I was standing in the middle of the room, with warm tears streaming down my face, and it didn't matter how much I tried I couldn't stop them.
I couldn't believe what had just happened. My mind started focusing on what I could feel and see, to check if it was really happening. The wood scent of the packhouse, the dim light, the white musky odor of my mate, the metallic taste in my mouth for biting my cheeks. Romer was there in front of me, his eyes felt unfamiliar, distant. They were full of anger and disappointment, and he never looked me like that. His dark blue looked like black and for the first time I was scared. He turned his head, like only my sight disgusted him, and I started feeling my legs losing their power. "You betrayed me, Lya!" His voice was powerful and just like a thunder it made me fall on my knees. "You knew how much I trusted you, you knew I would do anything for you and of all people you were the one that stabbed me in back" My heart ached in pain for him. I knew exactly what he meant, but still how couldn't he believe me when I told him that it was all a misunderstanding. Five minutes before we were in the dance hall laughing and making plans for the future, and now this. He had to believe me. “Romer, no, please believe me, this is all a misunderstanding” I tried to talk but the voice was stuck in my throat, and barely a whisper came out. “I would never hurt you, I love you…” and I tried to stretch my arm to touch his. I needed his touch, his warmth. He retracted his arm, and looked at me in full disgust. His jaw clenched, and his eyes became even darker. He was close to losing control and if his wolf took over it would become a disaster. “Don't you even dare say that. You call this love? Do you even know what that word means? Because if you knew it, you wouldn't be here betraying me with him. You just gave me the proof that you never cared about me and that you cannot be trusted.” My chest tightened even more. I felt like I couldn't breathe anymore in that room and my head started feeling dizzy. This couldn't be happening, he is my mate, we are destined to each other by fate. We should feel safe together, but he was giving up on us and was throwing away all we had together like it was nothing. Sobbing and with my hands trembling I said "You can’t leave me, Romer, we’re mates. We’re destined to be together. Fate brought you back to me after all…" “Stop it” His shoulders stiffened and for a moment I thought I got through his defense, but then his voice turned cold and just, just like his whole body, and said "Fate made a mistake in this case. I reject you Lya, we're done, have all the fun you want with him" A terrible excruciating pain spread through all my chest, and I felt like something was ripping oof all my bones. It was my wolf Nyx, that by hearing the last words was in pain and all of her power was fading out, as she didn't want to live a life without her mate. I felt hitting the ground with my head and with the last bit of energy I tried to call him, but just saw his back while he was going out of the door. I open my eyes and saw that I was in my room. It was a nightmare, again. My body was full in sweat, my hands trembling and the sheets were all twisted. The pain of the rejection still was strong and I hadn't heard Nyra anymore since that night. It's been six months and still I felt like I could never breathe properly. I still couldn't sleep without reviving that night in my dreams, and without thinking about what could I had done differently during the day. My mom's soft hand touched my shoulder. She turned in my personal nurse during all this time, if it wasn't for all her love and cures probably I wouldn't be here now, but I don't know if to be grateful to her or feel trapped in a life I was not sure I wanted to live without him."Lya, honey, it was just a nightmare” said my mom softly. Her green eyes were filled with tears, but she was holding them back just to give me a bit of strength. Probably she would cry while I was at the University, but in front of me my parents were trying to be strong and had always comforting words. I automatically hugged her, and she hugged me even tighter. She always had this power of calming me without saying much. And during these tough months just these moments felt like I was living again. Tears streamed down my face, and she didn't even try to stop me. Her hand started making circles on my back and slowly I felt them slowly drying out. When she noticed I was calmer she pulled back, took my chin and looked at me with her beautiful green golden eyes, and said “I made pancakes and your favorite tea, so get up, have a shower and come downstairs” “Mom I don't feel like…” “You'd rather let your body decompose on this bed, while years pass by? Or you can get up and do something
