《My Name is NOT Cupcake》


 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    I think of myself as a good girl. I always did what I was told. I always told the truth. I never cheated on


    my boyfriend. I was always a loyal friend. I deserved it. It was one night. What harm could it due? As


    new graduates, my brother and boyfriend thought that it would be a good idea to go camping with a


    huge group of seniors. My dad hated the idea. He hated the woods ever since my mother died. Of


    course, she did die in the woods, so his fears were somewhat reasonable. But I was a curious girl. And


    living my whole life told of it''s horrors, I wanted to explore them for myself. My brother packed up the


    rest of the car as he came around to my side.


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    "Call me whenever you get there okay, Nova?" my dad said to me specifically. He knew Nn wouldn''t


    do it. I knew he was worried about us. It took half a year of begging to make this happen. It wasn''t like


    we were totally ''roughing it''. One of our friend''s dad was loaning us his mansion of a cabin to sleep in.


    My dad went over his worry checklist onest time before we were off. I sighed in relief.


    "I honestly thought he was going to drag us back into the house," my brother, Nnughed. Nn


    and I were twins, but we were fraternal. I had copper red hair and hazel eyes while Nn''s was more


    of a sandy strawberry with hazel eyes.  We looked nothing alike. We jammed out to the radio the whole


    hour drive.


    Eventually, we saw the cabin. I smiled when I saw my boyfriend, Mason. Mason and Nn were


    actually good friends. I hopped out as soon as the car stopped. Mason smiled and kissed me gently.


    "There''s my girl," he said. I couldn''t help but smile. Mason was my rock. We''d been dating for two years


    and he''s all I''ve ever known. If you asked me what a perfect rtionship looked like, I would point to us.


    We were perfect for each other in every way. He stood a good 6 foot 4 with ck hair and warm brown


    eyes. His skin was always a deep tan shade, even darker than mine. He was built like a football yer,


    swimmer, and ser yer rolled into one. He was popr when it mattered and not in a bad way. He


    pretty much got along with everyone. Plus, he was sweet and kind and funny and just... perfect.


    "I''m really excited for this weekend," I smiled excitedly. And I was. I had been waiting for this moment


    all year. Mason slung an arm over my shoulders and led me inside.


    "Me too. I convinced your brother to let us share a room," he said. My smile only widened. I was still a


    virgin at 19 years old which was like the equivalent to a 21st century whore. But I nned on changing


    that tonight. Mason and I had been going steady for 2 years. He''s never done anything to make me not


    trust him and I could easily see myself spending the rest of my life with him.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    Inside the house was amazing. It looked like something off of MTV Cribs. It was made for parties.


    There was even a bar. People started filling in quickly. By the time the sun went down, the ce was


    packed. It was a good thing we were far from the next resident, or there would have been a huge noise


    danced with Mason in between drinks. I was buzzed and feeling good.


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    Before this, I didn¡¯t go to parties often because of my dad¡¯s paranoia. He was always worried that


    something bad would happen to Nn and me. I lived a restrained and boring life, but I was willing to


    for the sake of my father¡¯s sanity. I don''t know at what point, the room started getting stuffed and


    mmy, but I excused myself. Mason went to get me another beer as I made my way outside. I wasn''t


    drunk enough to stumble, but if a rock was in my way, I wouldn''t notice. I wandered into the tree line


    and touched the rough bark. All this time, I''d been missing out on all of this nature. It was truly


    stunning.


    "Beautiful night, isn''t it?" a voice said from behind me. I turned quickly. The voice was deep and sweet,


    his voice made my toes curl, and his voice did his face justice. He was a gorgeous stranger. Only he


    was only wearing a pair of basketball shorts, giving me a good view of his chest. I wanted to run my


    tongue over his abs. They were so pronounced. I could cut myself on his lightly stubbled jawline. He


    was... appetizing. His muscles rippled with his every movement. His body had smudges of dirt on his


    tan skin, but it looked good. His dark hair was disheveled. But what really caught my attention were his


    eyes. They were practically silver.


    Then his eyesnded on mine. I held my breath as it felt like every nerve in my body was suddenly very


    aware of him. My eyes had tunnel vision and I couldn''t focus on anything but his piercing gray eyes


    staring back at me.


    "Hun! Princess, where did you go?" I heard Mason yell. I shook myself out of my haze and looked at


    him.


    "Who are you?" I asked curiously.


    "I was just wandering thend," the man answered, his voice was deep and thick, like you could cut it


    with a knife. He smirked, sending my heart into overdrive. I felt my knees wobble slightly. I looked down


    as I blushed. I needed to get a hold of myself.


    "Where did my girl sneak off to?" I heard Mason''s yful voice closer than before. I pointed back to the


    house.


    "I have to go," I said, turning. I wasn''t sure what else I was supposed to say. It''s nice looking at you?


    This was been a wonderful and awkward encounter? I felt an arm go around my throat. I could still


    breath, but my vision started to go blurry. I wed at the arm before everything just went ck.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    I felt groggy. I didn''t feel like myself. I willed my limbs to move or do something, but they felt heavy. I


    tried to remember what happened, or at least where I was. All I could remember was the man in the


    woods. I shot up and instantly regretted it. My head swam with a pounding headache. I ced my hand


    on my head to try and stop the spinning; it only made me feel sick. I groaned and shut my eyes back


    quickly as I tried to remember what happened. All I kept seeing was the man in the woods. I tried


    blinking my eyes open again. I was more sessful this time. I squinted against the bright sunlight


    filtering in through an open window.


    Where was I?


    I looked around to see that I was in a bedroom. The color theme was cream and light grey. Everything


    in the room mirrored the theme. I looked down to see that I was in a plush queen-sized bed. The


    covers were off-white with the rest of the room. There were lights on the ceiling, a single grand window,


    a set of double doors, a single door, a bedside table with amp, and a desk with a small bookshelf


    build it. This room looked like a master bedroom. I instantly panicked and checked myself.


    Clothes still on?


    Check.


    My virginity in tact?


    Check.


    Phone and wallet.


    Nope.


    I knew I left my wallet at home, so I wasn''t worried about that, but I did have my phone on me, and now


    I don''t. Whoever took me must not have wanted me to contact anyone.


    And with good reason! He kidnapped you! My inner voice chimed in. I jumped as the door opened. The


    man from the woods walked in and my first instinct was to cover myself more with the nket on my


    "W-Where am I? What are y-you going to do to m-me?" I asked, mentally cursing my nervous stutter.


    He held his hands up to his, now clothed, chest in a motion of surrender.


    "I don''t mean you any harm, I swear," he exined quickly. I hated that I actually trusted what he said.


    He could be lying and I believed it almost instantly.


    "You kidnapped me. W-Why did you kidnap me?" I asked, my voice raising an octave from how scared


    I felt.


    Nn.


    "Oh God, Nn. Nn is going to be devastated. He doesn''t know where I am, and he''ll me himself


    for losing me and he''s going to tell my dad and... My dad! It''ll be like my mom all over again. He''ll think


    I''m dead. He''ll think I''m dead and Nn is going to me himself," I thought out loud as tears poured


    down my face. The man rushed closer to me, making me cower away even more. I hated this.


    "Hey, no, no, no, please don''t cry, please," he begged. I squeezed my eyes shut and fisted the sheets


    hard in my hand.


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    "Please... just take me home. I won''t say anything about you, I promise. I won''t tell anyone," I cried


    anyway. He hesitated.


    "I can''t," he breathed.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    "Who are you?! I don''t even know your name!" I yelled, angrily at my captor.


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''ll tell you mine when you tell me yours," he bargained, raising an eyebrow at me. I crossed my arms


    and looked away from him.


    "Take me home," I practically whispered. He sighed before he headed towards the door.


    "I can''t," he said simply before he left. I flinched when the door locked. I was really trapped here. I


    couldn''t control my sobs as I curled up on my side. I cried louder and harder than I had since my mom


    died. Just the thought of my brother and my dad thinking I was dead was enough to break my heart. I


    didn''t want them going through that... not again. My sobs and crying eased and eventually I was just


    staring at the light filtering in through the giant window.


    An idea urred to me. I wiped my tears away as I walked towards the window and prayed for a


    miracle. I utched the window and pushed gently. It slid open easily. I looked down to measure the


    distance. I looked down, and up. I was on a third floor out of four floors in a house.


    Who has four floors in their house?


    There was only a b on concrete on the ground under the window. I also noticed a footing all the way


    down. If I was careful, I could climb down. If not... let''s just say it was a long way down. If I could reach


    the forest and keep straight, I would find a town eventually, maybe use someone''s phone to call my


    dad. I risked a nce behind me before I climbed out of the window and onto the ledge.


    I could do this.


    I took and deep breathe and prepared myself for the next step down. If I was careful, I¡¯d be able to


    climb down safely.


    "What are you doing?!" A frantic voice asked. I spooked and looked through window, losing my footing.


    I screamed as I fell backwards to what I knew would be a sure death. It felt like everything slowed


    down. It was like I was on the drop of a rollercoaster without the cart and seat restraint. My stomach


    dropped as I saw the man who kidnapped me jump out the window not even a split second after me.


    My eyes connected with his as my body collided with the concrete. It knocked the wind out of me and I


    couldn''t even scream. I felt the man''s hands hold my head. It was the only part of my body that wasn''t


    screaming. Breathing was difficult and came in gasps. ck dots swam in my vision. I couldn''t move.


    The man appeared in my line of vision, and he looked scared and worried. My eyes slipped close


    watching him worry over me. I just didn''t want to be in pain anymore. It was too painful. I couldn¡¯t hold


    on anymore.


    "No, no, no, stay awake," the man yelled, but he already sounded so far away.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    My first conscious breath was the hardest. My lungs burned with every wheezed attempt. My body was


    in a sharp pain as I tried to remember what happened. A sh of my fall hit me and had me wincing


    again. It felt like five buses had hit me. Coughing rocked my body only adding to the pain. My eyes


    cracked open and took in what I could see without moving. I knew that moving only guaranteed me


    more pain. My ears kicked in next. All I could hear was a steady beeping. Again with my wheezing, and


    I sounded worst than I thought. There was a steady flow of airing in through my nose. I felt


    something warm encasing my hand. I tried to turn towards the warmth but instantly regretted it. A


    strangled noise left my lips as I started breathing heavily from the pain. A shadow appeared in my


    eyesight. The shadow slowly focused into the man who kidnapped me. His perfect tan face was red


    and puffy. His eyes were bloodshot as if he had been crying. His hair was tussled as if he had been


    pulling at it.


    "What were you thinking?" he asked hoarsely. I caught my breath and tried to moisten my mouth to


    talk.


    "Nova," I breathed. I winced at my own voice. I sounded like a croaking frog. The man still looked


    confused. "My name," I tried again. A smile spread across his face.


    "Your name is Nova," he said in realization. I tried to nod but it only caused pain to erupt in my spine.


    Tears sprung to my eyes as on their own ord.


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    "You broke a few ribs and fractured your spine. Also, you shattered your arm and ankles. There''s a


    exined. My eyebrows deepened in thought and confusion.


    "You jumped too," I whispered confused. His face was still as stone as he sat still. If I weren''t wrong, I''d


    say he looked nervous.


    "No I didn''t," he answered quickly. "You''ve been in an induceda for 5 weeks now to try and give


    your body an opportunity to heal some. You''ve been dreaming for a while," he chuckled nervously. I


    didn''t believe the dreaming thing one bit.


    "But-"


    "Elias," he said quickly, cutting me off. Despite myself, I fell for it. I knew what he was talking about and


    I didn''t care that I was broken. My dry lips cracked a smile at finally being able to put a name to the


    face of my beautiful kidnapper.


    Stop it! He''s not beautiful.


    "Your name," I croaked. There was a knock on the door before it opened to reveal a doctor. He had a


    full head of snow-white hair and bright blue eyes that stood out against his pink face. All in all, he


    reminded me of an in-shape Santa us. He smiled kindly at me.


    "Good, you''re awake. My name is Dr. Michael Shatter. How do you feel?" he asked as he grabbed a


    clipboard at the end of my bed and went over a few things silently.


    "I feel like I''ve been run over by five trains," I answered hoarsely. He scribbled something on the


    clipboard before he put it back in its ce and faced me.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    "Your recovery ising at a remarkably slow pace. I would suggest a few pints blood transfusion. It


    may speed up the process. Plus, Elias here is your just your type," the doctor said. It seemed like there


    was a double meaning behind his words.


    "Michael," Elias snapped at him in a clear warning. I didn''t understand the big deal. Why would Elias be


    so snappy about a blood transfusion? The two shared a silent exchange as if they weremunicating


    without words.


    "I would like that option is it''ll make this less, um... painful. Only if Elias is willing to donate," I said,


    turning to Michael. Michael smiled.


    "I assure you, the transfusion will have you feeling better in no time," he said positively. Michael


    nced at Elias briefly. Elias only sighed and set his jaw tight. They stared at each other in their silent


    There was the slightest change in facial expression, a quirk of an eyebrow, a furrow, a lip twitch every


    once in a while. It looked like they actually were holding dialogue without words. Eventually I cleared


    my throat.


    "Can I get some water please?" I asked hoarsely. My throat still felt scratchy and sore. Michael blinked


    before he smiled at me.


    "I''ll have Elias grab that for you as I start preparing the pint bags and IV set up," Michael said before


    they both left. Something wasn''t right. I felt... funny. Shortly, Elias came back with water and a straw.


    "Here, so you won''t have to reach too far," he said, cing the straw right where I could reach it


    widened slightly in shock. That funny feeling was gone... That funny feeling was because of him, and I


    didn''t like that. I feltforted by the gesture. I should be disgusted and appalled by the touch of my


    kidnapper, but I wasn''t. I liked it a lot. Elias rubbed his thumb over my hand.


    "I''ll see you in a bit, okay? We''ll be right back. Try not to fall out any windows while I''m gone," he said


    rolling his eyes slightly. As soon as Elias left the room, I felt antsy. It was minor but unsettling, like I was


    uneasy with Elias gone. It didn''t make any sense. Maybe I had that disorder for when a captor starts to


    have feeling towards their capturer.


    Stockholm Syndrome, that''s what it was.


    That worried me. My body still hurt and it was still hard to breath normally, but on top of that, I wanted


    Elias to be in the room with me. It worried me not knowing if he was okay or not. I closed my eyes and


    tried to think if something other than my spiraling life. It was a grueling hour before Dr. Michael and


    Elias came back to the hospital room. They strolled in carrying four bags of blood. I was slightly


    shocked at how Elias was still perfectly functional after giving so much blood. When I would donate to


    the blood drive, it only took a pint for me to get light-headed and even pass out sometimes. Elias didn''t


    even look dizzy. Although I shouldn''t have been surprised since he also jumped from a three-story


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    window andnded without a scratch.


    "Just rx, Ms. Nova. I''ll keeping in to alternate the blood with the fluids and you should be in


    tiptop shape again in no time. You should feel better in a few days," Michael assured me. Dr. Michael


    set up my IV with the blood and repositioned me with the help of Elias. I could finally see the rest of the


    room. It was a basic single hospital room set up with heart monitors, machines, chords, a few chairs


    and a basic cable TV. I sighed as I felt the new liquid start to circte through my body. My bones


    ached, but in a good way. I closed my eyes for just a second as Elias ran his thumb over the back of


    my hand. Or at least, I thought it was a second.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    "Nova," Elias said softly. I blinked my eyes open and tried to sit up. My bones didn''t scream at me as I


    pushed up on my hands. It was actually fairly easy besides a little soreness. I sat up and looked


    around. Elias took my hand in his.


    "How are you feeling?" he asked me. I yawned and stretched my limbs.


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    "I feel... fine. How is it that I feel so must better after a blood transfusion and a nap. A blood transfusion


    wouldn''t magically heal my bones," I asked. Elias rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand.


    "You''re better now; that''s all that matters," he said. I pulled my hand away from his and looked at the


    sheets.


    "I want to go home," I said softly.


    "Why?" he asked. "Do you not feelfortable with me? Don''t you think that it''s for a reason?" he


    asked. I shook my head as tears threatened to fall.


    "My dad needs to know I''m alive. He can''t loose me, too. He just can''t," I cried.


    "Why are you so insistent on this?" he asked.


    "Because he''s already lost my mom to the woods. He can''t lose me too," I said.


    "What happened?" he asked quietly. I sighed before I fiddled with my fingers. Logic told me not to tell


    him, but I wanted to.


    "She was murdered; mutted by animals. She went out one night to try to find our dog, Shipmate. He


    wandered out into the woods near our house and... she never came back. The next morning we went


    looking for her and... and we found her. She was shredded to pieces and there was so much blood. My


    dad went into shock. We called the police and they determined it was some kind of animal. A wild dog,


    or pack of wolves or something. Shipmate was found cowering in a hole in a tree. Apparently the hole


    was too small for the animal to get into. They only got my mom. My dad he cried for so long. He


    grieved for so long. He can''t lose me too. He has to know that I''m alive. He has to know that I''m not


    dead. He''ll lose it again if I don''t," I tried to exin. Elias sighed and closed his eyes briefly.


    "Okay, but I have to be with you and you can''t tell him what''s really going on," he said. I chuckled


    humorlessly.


    "I don''t even know what''s going on," I said. He sighed and ran his hand over my arm.


    "Do you feel that?" he asked. I hesitated.


    "What do you mean?" I asked.


    "That spark... the warm fuzzy feeling. It''s a connection to each other. It''ll only grow with time," he


    exined. I didn''t understand what he was getting at. I pulled my arm away and looked at the sheets.


    "Stop... please," I whispered as a light blush covered my cheeks. "I don''t know you. You kidnapped me


    and you''re keeping me here against my will. Now you want me to believe that you did it because we''re


    meant for each other. That doesn''t make any sense," I said. He sighed and moved away from me.


    "When do you want to go see your father?" he asked changing the subject.


    "When can I go?" I countered.


    "Whenever Dr. Michael releases you... and based on your remarkable recovery, it''ll probably be soon,"


    he answered.


    I was released by the end of the day. I was handed new clothes and put them on gratefully. Though, I


    did wonder how Elias guessed my size correctly. He led me by the small of my back outside and to a


    car. I got in the passenger side and we were off. I found myself staring out my window at the passing


    town. The town seemed happy. There were children running around. Couples were outside together,


    watching the children, having conversations. They all looked deliriously happy. And I noticed that there


    were always coupled up, rarely was there one without the other. It almost seemed unreal.


    "Everyone''s together," I noted.


    "We''ll be there one day," Elias muttered under his breath, but I heard him anyway. I ignored it and


    continued watching the passing town. I would never be so deliriously happy with my kidnapper.


    "What''s the town''s name?" I asked. He hesitated before he gave in.


    "Rigor Moon," he said. I found myself rolling my eyes. That was a silly name for a town. We came upon


    a house eventually. It was a pure white sto mansion with brick detailing. I admired the house as the


    car pulled into a u-shaped driveway.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    "This is your house?" I asked astonished. He only chuckled as he parked the car.


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    "It''s our house," he corrected. I was only even more shocked as I got out of the car. Elias came around


    to my side and led my up the walkway to the giant mahogany double doors. Pushing it open, the inside


    of the house looked like something out of a millionaires guide to perfect houses. There was a giant


    ss chandelier weing us at the entrance. I paused and looked at the double winding staircase


    and balcony.


    "This is unreal," I whispered. The marble tile, the ss tables, the prestige wood, everything about the


    house was beautiful and over the top. This must have been the house I was in originally in. This entire


    entrance exins why I fell from a third story.


    "Your room is upstairs for the time being. It''s the one you were in before I had to take you to the


    hospital," he confirmed. I couldn''t help but to blush.


    "Honestly, I wasn''t going to jump to hurt myself. I was trying to escape," I said quickly. He only sighed.


    "I know, and that''s my fault," he said, taking my hand and leading me to another room on the first floor.


    The living room had plush ck suede couches and a giant television. The living room had a smooth


    closed transition into the kitchen. It looked like the kitchen had never been used before. All chrome and


    silver essories and grey marble counters. The floor was white tile and the refrigerator and freezer


    were industrial sized. There were a few televisions in the corners of the kitchen as well. I was in


    heaven. I loved cooking, and this was incredible. I grazed my fingers over the countertop on the ind.


    "Wow," I breathed. I opened the refrigerator to see that it was fully stocked with every food imaginable.


    I fished through the walk-in pantry and wasn''t surprised on its depth based on the rest of the house, but


    I was pleasantly surprised to find hat the back wall was covered in candy. My smile widened as I saw


    my absolute favorite; Lindor milk chocte truffles with sea salt. I grabbed a few bags and sat on the


    floor as I started popping them open and shoving them in my mouth. I sighed happily and closed my


    eyes as I ate bag after bag.


    "Nova, where did you-"


    Elias stopped when he saw me covered in chocte wrappers. Heughed and crossed his arms as


    he leaned against a post. "I think I found your kryptonite," he joked. I red and brought the chocte


    closer to me.


    "Mine," I said before I snuggled closer to my chocte. Elias sat there and watched me as I ate myself


    into oblivion.


    "Are you going to want to see the rest of the house before we go see your dad, or do you want to stay


    here for the rest if the day?" he joked. I thought about it before I put what little chocte was left back


    in the proper space and stood.


    "Tour please," I said. Elias chuckled and wiped a bit of chocte off of my cheek with his thumb. He


    stuck his thumb in his mouth, tasting the chocte before he grabbed my hand and led me through the


    house. It had numerous extravagant rooms and bathrooms that went up four stories. The fourth floor


    was a giant bedroom in itself. It was Elias''s room. The connecting bathroom was better than any of the


    other ones in the house. It had a deep Jacuzzi tub and a walk-in steam shower. There were two sinks


    and a walk in closet. It was huge. Everything about the room and bathroom were amazing. The color


    scheme was ck, gray, and white with a hint of green. It was perfect. The bed was a giant canopy


    bed, super-California king sized. It was temper-pedic as well. I tested it.


    "This is amazing," I smiled.


    "It''s yours too, whenever you want it. It''s our room. I just put you in the other room until you''re


    that. No matter what Elias said, I felt like I couldn''t do it.


    "M-my dad?" I asked, changing the subject.


    "We can go now," he said.

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    I walked out of the room and down to the car. I hoped in, both excited and nervous to see my brother


    and father again. Elias held a cloth bag up.


    "I''m sorry, I have to do this," he said. I sighed and allowed it. At least he was letting me see my family.


    Elias drove straight to my house. He stopped the car in front of the house and took the bag off.  I turned


    to him confused.


    "How did you-"


    "I do my research, Nova," he answered before I even finished. The way he said my name made me


    sigh. It just rolled off his tongue like the sweetest desert. I cleared my head. I had to stop thinking that


    way. I sighed and looked at the house. The lights were on. They were home. "Here, wear this," he said


    handing me an earpiece.


    "Why?" I asked.


    "I''ll feed you what to say, and I''ll be able to hear what you say. It''s best they don''t look for you at all.


    People will get hurt if they try," he exined. I sighed before I put the earpiece in. He put one in


    himself.


    "Can you hear me?" he tested. I nodded. He held my hand gently.


    "You''ll be okay," he assured me. It felt weird having him reassure me; my kidnapper. I hated more that it


    actually worked. I nodded before I walked up to the door. I rang the doorbell and waited. My brother


    answered the door. He eyes watered immediately when he saw me.


    "Nova," he breathed. He wrapped me up in a suffocating bear hug. I returned it with my own.


    "Nn," I said softly. I peeked over his shoulder and saw my dad standing, watching on shocked.


    "Nova," he whispered.


    "Dad," I smiled through my tears. Nn let go of me and I rushed to my dad. We hugged each other


    tightly. I felt a wave of relief sweep over me.


    "Novalyn, we thought you were dead," he cried. He pulled away and looked at me.


    "I''m alive," I smiled gently. "I''m fine," I said.


    "Nova, I''m here. Be careful what you say next," Elias said in my ear.


    "How? What happened? Where have you been?" he asked quickly. They pulled me into the living room


    and sat me down on the couch. I shook my head, not knowing what to say.


    "Nova, say this..." Elias said in my ear. I listened before I turned to my dad.


    "I went for a walk a-and I got lost. When I finally got back, everyone was gone. A man found me and


    helped me out with clothes, food, everything. He finally figured out how to get me home," I lied.


    "God, Novalyn, we were so worried about you," he said. My smile dropped slightly.


    "I know but there¡¯s something else," I continued.


    "Breathe, Nova," Elias said sweetly. "Herees the hard part and you only have a little time left," he


    informed me. I sighed and listened before I felt my eyes water. Nn was staring at me curiously.


    "But... I can''t stay," I continued. They both looked at me confused. "I just wanted you to know I was


    alive. I didn''t want you to think that the same thing that happened to mom happened to me. It''s


    people there treat me well, and I want to stay. Just know that I''m alive and I love you guys. But I hate it


    here and I was nning on leaving anyway, so I already have."Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Nova, no, don''t leave, please. We just got you back," Nn said. I sighed and shook my head, sliding


    a piece of scratch paper and a pen towards me.


    "Well, what''s going on? Why do you have to go? I''m sure whatever it is we can fix it. We always have."


    Nn asked. I wrote ''help me!'' on the paper. They read it and looked at each other before I saw them


    start to panic. I wrote ''Rigor Moon'' on the paper, praying they would figure it out.


    "I can''t tell you, and I can''t stay. I don''t want to," I whispered. The words felt like vomit.


    "Breathe, Nova. You''re out of time. Stand and leave," Elias said in my ear. I almost forgot he was there.


    I stood on shaky legs and wiped my tears.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    "I have to go," I said quickly before I headed to the door. I couldn''t stay any longer. If I did, I wouldn''t be


    able to leave. I ran out the door and down the street to the car, but I knew that my family got the


    message I was trying to send.


    "Nova!" I heard my dad yell after me. I sobbed as I shut the door behind me. In the car, Elias squeezed


    my hand tightly as he took off.


    "Why did you make me do that?" I sobbed.


    "Because they can''t look for you. The town... they will be very protective of you. They already love you


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    and im you as their own," he said.


    "But they don''t know me," I countered.


