Derek:The way my mother goggled at me as I raised my fist again, would have been so damn amusing if I wasn’t feeling fury within me.“Mother,” I greeted her. She had practically rushed out of the house after I told her that Alisha had returned, and now I remembered that bit and focused on her. “How did it go?”“Oh,” she breathed, her face showing varying emotions. Then she finally settled on, “I don’t know how I’m going to convince her, Derek. She refused to return with me.”“But she’s safe?” I asked gruffly, not wanting to think of the sting I felt upon my mother reminding me of Alisha’s stubbornness.My mother nodded in response, saying, “We convinced her to stay in the clinic at least. Simon will help keep an eye on her and the children.”I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking the goddess in a silent gesture. I had been afraid that Alisha would suddenly disappear again and had given the guards orders to ensure that no one passed through the border without my knowledge. With the rep
Derek:My mother’s silence was just as damning as any other response I had ever gotten, even from Benny.Hearing her sigh only filled me with more trepidation.“You screwed up,” she patted my hand. “I’m… i don’t know if she could ever forgive you,” she admitted finally.It was as though my fears had come to pass, and I shut my eyes trying to stop the thoughts that threatened to swallow me whole.“But,” my mother continued. “I’m here, Derek. And I believe that Alisha can move on from this. It’s just going to take a bit more time. I’m going to help you. I want to see you both happy. Both of you are my children,” she finished.I held onto the hope in her voice, that i would have a chance of Alisha forgiving me. The other outcomes were too bleak for me to consider.I kept myself busy with work throughout that day, only stopping once the sun had well and truly set, and the pack had gone quiet from pack members retiring for the night.The next day, early in the morning, I stepped into the p
Lila:I was glad to see Derek had returned. But he barely gave me a glance and turned to his mother who sat stiff as a board beside me.“Mother, you should go to the pack clinic,” Derek said to my joy.Finally.I didn’t think anything of his words because of course I knew that Simon and Melissa were together like her father said. I appreciated this woman leaving my side.Beaming, i said, “Yes, you should leave.”I was pleased as the former Luna of the pack finally nodded and stood up, but not before giving me a horrid look.I simply ignored the look though and brought out the spray I had prepared, putting it on my wrists and neck, like a normal perfume.I was glad to hear the woman finally leave and sighed with relief.I found Derek’s mother to be the sorry excuse of what a Luna should be. My father had told me all the tales of how much she had become the butt of many jokes between Derek’s father, the Former Alpha, and himself, who was the former Alpha’s best friend.It was absolutely
Alisha:After Derek left, I felt furious that I let him get to me like that. It had taken everything in me to not scream at him, or punch him or worse.I let out a growl as I entered the bedroom, seeing that Aria and Ares were now dressed up, with Mischa waiting for me with a tense look on her face.“What is it?” I asked her, sighing inwardly. She certainly had words she wanted to say to me, and I wasn’t going to stop her.I gestured for her to leave the twins as they played on the bed and we stepped out onto the hallway.“Alright, Misch. Out with it,” I told her and she audibly let out a large breath.“What was that all about?” Mischa asked me. She was definitely angry.“What was what?” I asked, still not getting it.“Alisha, we talked about this. I thought you finally got it,” she folded her arms and glared at me. “But you’re still doing it. You really are trying to keep the twins away from their father?”“What’s wrong with that?” I demabded defiantly. “He knows nothing about them.
Alisha:Melissa was silent, but I could still see tears pooling in her eyes and it hurt me to make her feel that way.But I knew I had to stand my ground now: if I gave in to her desires, then I would be the one left hurting.“I’m sorry, Alisha,” she apologized with a croaky voice. “I- i really am,” she swallowed.A sharp pain lanced through my chest and I pressed my hand to my heart, where it hurt the most.A turbulent mix of emotions threatened to overwhelm me. Guilt, regret, anger.Why was she the one that had to apologize? Where was Derek? Why was he making his mother go through so much just for the potential of us reconciling? It was enough to make me more furious at him - it was another score I had to settle with him.“I’m sorry my dear,” Melissa repeated.“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I replied to her, murmuring as my heart hurt more for her sake. “Don’t take responsibility for what he did.”“But I have no choice, Alisha,” she pleaded. “I know you don’t believe it. But De
Derek:After Alisha all but stormed out of the kitchen, Mischa let out a sigh, her curls bouncing as she bobbed her head from left to right, shaking it.“I’m sorry for how she’s acting,” She apologized. “She’s on the edge. I noticed it since we came to this pack. Almost like sheens afraid for her safety.”I pursed my lips and nodded in understanding. It was hard for me to not be understanding when I knew exactly what she had faced from Lila and Gerard when she had been here before.“I didn’t expect her to lash out like that,” Benjamin remarked, to which his mate glared at him silently from where she stood washing the dishes. “What?” He asked innocently.“Perhaps you shouldn’t have done anything to upset her more,” Mischa chided her mate. “You know how protective she is of the twins. Even when we were on the road, she could only really trust them with myself, Hilda and four others.”“I only wanted to help,” Benjamin defended himself. “But you’re right. We should give her more time. If
Derek:“Damn it,” I cursed as the Benjamin finished stamping in the dirt to flatten the ground. “I hate doing this.”“What part of it do you hate?” He grunted, looking exhausted. “Finding the spies or having to take care of them afterward?”I didn’t respond; every part of this was a hated thing.I hated having grown used to the idea of looking over my back for anyone that would be watching. I hated that Gerard was like a problem that had no end. Like the head of a hydra, cutting down one of his spies only led to two more taking their place.We made our way out of the forest and back towards the main compound after a few more minutes, covering our tracks on the forest floor and making sure no scent of blood was on our body.“I’m sure that Gerard would soon start suspecting something, if he doesn’t already, that is,” I spoke up as we made our way back.Benjamin hummed, combing his fingers through his hair.“It may get harder to hide Alisha as time goes on,” he finally said. “But for now
Derek:The way to the pack meeting hall was quiet and I was able to mentally prepare myself for whatever would face me this meeting.The guards bowed deeply to me as I walked through the open French style doors, and when I saw Gerard there as well as the pack elders gazing with disapproval in their eyes, I knew something was up.I stood at the topmost part of the elevated podium facing them and spoke, “Pack Elders. I greet you all. For what reason have you summoned me for?”One of the Pack elders stood and began to speak, “Alpha Derek. You must know the reason we have summoned you. Why have you waited for so long before coming to report to us of the new members of the pack? Why would you think to accept rogues who were one of the strongest ones in the region, into our pack like it was nothing? And why would you make this decision on your own without even bothering to discuss it with us? What do you take us for?!”I noticed Gerard smirking to himself. It was clear to me that the damned