I had a shower in the other room, and all the while, told my treacherous wolf and my body, that that was what was best. He probably wanted space, and I would give it to him. After all, that was what it meant to love someone, right? Love someone till you place their happiness before yours?I nodded to myself, wearing the simple dress he had picked out for me himself. It was the only dress he had left behind while supervising the omegas, and he came himself to arrange everything out.We didn't have to take anything, but he brought the car. I walked out of the house before him, and watched as he locked the door. Without looking at me, he opened the car door for me. I swallowed and went in, before he went around and entered the car. It was a silent ride, almost like the day we had come back to the pack with simon. I couldn't help occassionslly glancing at him, though. I told myself it didn't count.We soon got to the alpha's house, where there was a gathering in front. He held my hand th
"Look at you blushing." She laughed then stood up, her face all serious. "We need to get to work."I tilted my head to the side. "To work?""Yes. I was brought here to dress you up, was I not?"I laughed. "Calm down, Eve. That is when the ceremony's close. Not now.""I learnt it is less than a week away." She said with an expression that showed she wasn't giving any leeway."But...""I will go shop for your dresses. I brought a tape handy, so I can take your measurements."I sighed and stood as she pulled me up. I stood with my hands outstretched, as she measured my proportions."Can I sit now?"She nodded. "I will go and get some for you. I am going to use the alpha card!"I laughed. "Alpha card?"She nodded. "Everything is free for the alphas, don't you know?"I blinked. Such privileges didn't make Austin the happiest person in this pack, still. It was really weird.I smiled at her as she excitedly walked out. I stood up to finally check out my room. It was very similar to Austin's
I nodded and waited for her to get the dress. It didn't have a zip, so she helped me cautiously wear it over my head, avoiding my hair skillfully. Once she got past my hair and I had worn the sleeves, she let it naturally take the shape of my body.I closed my eyes as she did, and only opened it when I could feel the lacy material on my toes. I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection. That dress was mostly made of lace, but for the top part down to mid thigh, it was opaque, while the rest was left transparent. I swallowed. The amount of air my back was getting was suspicious so I turned to check. It was bare, with an arrangement of beads coming from the top of my back where it met the sleeves, down to the end of my spine.I almost shrieked. "It shows too much.""Yes, it does. Shouldn't you show that much to your husband?"I blinked, and turned to my reflection again. "I will wear it.""Not like you have a choice anyway."I laughed at her blatant speech as she turned and took her
I stared into his eyes as he slowly let it drop to my lips, then slowly brought his intense gaze back to mine again. His lips, his face were just inches away from mine, his breath caressing the skin on my face, his hand drawing small delirious circles on my back."And...who is the other person?"I asked, not willing to talk about any other person apart from us. We were all that mattered to me.His lips almost parted, but not quite. "You're looking at him."My breath hitched at the subtle confirmation and he looked down at my lips again, before moving away from me. He didn't put enough distance between us, but it was enough to tell me we should be having wine now, or he would do something he wasn't so sure of.I swallowed, trying to regain composure, but he just stayed there, watching me. I reached for the wine and held it in my hand firmly, then turned again.I could hear him follow me to the couch and his eyes on me all through as I got two glasses and set it for both of us.He helped
By the time I woke up, Austin had left. There was a note beside me saying he had to leave to attend to a few issues. I sighed and sat up, leaning my head back on the headboard. My body still tingled and I knew if I sat there to dwell on the tingles, I wouldn't do anything all day. O went through a quick shower and made it down just as Eve arrived.One look at her and I knew something was wrong. She looked a little aloof and wouldn't look in my eyes. She held her bag tight and stood by the door, while the Eve I knew would have made her way to my room or to me already."Eve. You are here." I said, walking slowly to her.She nodded, but didn't move from where she was, further strengthening my suspicion."What's wrong with you?" I asked as I got to her, then opened the door she was leaning on to see if something was wrong. Nothing seemed to be off and Ii closed the door again, then focused on her."Did someone do something to you? Is something bothering you?"She shook her head. "There i
