My past

Thalia

The black sheep of my family. I wanted to be a warrior, a protector of my pack but being the part of a well established royal family I was not supposed to do it. I was expected to lead a royal life, the life inside my house. We weren’t the ruling family but we did have power. And I never wanted to be kept inside. I want to run, run through the woods in my fave pair of comfy clothes rather than being assisted with what to wear, what not to wear. As my granny always said "we have a family honor to keep"

It’s absurd.

Well, I truly hope my mate was someone I could enjoy all my adventures with. Be who I am and do what I want.

Days went by and today was my 18th birthday. the day I have been waiting for. to find my mate and to be free from the clutches of my family. 

"Get up, Lia. at least for today, be on time.” Hera sighed. 

I peeked from my blanket to be met with a piercing look from her. She’s my best friend from diapers. And she is more excited about today than I am. She had already found her mate.

Hera is what we call the silent killer. She is quite calm and composed from the outside but living hurricane when you get to know her. Her mate, Liam, is cute and chubby with a cheerful personality. I share literally anything and everything with these two.

These are the only two people who understand me.

Hera had kicked me out of my bed and rushed me to get ready. The party is in the evening and you might be wondering where we're heading to this early morning.

we are going for a run in an expectation to find my mate on our way.

 "let's go cha cha." I sang a song coming down the stairs.

" where are you both off to?" my mom, Anna carnell questioned.

"we'll be back soon". I replied and hurried away pulling Hera with me.

"take Luke and Vernon with you". 

"No mom, I'm fine"

Luke and Vernon were our personal guards.  They're quite friendly, contrasting their well built body and stern look on their faces. I tip them away whenever I wanted to be alone. 

We had made our way to the woods. Stripping, we shifted and ran through the woods, carefree and happy.

My pack led by alpha Alexander Brown and his Luna Amanda Brown was strong, in its defense and unity.  Alpha Alex was loving and caring, a fatherly figure for our pack, we could approach him directly with any of our difficulties and he would ease it out. Luna on the other hand was like my mom, power driven. They had a son, Ethan Brown, the heartthrob of literally every single person. Handsome as hell and a dashing persona. He was just like his father, kind and loving. He was also the future alpha after his alpha Alex.

It was afternoon when we came from the run, the party arrangements were setting in.

“Dreaming of finding your psychopath mate and running away” an irritating voice came from behind which I  recognized immediately as my sister, Myla carnell.

“ yup. Dreaming of living a life a normal being” 

“Psychopath”. she exclaimed and went away flipping her hair.

I like to believe she was adopted.  But no, she was the spitting image of my grandmother, the same stubbornness and facial features. And both of them hated me. As far as I know I have never done anything bad to them. Well, granny never liked me for my defensive skills. In her perspective it was for the deltas (warriors of the pack). Not bragging but I was damn good with swords and arrows. Before I turned 16, she burned my arrows and never let me out to the woods. After 16, I became the rebel she pitied. 

Time flew by and here I was getting ready for my mating ceremony.

The mating ceremony was a great and life-turning event and hosted grandly, inviting all unmated and mated males and females of the pack. I could either find my mate today or I can go for a mate-hunt in other packs. But by the age of 20, you must have a mate. Or else your wolf suffers. 

My wolf grey is just like the human version of me. Loves the wilderness and is restless when it comes to going for adventures.

“Oh my god. You look fantastic.” Hera squealed. 

“Stunning. Nothing more to say.” stuffing donuts in his mouth, Liam quoted.

“Thank you and thank you.” smiled at the two crackheads in front of me. 

I was wearing a peach crepe dress which stood just above my knees. Flaunting my collarbones, a simple necklace with a golden stone and some bracelets, I stood elegantly in matching heels admiring myself in the closet mirror. 

“Aren’t you both hungry?” Liam looked up for once from his tray of donuts.

“ Of course, we are.” Hera

“Then come on. Let’s head to the party.”

“Yup, also before you find your mate, you should eat and re-energize.” Hera

“Yea, otherwise, you’ll end up with no more than two rounds” Liam remarked mischievously, nudging Hera.

“Yeahh..let’s not talk about that for now, I’m already nervous.” I cried.

“It’s gonna be fine.” Hera reassured me, hitting Liam on his chest.

“ what? I was just warning her...c’mon let's not waste anymore time. “ he got up and headed downstairs.

 The whole place has been decorated so beautifully, I had to spend a good few minutes grasping everything in.

I causally went  around greeting my family.

“Woow, you look so pretty” “gorgeous” “aww, so beautiful” remarks were flying from here and there.

“You look like an angel”. My mom’s friend, Helen, praised. 

