Dead Inside

Eric stood there and watched as her best friend’s mother’s hands flew to her neck covering the wound to stop the bleeding. But the blood was spilling over her fingers. He watched as she turned pale then fell on her knees before falling to the ground.

Her wolf tried to heal her, but the wound was too deep, and she was losing too much blood and quickly. Eric continued to watch until she stopped moving. He wanted to make sure she was dead and that he did it.

The boy she trusted did it, she wanted her to feel the same way his mother felt when Maria ended her life. When he was sure she was dead, he turned around and left without saying a word. He was broken on the inside and even killing his best friend’s mother did not make him feel better.

He never thought something like this could happen, especially by his hand. He imagined that his mother would die in the hands of rogues or some freak accident, not by the hand of his friend and the girl she considered a daughter.

He certainly never imagined that he would be the one to end Maria’s mother’s life, on his birthday. This is not how this day was supposed to turn out. It was supposed to be a happy day, he was supposed to get his gift from Maria, find his mate then live happily ever after.

Now he was alone and feeling dead inside. Killing his friend’s mother did nothing to fill the hole inside left by his mother’s death. His heart turned to stone on the day it was supposed to be filled with love and joy.

Oh, how he hated Maria, that curse of a girl finally showed her true colors. Everyone said that she was going to be trouble one day and no one listened. Even the alpha did not listen, instead he made the pack members stop talking about the beta’s daughter that way.

Maria has been a mystery to everyone since the day she was born. Everyone wondered why she had the markings of all the supernatural beings on her body. No werewolf pup has ever been born with such and those who were born with markings, they would have one of a wolf or a moon.

But she had them all, marking of a wolf, fangs of a vampire, dragon, a witch, and Mer people. What is the meaning of that, what was she? But no one dared to question that when the alpha himself stopped the rumors. “I bet you regret it now father, if you had followed through and figured out what creature Maria was, none of this would have happened. I blame you as well for mother’s death.”

Eric spoke, looking at his father through the window talking to other alphas in the hall with a drink in his hand as if nothing happened. As if his mate had not just died. Eric wondered if the mate bond was real when he saw his father like that.

He thought that he would end the party and tell everyone to go home. Or stay in his office and ask the gamma to attend to the guests but no. He was there mingling with his fellow alpha’s as if nothing happened.

Eric fumed in anger and took long strides going inside the hall. He could not watch anymore; he could not take people having a good time laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened. His father saw him coming his way and smiled. “Aah! The man of the hour, son, come meet alpha Moss of the Crescent Moon Pack.” Eric did not say a word but looked at his father coldly before turning to the so-called alpha Moss. “Alpha am sure my father has told you that we are in mourning, my mother and Luna of this pack has just died. I would appreciate it if you took your people and leave. You know, to give us time to grieve.”

Eric then walked away leaving Alpha Moss looking shocked. He took a few steps then stopped and turned then growled loudly. The growl was menacing, and it earned everyone’s attention. Some people got scared and hit behind their alphas and warriors. Some like the alphas and warriors took their fighting stance ready to attack.

 “I would like everyone to leave, my mother the Luna of this pack has just died. We need space as the family and pack to grieve.” He then turned and continued walking. The guests were now left confused and looking at Alpha Jackson who was suddenly looking murderous.

“Everyone, you all heard the young alpha. The family and pack need to grieve. We must leave and give them space. Thank you, alpha Jackson, for inviting us.” Alpha Moss took the opportunity and addressed the people seeing that alpha Jackson was not saying anything after his son spoke.

With that he knew that the news were true and the alpha was just there pretending for his son’s sake. To not ruin his day more than it already was. People started leaving after Alpha Moss spoke. Some shared their sympathies for the alpha, but he seemed absent minded.

Eric spent that night by the riverbank, sitting on the rock he and Maria used to sit on, drinking the night away. He wanted to numb the pain, but alcohol seemed to make things worse. The young alpha drank until he passed out there.

Two days passed with Maria still in the cells, no one came to visit her, and she wondered if her mother believed that she killed her father. But how could she? She was not that kind of person. Maria started to worry that something might be wrong.

That maybe her mother could not take the loss of her father and lost her mind and is being treated in the pack hospital. Her mind went back to the scene of her dead father and Luna.

Her heart ached at the thought of her father. She wondered how long he was having an affair with the Luna for and making a fool of her mother. She wondered if all the working late with the alpha was all a lie and all that time he spent with the Luna.

Most importantly, she wondered who killed them. She could not blame the guests since they were only just arriving when she went looking for Eric and found them instead. She would have blamed the alpha, but he seemed devastated by his mate’s death.

Maria was going crazy trying to figure out who could have killed her father and why. every scenario she played in her head she came up with one conclusion. That the alpha did it or why else would he lie and say he saw her killing them when that was not the truth?

While she was still deep in thought, she heard footsteps heading her way and she sat up straight, waiting in anticipation wanting to see who that could be. She tried smelling the scent of the person but all she got was the strong smell of urine mixed with the metallic scent of blood.

Just as she was cracking her scall trying to figure out the person coming her way was, Eric appeared in her line of vision.

Maria stood when she saw him, she looked hopeful for a split second before looking into his eyes. They were empty and cold. Gone was the warmth and spark they had whenever he saw her.

Now he looked at her like he was looking at his greatest enemy, like he would rather kill her than look at her. her hope turned into loss and heartbreak.

But that was nothing compared to the heartbreak she felt when he opened and spoke to her for the first time in two days. “I, Eric Lockwood, future alpha of the Eclipse Pack, hereby reject you. Maria Van Loveren as my mate and Luna.” Maria only realized then that they were mates.

Since their bond was so strong the rejection weakened Maria and she fell on her knees clutching on her chest. It felt like it was burning, and she couldn’t breathe. Eric smirked when he saw her like that.

It was like her pain gave him joy, Maria did not know the man standing in front of her because that was not her Eric. The Eric she knew loved romance and looked forward to finding his mate.

“Eric, let me explain.” Maria spoke with difficulty as she felt like her chest was going to burst into flames at any moment. It was painful. “I do not listen to cursed creatures and murderer’s explanations. You are dead to me.” He spat on her before turning around leaving her feeling like her world has just ended for the second time that week.