SWNOVELS Chapter 20: Hopeless
I shifted back in my human form behind a tree just a few meters away from Titus' house. Seth did the same somewhere. I wore the clothes that my wolf carried on her mouth all the way.
My wolf felt relieved and satisfied with our short run. The forest route was just 10 minutes run but my wolf is still delighted. I did feel good after letting my wolf out.
"You done?"
I peeked at the tree and saw Seth fully clothed. I slipped on my shorts fast and walked to him after.
"Yeah." I flipped my hair and fixed it as it became unruly from when I slipped on my shirt. I sighed heavily and looked at him. My palm is sweating and I can't control myself from feeling nervous right now. "Let's go."
Seth knocked on the door once we reached the front of Titus' house. Few thud noises were heard from inside the house then Titus opened the door and greeted us with a smile.
"Luna." he bowed his head slightly and then nod at Seth. I noticed how his eyes gazed at me. It's full of desire like any moment he will jump on me and have his way. Thankfully he didn't.
"Please come in." He said and open his door wider. We went inside the house and a few old and thick book was placed on a table in the middle of his living room. "I was rummaging some old shelves for more information. I apologize for the dust. Please. Have a seat."
I smiled and sat on a single sofa. Seth takes the other beside me. I feel nervous but excited to know more about stealers. To know more about me. "It's okay."
"Okay, then I guess it's better if you'll ask questions and I'll answer if I knew about it." Titus sat at the chair in front of us. I saw Seth glanced at me then to Titus.
"How did you gather this informations, if I may ask?" he said. Yeah, I bet Seth was wondering about that from our way here. I can feel his ounce of doubt with him since from the start. Titus nodded his head to him and then smiled a little when he looked at me.
"My mother was from the Ravenous pack. And her mother was the servant of the fake Luna of Alpha Zeuracious. She somehow gathered some information about," he looked at me. "Stealers, and it's enough to make a book."
Both Seth and I nodded. What he said makes sense. However it can be a basis but if it's not from a stealer herself, it can be just hearsay or critics. Unless the stealer personally tells his grandmother about her abnormality.
"Her name was Zynia." Titus begins and I figured he was referring to the famous stealer. "It was said that she's kind and she had found a friend with my grandmother, Josephine, despite the gap in their age. Josephine kept her secret because she was also tricked that Zynia is the true mate of Alpha Zeuracious. Though the stealer confided her with a lot of information."
I saw Seth shifted on his seat in my peripheral vision. I looked at him and his expression was serious with a bit of discomfort in it. I suppress a groan of irritation to come out of my throat.
'Hey stop thinking like that.' I hissed at his mind. I know he's doubting his loyalty to me right now. Well, from what Titus had said, who wouldn't? It's like history repeats itself with Seth and me.
He looked at me and cleared his throat before shifting on his seat again.
'I'm not thinking at all.' he denied and I almost laughed when he rolled his eyeballs.
'Whatever. Just wanted to be clear that you're not Josephine and I'm not Zynia.'
I smiled when Seth avoided my eyes as he scraped his nape. I don't know if it's a grin that I saw on his face but it's something in between. Ohhkay, someone is much nervous than I am. "So? What's your first question, my Luna?"
I studied his face for a while. A nervous smile was plastered on my face as both of the guys wait for my response.
"Uh, "I cleared my throat and looked at Seth who's waiting for my first query. I'm not sure which I needed to know first so I settle for the common question. And most stupid at that.
"What is stealer?" My question is shaded with an unsure tone that I wanted to slap my face because of it. Damn. I always know how to make a fool of myself.
Titus chuckled and at first, I thought he's mocking me. But then, why would he, right? He already acknowledges me as the pack's Luna. Unless he doesn't mean it at all.
"I'm sorry, Luna," he said in between half-laughs. "I was just expecting a more deep topic."
"Just answer the damn question." it was Seth who saved me from sinking deep into my seat.
'Get your horses together. The least we want is for you to seem like you have motives.' Seth snapped at me. This is the first time I heard him sound like that. Wait, he's trying to defend me when he's all doubts and discomfort? Wow, this must be the third-in-command's bond with it's Luna.
I looked down on my fingers only to look up again when Titus cleared his throat.