The voice took me away from my thoughts, and I blinked to see if it was really him talking. Niall, the Alpha’s son, standing in front of me with his constantly fake friendliness, that was trying to hide badly his enormous ego and arrogance. His presence brought me immediately on edge. "Mind if I sit?" he asked, but he didn’t even wait for my answer and started pulling out the chair across from me."Yes," I said sharply, with my voice purposely cold. "That seat’s only for my real mate and my real friends. You are none of them" Niall's smile faltered and I clearly noticed a flash of irritation crossing his face before he quickly went back his usual fake smile. "Lya, it’s been over six months. You need to move on. Romer’s not coming back." My jaw tightened and the familiar ache in my chest growing stronger. "That’s absolutely none of your business. As I said before that seat is only for my real mate and my real friends. You belong to none of them.” Niall leaned forward slightly, and
"You deserve better," Cara said softly. "You don’t have to settle for him or anyone else. You’ll find your way through this." I gave a faint smile and was very grateful for their support, but deep down, the pain of Romer’s rejection still burned. He believed I had betrayed him, and no matter how many times I replayed our last conversation in my head, I just couldn’t figure out how to convince him it was all a misunderstanding. He had trusted me, and now that trust was shattered. How could I ever make him see the truth? "Thanks, girls" I murmured with my voice barely audible. She leaned back against the bench, staring up at the sky through the branches, and started thinking how could I ever move on when my heart still belonged to the one person that I could never have anymore? Tara gave a gentle squeeze to my hand, bringing me back to the present. "Let’s not think about him right now. Let’s just focus on getting through today." Cara, always the optimist, flashed a bright smile. "
Sitting at the bar, enjoying a drink with his friends there was Darius. He was inconfondibile. His sleek black hair with a white stripe on the front were his mark. When he moved to Silverwood last year with Romer many had commented about his looks, but after some too close encounters the talks quickly faded. What is he doing here? Could it mean that Romer is with him? And just this thought caused my heart to race.Then he suddenly stood up and started walking to the exit. Without hesitation I said to the girls “I'll be right back” and started following him. Tara and Cara where shocked as they didn't know what happened, but seeing my face they didn't even try to stop me. Trying to hide myself I hurried after him, with my pulse racing inside my ears with a mixture of fear and hope. Maybe he could tell me how Romer is or maybe I could even meet him. Darius had parked on the other side of the lot and as soon as he got into his car I decided that I would follow him wherever he'd go. I tr
ONE YEAR BEFOREIt was the week before Tara’s birthday, and even though she wasn’t quite at the official mating age yet, she was still totally excited about the event. Tara would be turning 20, and as always, it was a chance for the three of us to celebrate together. We spent nearly every moment of that week planning her birthday. It wasn’t going to be anything fancy, just a small cake at Tara’s home with her family, and then we’d head out for a girls' night. Simple, but perfect. We were sitting in the university cafeteria, at our usual spot by the large windows that overlooked the campus courtyard. The afternoon sun streamed in, with its golden light across our table, it warmed up the whole atmosphere, as we excitedly went over the final details for the party. "So, the cake is sorted, right?" I asked, glancing over Tara’s shoulder at her notebook. "Yep, chocolate with raspberry filling. My mom’s favorite, obviously," Tara replied with an exaggerated eye roll, making Cara and me
His smile deepened, a teasing glint in his dark blue eyes. "Glad to see you have not forgotten your childhood friend" I gasped, a flood of memories suddenly rushing back to me. Summer afternoons spent running through the woods, chasing each other by the river. Laughing so hard we couldn’t breathe. The secret treehouse we had sworn no one else would ever find. It was really , Romer. My childhood friend, the one who had disappeared when we were still kids. He had moved to a far away pack and even if we promised each other to keep in touch, but years passed by and slowly we stopped writing. I stared at him, my heart hammering in my chest. "Romer?" I whispered, almost afraid to say it out loud. It didn’t seem possible. I thought I would never meet him again, but now look at him, he was there standing in front of me, making my body feel unknown sensations that I couldn't even understand properly. He smiled even more at the sound of his name with his blue eyes softening, and turning in
The girls were completely in awe and I could feel my cheeks reddening up just like that day. Romer was again looking at me and say with a soft smile on his face “I would say the same even today, I've never seen such beautiful eyes like yours Little Wolf” I couldn't help but make the brightest smile ever and said to the girls “can you imagine me? A little girl who just changed completely her life, had gone through a lot of bad events and finally finds someone who doesn't label her as strange for having one amber eye and a blue one. I immediately decided I had to be friends with this guy” With a smirk on his face he said “You are belittling what I saw. Your eyes are not just amber and blue. The warm notes of caramel brown are beautifully mixed with green and orange notes, reminding me of the beautiful forest in autumn. On the other side there's this super light blue, with turquoise and green stripes that make me think of forests in the summer with the green trees and and fresh blue wa