    "I know, but I''m technically... in charge of the town," he said hesitantly.


    "So you''re the mayor?" I asked, calming down slightly.


    "Something like that... and you''re like... the firstdy," he said. I had a feeling it was more than that, but


    he wouldn''t borate. "Wait, the entire town? How is the entire town on one page?" I asked.


    "We''re a very close town. We hold monthly get-togethers andmunicate on a daily basis. It''s not


    umon for our town to be very friendly. We''re practically one big family," he said. The way he was


    talking about seemed more like a cult than a town. We made it back to the house and I just felt


    exhausted. I copsed on the bed in my temporary room and sighed.


    "It''ll get easier, Nova. I promise," he said. I nodded. I didn''t believe him, but I nodded anyway.


    "What am I supposed to do here in the meantime?" I asked. Elias came and sat next to me.


    "Get to know the town, me, everything," he sighed.


    "I was supposed to go to college this fall. I was going to be a nurse or teacher," I ranted as I paced the


    floor. He sighed and came to stand in front of me.


    "You can still do all of that. We have schools and a hospital. You can do whatever you want except


    leave. You don''t even have to go to college. We have certified trainers who can certify you for nothing.


    No student loans, or bills, or anything. I''m going to take care of you, Nova. And I''m pretty much going to


    give you whatever you want," he said. I gave an exasperated sigh before I stood and started pacing.


    "What about clothes?" I asked.


    "Check your drawers and closet," he smirked. I looked at him shocked before I checked. Sure enough,


    they were stocked in my size with everything I could think of.


    "But how did these get here? How did you know my size?" I asked.


    "The nurse who changed you took your measurements and had some of the women in town go


    shopping for you, " he answered. It didn''t even ur to me that anyone else knew about me here, or


    had even seen me. And here they were buying a stranger clothes. They even bought shoes and


    jewelry. "I financed them, of course. You''re my responsibility and I''ll be damned if I cut any corners


    when ites to you," he exined.


    "But why?! Why are you going through all this trouble for me? I thought kidnappers were supposed to


    be mean and rude and maniptive. You''ve been nothing but nice to me," I rambled. He chuckled and


    stood in front of me, catching my eye. My breath hitched at our close proximity and his intense gaze.


    "When are you going to get it? It''s not my intention to hurt you. It''s my job to protect you and take care


    of you. And the whole pa-town will stand behind me on that. They might not know you personally yet,


    but we take care of our own, and you''re a part of us, or you will be eventually. You are more special


    than you think. You are my main priority, and I''ll always be here for you; no matter what," he said softly.


    He picked a book out of a small selection of books on a shelf and handed it to me. "Here, it''s a good


    read, whenever you find the time," he said. I looked over the thick leather cover. It wasn''t ''Harry Potter''


    big, but it was a descent-sized book. Lycan Revealed was the title.


    "Why?" I asked. He chuckled.


    "You ask too many questions. We''ll talk about it when you finish if you want. It''s just something to pass


    the time. Get some rest, Nova," he said before he kissed my hand and left. My skin was cool andhot


    where his lips touched me. I covered my hand quickly as I felt a blushcreep up my neck. I shook off the


    feeling and looked back at the book curiously.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    What was so special about me that Elias kidnapped me? Surely, he was just bored with his life. I sat in


    the bed and cracked it open. I found it odd that there was no mention of an author or anything.


    ''Lycan: a man who transforms into a beast when the proper conditions present themselves. In basic


    terms: a werewolf. Thought to have been cursed by Greek gods ages ago for a sin so evil, they were


    sent down from Olympus and doomed to a life of a beast forever. The werewolf did not suffer however;


    it was strong, agile, quick, smart, and maniptive; a creature of the devil himself. Over the course of


    time, the Lycan evolved. It found that it was stronger in groups, or packs. They found that each Lycan,


    or wolf, had a role.


    There is the Alpha: leader of all other Lycan in their pack. He is the strongest in every sense. The Beta


    is the Alpha''s second inmand; also seen as the enforcer. The Beta holds the title of security and


    will often run the pack''s warriors, or Sentinel. He is also in charge when the Alpha is not present. The


    Delta is the Alpha''s third inmand. When the Delta is not helping the Beta, he protects the pack''s


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Luna. The Luna is the Alpha''s bride, or mate. She helps to steady the Alpha and bnce him out. She


    rules the pack beside him with a gentle hand and nurturing spirit. She is the Alpha''s soul mate.


    Every Lycan has a mate; it is just a matter of finding them. Fate will put them together someday,


    somehow, but precise timing is not always known. The mate of a Lycan can be another Lycan, or a


    homosapien (human). The Lycan''s mate''s purpose is to bnce the Lycan out and reproduce with


    them to create their heir. The chances of a Lycan finding a mate after 25 years of age drops to 23%.


    The mate and the Lycan will feel a connection with each other. They will not love each other right away,


    but the need to protect and care for their mate will be great. The Lycan and mate will grow as a unit


    over time and connect as one.


    The process includes the following: a blood bond, which is optional, will heighten the pull to each other


    initially. A blood bond is simply epting the mate or Lycan''s blood into the other''s body in any way.


    This can be done by a blood transfusion or simply drinking the hemoglobin. Mates will always have the


    same or corresponding blood types, so pairing and conceiving isn''t a problem. The next step would be


    for the Lycan to mark, or bite, the mate. There is no specific cement for this ritual. The mark signifies


    the iming of the mate and will change the mate''s sent to other Lycan to alert them that they are


    taken. The mark will also send the female into heat the next time she ovtes. The female''s ''heat'' will


    call to her mate and all unmated males. Whoever mates the female during her'' heat'' will impregnate


    her. The ''heat'' willst a week. If the female is not mating within this time, she will have a ''heat'' every


    time she ovtes until she is fully mated. If a Lycan loses a mate, the Lycan can slowly go mad.


    If a human mates with a Lycan, there is a chance that their offspring will be either Lycan or human.


    Normally, the Lycan gene travels on the Y chromosome. The chances of a male offspring being Lycan


    are greater, but it''s not impossible for a female half-blood


    The Alpha title is passed down through the current Alpha''s eldest male heir, but the Alpha title can also


    be transferred through a challenging. Like a male lion, Alpha Lycan can be challenged for their title.


    The challenge is a one-on-one fight to the death. The winner ims the pack and residingnd. The


    Luna of the deceased Alpha can chose to stay as an Omega, or leave. An Omega is the lowest ranking


    Lycan in a pack. It is weak and small in every nature; considered the runt or broken Lycan, it is frowned


    upon and often bullied by the others. The Omega is the pack''s weakest link.''


    I stopped reading as my eyes began to droop. I bookmarked the page I stopped on and set it on the


    bedside table. I turned off themp with onest yawn and snuggled under the covers. The book was


    interesting but that''s all I saw it as. It was all fiction.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    The next morning, I stretched and took a quick shower. I dressed in a pair or baggy gray sweatpants


    and a loose-fitting ck t-shirt. I walked down the curved staircase and into the kitchen. The room was


    bright with sunlight. Elias was already there with food.


    "Morning, sweet cakes," he smiled


    "Sweet cakes?" I asked, weirded-out.


    "Honey bun?" he tried again.


    I shook my head.


    "Cupcake?"


    "No."


    "Sweetheart."


    "No."


    "Princess."


    "No."


    "You know I was really gunning for cupcake."


    "Stop... just stop," I said in frustration, sitting at the bar. "Nova will suffice, Elias," I said.


    "Elias is what everyone else calls me. My family calls me Eli. You can call me that as well," he said,


    setting a te down in front of me.


    "No," I replied.


    "Yes."


    "No."


    "Yes."


    "No."


    "Yes."


    "No-"


    "For the love of the moon, stop it," someone said, entering the kitchen. I blushed as I looked down and


    Elias chuckled.


    "Taylor, this is Nova," Elias smiled. Taylor was a big guy. He had ck hair and grey eyes like Elias.


    The only difference being that Taylor looked like a younger beefcake version with shorter hair.


    "You''re big," I blurted. Taylorughed. I blushed even harder. I meant to say hello. Darn, my non-


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    existent brain-to-mouth filter.


    "Nova, this is my little brother, Taylor," Elias said. I smiled shyly and started eating.


    "So did you hear about that brat, Mason? He wants permission to search our... town. Uzeo si djevojku,


    zar ne? (Croatian: You took the girl, didn''t you?)" he asked Elias.


    "Mason? Mason''sing?" I asked as I perked. Elias red and practically growled.


    "No, he''s not. I''ll be damned if he... does something stupid," he answered me before turning to Taylor.


    "Nisam imao izbora, svojoj si bio na izletu, ili bilo ?to, a ja sam imao samo jedan mali prozor


    mogu?nosti. (Croatian: I had no choice, Her ss was on a field trip, or whatever, and I only had a


    small window of opportunity.)," he rambled off in the foreignnguage.


    "Whatnguage is that?" I asked confused.


    "Croatian," Taylor answered absentmindedly.


    "Why is Masoning?" I asked confused. They both hesitated, having a stare off before Taylor


    sighed and broke eye contact first.


    "We don''t know. We think he''s trying to retrieve you, but we won''t let him get that far," Taylor promised.


    "But Mason is my... friend," I said. Elias shook his head and took my empty te.


    "Not right now he''s not," Elias muttered. "Nova, why don''t you continue reading that book I gave you? I


    have business to attend to," to said before he left the kitchen. Taylor shot me an apologetic look before


    he followed behind him. I went back to the bedroom and decided to continue reading, but not because


    Elias told me to.


    ''The lone wolf, or the rogue, is either born into that life or they have been exiled from a pack. It is rare


    that a pack will ept a rogue to join them, but not impossible. Rogues can be driven mad by the


    loneliness. Mainly, the rogue will just try to reek havoc on packs surrounding them. All Lycan have a


    specified job from, practically, birth.


    A Salutary is a healer, or doctor. They show a gift of nurturing at a young age. They are taught old


    healing recipes and anatomy of the Lycan. They serve in the hospitals, nursing centers, and


    orphanages. Their main job is caretaker. The Sentinel, or warriors, are mainly male. They show great


    promise in being strong fighters at an early age. They are trained inbat and stealth. Trackers, do


    exactly that. They have a keen sense of smell, even more so than a normal Lycan. They are quick and


    quiet. From their childhood, they learn to be hidden and quick. Their sense of smell is used to track


    pretty much anything.''

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    I stayed in the room until I finished the entire book. It was interesting. It went into detail about the


    Lycan''s shift from man to beast and how they could control it for the most part. When the Lycan got


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    angry, it''s wolf would push forward, and sometimes the shift would be involuntary. It showed the


    changing anatomies of the man in his transition to beast. It looked painful and unreal. There were


    pictures and descriptions of the pain that came with the first shift and every one after. The Lycan could


    begin it''s transformation at puberty, whenever it would hit the normal person. There was so much detail


    on this one fictional creature. It was incredible. I apuded the creativity of whoever wrote this. It was


    very specific.


    When I finished the book, I stretched and tucked the book under my arm I remembered Elias saying


    that he worked in his home office often, and I needed to talk to him about this book. I didn''t knock


    before entering, and in hindsight, I should''ve. In my defense, I wasn''t expecting anyone else to be in


    the house. Elias was in a deep discussion with two men. One of them I recognized as Elias'' brother,


    Taylor. Regardless, Elias smiled when he saw me. I probably looked like a deer caught in the


    headlights.


    "Nova," he smiled. He motioned for me to join him at his desk. Paralleled against my option to just


    stand at the door, I went to Elias. I walked hesitantly over to him and he pulled me into hisp. I could


    feel the blush creep up my neck.


    "I-I didn''t realize you hadpany," I said shyly, standing. I motioned to the book. "I was just going to


    give this back to you," I said quickly. I turned to leave but Elias caught my wrist.


    "Wait, Nova. What did you think?" he asked. I nced at Taylor and the other strange man in the room.


    "We can discuss itter since you''re busy, " I said, trying to leave. Elias chuckled and sat me on his


    desk.


    "It''s okay, love. Taylor and Peyton don''t bite," Elias said, to which both men chuckled as if the opposite


    were true. I looked at my fingers sped in myp and shrugged.


    "I think it''s a very descriptive and detailed piece of fiction. Whoever wrote it had quite the imagination


    and Imend them for that. It was truly entertaining," I answered softly.


    "Fiction?" the man, Peyton, asked. Peyton looked like the pretty, golden boy that everyone loved in


    high school. His stature was that of a jock, and with his golden hair and blue eyes, he was the poster


    child for an All-American Man. I looked at him confused. He seemed offended, while Taylor sat smirking


    like the cocky bastard he probably was.


    "You believe it?" I asked Peyton. He red at me before turning his re to Elias.


    "Nisi joj jo?? (Croatian: You haven''t told her yet?)" Peyton asked Elias in Croatian, I assumed.


    "No, it''s a process and ne ?elim ju u?iti(I don''t want to scare her)," Elias replied. I sighed in


    frustration.


    "Could you guys stop speaking a differentnguage when I''m right here? Thanks," I said bitterly. Elias


    chuckled and took my hands in his.


    "You''ll catch on eventually, Cupcake," he smiled. I mentally rolled my eyes at the stupid nickname. "So


    about the book... do you believe any of it could be real?" he asked. I shrugged. I had always been able


    to keep an open mind about the supernatural, but nothing I''d ever seen up to this point gave me any


    proof of their existence.


    "I think the idea of soul mates is beautiful and ancient. I don''t know how feasible it is though. I don''t


    believe in love at first sight. I believe there can be lust at first sight, but you can''t know that you love


    someone until you know him or her. I don''t think there are any exceptions to that rule. As far as the


    whole Lycan concept as a whole is concerned, I don''t think a man''s body wouldpletely shift on


    out the possibility of something so unnatural. There''s a consequence for everything. This Lycan


    creature has no consequence, just talents and hyperactive senses. It''s not feasible," I ranted. All three


    of them stared at me shocked. I had the gift of gab and I knew it. That, plus, my love for English, made


    me talk a lot. I blushed crimson as I realized that I just went off on a tangent.


    "I''ll be up in my room," I said quickly before I rushed out of the office and to my bedroom. It''s funny how


    I was already calling it mine, like I epted the fact that I was staying here. Hopefully, Nn and my


    dad got my message and were working on a way to retrieve me. I didn''t mind Elias, Taylor, or even


    Peyton, but I knew I couldn''t stay here forever.

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    The next morning, I woke to the sound of a baby. Confused, I yawned and looked around confused. I


    brushed my teeth and hair before I followed the crying to a room down the hall from me. I saw a baby


    that couldn''t be older than eight months old. I looked around but it was just this baby boy. My need to


    nurture kicked in and I picked the baby out of the crib and cradled him. There was an embroidered


    pillow with the name ''Rhett'' on it. I cooed him as I started bouncing him gently.


    "Aw, Rhett. What''s the matter, pretty boy?" I asked in a baby voice. I shushed him and tried to get him


    to calm down. Eventually, he did.


    "Who are you?" I heard from behind me. I turned to see a woman with blonde hair and tired brown


    eyes. Her eyes held bags and her demeanor just looked tired. She must have been Rhett''s mother.


    "Oh, I''m Novalyn, or Nova. You must be Rhett''s mother. Sorry, I heard him crying and couldn''t help


    myself," I blushed embarrassed. She sighed and copsed in the rocker.


    "No, it''s okay. I should be thanking you. I''m so exhausted. I''m Jasmine but everyone just calls me


    Minnie," she smiled tiredly. "He''s probably hungry," she sighed.


    "I can take care of him if you want to sleep more and I''m really good with kids," I offered. She smiled


    gratefully.


    "Thank you, Luna. His bottles are downstairs in the refrigerator," she said before she scurried out of the


    room. Luna?


    "My name is Nova," I called after her. I looked down at the curious little thing and couldn''t help but to


    smile. "Let''s go get you some food," I cooed at the baby. He smiled and kicked his legs happily. I


    chuckled as I took him down to the kitchen. I pulled open the fridge and saw the bottles with Rhett''s


    name on it. I popped it in the microwave for just a little bit before I tested it and fed the bottle to Rhett. I


    sat with him in the living room as the TV droned on numbly. I noticed that Rhett''s skin felt a little hot.


    "Nova, what are you doing?" Elias'' voice reached me. I turned my head slightly to see him walking in


    with Taylor. Taylor looked shocked and amused.


    "And what are you doing with my baby?" Taylor added. I shrugged and turned my attention back to


    Rhett.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "I found him. He was crying and... that''s how I ended up here with him," I shrugged. Taylor chuckled.


    "He likes you. You know, I''m surprised Minnie didn''t grab him. She can be a little overprotective


    sometimes," he said sitting next to me as Elias took the open seat on my other side.


    "Minnie seems nice. Tired, but a genuine person," I smiled.


    "She saw you holding Rhett and she didn''t freak out?" Taylor asked surprised. I shrugged.


    "She said to take him and she left," I exined. He chuckled.


    "I can''t believe it. She must really be tired," Taylor smiled, shaking his head.


    "I don''t mind. Rhett is a cutie," I said as he finished the bottle. Taylor held his hands out for Rhett.


    "Just burp him," I instructed. Taylor chuckled.


    "I know how to take care of my baby," Taylor rolled his eyes.


    "He has a fever, though," I added. "When''s thest time he saw a doctor?" I asked. Taylor began


    burping Rhett as he turned back to me.


    "Never. We had a home birth and then he was fine so we never went to the hospital," Taylor exined.


    "You should take him to get seen and get his immunizations. It''s important for newborns and if he


    hasn''t gotten them yet, he''s defenseless against hundreds of sicknesses and diseases," I said. Taylor


    nodded as a small smile graced his lips.


    "Thanks," he said sincerely before he disappeared up the stairs. I caught Elias staring at me in


    admiration.


    "What?" I blushed as I looked at my feet. He stood suddenly.


    "Go get dressed. I''m going to show you around town," he said. I had to admit, I was kind of curious.

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    The town looked nice from the car ride to the house. I was curious to see if the town was as happy as it


    seemed from the quick ride. I smiled and darted up the stairs. I was actually excited to go outside of the


    house for the first time. I quickly showered and ran mousse through my hair before it could get frizzy.


    After pinning my bangs back with a simple clip. I brushed my teeth and went to find something suitable.


    I remembered what Elias said about the town waiting to meet me. I thought it was odd, but I figured that


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    jeans and a t-shirt wouldn''t suffice. I dug through the closet until I found the perfect sundress. It was


    sort of stretchy with a small V-neck. The pattern was made up of Hawaiian flowers on a sky blue


    background. It was tight until the waist and then it flowed to just above my knees. I paired it with white


    converse. After I felt suitably dressed, I met Elias back in the living room. He looked over my attire


    shocked. I suddenly felt self-conscious as I held my arms in front of my stomach and blushed.


    "I''ll go change," I muttered quickly, turning on my heels. Elias caught my arm gently and pulled me


    closer to him.


    "No... you look great, love. I just... I wasn''t expecting a dress," he said softly. I blushed even more if that


    was even possible. He looked at my face confused.


    "I liked your freckles," he said. I shrugged, tossing my hair over my shoulder. Okay, so maybe I put on a


    little makeup as well. Those townswomen really thought of everything.


    "Ready?" I asked, trying to change the subject. He smirked and offered me his arm.


    "You look beautiful, Cupcake," he said. I red at him out of the corner of my eye.


    "My name is not Cupcake," I glowered. He only chuckled as we walked out of the house.


    "Sure thing, Cupcake," he teased. I groaned and threw my head back dramatically.


    "Seriously Eli, my name isn''t that hard. It''s four letters," I argued. He onlyughed. He full blown


    enough to not be too cold or too hot. The people of the town greeted us as if we were royalty. These


    people were deliriously happy.


    Drugs.


    Drugs were the only answer I had for how happy these people seemed. I would have to remember to


    stay away from the water. We eventually ended up at a marketce. It was huge. We entered from


    outside where vendors were set up everywhere. There was everything from carpets to fresh fruits. The


    inside waspleted with a huge food court and tons of stores from Nike to Victoria''s Secret to GNC.


    They had everything. We looked around for a bit, and Elias even got me a few things before we settled


    in the food court to eat. I chose a cute little Vietnamese restaurant while Elias went for Burger King. We


    got our food and sat down to eat. I spun the noodles on my fork and took a bite. It was truly


    delicious.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    "So this is your town," I said after I swallowed the food. He smiled.


    "It''s your town now too, Cupcake," he said. My smile dropped and I sighed. Elias onlyughed before


    he took another bite of his burger.


    "I don''t even know why I still try," I muttered to myself before I finished the rest of my food in quietly as


    Elias went on and on about the town and the people in it. It was really interesting watching him get


    excited about what he was talking about. It made me smile. I could tell that he really cared about this


    town and it''s people. After we finished eating, we continued our tour to the high school, middle school,


    and the elementary school. I lingered in the elementary school a bit before we walked to a building near


    the school. It was quiet and looked quite homey.


    "Eli, where are we?" I asked. His smile was tight, and he looked ufortable.


    "I personally don''t like being here, but I have a feeling you would love it," he said. We walked inside to


    be met with a reception area. A momentter, a middle-aged woman rushed to the desk. Her ivory skin


    was flushed pink. She had high cheekbones and small almond shaped light brown eyes. Her ck hair


    was pulled into a loose bun on the top of her head.


    "Mr. Madsen, it''s an honor to have you here. What can I help you with today?" she asked in a rush.


    "Nova here loves doing this kind of stuff. I''ll be back in a few hours to pick her up," he said. I turned to


    him confused.


    "Wait, you''re leaving me?" I asked confused and slightly hurt by the thought.


    "Yes, but only for a little bit. You''ll love it and I have some work to do," he exined. I couldn''t exin it,


    but I didn''t want to be apart from him and I hated that.


    "Only a few hours?"" I asked for confirmation. He chuckled with a sense of arrogance and took my


    hand in his.


    "Only a few hours, Cupcake," he said. I rolled my eyes and pulled my hand out of his. A look of pain


    crossed his features but only for a brief second. He sighed and looked at the floor for a moment. "Have


    fun," he muttered before he left. I knew I hurt his feelings but from what? Pulling away from him? I


    sighed and just let it go. I would never understand Elias and I didn''t expect that to change any time


    soon. The woman bowed her head slightly in a nervous manner. I held my hand out to her instead.


    "My name is Nova," I introduced myself with a smile. She looked at me in wonder before she hesitantly


    shook my hand.


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    "I''m Y-Yana," she introduced herself.


    "That''s such a pretty name, Yana. So, where are we exactly? What is this building?" I asked.


    "It''s the town''s orphanage," she answered easily. "And you''re timing is perfect. I could use some help,


    the little ones are about to wake up from their nap," she said. I felt my heart break a little.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    The orphanage? And it seemed like this poor woman was running it by herself.


    "How many kids live here?" I asked.


    "Eight," she said. "Mostly toddlers and younger children, but there is a baby and a few preteens." She


    exined.


    "Baby?" I asked shocked. Did these people give their children away? How did they end up here? I


    found myself wondering a lot of questions.


    "Opal, she''s about ten months old. Her parents died in an attack recently. She came with her five year


    old brother," Yana exined. I found myself smiling sympathetically at the exhausted woman.


    "Well, I would love to help, and have some experience with children. Just point me in the right


    direction," I said. Yana gave me a tour of the house. It was honestly just a big house. There was a giant


    kitchen, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a yroom, a media room, and a yground outside. The


    only thing that wasn''t very house-like was the reception area.


    After the children woke from their nap, we fed them lunch, which I helped prepare while they were still


    sleeping. Yana had me do story time while she cleaned up the lunch from mess. She wanted me to get


    to know the children, and I did too. I picked up a random book off a shelf full of fairytales and tried to


    get them all to sit still so I could begin. There was Opal, the baby, with her big brother, Oliver. They both


    had jet-ck hair and hazel eyes. Oliver, I noticed, was very shy and protective of his sister. He


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    insisted on carrying her, if we let him, or he would try to teach her how to walk, but more than likely, he


    just had to have an eye on her. There was a set of twins na and Anya. They were bubbly, bouncy


    six year olds with long, curly light brown hair and green eyes. Matthew was three years old. He was the


    reckless time who seemed to umte a different scar on the hour by doing something like running


    full force into a wall. His unruly short blonde hair and mischievous blue eyes seemed to fit his


    personality. I had a feeling he was going to be a heartbreaker when he grew up. Yana informed me


    about the other three children; Kennedy, Elliot, and Grier who were at school. Kennedy was ten, while


    Elliot and Grier were 13 and 14 years old.


    Eventually, after threatening to take away story time, I got them to calm down enough to begin. Right


    away, na and Anya crawled into myp on either side and rested their bouncy curls against my


    chest. The other children seemed engrossed in the story as well and kept scooting closer. Well,


    Matthew kept getting up and running in a circle, before he realized that no one was chasing him and he


    would sit back down. I swear that kid had ADHD.


    After story time, the kids went out to the yground to y. Yana and I supervised. I was actually


    holding Opal until she started crying. Yana took her inside and na and Anya ran up to me with their


    identical smiling faces looking up at me.


    "Luna, can we y Candnd?" Anya asked. It was easy to tell them apart at the moment because


    Yana put a pink bow in na''s hair and a purple one in Anya''s. I smiled at them and took their hands.


    "I would love to but I have to make sure I can see all of you," I declined. They looked so sad and


    vulnerable when I said that. I felt bad.


    "You can go ahead in to the y room. I put Opal in her crib in there so you can keep an ear out for


    me," Yana said,ing to stand next to me. The girls instantly looked at each other and smiled before I


    was being pulled into the house and straight to the yroom. The twins wereughing the whole way.


    For a pair of six year olds, they were pretty strong. We settled into our game quickly.


    "Having fun?" I heard from behind me. I knew who it was immediately. I turned to see Elias standing in


    the doorway in all his glory. I smiled and nodded. As soon as I stood, na and Anya grabbed my legs.


