183 New beginnings…
Lyla
“I’ll miss you,” I murmured to Nanny who had a quiet smile on her face as she patted my back comfortingly.
I must have hugged her a thousand times already. We were leaving White Moon Pack back to Blue Ridge today and I was feeling nostalgic. For one, Nanny was not coming with me since she
was going back with the priestesses to the Moon Temple Colden Gates pack.
Mother Liora was still sick and seemed to prefer Nanny to any of the other priestesses. Though she had promised that as soon as Mother Liora recovered, she’d join me at Blue Ridge. I knew that was next to impossible.
After all, she didn’t come to visit all the while I was there. To think it’s been three months already since I arrived but it already felt like a decade. After we said our goodbyes, we started moving.
Now, as the car sped toward Blue Ridge Pack, the silence between me and Nathan felt heavy. Nathan has been unusually quiet since the incident three days ago. Although he had managed to maintain normal conversation with me, I still couldn’t help but worry that the incident three days ago, had changed things in ways I couldn’t see.
My thoughts drifted to Cassidy. The events of that night still lingered in my mind, a puzzle with too many missing pieces. I had gone to Ramsey to ask if Cassidy had said anything about what happened, though I’d avoided mentioning my wolf was the two–tailed wolf that the warriors of White Moon Pack were still hunting or that Xander had shown up there suddenly.
That had been a surprise to me though. Not just that, I couldn’t help but wonder what connection Cassidy had with Xander. How did they meet? Why was he even there that night? I knew Xander hadn’t come because Cassidy had merely requested, he should kill me. There should be more.
Like what agreement had both of them entered for him to have followed her to the pack house? No matter how I thought of it, there seemed to be more. Although I was relieved that Cassidy had survived, Xander’s blow, I couldn’t help wondering if she would ever come clean about what truly happened.
Would she confess, or would she weave another story, one that would paint me in a negative light? As my mind wandered about it, I dozed off.
A few hours later, I awoke to the sensation of being carried. Blinking my eyes open, I saw Nathan’s face above mine. His expression was tender but tired. He was carrying me in his arms.
Gently, he laid me on his bed, smoothing my hair.
“You’re awake?” he murmured when he saw me.
I nodded, managing a sleepy smile but he didn’t say anything after that. For a moment, the room
was silent, except for the faint rustle of trees outside the window. Before Nathan finally spoke.
“I’m sorry about the other night, he said softly, “I wasn’t thinking strange. I let my desires get the best of me. Please forgive me.
Nathan… nothing
I exhaled, relieved too. “I’m sorry too. I promise you, going on between me and Ramsey. All those days I was at his pack, the only time we were in very close proximity was one of the mornings at the training arena and he joined me. Else that, nothing else.”
“I trust you, Lyla… so much. I know,” he muttered, coming to lie beside me on the bed. Our eyes met and the tension melted away as we leaned into each other. He captured my lips pulling me closer to him in a passionate kiss. We kissed for a while, until he pulled back, breathing unevenly.
“We should stop,” he said quietly.
I nodded, lowering my flushed cheeks.
Then, he cupped my face and brushed his thumb against my cheek. “I’ve been thinking. he said. “We need to do this right, Lyla. We should get married as soon as possible.”
My eyes widened in surprise. “Married?”
“Yes,” he nodded. “That way, you can decide what you want to do about your life back in the human world. I don’t want you to feel torn between this life and the human world. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. But I want us to be official before you make any big decisions.”
I blinked in surprise, then laughed. “I’d almost forgotten about that world, to say the truth.”
He smiled back. “Well, I haven’t. And I’ll wait as long as it takes, but I don’t want to wait any longer than I have to. I’m worried that if Paul should see you again…” he trailed off, drawing a quiet laugh from me.
“You’re overreacting as usual and you don’t have to worry about Paul either. He’s probably lost. interest by now. I’ve left him on read too many times and, this weekend,” I paused. “Let’s get married this weekend.”
Nathan blinked in astonishment, as he stood and started pacing the room. He broke into a grin after a few seconds. “This weekend? That’s only four days away! There’s so much to prepare…”
I laughed. “We don’t need anything elaborate. I’ll ask my mother if I can use her wedding gown. We can keep it simple.
Nathan stopped pacing and turned to face me with excitement on his face. “Don’t worry about at thing. I’ll take care of everything. I best go started preparing.”
He leaned down to kiss my forehead before leaving the room.
That evening aft
after I was done resting, I decided to go to the Alpha house. When I arrived, I met Clarissa relaxing on the porch.
“What are you doing here?” Clarissa asked when she saw me.
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163 New bogatungs
“I’m looking for mom,” I replied, ignoring the rudeness in her voice.
“She’s in the garden, Clarissa said, jerking her head toward the back of the house. “You might want to catch her before she gets too engrossed.
I thanked her and made my way to the garden. I found her kneeling in front of a flower bed, wearing garden boots, gloves and a wide–brimmed hat as she pulled the weeds. I hesitated, unsure if I should disturb her. Just as I turned to leave, she called out to me.
“Don’t just stand there. Come and help.”
Smiling despite myself, I joined her, kneeling beside her and pulling weeds from the flower beds. The work was calming and for the first time in years, I felt a sense of connection with my mom.
“How are you feeling?” she asked after a while. “I heard you were sick.
My hands stilled as tears welled in my eyes at the unexpected show of concern – the first in what felt like forever. To others, it might be such a simple question, but coming from my mother, it carried so much weight. “I’m better now,” I said softly.
“That’s good, she paused and looked at me. “I heard you did so well during the festivals too.”
We continued to chat, talking about several things at the same time. Finally, she straightened and rose to her feet, wiping her hands on the garden apron she was wearing.
“Clarissa mentioned that Natahn proposed to you,”
I looked up, surprised. I was just here thinking of how I would raise the topic. “Yes, he did.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “Congratulations, my dear. It’s about time we had something to celebrate. We have a wedding to plan.”
I hesitated, before admitting. “We’re planning to do it this weekend. We just want something small.‘
She paused, removing her garden gloves. “Why the rush?”
“You could say we’re impatient, I blushed, hiding my face. “And it seems like the right thing.”
“Okay!” she shrugged. “Let’s make it happen.
We stayed silent for a few minutes before I ventured again. “Mom, would it be okay if I wore your wedding gown?”
Her eyes softened. “It would be my pleasure. And, she added softly. “I’d be honoured if you’d let me walk you down the aisle.
The offer caught me off guard, and tears spilt down my cheeks. “I’d love that, Mom. It’s going to be the best day of my life.
She nodded, her eyes going cold for a second before she nodded and said. “You have no idea.
