Chapter Forty-Five
It's been a week and I've actually gone to school all of it.
I've heard whispers ever since the meeting but the moment I look at them, they go quiet.
I can only imagine what they're saying. How am I with the alpha?
Why do I have power now? I ignore the rumours, though.
After graduation I don't have to deal with these people again.
Yes, I'm in the same pack as them and since I'm with the alpha, technically I'm the luna but Axe doesn't push me to associate with anyone.
He wants me as his support, not the pack's support and I'm thankful for that.
Exams are happening really soon. I'll try what I can on the exams but I don't really care for the result. Amelia has been studying so our time together is quiet.
As for the trials, Ember, Hannah and Mitchell have been sentenced.
They got four years imprisonment for attempted murder.
I never thought of what they did in the forest to me as attempted murder since I was so used to the beatings.
They'll also be on a good behaviour bond for two years when they get out.
Axe feels that even though they're criminals, they should still get to meet their mates one day so he didn't lengthen the sentence.
Werewolves in prison get to go into a sealed area twice a week to let their wolves out.
They all have their own private cells. For a pack member, the biggest punishment of imprisonment is isolation.
Wolves are pack animals so being locked up alone can cause them hardship.
The men and women are in separate buildings.
They are allowed little time with other inmates, though.
But given werewolves can mind link, that's helpful for their sanity.
As for Joel, he's already been put in solitary. Solitary is different. He is completely alone other than seeing the soldiers for his meals, his showers and letting his wolf out. The length of his sentence isn't decided. Axe is pissed that Joel challenged him, so that's another issue altogether.
In other news, I have gone back to work.
But after discussing it in great length with Axe, I'm only doing weekend work now.
My boss was okay with that since the new person she hired is happy with all my other shifts.
I don't know what to do with my savings now.
Axe takes care of all expenses around the house.
I could spoil myself but that money was always planned for my own apartment.
But now since Axe has marked me, there will be no separating unless something very extreme happens.
I should think about what I can do with my money now.
While I'm sitting in the living room, there's a knock at the door. I go over and answer it, seeing Carson and a man standing beside her.
“Carson,” I say excitedly. “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise visit.” She smiles, pulling me into a hug. “Elora, this is my mate, Timothy. Baby, this is my brother's girl, Elora.”
“Nice to meet you.” Timothy smiles.
“You too.” I smile. “Come in.” We all go to the living room.
“Where is Axel?” Carson asks.
“Upstairs,” I say. Carson stares at me with a thoughtful look. “What?”
“Shit.” A look of realisation crosses her face. “You're marked. You and Axel completed the mating process.”
“Yeah.” I smile.
“That's great. I'm so happy for the two of you. Now as to why I'm here, I have some news for my family. Do you want to join us for dinner?” Carson says.
“I still haven't met your parents,” I say.
“Wouldn't you prefer meeting them while I'm here?” Carson raises her eyebrows.
“Actually, yes,” I agree. Having Carson there will put me more at ease.
Axe walks into the room and looks surprised to see Carson. She gives him a hug and Timothy greets him with a handshake.
“We're having dinner. How are you and our parents?” Carson asks him.
“Dad's an asshole. Nothing's changed,” Axe says simply.
***
Up until dinner I'm anxious about meeting Axe's parents but Carson assures me the attention will be on her anyway.
We are sitting at the table waiting for his parents to get here.
Soon enough, they arrive and sit at the table, Axe at the head and Manson at the other end, staring at him.
Axe doesn't even introduce me but I don't care. We're here for Carson's news.
“Okay, why don't we eat first and then talk?” Carson suggests.
We all fill up our plates and eat in silence, the only sounds being the forks and knives clinking. I try to ignore the tension. Looking at Axe eating his food with no worry calms me. If he doesn't care, why should I?
“So Timothy and I came here because we have some news,” Carson says clearly once her plate is almost done. All attention turns to her. “I'm pregnant,” she reveals, smiling widely.
“Wow,” Axe murmurs quietly. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Carson smiles.
“We're really happy about this.” Timothy smiles, grabbing Carson's hand.
“I'm going to be a grandmother,” Axe's mother, whose name I've learnt is Mandy, says.
“Dad?” Carson looks at him, waiting for his reaction.
“You have alpha blood in your veins. My grandchild will have alpha blood in its veins, yet you're going to raise your child in some pack where you're just a regular member.” Manson frowns.