    I almost fell over, but Elias held me steady.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    "Please stay, Nona," they begged profusely. They couldn''t quite pronounce my name correctly, so they


    just called me Nona. I sat back down and they crawled into myp. "Please don''t go," they pouted with


    puppy dog eyes. I couldn''t say no to those eyes. Especially when there were two pair of them. I had to


    stay now. I turned and gave Elias the same puppy dog eyes as the girls turned their attention to him as


    well. Elias sighed defeat.


    "How about you girls both just stay at the pack house with Nova?" he offered instead. They both


    gasped before going off excitedly.


    "Really?!" they said in unison. They started bouncing around Elias in circles and giggling.


    Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    "Sit still," Elias growled sternly. They sat still next to me and closed their mouths immediately. It was so


    cute. "Nova, find Yana so she can make a bag for them," he said. I stood and kissed his cheek before I


    went to the yground. Yana had me watch the rest of the kids while she went to pack the girls a bag.


    She came back empty handed. I looked at her confused.


    "Where are the bags?" I asked. She smiled sweetly.


    "Master Madsen, this is very generous of you," Yana said to him instead before she turned to me.


    "They have already been ced in the SUV waiting outside," she exined. I thanked her before I


    went outside to see that, sure enough, there was a ck SUV with tinted windows waiting for us. The


    girls sprinted to the car and climbed inside. Elias must have brought that with him. There were car


    seats in the back seat making me think that Elias probably called someone while I was going to get


    Yana. I strapped the girls in and we were off. Elias drove the short drive back to the house. As soon as


    Elias parked, the girls were struggling to undo their seatbelts. As soon as they were undone, the girls


    took off inside the house.


    "na! Anya!" I called once we got inside. I heard the little pitter-patter of tiny feet running closer


    before they were bouncing in ce in front of me, trying to suppress their giggles. Elias came up


    beside me and looked at the girls. He spared me a nce before he sighed.


    "The room next to Nova''s is set up for you two," he said in monotone. I was excited too, this time. I ran


    up the stairs with the twins at my heels. I threw open the door next to mine. There were two twin beds


    setup with pink princess nkets. He wasn''t kidding when he said that the room was set up for them,


    specifically. The girls squealed before they each chose a bed and jumped on it, giggling. He would


    probably deny it, but the corner of Elias'' mouth did pull up just slightly. "We have a big day tomorrow, so


    rest up," he said to them before he left. They each grabbed their bag and began fishing through it for


    their pajamas. I smiled at them as I leaned against the doorframe.


    "na, Anya, I''m going to talk to Eli but I''ll be back to say goodnight, okay?" I said.


    "Okay!" they smiled in unison before they went back to their bags. I chuckled and shook my head


    before I went to look for Elias. I checked his office first. When he wasn''t there, I remember him saying


    that his room was on the fourth floor. I walked up the flights of stairs beforeing onto a door that


    blocked the entire floor. I hesitantly knocked.


    "Come in," Elias said from the other side of the door. I cracked it open before I walked in. I looked


    around the room in awe. The entire fourth floor was his room. He had a few couches facing a TV on the


    far right wall and a giant extra California king-sized bed against the back wall. His bathroom doors were


    open on the left. I assumed the other set of doors led to an excessive walk-in closet. There were


    dressers and even a vanity. There were big windows lining the nk parts of the walls, making the


    room feel open and airy. The plush cream carpet felt good against my feet. The furniture was all made


    out of cherry red wood, giving the giant room a homey feel still. Elias chuckled at my expression.


    "This is my room," he smiled at me. I momentarily forgot why I came up here I the first ce. I wrapped


    my arms around his neck in a hug when he got closer. Elias froze before he gently hugged me back.


    "Thank you," I said sincerely.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    His long arms wrapped around my thin framepletely as he buried his head in the crook of my neck.


    His breath tickled my throat and neck, sending excited tingles through my body and making me feel


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    warm and protected. I felt hyper-aware of every inch of him that was touching me. His hair tickled my


    cheek and his broad hands held me firmly. After a long quiet moment, I pulled away, much to his


    dismay, and smiled at him softly. He reluctantly took a step back and cleared his throat.


    "So what''s the n of the day for tomorrow?" I asked, remembering what he said to the girls.


    "I figured we could go on a pic and then go for a swim at thiske in a wooded area of town," he


    exined.


    "We?" I asked curiously. He shrugged.


    "na, Anya, you, and me," he borated.


    "I didn''t think you would want to go. You were so ufortable around the orphanage and around the


    girls," I noted. He shrugged, his face looking more tired and defeated.


    "That''s because I know how each of their parents died. I had to confirm their deaths and ce the kids


    in a new home. Some of them had family members willing to take them in... but those kids are all alone.


    And I hate that there is nothing I can do about it except hope someone will adopt them. But I hate that I


    can''t give them a family. No body wants them... and no one should have to grow up with that thought,"


    he exined. "I feel like I failed them."


    "Well, poor Yana. She''s taking care of all those kids by herself," I noted. "How did she end up being the


    only one?" I asked.


    "She''s windowed. Her husband died and she miscarried. She was about to give up on her life when


    she found out that no one was looking after these kids well. She threw herself into caring for them, and


    treats them like they''re her own kids. She shows them love, but I know that it won''t be enough for those


    kids," he exined.


    "That''s really sad," I said, more to myself than to him.


    "You can help her all you want now that you''re here. I''m sure the kids would love that," he said. I sighed


    and moved back towards the door.


    "I promised to say goodnight to the girls... but thank you," I smiled at him. I went back to the girls'' room


    to find them dressed and waiting. I smiled and pulled the covers over each of them, tucking them in and


    kissing them goodnight. I turned off the lights and soft snoring soon followed. I mentally smiled at how


    tired they were.. As far as I knew, this was probably the most exciting day of their life. I closed the door


    softly behind me to find Elias waiting on the other side.


    "They''re asleep," I said quietly as I moved away from the door and into my room. Once I sat on the


    bed, I noticed how truly worried Elias looked. I stood again and ced a gentle hand on his arm. I tried


    to ignore the butterflies running amuck in my stomach. The feeling I had when he touched me seemed


    to be getting stronger with time.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked, worried myself. He took my hand and led me back to his room. I was starting


    to get nervous. We went inside, closing the door behind us, and he sat me down on the couch before


    he began pacing in front of me. "Elias," I said quietly, trying to bring his attention back to me. He looked


    at me and sighed.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    "I have to tell you something," he said. I was starting to get really nervous now. "I''m not really a good


    person. Hell, I''m hardly a person at all," he said in a rush.


    "Whoa, Eli, slow down. What are you saying?" I asked. Even though Elias seemed like am okay guy, I


    was still hoping for a way out of here. This town, although it had it''s moments today, was bat-shit crazy.


    Elias struggled with words before he sighed in defeat.


    "Nothing, never mind... Forget I said anything. Goodnight, Nova," he said defeatedly. I knew whatever it


    was, was really eating him because he didn''t even call me cupcake this time. I hesitantly stood before I


    left. I don''t know what that was about, but I had an idea. I stopped at the door and looked back at Elias.


    "Eli?" I asked sweetly. He looked up to me hopefully. "I don''t think the girls have swimsuits. Would you


    mind taking them tomorrow? I''m make a basket while you''re gone," I offered. He smiled tiredly and


    nodded.


    "Sounds good," he said simply. I turned and went back to my room. Tomorrow would be try number


    three.


    ~


    The next morning, I waited until I saw Elias drive off with the girls before I snuck downstairs and into his


    office. I searched around his deck.


    Bingo.


    I found andline phone. Who even usesndlines still anyway? I put the phone to my ear and heard


    the glorious dial tone. I quickly punched in the number and waited.


    "Hello?" the groggy voice answered.


    "What the hell are you still doing asleep at ten am, Nn?" I asked, slightly irritated that he wasn''t up


    yet.


    "Nova?" he asked, confused. I rolled my eyes.


    "Duh!" I said in a hushed tone.


    "I spent the night at Mason''s ce and... wait, how are you calling me?" he asked.


    "I found a phone," I answered simply. "Not the point right now. Did you find Rigor Moon on a map?" I


    asked.


    "No, I didn''t. So I called Mason. Luckily he knew exactly where it was. He said that was the easy part


    though. Mason says that the town''s leader is a power hungry maniac. I think you''re in a lot of trouble


    there, Nova. We''re working on a way to try and get you out of there, I promise," Nn exined. I


    sighed in relief.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "Is that Nova?" I heard Mason''s voice in the background. There was shuffling of the phone before I


    heard Mason again. "Look, Nova, for now, just y along with whatever Elias says. As long as he has


    you locked in that house, it''s going to be difficult to get you out of there, but my father is working on


    something," Mason promised. I felt twin tears leak from my eyes.


    "I miss you," I said quietly. They other line was quiet for a moment.


    "I miss you too. I''ming for you, I promise. I''m not going to let anything happen to you," Mason said


    with such conviction that I believed him. I may not of felt the same things with Mason that I felt with


    Elias, but he was my first love, and I still loved him. I sniffled and brushed my tears away.


    "Elias is taking me to someke in the woods in town today, but there will be two little girls with us," I


    exined.


    "For now, just y along and be careful. Elias is powerful and dangerous. We''ll figure something out,"


    Mason promised. The door swung open and I froze.


    "What are you doing?" Peyton asked usingly.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    I was frozen with the phone to my ear. I was caught red handed. I heard the dial tone and knew Mason


    hung up. I quickly masked my fear and put a smile on my face.


    "Ordering a pizza from Dominos," I lied. "I kind of promised I would make a pic basket, but honestly,


    all I want is some pizza," I continued easily. Peyton rolled his eyes and walked closer to me.


    "Dominos doesn''t deliver here. We have a Pizza Hut in town though," he said, gently moving me aside


    and dialing the number before handing the phone back to me. I mentally let out a huge sigh of relief.


    That was way too close. I started ordering pizzas when I realized that I didn''t know what Elias liked.


    Peyton seemed to realize that too when I froze up. He held his hand out for the phone. I gave it to him,


    not feeling like fighting him on just telling me.


    "And ten morerge deep dish meat-lovers pizza with cheesy crust and anotherrge cheese pizza,"


    he added. My eyes widened at the amount. Eleven pizza''s for four people? Surly that wasn''t necessary.


    "To the Alpha''s house," Peyton said before he hung up.


    Alpha? Where have I heard that before?


    Peyton squinted his eyes at me in a scrutinizing way. It made me ufortable.


    "Next time, ask someone first," he said. I nodded quickly. I went back to my room and looked through


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    my drawers before I found a teal blue bikini. It was a little too revealing for my taste, but it was cute. I


    pulled my hair back into a ponytail and put a pair of high-waisted blue jean shorts and a simple white


    tank top on over the swimsuit. I stuck my feet in a pair of converse and sighed.


    "Nova," Elias said from my doorway. I looked at him surprised. I didn''t even hear hime in. He


    looked at me confused. "What''s wrong?" he asked. I blushed and shook my head.


    "Nothing, I just... Nothing," I stammered. Elias came in and took my hand gently. I felt the tingles run up


    my arm, making me blush even more.


    He''s dangerous...


    "Peyton told me you ordered pizza for our pic," he said. I nodded and averted my eyes.


    "Yeah I did... I think they should be here soon, but I don''t know since Peyton ordered like a hundred of


    them," I exaggerated. "Where are the girls?" I asked.


    "They''re downstairs waiting on us and the pizza apparently," he chuckled. He paused and looked off as


    his eyes zed over before he looked back to me. "Now they''re just waiting on us," he said. I nodded


    and started for the stairs. I walked down to see the twins bouncing in the bar seats with a huge basket


    in between them. They smiled and hopped down when they saw us. na started pulling me towards


    the door as Anya grabbed Elias and did the same. We got in the SUV with the basket full of pizza and


    took off. Elias stopped the SUV in a parking lot before we went the rest of the way on foot. We walked


    through the woods until we got to the clearing. It was so beautiful that it made me stop. There was a


    decent sizedke and the lush green grass was low. The trees around the area almost created a


    perfect circle. Elias set out the nket and began pulling out the boxes of pizza. The girls sat on the


    nket obediently. I sat as well and we all ate, although I wasn''t all that hungry. My conversation with


    Mason kept running through my head. The girls went to y in theke.

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    "So what do you think?" Elias asked me. I was about to reply when we heard a growling. It was so loud


    that the girls got out of theke and sat in between Elias and I. Elias turned towards the noise and


    crouched defensively. I was shocked when a growl escaped his throat with even more ferocity. Arge


    wolf emerged from the tree line. Right after, another appeared. Three stalked closer to us before there


    was Mason, dressed in nothing but a pair of basketball shorts.


    "Mason?" I said happy and confused at the same time. I took a step towards him before Elias pushed


    me back.


    "Stay behind me," Elias growled. The wind was knocked out of me by the push. I gasped and rolled


    over to my stomach. I coughed and tried to catch my breath as I got to my feet. I saw the twins


    cowering on the nket. If Mason and Elias were there, I knew the girls would be okay. I ran.


    "Nova!" Elias yelled. The growling turned into snarling. I didn''t look back. The branches scratched me


    but I kept pushing. A pair of arms wrapped around my waist and I took a deep breath. I was ready to


    scream but a hand covered my mouth. I thrashed and fought.


    "Nova! Nova! Calm down! It''s me! It''s just me!" the voice said. I stopped fighting and turned to see


    Mason. I sighed in relief and hugged him tightly.


    "Oh, thank God," I breathed. Mason held me in a vice grip as he kissed my head. He pulled away and


    looked over his shoulder.


    "We have to get you out of here now," he said quickly. He took my hand and we were running. I could


    see the parking lot before I was ripped away from Mason. My back hit a tree, making pain shoot up my


    spine. I gasped as I hit the floor. There was a growling that vibrated the forest floor and arge gray


    wolf. I gasped as my vision began to get clearer. Mason was coughing on his butt.


    "M-Mason," I tried to say, but I couldn''t hear my own voice. The gray wolf looked bloodthirsty. I knew


    what he wanted and I couldn''t let it happen. Using all the strength I had left, I pushed myself forward


    and over Mason''s body. I sobbed and waited for the pain but it never came. Well, at least not in the way


    I expected. I screamed as teeth sunk into my shoulder. I was yanked up by my arm and held close to


    someone. I knew that feeling...


    Elias.


    I felt myself sobbing and going limp but I didn''t understand. I wasn''t in control of my body anymore.


    Nothing was making sense.


    "... she''s my mate, you can''t take her from me," Elias growled.


    "She''s not your to take. She has a life and a family. Thest thing she wants is to be holed away to give


    you pups for the rest of her life," Mason snarled. Eliasughed, but it wasn''t light and musical like it


    normally was. It was dark and there was no humor in it.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "She is mine. Mine. I don''t care if you do have Alpha blood. It''s no match to me. I swear to God if you


    try to take my mate away from me again, I''ll kill you," Elias growled. I put my hand to my neck only to


    pull it away and find it covered with blood. I started hyperventting as everything became unfocused


    for a moment.


    "She called me," Mason snapped at him. Wow, I just got thrown under the bus. Elias stopped and


    looked at me. I felt his grip tighten. "When shees out of shock, she''s going to hate you for marking


    her," Mason said. Everything started getting blurry. Mason growled and turned to a wolf right in front of


    my eyes. I was hallucinating. I was set on the ground before Elias was the gray wolf from earlier. This


    wasn''t real. There''s no way this is real.

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    I woke with a pounding headache. Looking around, I was back in the bedroom in Elias'' house. I


    stretched my limbs to feel a dull pain in my shoulder. I touched it to find that it was bandaged. I was


    bitten.


    The wolves.


    Elias... Mason.


    The book...


    I almost forgot all about that book. It made sense, why he wanted me to read it, but I didn''t understand.


    Werewolves didn''t exist. It wasn''t possible.


    She''s my mate...


    Elias'' words echoed in my head. He must have been the one who bit me. ording to the book, he


    marked me. I felt a rush of tears flow down my cheeks. I normally wasn''t this emotional. I covered my


    mouth with my hand to try and stop my sobs but I couldn''t. The door creaked open and Elias walked in


    looking like a dog with his tail between his legs.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Nova," he said unsurely.


    "S-Stay away from me," I stammered. I was being pulled to Elias more than before, but I was scared.


    I was scared of him.


    "Nova, if you would just listen," he tried again.


    "You kidnapped me and kept me here against my will. The least you could''ve done was tell me the


    truth. Y-You''re a monster. You were going to kill Mason," I said. He sighed and stayed close to the door.


    "He was going to take you from me," he tried to defend himself.


    "I asked him to! You kidnapped me, or did we forget that part?" I snapped back. We both took a breath.


    "You''re my mate... I''d do anything to protect you and I would never hurt you," he promised. He looked


    so hurt. I felt bad for being the cause of that. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked away from


    him.


    "I never asked for this. I never asked for any of this, and if that book was true, I can''t be Luna. I can''t be


    in charge of an entire town of werewolves. All I know about werewolves is what I read in that book. A-


    And it can''t be real. It''s just not!" I rambled. I was losing my mind; that was the only exnation. None


    of this was real. Any moment now I would wake up at home in my bed with my dad and my brother.


    "Nova, it''s real. What you saw yesterday was real. I''m a werewolf. I''m the Alpha of Rigor Moon. Hell,


    the whole town is made up of werewolves. Well, there are some human mates, but the majority is


    Lycan. You are my mate. You are meant for me and I am meant for you. You are my everything and


    you are the future Luna. You belong here, with me. No one is fucking taking you away from me. Do you


    not understand that? I will kill anyone who tries," he yelled. I flinched and watched him work into a rage.


    I wanted tofort him for some God-knows-why reason, but I was also scared of him.


    "Please leave me alone," I whispered. He only growled in response before he closed his eyes and took


    a deep breath.


    "Pull another stunt like that again and the people you love will start dying... I guarantee it. There was a


    reason I didn''t want you to see your family, but you didn''t want to listen. I will die before someone takes


    you away from me, know that," he said before he left the room, mming the door behind him. I


    released a shay breath before the sobs began racking my body again. What was I supposed to do? I


    knew Elias wasn''t bluffing about killing my family. I wanted to get out of here, but my gut was telling me


    that I wouldn''t be able to leave Elias. I couldn''t. I was irreversibly stuck and I knew it. Beast or no beast,


    I had feelings for him. I didn''t want to, but I knew I did. This was going to be a problem.


    ~


    I spent the day in my room under the covers. I guess you would say I was sulking. There was a light


    knock on the door a bitter and Taylor walked in with a tray. I kept my eyes down as he brought the


    tray to the bedside.


    "I''m not hungry," I whispered. I felt tired and defeated. I knew that Taylor was a werewolf too, but I


    couldn''t bring myself to be scared of him. He was more of a big teddy bear. Plus, I didn''t see him shift.


    "What so now you''re not going to eat?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. He sighed and set the


    food on the bedside table.


    "Are you afraid of us?" Taylor asked. I hesitated before I shook my head.


    "I''m not scared of you at all... but I''m terrified of Elias and I don''t get it. I''m weirdly attracted to him but I


    don''t want to be. I just want to go home," I said, my tears blurring my eyes once again. Taylor sighed.


    "Nova... I don''t know what to tell you. Elias was... he''s not normally as nice as he''s beentely. You


    brought that out of him. You make him good, but you pushed him too far, Nova. He loves you, and


    that''s all he wants to do is love you. The guy doesn''t know how to love you in a sense that won''t scare


    you off. He tried his best and you just kept pushing. So now we''re here," he tried to exin.


    "I don''t want to be here," I whispered even quieter. Taylor sighed before he left. I didn''t eat the food.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    I didn''t see Elias for the next two weeks. I didn''t know if I was happy or upset by that fact. I could hear


    him every once and a while outside my door, but he never came in. Taylor came to check on me every


    day, but besides that, no one bothered me.


    I woke up with a jolt. Something was wrong. Taylor entered the room with my breakfast and set it on my


    bedside table like he always did. A sort of bubbling burn started in my stomach, making me


    ufortable. I ced a hand over my stomach as the burning spread. I coughed ufortably and


    shifted in the bed. Taylor covered his nose and backed up quickly.


    "Shit," he said loudly. I was ufortable and confused. I looked at him before I groaned. The fire was


    slowly spreading through my body, making me sweat.


    "Taylor," I groaned. I had no idea what was happening. Elias burst through the door growling. Minnie


    was following close behind him. She pulled his arm and Taylor blocked Elias'' path. He was growling


    and fighting, but his eyes were on me the entire time. I groaned and arched against the bed as the fire


    coursed through my veins. I wanted something to douse the fire and I knew what it was.


    Elias.


    I wanted him to touch me and bury me underneath him, but at the same time, my brain was telling me


    that it was wrong... that I should hate him... that I should be repulsed by him, but I wasn''t. I wanted


    him... I needed him.


    "Elias," I moaned. I wanted to take it back. It was like I wasn''t in control of my body. I was just watching


    from the distance. I wanted to stop myself, but the fire was controlling me. Elias was fighting against


    Taylor and Minnie. A few more people showed up to restrain him. I didn''t even know what was going


    on.


    "Minnie, get her out of here now!" Taylor growled at his mate. She picked me up off the bed. Her touch


    burned me. I yelled and tried to push away from her. "Minnie!" Taylor yelled. I fell onto the bed and


    moaned for Elias again.


    "I can''t. It''s hurting her," she snapped back in a panic.


    "Elias, no!" Taylor yelled. Next thing I knew, Elias was touching me. His lips were on my neck and his


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    body covered mine. I sighed in relief and found myself running my hands up his chest and onto his


    shoulders. His touch was dousing my fire. My body was slowly cooling off with his help, but my brain


    was still foggy. After a moment, he was ripped from me and the fire began again. I whimpered and


    called for Elias again. I needed him. Minnie scooped me up again.


    "Get her out of here!" Taylor yelled again. Minnie''s touch burned me, but there was a wind and then


    darkness. Minnie was running, I realized. We came up to a cabin deep in the woods.


    "Elias... where''s Elias?" I asked, in pain. Minnie sighed and disappeared for a second. She came back


    and began stripping my clothes off of me. Her touch burned but I was more preupied with where I


    was and how far away Elias was. She carried me into the bathroom and set me in the tub. The water


    was freezing. I immediately tried to hop out but Minnie held me down.


    "No, no, Nova. Stay. It''ll cool off your heat some," she said. I whimpered as the icy water covered my


    body, creating goosebumps. I wanted Elias. I needed Elias. Him touching me earlier only proved that.


    "I want Elias," I whined. Minnie sighed and pushed my hair out of my face.


    "No, you don''t, or you wouldn''t if you weren''t in heat. If you mate with Elias out of heat, you''ll regret it.


    You''re guaranteed to get pregnant and you''ll always resent him. You won''t forgive him... or yourself,"


    she said with a sigh. I calmed a bit as the water cooled my scorching skin. "Why do you hate him?" she


    asked after a while. I sighed and closed my eyes.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    "I don''t hate him; I''m just scared of him, or more urately, I''m scared of what he''ll do and who he''ll


    hurt to keep me with him," I tried to exin, gaining more control over my body by the second.


    "He''s been searching for you his whole life, you know. Taylor and I found each other the moment we


    shifted and were able to detect our mate. Elias, being an Alpha, was starting to lose hope that he even


    had a mate, or that you were even alive. He''s 27 years old. Normally, if one of us doesn''t find their


    mate by 25, especially an Alpha, they pick a stand-in mate. They choose someone to be with to keep


    from going mad from loneliness," Minnie exin. That had me curious.


    "Elias didn''t choose a stand-in?" I asked a little hopefully. Minnie hesitated, which gave me my answer.


    "He did, actually. Her name is Kendra. You''ve probably even seen her a few times. You have to


    understand, as an Alpha; Elias had more pressure on him to have a mate. He needed a Luna. He


    chose her. She''s headstrong and beautiful, but then again, so are you. But at the end of the day, you''re


    his mate. He loves you," she tried to reassure me. I tried to push down the feeling of jealousy bubbling


    up, but it was too strong. I felt angry. I saw dots swimming in my vision before everything went ck.


    ~


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    I barely remember those two weeks. All I remember was the unbearable heat, ice baths, and Minnie


    trying to force-feed me. I was probably permanently winkled from all the ice baths. Finally, it ended. The


    heat was gone.


    I woke feeling sore and groggy. All I could remember was the burn coursing through my veins.


    "There you are. Feeling better?" Minnie asked me. I groaned and nodded as I held my head. I was


    probably dehydrated. I had a pounding headache. Minnie must have been thinking the same thing


    because she handed me a bottle of water. I gratefully chugged it.


    "Where are we?" I asked confused. It urred to me that I didn''t actually know where we were.


    "Far away from the house on the boarder of the pack''snd," she answered. "If you''re ready, the car is


    packed up," she offered. I nodded and stood slowly. I noticed I was sore and exhausted. My whole


    body felt like I¡¯d just run a marathon. She helped me to the car before we drove away. My fuzzy brain


    didn''t remember it taking so long to get to the cabin, but it was a good two-hour drive back to the


    house. I walked in feeling tired and drained. I knew I didn''t owe him anything but I felt like I needed to


    see Elias. At first, I ignored them, then my body acted on its own. I was confused myself. I pushed


    open the door to his office without knocking and froze. Elias was kissing on some girl''s neck. She


    giggled in hisp. When I walked in, they both froze.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    "N-Nova, what are you doing here?" Elias stammered, pushing the girl off hisp gently much to her


    dismay. She wasn''t even ugly. She had long, shiny brown hair and sun-kissed skin. Her eyes were a


    very green hazel. She was tall and skinny and beautiful with legs to die for...


    And then there was me.


    I felt hurt and betrayed.


    "I''m learning what mates are like. Isn''t it just fascinating," I said sarcastically before turning on my


    heels.


    "Nova, wait!" he said. Against myself, I stopped. I felt the tears welling up, but I held them back.


    "Kendra please," Elias muttered to the girl. That felt like twisting the knife. He chose her, not me.


    "No, allow me. I wouldn''t want to interrupt anything. My apologies Alpha, I''ll remember to knock next


    time," I said bitterly. I ran out of the office and outside. I don''t know where I was going but I needed to


    get away. I''d had enough of this. I was sore and tired. It literally felt like I''d just been dragged through


    hell, only toe back to this. I pushed myself to run faster as I let my tears go. I cried as I pushed


    myself further away from the house.