We stood next to my car, and every time I thought we’d finally said everything we could, one of us would bring up something new, and we’d dive right back in. I didn’t want the day to end. I felt completely at ease. No worries about the studies, or about the future. I could just feel the warmth of a talk with an old friend. As the sky turned from gold to deep blue, I glanced at my phone. The time read far later than I expected and I said "You know, Romer, I never thought I’d see you again. Not like this." "I knew I would come back to you, I just wasn't sure about when it would happen.” I admitted softly. "I’m glad you’re here." He smiled, that familiar warmth in his eyes, and for a brief moment, I felt like the world was perfect again. It was like I had my childhood back, and like a piece of me was again at its place. But as the last rays of sunlight faded, reality began to creep back in, and we agreed that we had to go now. Clumsily we hugged and promised each other to m
We finally reached Romer’s car, and when he turned on the heater I immediately felt my body relief for the longed warmth.“Instead of staying here parked, couldn’t we just… go somewhere?”He turned to me with a curious smile, his dark blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Where to?”“Anywhere,” I blurted out, feeling my face flush with heat. “Anywhere… where you are.”The words hung in the air between us, and I could feel my cheeks burning as I looked away. But Romer didn’t tease me. Instead, his smile softened, and he looked almost as happy as I felt nervous.“Anywhere, huh?” he said, starting the car. “Let’s see where this takes us.”We drove through the quiet streets, with the afternoon rays starting to turn gold and I found myself saying “So…mmmm…I have been thinking about asking your for a long time, but…yeah…”“Just say it Fluff, I won't bite.” He said with a smirk on his face while not moving his eyes from the road.I took a deep breath, trying to calm my voice and then just spit
That moment with Romer felt endless, but quickly it was shattered as we heard the footsteps of someone walking to us. I left abruptly his hand and I caught the disappointment in his eyes, before we both turned to see who it was.It turned out to be Niall. He looked at us in a way that profused amusement and malice. Now in the daylight I could see the striking resemblance between him and Romer, but where Romer’s presence made me feel safe, Niall’s held a darker edge, a predatory confidence that set my nerves on edge.His curly hair, wilder and less controlled than Romer’s, framed his strong jawline. He carried himself with that same arrogant swagger he always had in the last years, his broad shoulders moving easily under the thin sweater he wore, as if the cold didn’t even touch him. That was another thing they both had in common, they looked like they were totally immune to the freezing temperatures. All werewolves have high body temperatures, but these two were something else. They
Circa one year before.The Sunday after the disastrous encounter between Romer and Niall felt oddly quiet, like the world had been drained of its usual energy. After all the emotions of the previous night, even if everything turned out for the best, I was still feeling nervous. It felt like I was starting to understand all that happened just now, and I needed something to work this energy out.I was caught in the middle of my thoughts when my phone buzzed. It Romer, asking if I wanted to go for a walk, and his timing couldn't be any more perfect. I texted right back, agreeing to meet him outside my home, and hurried upstairs to change into warmer clothes. "The day was cold, but clear, it makes the perfect weather for a romantic walk." Said Nyra with a smirk on her face."Don't even start with such things, he just asked me to go for a walk. Stop building castles on the sand."As I pulled on a jacket, my mind wandered back to our childhood. When Romer had left, I tried to lock away tho
I took a deep breath. Put the backpack over my shoulder and slowly, I opened the window just enough to slip through it. I was hit by the cool night air, and turned to look at my room for what was the last time. I had done this a lot last year, sneaking out for late-night walks or secret rendezvous with Romer. But tonight, it was different, I was leaving, not only the house, also everything I once thought I could trust and couldn't anymore.I slowly and carefully began my descent, and reached the thick branch of the three, that grew under my window.I lowered myself down until I finally felt my feet touching the ground. I adjusted my backpack and looked around, trying to decide where to go. The woods surrounding my house were familiar to me, but it was risky to there alone without shifting. My backpack was too big to hold on my mouth and at the same time I couldn’t afford to leave my things behind. I needed a place to go, somewhere I could think, without the terrible heavy feeling insi
