about you for hours. Thinking how different our life would be if you were alive? How happy we could be?
As time passed by and your uncle was not recovering well so he made me his heir and soon after that he died. Your aunt was so heartbroken she couldn't take it and left the pack and I became Alpha.
Years went by and I knew I needed a Luna but my heart didn't agree on choosing someone that was not you. My wolf always believed you will be fine and one day will come back to us. And here you are! Finally, all my prayers are answered. Samira will be ecstatic to see you. She misses you but not more than me."
After finishing his story he hugged me and started stroking my hair. He knows that this relaxes me. But he doesn't know that I don't need his comfort. He can be a good storyteller. The story he told me almost made me believe him but I know better. He can't fool me with his buttery talks.
"Where is Samira? I am dying to meet her." I asked after wiping the tears.
"You take rest for a while. I will bring her to you later."
He kissed me again on my forehead knowing that it was my favorite type of kiss and left. I feel glad that I loved forehead kisses, and I still do, otherwise, I really fear how I would have reacted if he had kissed me on my lips.
Samira is his sister. She is very kind-hearted. But now I am not so sure about it. She was the only she-wolf who talked to me properly. I remember when we got attacked she was not there. As a matter of fact, she was sent to her friend's house to another pack the same morning when the attack happened.
Could it be that she too was involved? What if yes? But what if she is not?
Stop It. Kira! Get hold of yourself. I chided myself for thinking like that.
I can't jump to conclusions. I have to find out on my own without disclosing anything. And if she was in it then she too has to pay for her sins.
FRIENDS OR NOT.