I felt a light touch graze sweetly against my arm, and my eyes fluttered open. There was a dull pain in my abdomen and I immediately felt myself being pinned back down when I tried to stand up. I struggled to focus, and Austin leaned over me, his hands on my shoulders carefully massaging."How do you feel? You took a hit to your right shoulder before I could come up the stairs."I looked up at him. He was still beautiful with the worry lines, and his eyes traced across my body. "Does it hurt somehwere?" his voice was soft, like cotton balls falling off his lips.I swallowed. "What happened?"He shook his head. "I am not sure. The healer went back to get a few things. She said it was pretty bad, so you would need more antidotes than she brought along."I blinked. "Did she say anything else?"He let go of me and sat beside me, his eyes searching mine. "Did someone come here while I was not around?"I thought about it. No one came except Eve. And she had been weird and all, and had left
I let go of his hand slowly, tears filling my eyes again. It was hard to process that somehow, I had lost both my friends. Somehow..in this race of love...I had lost Simon and was now on the verge of losing Hazel too.Austin sat on the bed next to me and I looked up at him. He is worth it. "I am sorry. I know it's hard..."He brought me to lean on his shoulder. "You can cry."I wrapped my arms around him, my hands holding his shirt in fistfuls. He was warm, and he pushed himself closer to me, so I could rest on him better. I wanted to be careful not to let hin feel my tears, but once a tear dropped, I couldn't control it anymore.I let out those tears in torrents, unconsciously making his shirt go up, exposing his back. He didn't quite care as he held me until I was feeling better. Until I don't want to cry anymore."What sort of change.. do you think made Eve do that? Just yesterday...she had brought up the idea of surprising you. She even got the wine and reassured me..." I swallow
Austin pursed his lips slightly and turned away, lifting himself off effortlessly. His movement broke my trance and I blinked rapidly, then broke into a small smile.Is this love?But I always knew it was. At least for me. I always knew I was in love with Austin. Ever since that first day. I watched him walk leisurely to the kitchen."I made just bacon and eggs with coffee. You good?"I nodded, still slightly in the trance. I remembered when he had asked me when I started to feel this way. He thought it had been that first kiss, but that was way too far to be the first time my heart, my wolf, my body ran to him.He came back holding just one plate and kept it in front of me, then settled a cup of coffee beside me.He then grabbed another cup of coffee for himself, then sat opposite me."Why won't you have any?" I asked, gesturing to the plate.He shrugged. "I am not hungry."He took a sip of his coffee and flipped his hair back.I nodded. "About the ceremony...I am a bit nervous."He
Austin's P.O.V.I took the remaining steps towards the large burial ground, the single rose I had plucked from my recent gardening hobby dangling from my fingers. I hated the amount of time it has taken me to come here, but at least I am making my way to her now, and I hope I let myself get to the very end.The grave was still new, and I found myself slowly kneeling toward it, and I dropped the single flower I'd brought. It will wilter and dry up, unlike my love for her. Unlike this undying love I still feel after so long.The headstone had only three letters written in cursive. "I love you."Nothing more. Because I had no words at all to say to her. In front of her, I am a sinner, and I will probably always be. I have no chance for forgiveness with her. She left, long ago, and in her wake a gaping hole.I let out a long sigh. If Hazel were here, she would have said I am a little too young to sigh like that. I smiled, shaking my head a little.I touched the grave again, my fingers sl
9 MONTHS LATERHow long can nine full months be? Probably a little too short when you are anticipating to die. But even shorter with a husband who dotes on you like Austin does.Austin received the congrats half heartedly, and brought in some of thbest healers across different packs to wait on me. Sometimes, I felt a little too protected, but I knew he just wanted to keep me safe.Everyday as I watched my pregnancy grow bigger, I felt the fear surge higher. How would things be for them after I die? Would Austin be able to look past my sacrifice and love the children because they belong to him? It sometimes made me wonder, but I also, learned to push it behind me.Sometimes, I caught him just spaced out a little, and sometimes after I slept, he would hold my hand and end up sleeping on a chair. He didn't seem to mind any of it at all, and didn't show me how worried he was also. For that, I was utterly grateful, more than he knew.I stood in front of the open door, watching the sunset.
