Chapter 77: Chapter Twenty-Four

**Amina’s POV**

Having slept poorly last night, I woke up much earlier than usual. To my disappointment, Benjamin was already up and gone, and left behind him only the remnants of his gentle warmth.

I thought back to our conversation yesterday and everything he had finally confessed to me. I always felt like he carried more on his shoulders than he let show, and finally, last night, he gave me a glimpse of his deepest, most secret vulnerabilities. 

I never considered that the pull making me gravitate toward him was a dulled-out version of what he endured, and now, I felt horrible for the times I punished him with my leaving and for the times I hated him.

Perhaps I could never reciprocate or share the intensity of his feelings, but I knew I loved him, and I hoped that this was enough.

Feeling my mind slip and start to sink into self-doubt and terrible apprehension, I decided to get ready and head to the Miller's instead. Tonight was Ophelia's pack ceremony, and helping Grace get everything ready could surely beat spending my time moping around.  

I arrived around seven-thirty and was surprised to find Roxanne's and a few other cars already parked in the curved driveway of Grace and Carson's lavish home. '*Werewolves apparently never sleep in*.' I thought to myself, and lo' and behold, a few seconds later, I was proven right. The ceremony had gathered almost every woman I knew in this town inside the Miller's kitchen.

“Babe, you’re here!” Roxanne stood to hug me as I approached her.

“Yeah, but late.” I chuckled, glancing around the room. “What are you doing here so early?” 

“Argh! Ryan always wakes me up early when he gets ready for training. I’m the one gaining weight, and he’s the one moving around the apartment like a mammoth.” She joked, sitting back in her chair.

Grace nodded towards the food laid out on the marbled island with her phone to one ear. “Mina, have you eaten yet? Would you like some breakfast?” She offered whispering.

“Only if you don’t mind. I’m famished.” 

“Oh, please, sweetie. Help yourself!" She smiled back. "I’m on the phone with River Creek. I think they’ll be able to attend the ceremony tonight.” 

A knot instantly formed deep in my stomach at the thought of Travis and Benjamin under the same roof. They were like water and oil. Incompatible and incapable of mixing or of coexisting. But this was Ophelia’s night, and after everything she had been through, she deserved to have everyone she liked by her side. 

“No, she can’t be walking down an aisle; it’s too weird.” Jenny suddenly hissed as she appeared in the kitchen, cutting off Raleigh in the middle of her sentence.

“How is that weird?” Raleigh immediately asked, leaning over Ophelia.

“She’s becoming a member of this pack, not getting married. Am I wrong, Roxy?”

“She’s right, Leigh; it’s too weird.” Roxanne laughed, lifting her eyes from her computer screen.

“Told you! Thank God you weren’t in charge of my pack ceremony.” Jenny laughed, gloating over her victory.

“So where am I going to be?” Ophelia asked the girls.

“In the center of the stage.” Roxanne told her. “You’ll be standing with Benjamin, Ryan, and Anderson. Don't worry though, Raleigh, Mina, and I will be on stage with you.” 

I nearly choked on my orange juice as she mentioned my being on stage. “What? Me? No, I can’t.” I coughed up, panicked, and struggling to catch my breath.

“It’d be weird if you’re weren't. The whole pack knows you’re the future Luna, so you kinda have no choice there, babe.” 

“Please, Mina! I’d feel better if you were up there with me.” Ophelia pouted, begging me in the soft voice I learned I could never say no to a long time ago.

“Okay, fine.” I sighed defeatedly, bested by the swarm of women around me. “So what is left to do before tonight?” I asked before taking the last bite of my croissant.

“Not much. Caterer’s set, invites are out, all that is left to do are to put up the decorations and set the tables.” Grace said, her eyes filtering through a long list of to-dos.

“Yay! Only the best part.” Raleigh sarcastically pointed out. 

“It is! Now, let’s get to it, ladies.” Grace shot back, clapping her hands together.

**Benjamin’s POV**

“Hey, boss! The blue Porta-Potty is busted again. If you need to go, you gotta use the grey one in the back.” My burly site manager shouted as he approached me.

“What the hell, Marco?” I groaned, taking off my hard hat to wipe the sweat pooling on my face. “This is the third one I rent. Actually, no, I’m forced to buy them because you guys keep breaking them.”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger, Benji.” He laughed before walking away. “I didn’t break it; I’m just letting everyone know not to take a piss in the blue toilet. Hey, Lewis! The blue Porta-Potty is busted. Use the grey one in the back!” 

