Chapter 74

DONNIE’S POV …Carlyle really cares about you…. Fine, he made mistakes, but he’s willing to make up for it. Did you give him the chance? No! You didn’t……. You only care about how hurt you were without considering him too…Admitting mistakes is the first step to getting better. Forgiving yourself is important too, then make amends.” Donald and Athena’s words rang in my ears consitently.

With a heart heavy with concern, I made my way to Carlyle’s quarters, eager to offer comfort and support during this tough time. But as I got closer, I felt like there was something blocking us. Every time I tried to reach out, he avoided me, creating a distance that made me feel powerless.

One time when I saw him, I sought his attention but he didn’t pay heed to me at all.

“What is it that you want to talk about?” he asked without sparing me a glance.

“Are you avoiding me on purpose?” I questioned, feeling frustrated.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” he replied, still not looking at me.

“You’re ignoring me, Carlyle. I want to talk to you,” I insisted.

“We can talk later,” he dismissed, brushing off my concerns.

Before I could press further, a guard interrupted our conversation, delivering urgent news to Carlyle.

“Sorry to interrupt, Alpha, but your presence is needed at the pack’s training ground,” the guard informed him solemnly.

Carlyle’s brow furrowed in concern, his attention shifting from me to the guard. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.

“It’s urgent, sir. Alpha Mason has requested your immediate presence,” the guard replied, his tone leaving no room for delay.

Carlyle’s expression darkened at the mention of Mason’s name, a flicker of concern passing through his eyes before he composed himself.

“Understood. I’ll be there shortly,” Carlyle responded, his tone authoritative yet tinged with apprehension.

As the guard departed, leaving Carlyle and me alone once more, I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncase that settled in the pit of my stomach. Despite Carlyle’s attempts to deflect, it was clear that something significant was unfolding within the pack.

“Is everything alright?” I ventured, my voice laced with concern.

Carlyle hesitated for a moment before meeting my gaze, his eyes betraying the turmoil within. I’m not sure,” he admitted, a hint of vulnerability seeping into his voice. “But I need to find out.”

12-03 Sat, 2 Mar 64 With that, Carlyle turned and hurried away, leaving me standing alone in the wake of uncertainty. A pang of sadness and frustration settled within me as Carlyle continued to elude my attempts to connect. The weight of concern for his well–being collided with the ache of being kept at a distance. I couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness, and the unanswered knocks on his door echoed the silent turmoil within my heart.

Questions swirled in my mind, each one amplifying the emotional toll. Was it my presence that troubled him? Was there something he couldn’t express, locked away in the confiries of his pain? The lack of clarity only intensified the knots of worry, leaving me to grapple with the reality of not being able to provide the support I yearned to give.

As night descended and the world around me grew still, I retreated to my bed, hoping for a respite.

from the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed me throughout the day. The soft embrace of the mattress offered little comfort, however, as my mind buzzed with thoughts of Carlyle and the unresolved tension between us.

I tossed and turned, the weight of our conversation weighing heavily on my mind. Despite my exhaustion, sleep cluded me, as the words exchanged with Donald earlier in the day replayed like a broken record in my mind.

Donald’s cryptic warnings had left me unsettled, his ominous words hinting at a truth that lurked. just beyond my grasp. What did he know that I didn’t? And how did it relate to Carlyle and the pack?

With each passing moment, the shadows in my room seemed to grow darker, mirroring the uncertainty that clouded my thoughts. I longed for the comfort of sleep, yet the specter of doubt loomed large, casting a pall over my weary mind.

Hours ticked by in agonizing silence, the moon casting its gentle glow through the windowpane as I lay restless beneath the covers. In the solitude of the night, with only my thoughts for company, I grappled with the weight of secrets left unspoken and the fear of what tomorrow might bring.

With the night dragging on endlessly and sleep continuing to evade me, I found myself unable to shake off the restlessness that plagued my mind. As the hours slipped away, my thoughts relentlessly circled back to Carlyle, his troubled expression haunting my every waking moment.

Unable to endure the torment of my own thoughts any longer, I summoned the courage to rise from my bed and make my way to his chambers. Each step felt like a journey into the unknown, my heart pounding in anticipation of what awaited me on the other side of his door.

With trembling hands, I reached out and knocked softly, the sound echoing in the silence of the night.

For a moment, there was no response, and I feared that my intrusion had gone unnoticed.

Undeterred, I persisted, knocking on the door with a mixture of determination and trepidation. “Carlyle, it’s me, Donnie. Can we talk?” I called out, hoping to breach the silence that seemed to envelop his secluded space.

“Alpha Carlyle is not in at the moment.” A passing by maid said to me.

“How long has he been out?” I asked.

“It has been a while. He hasn’t returned since he left earlier in the day.”

