I quickly left the table ignoring my mother’s glares. Knowing her, she wouldn’t mind if I kept Alpha Zack’s proposal and planned a weird double wedding. Just the thought makes me sick. I headed to my room to get my phone and bumped right into Victoria.
She was coming from my room with a box in her hands. Her face was stained with old tears and her eyes were full with new ones. Jas whimpered in the back of mind. I knew she missed Victoria’s wolf, Rae, as much as I missed Victoria. She finally noticed I was staring and she quickly wiped her face.
“Just getting my stuff and I’m leaving now,” she tried to walk by me and I put my arm to stop her.
“You don’t have to leave,” I started, running my hand down her arm. Inviting those sparks I longed for, for days. “I’m not getting married anymore.”
She moved away from my touch and I felt a small pain in my chest. She looked down at her box as if there was something more interesting there.
“Well congratulations. Would you mind moving your arm,” she asked, trying to push past.
“Vicky, come on. This is good news. For us.”
“You mean for you. I rejected you, remember.” I widened my eyes in surprise as she looked away. I saw the hurt in her eyes. I couldn’t believe she still wanted to reject me. After everything that has happened.
“It doesn’t count,” I said through gritted teeth. “I-I-reject your rejection.”
“That’s your problem, not mine. Now get out of my way.”
“No!" I took her box from her and walked back into my room. I threw her box on my bed and turned to see her following. “This is where you and your stuff belong.”
“Right, locked away in your room. Well at least it's bigger than your closet," Victoria laughed sarcastically then she locked eyes with me and pointed her finger, "I will not be your closet case.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” I whispered brokenly. “I want to fight for you. I’m trying.”
“Yeah, then tell your parents. Go downstairs right now and let them know who I am.”
I started to speak but I couldn’t. I knew my mother would never accept us. She would probably send me away or worse, banish Victoria. I sat on my bed defeated. My heart was breaking all over again. Victoria ran her hands through her hair in frustration. She walked over and grabbed her box.
“I know now that I’m not worth the risk. So go and find an alpha, or beta, or whatever would please your mother and leave me alone,” Victoria growled, before walking out the door.
A second later I heard a crash in the hallway. I walked out to see Victoria picking up her things from the floor. Alaia and Isaiah were standing in front of her.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying too much attention,” Alaia said, trying to help pick up her things.
“No!” Victoria screamed before realizing how loud she was. “I’m sorry. I just don’t like people touching my things.”
Victoria scrambled from the floor and quickly moved back from the couple. It was a fast motion and she almost fell again. I caught her against my chest. I could feel her shaking like she was scared. Jas growled through me as I looked at the couple in front of us.
“What the hell, Isa,” Isaiah said, stepping in front of Alaia.
“Sorry. That just came out of nowhere. Vicky, are you ok,” I asked, turning her to face me. Her eyes were wide and her breathing was slowly getting back to normal.
12 Victoria
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Storming out of Isabella's room, I bumped right into Alaia. I knew Alpha Zack was going to be here but not her. Last I heard she was locked away in some institution but no. She was standing here living like she did nothing wrong. Like she didn’t ruin peoples' lives.
“Ah, Victoria,” Alaia yelled and came in for a hug.
I was shocked and tried to back away, but instead I ended up dropping my box. I couldn’t believe she remembered me. I lived in the Blue Moon Pack since I was born until a little over a year ago when my parents hurried and left. I never hung out with Alaia but she was always over at my aunt's house. I remembered how she fancied my cousin. Hung on him like white on rice. However we never really spoke, just the occasional hi and bye.
Then my cousin found his mate and everything changed. I remembered that day like it was yesterday. My cousin was worried about his mate’s safety, worried Alaia would hurt her.
**FLASHBACK**
“Vicky, I need Maria to stay with you for a while,” James said, setting a shaken Maria on my bed. “I don’t want her at the pack house.”
I ran to Maria, who was mumbling gibberish. Even with my wolf ears I couldn't understand her.
She started shaking her head. “No! You just want to keep me away so you can be alone with her. Well over my dead body. You’re MINE!”
Maria lunged for James and he dodged it, pinning her against the wall. Maria started to scream and fight against his hold. I thought a mate’s bond was supposed to calm you but she screamed like it hurt.
“Maria, babe, you know I only want you,” James whispered. Trying his best to soothe her but her eyes were wild and she kept shaking her head.
“LIES! Let me go, you’re hurting me.”