"Stealers are from the word itself, stealer. They steal mates they do not own, they steal happiness, chances, and opportunities, and what curses them was because they steal the fate that the Moon Goddess aimed at." His tongue was filled with bitterness as he said the words. I flinched from how he tried lesser than he sounds.
Ohhkay. I'm none of what he had said so I'm not budging over it. But why does he sound bitter all of a sudden? I snapped my head to Seth's when I heard a low growl from him.
'Hey. Chill. He's just explaining.' I said using my mind.
'That's not how I heard it.'
I rolled my eyes when another growl came from him.
'I'm not bothered by it so calm down. I'm none of what he said.'
He inhaled hastily and closed his eyes as he leaned his back to the sofa. Yeah, Seth, just like that. Relax. It's Seth who needed to grab his horses and not me. He's more affected than I am.
I looked at Titus who's confused with Seth's fallout. What now? He's trying to be innocent? Or is he? Maybe he doesn't mean how he sounds at all.
"It's alright. Uh, aside from pointing a stealer's fault, what harm will I encounter?"
Titus smirked and I frowned from his reaction, making him clear his throat again and removed his smugness.
Okay. Something is not right with him. I'm starting to get irritated by his camouflage behavior. I'd like to snap at him and be frank to set things right but I stopped myself.
"Harm? The only harm I know with this issue is the subject itself. The stealers are what is dangerous."
Oh? Then he meant I'm the harm? I'm the stealer you dufus!
This time, Seth's growl is loud and focused on Titus, making me flinch as I didn't expect it.
"Another disrespectful phrase to your Luna and I'll end your life right here and now, Titus." His growl is loud and I knew his authority was sent to Titus. He's the third-in-command after all. He is dominant over Titus.
I'm alarmed with Seth's outrage but I understand where it came from. Even me is feeling annoyed with Titus and his doubled meaning words.
"Come now, Seth. Don't forget you are here for answers," he smirked at Seth before looking at me again. His eyes softened just like the first time he saw me. "I'm not referring to you directly, my Luna." "Then don't forget I can kill you whenever I want to." Seth is now shaking and I don't know what to do with him. I'm good with combat practice with Lucy though I haven't tried it personally in a real battle. Thus, stopping two large male wolves. Nah-uh. I can't even imagine.
"Enough!" My voice almost echoed the room and everything went silent. Oh, good. I have power over them both.
I eyed the both of them, trying to ignore Titus' soft gaze at me even though it's creating the hell out of me. "We are here for answers, Seth." I snapped at him before looking at Titus next. "And be careful with your words. I'm starting to doubt the meaning of what your mouth is spouting."
None of them spoke. Seth just sighed promptly and Titus bowed his head for me.
'You sound just like how a Luna is.' my wolf complimented me and I thanked her in my head. Now is not the time to be proud and tall though.
"Can we continue now in peace?" I eyed them and they nodded that made me breathe again. "Cool. So where were we?"
"From that bastard implying you're the danger." Seth mumbled and I hissed to him, making him shut up.
"I'm sorry if it sounds like that." Titus said while looking at me, I only nod at him though I'm not completely pleased with him at all.
"Let's brush that aside and answer me again. What harm will I face with my abnormality?"
He paused to think and I waited. I'm still sensing the tension in the air between them but I hoped it won't last longer to the point Seth will shift in his wolf.
"Well... I read from Josephine's journal that Zynia was once chased by wolves who lost their mates. I know what that means because when I first saw you, I felt as if Sharma was in front of me again. Able to be reached, again. Most wolf like me can lose half of our life's worth when losing our fated ones. But I can control mine because of my love and loyalty to Sharma. Those who can't and surrendered with the sorrow and mourning are the ones you need to be afraid of."
I knew that. That is why I was so scared yesterday into sympathizing with the pack's loss.
"Those are rogues and lone wolf's. The ones that are still in a pack like me are not to be feared for." he continued.
"Because those who haven't gone rogue still has control over their wolf." Seth seconded and I sighed. I remembered that Aiden was killing those who go rogue after losing their mates. Maybe it's not just from being a traitor but also a lack of sanity after being mateless.
