Chapter 48
***DEREK***
6 YEARS AGO
"So, ummmmm, when are we going to let people know about us?" Alvina asked in a low voice and used her fingers to slowly walk down my right arm and it slightly tickled me.
We were both lying on my bed naked under a large blanket. The windows were open and it let sunlight into the room.
I turned around on the bed to face her and she smiled as she snuggled closer to me.
"You're 18 already, which means anytime soon, your mate bond will be assigned, we can wait till then," I replied and used my hand to push aside a strand of her hair before planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Hmm." She smiled, but I could see uncertainty, doubt, and fear behind the smile.
"And what happens if we're not Mates?" She asked and I sighed, turning around again so I lay flat on my back and stared directly at the white ceiling.
"Let's not think about that now, the Moon Goddess knows we're in love so she'll pair us up together," I replied assuringly and she moved closer to me to snuggle, placing her head on my chest.
"Sometimes, the pairing doesn't work that way, we still have to think about the possibility of us not being mates," Alvina said and she tilted her head up a bit to look me in the eye.
"We can both reject them and if they're from this pack, we can both leave so the bond breaks," she added and I sighed, moving so she could move her head away from my chest.
As she did, I sat up straight and looked at her.
"You know I can't leave the pack," I said and she sat up too, leaning on the bed frame.
"Don't tell me this is because of the pack position," she said with a frown.
"It is, Alvina, it is," I replied.
"What Alpha Knox did isn't fair and he did it because my Dad is dead," I added painfully.
"He cheated me because he knew there was no one to stand up or fight for me," I added and Alvina sighed, with an expression of sympathy on her face.
"I'm so sorry, I'm sure you're going to end up getting what you deserve," Alvina said and placed her hand on my chest.
"Logan might be Alpha today, but anything can happen at any time," she added to comfort me and I nodded.
"Speaking of which," she said in a slightly louder tone and sat up again, "Isn't today Logan's coronation? Why are we still here at this time? Why are YOU still here at this time?" She asked and my eyes widened in surprise.
"By The Moon, I totally forgot."
***
TWO WEEKS AGO.
"Thank you," I said as I took the envelope from Elder Loren. I walked away as he closed the door and I tucked the envelope in the pocket of my jacket.
I wondered why Logan sent me to collect the letters of the elders this week. They always sent it themselves through a member of their household.
Maybe there was something going on and he didn't want it to get into the wrong hands.
I plugged my earphone into the small CD player I got from Councilwoman Kath last week and put it in my ears.
I walked back to the Pack Mansion, stopping occasionally by the side of the road to subtlety dance to the 90's themed punk music playing in the earphone.
I put my hands in the pocket of my jacket and as I sighed, I could see the vapor from my breath in the air.
The sky was dull and the sun was barely there, the weather was extremely cold. I paused the music I was listening to and took a look around. I couldn't hear the sound of any insect.
I resumed the music and continued walking. Tonight, the waning crescent moon will coincide with the new moon, and between that period, it'll render Werewolves incapable of shifting.
It happens about twice a year.
I took a look at my wristwatch and saw the time.
Alvina. She'd written back to me now.
I began walking faster to the Pack mansion and I soon got there. I went to Logan's room first so I could give him the letters.
I didn't get any response after knocking on his door twice so I went to look for him in the training room and general room, but he wasn't there either.
I thought maybe he went to do something so I decided to drop the letters in my room first before going to check the mail.
I pulled out my key from my pocket as I neared my room. I grabbed the doorknob and was about to insert the key but I felt the knob turn and click.
Strange. I thought I locked my room before you left. I always do. I opened the door and I froze as I stepped in.
Logan was sitting on my bed and there was a lot of mess around the floor. The things that were supposed to be on the dressing table were scattered across the floor and my wristwatch case and spray bottle was shattered.
That was the least of my problems right now. All of my letters were on the floor and Logan was holding one of them.
Oh fuck! I was dead.
"How could you?" Logan said softly. I expected to be enraged and mad now, but he was so calm. I didn't know how to answer that or if I should turn around and run immediately.
"I-" I stuttered as I tried to think of what to do. He couldn't have possibly read through every single letter and it was possible he didn't see anything much.
Maybe I could convince him we were simply friends.
"I can explain," I said.
Logan stood up, dropping the letter on the bed.
"Derek, I'd really like to hear that explanation," he replied and I swallowed nervously.