A LIFETIME'S WORTH

THIRD PERSON.

The rain fell gently onto the grass, lightly soaking it in the heavenly shower.

The young, battered, sullen thirteen-year-old girl sat on a boulder, shaded by a tree which would eventually give way for heaven's gift to collide with her bloody and sweaty skin.

It'd been a rough day.

It was a rough life. Who was she kidding? She wanted to be a boxer? That was something only a man could do. It wasn't a woman's job. A woman could do literature, journalism, art, and teaching. Or so she had been told. What confused her more though were those occasionally thrown about side comments about how her physique was that of a brawny male. She wondered if her life would ever amount to anything under the tutelage of an abusive and amoral father, who knew nothing of his fatherly responsibilities and relations to her until it was time to pimp her to his willing friends or ask her how much she made.

Being of low birth she could only dream, being born in the south district amongst the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak. Werewolf society sure was full of shit! It was no different from human society.

Who was she kidding? They were humans too. They just had some stupid abnormality that made them seem "stronger" and better and helped them outlive the humans.

So much for being one and fighting for the cause of all werewolf kind while discriminating against each other cause some of them weren't born to go to war.

She internally groaned, clutching her bloodied side in an attempt to lessen her pain and stop the bleeding.

She hadn't slept in days. She hadn't had the chance to get her body from back all the unwanted touching, painful groping and agonizing thrusting.

Being in such silence with no one to watch her or touch her was solace on its own. Maybe it was alright to stay here forever? No.

PRESENT DAY.

Eloise shot up from her bed, beads of sweat strung across her forehead as some made their way down her neck.

She ran her hand through her pixie cut and looked around frantically.

Her desk was in place, her closet, her bed. She was the beta of the Mojéleno pack. She wasn't thirteen anymore. She reminded herself. She then sighed and checked her wristwatch.

It was four-thirty in the morning. She jumped out of bed and went to get reading for the day. A shower, cargo pants, a sports bra and two combat boots later, she trekked out of the room unto the vast pack field for her routine run. She circled the grand property in about an hour and later discarded her clothes. Shifting into her black regal wolf form, she trekked to the warriors' quarters to do some training with the boys.

*********

The three men sat in the living room, all tense and stiff. Until Callum broke the ice.

"You might as well change the marital and reproduction law of your pack."

He directed his comment to no one in particular.

"Yeah right, so that I can have my dad breathing down my neck about how I'm ruining our culture by breaking the tradition and decorum of our ancestors."

Hakan's words were directed at no one but himself.

"Well yeah, since you're your father's puppet he'd have it no other way."

Callum cleared his throat, looking away.

Kairos simply sighed. Half irritated by the directly indirect exchange.

"I'm still here. Right here. If I'm not needed her why? Just why am I sitting between the two of you?"

He gestured at the two men facing everything but each other.

"Well, Mate of a jackass I know. You're where you are, to prevent me from killing someone I call my best friend whose name shall not be mentioned because he just keeps messing basic shi' up!"

He finally turned to look Kairos in the eyes, only for Kairos to notice his missing irises.

"You mean you don't want to suck him dry emotionally,right. I get it. Now please turn your gaze away from mine. I don't wanna die either. I'm having PTSD in addition to crippling anxiety and lack of sleep."

Kairos stated as a matter of factly making hand gestures at a furious Callum.

There was a long silence. After which Hakan sighed.

"Look, it was stupid of me to do the things I did to her and I know I'm supposed to be sorry but she hurt my mate! That's unforgivable!"

"Right, right. She was wrong first so she deserved all the beatings, slaps and degrading insults you've oh so graciously her till now. And now you want to justify it for an escort you met yesterday. No offence."

Callum snarled, his hands in tight fists as his fingernails dug into the tender flesh of his palm.

"Oh, none taken. I've heard worse. And just to be clear we're talking about his wife right?"

Kairos had no sense of tension and understanding of the word shame. Well, I mean. His line of work didn't require such attributes.

"Right. We are."

Callum nodded.

