Luca stood at the middle of the pack's training area and his voice was sharp, like the snap of a whip. His words rang in the shocked hush, each syllable slicing through the stress like glass fragments.
After the elders decided our fate, the pack had come to hear his answer. My breath stopped as the weight of his rejection physically assaulted my chest.
"Luca," the Alpha interrupted, his voice a mix of caution and sadness. His father interrupted "You cannot just dismiss The Mate's Mark. It is a gift from the Goddess personally.
Luca shot back, his gray eyes flashing and darting to me, "It feels like a curse, not like a gift."
The whispers within the pack got louder; some agreed, some disagreed. My pulse thumping in my ears, I froze with tight fists at my sides.
Enough! The Alpha barked, his strong voice quieting the gathering. "This friendship isn't about what Luca wants, either. It relates to what the pack need.
Luca spat, "What the pack needs," "is a strong Alpha, not some forced bond with," he stopped himself, but the message was obvious. His eye flicked to mine, relentless.
Not looking away, I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Say it, Luca," I murmured, voice shaking but consistent enough to be audible. Finish what you were going to say.
We could clearly feel the conflict between us, as unspoken truths hung weightily in the air.
His tone icy, he replied at last, "You're not worthy of being my mate."
The words strike like a blow to the gut, but I stayed still and met his eye with a defiance I did not feel. Maybe you are unworthy of me.
Whispers resumed as the throng scattered, their voices like the breeze.
"Did you find what he mentioned? She is the daughter of Beta; how could she possible be his mate? The Goddess must have crumbled something.
I turned to go, my steps steady even as the sting of embarrassment hurt my chest. A continual reminder of the link I was unable to break, the mark on my wrist burned softly.
"Aria..."
The voice stopped me dead still. Turning, I noticed Kieran catching up by jogging. His tone was not very austere.
You fine? He asked, stepping in time with me.
I hesitated, wondering whether to tell him the truth or dismiss him. "What do you believe? "I murmured at last, my voice weighted with irritation.
He slumped. "Luca is an imbecile. Constant has been. Allow his outburst to not define you.
"It's not just him," I murmured, words flowing before I could stop them. "Everything is here. The pack, the chiefs, this mark... Not one of it makes logic. For me, why for why him? «
Kieran yawned. The Goddess operates in enigmatic ways.
I let my eyes roll back. "That's not exactly comforting."
"Maybe not," he responded with a weak smile, "but it's the truth." And for what it's worth, I believe you to be stronger than you could possibly know.
That evening I found myself unable to relax. Along with Luca's icy words, my father's comments kept coming back to me. As if it were alive and calling attention, my mark pulsed weakly, a rhythm I could not ignore.
Unable to stand the quiet, I broke out from the pack house and started into the forest. The moon was high, its light dancing across the forest to give everything a glittering gloss.
I ended up back at the old tree from whence the mark had first emerged. Though faded today, the crescent carved on its bark still had great power.
"What do I have to do? I hushed, my voice hardly audible.
Almost as if responding, the wind rustled the leaves; yet, no words emerged. Simply the weight of my own ideas.
Knowing I couldn't see Luca again so soon, I skipped the training fields the following day. Rather, I worked in the pack's archives looking for anything that may explain the Mate's Mark or the reason the Moon Goddess had selected us.
I turned over ancient books for hours, the air smelling of aged parchment. At last I came upon a section that caused my breath to stop.
"Those marked are destined to face challenges that will test their bond and determine the fate of the pack; The Mate's Mark is not only a symbol of love but also a bond of purpose formed by the Moon Goddess to unite strength and resolve in times of great need."
With their significance sinking in, my fingertips followed the faded words. Trials. God. The pack's future.
I turned to see Luca standing in the doorway, his expression incomprehensible, when I noticed a quick movement.
"You truly enjoy leafing through vintage books? With a sarcastic tone, he said.
" Luca, what do you want for? Too worn out to handle his attitude, I asked.
He approached closely, his eyes narrowing. "I would like to know what you search for."
"Answers," I said simply.
"To what?"—
"To why the Moon Goddess decided to ruin both of our lives," I fired back, surprised even by the hatred in my voice.
Luca's jaw tightened, and for a split second he seemed as though he may protest. But he groaned instead and slumped against the closest shelf. "Do you suppose I wanted this?„
Crossing my arms, I remarked, "I think you've made it quite apparent that you didn't.
He hesitated, his eyes falling to the floor. "It's not just about Aria, though. Should we botch this up, it is not only our lives at risk. The complete pack is this one.
His comments surprised me, and for the first time I sensed a flutter of sensitivity behind his customary arrogance.
Then perhaps you should stop treating me as though I are the issue, I murmured softly.
Luca answered nothing, but his eyes suggested he was listening.
The mark on my wrist pulsed once more, this time stronger than when Luca left the archives. Suddenly, I got a glimpse of vision—a shadowed figure standing at the edge of the woodland, their eyes flickering with a terrible brightness.
The passage from the book kept coming back to me: "Trials that will test their bond."
There was approaching something. And we were in this together whether Luca enjoyed it or not.