I nodded slowly as I absorb what they had said. It's a relief then. It's not like I'll get out of Prime's territory so my chances of facing mourning rogues are low.
"If..." My words were paused as I gulped a huge jump on my throat. This is the part I've been worried about. And my top list concern when we came here for answers. I gathered every strength I have and continue my phrase. "If Aiden will find out about me, is there any way I can prove to him that I'm not deceiving him?"
Seth leaned forward and put his hands together in front of him as his elbows were rested on his knees. Even he is eager to know.
"I'm not aware that saving a stealer from his mate's doubts was needed to be documented. No offense but it's not written in wolf's history." Titus put his hand up and looked at Seth and me. Okay. He should be this crystal clear now than before. "But I knew what Alpha Zeuracious did to identify his true mate when Luna Violet came."
I figured that Luna Violet was the true mate of Zeuracious that Aurea was talking about. If she hadn't come, Zynia might own the Alpha and her treacherous scheme might suffice.
"And that is?" Seth asked, impatient of what Titus will say next.
"Well." He sighed. "The elders of Ravenous pack advised him of a foolish solution that he didn't approve of. But it was Zynia and Luna Violet that agreed to settle the matter once and for all. Both of them claimed to be Alpha Zeuracious' true mate and he can't point out who's lying."
"So what did they do?" Seth asked more eagerly than before.
I think I know. Eric told me about it. That...tragic resolve.
"Stealers can bear a pup with anyone. May it be a wolf or a human. It is written from old books and documents that one of the ancient ways of detecting a stealer was to let another wolf - one which is not it's mate to go through sexual intercourse."
"What?!" Seth almost spits from the information and he watched me. I just stiffened in my seat. I already knew that part but thinking about it swirls my stomach.
"But that can't save you, my Luna. It's only necessary between stealer and the true mate of a wolf."
"How will they know which one was the stealer from that stupid way?" Seth still can't absorb what Titus said. I guess he understands how it feels especially now that he found Ava. He already knows how mate bond works.
"The one who'll get pregnant is the stealer and death is the punishment for those who use the abnormality for treachery. Which what had happened with Zynia."
I no longer with them in the conversation. My mind was floating with hopeless thoughts. I'm Aiden's true mate and I can't even prove it to him. Well, I have no ways to.
"So Luna Ashira can't prove herself as Alpha Aiden's mate." Seth said and his voice mirrored my feelings right now. Hopelessness.
"I'm afraid not." Titus watched my expression as I continued staring at blankness.
I can't think of any questions to ask next. My mind is already filled with dismay since my main concern has no possible solution.
'You want to leave?' Seth asked and I nodded at him. Not bothering to reply with his mind link.
I wanted to stop myself from trembling. I'm scared. I fear of what might Aiden said or do if I'll confess. Damn! I even considered confessing!
We left Titus' house and Seth almost did all the goodbyes and thanks. I can only nod my head to him, not even able to show how grateful I was for the information he shared.
Seth and I are now walking into the woods. Maybe we'll take half an hour or more before we can reach the ancestral at our slow pace.
He is not talking and so am I. I guess both of us are thinking over everything Titus partook.
"You'll still tell him?" Seth broke the silence after a long walk. It's funny that he sounds hesitant with that question though he is the one who persuaded me firsthand to confess.
I gave him a weak smile.
"Should I?"
He watched my face and didn't respond. His expression looks like he's pitying me and I just shrugged at him.
"Maybe. He'll found out sooner or later. It's best if it'll come from me."
Seth sighed and didn't talk back. We share the same thought, I guess.
That once I tell Aiden about being a stealer, only the worst can come.
Even my hope earlier today was gone. If he knows what I am, I wonder if a talk can straighten out things back as it is.
"Let's just hope he trusts me enough to believe me." I smiled at Seth and looked away.
"What if he won't?" he asked with wary and I know how worried he is for me. Even if he feels this way because I'm his Luna or he treated me as a friend, I still appreciate him. "Only Aiden can answer that."
The next chapter will be the introduction of Ashira as Prime's Luna. Will she confess to being a stealer? Find out. Anyway, I'm exhausted all day so I can't write straight to the Luna ceremony. I hope you guys still like the update!0000