Chapter Three: Feels to Reject
I paced back and forth. I ran my hand in my hair, frustrated very much from meeting Casey's brother, Claude, as well as my unexpected mate. I groaned and wanted to mess up the conference room of Alpha Storm but I stopped myself. He was just watching me and he was smiling like an idiot at me.
I hit the table and paced back and forth. This couldn't be! This shouldn't be happening! This isn't right! I paced again. Shit! Shit! Shit! I cussed in my mind. What should I do? What should I do? Should I leave? No! This was my pack where I live. Why would I leave? Because Casey's big brother was here? No! That was absurd!
"Will you please stop pacing back and forth, Rachelle? I was the one who felt dizzy about what you were doing, not you. Oh, come here. Calm yourself and sit down," said Alpha Storm but I didn't listen. I kept on panicking. I know that some other werewolves dreamed of having their mates unexpectedly or not but I wasn't like them. I didn't wish nor dream to meet my mate yet. I still have my mission to know and to practice how to fight expertly.
I slapped my forehead as I remembered his mesmerizing eyes. I didn't know why but my heart skipped a beat when we stared at each other a moment ago. His dark hazel eyes are really beautiful to stare at and I can't stop myself looking at them. It's captivating. Casey didn't have a dark hazel eye color but it was an olive color that shone when light strikes. They had the same face like they inherited it from each other. He was so handsome and I loved looking at his parted lips. I want... I want to bite it.
But... No! Why was I thinking about that?! Shit!
"Rachelle." I stopped in my tracks and turned around at Storm when I heard his soft voice. Then all of a sudden, his face darkened. "Sit down," he commanded sternly, which made me do it. I sat down on the chair. Then I leaned in and thought about Claude that he was my mate. It clouded my mind and I hadn't realized Alpha Storm's feature was standing in front of me, causing me to stun a little and glare up.
He knelt in front of me and put his hands on my thighs. His stern expression a minute ago turned soft. He raised his hand to pat my head and caressed it. My sharped breath exchanged into steady. I was even shocked that my breath wasn't normal. "There. You calmed down." I gave him a puzzled look which meant I didn't understand what he was saying that I calmed down. Calmed from what?
"What do you mean?" I asked as my heart beat steadily.
He smiled at me and he shook his head. "Nothing." I pursed my lips into thin lines and didn't respond to his answer. It's nonsense. I was irked when I felt my body start to heat up from something. I could smell his scent—my mate's scent from behind the door of the conference room. I started to shiver a little. "So, why are you afraid, Ray? It's my first time seeing you like that a while ago when you met your mate, who was Casey's brother," he said softly.
I looked at him, directly to his eyes. "I-I'm a-afraid to see my mate, Alpha S-Storm." I stuttered as I felt my mate's presence. I gulped. He was there, I knew it.
My eyes widened as his eyes darkened and clenched his jaw. He put down his hand from caressing my head and he looked at me, madly. "So, now we're back from calling such formalities names." He stood up. "What's wrong with you? A while ago, you just called me 'brother' which meant a lot to me. It made me happy. Then, now, you just called me 'Alpha Storm'. Really? What's got into you, Rachelle?!" I flinched as he yelled.
I clenched my teeth and darkened my eyes. "You aren't my real brother, to begin with," I said boldly.
His eyes turned back to its color, blue-gray eyes. It softened as he sighed. He knelt again and held both of my hands. "But you're still my family. I treated you as my little sister. My parents treated you as you're their daughter. I know we were the same age but I've been wishing you would call me a 'brother'. And it happened. But please don't think that I didn't treat you like my own family."
"I never said that you didn't treat me like your own family. You're the one who just said that," I said coldly. I built my imaginative wall. My foster parents, whose parents adopted me and treated me like their own daughter, and Storm, treated me like his little sister. He never had any siblings. They said I came from another pack they didn't know.
He sighed again and silenced and so I am, too. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to initiate another conversation. This topic was very sensitive for us. I instantly knelt in front of him and hugged him as I shuddered. I need his presence. I was still afraid to meet my mate. It was so unexpected.
Storm hugged me back. "Sshh. I'm right here, Ray. You can tell me your feelings." He cooed me while rubbing my back to calm me down which it helps me very well. I calmed in his arms.
"I'm really afraid to meet him, brother." There. I said it again. I called him 'brother'. I could feel that he was glad that I called him that. I never called him like that. I used to call him 'Storm' or rather 'Alpha.' He and I weren't true blood-related but he already treated me like his sister since I came here in their pack. I used to call him 'brother' when I was a little but as I grew up and realize what I was from his family, I started to act being so formal for them which for them, it didn't necessarily. "It's so shocking and surprising," I said again and leaned my face on his shoulder.
"And it's so unexpected."