    "Nova," Elias said as he grabbed my arm. I looked at him as my tears fell.


    "What more do you want from me?! Just leave me alone," I cried. It was quiet for a moment. I used the


    opportunity to pull my arm out of his grip.


    "I can''t leave you alone; you''re my mate," he said as if it were just that simple. I huffed a breath with a


    sarcastic smile before I rolled my eyes.


    "Is that what we are? I couldn''t tell from all the lying, threats, and cheating. So why don''t you just let me


    go then since I''m clearly not needed or wanted here," I said quietly. I had hoped that maybe I was


    jumping to conclusion. I sighed and calmed down briefly. "What did you do when I was gone?" I asked


    softly. Elias didn''t answer right away which was as good as him telling me. I held up a hand,


    immediately stopping him. "And spare me the lies," I added.


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    "You went into heat, which essentially puts me into something simr. In order to keep from hunting you


    down and finishing the mating process, I... I had Kendra keep me... preupied," he tried to exin


    delicately, but I got the picture. He had sex with her pretty much the entire two weeks I was gone. That


    hurt worse than seeing her in hisp. I squeezed my eyes shut as the tears started falling on their own


    ord. Elias grabbed my hand again. I quickly yanked my hand away.


    "Just stop! Get the fuck away from me! Or better yet, just reject me. That''ll probably be less painful than


    what you''ve already done. I don''t want to see you. While I was practically burning alive, you were


    having sex with Kendra! Now, I may not know much about werewolves or mates, but even I know that


    you betrayed me," I said bitterly.


    "I''m not rejecting you," he said sternly. I grunted and threw my hands in the air in frustration.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    "Then why the hell am I here?! You say you need me but you obviously don''t. You have Kendra. You


    always have, right? You took me from my family, you hurt my boyfriend, you threaten the life of the


    people I love and put me through hell and for what? To im you do everything for me? If that were


    true, you wouldn''t have slept with her! You bit me; you put me through this hell and did whatever the


    hell you wanted in the meantime. I want to just go home and pretend none of this ever happened. I


    hate you, Elias Madsen... I really do," I sobbed. I regretted my words as soon as I said them, but at the


    same time, I meant it somewhat. I hated Elias for what he did to me... but I didn''t hate him, even as


    much as I wanted to. I was hurt. Elias froze and just stared at me. A look of pain crossed his face. I


    knew I hurt him too, and a part of me wanted him to know how I felt... but therger part ached with the


    thought of hurting him. It only made me mad at myself. I grunted and puffed out a breath.


    "I hate feeling this way. I want to hate you. I want to w your face out and leave and nevere


    back, but I can''t. You and this stupid mate bond," I ranted. "I, Nova Moore, re-... reje-... God, I can''t


    even say it anymore. Do me a favor and put me out of my misery. Let me go home," I asked. I hated


    that I couldn''t even bare the thought of leaving him. I didn''t want to feel like this anymore.


    "Nova, you''re being ridiculous and emotional," Elias said, dismissing me.


    "Am I, Elias? You chose Kendra before you met me and you still do apparently," I said. He shook his


    head.


    "No, I choose you," he argued. I couldn''t take it anymore. I broke down in sobs again. I turned away


    from him and started walking away.


    "Where are you going?" he asked.


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    "Home," I said over my shoulder.


    "You don''t know where you''re going," he reminded me. I only shrugged and kept walking. I walked


    towards the trees and quickly found myself lost, but I didn''t care. I just kept walking. Eventually, my


    crying eased and I stopped. I just stopped. What exactly was my n? Get lost and hope that I


    somehow find my way home? It was getting dark. I sat against a tree and sighed.


    "I''m sorry," I heard from in front of me. I looked up in surprise to see Elias.


    "Have you been following me this whole time?" I asked. He only shrugged.


    "You didn''t think I was going to let you wander off by yourself to get lost in the woods, did you?" he


    said, sitting across from me. I sighed and leaned my head against the tree. I just couldn''t catch a break.


    "Elias..." I said. I wasn''t sure what I was going to say. At this point, I was just tired.


    "I know I shouldn''t have... done what I did with Kendra. It was stupid of me and you''re right. That''s not


    how mates are supposed to act. I know that nothing I do or say will change what I''ve done. You are


    everything to me, and I do chose you, Nova," he said. I sighed and closed my eyes, giving up.

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    "I don''t want to fight with you anymore, Elias. I''m tired of fighting," I said tiredly. I felt his hand over mine


    and squeezed it back. For once, I didn''t fight the bond. I relished in the feeling of his hand on mine. I


    enjoyed the tingles and butterflies and the sensation of feeling safe and protected.


    "I don''t want to fight either. I know I haven''t gone about this the right way, and for that I am sorry. I''ll be


    the perfect mate, I promise," he said. I chuckled and shook my head.


    "No you won''t," I stopped him. "Regardless of if you''re a werewolf or not, you''re still a man. And men


    make mistakes," I said. Elias picked me up easily and ced me in hisp. His hand rubbed over my


    back,forting me. I felt like the world couldn''t touch us at this moment.


    "I don''t want to hurt you, Nova. You''re not a prisoner here," he said softly.


    "Then don''t hurt me," I whispered, sitting up just enough to look at him. His hand caressed my cheek,


    making me sigh. My eyes fluttered at just the touch as I leaned into his hand.


    "You''re touch... I crave it more every day," I admitted quietly. Elias smiled softly and rubbed his thumb


    over my cheek.


    "I love you, Nova," he said genuinely. I opened my eyes to see his eyes boring into me intensely. My


    breath caught as he stared at me. I found myself inching forward. I couldn¡¯t stop myself even though I


    wanted to. I sighed in relief as his warm, soft lips pressed against mine. I melted into him as his arms


    surrounded me. It was only him. All I could think about was him. I tangled my hands in his hair. His


    body hovered over mine. I don''t even remember lying down. His hands roamed my body eagerly. He


    broke away from the kiss first, but my hungry lips searched for his again.


    "Nova, we have to stop," he breathed. I tried to bring his lips back to mine, but he resisted.


    "No, please," I asked in a whimper before I could stop myself. He groaned before he let go all together.


    "We''ll take it slow," he said. "I''ve already scared you so much. I don''t want you to resent me anymore


    than you already do," he said. I reached out and touched his cheek gently.


    "I can''t bring myself to resent you anymore. As much as you''ve done, Elias... I don''t hate you. I want to


    but I can''t," I tried to exin.


    "Can we go back now?" he asked. I simply nodded.


    "We can go home now," I agreed. He stood and offered me a hand. I took it and stood next to him. He


    didn''t let go of my hand and I didn''t want him to. We strolled back through the forest at a leisurely pace.


    It wasfortable and quiet. We''de to an understanding of sorts. Minnie and Taylor were waiting


    outside for us. Minnie hugged me as soon as we stepped up to the house.


    "Are you okay?" she asked. I nodded and hugged her back.


    "Just tired," I said. Elias brought me back to him gently and kissed my head. I wanted to melt into him


    again. If I were honest with myself, I loved the feeling of Elias'' touch. Elias brought me back inside. He


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    took me up to my room and sat me down on the bed. There were no words exchanged. Elias simply


    took off my shoes and ced them aside. He was on his knee in front of me. He took my hand in his


    and kissed it.


    "Goodnight, my love," he said gently. I felt a longing feeling fill me at the thought of him leaving. I was


    almost tempted to ask him to stay, but I resisted. I was done fighting with him, but that doesn''t mean I


    was going to let him in fully right of the bat. What he did was still wrong, and he would pay for it as


    much as I could tolerate.


    "Goodnight," I said softly, standing. He gave me onest longing look before he left, closing the door


    behind him. The pull to follow him and never leave his side was strong, so I threw myself into getting


    ready for bed. I finally fell asleep dreaming of Elias.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    I woke feeling a soft touch on my cheek. I smiled gently as my eyes fluttered open. I saw Elias lying


    next to me and caressing me.


    "Good morning, Cupcake," he said softly. I chuckled lightly. I never thought I would miss him saying


    that, but I did.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked. He chuckled.


    "I couldn''t wait for you to wake up," he said simply. I sighed before I sat up.


    "I''m awake," I said tiredly. "What are we doing?" I asked.


    "Nothing," he answered. "I want to know everything about you. So today, I learn. We won''t have to go


    anywhere," he said. I was slowly trying to process what was going on. Suddenly, I was wrapped in


    Elias'' arms.


    "What do you want to know?" I asked snuggling closer to him.


    "Favorite color," he asked.


    "Blue," I said automatically. That was only the first of a series of a million questions. Some were


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    pointless, but some were actually interesting. Elias always answered his own question for me so I knew


    his answer as well. The questioning went on for days, literally. It was incredibly intimate. We didn''t see


    anyone during our intimate time. Taylor, Minnie, everyone scattered. It was just the two of us, and I


    loved it. It was what we needed to get closer... and we were. Sure we didn''t start off the best, but things


    were getting better.


    "Chicken or beef?" he asked as he cooked.


    And yes... I said cook. He was actually pretty decent. I moved around him to the refrigerator. I pulled


    out the grape juice and grabbed two sses.


    "Fish," I said.


    "Fish? It has no substance at all. You could literally eat it for hours and never get full. Beef... all the


    way. Ten minutes and you''re stuffed," he said. I smiled and shook my head as I ced the sses on


    the table.


    "Um, eternal sunshine or rain," I asked. I had been asking a few questions of my own.


    "Sun... rain would get way too glum and gloomy," he answered. I shrugged and agreed. I would rather


    have sunshine, too. Elias kissed my cheek before he set the food down next to the drinks. Granted,


    now our questions were getting a bit more pointless but it was good to know things about him that I


    pictured no one else knew. We ate dinner before we went back to his room. And yes, I said his room. It


    was my pit stop before bed. I sat criss cross in his bed and yed with the nkets.


    "How did you get in contact with Alpha Peter''s son?" he asked. I looked at him confused.


    "Who? Mason?" I asked. He nodded. So Peter was an Alpha too...


    Just great...


    "Pizza," I said suddenly, confusing Elias. "I''d just finished talking to him on the phone when Peyton


    walked in and ordered the pizza for our pic," I said honestly. He hesitated as he yed with my


    hand.


    "Do you still want to leave?" he asked unsurely. I stayed quiet as I really thought about it.


    Did I?

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    My neck tingled where Elias marked me. I tried to imagine how my life would be if I left and went back


    home. I would never see Elias again. That thought made me ufortable but I knew that it was just


    the mate bond. In all honesty, I had no idea what I wanted to do anymore.


    "I don''t know," I answered honestly. I held Elias'' hand in mine and yed with his fingers. I liked the


    feeling of warmth and protection I felt. I shook my head.


    "I don''t think I could leave right now. Granted, we didn''t start off the best and I miss my family like crazy,


    I don''t think I could take it if I never saw you again, ever. I don''t know if it''s the mate bond or Stockholm


    syndrome, but I don''t understand my feelings for you. And when you kissed me... I never felt a kiss like


    that before. It literally took my breath away and I didn''t want it to end, but I didn''t want to get closer to


    you either because you hurt me... and I don''t want to get hurt again," I tried to exin. His hand pulled


    out of mine and went to my cheek.


    "I''m not trying to hurt you," he assured me. I sighed and looked at the sheets before I prepared my next


    question.


    "Why was it so easy for you to sleep with her when I went into heat?" I asked quietly. His movement


    stopped before he sighed and held my hand again. He knew exactly what I was talking about.


    "Because I''d been with her before. Kendra was going to be Luna before I met you. As far as mates go,


    I thought I missed my opportunity to be with you. I thought you were dead. I''m 27 years old and I didn''t


    find you until 6 months ago. That''s not normal for Lycan. When you went into heat, I couldn''t control


    myself. I wanted you so bad... but I knew I couldn''t have you because you would hate me. Kendra


    offered... a solution, and I was too blinded by you heat to argue," he exined. I''m not going to lie...


    that hurt.


    "How am I supposed to know that you won''t do it again? I''m just going to have to hope?" I asked. I


    knew my face was probably turning red. He pulled my chin up and made me look at him.


    "Because I learn from my mistakes, and I don''t want to risk losing you again. I care about you, Novalyn.


    I love you," he said.


    I believed him... and that''s what scared me. He moved to kiss me and I turned my cheek at thest


    second.


    "Is Kendra still... do you still talk to her?" I asked. He hesitated.


    "She''s in the pack, Nova. I have no choice... plus, she''s a dear friend of mine. I''ve known her for a long


    time," he said. I felt irritated by the thought.


    "Why?" I asked automatically.


    "Nova," he sighed. I shook my head and he stopped.


    "No, don''t bother, Eli. I''m going to go to bed," I said defeatedly. Every time we would make stride,


    something brought us right back. It was tragic really because every time, I thought we were actually


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    getting somewhere. One-step forward, two steps back.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    The next morning, I didn''t wake up with Elias in the room, like he had been for thest week. I guess


    out intimate time was over. I should have known it was too good tost. He wasn''t in the house


    anywhere. I walked downstairs to see a guy sitting on the couch. I looked at him curiously. When he


    saw me, he stood and bowed.


    "Luna," he said respectfully. I walked in the living room.


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    "Um, no, don''t do that. I''m Nova... just Nova," I said. "Who are you?" I asked.


    "I''m Darius. The Alpha sent me to watch after you while he is away on pack business," he exined. I


    thought Peyton normally babysat me when Elias was away. I guess after the ''pizza? surprise-it''s-


    actually-Mason'' incident, Peyton wasn''t watching me anymore.


    "You can rx," I said. He sat on the couch and faced the TV. I turned and headed for the kitchen,


    making Darius jump to his feet again immediately.


    "Luna, where are you going?" he asked. Darius followed me into the kitchen. I ignored him and made


    something to eat for myself. Minnie came down to the kitchen with Rhett. I cooed over him and held


    him while Minnie made him a bottle.


    "So who all lives here?" I asked out of curiosity. I knew this was Elias'' house, but he had a few select


    people actually living here... me being one. Minnie shrugged and cradled Rhett as she fed him a bottle.


    "Well, obviously you, the Alpha, Taylor, Rhett, Kendra and me," she answered.


    "What? What do you mean? I thought this was Eli''s house," I asked. She nodded.


    "It is," she said before she left. I didn''t know what to say anymore. Sure, I''d seen her around before the


    whole ''heat'' incident, but I didn''t know that she lived here. I turned to Darius. I was fuming. He should


    have mentioned something about that.


    "Tell Elias to get his ass home... right now," I growled at him He looked at me shocked.


    "Luna, I-I don''t think-"


    "Now!" I said before I took the rest of my food up to my room. I ate angrily and set the te aside as I


    waited impatiently. Half an hourter, Elias burst in the room looking around worried.


    "What''s wrong? Are you hurt?" Elias rambled, looking me over worried. I stood with a re and my


    arms crossed. Words could not describe how angry I was. Elias was slowly getting it. "Uh oh... what did


    I do this time?" he asked, stepping back.


    "You don''t think it would have been important to tell me that the person that keeps getting in between


    us fucking lives here. She lives here! Really, Elias? She is fucking living here?" I asked irritated, raising


    my voice.


    "Nova, you''re overreacting," he said. My eyes widened. If there was one thing you should never tell an


    angry woman, it was that she''s overreacting and that she needs to calm down.


    "Overreacting?!" You slept with her when I went into heat. If you want me to believe that you won''t do it


    again, you''ll get rid of her. I want her out," I seethed.


    "There''s no need to be jealous, cupcake. Kendra has been living here for two years," he said. That was


    an insult to injury. All this time...


    "You didn''t think that that would be a problem when I got here?" I asked incredulously.  "I want her


    gone," I snapped.


    "That''s not going to happen, Nova. At least not immediately... this is her home," Elias said. I could feel


    the power behind his words but it only made angrier.


    "Screw you!" I yelled at him before I left the room.


    "Nova!" He called after me. I didn''t stop. I went downstairs and out the door. I walked through town and


    ended up at the orphanage. I went straight back to the ssroom where I knew Yana would be.


    "Nona!" na and Anya yelled in unison. They ran up to me and hugged me. I immediately smiled and


    hugged them back. Thest time I saw them wasn''t pleasant for them, I knew.


    "d to see you back, Luna," Yana said. I held up a hand as I sat with her.


    "Please, Yana... Just Nova," I said. I helped her with the kids for the rest of the day.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Elias didn''te around and I didn''t know if I was upset or grateful about that. I got to meet the other


    children I missedst time. It was dark before Elias came to get me. I said goodbye to the kids before I


    left with Elias. We were both quiet the whole way back. Neither of us said anything until I was back in


    my room. I stood next to my bed and crossed my arms. I knew he wasn''t going to leave without saying


    something first.


    "I don''t like it when you walk away from me," he said, breaking the silence.


    "Then don''t piss me off," I said, crossing my arms again. I sighed and stood. "I''m going to bed so you


    can leave now," I said quietly.


    "Don''t be upset with me, please. My wolf doesn''t like it," he said. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.


    "You''re so bipr! One minute you''re giving orders and the next, you''re... I don''t know. You know how I


    feel about Kendra and my feelings towards her are validated. Why would you keep her around after


    everything? You know how I feel about her," I asked, irritated.


    "Nova..." Elias started.


    "You know what, goodnight Elias," I said turning away from him.


    "Goodnight, Novalyn," he sighed and left, closing the door behind him. Great, he used my whole name.


    I sighed and tried to push away my feelings of hurt and betrayal. I hated this. I hated fighting with him. I


    changed and got in the bed. I shut my eyes tight and prayed for sleep.


    ~


    The next morning, Elias was already gone when I woke up. Darius took his ce. I clicked mindlessly


    through the TV channels in the living room. Minnie came down and joined me after a while. I only


    sighed and leaned my hand against my head. Darius went to get something to eat, leaving me with


    Minnie.


    "Don''t take it personally," Minnie tried tofort me. I only rolled my eyes and ran my hand through my


    copper red hair.


    "How could I not?" I muttered. Of course, she heard me anyway.


    "What''s this; girl''s day?" Kendra asked,ing into the living room.


    "Hardly," I sneered at her. She ignored me and turned her attention to Minnie.


    "Are we still on forter?" she asked. Minnie stood.


    "Oh shoot, I forgot to tell the babysitter. I''ll be right back," Minnie said. And now I was alone with the


    devil herself.


    "Luna," she sneered at me.


    "What is your problem? Besides not being able to keep your legs closed," I asked her sarcastically as I


    stood to face her. She was taller than me, but I wasn''t going to let her intimidate me.


    "My problem is you. Everything was fine until you showed up and ruined it. The only reason he cares


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    about you is because you''re his mate. If you weren''t, he would be with me," she red at me. I smirked


    back at her.


    "But I am his mate... so where does that leave you?" I asked rhetorically.


    "Apparently, still in his bed," she smirked back.


    "I want you gone," I red at her.


    "Likewise," she smirked before she attacked me. At the moment, it didn''t register to me that she was a


    werewolf as well until she overpowered me. She tackled me to the ground and punched me in the face.


    I tried to push her off of me but it was no use. Her supernaturally long and sharp nails extended and


    scratched over my shoulder and corbone as her other nails aimed for my throat.


    "Luna!" Darius said as Kendra was pulled off of me. I felt the blood pooling out of my wounds as I just


    before I closed my eyes.


    "I''ll go get the pack doctor," Darius said in a panic.


    "No... Don''t bother. If she wants him, she can have him. I won''t be a problem anymore," I said


    defeatedly. I heard a whimpering before a wolf licked my hand. I guess Darius shifted into his wolf.


    Maybe this would make things easier for Elias if I just disappeared. I rxed and didn''t fight


    unconsciousness when it came for me.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    "Nova, please wake up," I heard Elias beg quietly. His thumb rubbed soothing circles over my hand. I


    pulled my hand out of his and kept my eyes closed.


    "Go away," I said hoarsely.


    "Nova?" he asked. I sighed and blinked my eyes open. I groaned as I tried to move. My shoulder and


    cor hurt from where Kendra scratched me.


    "This is your fault, Elias. Just leave me alone. I don''t want to see you. I don''t want to be with you," I


    said. Some was a lie, but I wanted all of it to be true. I wish I didn''t care about him like I did. I felt tears


    prick my eyes so I looked away from him. Darius was still a wolf. He whined and put his head in myp.


    Elias growled at him, making him move away from me. I red at Elias.


    "Stop it! You have no im over me. I don''t even want you here right now," I yelled at him. I winced as


    my mark started burning. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.


    "Who did this?" he asked softly. I rolled my eyes.


    "Who do you think? You wanted to keep her around after I specifically asked you to get rid of her. But I


    guess the mate bond wasn''t strong enough for that. You didn''t care about me enough to let Kendra go


    and look what happened. This is your fault," I answered. Elias immediately started shaking his head.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "No... she wouldn''t do this," he denied. Of course he didn''t believe me. I felt so defeated and tired.


    "Of course you wouldn''t believe me over your precious Kendra. How could you take her side? She did


    this to me and you don''t even believe me. There''s no way that we''re mates because if the roles were


    reversed, I would believe you. I would believe you even if you were lying. You know what... just leave


    me alone. After I heal, I''m going home to my dad and my brother. And you''re not going to stop me," I


    said calmly.


    "You''re not leaving me," he growled.


    "You''ve lost all say, Elias. Get... out..." I red at him. He hesitated but eventually he left. The doctor


    came in and checked on me.


    Over the next few days, I was stuck on that hospital bed, but I swore that as soon as I was well


    enough, I was getting the hell out of dodge. I couldn''t take this anymore...


    Mate or not.


    Elias would check on me every now and then but we didn''t talk much. It hurt more than I was willing to


    admit. My wound eventually healed, leaving four w-line scars that started on my shoulder and ended


    right before my breast.


    I looked myself over in the bathroom mirror of the hospital room. My copper red hair was tangled in


    curls. My normally tan and vibrant skin was dull and paler than normal, making my freckles pop out


    even more. My hazel eyes were red from crying. I was sickly thin from not eating as much and I just


    looked terrible. I took a long, hot shower before I ran a brush through my hair and untangled it. I


    changed into the clothes Minnie brought for me. It was a simple white blouse and jeans. The jeans


    were a bit baggy on the waist but I would just have to deal. I left my, now untangled, hair down before I


    walked back into the hospital room. Elias was already standing there with a bouquet of roses, but all I


    felt was disappointment in him.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    "Ready to go?" he asked hopefully. I felt a pang in my chest but kept a straight face as I nodded. I


    waked out of the room with Elias behind me. I walked straight to the car that was pulled up for us and


    got in. Elias got in the driver''s side a momentter. He drove to the house before he parked and just let


    the car idle.


    "Nova, talk to me please. You haven''t said a word to me in two weeks," he begged. I stayed quiet and


    just opened the door. What was the point? He didn''t believe what I said anyway, or he wouldn''t listen.


    Talking wouldn''t solve anything. I walked to the house and pushed the door open. The lights suddenly


    flipped on as people popped out of random ces and yelled ''surprise''. There was a huge ''Wee


    Home!'' and ''Happy Birthday'' banner hanging on the balcony and I just couldn''t help it. My eyes welled


    up with tears as I subconsciously pulled my shirt over the scar on my cor. I covered a hand over my


    mouth, as a sob broke loose. This surprise threw me into missing my dad and my brother and my old


    life all over again. It was my brother''s birthday, too.


    This wasn''t my home.


    "Out," Elias growled as he pulled me into his chest. They disappeared like the room was on fire. Elias


    shushed me as his hand ran over me hair. I hated this. He wasforting me from being hurt by him in


    the first ce and it was actually working. After I calmed down enough, I pushed away from him and


    went up to my room. I regretted it the minute I stepped out of his arms, but I couldn''t allow it. I couldn''t


    continue to allow it.


    "Novalyn," he growled. Against myself, I stopped.


    "I''m tired, Elias... and I don''t want to fight you. I''m going to bed, just let me," I said tiredly without


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    looking back. I waited a moment before I went up the rest of the stairs and closed my door behind me. I


    slumped on the edge of the bed. I was emotionally exhausted. I was tired of doing anything, so I just


    wouldn''t do anything. I numbly undressed before I crawled under the covers and cried myself to sleep.


    ~


    I heard birds before anything; their happy and musical banter not at all fitting my mood. My eyes


    fluttered open to be met with partial sunlight filtering in through a crack in the curtains but I couldn''t be


    bothered to get up. I didn''t see the need to. My door cracked open but I didn''t move to see who it was.


    "Nova, are you going to get out of bed today?" Minnie asked. I only blinked in response. I didn''t want to


    do anything. I wasn''t even hungry. I didn''t care anymore. I was tired of being here and tired of going up


    and down with Elias. It was getting us nowhere. Most importantly, I wanted to go home.


    For a week, I only got up to use the bathroom. Eventually, Minnie started taking care of me. She would


    pick me up like I was just a feather. She bathed me and tried to feed me but I wouldn''t eat. I wasn''t


    hungry.


    "Nova, Elias is worried about you. He hasn''t left his room since you locked yourself away. I''ve never


    seen him so upset. You''re torturing him," she said. She didn''t have to tell me though. I felt it. I could feel


    him through my mark. It was stronger than before... the bond was growing. I just blinked. Maybe now


    he would understand how he made me feel. Minnie dressed me and brushed through my hair. She did


    everything I was supposed to.


    She propped me up in the bed and tried to make me eat for the day. Like every time before, I didn''t. I


    was a doll for two weeks that Minnie took care of. She talked to me despite my staying quiet.


    Eventually, Elias tried to talk to me too. I stayed still and quiet. I didn''t even move to pull my hand out of


    his when he held it. I only blinked. I only blinked, breathed, and used the bathroom. I was weak from


    not eating and I knew it, but I didn''t care.


    "Nova, please say something. I''m sorry, okay? I''m so sorry. I don''t want you hurt. I never want you hurt.


    She''s gone. I want you back. I don''t even care if you yell at me, please just talk to me," he begged. I


    could feel his pain and the mate bond pulled me tofort him but I couldn''t.

