ValerieLeaning against the nearest pillar, I could still feel the penetrating stares and murmurs of some of the people. Despite not wanting to be noticed before I came here, here I was.With a sigh, I sipped my glass of orange juice. It couldn't be helped anyways. The light music eased my mind from the chatter anyways. Taking the last sip of my glass of fruit juice I looked around at the people roaming dancing and the minibar. The night went on and so did the party, or in this case the after-party of this failed ceremony.Despite the mating ceremony not happening, all the preparations were already put in place and couldn’t be wasted. It was a surprise when after the silence following Alyn's exit, Tristan broke the tension by announcing that tge after-party will still take place. The whispers and murmurs that followed were plenty, but the after-party seemed to have calmed and relaxed everyone.This final party was taking place within the pack house Gardens, a more private yet open s
ValerieBright light pierced my eyes as I opened them. I groaned at the pounding headache forming. Everything felt strange. Too bright, too much. Like a hangover.Which was impossible. I hadn't drank anything. I'd…What happened to me?Any lethargy left completely disappeared as I forced my eyes open despite the harsh glare. Sitting up, I could still feel the harsh effects of the…drug.‘I was drugged’ I inhaled sharply as the remainder of the memories last night slipped in. I could still remember what happened after discovering it. I’d wandered around and heard a…voice.Who’s voice?After adjusting to the light I looked around frantically. This wasn't the pack house but the pack hotel. But it wasn't mine.I jolted from the bed at the salons of the door creaking , whipping my head to find a door opening to reveal…Alistair. In only a towel. “I see you're awake,” he smiled, yet all I could feel was panic. There were too many questions. How had I gotten here? What happened while I was
Valerie “Thanks Mina. I'll talk to you later.”“I can't wait to see you again. Bye for now.”With those words our call finally ended. Sitting up from the bed I stretched my arms, pleasure filled me at the cracks of my joints before I relaxed and looked out of the mirror with a sigh.After falling back asleep for a few more hours before waking up again, I was in higher spirits. Far more refreshed than ever. It didn't hurt that I'd heard nothing but good news from Mina who hadn't had any problems with the flower shop since, albeit teasing complaints about feeling alone.I didn't need to check the time. Solely from the sun alone I could tell it was already past noon. The activities going on below however, were much more interesting. Several of the cars and pack representatives were already leaving. It was still early since most packs aimed to leave later in the evening, Alistair and I included.Perhaps because of that there was no sight of Tristan to send them off. A pang instantly ran
Valerie“Mmmh,”For the second time ever the lights felt too blinding as I felt myself come out of consciousness. The sting of spirits and antiseptic hit my nose before I even looked around. I was in a hospital room.Not just any hospital though. I could recognize the familiar walls of the Blue Moon Pack hospital any day from how much time I'd spent in it in my past life. My throat felt dry as I tried to swallow. One second I was fine and then…I'd…fainted.Trying to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I shut my eyes against the blur and nausea ‘Deep breaths.’ I repeated. Despite that I felt panic.What in Goddess’ name was happening to me? What about my baby?The feeling went away and just as I looked up only to see the door slam open.Alistair and Tristan barged into the room without any fanfare, looking at me in alarm.“Valerie,” Alistair rushed towards me, slipping onto my bedside and taking my hand. “You're awake. I heard noises from outside.” Alistair rushed out. Stil
ValerieI opened my eyes to a familiar mahogany ceiling and soft sheets I never thought I'd be in again. Here, there was no scent of antiseptic in the air. Gone was the faint hum of sterile walls.I wasn't in the pack hospital anymore but the pack house. In my old room.Only a few hours after daybreak I was discharged by the pack doctor who advised me to rest. Stepping out, Tristan was there leading me towards the pack house and spoke of how he'd moved my belongings there. I'd ignored him throughout, never saying a word.I shouldn't have been surprised that they moved my things here on such short notice. Yet waking up for the third time in a completely different yet familiar place made a strange feeling crawl up in me.There was no clear time before the drug would pass according to the pack doctor. It could take a week or weeks at best, all while I had to be careful to not move or be under stress to avoid exacerbating the symptoms.I sighed, feeling my stomach growl. I was hungry, yet
ValerieStepping out felt like a breath of fresh air. Despite only recently being discharged, I couldn't care at the moment.So long I didn't strain myself, everything would be fine. Strolling around the pack city, several stares fell my way that I tried to ignore, yet the few that I noticed felt…different.I was used to the scrutiny and mockery the pack members gave me and could recognize it from a mile away. This? This wasn't it.“Excuse me.” I said after bumping into someone I recognized as but she only shook her head.“I should be the one apologizing, Miss Valerie.” The woman smiled softly before leaving. I couldn't help but gape as she walked away.Bewildered wasn't enough to say the least. After strolling for a while I found myself in a nearby garden area where I remained on a sole bench. Closing my eyes I let myself relax under the nightly breeze.I wasn't sure why, if it was after weeks of staying here and adjusting to the pack once more or this newfound freedom without any
