Floyd and Otto got to the river but there was no sign of Alora or Sebastene. They sat on a boulder lying on the river bank and waited patiently for them.
It was noon, yet no sign of them. Gloom swept over him as he gazed expectantly at the other side of the river.
"She doesn't want to see me." His voice thickened with unshed tears pierced thousands of needles through Otto's heart.
"I just want to see her and apologize to her." His eyes began to saturate and sob rose in his throat.
"I hate her!! I hate her so much for causing me this severe pain!!" He bit his lips to suppress his tears which were hanging loosely on his eyelids.
"Otto knew he was making reference to his mother. "I can't still believe she did that."
"Waylon confessed to me Otto!! He admitted it before many, She didn't deny it!! Look at what I'm passing through because of them." His fingers raked his hair roughly in frustration.
"I want to kill her!!"
Then he rose from the boulder and paced round in fury. His began to visualize the various ways he would snuff life out of his mother.
"Floyd!" Otto called out.
"Her death can't bring the solution we need. Calm down a bit."
They waited for the whole day, but Alora didn't come. Dejected and disappointed he returned to the pack.
For five days, he kept going to the river with hope she would appear, even if it was a glimpse of her but he was disappointed.
His clothes had become loose on him as his guilt and sorrow chopped off lots of flesh from his body.
Several affairs in the pack had been left unattended to since his beta who was to cover up in his absence was always with him.
His beta couldn't bear to leave his friend alone in his trying time especially as his weight dropped daily before his eyes.
RIVERVILLE PACK
"This will look good on the child." Cecelia raised a beautiful knitted clothe.
"I used blue wool, the child is a male."
Alora giggled. "A male? What if it's a female?"
Cecelia smiled broadly her eyes glowed in excitement. "He will succeed his father, so he's a male!!"
She clapped her hands in delight, then leaned closer to Alora.
"He will be brave and strong like his father!" Her hushed voice radiated pure happiness and Alora felt a stirring in her heart.
Floyd was indeed brave and strong.
"That reminds me." She dropped the cloth and picked another.
"They said he's been there for five days."
"Who?" Alora asked in confusion.
"Alpha Floyd, he hasn't left since five days, please see him."
Alora's jaw dropped. Ever since the day she refused to see him, no one said a word about him again. She thought he'd decided to let her be.
"He's there?" She mumbled, her eyelid blinking repeatedly.
"Yes, and his beta must be very loyal, he has been with him throughout the five days." Cecelia's voice became bleak.
Alora's stared at her in catatonic stupor. "His beta? Otto?"
Cecelia shrugged. "I don't know his name, but Sebastene said he's the beta."
A thick cloud of guilt settled in her. Otto, the man who rescued her had been waiting for five days and she refused to see him? He must have thought her an ingrate. Oh no!
"Nobody told me his beta was with him!"
If she'd known Otto was with him, she wouldn't have hesitate to see them.
"I want to see Otto!!" She dropped the wools in her hands on the table, then rose briskly.
Cecelia shot a quizzical gaze on her. "Is this Otto the one you love?"
"No!!" She responded instantly.
"No mother!!" She wagged her head repeatedly. "He's just a good friend."
"So Floyd is the one you love?"
Alora lowered her head, bit her lips and fiddled with her dress.
"Look at me Alora!"
But her gaze remained on the floor and she left her dress to fiddle with her fingers.
Cecelia raised her brows meaningfully, then shook her head.
"I see you as a good girl, one who wouldn't repay evil with evil, one who would consider the feelings of others but you seem to prove me wrong."
"Mother?"
"You call me mother but couldn't grant my little wish. I begged you to see that young man, but you blatantly refused. Not that I couldn't persuade you again, but wanted to know how much you care about the feelings of others, especially those who care for you."
She began to pack the knitted clothes on the table.
"You said you love him, but left him in the wild for five days not bothering if he was hurt or dead, but you heard his beta was there and rose to see him. Do you care what your child thinks?"
She'd expected Alora to ask after Floyd from Sebastene or Chlyde after the first day, but she acted like he never requested to see her.
"I have two years left before the curse take me and you won't grant my little wish?" Her voice thickened with emotions.
Alora couldn't bear the blames, reprimanding words and her aggrieved voice.
"Mother stop, it isn't like that."
"You prefer his beta right?"
"No, but he saved me that day." If not for Otto, she must have been dead.
"And you think a loyal beta like him would act against his alpha's wish? Don't you know how these things are done? Otto or whatever you call him would never act against Floyd's will. If he saved you, that should be because he knew the alpha would be happy he did?"