 Chapter 35

    Chapter 35


    I didn''t move. What finally broke me was when he started crying. I''d never even thought of Elias as


    being one to cry, but here he was sobbing, and it was all my fault. I broke him. I felt my eyes pool with


    unshed tears as I reached up and brushed his away. I couldn''t let him cry because of me. I''d taken it


    too far. He froze and stared at me with wide eyes. I brushed my thumb over his cheek as another tear


    fell. He squeezed my hand in his and closed his eyes briefly.


    "Please say something, Nova," he breathed as he kissed my hand.


    "I don''t want this," I said hoarsely. He broke into sobs again. I''d been fighting it so long that talking felt


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    like a weight had been lifted off of me. My feelings and urges towards Elias were stronger. And then it


    hit me. There is was again.


    The burning.


    I felt it in my mark first. Then it spread through my body faster thanst time. I arched as I screamed.


    Elias immediately covered his nose and stepped away from me. Minnie burst through the door with


    Taylor and Peyton on her heels.


    "Oh no," Minnie breathed. Taylor turned just in time to pin Peyton to the wall. Peyton was growling and


    snarling and trying to fight towards me. Elias was growling at Peyton as he inched closer to me, his


    eyes began to glow blue. I groaned and tried to move away from the heat.


    "Elias," I whined, bringing his full attention back to me. He was hovering over me before I finished


    saying his name. He kissed me eagerly. His mouth nipped and teased me. I could feel the heat leaving


    me slowly.


    "Alpha, no!" Taylor yelled. The pain was diminishing, so I didn''t want him to stop.


    "We have to do something," Minnie said frantically.


    "We can''t hold both of them off and mated reinforcements aren''t going to be able toe in time,"


    Taylor said. Elias'' hands explored my body as his lips stayed on mine. He was suddenly ripped away. I


    screamed as the heat hit me five times harder. I didn''t want to go through this again. I couldn''t. I wasn''t


    strong enough for it.


    "Please," I cried. Elias covered me once again and I sighed in relief as the heat started to creep away


    again.


    "It''s toote. We can''t pull him away this time. Just evacuate Peyton and close the door behind us," I


    heard Taylor say. The door shut and my clothes were ripped off of me. Elias sunk his teeth into my


    neck where my mark was. I moaned and arched my back to him. My brain was fuzzy, but I knew as


    long as Elias was touching me, I wouldn''t be in pain.


    "I love you, Nova," he muttered against my skin before he dosed my fire.


    ~


    With the fire gone, I could think clearly. It''d been hours since Elias went to sleep, but I couldn''t. I was


    wide-awake, trying to piece together everything. Elias snored lightly as an arm draped over my waist.


    With a final decision, I pushed my hair out of my face and slipped out of the bed. I checked to make


    sure Elias was still sleeping before I brushed my hair and my teeth. I grabbed a bag and just stuffed a


    few outfits in there with my toiletries. With onest nce at Elias, I forced myself to leave. I snuck


    downstairs and grabbed a pair of car keys. I backed out and stepped on the gas. I was doing it. I was


    finally doing it.


    I''d only been driving for a few minutes when I heard a howl. I nced around nervously before I


    pressed down further on the gas. I couldn''t get caught. It would only be ten times worse than thest


    time I tried to escape and I knew it. I pushed the car further. I could see the lights to my old town. I was


    almost there. Wolves began running next to the car in the trees. I could see the blur of them as I


    pushed even harder towards the town.


    I was almost there.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    Suddenly, the wolves weren''t following me anymore. It ended with many continuous howls. I knew Elias


    knew I was gone now.


    But I did it. I was free. As the familiar buildings of my town passed, the sun began to rise. I knew I


    couldn''t go home. I wasn''t protected there. Elias could just as easily take me again. And he could


    possibly hurt my family in the process.


    Mason.


    I drove until I wasing up on Mason''s house. It was big and kind of hidden in the forest and now I


    knew why. He was apart of an Alpha family too. I parked the car and pushed myself to the door. Mason


    threw it open the second I hit the doorstep and hugged me tightly. I released a breath as my tears


    spilled over. He pulled me inside and let go of me like I burned him.


    "You''re mated," Mason noted. I hesitated before I nodded slowly.


    "I didn''t want to, but I went into heat and I couldn''t control anything. I was in so much pain... I didn''t


    want it to happen," I cried. He sighed and pulled me back into a hug.


    "What''s going on? Nova, you shouldn''t be here. We''ve got Rigor Moon Sentinel lining up on our


    boarder," Mason''s dad, Peter, saiding into the foyer.


    "Dad, we''re not throwing her to the dogs. We need to protect her," Mason defended me. "I still love


    her," he admitted. I instantly felt bad because I couldn''t think of loving anyone but Elias. I wouldn''t


    admit that out loud though. I wanted to feel for Mason what I used to, but I didn''t.


    "Okay, say we protect Nova from her mate, and she stays with us. You love her now, but when you find


    your mate, everything is going to change. Then you would''ve taken Nova away from her mate and


    created a rivalry for no reason," Peter retorted.


    "Dad," Mason said sternly. There was a pause before Peter sighed.


    "Alpha Madsen is going to go to war for her. Are you willing to put the entire pack in danger over this?


    Nova is his mate. She is an Alpha''s mate and we are the only thing in the way of them being together.


    You don''t think he''s going to destroy as much as he can on his way in?" Peter tried to reason with


    Mason. I knew he was right. I saw his point. I knew what Mason''s answer should have been. He should


    have given me up and handed me over to Elias, but he didn''t.


    "Nova is apart of our pack. Just because the gene skipped her doesn''t mean she isn''t one of us,"


    Mason said. I pulled away from him confused.


    "Mason, what are you taking about?" I asked. They were both quiet before Mason pulled me into the


    living room and sat me down.


    "Your mother was a werewolf. She died during a fight with an organized group of rogues," Peter


    answered. I shook my head.


    "No... I don''t believe you. I would have known. She would have told me," I said confused. Peter shook


    his head.


    "Your dad is human. Your mother, Noel, was not. When you and your brother were born, he got the


    gene and you didn''t. You and your father arepletely normal and human, your mother and Nn


    are not. They are apart of our pack. Why do you think Nn came to us when you went missing?


    When Mason takes the position of Alpha, Nn will be his Beta. We knew about Rigor Moon. That''s


    why the police weren''t involved weren''t involved in solving your kidnapping. We somewhat knew what


    was happening," Peter exined. I didn''t want to believe him. My brother and my mother... they lied to


    me my whole life.


    If a human mates with a Lycan, there is a chance that their offspring will be either Lycan or human.


    Normally, the Lycan gene travels easier on the Y chromosome. The chances of a male offspring being


    Lycan are greater, but it''s not impossible for a female half-blood to carry the Lycan gene.


    The book said something about a human mating with a werewolf. My brother was a werewolf.


    "What the hell is that?" Mason asked with a small growl. I followed his line of sight and saw he was


    staring at my corbone where Kendra scared me. I blushed bright red as I tried to cover it with my


    shirt. Mason moved my hands away and exposed the entire w mark. The skin was slightly raised


    and discolored from the initial scratch and the stitches. I looked anywhere but at Mason''s face.


    "How many times have you gotten hurt there?" Mason asked. I shrugged.


    "Only twice. The fist time, I identally fell out of a third story window andnded on my back. The


    second time was this w mark. I got attacked by a were-bitch that Elias... fooled around with," I


    exined, cringing at the memories. Mason''s eyes widened in surprise.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    "Elias still fooled around with other women while you were there?" he asked shocked. I shrugged


    before I nodded. I felt embarrassed. "Dad," Mason said. Apparently, it was enough.


    "Alright, she''s staying," Peter said before he walked away. Mason set me up in a guest room before he


    sat on the bed with me and yed with my hand. Mason eventually sighed and shook his head.


    "You''re not even my mate and I wouldn''t dare to even think about cheating on you. You''re too good for


    that," he said with a small smile towards me.


    "So... Nn has known that he was a werewolf the whole time?" I asked, changing the subject. Mason


    nodded.


    "Right around the time he was about to shift, we exined everything to him. We kept an eye on you


    just in case, but you never showed the signs. That''s how we knew you werepletely human. Nn


    will be here soon. You ''re safe for now, Nova," he assured me. Mason made mey down and rubbed


    my back like he used to do. It was nice and made me nostalgic.


    "I missed you," I whispered honestly. Masonid down behind me and kissed the back of my shoulder.


    My mark ached a bit, but I ignored it as it quickly went away.


    "I missed you too, little one," he said just as softly. "I''m sorry I let this happen. I should''vee for you


    sooner, or done something," he said, and I knew he truly was sorry.


    "You didn''t know. It''s okay, Mason," I said.


    "Nova," I heard my brother''s relieved voice. I sat up only to be wrapped up in another bone-crushing


    hug. "I''m so sorry," Nn said as well. I shook my head as he released me from the hug. I found myself


    ring at him as I hit his arm.


    "You''re a freaking werewolf?! Why didn''t you tell me!" I yelled at him.


    "We can''t tell anyone unless it''s our mate... not even family," he tried to exin.


    "But we''re twins!" I yelled at him again. Nn only chuckled and hugged me again.


    "I missed you too," Nn said. He pulled back and his eyes caught on my cor. His fingers grazed the


    top of the scar, immediately embarrassing me. "I can''t believe he let this happen," Nn said seriously.


    I felt the strong desire to defend Elias, but I knew it was just the stupid mate bond pushing me to do it.


    "He wasn''t there," I shrugged. "He was doing pack business or whatever," I said dismissively.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "That''s no excuse. She shouldn''t have been anywhere near you," Mason chimed in. Nn sighed and


    kissed my head before he stood.


    "Get some rest. I''ll tell dad you''re safe with us. When it''s safe I''ll being him to see you," Nn said. I


    grabbed his arm and stopped him.


    "Does dad know about all of this?" I asked curiously. Nn nodded.


    "Mom was his mate. She told him everything. She told him about me so I would have some help and


    he knew that werewolves were behind your kidnapping," he exined. I red at him.


    "Great, so I was literally the only one who had no idea what was going on? Awesome," I said


    sarcastically, rolling my eyes. I sighed andid back down. That was a lot to take in on sitting. Mason


    pulled the covers over me and wrapped an arm around me.


    "I''ll stay with her," Mason said to Nn. Nn rolled his eyes.


    "Of course you will," he muttered before he kissed my head. "Goodnight, little sis," he said yfully.


    "Only by 5 minutes," I said as the corners of my mouth pulled up into a ghost of a smile slightly. Nn


    smiled at me before he left. The door was closed and the lights were turned off behind him. I was in the


    dark, alone with Mason.


    "How do I get rid of it? How do I get rid of the mate bond and go back to my normal life?" I asked


    quietly in the dark. There was a moment of silence as Mason hesitated.


    "It''s toote for that now," he said honestly. I closed my eyes as a tear rolled out. I hated to admit it, but


    I actually missed Elias.

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    It was a few days before I got to see my dad. I was happy I got to see him. Tight hugs were bing a


    "Novalyn, I''m so happy you''re safe," he sighed. We caught up and he told me everything about mom


    and Nn and what he knew. He knew the bare minimum about werewolves.


    I stayed at Alpha Peter''s house for two weeks. It was stressful sitting on our hands and waiting for


    something to happen. The ache in my chest was growing each day and I knew exactly what it was. I


    missed Elias. Even though I was hurt a lot, I knew, on some level, he was trying to protect me. I also


    knew that he would stop at nothing to get me back. He already told me that much. That''s why Alpha


    Peter and Mason trained the Sentinel to prepare for Elias. Nn and Mason took turns training with


    them.


    My dad woulde by every now and then. He would have dinner with us and bring me clothes and


    things from home when I needed them since my supply was running low. I spent a lot of time with


    Mason, but I didn''t mind at all. We were best friends before we dated so everything came naturally.


    Then one night, it happened.


    That first warning howl.


    It was followed by a lot of other howls. We were in the middle of a game of Uno when the battle cry was


    given. Peter rushed into the living room just as Mason and Nn dropped their cards and stood.


    "Get her out of here. Take her to the enchanted cabin," Peter said in a rush before he disappeared


    again. I stood with them quickly.


    "You mean to tell me that magic and witches exist too? Seriously, what else are you guys not telling


    me," I asked as a loud rm began to sound. Nn stayed with me as Mason ran upstairs.


    "Seriously, Nova? Not the time at all," Nn said stiffly. I''d only seen him this serious when our mom


    died... apparently, due to rogue werewolves. Nn grabbed my hand and we met Mason at the front


    door. One look at the scene outside and Nn started dragging me in the other direction. I didn''t see


    anything, but if the snarling and snapping and howls were any indication, it was bad.


    "We''re going to have to go on foot," Nn said. We ran out the back door and Mason exploded into his


    brownish wolf; immediately tearing through his clothes. I gasped and jumped in shock. I''d never seen


    them transform before ever, and I never even dreamed of seeing it happen this close. It sure was


    something to see. Nn lifted me and ced me on Mason''s back before I had any time to object.


    Mason took off running with me on his back. I gripped my fingers in his fur and crotched low to his body


    to keep from falling off at the speed he was going. Nn had my bag on his back and was running


    beside us. They never slowed... never faltered. Finally, we came into a clearing. There was a cabin


    only a few feet away. We were so close. Mason and Nn slowed as we prepared to go inside.


    Suddenly, the wind was knocked out of me as Mason went flying into a tree. I toppled on the ground in


    brush near it. The impact left me groaning. I could only imagine how Mason felt. I pushed myself out of


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    the bush. I was all scratched up, but mostly, I was angry.


    I was angry at Elias for kidnapping me and hurting my friends and family. But mostly, I was angry at him


    for causing this pointless fighting all because I ran away from him, my kidnapper. And there he was, in


    the form of hisrge gray wolf, snarling at Mason and Nn. I red at him as my fists tightened. I


    charged at him and began banging on his side.


    "Call them off now... both of you. Stop this now?" I yelled at Mason and Elias, but mostly Elias. I put all


    my force into pounding his side. It seemed as though he didn''t even flinch. His eyes never left Mason


    as they continued to growl at each other. I huffed a breath and stepped in between them instead. I


    faced Elias and red at him. I was so angry that I was shaking.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    "You stupid mutt! You never listen to a word I say, do you? Change back now... both of you," I ordered.


    They stopped growling but they made no move to change. "Now!" I yelled as I stomped my foot. It may


    have looked childish but I didn''t care. Elias hesitated before he changed back to his human form,


    leaving him stark naked. I turned to see Mason in human-form too with basketball shorts on already.


    "Elias, call off the fighters now," I ordered.


    "Not until you''re with me, where you belong, as my Luna," he said. I could still hear the fighting a few


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    miles from where we were.


    "That''s not going to happen you low-life poor excuse for an Alpha," Mason growled as he stepped in


    front of me.


    "Enough!" I yelled as Elias began growling again. I stepped in front of Mason and pushed him back


    gently. Elias'' growling only intensified when I touched Mason but I honestly could care less at this point.


    "Stop hurting people! Don''t you see how ridiculous this is? I ran by choice. I told you what happened


    and you didn''t believe me over her. If I were really your mate, there would be no question. And now I''m


    left with this hideous scar that reminds me every day how you failed me and you continue to fail me. All


    you do is hurt the people around you, and you''repletely okay with it too. That''s the sad part. You


    don''t even care if that person you''re hurting is your mate. As long as I''m around, you don''t care what


    else happens to me, or the others around you. You''re willing to go to war and have your own people


    killed for me when I chose to get away from you. I never wanted to have sex with you. You''re a


    monster, and I regret ever leading you to believe that I thought otherwise of you," I said as tears spilled


    down my cheeks. Elias looked like for once in his life, he didn''t know what o say. He held a sadden look


    on his face as he waked forward and yanked on my wrist. I yelped in surprise before I was behind


    Mason again.


    "I''ll be damned if I let you hurt them," Mason growled at Elias.


    "Them?" I picked out.


    "You and... the baby," Nn said quietly.


    "Baby? Are you trying to simte that I''m pregnant?" I asked shocked. Elias stopped growling and


    nodded. I shook my head as my tears spilled over twice as much as they already were. "No, no way. I


    don''t want this. I don''t want this baby," I cried.


    "Don''t you ever say that about our child!" Elias snapped. "I will drag you back and tie you down until the


    baby is born if I have to, but you will not hurt our baby. That is my child," he growled. I shook my head


    as my breaths starteding in short gasps.


    "Maybe if you weren''t such a monster her thoughts would be different towards the situation. I say she


    has the right to think that," Nn said angrily. I could feel everything spiraling out of control around me


    as they continued to argue over me. I gave up. I ignored them and sat on the ground of the clearing as


    I cried. This couldn''t be happening right now. More people began to appear and form a circle of the


    outskirts of the clearing as Mason, Nn, and Elias continued to yell threats at each other.


    "Enough of this!" a voice boomed with authority. I even quieted my crying to sniffles when it sounded.


    This voice was different. I''d never heard it before but the authority behind the voice was unmistakable.


    The area got even quieter as a man walked into the center of the clearing where we were. His features


    resembled Elias'' and Taylor''s. Dark peppering hair, tan skin, and light almost glowing eyes. His face


    was weathered with experience and age. The creases in his face were deeper from use.


    "Son, what the hell is going on?" the man asked, crossing his arms and facing Elias.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    "They took my mate from me," Elias said, motioning to Nn and Mason.


    "She ran away from you, you bastard," Nn snapped. His face drained slightly as his eyes shifted to


    the man. "I apologize," Nn said immediately. The man only shrugged.


    "Well, did she?" he asked. Nn nodded.


    "She ran away from him and came here to us because Elias was abusing her," Nn exined.


    "How?" the man said shortly, getting to the point.


    "Emotionally, physically, take your pick. Just look at her, and if you want physical proof, check her


    corbone. He was sleeping with other women, she was constantly getting hurt... she came to us after


    they mated and she realized that she couldn''t stay with him," Nn answered respectfully.


    "How do you know the girl?" the man asked shortly again, turning to look at me this time. I was still


    sniffling, trying to hold in my sobs as I watched the scene unfold before me.


    "Nova is my twin sister. I''m Lycan, but the trait passed her," Nn exined. Elias'' father knelt in front


    of me and eyed me over curiously. Then he did something I didn''t expect...


    He smiled at me.


    And it was a genuine smile, too. The corner of his eyes wrinkled slightly as his straight, white teeth


    shed me.


    "May I?" he asked kindly, motioning to my shoulder. I sniffled and lowered my legs to a crisscross


    position as I nodded. As soon as the man touched me, Elias growled loudly. The crowd scattered as


    the man pulled the edge of my shirt low enough to see the scar. Elias'' father sighed and helped me to


    my feet. I was now standing in the middle of the clearing with Elias'' father as Mason, Nn, and Elias


    stood around us.


    "Nova, right?" he asked me kindly. I nodded quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed that he was still holding


    onto my hands. "Who did this to you?" he asked. My eyes shifted over to Elias just in time to see his


    face fall. I looked at my feet as a faint blush crept into my cheeks. I wasn''t a shy person, but I was


    embarrassed that this is how I was meeting Elias'' father. I wanted his parents to see me as a strong


    and independent individual. Instead, I was caught sobbing and cowering.


    "E-Kendra," I stuttered. I mentally cursed myself. The man''s face grew hard before he turned to Elias. I


    found myself taking an involuntary step away from him. His face scared me when he was angry and I


    wasn''t proud of that fact.


    "You left her alone with Kendra? Did it not ur to you that Kendra would stop at nothing to keep you


    and the title of Luna? Son, I know I warned you about that when you chose her as a bride when you


    turned 25 years old. I told you to wait and you didn''t want to listen," Elias'' father scolded. He sighed


    before he turned back to me with a softer face. "Nova, do you want to back to Rigor Moon with my


    son?" he asked. I nced at Elias quickly before lowering my head. My heart was telling me to stop


    this, to go back with Elias and let him prove himself to us, but my head knew better. I couldn''t be with


    him until he proved himself. I couldn''t allow myself to open myself up to get hurt by him again. I didn''t


    want to. My head was winning in the tug-of-war on what to do. Hesitantly, I shook my head. I knew I


    would be safe here with my family.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    "Nova," Elias begged, striding towards me. I took a cautious step backwards and almost fell on my butt.


    Elias'' father steadied me easily as he held Elias back with his other hand.


    "Hush, son. Step back. If your mate doesn''t want to be with you after almost a year of living with you,


    then you don''t deserve her yet. I propose that Nova gets to stay with her family in Still Water''s territory


    until she choses toe to you. You can visit only when she allows it," Elias'' dad said. He turned to


    Peter who was watching from the outskirts of the clearing as an afterthought. "Only if that''s okay with


    you, of course, Peter," he asked. Peter nodded.


    "Of course, Mathias. I think that''s a great idea," Peter agreed.


    Oh, so that was Elias'' father''s name, Mathias. It fit him well.


    "No, no, no, Nova please don''t do this," Elias begged as his eyes glistened with the threat of tears. I


    could only look away from him. I didn''t want to think about how I was the one causing him that pain. We


    were all quiet for a moment as Elias waited for an answer from me. "At least let our baby live," he


    practically whispered. My head snapped to his in surprise. I didn''t think he would even ask me such a


    thing. Yes, I didn''t want the baby, but I would never kill anyone; especially one inside me. Goes to show


    that he didn''t know me at all. He didn''t even try to get to know me when I was with him. He just wanted


    me close to him. I simply rolled my eyes and sighed in frustration.


    "If you took the time to try to know me at all, you would know that I wouldn''t even consider getting an


    abortion, asshole," I red at him. I tried to keep my voice steady, but the shake from anger was


    unmistakable. I was angry enough to ignore the pain of regret for insulting him. I crossed my eyes and


    stared at my feet.


    "Okay then. It''s settled," Mathias said.


    "Thank you, Mathias," Peter said. Mathias nodded.


    "You have been an ally to me, Peter... I would even say a friend. And when I heard that my son was


    waging war on one of my best allies as an Alphamand, I had to investigate. I am temporarily


    relieving my ipetent son of his Alpha duties until he can learn how to be a mate and a man. They


    go hand in hand anyway. And he still has much to learn before he can be either. I hope this incident


    has not ruined our alliance and friendship, Peter. I am sincerely sorry for the trouble my eldest son has


    caused you and your pack," Mathias said. I awed at how he seemed to handle everything with a


    masculine poise and grace, yet stern and demanding.


    "What? Dad!" Eliasined.


    "Of course not, Mathias. The alliance stands as long as Elias honors the agreement, and doesn''t harm


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    my pack anymore," Peter said, ignoring Elias''ints.

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    "Then it''s settled," Mathias said before he turned to look at me again. "Nova, if you have any trouble,


    have Alpha Peter notify me. I hope to meet you again soon... under different circumstances of course,"


    he said before he shook Peter''s hand and left. Elias turned to me in ast stitch attempt. He rushed


    forward and took my hand in his.


    "Nova, please," he begged. Thatforting feeling shot up my arm and made me sign in relief. I


    quickly pulled my hand away.


    "You can see me in a week. I have a phone now... or again since you took away my phone the first


    time. You can get my number from my brother," I said before I turned and went inside the cabin. I was


    tired and emotionally exhausted. With everything that went on, I still couldn''t forget the fact that I was


    pregnant. I put my hand on my stomach subconsciously as I stood in the middle of the kitchen.


    A baby...


    If my math was correct, I was two weeks pregnant.


    "Nova!" I heard my brother call. I opened the door and saw Nn and Mason standing there. Everyone


    else had left the clearing.


    "What are you two doing?" I asked.


    "You have to invite us inside. The cabin is enchanted remember?" Mason said sheepishly. My eyes


    widened slightly.


    "You were serious about that?" I asked They both nodded. I invited them inside and went back to the


    kitchen. I began opening random cabs until I found a ss. I ran sink water into it before leaning my


    back and hands against the counter. I sighed and looked at the ss sitting on the counter as my brain


    went over all the events that just happened before I could stop it.


    "Are you okay, little one?" Mason asked as he entered the kitchen with Nn. I shrugged as they came


    closer. I was on the verge of tears again. I sniffled and went to the living room with my ss, setting it


    down on the ss coffee table. I sped my hands in myp and shivered slightly. Mason wrapped a


    nket around my shoulders.


    "All that fighting and death and for what?" I practically whispered. Nn and Mason sat on either side


    of me and hugged me.


    "We''re going to keep you here, just in case. The cabin is enchanted so that only you allow can enter.


    Unless you invite them inside, they''ll be stuck on the outside. I suggest you keep it only Nn, you,


    and me," Mason exined.


    "Why is it up to me?" I asked confused.


    "You were the first to enter the house. You''ll be safe here as long as you don''t invite anyone else


    inside," Mason exined. I sighed and shook my head.


    "I can''t believe I''m... carrying a person inside of me. I didn''t want Elias'' baby," I muttered more to myself


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    than to them.


    "Well, you did mate with an Alpha while you were in heat. What did you think would happen?" Nn


    said, getting off the couch.


    "That''s the thing, I didn''t know! Maybe I would have if anyone bothered to tell me anything. But you


    both kept me in the dark! You let me be na?ve and now look where that got us! I know you''ve been


    living this ridiculousness your whole life, but I only learned about it when I saw my kidnapper turn into a


    wolf to fight off Mason, who was also a wolf, so forgive me if I''m not too educated in the ''what happens


    when'' area," I snapped at him as I stood. I released a heavy breath when I finished talking and crossed


    my arms. My tears made up of shock, anger, and sadness spilled over and on to my cheeks.


    "I couldn''t tell you, Nova. Okay? I''m sorry I couldn''t tell you. Is that what you wanted to hear? I''m sorry


    that I didn''t want you caught up in all of this in the first ce," Nn snapped back. My tears doubled


    as my face fell.


    God, I was such a cry baby.


    But his words hurt. They sliced through me like the cold hard truth.


    "I''m going to bed," I said softly. I walked through the hallway and stopped in the room that had my bag


    by the door. I guess this was mine. I took the bag inside and took a shower, as I got ready for bed. I


    curled up on the bed and crossed my arms over my stomach.