Hakan was silent.

"Alpha, do you even know if she's still breathing?"

Callum inquired.

Just then Hakan's demeanour changed, one could tell at a glance that aggression had built up within him in a matter of seconds. Clicks of heels were heard outside the door before it swung open to reveal an expensively dressed Mojéleno Luna with multiple shopping bags and her usual lifeless look.

Hakan stood from his seat, a step later and he was right in front of Gaia; his hand having a firm grip on her throat as her feet hung.

"Who is he?"

His words seemed to have no effect on her, neither did his actions. As she stared straight into his eyes, still holding her shopping bags.

Callum sighed in defeat, Kairos just looked on in shock.

"Answer me you whore! Which Alpha's scent is that?!"

No answer.

Hakan looked down at her hands and let out a humourless chuckle. Then hurled her against the wall and turned to leave. But then paused when he heard no thud nor sound. He whipped around to see 6'0, a raven-haired, grey-eyed stunning man with a cold gaze in an expensive-looking wrap coat worn over sleek business casual attire, holding Gaia gently in place.

"Watch your step."

He cooed, lightly lifting her half-fallen frame.

Callum and Kairos' mouths hung agape, shock and puzzlement filling their thoughts.

Hakan only seemed to grow more aggravated. Callum could've sworn he saw a ghost of a smile on Gaia's lips.

"Go on, go give it to him. He's the reason why you went through all that trouble after all."

The mystery man gently nudged the Luna forward, having taken half of the bags she was carrying.

She strutted across the room, stopping herself right in front of Kairos who seemed startled at her actions but couldn't dare even breathe. She then handed him three shopping bags, which he albeit reluctantly received seemed grateful for.

"We got off the wrong foot. I believe this is the least I owe you."

She gave a small bow. It seemed as though Hakan was frozen in his spot as Kairos rummaged through the contents of the bags.

"Jimmy Choo? Balmain? Luis Vuitton? Is this a trap? This makes no sense. You're a luna and I'm an omega."

He looked at the luna quizzically.

"Someone told me," she cleared her throat.

"That the first step to embracing my humanity was making peace with situations that made me feel out of control."

"That's bullshit."

Kairos deadpanned.

"I agree, but I think I'd like to at least try this bullshit out."

Kairos sighed.

"A vampire facial and we're good."

"When would you like it done, Mister?"

"Kairos. Book an appointment for next week."

"It's already been taken care of. Here's the hospital card and your purchase ticket. Please do call them to inform them of when you'll be arriving."

She handed him a brown envelope.

"What?!"

Callum and Kairos said in unison. Only to have their shock and pleasant surprise disrupted mere seconds later.

Everyone looked across the room when they heard a low growl. Only to see Hakan with a pregnancy test kit in his hands and tattered pieces of paper falling to the ground. And of course, him jeering at the man who had handed the items to him.

"There's no way in hell. It's not my child! She was probably sleeping with you! Because none of this adds up!"

He seemed, shoving his index finger at the sturdy mystery man's chest.

The man looked at him unimpressed for a while, then jutted his chin with narrowed eyes, and a raised brow and then slowly nodded.

"Right. So, this is how you take responsibility?"

The outraged Hakan struck the man hard on the cheek. The nerve of him to come into his home and insult him.

With a low chuckle and half-lidded eyes, 'the assaulted' stuck out his tongue to reveal blood and then retracted it into his mouth.

"My goodness, I can't believe this is how you treat visitors."

He ran his palm over his reddened cheek.

"You're not invited here. You fornicator! You can take her and leave for all I care!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

Callum's voice sent a booming echo throughout the entire room.

With his irises still missing as deadly emotions reached surface level, the werewolf empath commanded everyone into seats and sat at the very centre.

"Would it kill you to act like adults?"

The room was silent. No one answered.

"Right so, the matter at hand is your wife is pregnant. But you don't believe it. But guess who cares? No one. Why? Because the lot of us are tired of your bullshit."

Hakan rolled his eyes.