"I never thought that I could accidentally meet him in the forest."
"While I was walking back to the packhouse a while ago, I smelled his scent."
"I didn't know that that scent was his and rather, he was my mate."
"I'm not ready to meet him."
"I'm not ready."
"I'm... not."
I shuddered again and my body started to heat up. I could almost feel the presence of my mate behind that door. I hugged Storm tightly. I was starting to feel fear of meeting him. Come on! Please tell me. Is there any phobia that you can call fear of meeting your mates? I wanted to slap myself mentally. Goodness! Graciousness! There is no such thing as that.
After I burst out my feelings, I silenced and waited for my brother to speak up. Surprised, Storm lifted me and he put me down in the chair to sit me down. Then, I heard his chuckle and winced my hair using his hand like I was a dog. I frowned, causing him to laugh his ass out. I rolled my eyes. But I'm happy to hear those laughs again. It has been a long time since I last heard it. The last time I heard about it was when I left my pack to join the academy for werewolf soldiers. He usually laughed when he and Casey were together, talking nonsensically.
"That was just fine, Ray. Some werewolves weren't ready to face or to meet their mates. But they have to deal with it. No matter what they can do to shoo him or her away, it doesn't change the fact that they are mates." I tried to absorb it in my mind. Yeah, I know what the definition of mates was. They are your soulmates and they are connected in some way. They are bound and will be together forever. They will not be fulfilled if they don't have their other half.
"I'm still not ready," I answered and frowned.
He kissed my forehead. "Some werewolves, when they met their mates, some of them rejected their mates because they couldn't accept meeting or being with them. Or rather, they just don't want to have mates yet or they are disgusted. So, I'm warning you, Rachelle, whatever running in your mind feels to reject that Alpha boy, quit it in your mind. I am not going to allow you."
I was left speechless. Damn! How did he know that I was planning to? Great! Now that he warned me, how could I not meet my mate?
He sent me daggers. "You're planning it, don't you?" He growled.
"Hey! I am not! Don't accuse me that I am planning to do that because if I do, you could kill me." Great! Goodness! Graciousness, Rachelle! And now you'll be damn at lying. Shit! Shut the fuck up!
"Are you sure?" He stared at me with disbelief and looked directly into my eyes as if looking for a hint that I was lying. Well, I'm not going to let him know that.
"Give me some time." I gave him my bored expression and stared into his eyes. Please let him not know. Please let him not know. I chanted that to myself over and over again. I don't know what to do if he finds out I was just lying to reject my mate even though I can't do that. I don't have the guts to reject Claude for the Moon Goddess' sake.
Then, suddenly he smiled and patted my head again. "Okay. If you're not planning on that, then I guess, you're planning on meeting him, right? Come on!" He instantly pulled my hand to stand me up and he started walking towards the door where my mate was behind there together with Casey.
"Hey! No...no... That's... That's not what I meant, brother! Brother! NO!" He didn't listen to me but he just opened the door. "BROTHER!!!" I yelled at him as I met the two siblings, Claude and Casey.
Claude looked at me. I saw his eyes lightened up as he saw me with those dark red beautiful pairs of his eyes. I even saw him flash a smile. My stomach automatically flipped.
Goodness! Graciousness! My heart went wild!
"Hi, Rachelle! Glad to see, my beautiful mate."He took my hand. I felt a jolt of electricity when he held my hand and brought it to his lips to planted a soft kiss on my knuckles. It sent shivers down in my spine after he does that. I could feel the heat started to build in me because of him. His scent is still alluring and hypnotizing to smell every second.I slowly heaved in a breath and took off my hand from his. And
I couldn't move nor stir in my position. My eyes were still widening in shock as I felt Claude's face in my neck and his lips were pressing in my weak spot. Then his lips started to move. He was licking it. I automatically closed my eyes in submission."You really smelled so good just what I have thought, mate."I instantly opened my eyes as he whispered. I clenched both of my fists at how annoyed I was because of what h
I ran to the packhouse and met Storm who was holding a letter. I couldn't help the smile drew in my face as I took it from him and opened it. It was news from the palace. I read it carefully and with understanding."What a contagious smile, don't you think, Hance? Maybe that's good news, eh."I rolled my eyes as I found Beta Hance also smiling widely as also Storm. "Why, don't you stick your nose in me. Mind your own bus
Storm had commanded that I should have dinner before I walked out again from his pack. Supposedly, I didn't refuse him and obliged even though Claude is there. I accepted Storm's offer because I knew it would be too long before I'd be back again in his pack. And besides, I want to bid goodbye to everyone that became a part of me."There! You are now a goddess in your new form, Rachelle!" Casey said as she clapped her hands, glaring at me in the mirror.I smiled widely as I couldn't take my eyes off my reflection. She tied my hair into a messy bun. She ordered me to wear one of the dresses that didn't fit her off. I found it hard to believe. She has a nice, curve-shaped body that fits the off-shoulder blue dress that is under the knee I was wearing. I forgot to say that it is a formal dinner made by my brother. I wore this dress for the sake of Casey. She hasn't
"Let's have a toast everyone for my little sister, Rachelle," announced Storm as he raised his wine glass.I smiled, doing the same as they raised their glasses. I was overwhelmed that Storm has to do this effort together with his wife, Casey. Very formal event but we talked informally. I love how we do this thing. Surely, I'm going to miss them once I am in the palace."Thank you everyone for doing these things to me. I'm going to miss you all," I said happily, looking at them one by one. "I'm going to miss Alpha Storm's soldiers I trained so well. Please protect our pack even if I am gone in this pack.
