Chapter 38

Ava and Michael were brought up to the raised oval-shaped platform, both of them thrashing against the tight hold of the heavy metal chains on their wrists.

The mob was gathered around for the deaths of the traitors who had eyes on their Alpha's position and who played with the mind of their Luna, took advantage of the lack of her enough knowledge. It was treason they committed and now they were about to pay it with their lives.

Two ropes hung from the wooden stick, the lower part was enclosed so it would fit their heads in. They were forced on the stool and a black cover pulled over their heads.

It was all well planned from Alpha Lucas when he learned about my kidnapping—which was not exactly a kidnapping—he made a resolute plan. Since he knew Sheryl was a witch and had a faint idea that she would use it as an advantage against me, he worked with his powers and appointed Gamma Mason for my protection while the actual Michael sulked in the depressing concrete jail.

It was a good take from his side, I appreciated it and admired him for his quick thinking. But what he never expected was my rejection, it bolted right through his chest. The poor guy, a puppy for my love didn't know better but to whimper for my acceptance. Well, I didn't accept him yet, I had to yet meet him. That idiot didn't come to check on me in the hospital, like not at all!

After that mind-blowing incident at Sheryl's cottage, I was quickly attended by the medical team the moment I stepped on the pack grounds. Skylar, Maya and Ashley were with me through the whole process and the reason why I wasn't able to see Ava and Michael's execution. But the girls helped me with the updates and told me all the other things which happened in my absence including the fact that Lucas was going to appoint another Alpha for Ava's pack—which we weren't informed about.

I cared less about her pack anyway.

"We literally lost hope when you rejected him," Ashley remarked. "And if it wasn't for Skylar I was very much ready to bury you alive."

I nodded, feeling sorry for them. "Even I would do the same thing if I were you."

"O-ok enough now, stop talking about what has happened. We should be happy that she's back, don't you guys think?" Skylar grinned and sat on the hospital bed I had been lying in for hours.

"Yeah," Maya agreed, her body relaxed against the wall.

"When your shoulder heals, let's go for a movie," Maya added.

"Nice idea," Ashley responded with an exciting look.

My shoulder was in a cast, an arm sling pouch over my neck preventing me from using my hand. The doctor had told me not to put much pressure on it and to do less work and relax, it would take at least five weeks for me to recover. Apparently, I got a crack in my shoulder bone.

I was brought to Lucas' house as soon as I got discharged from the hospital and Skylar helped me till the doorstep since it was night time and she was too worried of the thought of me slipping somewhere and getting hurt.

Well, I wasn't that clumsy. Skylar's just over-reacting.

Meryl opened the door and engulfed me in her warm arms, consciously aware of my shoulder injury. Even after what I did to her son she still behaved so decently towards me, didn't glare or taunt me about my actions, although I agreed I was worthy of it. I should've at least thought of it properly.

Lance wasn't at home since he was busy doing most of Lucas' work. He was weak from using his powers and needed some break from all the tensions for a while.

I knocked on his bedroom room before going in, he was nowhere in the room, when I called him I heard a groan from the balcony.

I gently pushed the feather-like curtains which blew due to the harsh wind. The moon was on its peak which meant the full moon was on the way.

I stood beside him with my hands ok the rail, Lucas didn't acknowledge me, for that matter he must be very upset since he refused to look at me.

"Lucas?"

He glanced at me impassively and ran his eyes top to bottom as if checking my condition.

"You must be in a lot of pain," he indicated towards my shoulder with a glass of mango juice? What the hell was he doing with mango juice? Didn't... men prefer alcohol during their tough times. Who was I to judge, it was all caused because of me.

"It's nothing compared to yours," I said whilst his eyes bored into mine. His honeys dull. "And I'm sorry for that, I—"

"Take this," he interrupted, handing me another glass of the juice.

"You don't have to be sorry for anything, you weren't aware of her tactics." He nodded to himself.

"But I was wrong. I shouldn't have jumped on such a harsh decision. I was thoughtless." Tears blurred my eyes and instead of drinking the juice, I stared at it with self-loath.

I felt Lucas move a bit closer to me. "Don't concern yourself about it, think for your future. Everything Is handled now."

"I accept you, Lucas. I accept you back," I cried the words. Lucas was about to sip when he stared at me slightly astonished, stunned with my uttered words his eyes brightened and the once gone glow returned to its original place. I felt a jolt of sparks crash me, he must've felt it too because he reacted just like me.

Lucas chuckled and whispered, "I thought you would never accept me."

"Well, 'I' thought the same thing, I thought you would drag me back to the main gates and throw me to cry my life. I was so scared to confront you and the guilt I feel is unexplainable. I thought of what I would do without you, how I would continue—"

I was cut short by the overwhelming, nerve-freezing motion. Hundreds of butterflies whistled in my stomach and my heart stopped a moment before going at full speed on the treadmill.