12:03 Sat, 2 Mar F RO-

“Alright, thank you.” My mind went at rest since he hasn’t returned. I had hope at least. I didn’t know how I slept off in a distant corner while waiting for him. All I knew was that I woke up after a brief moment of succumbing to slumber to check Carlyle’s door. Then, I found him inside, engrossed in whatever he was doing. He seemed very busy with the files he was going through that he didn’t notice my presence.

Thinking for a while, I decided to pend whatever it was till the next day.

But just as I began to retreat, the door creaked open, revealing Carlyle’s figure silhouetted against the dim light of his chamber.

His expression was a mixture of surprise and apprehension as he regarded me, the lines of tension softening at the sight of my weary face.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice hushed with the weight of the night.

“I couldn’t sleep, I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “And I couldn’t shake the feeling that we needed to talk.”

Carlyle’s gaze softened, a flicker of understanding passing between us. Without a word, he stepped aside, inviting me in with a silent gesture.

As I entered, the air seemed to crackle with unspoken tension, the space between us filled with a thousand unspoken words. But in that moment, amidst the quiet of the night, I knew that we had finally broken through the barriers that had kept us apart. At least, in the slightest way as I was determined to see it through with him the moment he ushered me in.

Seated across from each other in the dim light of his chamber, we didn’t say anything for a while. Each of us seemed to be gathering our thoughts. However, I knew deep down that I didn’t know how to start the conversation with him.

“I’m sorry,” I began, my voice hesitant as I cleared my throat, catching Carlyle’s attention from his task.

“What for?” he asked, his focus still on what he was doing.

“I’m sorry for the cold shoulders and all,” I said, keeping my apology brief.

Carlyle paused, looking up to meet my gaze before patting the space beside him, inviting me to sit..

“Come here,” he said softly.

I walked over to him, and he took my hand, guiding me to sit beside him in the chair. He then returned his attention to the files he was organizing, remaining silent.

“Are you purposely punishing me?” I asked, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion.

“Why did you ask that?” he replied, his tone guarded.

“You asked me to come sit here, but you’re basically ignoring me,” I pointed out, searching his face. for any sign of understanding.

He sighed after studying my expression. “Donnie, seriously you need to learn patience. You really Sat, 2 M can’t continue acting like this if you’re going to be the Luna of this pack.”

“I never said I want to be your Luna,” I retorted, feeling defensive.

“That is not important right now. However, I deeply apologize for hurting you, but you need to understand that I never meant for any of it to happen,” Carlyle explained, his voice tinged with regret.

“Raina was just here to… I began to explain, but he interrupted me, placing his finger across my lips.

“Shh… It’s fine. I can’t say that I have fully gotten my mind off it, but I’m sorry for not understanding you nevertheless,” I said, finally letting go of some of the tension between us.

You should know…”

“Alpha Carlyle, someone seeks your attention,” a messenger interrupted our discussion from outside.

“Who is it?” I replied before Carlyle could speak.

“She says she is Raina,” the messenger relayed.

“Tell her the response.

Alpha is quite busy to attend to her,” I instructed, sensing Carlyle’s amusement at my “Why did you do that?” he asked, his expression clouded with curiosity.

“Nothing! I only did what I see fit,” I shrugged, trying to brush off his question.

“Come here!” Carlyle opened his arms for a bear hug. I hesitated for a moment, but he pulled me closer, and I embraced him fully.

“Why don’t you want to acknowledge the bond between us, Donnie?” he asked softly, his voice laced.

with concern.

“How are you feeling? Donald told me how much you stressed yourself for my sake,” I deflected, changing the subject.

“How do you expect me to be hale and hearty without you?” he replied, his gaze intense.

I’m serious, Carlyle. Enough of your pranks,” I insisted, trying to push back against the emotions stirring within me.

“I’m not pulling pranks, Donnie. I’m serious and you know it,” he countered, his tone sincere.

“I doubt it,” I replied, unable to fully trust his words.

“Be mine, Donnie. Take for example, if you had my mark on you, I would have sensed it immediately you were in danger,” he pleaded, his words echoing with conviction.

“I’m scared, I confessed after a brief moment of silence.

“Scared of what? What scares you when you have me here?” he asked gently, his eyes searching mine for answers.

“I can’t fit in the position next to you,” I admitted, feeling vulnerable.

“Who said that? You’re obviously going to make a good wife and mother, not excluding being a good Luna for the pack. In fact, you’re going to be the best Luna in the history of Moon Shade,” he reassured me, his confidence unwavering.

“Don’t flatter me. You’re not sure about that. I know my own capability,” I replied, trying to maintain my composure.

“I’m not flattering you, Donnie. It’s the truth. You might not know it, but I do. Moreover, the goddess wouldn’t make you my mate if you aren’t going to be a blessing for this pack,” he insisted, his words resonating deeply within me.

“If you say so.” I conceded, feeling a flicker of hope stirring within me..

“Is that a yes?” he asked eagerly.

“No, I’ll think about it,” I replied hesitantly.

“Not anymore. I’m not giving you that chance again,” he declared firmly, leaving no room for doubt as he pulled me closer, peppering kisses on my cheeks.