“Why do you have to be like this? Timothy is my mate and I go where he goes. I don't care about power. Timothy and my baby are the only things that are important to me.” Carson grabs her belly protectively.
“You have power in this pack. Why won't you use it?”
“What? Like boss people around and use them? I'm living a happy life and starting a family. I don't need all the extra bullshit like you always force on Axel.” Carson pushes out her chair and stands, storming off. Timothy stands immediately and goes after her.
“Manson,” Mandy says gently.
“What? Family is supposed to stick together,” he says firmly.
“You're one to preach,” Axe mutters.
“Excuse me?” Manson frowns deeply.
“You talk about family yet you don't approve of your kids' decisions. You should be proud that Carson has met her mate, built a good life for herself and is starting a family, no matter her location. And me, you don't accept my choice to be with Elora...” Axe's irritated speech is cut short.
“A wolf should only be with its mate,” Manson claims.
“Well, Alina is fucking dead, alright? Do you expect me to be alone for the rest of my life?” Axe violently pushes against the table. That's the first time I've heard him say her name. “Both of you get out of my house.”
Manson makes no choice to move. Axe glares at him and I nervously watch, as does Mandy.
“I want to talk to you alone, Axel,” Manson says.
“No. Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Elora.”
I want to leave the room but I'm planted to my seat.
“In fact, let's talk about what happened to her as a baby. I'm sure everyone wants to fucking know.” Axe is still standing and glaring at his father.
“What's there to say?” Manson questions.
“Why didn't you let her mother join the pack? You said family sticks together, yet you didn’t let Ardryan bring the mother of his child with him.”
I look at Manson, hoping to get an answer because he's the only source I have. I want to know what happened.
“Ardryan never asked,” Manson states, his voice cool and collected unlike Axe's. “One day he came back from his patrol with a baby. He said the mother ran off.”
Wait, so my father didn't even ask Manson if my mother could join the pack? He just assumed it was a no. I feel sick.
“There are a lot of missing pieces but that's what he told me,” Manson says.
“Why'd you let her stay?” Axe asks, and I look at Manson.
“There was no other option. The rogue ran off.
Giving her up for adoption would have been impossible because she would have shifted and outed werewolves.
Ardryan was a dumbfuck and I couldn't punish him because he was all she had.
You did the right thing kicking that sorry excuse out of the pack.
However, I don't agree with all your new rules, which I'm guessing are because of her as you were never like this.”
“What rules don't you agree with?” Axe crosses his arms over his chest.
“What you said about accepting mates no matter who they are. So you're going to let rogues join our pure pack?” Manson frowns in disgust.
“You're a hypocrite. Just now you said a wolf should only be with its mate. But if that mate's a rogue, what then?”
“Look, rogues are looked down upon, simple as that. Mates should be together but if it's a rogue, that's everyone's personal choice but most packs don't accept that. I raised my pack the way my father did and so on. Now you're trying to change that.”
“Because it's a stupid way to live. The dynamics of being a werewolf change all the time.
Have you read the werewolf history books?
Because I have. Werewolves once chose their mates.
Every rogue was a pack member who was outcasted for whatever reason.
We've evolved and rules are always changing.
This is my fucking reign and I'm making it the way I want.
If you don't agree with that, the only way is to challenge me.”
Manson turns to Mandy. He looks deep in thought and we're all waiting for what he has to say.
“We need to keep this pack strong, and if you change too much, there could be an uprising,” Manson speaks.
“We have the power, don't you understand that?”
“We only keep the power by…”
“I don't care. I want you both to leave and actually think about what I said. Trust that I know what I'm doing. Be fucking happy I found someone after Alina.” Axe's chest is rising in anger.
“Okay, son.” Manson stands. Mandy gives Axe an awkward hug and actually says goodbye to me.
Axe sits back down in his chair after they leave. He lets out a sigh then his eyes lock on mine.
“I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.”
“Are you okay after what he said about your mother?” Axe's eyes hold concern.
“My dad said my mother gave me to him because he could give me more opportunities. But your dad said my mother ran off.” I look down, feeling upset about my fuck up of a family.
“Elora, I'm sorry I can't give you the answers you need. But you're my family and I'm never going anywhere.” Axe grabs my hand.
I move myself from my seat and onto his lap. I bury my head in his chest as his arms wrap around my back tightly. Axe rubs up and down my back while a few tears fall from my eyes. I will never get the answers I've asked for my whole life.