Chapter 0005

Lila

I held my breath as I stared into his eyes. I had never come across any creature with eyes like his.

His raven black hair was already messed up, covering a part of his face. The tips of his hair had a little silver in them, making it even more beautiful under the moon light.

My hands had involuntarily held his broad shoulders.

Even with the suit on, I knew he was bigger than he looked.

My eyes left his own eyes to explore the rest of his face. His straight nose looked too perfect to be real and his devil red round lips were just a little apart from each other.

The tiny space between his lips made me curious of the world that existed in there.

He batted his dark lashes before raising me to my feet.

"Are you okay?" He asked again.

My legs trembled at the sound of his angelic voice. Even though his question was a kind one, I struggled to find emotion in his voice.

He didn't sound like what he was asking.

"Y…..y…Yes." I stuttered, looking away from him to prevent myself from ogling more.

"Here is your bag." He held out my lunch bag.

Oh, I had even dropped that.

"I caught it before it fell to the ground. Anything in there is not broken, I assure you." He was so formal with his words, I could mistake him for a pack Beta.

Not like I would be surprised if he was one anyway.

"Thank you." I smiled at him but he didn't reciprocate my smile so I ended it.

"Very well then." He nodded before walking away from me.

I simply stood there, watching as he walked away from me. Something about that man was compelling. I was almost moved to run after him.

His firm body rigidly moved as he walked away from me. His hands stayed by his side, like a soldier and his hair bounced as he walked.

His walking posture was as perfect as his beauty.

Was he a part of our pack?

How come Vivian hadn't spoken about a man so beautiful?

Just then, I remembered that my step mother had talked about Eclipse pack's visit to the Alpha's mansion tonight.

He must be from Eclipse pack then.

Amber hadn't spoken to me since I decided to yield the Alpha's invitation.

Was she possibly mad about my decision?

"Lila?" My father called me from a distance, chasing away all the thoughts I had of the beautiful man.

"Dad!" I then remembered how long he had been gone to the Alpha's office.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.

Did I still look sick and rejected?

"Of course I am." I answered, confused at his question.

"You didn't wait by the car." He stated, looking slightly annoyed.

Oh!

I had wandered away to the garden, forgetting everything that had happened earlier.

"I'm sorry dad. I got bored waiting and decided to take a stroll." I apologized and he smiled at me.

"It's fine. Let's go." He held me by my shoulder as we made our way into the mansion.

"What did you talk about with the Alpha?" As soon as I asked him that question, I felt his body tense up.

An angry frown formed on his face and anger blazed in his eyes.

"Uhm….Is everything okay dad?" I asked him, surprised at his sudden reaction to my question.

Did dad say something rude to the Alpha because of Aiden?

Had the Alpha decided to punish him over that?

He stopped walking and turned to me.

"Lila, whatever happens in there, do not be pressured into doing something you do not wish to do." He advised, his both hands weighing on my shoulders.

"Okay?" Why was he like this all of a sudden?

I'm sure his discussion with the Alpha had something to do with this.

"Good." He nodded before proceeding to the dining area in the mansion as directed by one of the mansion servants.

The way he spoke and acted gave me an uneasy feeling.

"Are you okay?" I asked him this time, getting anxious over his advice.

….. whatever happens in there?....

Where the hell did that come from?

"I'm fine." He answered with a small smile, pulling my cheek playfully.

I wanted to smile too and believe there was nothing off about him but I knew that was impossible. 

He didn't look like he was ready to talk about anything so I let it be.

I was still going to find out tonight anyway.

"Lila! It's so nice to see you again." We were welcomed by the Luna.

She was here too?

"Thank you Luna." I bowed curtly, earning a pat from her.

She directed us to seats at the dining table.

Already, different dishes had been served on the dining table. I wanted to have them but my worry wouldn't let me.

I was really worried about the meeting tonight.

The alpha was going to walk in any moment from now.

I made a million guesses in my heart on what the Alpha was going to say.

His discussion with my father must surely have a link with whatever was about to happen. And if the discussion had my dad so uncomfortable,then it was trouble.