    I did it.


    I got what I wanted.


    I know the truth about my family. I''m back home. Elias had to leave me alone. I was free to think and be


    as I pleased.


    So why did it feel like I just lost something?

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    The next morning felt surreal. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, but it didn''t feel like a good


    day. All the events from thest 24 hours came rushing back to me, leaving me feeling like a ton of


    bricks. Soon after I woke up, my door opened.


    "Nova," Nn said unsurely. I still hadn''t forgiven him for what he said to me yesterday. He came


    closer when he realized I wasn''t talking to him. I sighed and sat up when I realized that he wasn''t going


    away. He sat on the edge of my bed and just looked at me for a moment.


    "Hey,e on. I hate fighting with you," he said. I rolled my eyes.


    "I think the words you''re looking for are ''I''m sorry''," I said with an attitude. I was still mad at him for lying


    to me our whole lives. I remember when we turned 13 years old. At the time, I didn''t think anything of it,


    but now finding that he was a werewolf, it made sense.


    "Nn, open the door!" I yelled as I knocked on the door to our room. We were ying a game when


    he suddenly ran up to the room and locked the door. He was yelling and screaming and I was scared


    but I had no idea what was going on.


    "Mommy!" I yelled down the hallway. My mom ran down the hallway with Dad on her heels. I banged


    on the door again.


    "Novalyn, what happened?" my mom asked.


    "I don''t know. We were downstairs and he just ran up here and started screaming," I exined in a


    rush. My mom pulled a key out of her pocket and began to unlock the door. Almost as an afterthought,


    she turned to Dad.


    "Get Nova out of the house, Jasper. I''ll call you when you can bring her back," she said. My dad only


    nodded and ushered me out of the house against my struggling. He practically threw me in the car and


    sped out of the driveway. I could still hear Nn''s screaming as I watched the house until it


    disappeared. I turned and sighed as my dad drove.


    "Dad, is Nn going to be okay?" I asked him. He kept quiet for a moment.


    "You''ll see himter. He''s fine... he''s fine," my dad said, assuring himself in the process. I wasn''t going


    to let it go.


    "I didn''t see him get hurt. Is he sick? Why did Mom want me to go away?" I rambled.


    "Novalyn! Enough, okay? Be patient and rx. Now, do you want ice cream or frozen yogurt?" he


    asked.


    I ended up staying at my friend Cheyenne''s house for two days before I went back home. Nn was


    great... actually, he seemed better than great. He was taller, stronger, and faster. I never questioned it


    further then because I was just d that he was alive after the way he was screaming that day.


    I chalked it up to good medicine, but now I knew that it was so much more than that. He shifted that


    weekend, and I didn''t realize it until now.


    "You lied to me all these years. You can''t be mad if I don''t know anything. You never told me to begin


    with," I said. I lowered my head and fiddled with my hands. "Mom didn''t either," I muttered. Nn


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    sighed and held my hand in his.


    "Nova, I already regret it, okay? I hated lying to you but it was only to protect you. If there were another


    option, I would have taken it. I even thought about identally shifting in front of you but Mom made


    sure I kept the secret. We were trying to protect you from things like this happening," he tried to


    exin. Mason walked inside and sat on the other side of me.


    "What''s your excuse?" I asked Mason. He took my other hand and kissed it gently.


    "I didn''t want you to get caught in the crossfire," he said. I leaned my head on Mason''s shoulder. These


    were my boys and I was d that they were with me. I missed them like crazy when I was away, but


    now, I was in physical pain from missing Elias. There was an ache in my chest.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    It was a full week before I heard from Elias again. He called Mason who handed the phone to me. We


    were strained over the phone. There was tension. He wanted to see me. And I wanted to see him too. I


    showered and got ready before Nn drove me to meet Elias. We agreed on meeting at a little coffee


    shop on Still Water territory. When we got there, Elias was already standing outside waiting for me.


    When I got out of the car, Elias pulled me into a bear hug. Nn got out and growled at him.


    "Nn, it''s okay. You can wait in the car," I said. Nn quieted with a re and got back in the car.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Hesitantly, I hugged Elias back with a sigh. I must have missed him more than I realized. It felt like a


    weight had been lifted from me as Elias embraced me.


    It has been torture without you, cupcake," he said honestly. Pulling away, I could see that he was being


    serious. He looked miserable. His eyes held bags under them and his eyes were puffy and red.


    "Elias," I sighed as I shook my head and stepped closer to him. He took my hand and led me inside. He


    pulled out a chair for me and we sat in the corner of the coffee shop next to the window. He sat across


    from me and just looked at me with a sense of pain and longing.


    "How are you?" he asked a bit eagerly. A woman sat cups of water down in front of us. I took a sip


    before I sped my hands in myp.


    "I''m fine, but I could ask you the same thing. Your dad was kind of hard on you with the punishment," I


    said. He only shrugged.


    "It doesn''t evenpare to the pain of being away from you for this long. I want to see you. I want to


    see our child grow over time. I don''t care if you yell at me every day, just pleasee home with me. I


    was wrong and I''m sorry for everything. I just wanted you, please," he said, holding my hand tightly in


    his. I was so tempted to just go with him and forget everything, but I couldn''t forget... and I couldn''t be


    sure that he wouldn''t hurt me again.


    "Elias, I love you, but I can''t stay with you... at least not yet. I''m still not confident that you can just...


    exist with me. I trust you, but it''s forced. I want to trust you because I trust you. Not because some


    supernatural turn of fate told me to," I ranted softly. He looked happy and shocked.


    "Y-You love me?" he said excitedly. I gave a chuckle and sighed as I shook my head at him.


    "That''s all you heard, isn''t it?" I asked. He shook his head.


    "No, I heard everything; I was just... more ted to hear that," he said. "I love you... so much, little


    cupcake. You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that," he said, squeezing my hand


    gently. A ghost of a smile graced my lips before I sighed and took my hands out of his.

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    "But I can''t go with you to Rigor Moon just yet," I said, looking at the table. He was about to argue but I


    held up a hand to stop him. "I don''t want this baby, Eli. I''m only 20 years old. I''m still young. I can''t even


    drink yet, and I wanted to see the world before I settled down. I can''t do that anymore. You literally


    ripped me away from my life and my future and not once did you even stop to ask what I wanted or


    how I felt," I said. He looked disappointed in himself.


    "I''m so sorry, Nova. I just wanted to be with you," he apologized. I nodded and fiddled with the cup in


    front of me.


    "I know that... and I care for you, but I need time," I said confidently. Elias hesitantly nodded.


    "Okay," he practically whispered. "Take all the time you need," he forced out. I stood and Elias followed


    close behind me as we walked back to the car. He hugged me gently and kissed my head before he


    pulled away and ced his hands on my stomach.


    "Take care of our baby, please," he asked. I nodded. I ced my hands over his as I looked at my t


    stomach too.


    "I will," I promised. I pushed up on my toes and kissed his cheek before I got in the car.


    "I''ll call you," he promised before he closed my door for me. As a afterthought, he ducked his head so


    he was eye level with me. He hesitated. "Wear your seatbelt," he said with a sigh before he left. Nn


    drove us back to the cabin in silence. When the car was parked in front of the cabin, Nn turned to


    me.


    "Are you okay?" Nn asked. I nodded.


    "I''m fine. I mean, I know that I miss him, but I also know that it''s the mate bond, not me," I shrugged.


    "If you love him, why are you fighting him?" Nn asked. He sighed and pulled on his hair slightly


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    before he continued. "Look, I don''t like the guy because of what he did to you and what he let happen,


    but he is your mate... and he''s trying," Nn tried to exin. I sighed and unbuckled my seatbelt. I


    didn''t feel like being lectured right now.


    "Yeah, well he''s going to have to try harder," I said as I pushed the door open. Nn grabbed my arm


    to stop me.


    "Nova, think about what you''re doing. Everything you feel towards him, he feels ten times worse;


    especially because he''s an Alpha. The need, the jealousy, the love... everything is magnified. And in


    the meantime, you''re ying house with Mason even though you know he will never be yours. You''re


    never going to love Mason the way you love Elias. And eventually, Mason will find his mate, too. How


    do you think she''s going to feel about him keeping his old girlfriend around because he still loves you


    and can''t let you go?" Nn asked. I felt a pang of pain at the memory of seeing Elias with Kendra.


    "What are you trying to say?" I said defensively. Nn made sense, and I hated that.


    "I''m not telling you to drop everything and run back into the guy''s arms; I''m just asking you to think with


    your heart this time. I know you can be impulsive and stubborn as hell, but I don''t want you to miss out


    on your mate because of your own big head. Having a mate is supposed to be like clicking the missing


    piece into ce. He''ll bnce you out. Make him work for it, which you already have the man on his


    knees for you, just don''t make him suffer. Werewolves have been known to kill themselves if they go


    too long without their other half. And I know for a fact that it would destroy you if Alpha Elias was dead,"


    he exined. I didn''t know what to say. The pain in my chest at the thought of Elias dead only


    confirmed what Nn said. I knew he was right about practically everything, but I wasn''t willing to


    admit that to him. I got out of the car without another word and went inside where Mason hugged me


    gently.


    "Hey, are you okay? How did it go?" Mason asked, looking me over. I nodded and ran my fingers


    through my hair.


    "I''m fine, just tired," I said. Nn walked in and gave me a knowing look. He was right... I was ying


    house with Mason.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    "I''m going to go check on dad," Nn said, grabbing a few extra things before he left. I was alone with


    Mason. I knew Nn set this up on purpose. Mason took me into the kitchen and sat me down on a


    chair at the bar in the middle of the kitchen.


    "Are you hungry? I made you a te," Mason said, settling a te in front of me. I stopped him as I ran


    my thumbs over his cheeks.


    "Stay still... I need to try something," I said gently. Hesitantly, I leaned forward until my lips were


    touching his in a kiss. It was warm and gentle, but it wasn''t like it used to be. It wasn''t Elias'' heart-


    pounding, toe-curdling kiss. It was soft andfortable, but it wasn''t exhrating. There were no


    sparks, no breathlessness, no tingles. It was just a kiss...


    Lips against lips.


    I pulled away disappointed. My cheeks were wet with fresh tears.


    "Why couldn''t you be my mate?" I asked hoarsely with teary eyes. Mason sighed.


    "Nova," he said simply as his thumb caressed my cheeks and brushed my tears away. But I could read


    between the lines. He was saying the same thing. "I''m so sorry," he whispered as he pulled me into a


    tight hug. A sob broke from my lips as I buried my head in his chest.


    "It''s not fair," I sobbed. He kissed my head and rubbed his hand over my back gently.


    "Hey, no," he said as he held my face in his hands and made me look at him. His beautiful face was


    blurred by my tears. "I don''t care if you''re my mate or not. I will always be there for you. I love you and


    I''ll always have your back no matter what, okay?" he said. I sniffled and nodded. I believed him. I cried


    on his shoulder for a while until I was reduced to sniffles and the hups.


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I have to go back," I said with a hup. Mason only nodded slowly.


    "He''s your mate," Mason said in eptance. He was agreeing with me and I knew it.


    "I''ll tell him when we go to get the first sonogram," I said softly. Mason kissed my head gently before I


    got off the chair with Mason''s help and went to look for my phone. I found it under my pillow. I sat on


    my bed before I dialed Elias'' number.


    "Hello?" he answered on the second ring.


    "Um, hi, Eli," I said nervously.


    "Nova, I''m d you called," he said in relief. I smiled slightly before I chewed on my lip nervously.


    "So m-my first sonogram is in a few days. Do you want to be there?" I asked, getting straight to the


    point.


    "Of course I do, Nova. I wouldn''t miss it for the world," he said. I found myself sighing in relief. I don''t


    know why I was nervous to begin with.


    "Okay, I''ll see you then," I said quickly.


    "Was there anything else?" he asked. I hesitated. Was there? I could''ve told him that I wasing


    back. I could''ve told him that I missed him and I wanted to be with him even though my mind was still


    fighting it.


    "No, I love you," I said instead.


    "I love you too, cupcake," he replied, filling my stomach with butterflies. I hung up the phone and put it


    on my dresser. I was anxious to see Elias again... but in a good way.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    It was finally time.


    The sonogram.


    It was two weeks since I made up my mind to be with Elias. We talked constantly since then. I had to


    admit, I was nervous. I was only about 6 weeks pregnant. I was excited to see the baby, despite my


    feelings on the situation. Nn drove me to the doctor''s office and Mason stayed back. We signed in


    and I saw that Elias was already there, sitting in a small waiting room chair, bouncing his leg nervously.


    When Elias saw me, he hugged me and pecked me gently.


    "Nova, I''ve missed you," he said. I chuckled and allowed it.


    "I missed you, too," I said. He ced a hand on my stomach that was slightly taunt now under my


    flowing shirt.


    "Will we find out the gender?" he asked. I chuckled and shook my head.


    "Not this visit. It''s too early, but soon, I guess," I answered. The nurse called us back into a cozy little


    dark room. Nn stayed in the waiting room as Elias and I went back. The doctor out the warmed gel


    on my stomach before moving it around with a wand attached to the machine. She stopped the wand


    and pointed out the baby. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I looked at the screen. It was just a small


    dot, but I knew that that was my baby. For some reason, seeing the sonogram made being pregnant


    feel real. I must have been in denial but I couldn''t ignore it anymore. Elias was smiling as the doctor


    came in and exined that everything looked great. I spaced out. It was almost like I went into shock.


    The doctor gave me a towel and I wiped the gel off. After Elias and the doctor exchanged a few words,


    we went outside to the cars with Nn. Mason was leaning against his car nearby, a stray lock of hair


    falling into his eye slightly. He smiled sadly when he saw me.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked, walking up to him. I couldn''t help it. Mason had been my stability


    for so long. Even if he wasn''t my mate, I would always love him, no matter what.


    "You didn''t think I would just let you go without saying goodbye, did you?" he asked with a small smirk.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, touching my arm gently. Elias growled lowly, but made no move to stop


    Mason. Elias just baled his fists at his sides and stayed where he was.


    "I''m actually having a baby," I breathed. Nn pulled me towards him and into a hug.


    "I''m gong to miss you, little sis. Promise me you''ll visit," he asked. I nodded as I felt tears brim my eyes.


    "You''re going to make me cry," I chuckled softly, trying to hold my tears back. Mason hugged me next,


    earning an even louder growl from Elias.


    "Let us know if you need anything... I love you," Mason said as soft as he could before he let go. I knew


    he hugged me partially to get under Elias'' skin, but I could care less at this point. I was letting my boys


    go. Elias was getting what he wanted; he could deal with me touching Mason.


    "Nova, what is everyone talking about? What''s with the goodbyes?" Elias asked. I sighed and Nn


    handed me my small handbag with all my essential things inside.


    "I''ming with you back to Rigor Moon. You win, Elias," I exined quickly before I got in Elias'' car


    and set my bag at my feet. Elias got in slowly and just looked at me. I tried to ignore his stare, but I


    couldn''t. "You''re staring, Eli," I said softly. His held found mine and held it tightly.


    "I love you so much, Nova. Thank you," he said sincerely. I only shrugged.


    "It wasn''t fully just for you," I said as he put the car in drive. "I don''t want to raise a child in a broken


    home. Plus... it was starting to hurt me more and more to be away from you, and that''s not something


    I''m proud of," I exined. He was silent as we drove through the pathway leading to the town of Rigor


    Moon I watched out the window at the familiarity of it pass before we came upon the mansion of a


    house. Mathias was standing at the front door with an older, petite woman under his arm. I got out with


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    my bag and approached them with Elias right behind me.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    "Nova, so nice to see you again," Mathias greeted me. "This is my mate, and Elias'' mother, Alexandra,"


    he introduced me. Coming closer, I could see that this woman was beautiful. There was a grace about


    her that told me she was ssy and poised. Her clothes looked like casual business-wear; something


    that a Southern Bell mother would wear. Her pale pink blouse with khaki cks and small ck


    ents spoke for itself. She pulled me into a hug.


    "Just Alexa is fine, dear. It''s so good to finally meet you. Between Elias, Taylor, and Matt, I''d say it''s


    about time," she said, as she pulled away and smiled at me motherly. Her voice was as I imagined. It


    sounded like bells with a slight southern drawl. Her voice was melodic and polite. I couldn''t help but


    notice how beautiful she was. Her light brown hair was pulled into a neat bun at the back of her head


    with bangs cutting straight across, stopping at her eyebrows. Even older, she still looked the ripe age of


    25 years old. Her eyes were a vibrant green. It made me wonder what the baby growing inside of me


    would look like. Would it be a boy or a girl? Would he/she lean towards Elias'' lineage or mine? I


    snapped out of it and smiled back at Alexa.


    "It''s nice to meet you, too," I responded politely.


    "Please,e inside," Mathias said. Elias touched the small of my back and led me inside.


    "Are you hungry?" Alexa asked. I was about to say ''no'', but that would be a lie. And I didn''t feel the


    need to lie to Alexa; the exact opposite, really. I felt like it was in my best interest to always tell Alexa


    the truth, so I nodded. Alexa led our little party through the kitchen and into the dining room where we


    sat at the formal table. Alexa rang a bell I didn''t notice until now and in walked Kendra. I thought I felt


    my heart stop. She was wearing a long-sleeved turtleneck ck dress that had a long skirt that


    covered her ankles. The dress looked like something a nun would wear. It wasn''t ttering at all. Her


    hair was pulled back in a messy bun and her skin was paler than before.


    "Yes mam?" she asked softly. I was confused. This wasn''t the same outspoken, fierce, and confident


    Kendra who scarred me literally. Alexa smiled but I could tell that it was only a formality.


    "You can serve the food now," Alexa said. Kendra hurried away, but not before ncing at me first. I


    was even more confused, but I wasn''t going to question it in front of everyone. Kendra served our food


    and everyone went on as if she didn''t exist. After we ate, Elias and Mathias excused themselves to get


    some work done. I debated going up to the fourth floor to wait for Elias, but Alexa caught me before I


    could escape.


    "Nova,e," she said politely, walking towards the living room. I nced at Kendra, who was


    cleaning up our mess, once more before I followed Alexa to the couches. It was just then that I noticed


    she still had the bell in her hand. I sat next to her, straightened my back and waited.


    "How are you able to resist me son, or how did you resist him as long as you did, even mated?" she


    asked. It wasn''t usatory, simply inquisitive. I felt like shrugging would be rude so I kept my shoulders


    still and I sped my hands in myp.


    "Honestly, I''m not entirely sure. I would feel the pull and the need to be near him, but then I would think


    about everything he did. How he pulled me away from my family, and Kendra... I couldn''t be around


    him. My mind wouldn''t let me," I tried to exin.


    "Willpower," she offered.


    "Yes mam," I agreed. She chuckled.


    "Really, rx, Nova, it''s okay," she urged me. I leaned against the couch slightly and rested a hand on


    my stomach. Alexa watched my movements curiously before her eyes found mine again. Her


    expression was serious but rxed. "Why do you think Kendra is in this house as a servant?" she


    asked me. I felt my anger bubble up at the thought of Kendra still under the same roof as Elias, but I


    kept it bottled away.


    "I was actually wondering that myself," I admitted. She stood and paced slowly and gracefully in front of


    me. Her fingers held the inside of the bell to keep it silent.


    "Because being a Luna is not just about being the Alpha''s mate. You also have to have strength,


    willpower, wisdom... and cunning," she said. She paused as she faced me. She examined the small,


    shiny, silver bell before she handed it to me. I hesitated before I took it curiously. A sweet smile


    stered on her face as she crossed her arms in front of her, looking every bit the businesswoman I''m


    sure she was. "I found that dogs are easier to control with a choke cor and a short leash. That goes


    for all dogs that cross you," she said before she disappeared up the stairs. I stared at the bell in my


    hands as her words sank in.


    I understood. Keeping a close eye on Kendra meant that she had less freedom and willpower to spite


    me. That went for Elias too. I had to find a leash for him. I realized that Alexa was a maniptive and


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    scary woman...


    I liked her.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    I eventually made my way up to the top floor and looked around after devising a n to serve as a


    metaphorical choke cor for Elias. It was almost surreal to think that I was back here again. I crossed


    my arms over my stomach as I looked around Elias'' room. It looked the same as I remembered it;


    clean, big, and everything in its ce.


    "I''m d you''re here," Elias said from behind me. I spun quickly and put a hand up to stop him from


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    I needed to put the leash on him before that happened.


    "There are rules," I stopped him. Elias'' smile fell as he sighed and sat on the edge of the bed in front of


    me.


    "I figured there would be. You were left alone with my mother for too long," he said, rubbing the back of


    his neck nervously. I ignored hisment as I began to pace.


    "One, if you so much as look at Kendra or touch her, even on ident, I''m gone for good. Two, you''re


    not leaving me here on my own while you go do... whatever. No bodyguards, either; I''ming with


    you. Three, I get to keep my phone, and that should go without saying. Four, I get to visit Still Water


    whenever I want, and that includes Mason. And Five, you don''t tell me what to do," I said before I


    stopped pacing and just stood in front of Elias with my arms crossed. He thought about it before he


    sighed.


    "I''ll try," he said. I raised my eyebrow in surprise that he was so dismissive.


    "You will, or I leave, and you never know when, or if, I''ming back. I will take our baby with me and


    you don''t know when you get to see either of us again. I can resist the mate bond and you know it," I


    challenged him. He looked shocked at the seriousness of my words.


    "Okay, fine, you win. I will," he agreed quickly. "Now can I hold you?" he asked. I felt myself smile


    slightly as he held his arms out for me. I sat in hisp as his arms encircled my waist and his head


    settled in the crook of my neck. His hand ran across my stomach in consistent circles. I felt warm safe


    andforted in the best possible way. A yawn escaped me as my body sagged with exhaustion. Elias


    cradled me before heid me down in the bed.


    "Get some rest, cupcake," he said before he kissed my head gently. Elias turned to leave but I held his


    hand as I sat up.


    "Stay with me... please," I asked abruptly. Elias held my hand in his briefly before he turned off the light


    and got in the bed beside me. He kissed the top of my head before wrapping his arms around me. I


    wasn''t really huge on cuddling but it wasfortable enough.


    "Go to sleep, Nova," Elias said when he saw I wasn''t closing my eyes. He rubbed my back gently and


    eventually my eyes were coaxed into closing and I fell asleep soon after.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    I woke feeling rejuvenated and rested. Elias'' arms were still wrapped tightly around my waist. I smiled


    lightly to myself as I rxed further into the pillow. I felt bile build up as I rushed to the bathroom. I


    heaved as the acid emptied from my stomach. Just perfect...


    Morning sickness.


    I felt a hand on my back as I coughed as sat back on my heels. I was cradled into a chest and felt the


    familiarfort and warmth spread through my body and a hand rubbed my back gently.


    "Are you okay, Nova? Are you sick? What''s wrong?" Elias asked quickly. I chuckled and shook my


    head as I stood and went to brush my teeth. I put toothpaste on my toothbrush as Elias stood behind


    me.


    "It''s just morning sickness, Eli. It''s normally a package deal when a baby is involved," I said before I


    stuck the toothbrush in my mouth. Elias only wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the


    top of my head.


    "I don''t get it," Elias said after I put my toothbrush away. I looked at him confused as I turned to face


    him. His arms snaked behind my back again as he looked at me perplexed.


    "Don''t get what?" I asked.


    "I don''t get why you''re not excited to have this baby. You love kids and taking care of people and


    children," he said.


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    "It wasn''t... You''re right, I love kids," I said, moving away from him. "It wasn''t the baby, it was the timing


    and... you. I''m not ready for a baby... I''m don''t feel solid enough with you to take on this responsibility. I


    love you, but I can''t exin why. That doesn''t mean that I trust you with something as big as a baby...


    our baby," I said. I felt bad as I saw his face drop.


    "Oh," he said simply. I put a hand on his arm as he began to walk away.


    "Elias wait," I stopped him. "I did this, came here, to get to trust you. I want to. It''s just going to be a


    process," I said, subconsciously rubbing my hand over my stomach. Elias stepped forward and kissed


    me gently.


    "Well... thank you for giving me a chance to earn your trust," he said before he put his hand on my


    stomach as he looked at it. "That''s our pup in there," he said lovingly. I rolled my eyes and moved his


    hand before going back into the bedroom.


    "It''s a baby, Eli; not a dog," I said as I went to the closet. Elias had all of my stuff moved into this room


    when I was gone.


    "Still, we made him," he said, following me.


    "What makes you think it''s going to be a boy?" I asked as I changed into a loose sundress. I walked out


    of the closet only to run into Elias. He held me close to him and sighed in content. My stomach growled


    loudly as I pat Elias'' back awkwardly.


    "Um... Eli, I''m going to go to the kitchen," I said. He let go only long enough to scoop me up and walk


    me downstairs. "Eli, I can walk you know," I said. He just ignored me and carried me all the way into the


    kitchen. Kendra was already there, bustling around the kitchen, cooking. Alexa was also there, sipping


    on some water at the bar. She turned when she heard us and smiled at me.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    "Ah, Eli, Nova,e," she said. Eli set me in the chair next to her before he kissed her cheek.


    "Hey mom," he said. When Kendra looked at him, he averted his eyes to look at me. I was happy to


    see that he was taking my conditions seriously. "I''ll, um... I''ll just be upstairs," he said nervously before


    he hurried away. Alexa gave me a knowing look.


    "I see you''ve implemented... something, I assume?" she asked. I nodded as I was handed a ss of


    water by Kendra.


    "Yes, I made my conditions for staying very clearst night," I answered.


    "Is that all that happenedst night?" Alexa asked before she took another sip from her ss. I scoffed.


    "He''s far off from earning that back so soon. He''s actually going to have to work for that," I said before I


    sipped more of the water.


    "I heard you this morning. I guess the morning sickness is kicking in," she said. I sighed before I turned


    to face her. She was already facing me with her full attention.


    "Yeah, it was a pleasant little wake up call," I said sarcastically. She rubbed my back motherly.


    "A little ginger before bed should help," she offered. I smiled lightly as her hands went to my stomach


    gently.


