My wolf was almost non-existent. She never spoke and the only sign that she was still alive was the whimper of her heartbreak.
I was heartbroken, too. My mate rejected me but our bond was as strong as ever. Even if I was only with him for a few hours, it felt like I knew him my whole life. I could still see his striking golden eyes.
Albert didn’t even bother to send me back. He left me alone. I heard from Harper that he thought I was depressed about staying so far away from home. I just hoped no one found out about my secret.
Harper and Keith were the only ones who came to visit me.
Keith would tell jokes to try and get me to laugh. I laughed at one that had to do with missing school. He really was a good friend, I just never noticed.
Harper came by after him and I could tell she was concerned about me. She made a good Luna, she was caring and listened to all my problems.
And I had many problems.
“This isn’t like you, Amy,” Harper said, her eyebrows creasing with worry.
“I know, I just want to stay here.” I lied, leaving the Brandon part out. “I like it here and I don’t want to go back. I’ll be fine.” She nodded and changed the subject.
“So who’s Keith?” Harper asked slyly and I smiled, my mood shifting a little.
“Just a friend.”
“Just a friend?” She repeated.
“Just a friend.” I reiterated for the second time and he really was. The look on her face said that she didn’t believe anything I was saying.
“He’s been my best friend ever since I moved five years ago.” He was the only one at school who actually talked to me, everyone else ignored me. Mystic High was full of rude people.
“You must have tons of other boys who like you.”
I grabbed my pillow and held it closer to my chest, “Boys mostly avoid me.”
“Why?”
“I’m the Alpha’s sister. Albert scares them away. He gets really protective of me.” That’s what made meeting boys so hard. Whenever we had wolves visiting for a few days, Albert would make it very clear that I was off limits. At least, he used to when I lived here.
“I know what you mean.” She laughed to herself.
We sat in silence for a little while. I caught her looking at me from the corner of my eye a couple times and she also kept fidgeting with her fingers. My curiosity got the better of me.
“What?” I asked.
“Just- nothing.” Harper stopped herself. She looked away, biting her lip.
“Tell me!” I exclaimed eagerly and scooted closer to her.
“It’s about Albert a-and the pack.” She said nervously and took a deep breath. I stared at her, totally entranced. “I. . . I’m pregnant.”
My eyes literally shot out of their sockets.
“Ohmygod, congratulations!” I cheered loudly and she reddened. A huge smile spread across my face, unable to contain my excitement.
“Shhh! Albert doesn’t know!” Harper tried to calm me down but I was filled with happiness.
“Ohmygod, tell him, what are you waiting for?” I started shrieking but I couldn’t help myself. This was insane! My brother was going to have a baby and the pack was going to have a future Alpha! “I can’t believe this!”
“Me neither.” Harper said quietly, sounding like she was out of breath. “I still can’t believe it.”
She rubbed her stomach lovingly. Her flat stomach had a slight bump but it was so small that I didn’t notice. But now that she mentioned it, her scent was a little different.
Just then, the door opened and Albert walked in. Perfect timing. He kissed Harper on the lips and dotted kisses all over her face as she giggled.
They looked each other lovingly. It was like I was watching some private moment that I wasn’t suppose to see, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I’d never seen Albert so gentle or showing so much adoration for someone else. It was so unlike him.
Why couldn’t Brandon be like that?
Why couldn’t my mate be. . . normal?
“Isn’t there something you want to tell my brother?” I asked, nudging Harper with my elbow.
“I’ll tell you at dinner,” She stalled and Albert nodded, oblivious to how his life would change the instant she revealed her secret.
*****
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I kept telling myself that Brandon was a total jerk and that I could survive on my own without some mate but I was just lying to myself.
I needed him. I needed him more than air, more than life itself.
I shot up from my pillow, breathing heavily and sweat running down my forehead. I was having trouble falling asleep. Brandon invaded my dreams. I kept seeing his pretty face and his hair reaching ending above his eyes and his soft-looking lips-
Falling was too fast. Too easy. My emotions had overruled my conscience.
It got to the point where I didn’t care about how we were enemies because all I could think about was him.
I crept out of the castle, hiding behind walls and snuck out of one of the back doors. Just one minute, one minute to see him and maybe even talk to him.
I phased into my wolf and followed the path Brandon’s scent left. It was the strongest thing I could smell which made it easier to follow. No one was tracking me but I looked back every once in a while. I just hoped Albert would never find out about my “field trip”. I dug my feet in the ground and stared at the land in front of me. It looked the same as our land, lush green grass and tall pine trees off in the far distance.
I stepped over the invisible line and followed Brandon’s scent. My heart accelerated at the thought of seeing him again.
I couldn’t wait.
For the first time, I saw the golden castle of our enemy pack. It glimmered brightly like the sun and the stars.
I hid behind the trees and opened my mouth to drop my clothes on the ground. I phased back and changed, ready to meet my destiny.
I sniffed the air and headed for the back of the castle. He was close. My wolf was going crazy and she whined impatiently.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The features of the infamous Brandon greeted me. All I could see was his head hanging out of his balcony three stories up, scowling like usual.
I smiled, happy to finally be with him.
“I said, what the hell are you doing here?” Brandon repeated and I mustered all of my courage to look him straight in the eye.
“I came to see you.” I admitted and he crossed his arms.
“I already told you.” He said in an exasperated voice. “I rejected you.”
“Well, I didn’t.”
“You would accept me, even if I was your enemy? Even if I was the one who killed your parents?” Brandon challenged and for once, I couldn’t speak. He was walking on ice.
The death of my parents was never forgotten. They still haunted me and sometimes, I pretended they were still here to escape the pain. I pretended that my parents were still around and still loved me.
I knew from the beginning that Brandon was the one who murdered my mom and dad. But I told myself it didn’t matter.
“Yes.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise. He sure didn’t expect that.
“Who’s out there?”
I heard footsteps behind me but it was already too late. I smacked into a solid wall and almost tripped over my feet.
Oops.
“Who are you?” I recognized him as Jason, Brandon’s younger brother. I remember Albert telling me about how one of our wolves was mated to him. But I couldn’t remember who. . .
“U-Um-” Jason interrupted my fail of an excuse with a snarl and his eyes blazed with anger.
“You’re not from our pack. Brandon, we have an intruder!”