Back and Better by NighttShadee
Chapter 8

Chapter Eight “Weak”

Training goes by, and all it displays is that the pack is truly pathetic and weak.

I don't think it would be wise for me to attend trainings for now, because I know that I would spend the entire training insulting my old pack. They aren't ready to be trained by me yet, and I would spend the training time yelling at them.

Once the initial session is complete and we send the pack members home, I call a meeting with Damon and Erebus to let them know that it wouldn't be wise for me to attend trainings until the fuckers are ready for me to go in on them.

I'm planning on going for a run soon, before heading to the shopping mall with Antha.

I'm also going to drop the news that I'm planning on staying in a hotel from now on in order to distance myself from the pack, so that I don't start any fights or strike anyone down.

As Damon, Erebus and I enter the forest in an uncomfortable silence, I decide to break it.

"Alright, I have a few things to say. If both of you can be quiet until the end, I would appreciate that. First of all, I f*****g hate this pack. Because of that fact I'm going to stay away from trainings until the wolfs are ready to be trained by me, otherwise I know all I'll do is insult everyone. I'll join trainings once everyone's at a skill level where they're ready for my training. Second of all, I can't stay in the packhouse. It brings back too many memories, and frankly I don't have time for such bullshit. So I will be staying in a hotel likely for the remainder of my stay in the pack. I don't know if Samantha will join me yet, I'll take that up with her. Third of all, and most importantly, Erebus- instruct your pack to stop calling me Luna. I am not and never will be Luna of this pack. I have more substantial and important things to do with my time rather than help the people who drove me to suicide. If either of you have any concerns or comments, now is the time to say them. I will not listen later.”

Damon speaks first.

“I think that's fair. I don't love the idea of you staying in a hotel alone, so I might send the twins with you or join you myself. Either way I'll rent out a few rooms in case any of us want to join you from time to time.” —Inod in acknowledgement of Damon's terms. Then I turn to Erebus, who has been eerily quiet. His face is a neutral and impassive mask, but something tells me that it's a facade. “Erebus, if you have an issue, I'm giving you the chance to discuss it now. I won't listen later.” He makes eye contact with me before uttering the one word that I can’t stand when it is directed at me. “No.” Simply stated, with a thousand meanings behind it. I clap my hands together behind my back, halting mid-step. “Explain yourself.”

Erebus flashes a smile at me. “I said no, Amira. I am not okay with this. The training I suppose I can understand. But the hotel? No. You are my mate and I want you near me so that I can protect you. And asking me to inform the pack to not call you Luna? Not happening. You are my Luna, my queen, and my everything. We will be together and mate. The sooner you accept that the better.”

I scoff. “That's not your f*****g choice, Erebus! Or have you not noticed that I feel absolutely nothing towards you? The only way I'll ever feel anything for you is if you mark me, and I'd rather die than have that. I go where I want, when I want, with who I want. And you know why that is? It's that way because nobody can f*****g stop me! So get over your little fantasy of us ever being a thing! I'll try to commit suicide again before agreeing to be with you.”

"Who says you have to agree? And I have no problem putting you on suicide watch, so don't even think about offing yourself. You are too precious to this world to lose.”

“Are you insinuating that you're going to mark my sister without her permission?” Damon asks dangerously.

“I'm insinuating that it's a solid possibility if she doesn't accept me in the rather near future!” Erebus snaps in return.

I'm about to intervene when I hear the cry of a little girl in the distance. Without pause my motherly instincts kick in and I run in the direction of the cries.

Ever since I shifted for the first time I've had a very strong motherly streak. When it comes to kids I always feel some sort of responsibility to make sure that they are alright.

"Hi, sweetheart. Are you alright?” I question. She sniffles. She looks to be about six years old or so. “My mama told me I could go play so I came here. I got lost and wanted to climb a tree to be able to see where home is, but fell off and my ankle hurts” she says, stuttering over her words.

I get closer to her and sit down next to her. “Can I take a look at your ankle?” I ask quietly. She nods at me, a few more tears escaping.