The Alpha was a really good person, I doubt  he was going to do anything that might hurt me.

On the other hand, I tried to imagine what Miguel would look like. If he was rumoured cursed,then he must look cursed.

Would he have a big scare on his face? Would he have dead eyes,eyes that I would stare at for the rest of my life.

Did he have wild hair?

Since I had never seen him before, my guesses were numerous.

After waiting for a while, the Alpha finally joined us.

We exchanged pleasantries before having our seats again.

Maybe it was because my father was the pack's Beta or because I was Aiden's fated mate. Whatever the case was,the royal family seemed to act familiar with my father and I.

As we took our seats, I hoped in my heart that Aiden never showed up.

"Lila….." The Alpha began, smiling a little at me.

"Alpha."I responded, bowing a little.

"It was heart warming that night when I saw Aiden's image on the crystal ball when you touched it." 

I tried my best not to remember how happy I was to have had Aiden as my mate.

"I felt your marriage with him was going to strengthen the bond between both families. A Beta with an Alpha? That was a rare bur powerful bond. It got me excited for you both, until…." His voice fell at the last word he said.

It was evident he also didn't approve of Aiden's decision to reject me.

If only they knew who had made him do what he did.

"It was disheartening when I learned that Aiden had dared to reject you." I glanced at the Luna.

She had a look of pity on her face.

So they were both willing to accept me as Aiden's mate?

That meant I wasn't as bad as Vivian had made me seem after all.

"I'm truly sorry for all the hurt that you passed through because of Aiden. He hadn't thought about how difficult it must have been for you to heal from his rejection." As the Alpha spoke,all the hurt I felt that night returned bit by bit.

"I hate to say this Lila but the fact that Aiden had rejected you was a dent on your image." I shot my head at the Luna, staring at her wide-eyed as she spoke.

"What?" What the hell did she mean by dent on my image?

"Lila, what I'm trying to say is…..no other wolf would want to be with you, ever."

My hands fell from the table as those words left her mouth.

What?

No other wolf would want to be with me?

How miserable had my life gotten that I had to die alone?

So I was going to be by myself until my death?

Is this what the Alpha had invited us over to say?

To tell me to my face that I was always going to be miserable and alone.

Misery and loneliness had been my characteristics for a while now but not at this level.

This was just the peak of it all.

"So this is my end?" I said in barely a whisper, tears flowing freely from my eyes.

I guess I wouldn't have to be with the cursed wolf then.

I'm sure even he would reject me too.

Wasn't it just better I allowed Veronica and Vivian beat me to death?

There was nothing else to live for anyway.

All these years, I had hung on because of hope. Hope that I would meet my fated mate who would snatch me from the wicked hands of my step mother and step sister, and treat me like a queen, his queen.

I had hoped that I would someday leave the house to have a happy family of my own.

But now…..all of those dreams were dead.

They died the moment Aiden rejected me.

Aiden and Vivian had both taken my happiness away and left me to suffer more misery, alone.

"Hey…" My father cooed, squeezing my shoulders lightly.

"It's not the end of the world my dear." The Alpha stood up, addressing me.

What?

It's not the end of the world?

But it is, at least for me.

"I invited you and your father over because I have a proposal for you Lila. One that would repair the damage my son had caused you. I'm willing to pay for his sin Lila." The Alpha spoke with such hope as if there really was a solution to my eternal crisis right now.

"But Alpha, I can't have a mate anymore." I whimpered.

"You still can. There's still one wolf that can be mates with you. You don't have to end up alone Lila." The Luna spoke this time, smiling.

My instincts already told me they were going to propose that I married the cursed wolf, a beast.

Vivian had already hinted that he was going to be here.

I guess I really was taking Vivian's place with Miguel.

"You can make your choice Lila. No one's forcing you, you know?" My father sounded desperate as he spoke.

Desperate to make me decline the Alpha's offer even before he proposed it.

Now I get why he was so mad. The Alpha had told him everything aforehand and he didn't approve of it.

"Lila,how would you like to be married to the strongest warrior of Eclipse pack?"