“No, I’m the devil of my world”. I wanted to retort back but thought better of it. Because my mom would kick me out if I did something to disgrace “the family honor”. Bullshit I must say.

“grey, are you there?” I mind linked my wolf. 

“ here, looking for my mates’ sign”

“Oh, you're excited?” I knew the answer but still asked.

“Of course I am. Our mate”

I giggled out hearing grey’s excited voice in my head. She was wiggling her tail ready to pounce on our mate as soon as we met him.

“What?” hera, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing, chatting with grey”. I replied.

“Oh she might be really excited?”

“Oh yes she is” i giggled

That’s when a sweet lingering smell of strawberries hit me. The smell was so strong and tempting.

Mate.  grey cheered.

I wasted no time and made my way through the crowd towards the owner of the smell, stopped on my way when the smell became unbearable, I had to cover my nose. I felt dizzy.

“You’ll get used to it”. A deep voice spoke.

“Huh?”. Looking I met the most beautiful hazel eyes. I was so deep in his eyes that I had not noticed, the music had long stopped and everyone in the party was now staring at the couple and murmuring. 

I stood a little back to take a look at my mate. I smiled at my thought. My mate.

My mouth had made the shape of 'o' on its own seeing the very own Ethan Brown standing tall with a smug smile playing on his tender lips. 

“No way.” I thought.

And the murmurings made complete sense. The heartthrob of many present here today. People are going to be seriously jealous. I chuckled at my thought.

I could hear comments like “I don't believe this tomboy is Ethan's mate” “did moon goddess make a mistake” “what an imperfect couple” the same people who had just praised me for today’s look. snakes.

Putting those thoughts aside, I stepped towards my mate, he let out his right hand which I accepted gracefully.

We made our way through the crowd, my eyes fixed on the handsome young man leading my way. 

We walked out of the party to our backyard. 

“I’m not as familiar with your yard as you are. Would you mind leading the way?”

I internally face palmed for looking such a simp for someone i just met. Well, he is my mate, so who is gonna stop me? 

“Yeah sure”. 

I led him further down the yard, there was a fountain that stood peacefully away from the party chaos happening on the other end of the house.

We talked and talked all about us. We shared our personal interests and hobbies.I got to know that he liked playing piano and gardening. Ohh, this was the boy I was looking for.  He was calm all through the conversation while I was pacing around talking.

It was  midnight when we decided to head back to the house. 

The party had died down, most people had expressed their distaste of me mating with Ethan and left the party just as we walked. jealous.

I’m sure mom and dad would be happy but that wasn’t the case when i came back. There were only Hera and Liam along with some of our friends chilling.

"Hey, so fast?" one of our friends raised his eyebrows.

'What is wrong with you all?' I barked back. my face had flushed bright red.

I smiled awkwardly at Ethan who just stood there smirking.

"I'll go now," he said.

"Yeah sure, It's already late." I replied.

Ethan took my both hands in his, placed a gentle kiss and bid goodbye.

My face would burst any second now. Yes, this was my first ever physical touch with anyone other than my close people and that was the reason for my jumping with even the slightest touch. I was never in a relationship before. I always wanted my mate to be my first love. And here it is, the wish coming true. 

"bye." he said

"I'll  walk you to the parking lot"

"sure"

We walked silently, holding hands. Reaching his car, he turned back, cupping my face and captured my lips ever so tenderly. There goes my first kiss to the first person I fell for.

I went back home to see dad and mom discussing something so seriously. I was way too excited to see my whole family including grandparents from both sides.

"she won't even go near to becoming a Luna '' Myla exclaimed. and only then I was brought back to reality and only then it hit me that they were discussing the future.

This is bad.

Everyone was eyeing me so keenly. 

"I'm afraid what the alpha and Luna have to say in this" dad

"What do they say?" I questioned.

"of course they have a say in their son's matter" my mom was angry, I could make that out easily from her tone. she never liked me questioning things too much. 

" You do realize the seriousness of the matter, lia?" dad asked, his voice calm and composed.

"No, why would you all gather around like this now when no one has a say in who is who's mates" I said clearly exhibiting my hate in the on going conversation.

"how the hell would a short-tempered, mindless and childish girl be a potential Luna?" It was my granny.

" She, Luna. pfft, I still don't get why Ethan did not reject her!" Myla 

I was taken aback, being rejected was very uncommon and nerve-wrecking pain, why would your own blood wish you to be rejected. And these are the times when I doubt she is adopted.

"why the hell would you even say something like that, Myla" i raised my voice

"Where's wrong in what she said?" granny.

I was on the verge of crying and I did not want to break down here and give them satisfaction, so I stood up and left for my room. I cried but the wolf consoled me saying our mate loves us. 