Valerie ‘I should have expected this.’ was my first thought as I met the two of them. There were so many questions that came up in my head, one of them being how did they know i was here? That wasn't hard to answer even though my engagement with the outside world was limited , it would have gotten out in some way whether through the pack or the servants. Not to mention that my fainting had been public as well. There came the other question. Why did they want to see me? Any words I could say were choked up in my stunned state. My mother and father came closer. Close up, my mother's eyes glistened with tears. It looked like she had been in tears before. Had she been crying? Something in my chest tightened at the sight. A long borne feeling filled me to reach out to her and hold her, comfort her in s way I'd always wished to. And then she spoke. “Valerie, why did you do this to Alyn?” My mother cried out. Like an icy bath, I was drawn rudely back to reality. ‘Of course,’
TristanI searched her gaze for anything that would tell me she was okay but her silence was enough to tell me she wasn't. Was she even listening?I forget the sudden glaze in her eyes right before I'd rushed in or the way she was near hyperventilating. Now, the haze was gone, yet she looked at me with a gaze I couldn't decipher. It took everything in me to not shake her if I wasn't afraid that it would do more harm than good.I didn't know what was more unbelievable, the things I'd heard or how fast I'd come here. I'd arrived only less than a minute ago after dealing with business at the border when the nearby guards told me that they had come here. I'd rushed here in the nick of time to know enough of why they came…and her.I swallowed thickly, trying to control my emotions.I'd thought I knew what it was like to be angry, but I'd never felt more enraged and repelled until hearing what her parents, the people who raised me, told her.And then her words, just before I stepped in?
ValerieThe sun hadn't fully risen when I'd reached the pack clinic. There was barely anyone present in the early hours of the morning with very few nurses working their shift. Immediately I entered the familiar room, I met the Pack doctor.If he noticed the tension wrapped around my shoulders, he didn't say, merely giving a small bow.“Miss Valerie,” the older man greeted. The night before he had sent the text, asking me to meet him the next morning. He had never contacted me so abruptly, far from the normal routine set in place. But that was the least of my worries when I saw the content of the text.It was a simple text, requesting that he needed to check up on the traces of the drug in my system.And also, he added in the text, on the baby. THAT was the part that had me the most nervous.The test in itself was repetitive. I'd already gotten used to it through time- a simple blood draw and a basic checkup whilst waiting for the test to run. I went through the motions mindlessly, a
ValerieAs soon as I reached my room I slammed the door shut, trying to not break down. My breaths came out shaky. I didn't know how I was able to keep myself composed for the rest of the day, but as we reached the pack house I was already nearing the brink. Guilt. Pure guilt gnawed at my conscience.‘No more secrets or things from the past.’ The weight of my secret bore down on me like a physical force, making it hard to breathe.I had agreed so damn easily when I knew it wasn't true. I'd made a promise I'd already broken.Because our child was still here, tying us together but I hadn't said a damn thing in the last two weeks.Since the confession it constantly came to mind. Every single day felt like a dream. I spent time with him and helped with his duties. We were working towards healing, towards a future together. Everything felt like this was how it was supposed to be.I'd never been happier, and it was especially in those streaks of pure joy that the thought came to mind th
TristanI could feel her eyes penetrating me without looking at her. I knew what she was thinking even without her emotions seeping through the bond.Shock. Confusion. I kept my face completely neutral, grasping into her hands more firmly and offering a tight squeeze.‘Trust me,’ I tried to convey through the simple gesture, hoping it seeped in through the bond. She didn't say a word or return the gesture, but she didn't pull away either. Her silent assent was clear.A knot formed in my throat as I grazed my eyes over the headstone. For years on end, I'd constantly visited their graves throughout every anniversary, whether it was their birthdays, their death and on my birthdays. All four occasions were still months incoming. This was the first time within the year that I'd had visited them and it felt like a far cry from the last time. I wasn't the man I was a year ago or even months ago. I was different now.An amalgamation of the past mistakes and present decisions. I was blind ba
