My Name is Not Cupcake

"They took my mate from me," Elias said, motioning to Nolan and Mason.

"She ran away from you, you bastard," Nolan snapped. His face drained slightly as his eyes shifted to the man. "I apologize," Nolan said immediately. The man only shrugged.

"Well, did she?" he asked. Nolan nodded.

"She ran away from him and came here to us because Elias was abusing her," Nolan explained.

"How?" the man said shortly, getting to the point.

"Emotionally, physically, take your pick. Just look at her, and if you want physical proof, check her collarbone. He was sleeping with other women, she was constantly getting hurt... she came to us after they mated during her heat and she realized that she couldn't stay with him," Nolan answered respectfully.

"How do you know the girl?" the man asked shortly again, turning to look at me this time. I was still sniffling, trying to hold in my sobs as I watched the scene unfold before me.

"Nova is my twin sister. I'm Lycan, but the trait passed her," Nolan explained. Elias' father knelt in front of me and eyed me over curiously. Then he did something I didn't expect...

He smiled at me.

And it was a genuine smile, too. The corner of his eyes wrinkled slightly as his straight, white teeth flashed me.

"May I?" he asked kindly, motioning to my shoulder. I sniffled and lowered my legs to a crisscross position as I nodded hesitantly. As soon as the man touched me, Elias growled loudly. The crowd scattered as the man pulled the edge of my shirt low enough to see the scar. Elias' father sighed and helped me to my feet. I was now standing in the middle of the clearing with Elias' father as Mason, Nolan, and Elias stood around us.

"Nova, right?" he asked me kindly. I nodded quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed that he was still holding onto my hands. "Who did this to you?" he asked. My eyes shifted over to Elias just in time to see his face fall. I looked at my feet as a faint blush crept into my cheeks. I wasn't a shy person, but I was embarrassed that this is how I was meeting Elias' father. I wanted his parents to see me as a strong and independent individual. Instead, I was caught sobbing and cowering.

"K-Kendra," I stuttered. I mentally cursed myself. The man's face grew hard before he turned to Elias. I found myself taking an involuntary step away from him. His face scared me when he was angry and I wasn't proud of that fact.

"You left her alone with Kendra? Did it not occur to you that Kendra would stop at nothing to keep you and the title of Luna? Son, I know I warned you about that when you chose her as a bride when you turned 25 years old. I told you to wait and you didn't want to listen," Elias' father scolded. He sighed before he turned back to me with a softer face. "Nova, do you want to back to Rigor Moon with my son?" he asked. I glanced at Elias quickly before lowering my head. My heart was telling me to stop this; to go back with Elias and let him prove himself to us, but my head knew better. I couldn't be with him until he proved himself. I couldn't allow myself to open up and get hurt by him again. I didn't want to. My head was winning in the tug-of-war on what to do. Hesitantly, I shook my head. I knew I would be safe here with my family.

"Nova," Elias begged, striding towards me. I took a cautious step backwards and almost fell on my butt. Elias' father steadied me easily as he held Elias back with his other hand.

"Hush, son. Step back. If your mate doesn't want to be with you after almost a year of living with you, then you don't deserve her yet. I propose that Nova gets to stay with her family in Still Water's territory until she choses to come to you. You can visit only when she allows it," Elias' dad said. He turned to Peter who was watching from the outskirts of the clearing as an afterthought. "Only if that's okay with you, of course, Peter," he asked. Peter nodded.

"Of course, Mathias. I think that's a great idea," Peter agreed.

Oh, so that was Elias' father's name: Mathias. It fit him well.

"No, no, no, Nova please don't do this," Elias begged as his eyes glistened with the threat of tears. I could only look away from him. I didn't want to think about how I was the one causing him that pain. We were all quiet for a moment as Elias waited for an answer from me.

"At least let our baby live," he practically whispered. My head snapped to his in surprise. I didn't think he would even ask me such a thing. Yes, I didn't want the baby, but I would never kill anyone; especially one inside me. Goes to show that he didn't know me at all. He didn't even try to get to know me when I was with him. He just wanted me close to him. I simply rolled my eyes and sighed in frustration.

"If you took the time to try to know me at all, you would know that I wouldn't even consider getting an abortion, asshole," I glared at him. I tried to keep my voice steady, but the shake from anger was unmistakable. I was angry enough to ignore the pain of regret for insulting him. I crossed my arms and stared at my feet.