Ethan

when I heard there was a mating ceremony for the eldest daughter of the carnell family. They were royals as well, so being unmated I was asked to attend the ceremony which would be held in a few hours. I have never heard much of this girl before, only that she is a typical tomboy and practices arrows and swords on her own, which was probably not expected of a royal.

I had already come of age but could not meet my mate until now, maybe they are in another pack. I'd have to mate-hunt in a few months if that's the case  then.

I showered, got ready and headed to the place with a few of my friends. I was never in a relationship before and am hopeful to meet my mate soon. But never expected it to be too soon, as a mesmerizing smell of  fresh roses and vanilla hit my nose, I knew it was my mate. my mate.

I searched the crowd impatiently when I saw a beautiful pair of black eyes searching the crowd and Neo (my wolf)  cheered. mate.

We walked to quiet side and talked, she was a cheerful and charming girl. It was beautiful scene to see her rambling through words pacing up and down.

Then we bid a short farewell, I kissed her, my first kiss. I couldn't control myself looking at soft, plump lips.

I came home to see an upset mom and happy dad.

"what happened?" I asked.

"you found your mate?" my dad

"yup.."

"c'mon..share your happiness" dad

I told them about her pretty look and her dashing persona. 

"she is perfect for you, Ethan" dad

"Not as Luna" mom

"what?" I asked , raising an eyebrow.

"She has no potential to be a Luna," my mom said, banging her hands on the table.

"but mom she is my mate"

"NO, you could have just rejected her right then, there are hundreds of eligible girls waiting just for you."

I could not take anymore words against my mate but before I could say anything.

"It is his life, you can't just tell your own son to reject his mate and no more discussion, welcome her home asap".

"yes dad"

~6 year went by so quickly~

I had moved in with Ethan, to his palace. Everything was going fine except a few people hating me for no particular reason including my future mother-in-law, Ethan's sister(my sister's best friend) and a few maids.

Ethan had not marked me yet, he said it was a gift for our wedding night. But we spent quality time with each other, kissing and making love wherever and whenever we loved. 

I go out hunting and warrior practice which no one really supported me except alpha Alex.

Amanda loves to pick on me saying things about acting like a woman and being a Luna (in short and in my language, a pup carrier). No, I would never settle for something like that. Well, I loved pups but not now, I and Ethan had already discussed it but everyone here is so into impregnating me asap.

Mom and dad visit me occasionally reminding me to stay and act like a future Luna.

Myla as usual threw hatred at me whenever we saw each other. 

It was a bright morning and a good day to get out and have some stretches. I packed a few food items and water bottle, and my arrows. 

"going for a hunt" Ethan coming from the bathroom.

"yup..good day it seems.. wanna join?"

"no, you may go and enjoy, I'm a bit busy with the office work," he said, going through his closet.

We had completed our respected courses and now are training to be the future Luna and Alpha of the pack. It's tough, there are too many rules and regulations. I will try my level best. After the training which would last for a good 3 more months, we would have our marriage. 

"Alright then, see at night" winking I took my bag and exited our room placing a bunch of kisses and hickeys on him.

I ran through the woods in my wolf form and came to my favorite spot, a small waterfall. I shifted back to my human form, and took a dip in the water, it was cool and refreshing. After a few minutes, I came out and laid on the wet grasses nearby. Engulfed in thoughts.

Things have changed so much in this last 1 year or maybe more. Ethan no longer accompanied me for this type of adventure, he made some excuses and has been taking a lot more night duties. 

It's for the benefit of your relationship, lia, don't overthink. I told myself but even my wolf has been upset and she has not opened up to me.

I got up, aimed at a few trees here and there and ran along the woods, exploring new things, carefree and happy as before.

It was around evening I sat down to have brunch when a sudden mix of sadness and anxiety washed over me. 

My wolf became restless, she was upset and I have no idea why. We came running through the woods aiming for the castle. Something was wrong. Is our pack under attack? 

No, everything was fine when I left.

Reaching the castle, sniffing the air, I had a hunch. Crossing my fingers, hoping I was wrong I headed towards our bedroom.

opening the door, I stood by the door frame, frozen, taking in what was before my eyes. 

Ethan was laying hugging a girl by her waist, her back to me.

Maybe from the sound of the door opening, he raised his head a little and our eyes locked.

The emotions in his eyes were hard to distinguish.

but I didn't look further for answers, those beautiful hazel eyes, once I looked lovingly had lost it's beauty. 

He slowly got out of their bed, the girl whined for him to stay for little more. He came closer 

My heart sank. Mind blank as a canvas, on which was engraved the words I heard then:

“I,Ethan Brown, the future alpha of the pack, reject you, Thalia carnell as my mate and Luna of this pack.”