CHAPTER 34: PACKMATES FIGHTING
CHAPTER 34: PACKMATES FIGHTING
Alana's POV
Just days after Axel had mentioned it, Emily arrived from her trip and back to Crescent Moon pack.
She was the exact opposite of Axel and save for the resemblance they both shared, nobody would have reckoned they were siblings.
She was the bubbly and mouthy version of Axel.
While she had the same black and lustrous hair as Axel, hers were packed into thick coils that almost covered her entire back. She had large soulful eyes just like their mom, Luna Valentina.
With her being just a few years younger than me, we would look more like friends than in-laws.
“Axel has changed,” she said to Coral and I.
As soon as the clock struck six, she pulled me from the room saying that I needed to join them in training so that by the end of the day, I would be too tired to go at it with Axel.
I couldn’t be blamed. No matter how hard I tried to be quiet, Axel made sure that I announced to the pack and beyond what it was that we were up to under the covers.
“How do you mean?”
She locked eyes with me and gave me a lopsided grin, and for a moment, she was the perfect image of her brother.
“Before I left the pack, he had just found you. He was already acting differently within a day,” she shrugged. “In a good way.” She quickly added seeing my pinched brows. “And when I got back, he was just…better. You’re good for him.”
Coral fastened the straps on each of her knee guards before tossing a wooden spear to me. One which I could barely catch. I was hopeless.
“You don’t think it’s true?” Coral paused and asked me when I had stayed quiet for longer than necessary.
“I just don’t know if I’m good enough for him.” I sighed heavily, maneuvering the spear in my hand. “Look how much embarrassment I put him through at the party. It was the first time he introduced me to his parents and I practically poisoned them.”
“You didn’t,” Coral interjected with a sad smile on her face. She strolled over to me, took my hands, and continued. “I should be apologizing to you. I should have been more alert. We never should have left the drinks unattended to.”
“No. That’s not right. I was in charge of the party. It was my responsibility and I failed woefully.”
“It’s the other way round, actually. You’re Luna, and we’re supposed to assist you and make sure that everything is in order. Whatever fault comes from any arrangement falls on us, not you. I haven't gotten the chance to apologize to you since then. I’d been more alert, none of that would have happened”
Since the day of the party, I had refrained from going out or going too far outside the house without Axel with me. I didn’t know how the park members would react to me about what happened that day.
“I think she’s right, Alana,” Emily said, flipping her full hair over her shoulder before toying with the blades she had chosen to train with. “I wasn’t there but I think you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. There’s a first time for everything and it’s only sad that things didn’t go according to plan. There will be plenty more opportunities to do better.”
Emily didn’t sound like a sixteen-year-old werewolf. Hell, she was even more mature than me. It was somewhat interesting and intimidating at the same time.
“Thank you, Emily, Coral,” I drew my lips in a tight smile.
“Now, let’s fight.” Coral grinned widely.
“You look a little blunt, Coral.” Emily teased, walking circularly with Coral on the opposite side doing the same. “Are you sure you’ve been training since I've been away? You look a little fat.” She picked her nails nonchalantly.
“I’m so going to enjoy this session, Emily.” Coral laughed.
“Ermm, I think I’ll sit this one out and let you two have it. I’ll be over here.” I didn’t want to be in the middle of two crazy people who thought throwing knives at each other in the early hours of the morning was enjoyable.
None of them regarded me and I happily sat in a corner, watching them and other pack members train.
Emily fought very impressively for a teen wolf who hadn't manifested her second form.
I thought about Axel. How would he fight? A buzz hissed in my skin at the thought of him pointing daggers at someone.
From my peripheral, I saw a familiar figure discussing and giggling with a group of younger girls. It was Kennedy. I hadn’t seen her since the time she gave me the book.
“Hi, Kennedy,” I broke into a small run to meet up with her and her group, leaving the clanging of swords and blades behind, and the spear Coral gave me falling to the ground with a thud.
She fidgeted and glanced around nervously before responding. “Hi, Luna,” she bowed. Her friends followed suit, muttering hi’s and hello’s to me.
“How have you been? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
This wasn’t the energy Kennedy gave off the last time we spoke. She was hiding something. Holding back.
I continued either way. “I wanted to see how you’re doing and thank you again for the book. It was really good like you said. Is everything okay, Kennedy?” I asked with concern.
“Yes, Luna, everything’s fine. I just have to get going. My mom won’t be happy if she hears I was talking to you.”
“What?” My forehead creased. “Why is that? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, Luna. Something about the party last week. I really have to get going, Luna. I’m sorry.” And with that, she and her friends were off.
What was that about? Is this how it is going to be from now on? People avoiding me for a slip? For something I didn't do or intend to happen?
A headache was forming and I pressed in between my eyes to ease the pain.
“Luna Alana.” A voice snickered from behind me. “Who could have thought that this day would come?”
This wasn’t the place or time for bullies to circle me. I should have just stayed indoors like I had been doing for the past week.
“Jerad.” My voice came out low, laced with anger.
Memories of my relationship with Jerad came rushing to the surface. How he and his friends had always teased me. How he had found his mate, Bonnie, and she became his accomplice in making my life hell.
Jerad was older than me by a stretch but he didn’t act like it. He always picked on people who were less his size.
My mind flashed back to the attack. How I had seen Bonnie running and screaming, and how she was shot. How life drained from her body and I was the last face she saw before she slipped away.
Whatever wrath I wanted to unleash on him bled into the air. The loss of his mate was enough punishment and more for everything he had done to me.
“You don’t think you stand a chance at being Luna right?” He said with a sneer. Circling me like a predator.
Technically, I was already Luna. If Axel marked me permanently, there would be no going back. So could these douchebags leave me the hell alone?
“I don’t have time for this, Jerad. I’d leave peacefully if I were you.”
“Oh, she’s making threats now. Alana of all people.” Mockery and disdain painted his voice. “Don’t think everybody will just forget how you tried to kill us with wolfsbane, Alana. You just couldn’t perform a simple task, could you?”
“That’s not true,” I said through gritted teeth, trying so hard to control my emotions. To not let the tears fall and let him see my weakness again, just like he did all those years.
He tutted, shaking his head in contempt. “You’ll always be that Alana. That…”This is from NôvelDrama.Org.
“Get the fuck away from her, Jerad.” Coral barked from behind us, with Emily trailing behind her. “If you know what’s good for you, you will not speak to the Luna in that manner anymore. Alpha Axel can only overlook so much of your drama because of Bonnie. Don’t overstep,” she warned, her nostrils flaring in anger.
With an annoyed grunt and a once-over between the three of us, he left as quickly as he came.
Just when I thought things were going so well, I kept being reminded of the obvious. —I’ve never been a leader, and I’d never be one.—