After Claude and I made a moment, we decided to go to the woods with our wolf form. I agreed to make memories with him even though a part of me is yelling at me as to why I'm letting this.We passed the borderlines then I mind-linked Storm I'm going with Claude. I don't know why I let him agreed on me with this. Because the wolf part of me wants to be with Claude before I say a painful goodbye to him. I would think of going far away from him sickens me now. I sighed.Claude nudged me with his nose. I looked at him and found his massive wolf form. His red eyes were looking at me lovingly. At every end of
Excitement shot right through me as I saw the palace from afar to this road I was at. At last, I'll be back to my job and I will surely find myself to know everything. I'm still confused as to where pack I belonged before Storm's parents took care of me.The royal library holds the answers I am going to look for. I haven't been gone to the royal library ever since I was promoted as a battle commander. I always passed by it every time I patrolled around the palace. If I get a chance to have my off, I shall take the opportunity to enter the library."Commander, we have arrived."I snapped back to reality upon the coachman's announcement. A royal carriage servant opened the royal carriage door for me. I smiled at him, thanking him.As I stepped out, a young man approached me and saluted me. I made a salute at him. He was wearing a cutaway coat and glasses on his eyes. "Greetings, Royal Commander Rachell
"One more lapse, soldiers, and you can finally take some rest!" I yelled to order the soldiers running around the oval running track.I watched them closely as they made their way to finish the 1000th laps. Rise and shine. The dusk has appeared just in time they finished their lapses."Good job! You can have your breakfast," I said then turned my back on them. I saw Commander Bricks walking in my direction. I tilted my head and met him half the way. "Commander Bricks Walter, greetings!" I nodded my head.He also nodded his head. "Good morning, Commander Rachelle Simon! Are you done tiring them?" he asked with a sheepish smile on his lips. Then he looked at my soldiers who were very tired and laying in the ground. "Commander, you are so strict..." He chuckled.I shrugged. "I trained myself with this method. I always run 1000 lapses every day." I looked at him, scrutinizing him. "Don't say I am strict
The palace was in a chaotic situation right now.It was not because of the war. The war has been long gone and turned into history.It was because of the—"Your Majesty, Luna Queen Rachelle, where are you?""Prince Cloud.""Prince Claus.""Prince Clyde."I looked at my three sons as I hushed them not to make a sound as we were hiding at the back of the greenhouse garden. We silently laughed as the knights and palace guards were panicking all over the palace.'Hush,' I said through mind link to Clyde, seven years old, when he was about to speak. I gently pointed to his head. 'Use mind link to communicate with me, alright, darling?'I heard his giggle from the mind link. 'Yes, Mommy.'I turned at Cloudy, eleven years old, who was our lookout. He giggl
Claude nervously stood up as he bowed his head before my mother. "I-I..." He cleared his throat and looked at Her nervously. "M-Moon Goddess Lunaria, I-I am Clau..." He cleared his throat again when his voice cracked causing me to chuckle softly. "I'm... Uh... Claudian Alexander IV. I am..." He gulped. "I am Rachelle's mate," he said as he chuckled nervously. I chuckled and covered my mouth seeing how nervous Claude was right now. After we both shared a kiss earlier, Claude realized that we did it in front of my mother. Judging by the expression of my mother, I could surmise that she was raising her eyebrow, scrutinizing Claude up and down. (I know you, human. Your mother, Beatrice, always told stories about you and your sisters, Claude.) Claude gasped. "D-Do you always talk to my mother?" Mother nodded. "H-How is she? F-Father misses her so much. We also missed her, too." His voice croaked be
<Rachelle, my love...><Please wake up...><You promised me...><Don't leave me alone here please...><I need you...><Rachelle, our son... He needs you, too. Don't leave us, please...>I gasped and opened my eyes as I coughed and held my neck. "Claude...?" I creased my forehead when I was in a familiar... lavender field. Again? My eyes widened upon the realization. I even noticed that I was wearing a white flowy dress. "Mother!" I immediately turned my head when I felt Her presence.In an instant, She was already beside me and I felt suffocated because she embraced me in Her arms.(How have I long to hold you, my dear, Ragriel,) she said in her godly female voice. It was like there was another voice, an alto one, jo
