30

Today was a sort of party to officially welcome me to the pack. I was nervous because I was still not sure about Darren. We haven’t gotten a chance to talk since he told me the truth of his past with Lauren.

The air between us has been so awkward that it is almost painful to be around him. He looks at me in hopelessness. As if he already decided that there was no way I would give him a chance. I wanted to assure him but I don’t know how. Not when I haven’t yet made a decision.

“You feel that?” Raya asks, pulling me from my negative thoughts.

I know what she was implying. Since this day started I just had a bad feeling. Like something terrible was going to happen. I tried shaking it off but it was useless. It kept throughout the day making it almost impossible to focus.

“I can’t wait to see what terrible fate awaits you today” she continues when I don’t reply. Smirking in a devious wolfish way.

I sigh. Alice still hasn’t been able to pinpoint what exactly was wrong with Raya. More tests were needed but I felt like we were running out of time. Every day that passed without a tangible diagnosis, the more Raya’s sanity slipped.

“Please behave today” I plead.

There were going to be a lot of people present today and the last thing I needed was Raya losing control. Not only would the pack think I’m incapable of being Luna but also it would easily reach the council of elders.

“Can’t make any promises” she says in a sing-song voice before slinking to the back of my mind.

I take a deep breath and leave the safety of my room. My friends were going to be here and so were Ren and Sebastian. I was dying to see Ren.

“You ready?” Darren asks once I get downstairs.

I stare at him. I still can't believe that he loves me. That he fell in love with me even though I was broken.

Pushing those thoughts away, I focus.

I was nervous about meeting the rest of the pack. I didn’t know what to expect and that terrified me completely.

“Yes, let’s do this”

He smiles at my false bravado. With this hand on my lower back, he leads me towards the backyard.

The moment we get outside everyone quiets and they turn to face us.

“I want to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to this special party specifically organized to welcome my mate and Luna to the pack. Thank you for coming in numbers to show your support. I hope that you enjoy yourselves” he says. His voice deep and rich, reaching to every corner of the big backyard.

Once he’s done cheers, claps and howls erupt. Excitement buzzes through the air. As everyone looks forward to a night of partying.

Darren takes my hand and begins to introduce me to the higher ranks in his pack. The only ones I was familiar with were his parents, Claire and Brent and lastly Lucy who for obvious reasons wasn’t present.

Just like Sebastian, he didn’t have a gamma but some Alpha’s do. He introduced me to his enforcers, tracker, head warrior and the list goes on.

There were a lot of names to remember after just one night but I was sure I would afterwards. After the introductions were done, we head on and greet his parents.

Edward was excited and Kate was civil unlike last time. It was going to take time but I was sure that I would convince her that I wasn’t going to break her son’s heart.

‘That statement implies that you’re planning to stay with Darren’ a voice whispers in the back of my mind.

Maybe I was. At this point I wasn’t sure but I wouldn’t worry about that tonight. Tonight was for letting loose and celebrating. I will worry about everything tomorrow.

After the parents, we go to our friends. We receive congratulations from them and hugs. Iris was with the other kids. She and Colton seemed happy to have been reunited. Krystal was with Jax and other teenagers.

As the night progressed I sought out Ren. I find her sitting at a secluded bench feeding Rhett. Tessa was with her dad, who seemed to be smitten with his baby girl. Not that he didn’t adore Rhett but he already had a special bond with Tess. She even calmed down only when her father held her.

“Something tells me you need some insight to something, I’m just not sure what it is” Ren says the moment I sit down next to her.

“I’m just confused about Darren”

“What about him? I thought everything was going great between the two of you” her brows are pinched in confusion.

“They were, until he told me the truth of what happened between you two and all the cruel he did”

I hear her sigh. This was going to be a long ass talk.

“You have to understand that what he did to me is all in the past, Mayra. I forgave him. I will be frank and say that he was a bastard and a major asshole but he finally pulled his head out of his ass and changed.

Darren and I were never meant to work. The only purpose our relationship had was to conceive the next oracle. I believe one way or another we would have broken up whether it concerned Miranda or not”

She burps Rhett then continues. “Sebastian and my path never crossed when we were mated to different people, but the moment I first saw him in my office I was a goner. I might not have known it then but looking at it now, I see it clearly. Sebastian and I were meant to be and honestly I know I would have fallen out of love with Darren eventually. Everything the goddess does is for a reason”

I get what she’s saying and even though Sebastian was meant to be my fated anyone who looks at them knows that they’re meant to be. It’s in their eyes, their connection, how they complement together.

They fit.

“I just don’t know…it might be the past but what if it happens again. What if he falls in love with some other woman and cheats on me? I don’t think I can handle that Ren. It would destroy me completely”

tears threaten to fill my eyes when I think of that possibility.

“Let me tell you a truth, I’ve known Darren since I was eighteen and he has never looked at any other woman the way he looks at you. Not me and definitely not Miranda. He was my first love but Sebastian is my true love and I believe the same goes for him.

You’re his true love Mayra, his forever love, his end game. He’ll do anything for you and will love you fiercely. Just give him a chance” she finishes.

I chuckle a bit at that. “You sound like my therapist”

She smirks. “She seems like a very sensible woman”

We sit in silence as I think about everything she has said. Everyone around me seems to be pointing to the same thing. That I should give Darren a chance. That he is the man for me. Can I give him up? Can I give up our bond?

Before I can answer, my phone pings. I take it out of my pocket and I see it’s a text from Alice.

[I’m in the forest, come quick. I got results from Raya’s tests and it’s not good. I couldn’t wait, we need to discuss this now]

I wondered why she just didn’t come through the pack gates but I push those concerns aside. Worry for Raya takes control. I had to know what’s wrong with her.

“Excuse me Ren, there is something I need to do, I’ll see you later” I say quickly.

I didn’t give her a chance to reply before I’m sprinting through the lush green grass. I get to the forest in record time.

“Alice” I call out as I walk deeper into the forest.

The deeper I go the more I worry that I had made a rush decision. I mean what if someone was using her phone to lure me away from the rest.

Fuck it! I was about to turn around and go back to the party when I felt a presence behind me.

I fully turn and I breathe in relief when I find Alice facing me.

“Damn, you sacred me” I say, my hand on my chest.

I stare, waiting for her to speak but she doesn’t say anything. She seemed weird and there was a certain struggle in her eyes.

“Alice, you okay?” I place my hand on her shoulder and shake her.

She focuses on me. Her face sad for a split second.

“I’m sorry” is the last thing I hear right before she swings her hand hard and everything fades into darkness