Part 36

I felt small looks thrown my way but somehow managed to prevail, holding my head high. There was no way I was going to let them affect me anymore. Before I could take a step further, a little girl came bundling down and almost crashed into my legs. My arms steadied her before she could hit the ground.

"Are you quite alright, my love?" I asked delicately, bending down to her level. She couldn't be more than five, dressed in a set of pyjamas with teddy bears printed on them.

The pup's eyes widened, almost glimmering underneath the ceiling lights as she pouted. "I am so sorry for ruining your pretty dress."

I shook my head. "You didn't. It's fine. See." I did a little twirl to assure her when her lips broke out in a wide grin.

"Anya." Someone called out sharply, interrupting us. "Dear, what are you doing out of your room? It's way past your bedtime." The Luna narrowed her eyes into slits, tone high and unwavering.

"I am not sleepy."

"Mary!" The twin's mother yelled for a maid behind, gesturing towards the pup and signalling them to take her away.

I watched as the maid picked her up, ignoring her protests and ducking her punches. Before she could take a step further, I heard two pair of footsteps approaching the living room.

My shoulders sagged in relief when I saw it's none other than Reed and Rowan. They were both dressed in contrast colours, a black and white button-down shirt. I parted my lips as Reed took Anya from the maid, the pup relaxing in his hold quickly.

"What's going on here?" He began releasing pheromones, maybe to calm her down, but it gravely affected my omega. I swallowed a whimper, pressing my legs together at the action, and my head ducked.

"I-I don't wanna go." She cried in between, hiding her face in his neck.

I could feel eyes on me, but I did not dare look up, chest heaving. My nails dug into the sides, my knees feeling a bit wobbly.

"Stop encouraging her." The Luna cleared her throat. "She needs to sleep. Let her go, Reed."

"Mom, she's crying."

"To get her way!"

Rowan stepped in, bringing his hands to the chest, lips folded. "Okay! Mom, why don't you all sit in the dining room? I am sure the food is ready. We will talk with Anya."

Their mother shook her head and muttered something under her breath that sounded like a 'spoiled brat' before walking away.

"Stop crying. You are breaking my heart here." Reed whispered in her ear, gently rubbing her back. I was amazed at the way the pup calmed down, her cries turned into low whines low.

Rowan turned to me, an apologetic look on his face. "I am sorry you had to see that."

"I-It's fine."

"Do you want our mate to think of you as a crybaby?" Reed poked fun at the little girl in his arms, who instantly raised her head. She turned to look at me.

"Mate?"

"Yes. She is our omega." Reed said, wiping the tears steaks from her cheeks, setting her down.

"Really?"

"Mhm, this is Erin. She is here to have dinner with our family." Rowan motioned toward me. "And Erin, this is our youngest and most beautiful cousin, Anya."

The pup giggled at that.

I hummed softly. I did know that there was a little girl in their family but I had no knowledge of her name. My father was close with the twin's father to know every single detail of his family, but I never pried. It was none of my business.

"Hello, beautiful Anya."

"Hi!" She did a courtesy bow in front before her mouth parted in a tiny gasp, rushing to stand close to me. "Can I please be a flower girl?"

The Alphas snickered at the question, hiding their fond smiles as she looked at me. I fumbled before dumbly nodding, a reluctant smile curving on my face.

"Sure!"

"Thank you!" She cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"But for that to happen, we need you to sleep early. Can't have the flower girl waking up grumpy now."

She made a sound in the back of her throat before nodding her head. I watched as she reached on tip toes to tug on my wrist. Bending down, I sat on the hunches, feeling the stretch in my body.

"Hmm?"

"You are very pretty, Erin."

I blushed, patting at her chubby cheek before standing up. We bid her good night, and in the case of the twins, they did a fist bump. Giving us one final look, she went along with the maid towards the stairs.

***

"So...what do you think of your dress?" Reed nudged me as he came to stand next to me. I sent him an indignant glare but didn't reply. The man gazed back in cautious silence, thinking hard. "Is it something I have done?"

The air between us went thick and silent, heavy with tension that spun out until all I could hear was the puffs of his breathing and my heart beating in my ears. Rowan caught up with us, and I was squished in between them. I could feel anticipation building in my chest, tingling and snapping along my nerves like a flame.

"Y-You tell me!"

"Come on! You cannot be mad about the dress. We only wanted to make this night perfect." Rowan huffed.

I kept quiet and resumed in fast steps, hands sweaty and chest inflated with something I could not explain. It was light, like some kind of exhilaration.

Outside on the patio, the rest of the family were already seated. I gulped as I noticed Valerie and Ryan, the twins cousins. Aunt Claire and their uncle Philip. My eyes wandered to the door, teeth sinking into my bottom lip, and the thought of running away arose again.

"There they are!" The Luna said with a lilt in her voice, motioning towards her sons. Her pearl necklace glistened beneath the lights, and her smile strained.

Back straight and chin high, I averted my gaze from other family members, walking to my chair. The maids were busy fetching glasses for us while Reed and Rowan took their head seats.

"Welcome to our pack, Erin." Claire gave me a bright smile, hands clasped around the flute glass.

The overwhelming need to escape crawling up the back of my throat once again. I politely nodded at her and watched as the maids filled our glasses with expensive sparkling champagne.

My eyes roamed around the wide table, taking in the assortment of breads, cheeses, salads, meat and veggie platters along with heavy pasta dishes. It was too much food for the people seated at the table.

The clinking of glasses ultimately brought me back to the present. I found Reed studiously watching me in his periphery, unbeknownst to how long he'd been doing so, but I refrained from looking back. My eyes were trained on where Philip was carefully clinking his glass of with a silver spoon, beginning to stand.

"Attention, everyone..." His voice was calm and earnest as normal, but there was a glint in his eye that never depleted and said otherwise. "To Erin, who we shall welcome as part of this family and the new Luna of the pack."

The twins gaze immediately averted from my face, the expression there frightening the living daylight out of me. What were they thinking?

"To Erin!" Claire enthusiastically replied, clinking her glass against her husband while the Luna fought an eye roll. I heard Valerie mutter something under her breath.

The twins smiled in my direction before taking a sip each and setting the glass down. I, on the other hand, bought my drink to my mouth and gulped the entire thing in one go, wincing at the fizzy after taste. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Ryan asking for several toppings, colour draining his face.

A few minutes passed when Ryan let out a snort, the redness on his cheeks and sweaty forehead a dead giveaway that he was drunk. His eyes barely managed to stay open as he pointed an accusing finger in my direction.

"Seriously, this..." He hiccuped. "This is the one you find to be our Luna! Of all the omegas in this pack, you pick her?!"

I winced, stilling in the seat, my lips parting. The hold on my knife slipped, and it clattered on the plate.

"Ryan." Reed clenched his jaw. "Go to your room. You are drunk."

"No!" The Alpha yelled, his nostrils flaring as he tried to stand up. "I-I won't shut up today! She's a curse! Everyone knows what she did, but no one will talk about it. Oh, for moon's sake! We can't have an omega like her!"

Humiliation burned my cheeks, tears forming in my eyes as I stared long and hard at the plate in front of me. My knees were shaking, the impulse to stand and walk out itching inside, but my body was numb. I could not move from my spot, that night from five years creeping into my mind.

"Mind your tongue." Rowan glared at me, pushing his chair and standing up as well.

"Oh, but it's the truth! No one can change that. She tried to seduce a mated Alpha, all while he was expecting a pup! Is this the kind of woman you want to mate, brother?"

***