15. Those Gray Eyes
AURELIA
For a pack that has been thriving on military power and ability, Black Fur looked festive for the first time since I became a member of the pack. The pack hasn't welcomed anyone into its territory in the past five years... no one except my kids and I. Even for us, it took more than a year after I had my babies for the pack members to fully trust and accept us.
But the Pack Games which will be kicking off tomorrow have changed the system of the pack. Ever since Alpha Tristan announced the competition to the pack last week, every pack member has been preparing to be a part of the competition.
The warriors, the healers, the kids and even the older wolves have been assigned to carry out various duties and unfortunately for me, I have been assigned to the guest house that Tristan had prepared for all visiting Alphas and their men. I was to welcome them and help them settle in with some other warriors and omegas.
Although I was no longer an omega because I had become a warrior, I still worked with the omegas and in fact, my best friend, Hazel was an omega but unlike Dark Moon pack where omegas are treated like shits, Black Fur made sure they are respected and safe. "You're zoning out again, Lia." Hazel uttered, bumping her shoulder into mine.
My eyes cut to hers and I noticed the lines on her face as she stared at me, expecting answers but I shrugged as I stated, "I'm fine, Hazel."
"You don't seem like it." Her hazel eyes held questions and worry and I sighed. She has gotten to know me better than anyone in the past five years and I was grateful for her. "Are you missing the kids today as well?" Aah!
That was the excuse I had given to Hazel yesterday and the day before that and the day... you know? I've been lying to her while we work together to welcome the arriving Alphas to their rooms for the past three days.
"Yes." I lied again. Or perhaps it wasn't entirely a lie. I did miss my babies. I would have preferred spending time with them than staying here and dreading the arrival of the man I never wanted to see again. He hasn't shown up and I was beginning to think he wouldn't since he and his people haven't shown up despite the time. "I haven't been able to spend enough quality time with them and I can't help but worry."
My eyes scanned the open area in front of the guest house where different cars have been parked. Most of the Alphas have arrived and they are all settling in but my heart still anticipated yet dread the arrival of one-Alpha Raiden.
"Goddess, keep him away from me and-" I started saying to myself.
But a tiny voice that I was yet to get accustomed to despite the many years I've had to cut me off, muttering softly in my head, "I sense him."
That was my wolf.
Although she surfaced after I had my babies, she doesn't speak to me much. I was still strange to me that she only surfaced after Kyle and Katie were born but I wouldn't want to change that. She was a part of me that I have come to love dearly. "What?" I gasped, using the mindlink between my wolf and I.
Her soft voice reverberated again, "He is here, Relia. He is right there." She broke that news to me just in time for me to notice the luxurious black car that just arrived in front of the guest house.
"Lia? Are you sure you're alright?" Hazel's voice hit my eardrums but my eyes were glued to the car as its doors opened.
I found myself hyperventilating as four men alighted from the car. Two of whom I recognized immediately. Beta Andrew and him... Raiden. He really was here and I had nowhere to hide.
"You've no reason to hide, Relia. We despise him." My wolf gritted, her raw anger pumping into my veins while my gaze refused to see anyone else but Alpha Raiden as he laughed at something his Beta whispered to him. He appeared happy and my heightened senses could finally sense the real power he carried. My wolf, Inara, voiced clearly, "I despise him and I have been waiting to see him. He'll regret what he did to you. I'll make sure of that so stand firm and show him who you have become."
Inara's rage boiled underneath my skin yet my heart clenched painfully while Hazel stood before me, holding my arm and standing in between the oblivious Alpha and I. "Lia? You're scaring me." Hazel called for me, shaking my body gently.
My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. My breath was uneven yet I could tell that my face was completely void of emotions even though Inara's anger had triggered mine as well... I wanted nothing more than to jump Alpha Raiden and snap his neck in one swift move just like Alpha Tristan has been showing me. Clearly, it would be harder to kill an Alpha especially on another Alpha's territory yet the desire to split Alpha Raiden's blood burned within me...
However, I also couldn't deny that I felt the intense need to dash in the other direction as he began to walk towards the entrance of the guest house where Hazel and I were standing. The world suddenly felt too small and my frame trembled as anger, hate and grief coursed through me.
One second, he was oblivious to the fact that I was only a few feet away from him but the next, his eyes met mine and the rest of the world ceased from existence. Those gray eyes that I used to cherish like a fool widened and his nostrils flared. Hazel who was still unaware of the cold hearted man behind her touched my face in an attempt to shake me out of the daze I was trapped in but I staggered backward, giving in to the urge to run in the other direction but my back hit a solid wall- "Lia?" Alpha Tristan's voice replaced Hazel's worried one and Alpha Raiden's legs froze just as Alpha Tristan turned my rigid body around so he could gaze into my soul. "I've got you, Lia."
"Alpha Tristan." I muttered blankly despite the emotions waging wars inside of me.
Alpha Tristan etched, "I came to get you because the kids wouldn't stop asking to see you and you know how Katie can be-" His voice broke when he sensed and saw the man who had dug into my skin just by showing up. "Aah, Alpha Raiden!" He called with a stiff smile and pulled me to his side while Hazel stood behind me. "Tristan." Alpha Raiden muttered with no ounce of respect for Alpha Tristan as his gaze burned holes into my body but I refused to meet his gaze.
Alpha Tristan's body tensed beside mine and his hold on my shoulder tightened but still he responded, "Welcome to Black Fur Pack, Alpha Raiden. It's an honor to-"
Alpha Raiden cut past all formalities, stepping closer to Alpha Tristan and I and saying, "Aurelia."
I hated the way my body immediately reacted to the sound of my name from him. No one had called me that in Five years, not even Inara who had chosen to call me Relia instead of Lia. I pulled myself together, ignored him because I no longer answered the name of the weak omega he killed five years ago and excused myself, walking away with Hazel right behind me.
"What just happened?" Hazel asked me when she caught up with me.NôvelDrama.Org owns © this.
"Nothing that matters." I answered but why was my heart kept beating erratically?