Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

- Cleo ~

"What beautiful roses!" Luna Medea exclaims; her manicured nails stretching out to touch the bouquet of freshly cut roses that stand in the vase, the centre piece to the kitchen table that the four of us were eating breakfast together on.

Every meal time was just the four of us...Alpha Than, Luna Medea, me...and the elderly relative.

I've been here for a week yet I still haven't learnt any more of this relative than on my first day here. She would slowly walk down the stairs for each meal time, wind up Luna Medea, then slowly walk back up...as if she was under room arrest.

I would say she was a poorly great auntie of Than's, that he let stay here from the goodness of his heart, but something wasn't really adding up.

She had a constant glaze over her eyes as if she was in a permanent mind-link...which I know for a fact isn't true.

She also has aging spots upon her skin and a purple tint to her lips.

I hate the term batty...but I would definitely say she fell into this category.

I enjoyed our meal times together, more so because she had a way of grating on Luna Medea

which was rather satisfying to watch. It was becoming more difficult by the day to hide my giggles at the table.

"Thank you, I cut them only this morning." A playful smirk forms across the lady's lips, a complete contrast to the tensed jaw of Luna Medea.

"Cut from where?" Luna Medea tries to sound composed but I can tell she is dying inside, knowing full well where the roses were obtained from. Her precious garden.

"From the alpha garden."

"You cut my roses...without permission?" Luna Medea seethes out.

"I didn't realise I needed permission when the roses are part of nature."

"My late husband planted those seeds."

"Then he was a keen gardener, he had done a superb job. They are flourishing."

The table turns quiet, my eyes flickering to Than's who tries to hold back the laughter that wants to

escape from him also. Every meal time ended up with a similar type of argument between the females. Unlike my fellow guest, I have spent the last week touring the pack grounds and getting to know the pack members.

Each one of them was welcoming towards me, each one took time out of their busy schedules to speak to me. No matter what they were in the middle of.

I'm pretty certain they had been ordered by Than to take the time to make me feel welcomed, rumour had gotten out that I was the new Luna.

The female beta, Freya, was tasked with accompanying me at all times. She was of a similar age to Mum, yet she still worked as if she was new to the role.

Rushing around answering Luna Medea's every whim...I kind of felt a bit sorry for her.

By now a new beta should be carrying out the duties of her mate, Beta Zane, letting Freya start to retire from the role.

She was a nervous female, always looking over her shoulder...shaking when around Than and her mate.

The other day I had noticed sore

scars across her arms. When I

asked about them she brushed them off as the results of an attack on the pack years ago...but I didn't believe

her

They looked too recent for injuries sustained years ago. She said the scars a lasting reminder of what tyranny can look like before changing the subject.

I dropped it when she wore a long sleeve top the next day. Who was I to question her injuries, maybe she doesn't want to be reminded.

I'm starting to understand how sheltered I have been living in the Red Thorn pack, sheltered by my own parents.

We've never had a pack attack, not since I have been born. It must be hard to constantly worry about the next attack, one that you may not survive from.

The White Moon pack attack was my first experience with any type of attack, one that was the deadliest to the Dark Phantom pack...I still remember it like it was yesterday.

Maybe trauma never really heals....Freya a living reminder of that.

"Cleo?"

"Hmm?" I'm pulled from my own thoughts when Than calls out my name.

"What are your plans for today?"

"Oh, I was going to visit the hospital, if that is okay with you." I sit a little straighter, conscious of Luna Medea's scrutinising eyes on me.

"Do you need me to come?"noveldrama

"No, it's not that kind of visit." I

hadn't taken Than's offer up on his doctor's performing a scan on me. t still felt too early but I know for the sake of the baby, I needed to do it in the next few days. I was already pushing my luck with waiting this long.

"Remember, I can have them available in a matter of minutes." He reminds me as he takes a sip on his coffee.

"I know, thank you." I smile out, before taking a bite of toast for my breakfast.

I don't know what I was holding back on, maybe having the scan without Jace present is making me delay it...a milestone that I'm all too aware that he will never get back.

Once Luna Medea and Than had left

the house, waited in the front garden for Freya, she seemed to be my chaperone all week...I knew it wouldn't be long before she was sent out looking for me at the hospital.