James reluctantly let her go and stepped back with his hands up. Afraid that she might attack him again, I stepped in the middle of them. I wasn't a fighter but I knew I had to help somehow. Seeing Maria like this was unusual. She was the sweetest person I ever met. Maria’s eyes moved from James to me. I could see the fury in her eyes and I felt sad. She must have noticed my face and she fell to the ground in tears.
“What’s wrong with her,” I asked James, who was grabbing his hair in frustration.
“I think,” James started but he was hesitant. “I think-Alaia used magic on her. Maria hasn’t been herself lately. Just paranoid and trying to attack Alaia. I had no option but to bring her here.”
“That's because she wants you,” Maria yelled. “She’s trying to kill me to have you all to herself and you’re too blind to see because secretly you want the same thing.”
Maria looked crazed and I noticed the bracelet she was wearing was glowing.
“What’s that,” I questioned, grabbing her wrist. Her bracelet had symbols carved into the stones and they were glowing. “Why is it glowing?”
Maria snatched her wrist away. “It's a gift from James. Or did you mean to give this to her too?” Maria took off the bracelet and threw it at him.
He was shocked as he looked at the bracelet on the floor. “This isn’t from me.” He kneeled to examine the bracelet closer.
“I don’t feel so good,” Maria said before fainting. James caught her before she hit the floor.
“James, what the hell is going on?” I was panicking now.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. I just need to keep her away from the pack house. Away from Alaia.”
“She could use the guest room. I tell my parents it's an extended sleep-over,” I said walking over to pick up the bracelet.
Dont,” James yelled, “I think it may be cursed.”
I looked at the simple bracelet as James walked out the door with Maria in his arms. I couldn’t believe Alaia would do this to her best friend. Hell, I don’t think my cousin is even worth it. I followed him out the door, wanting to put as much distance as I could from that bracelet on my floor.
**FLASHBACK ENDS**
Until now the last time I saw her she was crying on my aunt’s couch, trying to get my cousin to reject his mate. Next thing I know, my parents are rushing us off to my mother’s pack. No explanation, no anything. I was just ripped from my life and brought to a pack where my mate wants to do the same thing. No one ever cares about what I want. A few weeks later I heard Maria was killed trying to attack Alaia and my cousin was banished as a rogue. I don't know all the details but I know it all came back to Alaia and her magic.
Alaia tried to help me and I snapped at her. My anger was getting the better of me. I needed to get away. I stood up and saw Alaia stepping towards me. I quickly backed up right into Isabella. I knew I didn’t want Alaia touching me or anything of mine. I didn’t realize I was shaking until Isabella held me. Instantly I felt a nice calmness flow throughout my body. I guess our bond was still holding on. Even after I rejected her, I knew I didn’t mean it.
Isabella growled, making Alaia stop in her tracks and Isaiah took a protective stance in front of Alaia. Dammit, what did I start?
“I’m fine. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any problems,” I said, shrugging away from Isabella. I didn’t want her to get any ideas.
I saw Alaia touch Isaiah’s arm and he visibly relaxed. It can’t be, I thought. The Goddess wouldn’t be so cruel to give her a mate.
“There’s no problem. Isaiah is just giving me a tour of the pack house since I’m going to be Luna soon, right?”
“Of course. Anything for you, my Luna,” Isaiah said.
He kissed her hand and I almost threw up in my mouth. I had to get out of there. “Well, I was just leaving. Enjoy the tour.”
I quickly ran downstairs and out the door. There is no way I'm staying in a pack with someone like her as my Luna. I would rather die. I could feel Isabella right on my heels. Goddess, she doesn’t quit and right now I didn’t want to face her.
“Vicky, what was that? Are you afraid of Alaia?”
I didn’t respond. Just kept walking until she grabbed me.
“Hey, tell me what’s wrong?”
“Just stay out of it. It’s none of your concern.”
“Yes it is! You were shaking like you saw a monster and made Jas growl at poor Alaia.”
“Poor Alaia?” I laughed. If only she knew about her soon-to-be Luna. “Look, I just want to get home and you’re making it difficult.”
“Vicky, if there’s something I need to know about Alaia. Tell me now!” She must’ve noticed my sarcasm because she blocked my way. I sighed in frustration.
“Look, all I know is that she is the reason my parents left the Blue Moon Pack,” I yelled at her. “She’s the reason my cousin's mate is dead.”