My mother tried desperately to calm the situation, and in a sweet but trembling voice said "Lya, sweetheart, please try to understand. If Niall, has feelings for you, it’s not something to fear. It’s not a bad thing. It’s an honor. Do you realize what this could mean for you? You would become our Luna, a role with so much power, and you could do so much good in that position.”Her words felt like they cut through me, leaving a cold pit in my stomach. “Honored?” I said with a sarcastic tone,barely able to control myself anymore. “You expect me to be grateful to Niall? Even if you know he is the reason why I felt my heart literally breaking every day in the last months?”“Lya, please,” my father interrupted, his tone firmer now but tinged with sorrow. “You need to calm down and think this through. You’re young. You don’t see the bigger picture yet. This is about survival, about protecting you, about keeping us safe in the pack. If Nial wants to be with you, it’s something we should cons
Tara didn’t show up at school the next Monday. It wasn’t a surprise. When I asked Cara, she confirmed what I had already suspected.“She spent the whole night with Darius,” said with a knowing smile on her lips. “and came back just when Mom and Dad were finishing breakfast.”I laughed and said“How did they take it?” Cara shrugged. “They weren’t thrilled, but they didn't try to stop her either. After all, they got married a week after their mate bond kicked in. It’s kind of a family tradition at this point.” She laughed even more.I nodded, but my mind started going elsewhere. The thought of Tara finding her mate and being so blissfully happy was bittersweet. I was happy for her with all my heart, but at the same time I couldn’t stop imagining how it could have been for me, how it should have been. Romer might have rejected me, but the bond between us still throbbed painfully in my chest. I couldn’t stop loving him, no matter how much I tried. Cara must have sensed my thoughts becaus
Tara started walking slowly towards Darius. Her expression was tense but his was totally relieved, like he finally got what he had been waiting for a long time.When she reached him, he took herhands and softly he pulled her to his chest and hugged her tightly. The room was silent, everyone amazed by this magic moment of natural bonding that hit once again in a beautiful way.Some closest relatives came forward to give their congratulations, but I waited as I wanted them to size every bit of these first moments together. I knew how they felt, and I wished with my whole heart that they would last forever. After the crowd dissipated I went to them, I hugged Tara and whispered on her ear “Tara, I'm so happy for you.”“Thank you. I—I still can't believe it’s real.” Her voice still trembling for the emotion.I laughed softly, pulling back just enough to meet her face. Then I turned to Darius, who was not wearing his usual serious face, but had a small smile. “So, Darius,” I teased, raisin
Illuminated by just the yellow light of the vanity dress of my bedroom, I slipped into a black midi dress. Its soft silky fabric hugging my figure just enough to feel elegant without too much effort. I reached for my earrings, small drops of silver and took a deep breath, trying to center myself. It wasn’t working.My thoughts kept drifting back to Darius.This past week, it felt like he was everywhere. We’d bump into each other in the hallways at Silverwood University, catch glimpses across the training grounds, and even cross paths at the café. But each time I wanted to talk to him about Romer, he’d vanish.Tonight, though, wasn’t the time to dwell on him. Tara’s twenty-first birthday was in full swing, and I was determined to focus on her and not on the confusion brewing in my chest. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I reminded myself firmly “Tonight is about Tara, not Darius. Just Tara.”I headed downstairs, where Dad was waiting to take me to the party. “You look beautiful,
Alpha Varek sighed, rubbing his temple as if trying to ward off a growing headache. “They are my guests, Zorya, and they will be treated as such. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is. I’m tired enough as it is and definitely not in the mood to have a discussion with you.” Zorya’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she fell silent, though I could see the simmering anger in her eyes. The Alpha turned back to us, gesturing for us to enter the living room. We settled onto the soft leather sofas, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on. “Now, Lya,” Alpha Varek began, his voice calm but firm. “Tell me what happened.” I swallowed, gathering my thoughts before I spoke. “Niall…he... just didn't want to leave me alone. I told him to back off as he was way too close to me, but he didn’t listen... and just came even closer. Romer heard my pleads and ...stepped in to divide us, and things…got out of hand.” Alpha Varek nodded slowly, turning his gaze to Romer for confirmat