She dropped the wools and knitted clothes heavily on the table.
"Is Floyd a fool not to know his beta broke the cell ? Is Floyd a fool not the sentence you immediately? If he hated you like you said, he wouldn't have delayed your sentence!! But you think everything was because of his beta!! Think Alora!!"
There was nothing to think about as the truth was sitting deeply in her. Not that she wasn't willing to see Floyd, but it was her own way of moving on.
She was in Riverville pack, a cursed pack and that made her cursed. Floyd was free-living and would never have any physical contact with her.
Since that was the case, why should they see and poke on each other's soft parts.
Why should they see and refresh the sweet memories they once shared which they would never experience again?
Wasn't it better to stay away from each other, slowly forget what they once had and move on?
Severally she'd wanted to reject him as her mate but a part of her was strongly unwilling.
She had already figured out the reason for her unwillingness. She loved him.
"But I'm not selfish mother!" How could she call her selfish?
"Then let the child see his father!! Let your heart see the one it misses everytime! Let your eyes behold the face it wishes to see!" She stroked her hair gently.
"I'll leave this life in two years, I want to see you happy. The future is unknown to us, I know you love him.
Her voice became husky as she recalled the death at fifty.
With teary eyes, Alora bobbed her head. "Yes, I love him a lot."
"He loves you too, I think he has always loved you." She wiped her tears.
"But we can't be together anymore. It hurts a lot whenever I think of it, I can't come to terms with the truth that we can't hold each other again."
She wiggled her nose and wiped her tears.
Cecelia sighed helplessly. Listening to her pour her heart was breakup her apart.
"I'll be gone in two years, but not without seeing you reconcile with him even if you won't be together again."
Alora bit her lips to hold back her tears. So in two years, the lovely woman who'd become her mother wouldn't exist anymore.
"I'll see him mother!"
If that would make the remaining two years of her life blissful, she would do it.
"Will you?"
"I will mother, I'll see him today, okay?" She held Cecelia, rested her head on her chest and allowed her tears to fall.
"Love conquers all child. Let love wipe off the pains of the past, let love heal." She placed a peck on her forehead, then wiped her tears.
"Let the alpha know your decision." She released Alora, gave her an acknowledging nod and left the lobby.
Alone in the lobby, she sobbed uncontrollably as the memories of the past flooded her head.
She recalled the way she was dragged out of her parents' house to the royal house, the days she stayed without food, the smacks and hits she got from the omegas, the cruel words and punishments from Floyd.
Why did she fall in love with the one who hurt her terribly? Why did she give herself to him over and over again? Why did she bore his child despite his maltreatment?
Her heart beat rapidly each time she thought about him, her stomach rumbled in delight each time she visualized him.
Most nights, she wished to be cuddled in his arms. Perhaps, Cecelia was right, love would wipe off the pains and aches of the past.
She wiped her tears, then hurried to the court.
Sebastene saw her swollen face and knew she must have been crying. "Did anything happen?"
He'd taken her as the sister he didn't have and wouldn't bear to see her aggrieved.
"No, nothing." Her voice cracked and her tears fell again. He rose and hurried to her, then hugged her.
"Talk to me please." He stroked her hair and patted her back gently. After a while, she regained her composure.
"I want to see him."
He raised his brows and a small smile appeared on his face. Finally she was willing to see the man who wouldn't leave the river bank for five days.
"If you don't want to, then don't go."
"No, I want to see him. I miss him so much." Was there any need hiding her feelings?
"When?"
"Today!! immediately!!" She pulled out of his embrace and wiped her tears. "Is it possible?"
Sebastene nodded, a jolt of joy spread through him. "Of course, let me inform my beta."
Then he mind-linked Chylde immediately.
"Do you intend to see him like this? Freshen up."
And she hurried out.
* * * *
It was the sixth day and as always was at the river bank, sitting on his usual boulder in despondency.
His eyes were sunken for lack of sleep and his appearance was a bit haggard.
"Floyd" Otto crouched down before him.
"You look terrible, let's return." Obviously, Alora wasn't interested in seeing him.
"Your pack needs you, your luna misses you."
If Hera knew he was at the river waiting for Alora for days, she would have reacted, but she thought he was brooding because of his mother's action.
"Even if you see her, you can't have her again, she's cursed now."
Floyd's heart clenched at his beta's blunt word. She was cursed because of Waylon and his mother.
Perhaps, she had decided to move on. Perhaps she couldn't bring herself to forgive him.
It was his fault and he deserved the treatment she was giving him.
He rose from the boulder, then shifted his gaze on Otto. "Let's return."