"Now, it's my fault?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, I get it. It's not easy to own up to your emotions and be responsible. But seriously? Your wife is pregnant! With your child. You think she cheated? Good God. I doubt she even looks at any living thing if isn't you, herself or the person serving her food."

Everyone just sat there, wordless. Until Hakan spoke.

"I don't know why you have out for me today, but just stop it! I'm tired and confused! And simply tired."

He roared.

Callum chuckled, looking Hakan in the eyes with his one reclaimed iris.

"All of them can see you, you know. The woman you constantly belittle because of your inferiority complex, the gentle and caring man who took her out and did things with her behind your back. And I'm sure she loved it!"

There was a manic look in his eyes as he began to break his friend down word by word. Hakan was frozen in place filled with surprise and fear. When was the last time he had been this terrified?

"And then there's your mate whom you might never be with because you're too afraid of Daddy or society to change anything in regards to same-sex marriage and breeding laws. So much for the Alpha, you are. You keep falling into the same hole over and over again, even after showing you the way severally. I'M SICK OF IT!"

There was a very uncomfortable silence, no one dared look at anyone. Until all that could be heard was flesh against flesh and a couple of rapidly receeding footsteps against the marble floor.

Ah, Kairos had struck Callum on the cheek, and then immediately ran after his mate. This was normally, a very unlikely event. The prideful Alpha had been driven to tears?

Gaia took it as her cue to leave, excusing herself. Which left Callum and the mystery man in the same room. Alone.

They stared at each other. The raven haired male with a growing grin while the other narrowed his eyes.

"I see you're not dead. Architect."

Callum teased.

"That was a wonderful performance. I don't know why you're not into theatre."

The raven haired man taunted back.

"Oh fuck off. The real question is, what's a top dog from MUTE doing over here? And with the Luna of the Mojéleno pack no less."

Callum wore an unfamiliar look. Cold expression with dead eyes yet directed a deadly glare at the man.

"Unlike my dearest Campaigner, I'm no longer a stray, nor do I undulge in underhanded tactics—"

"Cut the crap Ignis! No one noticed but I did! You think I didn't see the same bloodhound techniques you're known for, you're still using the shit! You walked into the building the same way you'd walk into an assignment. What the fuck are you here for?"

"Not everything is about you Bëta."

The ravenette man maintained his composure, although being reminded of a past he'd rather forget. But Callum on the other hand, was not having it. He lunged at the man, holding him by his collar.

"Don't. Ever. Call. Me. That. Again."

Grey eyes stared into green ones unwaveringly.

"I have a proposal."

The man known by Callum as 'Ignis' said.

"Let's hear it."

"Break them apart."

Callum staggered back, hands on his face as he let out a maniacal laughter.

"I understand what you mean but it's not as simple as it looks."

"Expound."

"There's a man named Gustav, his father. He pulls his strings like a fucking puppet master. He knows his son inside out. And if the goal is to break Hakan and Gaia apart without lifting a finger—"

Ignis continued.

"Hakan is going to need a certain level of free will and reason to break out. But since his fundamental sense of pride and sense of self is in the wrong places. They need to be broken down. That explains the performance from earlier."

Ignis giggled.

"As quick as always. But it took me years of discipline amd a lot of trial and error to get the courage to trash talk my best friend. Gustav, is a serious cancer. You're either helping me break their connection completely or stay out of my way."

"Oh, that's new. It's nice to see that demon of yours rear it's head once more. But what do I get from any of this?"

"Ignis? Did you get dumber? If we succeed in this, its gonna cause a ripple effect. But the problem is, your employer won't get their way as soon as they want. I'll be on my way now. They should have started fornicating by now. Undo the space."

Ignis chuckled. It seemed as though his former teammate hadn't grown rusty afterall.

"For old times sake, call me Dusha. And here's my card. Keep me posted. A burner phone would do for calls. And be careful. This Gustav of yours is quite dangerous."

With that, they departed as though nothing had happened. Going their separate ways as they were strangers. Because afterall. The conversation never happened— to the naked eye that is.