    "I''m going to be a grandma," she said towards my stomach. I found myself chuckling.


    "You''re far too gorgeous and young-looking to be called a grandma," Imented. She smiled fully as


    her eyes came back up to mine. She tilted her head slightly almost as if she were examining me kindly.


    "You know, I like you more and more every day," she said. "Elias was a stupid boy to mess up with


    you," she said.


    "I can hear you!" his voice filtered into the kitchen from further in the house. We both giggled before


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    eating breakfast. Once we were nice and full, we continued talking. After a moment of prolonged


    silence, she hopped off the bar stool and offered me a hand down.


    "Let''s go into town. We''ll have a girls'' day," she suggested. I agreed and went upstairs to get my things.


    Before I even got my foot on the first stair, Elias was in front of me. I sighed and looked at him


    expectantly.


    "I''m going with you," he said. I chuckled.


    "Having a guy there kind of ruins the point of a girls'' day, don''t you think?" I said. He scoped me up and


    carried me all the way up to the room.


    "I don''t care, I''m not leaving your side," he said. I put my sandals on and grabbed my purse.


    "I think I''ll be in capable hands with your mother," I said. He followed me around the room and


    bathroom like a puppy.


    "I thought I was leaving you in capable hands when I left you with Peyton and you got in touch with


    Mason. I thought I was leaving you in capable hands when I left you with Darius, and Kendra attacked


    you. I''m trying not toplete the trifecta," he said. I sighed and shook my head.


    "Do you not trust the woman who raised you?" I questioned. I knew the answer; I was just trying to get


    him to admit it to himself.


    "I trust her with my life, but I don''t trust her with yours," he said. I touched his cheek hesitantly before I


    kissed him gently.


    "I''m going to have a girls'' day with your mother and we''re going to have a good time while you do


    whatever it is an Alpha has to do to run a pack. And under no circumstances are you tomunicate


    to that slut downstairs while I''m gone... okay?" I said softly when I pulled away. He stood there slightly


    shocked as he nodded. I smiled. "Love you, see you when I get back," I said before I hurried out before


    he had the mind to chase after me.

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    I don''t know what I expected from my girls'' day with Elias'' mother but it was exactly what I needed. We


    got massages and went shopping at the mall before we just took a walk through the forest. Alexa


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    showed me where the Sentinel trained and where the pack meetings were held. The training field was


    like four football fields put together with a dirt track surrounding it. The meeting ce was called the


    Underwood. It was simr to a high school auditorium with a stage and everything, only bigger. I guess


    if it had to fit the entire town, it had to be big. Lastly, she showed me a clearing with a small waterfall


    and a pond. The water seemed to being from nowhere. Flowers were blooming everywhere in


    pure white, covering the clearing floor. It was a beautiful sight. I felt calm and at peace.


    "What is this ce?" I asked in wonderment. Alexa led me to the edge of the pond.


    "It''s called the Luna''s circle. Only Lunas are allowed here. The circle is enchanted. I had a friend of


    mine set it up. She''s a witch of old magic who works for our pack a lot. You''ll meet her soon," she said.


    "Anyway, the flowers bloom year round and put off a feeling of peace and calm. The water is like a


    recharge. It gives you energy and drive when youe in contact with it. Being Luna is hard and tiring


    and sometimes you need a little extra charge," she exined. I knelt by the water and ran my hand in


    it. I felt energy run up my arm and through my body. I wanted to fall in.


    "This is amazing. It''s just what I needed. Thank you for showing me this, Alexa. I feel ten times better


    already," I said as I tossed my sandals aside andy back in the flowers. I stuck my feet in the water


    and felt the energy creep up my legs. I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes and rxed. I felt


    Alexa''s hand on my stomach. It was silent for a moment as she just rubbed my small baby bump. If I


    weren''t pregnant, this situation would be weird.


    Alexa talked to me about being Luna and everything to expect. She told me about the Luna ceremony


    and told me stories about when she was Luna. It was nice to finally know what to expect.


    "If you ever need help with the baby, just call me, or have Eli mind-link me, okay? I got my second try


    right anyway," Alexa joked. I opened my eyes as I interlocked my fingers at the start of my small bump.


    "You got both tries right. Elias is a good man; I know he is. He just... he gets overwhelmed easily and


    doesn''t know how to handle it. But I know he has a good heart," I defended him, looking at her. She


    squeezed my hand in hers and smiled gently at me.


    "I''m d that at least you see it," she smiled. "Speaking of, I should get you back before he gets too


    anxious andes out looking for you," she chuckled. She stood before she helped me up as well. I


    slipped my sandals back on before we walked back to the car and then drove home. Elias was pacing


    on the front porch. He pulled me into him the moment he saw me.


    "Nova, I''m so d you''re home. I was getting so worried, " he said, nestling his head in the crook of my


    neck. I giggled as his light stubble tickled my neck.


    "I''ve been in town with your mother all day. You had nothing to worry about," I said as he finally let go of


    me.


    "Trouble seems to follow you, cupcake," he said as he kissed the top of my head. I hit his chest lightly


    before I walked into the house. Elias followed Alexa and me through the house to the kitchen.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    "If you''re name is trouble, then yes," I said as I picked up the bell and jingled it. It was a second before


    Kendra came from around the corner. She was wearing a different variation of her nun outfit. She had


    her hands sped in front of her as she approached us cautiously.


    "Could you get each of us a ss of water?" I asked sweetly, trying to mimic Alexa''s poise. I didn''t miss


    the look of hatred before she turned to get three sses. Alexa touched my shoulder gently as Kendra


    set the sses of water down in front of us.


    "I had a great day with you, Nova. We''ll have to do it again," she smiled at me before she hugged me. I


    found myself smiling, too.


    "Thank you... for everything," I replied. She shot me a wink before she drank some of her water and


    stood.


    "I''m going to go see where Matt ran off to," she said. Elias gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.


    "I think he went to the training field. Love you, Mom," he said before she left. I drank my water quietly


    as I contemted my day with Alexa. I found myself thinking about what she said about being Luna


    and it made me think.


    "Why haven''t I met the pack yet?" I asked. Elias nearly choked on the water. He set the cup down as I


    pat his back. When he calmed down, he looked at me incredulously.


    "You want to?" he asked shocked. I only shrugged.


    "Your mother was telling me about the Luna ceremony. Why haven''t we had one yet?" I asked.


    "I didn''t think you wanted it just yet. I was going to give you time to... ept it," he answered.


    "I have," I replied. Elias looked at me shocked and Kendra stared at me.


    "You can''t be serious?" she blurted. I looked at her with a polite but hostile smile.


    "You can go now," I said. She hesitated and stole a nce at Elias before she left. Elias was still


    blinking in shock.


    "You have?" Elias asked. I nodded.


    "I mean, it''s not like it''s really a choice, right? I''m the only option and Luna is too important of a title to


    leave it empty. When Mathias decides to pass Alpha back to you, you''ll need a Luna... and a mate.


    Who knows, I might even like it. Plus, I have your mother for help where I need it or don''t understand.


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    I''m your mate and we''re having a baby. I think it''s time I ept that I have to be Luna too," I exined.


    Elias was still for a moment before I was pulled into a breathless kiss.


    I melted into him as my arms went around his neck and pulled me impossibly closer. It was only the


    third real passionate kiss we had, and that was including the kiss we had when I went into heat. It was


    what my body yearned for. But he had been careful since the beginning. Always careful, especially so


    since I left, but then again, it was my fault. He was walking on eggshells because I put him there. I was


    a flight risk and he was trying not to spook me. I didn''t want him to walk on eggshells anymore. I was


    his and he was mine; whether he realized it yet or not.


    His hands were on my hips then my lower back. I was drinking him in and he was doing the same.


    Pulling away, I found myself breathless and at a loss for words.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    "I''ll set it up," Elias said breathlessly with a smile. He pecked me again before he released me all


    together. All of the sudden, I was craving his touch. I reached out and held his hand in mine. He smiled


    wider before leading me to the home office. He sat at his desk before setting me on hisp. He


    feathered a kiss on my neck before Taylor, Peyton, and Minnie entered the office. They sat at the couch


    and looked at us expectantly. "We have a Luna ceremony to prepare," Elias announced. Minnie


    squealed and rushed over to hug me. I chuckled as I hugged her back.


    "This is great! We have to go to Anna''s Tailor shop to get you fitted for a dress, but we''ll have to have a


    high waist because of the baby," she said excitedly. I stood and hesitated as I stretched.


    "Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I''m tired and my feet hurt," I said, rubbing my hand over my stomach.


    Elias scooped me up and stood with me. I sighed and shook my head at him.


    "What?" he asked. Taylor and Peyton stood.


    "We''ll handle the ceremony details, brother. You go take care of your mate," Taylor said. Elias carried


    me upstairs to our room andid me down on the bed.


    "When will I be able to walk on my own again?" I asked sarcastically. Elias only chuckled and kissed


    my cheek.


    "Maybe in a few years when we''re done having kids," he joked. "When do we get to find out the


    gender?" he asked. Iid back against the pillows and sighed as I rubbed my hand over my slightly


    protruding belly.


    "A few weeks. Do you really want to know? It could be a surprise," I said. He sat next to me and moved


    my shirt up to touch the taunt skin of my stomach.


    "If we have a son, I''ll have to start training him to be Alpha right away," he exined. I sighed.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "Why can''t you just let him be a normal boy? Why don''t you let him have a childhood?" I asked.


    "Because if it''s a boy, he''ll be born into the responsibility of Alpha. No ifs, ands, or buts," he replied. I


    rolled my eyes.


    "That''s how kids get messed up. I''m sure Lindsey Lohan was ''born into responsibility'' too, and now


    she''s a crack head. And what if we have a girl? Are you going to thrust all the Alpha responsibility onto


    her too?" I asked. He scoffed.


    "Absolutely not? Plus, the chance of a mixed-breed female offspring even having the Lycan gene is


    rare. You didn''t have it. Even if she was Lycan, she won''t be Alpha of Rigor Moon. It''s a male role," he


    exined.


    "That''s a bit sexist, don''t you think?" I said, raising an eyebrow at him. He sighed and rolled his eyes.


    "It''s not sexist, it''s the truth. There is no such think as a female Alpha, but we won''t have to worry about


    it. We''re having a boy; whether it be this pregnancy or the next one," he said.


    "Oh, hell no. What makes you think I''m getting pregnant again?" I asked incredulously. Getting


    pregnant the first time was an ident. Elias chuckled and kissed my temple before he stood.


    "With all the sex we''ll be having, it''s bound to happen," he said with a mischievous smirk before he


    went to the bathroom. Iy there gaping after him. I couldn''t believe how bluntly he put it. Actually, I


    could. I sighed and shook my head at myself. I couldn''t deny how excited I got at the thought. I still


    craved Elias in ways my brain couldn''tprehend, but I was used to it by now.


    After a moment, I got up and got dressed for bed. The t-shirt I wore was a little tight over my stomach,


    but I wasn''t ridiculously big yet. Elias came back into the room just as I finished pulling up my shorts.


    "What are you doing out of bed?" he asked worried, rushing to my side. I chuckled and got back in the


    bed. I sat criss cross and held my hands up in surrender.


    "Better?" I joked. He smiled softly and kissed my cheek before getting in next to me. "You know, there''s


    no way you''re keeping me on bed rest the duration of my pregnancy," I said. He shrugged.


    "Well, you won''t be lifting a finger around me, and per your rule, I don''t leave your side," he teased


    smugly. I shook my head and sighed.


    "I didn''t mean all the time. I just hated when you would leave me by myself all day before I left," I


    rified. Elias sighed and pulled me into hisp, cuddling me.


    "I know, and I''m sorry. It''s just... being away from you all day was easier than hearing how much you


    hated me," he admitted. My eyes searched his face. He was telling the truth. I could see the longing,


    hurt, and vulnerability in his face. I sighed before I pecked his cheek.


    "I don''t hate you Elias," I said quietly. He sat up against the headboard and opened his arms for me.


    "Come here, cupcake," he said softly. I snuggled closer to him, pressing my back into his chest. He


    moved my shirt to rub my stomach. "You''re my mate, and I love you," he muttered into my neck before


    he kissed my cheek. I smiled gently and put my hand over his. He interlocked our fingers and held it


    tightly.


    "I love you, too, Eli," I said quietly. He kissed my hand before tucking me under the covers. After turning


    off the lights, he got in the bed himself and rubbed my stomach until it lulled me to sleep.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    "Nova, wake up!" Minnie said loudly as she burst through the door. I groaned as Elias growled.


    "Minnie," he warned sternly.


    "Oh,e on, Eli. It''s already noon and we have a lot to do before the ceremony. Starting with the


    dress," Minnie pouted.


    "If she wants to sleep, let her sleep," Elias said. I sighed and sat up.


    "I''m awake," I grumbled. Minnie smiled and pulled me out of the bed. She dragged me to the bathroom


    and closed the door behind me. Just in time, too. I felt the acid rise in my throat. I positioned myself


    over the toilet just as the bile bubbled out of my mouth. I coughed in between throwing up. The morning


    sickness hadn''t been too bad. It was on and off so I guess I couldn''tin. I felt Elias'' hand on my


    back.


    "Are you okay?" he asked. I chuckled and went to the sink.


    "Elias, we''ve been over this. It''s just morning sickness," I said before I brushed my teeth. He kissed my


    cheek before Minnie took over. Elias started to back out of the bathroom. I rinsed my mouth and set my


    toothbrush back in its ce. I shot him a warning look.


    "You are not leaving me right now," I said. Elias hesitated but eventually stayed put.


    "Make sure you wear a strapless bra and shave everything," she said. I blushed before she left the


    bathroom and I was left with Elias. I turned my re on him.


    "You were seriously about to leave?" I asked. He shrugged and moved closer to me.


    "It looked like a girl thing," he said unsurely. I sighed and wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing


    him closer to me.


    "You''re not leaving me today," I said softly before I kissed him gently. His hands rested on my hips


    before he kissed my head.


    "I''ll be in the room," he gave in. I smiled lightly before he left the bathroom, closing the door behind him.


    I quickly got showered and ready for the day. Elias was waiting in the room as promised. He was


    already dressed and ready to go. He took my hand in his and we went down to meet Minnie. She


    dragged us into town to Anna''s Tailor shop. I was fitted and asked a series of questions before we went


    to get me maternity clothes. Afterwards we stopped for a bite to eat. Elias was minding his p''s and q''s.


    He was gentle and cautious, as well he should have been.


    "I''m getting tired," I said with a yawn. Minnie smiled knowingly.


    "I remember when I was pregnant with Rhett. He is the best thing that''s ever happened to me. Enjoy it


    while you can, Nova," she said. I found myself smiling slightly. It wasn''t perfect, but I knew I would love


    this baby. "If you''re up for it, maybe you could have Rhett for a few days to practice. You and Eli. Lord


    knows he''ll need the practice," she joked.


    "Minnie, I''m great with kids," he defended himself. Iughed.


    "Yeah right. You couldn''t even handle when we had na and Anya for a day," I pointed out. He


    pouted.


    "That was different... plus, the ending wasn''t quite as nned," he said vaguely. I remembered.


    "Being good with kids and taking care of kids ispletely different," Minnie said,ing to the


    rescue. "Lucky you have a sister-inw with a baby," she said, pointing her fork at him before finishing


    her food. After we were done eating, we went back home. I went straight up to our room and copsed


    on the bed. I sighed and draped my arm over my face. I felt the bed dip before my arm was removed


    from my face.


    "I set up another appointment for us to find out the sex of the baby," Elias said before he kissed my


    cheek. Heid down next to me and held my hand in his. I sighed and closed my eyes.


    "When?" I asked.


    "Two days," he said. I chuckled.


    "You''re so impatient," I noted. "It doesn''t matter anyway. I don''t want to know," I said. He sat up and


    looked at me surprised.


    "What do you mean?" he asked.


    "I want the gender of our baby to be a surprise... so it will be," I said.


    "Nova, please,e on. I can''t wait another six months to find out if we have an Alpha or a princess,"


    he said. I chuckled and ced his hand on my stomach.


    "One, I''m only two months pregnant, so it''s more like seven months. Two, our child is going to be


    Alpha; regardless of the gender, so it doesn''t really matter anyway," I exined. Elias sighed.


    "Female Alpha, won''t happen and never will," he said.


    "You should have faith that our baby, whether be male or female, will be strong and confident enough


    to lead this pack and take on whatever life throws at them," I said. He hesitated before he smiled


    gently.


    "You''re incredible, you know?" he said. "Okay, fine. As much as it''s going to kill me, we don''t have to


    find out the gender of our baby just yet," he said.


    "And?" I probed.


    "I''ll think about this whole ''girl Alpha'' thing, but I''m pretty sure we''re having a boy," he said. I smiled and


    pulled him into a deep kiss. He pulled away breathless and stared at me. "What was that for?" he


    asked. I only smiled.


    "That was for listening to me," I joked. He smirked.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "I should listen to you more often," he said. Iughed and rolled onto my side.


    "You should... goodnight, Elias," I said. He turned off the lights before getting into bed with me.


    "Goodnight, cupcake. I love you," he replied. I drifted off the sleep with a smile on my face.

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    The next few weeks passed in a blur. The constant checkups with the doctor told us that the baby was


    perfectly healthy. I was officially three months pregnant. Minnie let us practice with Rhett, as promised.


    Elias needed all the help he could get. It was good. We were getting along fine and things were finally


    looking up for us. Before I knew it, it was time for the Luna ceremony.


    Anna''s Tailor shop made me a dress that waspletely white. Because of the protruding belly, it had


    a high waist and flowed the rest of the way to my feet. Minnie had a cluster of girls do my hair and


    makeup. It was really unnecessary if you asked me, but no one ever asked. Plus, Minnie said the


    ceremony was tradition, and I wasn''t trying to mess with tradition in this particr sense. Once I was


    done-up, Minnie led me to a clearing in the woods. It was surrounded by tikki torches. The people were


    barely visible in the glow of the fire. There were twinkle lights surrounding the pond at the edge of the


    clearing. Minnie led me to it. She didn''t tell me much about the ceremony, just a summary. Elias was


    standing by the water and a priest was waiting for me in the water.


    Elias smiled when he saw me. He gave me a quick kiss before he helped me into the water. The priest


    held onto me gently as he held a hand up to the pack.


    "Tonight, we wee Novalyn Moore as Luna of the Rigor Moon pack. Is there any reason why this


    woman should not be Luna?" the priest asked. It was silent for a moment before he continued.


    "Novalyn Moore, you have chosen to ept your role as leader, mother, and giver. You shall be of kind


    heart and pure spirit. Should you choose to ept it, you are agreeing to be the mother figure to the


    pack. You shall put the needs of the pack first and rule beside our Alpha with a kindred spirit and gentle


    hands. Do you ept?" he asked. I took a shaky breath.


    "I, Novalyn Moore, of sound mind and free will, ept my role as Luna of the Rigor Moon pack," I


    recited. Minnie made sure I knew that part. The priest pinched my nose and submerged me under the


    water for a second before I resurfaced. Everyone cheered as Elias helped me out of the water. Elias


    wrapped me in a towel and kissed me gently.


    "I''m proud of you, cupcake," he whispered to me. I felt myself smile. Elias was back as Alpha, I was


    Luna, and we were having a baby. Afterwards, there was a celebration. I was free to wear anything


    semiformal. Minnie dressed me in a simple, long, grey sundress, which I was grateful for. Heading back


    out to the party, I was stopped by Nn. I smiled and hugged him.


    "Nn, what are you doing here?" I asked. He smiled back at me.


    "Alpha Elias invited me to your Luna ceremony," he said. I felt hands reach around me to rest on my


    stomach and immediately knew whom it was. I smiled at Elias.


    "You did that? You invited my brother?" I asked. Elias kissed my head.


    "Yeah, I knew how much it would mean to you. Your dad, Alpha Peter, and his pup, Mason should be


    around here as well," he said. I turned in his arms and smiled at him as my eyes started to water.


    "You did that for me? You''re not mad still?" I asked softly. He cupped my face in his hands and kissed


    me gently.


    "I would do anything for you, cupcake. Plus, I''m confident in us, and if I learned anything, it''s that the


    more I try to rein you in, the wilder you want to be. I can''t control you, I know that, so I''ll give you what


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    you want and hopefully that''ll be enough to keep you here with me," he exined. I smiled as a happy


    tear ran down my cheek.

 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    "Of course it''s enough. It''s always enough," I promised him. I kissed him gently before I turned back to


    Nn.


    "Let''s go find dad," I suggested. Nn cracked a smile and nodded.


    "Of course," he said. We found Peter and Dad over near the refreshments. I gave them each a quick


    hug. I turned and was immediately brought into a hug. There was two sets of growling. I let go and


    smiled at him before Elias wrapped an arm around my waist.


    "You''re getting bigger," Mason said as he put his hand on my stomach. I chuckled and looked at my


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    stomach as well. I forgot that thest time he saw me I wasn''t showing at all.


    "I am. I''m d to see you here," I said honestly. He smiled and dropped his hand; a girl at his side


    immediately picked it up. She was pretty. She was as short as me. She had wavy scarlet hair and


    narrowed brown eyes. Her full pouty lips were pulled back over her elongated teeth as she growled at


    me. Mason looked at her and blushed.


    "Oh, Nova, this is my mate, Jessica," he said. I smiled at her.


    "Finally! It''s nice to meet you, Jessica," I greeted her.


    "Jessica, this is Luna of the Rigor Moon pack, and my best friend, Nova," he introduced me. Jessica


    stopped snarling and bowed her head respectfully.


    "Luna... I apologize," she said. I onlyughed.


    "It''s okay, really," I forgave her. Elias kissed my head and held my hand gently. I turned to Mason and


    smiled.


    "I''m happy for you, Mason," I said honestly. My brother touched my stomach gently.


    "Do you know if it''s a girl or a boy yet?" he asked.


    "We want it to be a surprise," I answered. Elias scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Okay, I want it to be a


    surprise," I chuckled.


    "That doesn''t surprise me," Nn chuckled as he shook his head at me. The party was good. I met a


    lot of the pack members and it was good. The people were so nice. They all called me Luna and were


    very respectful. We partied until I couldn''t party anymore. Elias was practically carrying me by the end


    of the night. I was determined to see thest person out. Mathias and Alexa stayed with us all night.


    Alexa touched my stomach gently.


    "You''ve got a strong girl in there," Alexa said with a smile. I smiled along with her.


    "I think so, too," I agreed with her. Elias rolled his eyes.


    "Boy. He''s going to be a strong Alpha," Elias said.


    "Damn right," Mathias agreed.


    "Matt," Alexa scolded him. Elias and Mathias onlyughed together. It was a good family moment.


    Alexa took my hand and started leading me towards the house.


    "Mom, where are you taking Nova?" Elias asked.


    "To bed. This isn''t healthy for a growing baby. Nova needs sleep," Alexa said. She took me upstairs


    without another word from Elias. She ran a bath for me and set up a nightgown on the bed. I soaked in


    the tub and washed up before I got dressed. Alexa rubbed oil over my stomach until I started dozing


    off. Elias came in the room and just got in the bed beside me. Alexa kissed my hand before she smiled


    at me.


    "Get some sleep, my daughter. We''ll catch up moreter," Alexa said softly. Elias pulled me into his


    side. I had no problem curling into him as much as I could with my baby bump.

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    The next few months passed faster than I was ready for. Elias and I were practicing with Rhett. Elias


    was slowly getting the hang of it. My stomach was expanding more than I was expecting. I expanded


    all the way to eight months. Our little baby was growing so quickly and he or she was healthy and


    thriving. My stomach got so big that I couldn''t see my feet standing up. I wobbled like a balloon, my feet


    were swollen, and I couldn''t even sleepfortably anymore. I was always tired and cranky. I got


    weirder food cravings and mood swings.


    I wobbled down the stairs to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. I opened the fridge and grabbed a banana


    with some hot sauce...


    Yeah, the cravings were that weird.


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    "Hey beautiful," Elias said as he entered the kitchen and kissed my cheek. I felt my lip tremble as my


    eyes watered. I burst out in tears. Elias frowned and quickly pulled me into a hug. "Oh crap, Nova,


    what''s wrong? Is it the baby?" he asked. I sobbed as I nodded.


    "I''m fat and swollen and you just lied to me to make me feel good... You must really love me," I cried.


    Elias hesitated before he chuckled and kissed my head. I cried against his chest for no reason at all.


    And there go the mood swings...


    "You are more beautiful than ever, cupcake. I''m not lying," he chuckled. Elias chuckled while I cried. He


    "It''s not funny!" I red at him through my tears. He couldn''t help but tough.


    "I know, honey," he smiled. I huffed a breath before I sniffled and wiped my cheeks. Alexa and Mathias


    walked into the house hand-in-hand. They frowned when they saw us.


    "What''s wrong?" Mathias asked immediately. Elias smirked at me before turning to his parents.


    "She cried because she thought I was lying to her to make her feel better," he exined with a


    chuckled. A few more tears slipped out as I sniffled.


    "He said I was beautiful," I cried in a small voice. Mathias and Alexaughed as they sat at the other


    couch. Alexa held one of my hands in hers.


    "Hormones?" she asked. I nodded before I turned and red at Elias.


    "This is your fault," I snapped at him. Elias only chuckled as he shook his head at me and continued to


    rub my feet. I finally calmed down and closed my eyes. Elias'' parents talked with Elias while I rxed. I


    felt an ufortable push in my lower regions before a flow of liquid escaped from between my legs.


    My eyes shot open as I tried to look at my crotch. I couldn''t see over my stomach.


    "What''s happening?" I asked out loud. Elias'' wide and shocked eyes met mine.


    "Your water just broke," Alexa answered. My hands flew to my stomach.


    "Oh no. No, it didn''t. It couldn''t have. I''m not ready yet! The baby isn''t due for a few more weeks!" I


    said, trying to sit up.


    "Let''s get you upstairs," Elias said frantically. The pressure increased on my pelvis as I gripped the


    couch in pain.


    "Hell no! Are you crazy? Take me to the hospital right now!" I yelled at him. Elias froze and looked at


    his parents before he looked at me.