Since Alora wouldn't see him, he would return to his pack and heal. He would get closer to Hera, perhaps, she might help him heal.
"Good!!" And together, they left the river.
Not too long they left the river, Kylo leaped in joy. "Mate!! Mate!!"
That familiar feeling hit him, he felt her presence, she came!!
Speedily, he ran back to the river hauling Otto into the heart of puzzlement.
The moment he got to the river, fireworks exploded in his heart rupturing his bubbles of tears. "Alora!! She came!!"
"Mate!! Mate!!" Kylo jumped within him in excitement.
"It's mate!!" It leaped happily, making him giggle excitedly.
Quickly he hurried to her, wading through the water to the other side.
Alora couldn't believe the expression he wore. Was it sincere excitement? She stood afar looking fixedly as he ran through the water and a smile grew on her face.
Her eyes welled up and she began to sob.
"I told you, he won't hurt you." Sebastene could tell how much love Floyd had for her, it was radiating around him.
"Alora!!"
She missed him! His hug, his smiles, everything! And before others could realize what was happening, she ran to him and threw herself into his embrace.
Otto's eyes widened in shock. "Goddess!!"
They weren't supposed to touch each other!! It would make Floyd cursed!!
"Shit!!" He stomped his feet, sat on the ground and lowered his head.
Sebastene couldn't react, this wasn't what he expected. Why did he allow her come? It was his fault!!
"It's my fault! its my fault Chlyde!!" He gripped his beta as he cried silently.
Floyd was too good to be cursed! He wouldn't have allowed Alora come.
The two locked in an embrace were too emotional to realize what'd happened.
"I missed you Alora, I'm so sorry!" He buried his face on her shoulder and allowed his tears fall.
"I messed up! I'm so sorry, I tried to save you but you shut me out, forgive me Lora." His voice was broken and his body trembled.
Alora couldn't respond as her tears flowed non stop. If it would heal her heart, then let them fall.
"Floyd!!" Otto yelled his name angrily and they abruptly disengaged from the hug. That was when they realized what had happened.
She gaped at him in shock, her lips quivered.
She was part of the cursed pack, touching Floyd made him cursed!
"Floyd! I ...." She shook her head repeatedly and her tears rushed down her face. That was why she didn't want to see him!
She stepped back but he gripped her.
Since he'd touched her and perhaps was already cursed, there was no backing out.
"We're same now Alora. Nothing can separate us again. " He lowered his head, cupped her face and their lips met.
He kissed her slowly and passionately, not letting go, only momentarily to allow her catch her breath.
They didn't care about those around who couldn't watch anymore so averted their gazes.
"I missed you!" His hands trailed down to her waist, then rubbed her stomach. He felt her bulge.
"Our child?"
She nodded instantly, forgetting her decision to keep it away from him.
"I'm sorry Lora."
"I thought you wanted to hurt me that day so shut you out." She spoke for the first time and he smiled sadly while wagging his head.
"I had no intention to hurt you, not when I've fallen helplessly in love with you."
She gaped at him in bewilderment. He said he loved her? "Fl..."
He placed his index finger over her mouth. "Sshh, don't say anything, I mean it."
His eyes said the rest. They bore affections his words couldn't explain.
"Life became meaningless the day you left me, your absence created a deep emptiness in me. I missed you so much Alora."
His emotions collapsed and his tears fell again. He was a strong alpha, but in her presence was unable to keep his emotions at bay.
A river bubbled through her veins and flushed her face. "I missed you Floyd."
After a long time in each other's embrace, he finally released her.
"I'll always come to see you, but if the goddess smiths me as expected, I'll always be over there with you."
He was willing to let go of his position and title for her, was willing to bear the curse with her. If that's the price to pay for all the pain he brought upon her, so be it.
"Return, while I wait for Serene's verdict.
She bobbed her head, then got out of the water.
"Take care of our child, I love you both."
And her sorrowful tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.
She ran back and held him, then wrapped her arms round him. "I missed you so much Floyd, a lot."
She raised her wet face and gazed into his eyes. "It hurts so much."
Why was everything going wrong with them?
"Hey! Don't cry, it's okay." He forced a smile despite how emotional he felt at that moment.
His heart had been shredded. He lowered his head and took her lips again.
He'd suddenly become a cursed alpha because of the game the goddess was playing with them.
Giving her one more assuring look, he wiped her tears, pulled away from her.
She nodded, walked out of the water and bade him bye, then left with Sebastene and Chlyde.
Once they were out of sight, Floyd got out of the water and headed home, not sparing his beta a glance.