‘*Dammit*.’ I mumbled to myself as I picked back up my sledgehammer. Managing a pack was a pretty tall order, and running a business was no picnic either, but simultaneously doing the two grueling tasks was the perfect recipe for everlasting stress. 

‘*I know, I know. I didn’t forget*.’ I sighed inwardly as Silas’s aggressive snarling pulled my focus back on track. I had to figure out Travis’s true feelings and intentions towards my mate and figure out just how to get rid of him. For whatever reason, Mina couldn’t see what I saw. He wanted more than friendship; he wanted her. I had no doubts that if I hadn’t interrupted him the other night, he would’ve tried to kiss my mate. ‘*Why would a mated wolf want to kiss another female*?’ I wondered. I never knew anyone to do that. ‘*Why would he try and cheat on his mate? Why would he disrespect their bond*?’ 

Even if he loved someone other than his mate, he wouldn't unless he had left and rejected her. And if he did, then Travis did not have a mate as he so claimed.

***Benji? Can we talk***? Karlie’s high-pitched voice unexpectedly found its way into my mind and effectively put an end to my reflections.

***Is it pack-related***? I sighed, annoyed at her interruption.

***No***. Karlie replied, letting her voice trail off timidly.

***Then, no. We can’t talk***. 

***Please, Benji. I need to talk about us***.

***There isn’t any us, Karlie. I have a mate, and that is the end of it***. I said firmly. 

I was about to close off my link with her when her scratchy voice came through once more, this time, a shrill and demanding tone replacing the honeyed one she loved to use.

***I’m not leaving here until you talk to me***.

***What do you mean, here***? I asked, in a sudden state of high alert.

***Here, right outside. And if you don’t come out, I’m going to shift in front of everyone who works for you***.

‘*Shit*!’ I screamed at myself. Not all my employees were werewolves, and I knew Karlie could really see her threaths through, and expose our kind to the humans. She was a brat who didn’t think much of anyone else, and I regretted ever dealing with her. The first time, I didn't know any better, and the last time, I was just an idiot looking for a way to numb his pain. 

“What do you want, Karlie?” I said, begrudgingly nearing her. 

“You.” She smiled, biting her lower lip.

“I don’t have time for this, for you, or your games anymore, okay?” 

“You can’t say that." She shrieked, insulted. "You can’t use me and simply throw me away whenever you want. I’m a pack member; you owe me respect.” 

“And I’m your Alpha!” I hissed back, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from my crew. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, Karlie, but there’s nothing else I can do for you. Forget me and go find your mate.”

“I already did, and because of you, I rejected him.” She let out in a flat, cold tone. “I rejected my mate after we kissed at your parents’ party.”

“What? What are you talking about?” My words came out like faint whispers as disbelief took over.

“You kissed me, Benji. You promised to choose me and give me the world, and now I’m mateless. He’s already in love with someone else.” Karlie cried out as she lowered her eyes and threw her body onto mine. 

I couldn't move for a while, hesitating between pushing her off of me and comforting her out of sheer guilt. 

“I didn’t know you had a mate, Karlie. I would’ve never kissed you that night if I did. I’m sorry.” I whispered, choosing the latter and wrapping my arms around her. “I’m sure the Moon Goddess will find you a second chance, Karlie. You’ll find someone, don’t worry.”

“But I want you, Benji.” She let out under her breathe before bringing her lips onto mine to steal a kiss. 

“What the fuck are you doing?” I yelled, sending her stumbling backwards with a shove.

“Come on, Benji!” She laughed wickedly. “You know you want to be with me. I can give you everything that your human bitch can’t. Sleep with me, and you’ll see what I mean.”

“Enough!” I yelled out at the blond she-wolf. "I told you before; Mina is your Luna! You insult her or get near her again, and you will be banned. I won’t care that your parents were great warriors or that I once found you to be useful. I will make you a rogue, and that is only if I don’t kill you first. Am I clear?”

My anger rose like bile as I laid into her, no longer willing to tolerate her disillusioned, offhand ways. 

“Am I making m-” I stopped dead in my tracks as a short passing shadow caught my attention to the side.

Karlie turned her head around to follow my narrowed gaze, and before I could say another word, a vengeful grin drew itself on her face.

“Umm… she can’t be my Luna if she’s not with you anymore, now can she?” She chuckled, slowly walking away from me. “And call me crazy, Benji, but I just don’t think she'll be. You’ll see.”