"Okay then. It's settled," Mathias said.

"Thank you, Mathias," Peter said. Mathias nodded.

"You have been an ally to me, Peter... I would even say a friend. And when I heard that my son was waging war on one of my best allies as an Alpha command, I had to investigate. I am temporarily relieving my incompetent son of his Alpha duties until he can learn how to be a mate and a man. They go hand in hand anyway. And he still has much to learn before he can be either. I hope this incident has not ruined our alliance and friendship, Peter. I am sincerely sorry for the trouble my eldest son has caused you and your pack," Mathias said. I awed at how he seemed to handle everything with a masculine poise and grace, yet still be stern and demanding.

"What? Dad!" Elias complained.

"Of course not, Mathias. The alliance stands as long as Elias honors the agreement and doesn't harm my pack anymore," Peter said, ignoring Elias' complaints.

"Then it's settled," Mathias said before he turned to look at me again. "Nova, if you have any trouble, have Alpha Peter notify me. I hope to meet you again soon... under different circumstances, of course," he said before he shook Peter's hand and left. Elias turned to me in a last stitch attempt. He rushed forward and took my hand in his.

"Nova, please," he begged. That comforting feeling shot up my arm and made me sign in relief. I quickly pulled my hand away.

"You can see me in a week. I have a phone now... or again since you took away my phone the first time. You can get my number from my brother," I said before I turned and went inside the cabin. I was tired and emotionally exhausted. With everything that went on, I still couldn't forget the fact that I was pregnant. I put my hand on my stomach subconsciously as I stood in the middle of the kitchen.

A baby...

If my math was correct, I was only two weeks pregnant. How could they all tell already?

"Nova!" I heard my brother call. I opened the door and saw Nolan and Mason standing there. Everyone else had left the clearing.

"What are you two doing?" I asked.

"You have to invite us inside. The cabin is enchanted remember?" Mason said sheepishly. My eyes widened slightly.

"You were serious about that?" I asked They both nodded. I invited them inside and went back to the kitchen. I began opening random cabinets until I found a glass. I ran sink water into it before leaning my back and hands against the counter. I sighed and looked at the glass sitting on the counter as my brain went over all the events that just happened before I could stop it.

"Are you okay, little one?" Mason asked as he entered the kitchen with Nolan. I shrugged as they came closer. I was on the verge of tears again. I sniffled and went to the living room with my cup, setting it down on the glass coffee table. I clasped my hands together in my lap and shivered slightly. Mason wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.

"All that fighting and for what?" I practically whispered. Nolan and Mason sat on either side of me and hugged me.

"We're going to keep you here, just in case. The cabin is enchanted so that only people you allow can enter. Unless you invite them inside, they'll be stuck on the outside. I suggest you keep it only Nolan, you, and me," Mason explained.

"Why is it up to me?" I asked confused.

"You were the first to enter the house. You'll be safe here as long as you don't invite anyone else inside," Mason explained. I sighed and shook my head.

"I can't believe I'm... carrying a person inside of me. I didn't want Elias' baby," I muttered more to myself than to them.

"Well, you did mate with an Alpha while you were in heat. What did you think would happen?" Nolan said, getting off the couch.

"That's the thing, I didn't know! Maybe I would have if anyone bothered to tell me anything. But you both kept me in the dark! You let me be naïve and now look where that got us! I know you've been living this ridiculousness your whole life, but I only learned about it when I saw my kidnapper turn into a wolf to fight off Mason, who was also a wolf, so forgive me if I'm not too educated in the 'what happens when' area," I snapped at him as I stood. I released a heavy breath when I finished talking and crossed my arms. My tears made up of shock, anger, and sadness spilled over and on to my cheeks. I was just fully overwhelmed.

"I couldn't tell you, Nova. Okay? I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm sorry that I didn't want you caught up in all of this in the first place," Nolan snapped back. My tears doubled as my face fell.

God, I was such a cry baby today.

But his words did hurt. They sliced through me like the cold hard truth.

"I'm going to bed," I said softly. I walked through the hallway and stopped in the room that had my bag by the door. I guess this was mine. I took the bag inside and took a shower before changing into a pair of pajamas. I curled up on the bed and crossed my arms over my stomach.

I did it.

I got what I wanted.

I knew the truth about my family now. I was back home. Elias had to leave me alone. I was free to think and be as I pleased.

So why did it feel like I just lost something?

~