"No, no, no. Claude, don't do this to me," I said as I held his face as he coughed more and looked into my eyes.He smiled faintly before he told me, "Please remove them. Quickly..." he demanded as I nodded to remove them.It was a good thing that Doctor McKenzie spared us a few antidotes in case something like this would have happened. Claude immediately took the vial and was about to bestow me the other one when someone shot it. Gasping, Claude quickly shielded me when we heard footsteps from where we came from."Well, well... I did not know I had a guest tonight."Claude and I growled a warning when my father, Magnius Lothim, appeared with a sinister smile plastering on his lips. His hands were smeared with blood and I was horrified upon seeing that he was holding the... decapitated head of—"Doctor McKenzie..." I mumbled his name as I started to feel disgus
"H-How did you get here?" I asked as soon as I realized what was happening.Before Claude could answer me, he cupped my face and immediately crashed his lips into mine. My eyes widened at that unexpected action from him before he broke our kiss. His expression softened upon seeing my surprised one."I have missed you, Rachelle... I was so worried when you were abducted..." His voice croaked."Your Majesties, we must get to the infirmary now." It was Doctor McKenzie.I turned to him. "But I do have chains. I cannot simply walk properly—" I almost shrieked when I felt being scooped by the familiar touch only to find Claude who was so near to me right now that was raging my heart so wild."I shall bring this," Doctor McKenzie said while he was bringing the metal boulder which wasn't heavy enough for us since we were werewolves. "Be quiet for now, Luna Queen Rachel
That time, I was left dumbfounded and thought it over.Ragriel, the Goddess of Mate Bond... That was me? I have the capability to connect and break a couple's mate bond?Then it hit me.Which reminds me, about Claude and I... I knew we uttered the words of rejection against each other. It was already known that there was no way that a broken mate bond could be able to interlace again.Unless that was the Moon Goddess's works Herself.But that was a rare case.Since I am the Goddess of Mate Bond, then did it mean that I... used my ability? Unconsciously?Was I the reason why Claude and I's mate bond reconnected?I looked up at the ceiling to see that the moon shone my way. It was an open ceiling yet there was moisture that came from the dew which was why I could see the moon and the stars in the sky. I sta
"Now, come, come, Rachellian. Dine with your father," Lothim said with a welcoming tone as he ushered me while my hands were being clasped with tight metal bondage in front of me.Hesitant, I only nodded and didn't dare to say anything. I didn't dare to fight back as I was saving my energy.I decided not to be a hard-headed one and must do what it takes not to annoy my father. He had already done some abusive actions to me as it drained me. This time, his behavior changed and he didn't dare to take drastic actions to hurt me.It was as if he suddenly changed after that night."How's... the situation outside... um... F-Father?" Damn it! It was hard to even call him that. I even had a hard time calling Claude's father like that as well as Storm's father. Now that myrealfather was here, Lothim informed me that I must start addressing him as my father.
I screamed at the top of my lungs as soon as the hot iron rod was pressed to the flesh on my back, creating a searing pain that made me want to pass out immediately."I do not know how to communicate with Her! I only have done it one time with the former Luna Queen Beatrice's painting! That was only one time!" I said through gritted teeth, hissing as I felt the flesh from my back was slowly healing.I heard Lothim's snort behind me before I screamed again when he pressed the rod again to my back. "My apologies, my dear daughter, but I am not going to accept that as an excuse!" he said angrily. "I want to speak with your mother!" he demanded."Halt! Please..."...Father. I wanted to say it but that word couldn't come out because until now, I still couldn't believe that... Magnius Lothim was my... father.When he didn't hear anything from me, I was coerced to return back to t
Claude"Your real name is Isabella Ashdown, right? How come you have a different name as a goddess of healing and hunting?" I asked after Lady Isabel was done healing my injury on my face. Smiling, I sighed in relief after seeing that I looked perfectly fine now.I was impressed as I didn't feel any pain anymore. So, this was the power of a deity... I already imagined meeting one of them but somehow, I was still in denial."Iseldis?" Lady Isabel asked to confirm her deity name and cackled. "Father explained before to me that Iseldis is my deity name and Isabella is my mundane name." She shrugged her shoulders. "I thought that he was jesting when he told me about it. But when I grew up, I think it was starting to make sense," she explained.I kept nodding my head taking interest in her father and how he became associated with the Moon Goddess and had a daughter with Her.