Lucas' hand mould around my waist and the glass almost fell off my hand when his lips came smashing on my lips. My senses were on a full drive with the blood pulsing everywhere in my body.

An unexpected moment, a heartwarming moment ceased my brain from working on anything as I moved my lips on his. We weren't desperate; it was rather passionate and soul-calming. My shoulder hurt with the sudden contact but everything went fine when sparks covered it up with their magic. They moulded perfectly with mine as if it was meant to be—like we were meant to be. None of us can deny our feelings for each other. I wanted to admit everything to me.

Lucas was the first to pull away, but I was still in the close reach where our noses touched and gaze down on each other's lips.

"Don't ever say that," Lucas spoke breathlessly. "I don't blame you, in fact, I'm the one who should be blamed. You wouldn't wanna be with me if I told you what I had done to you."

"I know," I said, his soft honey pools enlarged in surprise. "You being a half-witch and you putting a spell on me."

"Heaven—"

"It's fine. You were just afraid that you would lose me. I understand."

"But it was right of me." He looked away, ashamed to face me.

"Lucas." I walked around to stand in front of him. "I forgive you, you aren't a bad man a-and I actually am happy with you now. You treat me right and that's what a girl longs for in a guy, isn't it? I accept I was angry at first but I understand the reason now."

Lucas sighed, carefully wrapped a hand around my waist again. "You're an angel. I promise to not do anything like that again."

"The spell? Is it still on me?"

He shook his head. "It wore off on the full moon," he adorably said.

I chuckled looking into his gaze but he was looking down on my lips again. "I got so lucky with you, I finally realized."

I placed the glass on the plastic table beside me and saw he was there too, he must've managed to keep it there during our kiss. I cupped his chin and made him glance in my eyes. It was uncommon to me about the hues of the eye colour, but my God! Lucas' eyes were a dark shade of honey when they glanced into mine.

"Usually Alphas.... aren't anything like you. You aren't anything like a dominance craving monster or cold-hearted freak. I feel so lucky."

"Even I feel lucky for how understanding you have been. If it was some other human woman, she would've tried running away from me."

"Well, I actually thought of that," I admitted. "But I guess I was smart enough to attempt anything and you've been so good to me, it would be so self-centred of me if I left you."

Lucas grinned, pulling me closer to me as if there was any gap left between us. "Would you like to sleep beside me? On the same bed?"

I pondered over it for a few minutes, I had never slept beside any guy before. So now attempting to do that would be very awkward to me. Well, there is first for everything.

"Sure," I muttered. Lucas grinned like he won some gold medal and sealed his lips back on mine again.

***

Days passed like a blur equal to seconds, just a week ago Lucas decided to hold Luna ceremony for me. And here we were, standing in the grand ballroom while several chandeliers lit down the classic marble floor.

The ceremony conducted for Lunas were different compared to any werewolf ceremonies, official people from different packs attend it and photographers swirl around the room with their clicks.

Even my gown stood out from all the attendees. My small hair was tied back into a small bun, the formal golden hairpin matched with the gold gown I wore.

I stepped up to the stage, walking while keeping my gaze on the one handsome man who was constantly wrapped around my mind. His brown hair was combed back in a businessman style with his black suit hugging that muscled chest. His honey eyes glowed and his lips curved up into a smile when he watched me stop right in front of him.

A table with a red cloth over was what separated us, a wooden old-time bowl sat in the middle of the table with a small knife on it.

During this ceremony, the male cuts his wrist and holds it to his female's lip, even the female does the same things, so it's like vice versa. Both of them take a drop of the blood into their mouths and the simple gesture signals the deep relationship towards themselves and their pack.

As much as reckless it sounded to me, it was a ritual every Luna performs for her acceptance. In human words, it meant marriage in the wolf world, completely different from any marriages a religion performs.

I groaned, my feet hurt walking and meeting with many people, my friends were busy with their own guests and I was left alone. I sit on the stool and take off my high heels.

I leaned my head on the counter and ordered lemonade for myself.

Lucas insisted I should take some rest from constant, he did want to keep me company but much to his disappointment he had guests and arrangements to check.

I sip my drink, dozing off slightly when I felt a pat on my shoulder.

Here we go again.

My cheeks already hurt from smiling for almost the entire evening. I guess complaining couldn't be helped.

I turned around, putting on a smile only for it to sit back down quietly.

My eyes widened a bit as the glass slipped from my fingers, sprawling the pieces on the ground, it caught a few people's attention, from the corner of my eyes I saw Lucas rushing worriedly towards me.

"Heaven," she whispered with a soft voice, a smile stretched on her lips. "It's you, isn't it?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" I seethed, a dead set glare on the one person who I loathed all my life. Even the thought of her brought fire to my nerves.

The demon who ruined my family's happiness.

The witch who killed my father.

My mom.