“Even, what are you talking about?” Alpha Ares demanded from the head of the table. He was looking at him like he’d grown a second head.
“How do you know?” Someone else asked, followed by a “do you think he’s right?” and “you mean it’s the other sister?”
I wanted to ask what he was talking about but I couldn’t speak, my mind blanking out.
Even gestured to me and everyone gawked at me like I was some zoo animal.
“Don’t you see it, the aura around her? It was always overpowered by Aria’s because they were so close but now that she’s alone-” He didn’t finish. And everyone still stared at me.
I looked down, avoiding everyone’s gazes. Especially Aria’s. Even made it sound like we weren’t close anymore.
“Are you sure?” Even met Luna Alex’s eyes.
“I’ve never been so sure in my entire life.”
Silence.
Ares looked at me in all seriousness, “Is my son speaking the truth?” Son? I looked back at Even, about to ask what he meant, but he just looked at Ares. Does he mean Even? Who was he talking about?
Then it hit me: Even was the Alpha’s son. He was Luna Alex’s son. The Alpha and Luna were his parents. My mind exploded, I don’t know why it hit me so hard but it did. Why didn’t Even ever tell me? Why didn’t anyone ever tell me? I balled my hands into fists, hating that I was always the last one to know anything.
I looked up and found Ares staring at me, waiting expectantly.
Oh, wait, he asked me something. Shoot, what did he just say?
Is my son speaking the truth?
I remembered suddenly and gulped as I spoke, my voice wavering, “I don’t know.”
Should I tell them about the mind-link?
Harry stood up abruptly, “Alpha, you don’t actually believe she is the Moon Goddess? Miss Arianna was always the one, she’s the one with powers, I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” Aria remained silent next to him.
“What powers?” Even challenged and it made Harry’s eyes flash amber. His anger meter rose quickly.
“You have no right, she is still learning how to use her powers properly. It takes time.” Harry tried to restrain himself, like he was fighting himself.
Even nodded respectfully, “I apologize,”
Too many people. Too many stares.
I felt like throwing up, I couldn’t handle this pressure anymore. I just wanted to leave. I just wanted it to stop.
I pushed my chair back with my legs and stood up frantically, “I-I have to go.”
“Hazel,” Even tried to reach for me but I pushed him away.
I ran out of the dining room and felt everyone’s stares burn into my back. I didn’t know where I was going, I just wanted out. Away from everyone.
I kept pushing doors and found myself outside somehow.
I couldn’t catch my breath, it was like I was slowly dying. I wanted to cry but I couldn’t, I was out of tears.
It was a beautiful night and I was wasting it by sulking alone.
“What are you doing out here?”
I was so shocked that I jumped and lost my balance. My ankle twisted in an unnatural position and I fell on my side.
“I-I thought no one was here.” I stammered, my heart still pounding loudly in my ear.
Law shook his head and grabbed my arms, roughly pulling me back to my feet.
“You shouldn’t be out here, you don’t know what’s out there.” Law looked out at the woods, pine trees beyond pine trees.
“Then why are you out here?”
“I’m on patrol. Someone’s gotta do the dirty work.” That’s right, he didn’t have time to attend silly festivals.
I noticed a change in him, he wasn’t acting like he hated me. It was very subtle but very different considering how he treated me at the last festival.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked curiously and he raised an eyebrow.
“Can’t I just be nice?” Law asked defensively and I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not, “You think I’m that bad, huh?”
“Yes. No. I-”
Law grinned without humor, “Even told me to be nice to you and I can’t disobey him, can I?” That was more like it.
I frowned.
“What does he want with me?” Did he have an ulterior motive? Why did he expose me like that? “He’s telling people to be nice to me and he’s saying things that don’t make sense.”
“Like what?” Law leaned his body in my direction, like he actually didn’t detest how human I was.
“That I’m the Moon Goddess.”
Law just stared at me, studying my face.
I looked down at my feet, my shyness getting the best of me.
I didn’t like how he was still staring at me so I added, “But no one believed him, especially not Harry. I’m not even sure Ares believed it.” I’d give anything to know what he was thinking.
“Don’t trust him.”
“Who?”
“Harry. He’s had your sister wrapped around his fucking finger ever since you disappeared. He lied to Aria about Ken liking you and used that to his advantage.”
“How-”
“I hear everything that goes around. Don’t trust him.” He repeated his warning and I already didn’t trust Harry after our first encounter.
“What about Even? Do you trust him?”
Something flashed in his brown eyes and it wasn’t good. Like Even, I couldn’t read him.
“I have to.”
“Because he’s the Alpha’s son?”
“When Diana-” Law stopped himself and I crossed my arms.
“Who is Diana? Ken said something about not mentioning that name but who is that?” That was right after I ran into Law and thought he was the scariest person I’d ever met. I still think he’s scary but at least he’s trying to be civil around me.