    "A homebirth isn''t that bad, Nova. I heard it was actually better because you''ll be morefortable in a


    ce you recognize," Elias said. I red at him.


    "We''re going... to a hospital," I practically growled at him.


    "You two didn''t discuss this before now?" Alexa asked bewildered.


    "No!" we said simultaneously, never looking away from each other. I felt a contraction and held back


    the need to push as I grit my teeth. Elias froze and just scratched his head. Alexa huffed a breath and


    rolled her eyes as she helped me up.


    "For heaven''s sake, child. Now is not the time to ponder," she said as she helped me towards the door.


    I couldn''t stand up all the way. I hunched over as I ced a hand on my back. I cried out as another


    contraction hit me.


    "Now, let''s go now," Mathias said urgently, snapping Elias out of it. We all piled into the truck and


    Mathias sped to the hospital.

 Chapter 59

    Chapter 59


    Elias and Alexa tried tofort me in the backseat of the spacious SUV. We arrived at the hospital in


    minutes. A wheelchair was brought to the SUV and I was wheeled inside. I couldn''t help it anymore; I


    needed to push. They quickly changed me into a hospital gown and led me towards the bed; although,


    I didn''t quite make it. I ended up squatting on the side of the bed and pushing. I yelled out as I felt


    myself being stretched wide open. I screamed and clutched Elias'' awaiting hand. He was standing


    beside me. Alexa and Mathias had to wait in the waiting room.


    "The baby ising right now," the nurse closet to me said. The doctors and nurses shifted to where I


    was at the side if the bed.


    "She''s crowning. The head is right here," the doctor said, kneeling behind me. Elias rubbed my back


    gently as the doctor reached under my hospital gown. "Luna, I need you to push," the doctor said. I


    took a deep breath and pushed. The push turned into a scream as I felt like I was being ripped in two. I


    was sweating and tears were running down my face. I took staggered breaths as I tried to catch my


    breath.


    "Come on, cupcake, you can do it," Elias said rubbed his thumb on my hand gently. I huffed as I looked


    at him in pain.


    "I hate you," I breathed. I didn''t actually hate him, I was just in a lot of pain, and I''m d he understood


    that. Elias'' lip pulled up slightly.


    "I know, honey," he said.


    After three more pushes, I finally heard crying. I felt like crying myself as my lower regions felt like


    someone just took a chainsaw to them, but as the nurses moved around me as I sighed in relief and


    copsed by the bed. I rested my head against the side of the bed and let my eyes close. Elias picked


    me up off the floor andid me in the bed. The movement hurt, but it felt better finally being able toy


    down and be off of my legs. Elias kissed my damp head gently and smiled.


    "You did it, cupcake," he said happily. The nurse handed my now clean baby to me.


    "Congrattions, Luna, Alpha; it''s a girl. She weighs seven pounds and five ounces," the nurse


    exined. To my knowledge, that was a little small for a newborn, but she looked healthy otherwise,


    and she was alive with no major issues, so I was happy. I smiled down at our little strawberry blonde


    haired girl. She had a head full of damp hair and looked about as red as a tomato from all that yelling


    she was doing. She was so tiny. When she calmed down, her little red face turned pink and her wide,


    doe-like almond eyes looked at me. She had Elias'' crystal gray eyes with flecks of gold. I fell in love


    with her immediately. After a moment of cooing at her, I handed her to Elias. He held her gently as he


    rocked.


    "Hi princess," he cooed as he kissed her head. He went mushy as he baby-talked to her. It made my


    heart melt. A momentter, Mathias, Alexa, Taylor, and Minnie walked in. They each took turns with our


    little girl. She was a happy baby.


    "Have you thought of a name yet?" Alexa asked as she handed my little girl back to me. I smiled down


    at her fiery red hair and knew immediately. I discussed names with Elias a few times but we never


    actually picked one because we didn''t know if she would be a boy or a girl. I was d she was a girl.


    "Kennedy-Este Noel," I smiled. "Noel was my mother''s name," I exined. The nurses checked all


    my vitals before they took Kennedy''s as well. The door creaked open as the nurse was handing


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Kennedy back to me. I smiled in surprise when Nn, my dad, Mason, and his mate, Jessica, walked


    in.


    "She''ll need to be fed soon," the nurse exined before she left the room. I was left in a room full of


    family.


    "Wh-What are you guys doing here?" I asked.


    "Alpha...sorry, Mathias called when you went intobor. We got here as soon as we could," Alpha Peter


    exined before he turned to Mathias. "You''ll always be Alpha in my mind," Peter exined.


    "As well you when the timees, my friend," Mathias said in understanding. My dad walked to my


    bedside first.


    "Dad, meet your granddaughter, Kennedy Este Noel Madsen," I smiled at him. My dad held her


    carefully and smiled at her. I think he even had tears in his eyes.


    "She looks just like you, Novalyn," he smiled. My brother held her next. Kennedy was passed around


    as everyone got a look at her. She was pretty calm the whole time until she was ready to eat. She


    coughed out a little cry before she was handed to me. Everyone except Elias left the room to give me


    privacy. I fed a very hungry Kennedy, burped her, and then rocked her to sleep. I was exhausted, sore,


    tired, and slightly medicated, but happy. Elias took Kennedy''s sleeping figure gently.


    "Get some rest, love. She''ll still be here when you wake up, okay?" he said quietly. I nodded and let my


    eyes droop close. He continued to rock her as I let myself sleep.

 Chapter 60

    Chapter 60


    Taking Kennedy Este home was a relief. I felt like the doctors and nurses at the hospital worried a


    little too much over Kennedy and I because of our titles. It was nice to get back to a quiet and peaceful


    home. Kennedy was a beautiful baby. Apparently, while I was still in the hospital, Mathias, Peter,


    Mason, Nn, and my dad got together and finished the baby room. Elias was always either with me or


    Kennedy so he didn''t help them.  I was excited to see it, but first I had to get inside the house. I closed


    the door to the car and started shuffling quickly to the front door. My lower regions had to be sewn back


    together after giving birth to Kennedy so I was definitely sore in that department and it made me walk


    slow.


    "Take it slow. You''re going to rip your stitches," Elias said as he held on to my waist to help me walk. I


    chuckled and swatted his hands away even though I probably needed the help.


    "I''m fine Eli," I said as I walked to inside and to the living room. Elias had been coddling me since I


    started walking again.


    "You should be babying Kennedy, not your mate, dear. She''s as stubborn as a mule. I''m sure she can


    take care of her own. Child birth is just something us women have to endure. We''re built for it, dear.


    Leave her be," Alexa said as she walked in behind us holding Kennedy in her seat. I sat in the couch


    and looked for Kennedy immediately.


    "I''m just trying to make sure Nova is being careful, Ma. You heard what the doctor said: 24 hours watch


    afterwards to be safe," Elias said to his mother. I rolled my eyes, They were talking about me like I


    wasn''t sitting right here. I was still wearing a maternal sundress because with the baby fat, I still looked


    pregnant. I nned on getting rid of that as quick as possible, but Kennedy was worth it. Elias and


    Alexa sat in the living room with me.


    "I''m a little sore but I''m fine, Eli. Stop worrying," I assured him. He didn''t look convinced but he let it go.


    After Kennedy''s birth, Elias and I got closer if that was even possible. I understood his constant


    worrying over me a little better, too. I felt the same way about Kennedy. Alexa picked Kennedy out of


    the seat and cooed at her as she cradled my baby in her arms.


    "Hi Ste. It''s m-ma," Alexa cooed. Alexa had gotten in the habbit of just calling Kennedy Ste, In


    fact, everyone had their own little nickname for her. Nn and Dad called her Kenny, Mason and


    Jessica called her Noodles-- I have no idea where they got that from, and Taylor, Minnie, Mathias, and


    Peter called her Ste as well. Elias and I called her by her birth name, Kennedy.


    "m-ma?" I questioned. Alexa only smirked at me.


    "I''m too fabulous to be called grand just yet," she exined. Iughed heartily as Elias rolled his eyes.


    "Mom, can I have my daughter please?" Elias said amused. Alexa rolled her eyes before she handed


    Kennedy over.


    "Don''t be fooled boy, I''ll get my m-ma time, " Alexa scolded him jokingly before she sat back in her


    seat on the couch. We chuckled at his amazing and crazy mother. Elias smiled and cradled our


    daughter in his arms.


    "She''s going to be a pale little red-head," Alexa noted. I chuckled.


    She is very fiar. She may even get my freckles. When do we find out if she inherited the Lycan gene?" I


    asked curiously.


    "There are typically signs early in in childhood, but we won''t know for sure until she hits puberty if she


    will shift or not. There have been rare cases where a girl can have Lycan qualities and senses but


    never shift," Mathias said as he came into the living room from upstairs. He kissed Alexa gently before


    he sat next to her. Kennedy''s cry kick started and Elias handed her to me almost immediately. I had to


    hold back augh. Elias always freaked out and looked like a kicked puppy when Kennedy started


    crying. I think he always got nervous that he did something wrong. Kennedy''s little face grew red as it


    scrunched adorably. For a small baby, she had a echoing cry. Her arms and legs squirmed as she


    screamed.


    "Someone os going to be feisty," Mathias said as wrapped an arm around Alexa. Alexa practically


    swooned as she leaned into her mate. They were so cute. I smiled to myself because I knew Elias and


    I would be the same way one day as we look at our grandchildren.


    "She is, and something tells me she''s going to be a diva, too. Just like her mother," Elias joked. I stuck


    a free elbow out and jabbed him in the ribs.


    "Hey!" I protested. Mathias and Alexa onlyughed.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    "She''s probably hungry. Now is a good time to show you the nursery. There''s a rocker for you to feed in


    if you want to use it now," Alexa said. I smiled and nodded.


    "I''m excited to see it," I admitted. Alexa cradled Kennedy in her arms as Elias helped me up the stairs.


    Considering I really needed the help this time, I allowed it. When we got to the nursery, I was stunned.


    The walls were a lightvender color and there was a mural of a pack of wolves howling at the moon


    on the back wall with Kennedy''s full name writing across it in cursive letters. There was a crib, rocking


    chair, baby rocker, changing table, and y pen all corresponding with the theme of the walls. I felt my


    eyes water on their own ord. They didn''t have to do all this. At the moment, I just felt so grateful that


    I was surrounded and supported by so many loved ones.


    "This is... beautiful. This is way more than I expected," I said hoarsely as a lump took over my throat.


    Mathias only chuckled.


    "We all wanted to make sure it was perfect for when Kennedy arrived, " Mathias exined. In that


    moment, I felt like everything would be okay. Sure there were going to be bumps ahead, and Elias and


    I wouldn''t get along one hundred percent of the time, but at that moment, all felt right in the world and I


    knew whatever happened, I would get through it with my mate, my daughter, and my pack. They were


    all family, and I fully epted my fate.


    "It is perfect," I smiled.

 Chapter 61: Epilogue

    Chapter 61: Epilogue


    "Eli! Kennedy!" I yelled up the stairs before I wobbled back to the dining room. I was pregnant... again,


    and almost to full term. Kennedy came barreling down the stairs first and met me in the dining room. I


    was still setting up for dinner.


    "I can help, mom," Kennedy said as she went to get more food from the kitchen. Kennedy-Este was


    14 years old now and every bit as beautiful as the day she was born. She had curly copper-red hair


    and clear, radiant blue-gray eyes. She was pale and inherited my freckles. She actually burned in the


    sun very easily too. She was every bit of me as we expected. She was a feisty diva, strong-willed,


    stubborn, and very athletic.


    Kennedy finished setting the table as Elias strolled into the dining room. He held me gently and kissed


    me.


    "Hi, cupcake," he smiled. I chuckled. He never stopped calling me that, but I learned to live with it.


    "You said that ten minutes ago when you came down to check on me... again," I emphasized. Elias


    chuckled and shrugged. Oh yeah, his protectiveness never died down. In fact, he was even more


    protective over me because I was pregnant again and due any day now with our second child:


    A baby boy.


    Just then, the doorbell rang. Kennedy smiled and ran to the door.


    "I got it!" she yelled. Elias and I exchanged a knowing look.


    "Oh boy," Elias sighed. I chuckled and went to greet our guests.


    "I wasn''t expecting them to be back so soon," I admitted as we met up with everyone in the foyer.


    "Oh, Nova, you look absolutely stunning!" Alexa gushed as she pulled me into a hug. Iughed as


    Mathias pped his son on the back at the same time.


    "I thought you guys would be gone for another week," Elias asked his parents. They looked at each


    other before they shrugged. Kennedy held onto Elias'' hand as she practically bounced in ce; her


    eyes darting everywhere.


    "Jessie was getting home sick, and frankly, so were we. Plus, we didn''t want to risk missing the birth of


    our second grandchild," Mathias exined with augh. Jessie was a boy who was the same age as


    Kennedy that we took into our home after his parents died when he was only four years old. Jessie had


    brown hair and green eyes. He was just as athletic as Kennedy. Jessie was a Lycan also. He actually


    shifted when he was 12 years old. Kennedy and Jessie have been inseparable since they met. They


    were best friends. Once a year, Alexa and Mathias would take Jessie on vacation and spoil him rotten.


    Alexa imed it was to make him feel more apart of the whole family, but after their trip to Italy, I was


    convinced that Alexa just wanted an excuse to travel.


    "Where is Jess?" Kennedy asked excitedly. Every time Jessie and Kennedy were separated, they got


    antsy and anxious until they were reunited again. I had a theory that they were mates, but we wouldn''t


    know until they turned 18 years old.


    "He''s getting the bags out of the car," Mathias answered with a chuckle. Kennedy smiled before she


    darted out the front door. We all chuckled at her excitement.


    "I tell you, that girl..." Alexa shook her head with a rxed smile. "Has she shifted yet?" Alexa asked.


    My smile faltered as I shook my head. It was amon question concerning Kennedy and the answer


    was always the same. Early in her childhood, Kennedy showed great promise for the gene. She was a


    fast learner, she was athletically gifted, she had Lycan hearing and sight, and so on, but she hit puberty


    when she turned 14 years old almost a year ago now and... nothing. Of course, growing up with me as


    a mother, she knew about werewolves. I didn''t care what the rules were. I told her when she was 8


    years old because I didn''t want her to be blindsided, or lost and confused like I was when the werewolf


    world was thrust onto me. Elias and I argued long and hard about telling her since the day she was


    born, but I eventually got my way... as usual.


    "It''s a strong possibility that Kennedy doesn''t have the gene, Nova," Elias said softly. I red at him


    briefly.


    "She has the gene. She''s just ate bloomer, is all," I defended. I firmly believed it, too. I just had a


    feeling. "She''s strong... stronger than she should be. She''s special, and I''m not just saying that


    because I''m her mother. I see it. Kennedy is going to make a great leader... a great Alpha one day.


    You''ll see," I said confidently.


    Kennedy and Jessie ran inside with the bags and sprinted straight up the stairs. Elias'' parents, Elias,


    and I moved to the living room to talk more. I took a seat with Elias on the plush gray loveseat and


    Mathias and Alexa sat on the longer couch perpendicr to us.


    "I think a female Alpha would be good for the Lycan world," Alexa shrugged before she crossed her


    legs. Mathias'' arm went around his mate subconsciously out of habit as Elias did the same to me.


    "Not a chance. You know how strict some packs are on tradition. Some packs still perform Kieowani.


    Having an Alpha who is a shewolf is just asking for trouble," Mathias argued. I winced slightly. Kieowani


    was considered a mercy killing of a Lycan after said-Lycan''s mate passed away. Some packs thought


    of it as a favor to rid the widow or widower of their misery. I just saw it as inhumane.


    "Maybe, but who knows? It might be the turn of a new era," Alexa countered. And as always, it was my


    mother-inw who got thest word as the subject changed. As we were talking, a loud blood-curdling


    scream came from upstairs.


    It was Kennedy.


    She sounded like she was in a lot of pain. I jumped up and ran for the stairs with the others on my


    heels. Elias, however, held me back. I fought him as I tried to get to my little girl.


    "Nova, the baby... take it easy. We''ll go see what''s wrong," Elias exined in a rush to try to get me to


    calm down. I elbowed him in the ribs in an attempt to get free. Before I could break free or say


    anything, Jessie was in front of us cradling Kennedy. She was whimpering and squirming. There was a


    cold sweat on her forehead and her face was red. Jessie looked scared and worried.


    "W-We were ying around and she just froze and stopped breathing. When she got her breath back,


    something snapped and she screamed before she just copsed," Jessie exined frantically. I was so


    worried about my daughter that no logical thought or exnation of what was happening came to my


    mind. We all just kind of froze, not knowing what to do until a loud snapping noise filled the silence


    followed by another scream from Kennedy. The snapping was wet and strong... it was nauseating. I


    thought I was going to throw up right there on the spot. Her scream was loud enough to make my ears


    bleed, but I didn''t care at the moment. Something was wrong with my daughter. I thought of taking her


    to the hospital but Mathias piped up before I could voice my thought.


    "Ste''s shifting," Mathias announced. I was ted and worried at the same time. I was happy that I


    was right about Kennedy being ate bloomer, but I was also worried about the amount of pain she


    seemed to be in. No mother wants to see their child in pain. Tears rolled down her cheeks as her


    copper, red hair began matting to her sweaty face. Elias gently took Kennedy from Jessie.


    "Okay... Jessie, run to the closest store and get ice... lots of it. Mom, I need you to grab her a set of


    spare clothes. Dad, I need you to get towels. All of you, meet me out at the small clearing when you


    have everything. Nova, I need you to stay here," Elias ordered. Everyone scampered off except me. My


    blood boiled as Elias started towards the front door cradling Kennedy gently. How was I just supposed


    to wait when my daughter needed me?


    "I''ming with you," I protested. Elias sighed in frustration but continued walking.


    "A werewolf''s first shift is out of control and unpredictable. I know you want to be there for Kennedy, but


    you would only get in the way and put yourself, as well as our baby in harm''s way. First shifts have led


    to murder countless times because of how crazy it can get around humans. Please... just trust me and


    listen to me just this once. My dad, mom, and I have helped hundreds of wolves on their first shift and


    we know what we''re doing. Please just trust me... She''s going to be fine. She''s in good hands," Elias


    said in a rush as he stopped on the gravel road in front of the house. I stopped on the porch and


    sighed, letting him go. I decided to listen to Elias...


    Just this once.


    "Take care of my baby," I said to him as I gave in. Elias smiled softly and looked at our daughter before


    looking back to me with a soft smile.


    "With my life," he promised before he ran off at werewolf speed to the nearby trees. He moved so fast


    that all I saw was a blur. I still wasn''t used to that... even after 15 years of knowing what he was. I


    rested my hand of my enormous stomach and went back inside, locking the door behind me just in


    case. Bored, I went to our master bedroom on the fourth floor and called Nn. He was doing well as


    Still Water''s Beta. He also found his mate and they had a little boy together. I still talked to my twin


    brother, Mason, and my dad often.


    "Hello??" Nn finally answered on the fourth ring.


    "I''m freaking out," I blurted as I began to pace in front of the foot of the bed.


    "Nova? What''s wrong? Did you go intobor? Kerstie and I will meet you at the hospital," Nn


    rambled. If I wasn''t so worried about Kennedy, I probably would haveughed at how worried and


    excited Nn sounded.


    "No, Nn. This bun is still cooking. it''s about Kennedy. She''s going through her first shift right now in


    the woods with Eli, his parents, and Jessie, and I''m stuck in the house," I exined. Nn whooped


    excitedly.


    "Congrats, sis! Little Ste got the gene," he congratted excitedly. I rolled my eyes and stopped


    pacing as I rested my hand on the top on my stomach.


    "I knew Kennedy would get the gene from the start. I just had no idea it would cause her to be in so


    much pain. I''m stuck in the house and my baby girl is suffering. Maybe I should go and check on her," I


    thought out loud.


    "Okay, stop. One, Ste is a teenager now. She''s four years away from being 18. I''m sure if she heard


    you calling her your ''baby girl'', she would roll her eyes and tell you that she''s not a baby, and she isn''t.


    Two, everyone else calls her Ste except you, your mate, and Jessie. You guys need to get with the


    program already. And three, you need to stay in the house. It''s safer for you and your unborn child.


    Going out there would be suicide, and Ste would never forgive herself if she hurt either one of you


    and you know that. You don''t have the capability to defend yourself if anything went wrong. Every


    Lycan goes through it, Nova. She''ll be hurting for an hour or two, but she''ll survive; I promise," Nn


    tried to reassure me. I worried my bottom lip as I thought about his points. I knew he was right, I just


    wanted to be there for my daughter.


    "But-"


    "Nova... Ste has two Alphas, a Luna, and her best friend in the whole world to help her through this.


    That''s more support than a lot of werewolves get for their first shift. Some of them have even had to go


    through it alone. Ste is in the best hands possible and you would just get in the way and cause


    trouble," Nn cut me off. I took a deep breath and calmed down slightly. He was right after all.


    "Thanks Nn," I said sincerely. I had to admit, talking with him made me feel better about the whole


    ordeal because I knew he went through it himself. "And Nn?" I said, remembering something he


    said.


    "Yes?" he answered, drawing out the ''e'' unnecessarily.


    "Kennedy is the name I gave her, so Kennedy is what you all should call her," I said in a scolding


    manner. I wasn''t really angry though. Everyone except Elias and I had been calling her Ste since she


    was born. Nn onlyughed.


    "No can do, sis. Plus, Kennedy is only one of the names you gave her. Ste fits her better. It''s a name


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    that says ''I''m a stubborn diva. Don''t mess with me''. She reminds me a lot of you back when we were


    teenagers. She''s stubborn, sarcastic, witty, bold, strong-willed, and impossible to ignore. The name,


    Ste, has spunk, just like Kennedy does in actuality," Nn exined. I smiled to myself lightly.


    "Fine, whatever," I muttered because I knew I''d lost the argument, but I would never admit that. Nn


    onlyughed at me.


    "Okay, loser... Oh! Kerstie says hi and wants to know when you want to go for brunch again," Nn


    said, off topic. I figured she must have walked into the room. Kerstie was a sweetheart. I was d my


    brother had a mate as kind-hearted and wonderful as she was.


    "Whenever Elias lets me off of ''impendingbor watch'' and you can find a sitter for Oakley," I answered


    jokingly. There was muffled conversation on the other end before Nn wasughing in my ear again.


    "She said, ''so never then?'' Alright sis, Oakley is getting home from ser practice so I have to get


    going," Nn said with a breath. I sighed and began to make my way to the third floor of the empty


    house.


    "Okay, I love you, Nn. Talk to youter and tell Kerstie that we will get together soon. Even if I have


    to slip past my security detail. Love you guys, bye," I said my final words before I hit the ''end'' button


    and just held the phone in my hand. I found myself wandering into Kennedy''s room. I went to her


    picture mural of the far left wall and couldn''t help but smile at it. The entire wall was covered in pictures


    of her family, pack and friends, as well as her inspirations and dreams. It was truly a beautiful idea.


    Everything on this wall was important to Kennedy.


    One picture in particr jumped out at me. It was a picture of Kennedy and Jessie when they were


    seven years old. They were in matching blue ser uniforms, hugging each other as they smiled at the


    camera. Only thing was, they were both covered in mud. Kennedy''s wild, red hair was frizzy and all


    over the ce. Jessie''s brown hair was disheveled as well and his giant grin was missing his two front


    teeth.


    The day that picture was taken, they didn''t even y in the game. It rained earlier that day so those


    two troublemakers had the bright idea to try to slide of the mud like penguins. They snuck off and


    slipped up and down the muddy terrain for the first five minutes before we noticed they were gone.


    They were all smiles when we finally found them covered in mud. I was scared at first when I couldn''t


    find them, but they were just innocent kids looking for some fun and adventure. That was one of the


    best days we had, even though it started off as a scare of losing two kids. Kennedy begged for a


    picture after we finally found them.


    That picture made me realize how fast Kennedy was growing up. I felt like if I blinked, I would miss


    everything. And now I had another baby on the way to feel the same way about.


    Kennedy was a strong independent girl and I knew she would make a great Alpha. Elias may fight me


    again on the topic, but I knew I would eventually get my way because it was impossible to ignore how


    Kennedy was a force of nature to be reckoned with. She was a natural born leader and I knew she


    could change the world. Just like I knew she would be a werewolf, I knew she would eventually be


    Alpha Kennedy-Este Noel Madsen...


    The start of a whole new world.

 Chapter 62: She鈥檚 the Alpha

    Chapter 62: She¡¯s the Alpha


    Sequel to ''My Name is Not Cupcake''.


    Kennedy-Este Noel Madsen is the first-born daughter of Alpha Elias and Luna Novalyn. This should


    be normal, like any other werewolf Alpha family, but it''s not. Ste, as she likes to be called, has been


    groomed to be the first female Alpha in history, but not everyone is on board with this new era.


    After her pack is attacked by a sexist Alpha, Ste has to do two things she never imagined she would


    have to do:


    1. Rely on someone else .


    2. And confront her Alpha mate.


    Ste is torn between being loyal to her pack as their Alpha or epting her Alpha mate and bing


    a Luna, the opposite of what she truly is.


    There can only be one Alpha who reigns victorious. Will it be Ste or her mate?


    ~


    The sequel follows Nova¡¯s daughter, Ste, and her struggle to be the first ever female Alpha.


    Personal Author¡¯s Thoughts:


    I don''t think it should be as easy as talking to reject a mate. I think the bond still sticks, even if you do


    end up with someone else, because let''s face it, we as people still feel love to people we say we''ve


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    forgotten all the time. This is supposed to be more intense and special. It''s a mate bond, for crying out


    loud. It doesn''t just go away.


    The werewolves in this book have a very old school way of thinking. Well, all except Ste''s mother


    (who is a human hybrid with a dormant werewolf gene, by the way).


    Ste¡¯s Intro:


    I didn''t want this. I didn''t want to be Luna. I had everything nned down to the dress I would wear at


    my inaugural ceremony. I was supposed to be the Alpha of the Rigor Moon pack. The first female


    Alpha.


    Looks like that wasn''t happening any time soon...


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!