Chapter 24 ~An unexpected visitor~
Fiona's POV
‘Get help, Fiona.’ Xander's vile words had played and replayed in my mind since that day.
I had taken to avoiding him, only coming out to eat when I was sure he'd eaten, not meeting his eyes in the hallways, locking my room doors. Not that he came to check up on me, anyway.
Until I was called this evening that there was a full moon hunt.
But I couldn't shift yet, and no one knew this here.
I sat alone at the edge, pulling my knees close as I tried to still my racing heart. I could hear Xander's voice orchestrating the hunt.
‘Tonight, we hunt. Not for blood, but for unity.’ His voice boomed through the woods.
He hadn't even as much as looked for me, and I stayed enjoying the solitude. The bonfire lit the clearing, with sparks of fire illuminating the space.
The moon hung heavy above the sky.
Then they shifted into their wolf form, breaking into a wild run to hunt.
The quiet of their absence filled me with a sudden dread, and I realised I was left alone, in the woods, on a full moon, of all days. Again.
In a few minutes, a familiar scent pervaded my nostrils.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. I held my breath.
Footsteps approached and an all too familiar shadow fell beside me.
Even without looking, I knew who it was. And I hated it, hated him.
“Fiona.”
“Beckett.”
I turned to look at the man who'd broken me, who I'd given my all, and yet it wasn't enough for him. “What are you doing here?”
I made my voice cold, this belied the rapid, mixed emotions I was going through.
“I came to see you.” He moved closer to where I stood. “It's been a long time since you ran from Ashridge.”
“No. Since I ran away from you.” I hissed.
He eyed me from head to toe; I did so too, wondering why and how I ever found him attractive.
“And what can I say? You finally became Luna, but does it change the fact that you're a fake one?”
I chuckled dryly. “What do you want?”
His face morphed into a dark, cold look. “What do you think I want?”
I moved back, scared that he'd hurt me. I was, after all, a lone, human-like figure stuck in the woods in the presence of an alpha wolf who could kill me in a few seconds.
Or kidnap me back to Ashridge…
I heaved a deep breath, remembering Cassia's words. Maybe he came to make good his promise.
“You think this will help you? Kidnapping me?”
He laughed a laugh that didn't reach his eyes. “Kidnap you?” He moved closer till he was in my space. “No. Not now, at least.”
What did that even mean? Then why did he leave his pack on a full moon to find me? Closure?
And he admitted to planning to capture me. I moved back, wishing the pack would return in time from their hunt.
“Why did you leave?” Beckett snapped.
Was this guy honestly being serious? “Why did you cheat on me?” I fired back.
He was quiet for so long that I thought he would not respond. “Because you cheated on me first.”
Huh? I was dumbfounded by his false accusation.
“Oh, you think I don't know? With my beta, Isis' brother. I thought you'd change, but no. Every time I wasn't with you, you were cheating on me with him.”
I stood in shock at the spot, wondering if he was just playing blame games or he truly believed what he said. “Who told you this?”
His eyes flickered under the bonfire light. “Your very own best friend… or shall I say, ex-best friend?"
“Ah.” Of course, Cassia. Sometimes I sit back and think, what did I ever do wrong to her?
So, all the while, I thought I had a best friend. She was just a snake lying behind my back.
But, no. I would not deny it. I had nothing to explain to someone who didn't trust me, who'd believe the first lie against me.
He looked around. “I see you didn't follow the pack hunting, a Luna?”
I shrugged.
“Or is it because you still can't shift into your wolf? Why is your life so filled with deception? Does your mate know this, or did you lie to him like you did to me?” He was basically shouting in my face now.
“How is that any of your business?” I maintained my calm.
He laughed bitterly. “Word on the street is that you're a Lycan's daughter.”
My face scrunched into a puzzled look. I unknowingly leaned in, wanting to know more. “What?”
“Oh, you're not aware. The rogues read an ancient scroll and for some reason, they believe you are the lost Lycan's daughter. There's a bounty on your head.”
I laughed humorlessly. Where were these people even getting all this absurd information about me that even I was unaware of? “That's not true.”
Beckett glared at me. “Save your breath for when the rogues come for you.”
I wanted to tell him I knew he was planning against me, too, but I kept quiet.
Suddenly, he raised his nose in the air, sniffing.
Suddenly, a flicker of realisation crossed his face. He gave one last look at me before shifting into his wolf. A big black wolf with red eyes, disappearing into the thick of the woods.
I froze.
It was after Beckett left that I finally caught Xander's scent, too, approaching. But this wasn't what made me freeze.
It was the flashback, the memory of that night that I was bitten in the woods, the night I became a werewolf.
I held my chest as bitterness and recollection hit me deeply.
It wasn't a rogue wolf that bit me that night, No—it was Beckett who turned me into a werewolf.
“Fiona.” Xander came through the woods in his human form, a light sheen of sweat coating his shirtless torso. “I'm sorry I left you out here alone in the woods.
I opened my mouth to say something, but words evaded me.