Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

- Cleo ~

"What beautiful roses!" Luna Medea exclaims; her manicured nails stretching out to touch the bouquet of freshly cut roses that stand in the vase, the centre piece to the kitchen table that the four of us were eating breakfast together on.

Every meal time was just the four of us...Alpha Than, Luna Medea, me...and the elderly relative.

I've been here for a week yet I still haven't learnt any more of this relative than on my first day here. She would slowly walk down the stairs for each meal time, wind up Luna Medea, then slowly walk back up...as if she was under room arrest.

I would say she was a poorly great auntie of Than's, that he let stay here from the goodness of his heart, but something wasn't really adding up.

She had a constant glaze over her eyes as if she was in a permanent mind-link...which I know for a fact isn't true.

She also has aging spots upon her skin and a purple tint to her lips.

I hate the term batty...but I would definitely say she fell into this category.

I enjoyed our meal times together, more so because she had a way of grating on Luna Medea

which was rather satisfying to watch. It was becoming more difficult by the day to hide my giggles at the table.

"Thank you, I cut them only this morning." A playful smirk forms across the lady's lips, a complete contrast to the tensed jaw of Luna Medea.

"Cut from where?" Luna Medea tries to sound composed but I can tell she is dying inside, knowing full well where the roses were obtained from. Her precious garden.

"From the alpha garden."

my roses...without permission?" Luna

I needed permission when the roses

husband planted

a keen gardener, he had done a superb job. They

table turns quiet, my eyes flickering to Than's who tries to hold back the laughter

of argument between the females. Unlike my fellow guest, I have spent the last

each one took time out of their busy schedules to speak to me. No matter what they were

been ordered by Than to take the time to make me feel welcomed, rumour had gotten

a similar age

around answering Luna Medea's every whim...I kind of

now a new beta should be carrying out the duties of

looking over her shoulder...shaking

day I had noticed

across her

of an attack

her

for injuries sustained years ago. She said the scars a lasting reminder of what tyranny can look like

the next day. Who was I to question her injuries, maybe she doesn't want

starting to understand how sheltered I have been living in the Red Thorn pack, sheltered by my own

be hard to constantly worry about the next attack, one that you

was my first experience with any type of attack, one that was the deadliest