Chapter 38_Rejected Little Secret by Lisj

Chapter 38Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

 As I woke up, the sound of giggling filled the air, gradually pulling me out of my slumber as I rubbed my eyes awake. Opening my eyes in a daze, I was startled to find myself face to face with two grinning troublemakers. Puffin’s eyes twinkled with mischief as she sat on the edge of the bed. Standing. beside her was Axel, Axton’s sister, with her arms crossed and a mischievous smirk on her face.

 At first, I couldn’t understand what was so funny. But then I felt it–the gentle pressure of Axton’s arm still wrapped around my waist, his head resting against my chest. As he slept, the idiot’s snores echoed softly, apanied by a slight trail of drool escaping his mouth. Puffin and Axel found the sight so amusing that they couldn’t contain theirughter,

 My head involuntarily shook, and a small smile tugged at my lips as I marveled at the absurdity of it all. Lying in bed, I found myself with Axton clinging to me like a ko, while an unexpected audience looked on. It was enough to make anyone question their sanity

 “Moming, sleepyhead,” Puffin said, her voice brimming with suppressedughter, adding a yful tone to her words. “Looks like someone had a rough night

 I shot her a mischievous re, biting my lip to hide my amusement

 “Don’t you have better things to do than to tease me??

 Axel’s grin widened, and mischievous sparks danced in her eyes.

 “Not when there’s such prime matenal for teasing right in front of me.

 Frustration welled up within me as I made futile attempts to break free from Axton’s unexpectedly tight grip, causing my eyes to roll in disbelief. He slept soundly, but his grip on me remained strong like a limpet clinging to its host. But no matter how much I squirmed and twisted, his hold only seemed to tighten, his arm wrapped securely around my waist.

 “Come on, Axton,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice low so as not to wake him. “Let go. You’re practically suffocating me here.”

 But Axton just grumbled under his breath, his unyielding grip on me making it clear that he wasn’t going to let go. Like a tangled battle with a massive octopus, my attempts to escape proved fruitless, causing a sigh of annoyance to escape my lips.

 “That’s just how he is,” Axel exined with a shrug, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Once he’stched onto something, he doesn’t let go until he’s good and ready. You might as well get used to being his impromptu pillow.”

 I shot her a mock re, the corners of my lips twitching with amusement at the strange irony of the situation.

 “Well, I hope he’s ready to let po soon.”

 Trying once again to escape his hold, I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible. Despite my efforts, Axton’s arm stayed firmly attached to my side, like it was stuck with glue.

 “He’ll wake up when he wants to,” with a chuckle, Axel’s eyes danced with amusement. “Until then, you’re stuck with him.”

 With a defeated sigh, I sank into thefortable pillows, epting my role as Auton’s unwilling source offort. As hey on top of me, his weight nearly unbearable, I couldn’t help but notice his peaceful expression, his face rxed in sleep.

 “Anyway, what brings you guys here?”

 I blinked, and in an instant, the joy vanished from both Puffin and Axel’s faces, reced by a mix of doubt and sorrow. The feeling of something being terribly wrong created a knot in my stomach.

 “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. Without thinking, my arm lightens around Auton. “Is everything okay?”

 Axel let out a deep sigh, her shoulders drooping with resignation.

 “No, Maya, everything is not okay,” she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. “ckacre is going home.”

 Chapter 38

 The words struck me with such force that I was left shocked and unable toprehend

 “What do you mean, going home?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, “Why would they leave? is the training finally over?”

 Nervously, Puffin bit her lip and her guilty eyes flickered.

 “It’s because of the fight,” she exined hesitantly. “Between both pack’s Alphas. The ckacre pack has had enough of pretending that everything is okay when it clearly isn’t.”

 “And Axton?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear. “Since he’s the Alpha, doesn’t he have to with his pack?”

 Axel shook her head sadly, her eyes brimming with unished tears

 “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. “But I don’t think he has much of a choice. With tensions running high between the packs, it’s not safe for him to stay here. Also, he needs to leave soon because we don’t want the other packs to think there’s gonna be a war”

 a heavy weight settled in my chest, squeezing the air from my lungs and leaving me breathless with sadness. It was a feeling I couldn’t quite put into words, a mixture of frustration, disappointment, and an overwhelming sense of loss.

 I had been adopted into the Thornholde pack, raised as one of their own, but in the short time I had spent with the members of the ckacre pack, I had felt a sense of belonging and eptance that I had never experienced before. They had weed me with open arms, treated me like family, and made me feel like I truly belonged.

 And now, they were leaving, taking that sense of belonging with them and leaving me feeling adrift and alone. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t right, but it was the reality I was faced with.

 As Axel’s concerned eyes bore into mine, I felt the weight of her gaze pressing down on me, squeezing the breath from my lungs. She could see right through me, see the sadness and turmoil churning within me, and I couldn’t find the words to exin it to her.

 “Why do you look so sad, Maya?”

 I opened my mouth to speak, to tell her about the ache in my chest, the sense of loss and longing that consumed me, but no words came out. My throat felt tight, constricted, and I could only shake my head in response.

 Before I could articte my thoughts, Puffin took a step forward, her eyes aze with unwavering resolve. Without waiting for me to utter a word, she swiftly cut me off and left no opportunity for me to express my emotions. Instead, she boldly took matters into her own hands, bing my voice.

 “Maya’s not happy here,” Puffin said, her voice firm and unwavering “She’s been pretending for so long, but it’s time for her to stop.”

 I felt a surge of panic rising within me as Puffin’s words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and implication. She was right, of course. I wasn’t happy in Thornholde, not truly. I had been fooling myself, pretending that I belonged, but deep down, I know that wasn’t the case.

 Acknowledging the truth that had been gnawing at me for so long was terrifying, but I finally mustered the courage to admit it out loud. Facing the unknown meant taking a leap of faith into a future that was filled with uncertainty and unpredictability.

 Puffin’s hand closed around my arm,

 her grip providing a sense of security andfort.

 “You deserve to be happy, Maya,” With each word she uttered, her voice filled withpassion and grew softer. “You deserve to find your ce in the world, to be surrounded by people who love and support you. And if that ce isn’t here, then it’s time for you to go and find it.”

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Chapter 38