Chapter 23

Daphne

I didn’t want to run my butt away. However, if I stay closer to the pack, others may suffer. What if I hurt more people when my temper spiked again?

My system was filled with mixed emotions as I teleported across the dark forest at miles per hour. My confusion tightened my chest, making it hard for me to breathe.

I promised myself not to utilize my gifts after I accidentally hurt Kyla Copper. But I had no choice. If I run at normal human speed, he will catch me before I even reach the entrance of the woods. Yes, I knew I was being chased by now. I could feel his rage and his wolf's loneliness. And I was now able to mind-link him, but after I rejected him, I chose to block the communication.

So running was the only thing that came to mind after I informed Alpha Calle of my rejection. I didn't know much about the mate-bonding process because I was new to it. But according to what Jaime told me years ago, the other side must accept it for the mate bond to be broken and turn to ash. That was what Yvette did to her unwanted mate so she could be with my brother.

So I think my statement was invalid since Alpha Calle needed to accept it firsthand.

Was I content with what I just declared? No, of course!

But did he mean it when he said that he wanted me to be his Luna? What about Suzette? How would I withstand sharing my mate with another mate of his own? My jealousy only added some burden to my scattered mind.

‘Daphne?’

I almost stumbled and fell when I came to a halt.

For a moment, I thought that the sleepy voice was coming from my surroundings. I knew it was impossible. Who would be out in the wild at this time of the night? Plus, the air was getting extremely cold and heavy. Just by sniffing it, I think later today or tomorrow the snow will start to fall. Oh, how I loved snow. Its pure color reminded me of Reina’s thick and soft coat, which shone like a thousand bright stars as she shook it off.

Reina? Wait, the cheerful voice sounded like...

‘Missed me?’

"Reina?" My lips parted for a moment. Shortly, I gasped, touching my chest. "Is that really you?"

'Yes, it sure is me! Do you have another wolf other than me?'

I shook my head, and tears began pouring down my face before I almost sobbed in blissfulness. "This is... unbelievable. You’re back!" I jumped up and down like an idiot. But then my smile vanished when I said, "Wait, what if this is just a dream?" I whispered, my hands clutching my head.

'If I am just a dream, I am sitting beside you. But at this moment, I am talking inside your head. So there’s a difference, girl.'

"You are so sweet, Moon Goddess." As I looked up at the starry skies, my heart was leaping for joy, totally convinced that my wolf had come back. Despite being overcome with joy, I continued with my speech. I didn’t care if I looked like a dump, beaming and chuckling while I hiked down the dangerous trail. "You just returned my wolf when I needed her the most!"

'Aw, please don’t cry, girl. You're making me tearful as well,' Reina beamed.

"You have a lot—as in, a lot of explaining to do," I said, half-jokingly. "Where the heck have you been these past few weeks? Don't you know I’ve gone through a heck of awful things?"

'I know.'

I frowned. "What do you mean you know?"

'I know what happened to you,' Reina said. 'So don’t bother to explain to me every detail of your experience in that pack.'

"Wait, how did you know?" I asked in confusion.

By the time I stepped out of the last barriers of trees that covered the moon and prevented it from spilling its beauty down on me, my mouth parted in astonishment at the hidden beauty that I had just discovered.

'Who knew there was a paradise in the shady Darkness?' Reina said.

"No one knows, I think. We're the ones to first discover this place," I whispered, gazing at the river—its surface sparked as the moonlight hit it. When I looked up, my eyes grew big at the great rocks standing about a hundred feet upstream, causing the gentle rapids.

We decided to run toward the river. But I paused at the water’s edge only to whip off the clothes and undergarments I had worn all day since no one was around.

‘Come on. Let's see how cold the water is,' Reina invited.

Before I knew it, I went into the water unselfconsciously.

"Oh, it’s cold indeed," I chuckled with a gasp as the water gurgled over my ankles.

‘Don’t worry. You'll just get used to it,' Reina assured me. 'Now let’s go further.'

The swift water threatened to unbalance me at any moment as I cautiously made my way out into the midstream. I sighed, fighting with the frigidity of the water as I slowly eased down into it.

'It’s great, isn’t it?' Reina beamed.

"Yes, it is." My bottom finally touched the riverbed. I stretched my feet out in front of me. The swirling water was soothing as it rushed past me. It was as though my tension was being whisked away as well.

Getting back to Reina, I said, "You still owe me an explanation, Reina." "How come you knew everything that happened to me?"

'Well, I wasn’t really gone,' she began, her voice sounding a bit uncertain. 'When we were attacked in the woods, I tried to take over, but I couldn’t.'

"What do you mean you couldn’t? Or you wouldn't because you're afraid of those nasty humans?" I frowned

'Hey, I’m not a coward. Even though you didn’t call me, I would kick the butts of those filthy creatures. But for some reason, it seems that I got muted. I tried to scream as loud as I could, but you weren’t able to hear me.'

Her reason only made me confused even more. Regardless, I trusted my wolf. She wouldn’t leave me and would surely protect me until her last breath.

'It hurt me a lot when I could see what was going on around you, yet I was useless. If only my power didn’t vanish, you wouldn’t get bullied in school. And Alpha Calle would not hesitate to announce you as Luna.'

I bit my bottom lip, feeling the heat creeping up my face. "You mean…"

‘Yeah! I know he’s our mate!'

I could imagine that Reina was jumping up and down, clapping her toes in blissfulness.

'Don’t you feel happy about it? Your mate is none other than Alpha Calle himself.'

"I am!" I didn’t hesitate to confess it. "I am extremely happy that Alpha Calle is my mate, not that he’s Alpha, but because I already felt something for him since the first time I saw him. And his protection and concern—even though he’s a bit cold—just made me fall for him even more."

'Then why on earth did you reject him? Hey, you have to take it back. I want him and his wolf as much as you do!'

"Because I’m not good enough," I muttered. Hearing my frustrated voice only made my spirit gloomy as well. "Alpha Calle is right. I can’t make a good Luna."

"For now, maybe. He thinks you are still too young for the job, but that doesn't change the fact that he's your mate. It’s the will of the Moon Goddess, so you have to accept it whether you want it or not.'

For some reason, Reina’s words made my head clearer, brushing off all the blurry thoughts in it.

"I guess you’re right. No wonder he’s helping me improve myself. You know, the training stuff and school," I said, my mood eventually lighting up, like flowers starting to bloom when struck by sunlight.

I supported my torso on my hands and leaned back, lifting my hips and allowing my legs to float in the current. It was so comfortable that I closed my eyes and almost wanted to sleep.

But shortly, Reina shrieked.

"Do you smell that?"

I lifted my face and sniffed. The familiar and intoxicating scent left a moan on my lips.

"Oh no…"