8
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A V R I L
Goddess, what kind of mess had I deliberately walked into? This was only Day One and it was already a disaster. There were a thousand other things I should be focused on - matters that demanded my attention. Yet, everything else seemed unimportant as Koen walked away from me.
“Koen, wait!” I called out to him, to no avail.
I was an alpha, damn it! Probably the strongest alpha in the entire werewolf world. I never thought I’d be chasing after anyone, especially not him. But as my feet began to move, it felt like they had a mind of their own, pounding the ground harder with each step as he picked up his pace, determined not to let me catch up. Eventually, I got tired of the cat and mouse game and used my superior speed to overtake him. I stopped in front of him, forcing him to halt before he collided with me.
Frustration was written all over his face, but I ignored it as I asked, “What happened?”
He scoffed, as if he couldn’t believe I’d dared to ask such an obvious question. “ Extending your gratitude , huh?” he mocked, letting his head drop for a moment as he shoved his hands into his front pockets, trying to contain his emotions. A second later, his eyes locked onto mine again, his resentment burning through me. “Is that all I am to you? A score to settle ?” he spat with disdain.
I pursed my lips. “Come on, Koen. You know why I said that.”
“Do I?” He tilted his head slightly to the side, squinting his eyes. “Because to me, it sounds like you just took me in out of pity. I’m not a stray dog, Avril! If all you want from me is to settle your debts, then consider us even.”
“Damn it, Koen! Just think!” I heaved out in frustration. Why did he need me to spell everything for him? And why was it so hard to admit? “You’re an alpha, too. Put yourself in my place.” I lowered my voice, weary of unwanted listeners - you could never be too careful around werewolf hearing. “How would your pack react if you told them about your infatuation with me? How did Gregor react?” I reminded him, watching his defenses drop as he finally started listening to me.
“They didn’t want their alpha falling for an omega, but most of all, they weren’t fond of the idea of having an outsider above them,” I continued, taking a deep breath before concluding. “Whether you like it or not, you’re here now, and I will do my best to make you feel welcome. I said what I said back there to protect you.”
“Protect me,” he repeated thoughtfully, no more anger in his voice - just confusion. “When did the tables turn?” he asked, referring to how our roles had been reversed; he wasn’t the alpha anymore and I wasn’t a frail omega.
“Five years ago,” I replied matter-of-factly. “But you’re only now finding out.”
“So, as long as you need to keep me safe, I’ll be your secret,” he half-observed, half-asked.
With a sigh, I offered, “I promise that, in time, I’ll tell them you’re actually my mate.”
The words left my mouth before I realized what I was saying. When I did, it was too late. Koen’s eyes widened, not in shock, but in clear surprise. The resentment they once held was gone, replaced by a flicker of hope.
“Is that what we are?” he whispered, pausing before repeating the word, as if testing it, “Mates?”
“I-I mean…” I stuttered, unsure of what to say. “We used to be. We were, once. I...I don’t know what we are anymore,” I confessed, staring at the floor. My heart pounded in my chest. Goddess, why was this so hard? I breathed in, regaining control of my emotions before admitting, “But I’m finally willing to give us a chance. That’s why I went after you.” I came clean, unable to look at him, as if I were confessing my worst sins to the Moon Goddess. “That is... if you want to. If you can forgive me, too.”
For what felt like an eternity, I waited for him to say something - anything! My anxiety spiked, and I wondered how much longer I could manage to keep it at bay. Then, he heaved a long sigh, breaking the silence.
“Our past is filled with too many mistakes and betrayals.”
His decision resonated deeply within me. Kea lowered her ears, but she didn’t dare argue. She knew that he was right - we both did.
“But…” Koen continued. The next second, I felt his hand gently brush against mine. “I think we could still work.”
As my heart skipped a beat, I finally lifted my head to look back at him. In his eyes, I saw regret, pain, and grief. They were heavy. Yet, amidst all the suffering, there was still a glimmer of faith.
“What if…” he hesitated before concluding, “we start over? Put the past behind us. No more lies.”
Kea wagged her tail hopefully inside my head. Although I was still getting used to my powerful beast turning into a lovesick puppy by this complicated man, I couldn’t help but smile.
“I guess we could try,” I replied at last.
Once things had been settled with Koen, I felt inexplicably lighter. I had been denying my feelings for too long, rejecting a relationship I had been wanting to pursue because I convinced myself that it was wrong, and it now felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Little by little, the walls I had built around me were crumbling, and I was slowly realizing that perhaps I didn’t need them to shield me at all. The details of our relationship had yet to be defined, but I was fine with taking it one step at a time, allowing us both time to figure out what we wanted.
I followed through with my plan of introducing Koen to my uncle, who didn’t try to hide that he had reservations about the newcomer, but was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt - mainly because he knew I wouldn’t have brought Koen if I didn’t trust him.
Subsequently, I had him meet my delta, the only member of my team who hadn’t yet met him. I was more nervous about her reaction than my uncle’s; we had always shared similar views on love and duty, favoring the latter. Unlike Theo and Elijah, she didn’t know the full story about Koen and me. She was aware only of the events that happened before my mission in Whispering Hills, not what transpired during it. The Avril who left Azure Smoke to retrieve the ashes was not the same as the Avril who returned.
Rhea’s interaction with Koen was brief. She wore an expression of indifference the entire time, but it had always been hard to read her emotions. In the end, I remained unsure of how she felt about my decision to take him in, but chose to set those concerns aside for now.
Once these formalities were out of the way, I showed Koen to the vacant cottage where he would be staying. At least for the first few days, until the pack got used to his presence, I would have Theo and Elijah take shifts to ensure he was comfortable in the village. I didn’t really believe anyone in my pack would try to harm him, but better safe than sorry. There was still time before dinner, so I left him to rest.
As the evening wore on, I picked him up and accompanied him to the dining hall. He sat at the Elite members’ table, where Theo and Elijah were already waiting for him, while Rhea took care of the final details to ensure the event ran smoothly. One by one, the pack members began to arrive. The buzz of conversation quickly filled the space, but it settled the moment I rose from my seat upon noticing that everyone was present.
“I want to thank everyone for joining us tonight and for extending your hospitality to Koen,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady. “As you know, he’s lost everything - his pack, his home.” I spared a glance at Koen. His eyes were clouded with sorrow, his posture wavering as if the tragedy weighed on his shoulders, yet he still managed to force a smile, a sign of his strength. Facing the crowd again, I continued, “As unusual as the situation is, I’m asking you to welcome and support him during this hard time.”
A murmur of agreement flowed through the room, and I felt a small wave of relief. I met Koen’s gaze, and though his expression was still somber, there was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.
“Without further ado, let’s feast!” I announced.
Soon enough, omegas approached our table to serve us. As we started eating, Theo and Elijah made an effort to include Koen in their conversation. It was relieving that they seemed to get along so well. Rhea was silent throughout most of our meal, which wasn’t exactly unusual - though it still worried me not knowing what was going on in her mind.
As the evening drew to a close, I bid farewell to my friends and escorted Koen back to his cottage. When we reached his door, he turned to face me.
“I never imagined things would turn out this way. To be honest, I’m still processing these last two days,” he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion. “But... thank you, Avril. For everything.”
A smile spread over my lips, and I nodded reassuringly. “Let me know if you need anything.”
We bid each other goodnight, and I made my way toward the packhouse. Once in my room, I leaned against the window, gazing out over the packlands. The path ahead was still fraught with uncertainty and challenges, but tonight felt like a small victory. I hoped Koen would be left alone - if not because the wolves who followed me might sympathize with him, then because they respected me - and that, in time, we would figure everything out.