"Is it okay if you sit in my lap?” I ask her. With kids I always communicate carefully and clearly, so to make sure that I don't scare them accidentally. With another sniffle she offers me a shy nod. I carefully scoop her up and sit her on my lap before rolling up her pants and taking a look at her ankle.

Ouch. It's definitely sprained, but thankfully not broken. “What's your name?” I ask her. “Ariel” she tells me, tears streaming down her face.

"Okay, Ariel. Is it okay if I take you to the packhouse and your parents can pick you up from there?” I ask her with a gentle smile. Upon her nod I scoop her up. When I look up from her I see Damon and Erebus looking at me, Erebus staring with his jaw dropped

"You're going to be the perfect mother to our pups” he tells me with a wide smile. Although I'd love to curse at him, 1 decide against it.

“No. We won't be doing anything together let alone having pups:” I tell him before taking Ariel back to the packhouse. Upon walking in I'm met with the past Alpha and Luna of this pack. They never treated me poorly, but they never paid any mind to me getting bullied.

“Amira” The Alpha, Soren, says. “I've been wanting to catch you... I just want to offer my deepest apologies for what you went through in this pack.”

The sincerity in his voice does nothing to quell my anger.

“The child I'm holding, Ariel, got lost in the woods. Please contact her mother and father, and have someone bring me a first aid kit so that I can take care of her injury. I'll be in the family room.”

With those words I walk past the two people that ignored my torment and into the family room of the pack house.

It takes about twenty minutes for a couple to burst into the room. By that time I've bandaged Ariel's ankle and am playing card games with her.

"Oh, my baby!” The woman exclaims, running towards us. She scoops Ariel up and looks at me. “Luna, thank you so much for this. I.. I'don’t know how to thank you.” 1 stand up and smile at the woman and man who's now standing next to her. “It's not a problem. But please don't call me Luna.”

I see the woman and man's faces fall, but don't say anything. I have absolutely no need to explain myself to them.

"Of course. Thank you again.” The man says before they walk out.

Just as they leave the room, Erebus strolls in. “You're breaking their hearts, you know.” He tells me, crossing his arms over his chest.

In the last twenty minutes he's showered and changed into what I assume is his normal attire outside of school: a white button up and black slacks.

An alpha must always look professional unless otherwise necessary.

I shrug. “There was a time in my life that something like breaking another's heart would matter. That time ended the day I slit my wrists due to personal heartbreak.” I say impassively.

Erebus leans against the doorframe, crossing one foot over the other, and folds his arms. I can see his gorgeous muscles bulging from underneath the shirt.

f**k, despite all he's put me through, I gotta admit that he is one hot piece of ass. If it wasn't for our history I would happily make out with him.

S**t, I might make out with him at some point just for the hell of it- no strings attached. “I call bullshit” he says smoothly. I shrug. “Okay. Have fun calling it that.” With that I attempt to walk past him but don't get very far due to him grabbing me, spinning me around, and pinning

me against the wall. His forehead is nearly touching mine as his arms pin mine by my sides.

“You may not feel the mate bond, Amira, but I can guarantee that you'll begin feeling attraction. Perhaps you don't know, but I am known as somewhat of a s*x god.”

He nuzzles my neck and nips my sweet spot, causing me to jump slightly.

“I can make you feel things you've never felt- just with my hands. And when my mouth gets involved? Well.. You won't be able to think for a week. And don't even get me started on all of the punishments you've earned... Ever heard of

overstimulation? Many guys like to punish with an excess of pain, but I largely prefer pleasure. A spanking is always satisfying but making you come over and over again, without any reprieve... Well- there's nothing that's more of a punishment than that.”

I have to suppress a shiver at everything he's saying. God, it's so hot. He's so hot, and I have no problem admitting that. But anything that ever happens between us will be nothing more than harmless fooling around.

Erebus leans his forehead against mine, and that's when I snap out of whatever bullshit trance I'm in.

I try to shove him away, but he doesn't budge. And f**k me, he has me in a totally vulnerable and helpless position.

At the end of the day he will always be able to overpower me... And there's nothing I can do about it. He backs up slightly, looking exasperated and hurt. “I'll never give up, Amira. Ever.” He tells me before walking away. Ha. Sucks for him.

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