The hall looked nothing like the unfinished one that Austin had shown me just yesterday, and I knew there was definitely no way it could have been done without having to pull all nighters.Dark red and black roses adorned a cleared path, and petals filled the floor I was supposed to walk on. Most of the pack were there, and in the front I could see Catherine, tears glistening brightly in her eyes, yet a small smile on her face.I smiled back at her as Austin slowly accompanied me, the train of my dress behind held up by an omega, and the scroll of the Luna's oath waiting on an elevated stand on which Austin would leave me to go to.He gave me a small reassuring smile as he left my side and then made his way to the stand, a happy smile playing on his lips.The standing ovation that had welcomed us was still ongoing, and Austin let it go on for a few more seconds, before he finally raised a hand and firmly clenched his fist. It immediately died down and he lowered his hand."It is an ho
We practiced a lot more, my feet slowly getting accustomed to the introductory steps of the dance while only barely escaping making mistakes towards the middle. I never did get too deep, as Austin just told me to focus on the beginning, and he will ensure we don't make a disaster at the end."Just go with my flow, okay?" he said to me and I ordered, allowing him to lead. It was rather convenient, and I found it easier.We retired to bed after a tired dinner, his hand clasped around my waist, drawing me into him, while his other hand stretched under my head to support it. Before I knew it, I was asleep, his slow, even breaths serving to lure me even deeper.I turned on to my back as the bright sunlight assaulted my eyes, then pulled a pillow over my head to shut it out completely. I didn't even care that Austin wasn't in bed, I just know I needed this sleep. "No, not that. I will inspect it myself in the next thirty minutes, so just move on to other things. Spotlight? Well, Hazel isn
I woke up with a start, feeling the empty bed around me. I had realized Austin wasn't anywhere near me when I stirred and for some reason it just scared the shit out of me. Maybe because things have been going a little too well and I am scared of anything jeopardizing it, or maybe I was having having bad dream."Hey. You are going to get a headache doing that." Austin said, walking over to where I sat. He held me in his arm, and scanned my face."You are here.""Of course, I was just on the phone with the gamma, I did not want to wake you up. Sorry if that startled you."I disentangled myself from him, leaned away and smiled, feeling my fears immediately drown. "No, I am fine. Maybe I was having a bad dream."He nodded. "I'm sorry."I smiled at him and leaned back on the bead headrest. "You know, I just realized...I never really asked what my duties as luna are."The slight furrow in his brows cleared off and he smiled. "Always so thoughtful. I believe during the crowning, you will ge
"This or this?" I asked Austin as we went over the dresses that were brought for the luna ceremony. He had commenced preparations immediately after, telling me how we needed to plan the world's best Luna ceremony in three days.The omegas waiting on me seemed to have an opinion, even as Austin thinned his eyes at the dresses."Why do you keep picking purple dresses? I think you look good in red." He said, his eyes slowly moving towards the red dress I have left on the bed."It's your favorite, Austin."He rolled his eyes and walked to me, then picked out the red dress. It was designed to hug my body from above, and then spread out into the tulles filled with satin towards the end.He put it in front of me, and then nodded. "I believe this will look good when you wear it.""Fine. I will try it on."He nodded and collected the other dresses, then gestured for the omega to leave. He turned away and closed his eyes as I wore the dress."I can't zip, Austin." I called out to him and he gav
I stirred a little and turned to the other side, and my eyes fell on Austin. He was sitting facing me, his elbow propped half on the headrest, his eyes fixed on me. My eyes slowly widened as I straightened."Are we here already?" I asked, my voice sleepy.He slowly nodded. "Yes.""You should have woken me up. You must have been tired from driving all day." I squinted my eyes at him. The sun was setting behind him, the sheen causing his hair to turn a golden brown, and make his red eyes a little lighter than they actually are.He smiled and extended his hand to me. "I thought you looked too pretty that way. I wouldn't mind waiting for you."I smiled, and he let go of my hand, then got out of the car. He went around to my seat and opened my door for me, and waited till I got out."Go on. I will bring in our stuff."I nodded and went in, my arms stretching on their own. My neck felt a little stiff, and once I made my way into the house, I found a couch to rest and I just went on it.When
I felt the entire world come to a stand still as the healer's words hit me again and again, like an ambush of arrows."Me...or the baby?" I asked, a little in a daze. It felt like I was in some faraway place, watching the girl who looked exactly like me sitting in front of the healer.I slowly turned to Austin whose eyes were wide and reddened. Unlike me, he seemed to clearly understand what the healer had said, and seemed to be trying to accept it too."What do you mean?" I asked, feeling hot tears sting the back of my eyes. I blinked rapidly, but it only made them rush down faster, and I felt the warmth on my cheeks."One of you will make it out of labor. It can't be both of you.""Is there no other way? Is there nothing? An offering? A sacrifice? A prayer?"I swallowed on hearing Austin's voice. He sounded just as broken as I was, and my chest filled up."None. That is what's written."Austin gave a slight pause. "What if she doesn't give birth?"I turned to him, my eyes wide. "No
I held Austin's arm tight as she took a step closer to me, and her eyes slowly drifted across to Austin. I turned instinctively to him, but his face was set in expressionless too, his hand holding my waist to keep me on my feet. Seeing him so determined gave me a big of confidence and I swallowed as I turned back to the healer."So she is the one. The substitute I have heard of.""Just check her, healer. Her status does not affect anything." Austin said, his voice cold.She flickered her eyes to him, then back at me. "All of that is good and all, but...do you not realize how powerful a mate bond is? How can an entire pack be so nonchalant towards a mate bond, especially that of the alpha? What were you thinking?"My breath hitched as her eyes thinned in a little judgemental look. I could tell she didn't have good news for us. My eyes lifted to Alpha Evander behind us. He looked a little disgusted too, like he absolutely didn't understand how Austin could disregard a mate bond to be wi