“Whatever, you’ll find out sooner or later,” He muttered before he spoke louder, “Diana was the Alpha and Luna’s daughter. Before her induction into the pack, she ran away.”
“Did you ever find her?”
“No and that’s why everyone’s so desperate to believe in this sham of a Moon Goddess, they want her to bring our future Alpha home,” He explained, “When Diana left, Even and their parents were devastated. No one talks about it.”
So Diana is still out there, somewhere. I wanted to ask Law why she left but I remembered what he said. No one talks about it.
“You know what I think?” Law asked out of the blue and I looked at him, “I think Even’s right, no matter how much that guy bothers me, he’s right. When you stood next to the other girl before, I couldn’t tell. But it’s you, you’re the Moon Goddess.”
I peeked at Law, surprised he’d tell me all of that. When I first met him, he wanted nothing to do with me. He couldn’t keep his hatred for me any more obvious. Now, he seems like a different person altogether.
He caught me looking at him and ever so slightly, turned the corners of his mouth upwards.
Was he really acting different just because Even told him to?
*****
I held my head up high, ignoring everyone’s stares and whispers.
Aria and Harry were no where to be found. I wanted to talk to Aria and tell her the truth. About how Harry was lying to her and my time with the rogues and how I missed her. We weren’t talking as much as we used to and it hurt.
Later that night. . . I didn’t really make the best choices.
I grabbed a glass of wine from one of the waitor’s trays and forced the bittersweet syrup down my throat. I grabbed another glass, wanting to look like I was doing something other than stand around by myself. After the first two drinks, I might’ve grabbed a third and fourth but I didn’t really remember.
Everything passed by in a blur, the whole world was turning at a rapid pace.
I stumbled around, drunk beyond repair, and feeling good. I’ll probably start to feel dizzy and sick soon but until then, I’ll enjoy myself.
I didn’t know what was going on but I walked right into a fight. Well, not a fight, but in a circle where people were fighting for fun.
“Winner, Law!” Some really muscular guy held up Law’s hand and he stood in the middle of the circle victoriously.
I was going to walk passed them but almost tripped when I heard what they were saying.
“Come on, Even, scared you’ll lose?” Law challenged and Even just stood there, contemplating.
“I’m scared no amount of my healing powers will fix you.” The crowd howled and I joined in.
I caught Even’s eye. Law looked over at me, too, and said something I couldn’t hear. I could’ve sworn he said I’ve been waiting for this moment to beat your ass but that couldn’t be right. My senses while intoxicated had been thrown out the window.
I watched anxiously as Even stepped into the ring and faced Law.
“I’m gonna remind you that this is a clean fight, okay, boys?” The muscular guy instructed.
Both nodded and with a shout of go, Law swung a mean right hook. Even dodged and moved his feet while Law kept punching and going on the offensive. Even was swift and graceful for a guy, dodging Law’s blows a split second before he would be hit.
I was completely enraptured.
Who would win? They said Law was a fighter, the best in the pack. But Even looked experienced, he looked calm. They were evenly matched.
The fight switched. Law was getting tired and Even started to throw some punches, actually hitting him in the face. Both of their eyes were wild with something. . . feral.
Law was completely off guard when Even used his left fist to send him to the ground. I gasped along with the crowd, completely stunned.
The wind got knocked out of Law when his back hit the ground. He tried to get back up but Even was already there.
Even had already won.
*****
I don’t know how I ended up in Even’s arms. Or what time it was.
“Are you okay?” My eyelids felt heavy but I strained myself to stay awake.
“I should be asking you that.” Even won but there were still scratches on his face. The fight took less than three minutes but it was something I’d never forget. I’d never underestimate Even ever again.
“How did you win? Isn’t Law like the best fighter or something?”
“He’s too proud, too confident in his abilities sometimes.” Even told me and I yawned, closing my eyes. I heard his heart beating in my ear, calming me down like a lullaby.
“Do you really think. . . that I’m the Moon Goddess?”
Even gently put me on his bed, unwrapping my hands from his neck. I instantly missed his body heat.
“Yes, I do.”
“Do you think the Moon Goddess can have a mate? Because I really want one. Everyone has one and it’s not fair.” I rambled, momentarily forgetting who I was talking to.
“Did you know pack healers can’t have mates?”
“Why can’t you have a mate?”
“Because if I had to choose between saving the Alpha’s life or saving my mate’s life, I would save my mate’s life.”
“Really? That’s so sad,” I hummed, “I’d want you as my mate.”
It was quiet and all I heard was my shallow breathing.
I felt his fingers sift through my hair, “You’re not going to remember this when you wake up, are you?”
“Probably not.” I smiled.
He chuckled lightly and I felt something soft touch my forehead. It took me a moment to realize that it was his lips.
He just kissed my forehead. Even just kissed my freaking forehead.
I opened my eyes and stared into his eyes, not wanting to forget.
Even had beautiful eyes. Were mine as beautiful as his?
I always thought my eyes were a dull gray, but maybe they were really the silver of the moon.