2 Weeks LaterTristanIt was said that dying or having a near death experience was life changing. It was no doubt the same for having twice the amount.Life had become good to say the least. Nothing could probably compare to the high I was in now. It seemed to make all the weeks of limbo worth it Valerie was with me. We were together.Now, I was waiting for her to arrive.It was a date.This one however was going to be important, because I had a surprise.“Tristan?” The sound of her voice brought me out of my thoughts. I looked up and my world stopped.Valerie was at the head of the stairs. Her silvery blonde hair was let down, letting it rest in its soft waves. The blue dress she wore flattered her frame perfectly, sending a twist of desire through me. She was…“Beautiful.” The words left my lips before I could think it through, but it was worth it to see the flush rise on her face.“Shut up,” she muttered, loud enough to hear, yet whatever snarky she was holding muddled underneath
ValerieThe pack hall had cleared itself in no time. My final glance at Alyn was a final hollow look she gave. As the guards dragged her out, she looked indifferent, completely unresponsive to everything around her. Like she was catatonic.Perhaps some things…some people weren't capable of change.I pushed the thought aside. After talking to the servants to help clear the hall. I turned away, ready to leave-“Valerie,”I froze at the voice behind me. The urge to run away pricked at my skin but this time I turned around. For the first time in days I met the gazes of my parents. It seemed like they had aged nearly ten years with the way they looked at me. Their faces held more wrinkles, their expressions weary and stricken. It felt like deja vu. Once in this same hall I'd escaped before they could see me. Now as they walked towards me this time I wasn't going to try to escape.They moved closer, stopping a few steps away from me. A weight formed my chest as I saw their expressions, a
Valerie The remaining two days flowed by like water. I hadn't realised how exhausted I was until I'd practically fallen dead asleep after returning from the hospital. Immediately I woke up that day I made all the provisions for his return in the meantime. Sophia and the other maids helped attend to me during that time and the rest of the servants deferred to me for orders. For the past few days I had been making any arrangements I could. I was no longer Luna yet it felt like it while I gave orders, organising things. I hadn't realised how much I missed it until now. I felt more at peace, the weight of the responsibility lighter, more welcoming. I constantly moved between the pack house and back to the hospital whenever I was done, staying with Tristan throughout. Whether it was talking, joking or staying in complete silence, I remained with him as long as possible. Throughout those two days, we never talked about Alyn, my parents or the trial that was looming. Perhaps th
Valerie 'What?’ A sharp prickle rose up my skin in shock. Of all the things he would say this was the most unexpected. “Tristan, You can't…” “It's fair and lawful.” He said, his voice neutral, “The consequences for the attempted murder of a Luna is death.” “I'm no longer Luna,” I countered, heart racing. He frowned for a moment, looking at me “Former Luna then. And no matter Alpha,” Something in me clenched. His words were correct, but still. He, who had protected her for most of her life. Even now that he'd cut all ties with her and didn't regard her anymore than as a pack member, Tristan wasn't cruel. But to easily decide this? ‘To kill her?’ “Tristan…” “Valerie,” he responded, turning to me. My breath hitched at the ashen look in his eyes. The shadows of memories I knew nothing of were reflected in them in a way that made my heart clench. “I know everything now.” He breathed out, “The maliciousness in her heart is too deep.There's no way I can let her stay in this pac
Valerie Sitting at the far corner of the room, I watched as Dr Gerard gave light orders to Tristan, checking on him. Despite the high from moments ago I'd still called on the pack doctor to check on him. I had to look at the floor to keep myself composed. I'd been staring too long, and there was only a limit when minutes of tracing the lines of his face, would seem too much. I couldn't help it though. It was proof. Proof that he was alive, with me. That the past few minutes were real. He LOVED me. The feeling settled inside me. After weeks of the strange limbo we were in, it felt like it had finally rested. I thought I could have time to think things over. Seeing him bloodied and pale, sacrificing his life for me, it all became clear. The thought had stated with me for the entirety of the wait. Sitting alone as his sole visitor and tracing his features over and over again, I'd prayed countless times with that one thing in mind. He couldn't die. I couldn't lose him witho
TristanI vaguely heard myself groan as blinding light pierced my eyes. A faint pain dulled my senses, yet as I adjusted to the brightness I could recognize where I was.The hospital.The blur of Alyn's threats, Valerie and the gunshot remained in my mind. And what happened after I lost consciousness…I shifted, attempting to sit up only to halt at a heavy sensation. Turning to my bedside I realised I wasn't alone. I would recognise that hair anywhere.'Valerie...'She was asleep, her arms intertwined on the empty space on the bed to pillow her face. Her platinum blonde waves swam across the blue matress. Her eyes were flushed, and I quickly understood why as I noticed the dried sheen tracking her cheeks. Tear stains. “Tristan! No! Stay with me!” the echo of her frantic voice remained in my mind. A knot formed in my throat. I remembered everything now. The remaining memories of my past life following her death. The burden in my chest felt even heavier.Just like now, I had realised