Chapter 38
ELUAH
FLASHBACK
I ran tirelessly for hours. I wasn't sure just how much time it took for me to explore the entire territory on my own, though I was certain it took me a hella long time to cool off. I was still standing in the middle of the forest, naked after my wolf took over my body completely. All my clothes were ripped off due to the sudden, unexpected shift.
Well, that was a first. North wasn't always this grumpy and needy for one.
“Fuck you, Elijah’
I sighed. My wolf wouldn't stop cursing me and calling me a son of a b*tch’ since I told our mate to run. He hated me for not taking what was rightfully ours. And he might not believe me but I hate myself too.
I shrugged, deciding that I wouldn't argue with him just this one time. I wouldn't blame him to be honest. After all, I have been holding him back for the past four years.
“I told you North. That girl is off-limits.’ I point out to him. Promptly reminding him the number one rule I established ever since I could remember.
“It's not fair, Eli. None of this is,” He growled.
'I know, but we don't really have much of a choice, don't we?”
“There is always a choice! There is always a chance to prove ourselves to her.’
I scoffed, shaking my head.
"Yeah? Just like how you almost wanted us to kill her because you couldn't hold back?"
North instantly fell into silence.
That's what I thought.
I continued on my path. None of us spoke as I dragged my legs back to the packhouse.
After quite some time, I got back to the pack house safely. When I slipped through the door, I felt someone cover me with a cloak. It was a natural thing for those positioned in the higher ranks, but for me, this was the first time. I don't usually lose all self-control like I just did with Veronyka. Four years ago, when I turned 18 and spotted my 14-year-old best friend at the time, I had been asking myself the same thing.
Am I worthy? Does Veronyka deserve to be with someone like me? Some rogue boy who never knew his parents and roots since the day he was born?
Wrapping the cloak around my body, I sauntered towards the staircase, heading to my room. I made several more turns before finding myself in an eerily quiet hallway. The uncomfortable silence turns the area into a dark, gloomy place no one wants to roam to at night.
“She's been too attached with Conrad's son, don't you think?”
My feet then came to an abrupt halt. My ears perked up as I turned to focus my senses on that familiar voice.
I stand extremely still in my spot when I hear a woman's familiar voice.
A man chuckled and I allowed myself to walk closer towards their area. The sound and combined scents of those two involved in the conversation came from the room to the far left. I squinted at the label, instantly widening my eyes in shock as I just realized whose conversation I was eavesdropping with. Veronyka's parents. The gamma and his mate.
"You mean Elijah? The rogue boy,” She snickered, making me ball my hands into fists, closing my eyes momentarily before tilting my head up to the high ceiling. I let out a sharp breath when her words slipped through their door once again. I couldn't help but notice the mocking tone she had used in spitting garbage out that hole on her head she calls a mouth.
“So the rumors are true. That his parents were wild, dirty rogues who'd been slaughtered in the vampire attack,”
Almost immediately, the high flames of my intense rage burned across my skin. My face darkened, body trembling due to a combination of pain as well as sadness deep within. The fact that I was the former beta’s adopted son was nothing new to this pack I now belong to.
“Never liked the kid. Bastard looks down on me each chance he gets,” Gamma Morris growled, the smell of tobacco laced through the air was waving towards me, and I scrunched my nose. Not liking the strong smell of burnt leaves entering my system.
More than that, what he said painted a frown that hasnt formed on my face for a long time. I felt a hollow in my throat I couldn't seem to get rid of.
Since when did I ever look down on anybody for that matter?
"He wouldn't be a beta if it weren't for his adoptive father, anyway. Still he acts as though he's far more superior than me in everything!” Morris exclaimed.
The woman snickered before saying, “It's a relief they didn't let his parents in during that attack. However, Conrad was an idiot for taking in that boy. Taking him under his wing and treating him like he’s just one of us.”
"And what's worse, the Alpha chose HIM to be beta. The Beta for god's sake! I've far more experience than that bastard, stronger even,” He stated as if in a matter of fact.
North immediately burst into laughter, finding his words extremely humorous. I rolled my eyes at him. He may find it funny. I, on the other hand, find it rather insulting.
“I've seen the way our daughter looks at him, Morris. I'm afraid we need to do something before our daughter mates with that bastard rogue,” The woman says irritatingly.
“I abhor him. Why didn’t Conrad just left him in the woods to die?”
Standing right outside their door, I clenched my hands into iron fists. Gnashing my teeth together before I kicked open their door. Ignoring the loud, cracking sound which resulted from the brute force I used on first impulse.
A reverberating growl rumbled in my chest, echoing through the four walls, consequently bringing shock onto the couple's arrogant faces. My eyes darted to Morris, who flinched when he saw me tear their door apart in one split second. Fear as well as shock reflected in his emerald green eyes. Those that looked exactly the same as Nyka's.
The fear in Morris eyes briefly dissipated, as if it was never there, and he shot me a pointed glare that did nothing more than fuel the internal flames of my own, burning rage.
"How dare you barge in on us like this! Are you fucking mad?!” Rising to his feet, he stood in a challenging position opposite from me.
“Perhaps. I'd rather be insane than be so evil as to wish for someone's death, as if their lives meant nothing to begin with,”
I fisted my hands on my sides, giving him one long, deathly glare before pushing my feet forward, positioning my body in a fighting stance. I could feel my veins popping on my arms and neck. They ran all the way down my wrists and I wasted no effort to conceal them.
Sarah, Veronyka's mother, snickered. Taking a small step forward with her arms crossed against her chest, she flashed me a hateful glare, looking me up and down with her caramel brown eyes filled with annoyance and contempt.
"How rude, we were simply worried about you,”
I scoffed, unable to see the sincerity in her face, mocking my current state of undress.
"Worried?" I laughed.
It was then that Sarah's face morphed into an angry look.
“In that case, you don't have to worry anymore,”
I straightened, staring long and hard at the arrogant couple who just insulted me not long ago. Shifting my gaze towards Morris, I gnashed my teeth, giving him a serious look.
"And why is that?” Morris hissed. Shoving his mate gently before getting too close to my face.
I lifted my chin. Eyes boring into his face.
I hate this. I fucking hate this.
Taking a sharp breath, I looked at my mate's father straight in the eye.
“Because my friendship with Veronyka is over.” I say firmly.
Morris raised a brow. Suddenly his fingers reached up. Playing with his stubble.
"Coming from you, I don't think so.” He stepped back.
“From now on, I will stop seeing your daughter as any more than a friend. You have my word.”
I exited the room without another word or glance at their scrutinizing faces.