Honey Dew

Two

And are those real angels in the magazines? / Oh, is there a heaven? / You'd know now you've been / Are those real stars that hang in the sky? / Or are they man-made, a trick of the light? 

Amen - Amber Run

   Why? Why would the moon goddess do this to me? “No.” I repeat, louder this time. “I’ve known for a while now.” Finn admits, tightening his grip on my hand. Anger erupts within me. “You knew? You knew and you never told me. Even suggested I meet my mate at the gathering and run away with him? Why did you let me find out this way?” I cried, snatching my hand away from his.

   Finn reaches back for me and attempts to hug me, but I shove him away. “Don’t touch me, Alpha Finn! Don’t touch me!” I shout as I hold my hands up in front of my body. “Mila, please. I was hoping you’d meet someone who could offer you a life of happiness, mate or not. I can’t stand to see you suffer any longer,” he pleads, “I did not refrain from telling you out of spite.” I shake my head excessively at his words. “You deceived me!” I yell, shoving him again. “Calm yourself, little one. Allow me to explain how I feel before you wake the entire floor.” Finn says gently. I collect myself, standing tall and forcing the tears to dry.

   I barely hear him speak as my mind races. “Mila, I’m not kind towards you just because I am a compassionate man. I gave you these options in hope of offering you a better life. I would be delighted; no, honored, to have you as my Luna. I’ve gotten to know so much about you over the past twelve years–“

“You know nothing about me!” I bite back another round of tears. I have to reject him. “I, Mila Ambersy, daughter and heir of Alpha Gideon and Raine Am-“

“Alpha? Never mind, that isn’t important right now. Mila don’t do this. I am begging you.” Finn cupped his hand over my mouth before I could finish. Of course, he didn’t know I’m the daughter of not one, but two Alphas. “We are meant to be. Please, do not reject me before hearing me out.” He pleads. I bite my bottom lip after he removes his hand. I can’t do this. Not with him.

   “I’ve adored you more than I could let on, Mila. From your beautiful long blonde hair to the freckles across your nose, and especially those gorgeous golden-brown eyes. I will prove this to you by recognizing some of your favorite things. Your favorite color is peach. You love to read, mainly romance novels. Bon Iver is your favorite musician, even though he’s human. You dream to be a teacher of young pups, to educate them and I think that is the most admirable career. Your favorite flowers are peonies, specifically the periwinkle colored ones.” He gestured to the vase sitting on the end table beside us. “Those are for you...” he trails off before continuing, “I know you’re scared. And I know being mated to me isn’t ideal due to my parents being sadistic, evil creatures, but... Mila, I will support whatever choice you make whether that be rejecting me, accepting me, running away, leaving after the meet, or staying after I’m deemed Alpha.” 

   Tears are streaming my cheeks. This man really does know a lot about me for how little we’ve spoken to each other over the years. I swallow—hard. My head is spinning. I think I’m going to pass out. I open my mouth to speak but...

I pass out.

   I hear shouting coming from outside the door.  Quickly, I shoot up praying I didn’t sleep through my alarm again. My eyes clear and I realize I’m not in my room. I’m in Finn’s room? The memories flood back in a tidal wave and I shrink into myself. This is not good. I’ve never heard Finn, or the Alpha and Luna yell this loud. I can hear that Finn is refusing his father entry, screeching from Luna Janice is calling me a lowly servant. A bang rings from the door. Luna Janice is begging the men not to fight.

   The door suddenly swings open and Finn is standing in front of me. My heart is beating out of my chest. I’m nearly hyperventilating at this point. This is surely my death. “Get out of my way, son!” Alpha Uroso shouts, just two inches from his face. “Mila, come with me!” Luna Janice screams, farting around Finn to grab me. Finn sticks his arm out, catching her before she touches me. “Get out!” Finn roars, shaking the entire room. I’m crying now, no words can be formed. “Finn, this is not over. You are not to be mated with a disgraceful woman such as Mila.” Alpha Uroso says. Luna Janice is nodding. I can see a crowd gathering outside of the doorway. “Scatter!” Finn growls, his eyes fading to black. “Don’t do this, Finn!” Alpha Uroso warns, his own eyes blackening.

   “Stop!” I finally squeak out, immediately regretting my outburst as their heads snap towards me. “Mila, little one, I will not allow them to harm you. As my Luna, you are to be protected at all costs. At all costs!” He demands loudly as his gaze shoots towards the still lingering members at his door. “You are setting yourself up for failure!” Luna Janice states, grasping his arm, “I cannot imagine the shame you will bring to our name upon mating with an Omega!”

   Finn laughs rather maniacally, throwing his head back. “An Omega, is she? Your secret is out. She is the heir to the Ambersy throne, Alpha to the Mainlands’ Pack. She is a powerful woman; no longer suppressed by your torment and abuse! Mother, father, you both are the disgrace you speak of. How poorly you’ve treated this exceptional woman and me, your son, for accepting the mate bond I was blessed with by the goddess herself.” His parent’s eyes pop, shifting towards me and filling with anger. “How dare you lie to our son,” she spits. “She is not the liar here, mom. You are. If she were lying, she wouldn’t have used it in her rejection last night.” Finn retorts, standing closer to me. “She rejected you?” Alpha Uroso muses, “I say, what are you fighting for then, son?”

   “I did not let her finish, father. I will not allow my mate to reject me because of my barbaric parents. If she wants to reject me, she will do according to her own personal feelings towards me.” Finn says matter-of-factly. His voice is laced with pure, unfiltered anger. “I will leave.” I whisper. “What?” They all say in union. “I said, I will leave. I am eighteen now. I am not a member of this pack, so I do not hold any legal or physical ties here.” I repeat in a strong tone. “You are not leaving, Mila. They are.” He points at his parents, making them laugh. “You cannot banish the man who has yet to crown you.” His father chuckles. “I cannot. But you will leave this room and you will no longer disrespect your future Luna. Leave. I will announce her status to the pack later this afternoon.”

   They start to babble but Finn cuts them off with a sizable roar. “Do you see how your Alpha and Luna treat their future Luna? Do you see how brutally they treat a woman, an Alpha heir who they ripped from her home themselves? An Alpha female who’s pack they singlehandedly dismantled and destroyed—they brought her here to further deepen her wounds. Not even allowing her to have a standard bedroom among us; beating her behind closed doors if she didn’t comply quickly enough to their orders! Spread this piece of information between the rest of you as I prepare for my own speech—with my future Luna beside me to tell you all the truth of her time spent under their authority.” He declares with emphasis on the word ‘Alpha’ to the pack members who are watching this show go down. Murmurs are heard between them before they disperse, looks of confusion and sadness across their facial features.

   “Your horrific secret is out in the open for the other pack members to judge, parents. I will be contacting the Council of Elders to press for your immediate retirement. You are not fit to lead this pack. Exit my room to wallow in your own self-made pity.” He simply says while pointing at the door. I’m visibly trembling, fear encasing my entire mind, body, and soul. His parents departed and he sat down beside me, holding me close to his body as I heaved. “It’s over, little one. You’re safe now. I confronted them this morning after you stated your Alpha status to me during your rejection. I had to know the truth about you and now that I do, I must release them of power.” He explains, cradling my head to his chest. I can’t speak even though I want to.

   I felt guilty for destroying his family and potentially this pack. Finn claims I’m safe but how will he prevent them from attacking me when no one is around? I can’t possibly be Luna of this pack, especially with them still present. I’ll surely be executed the moment Finn isn’t present beside me. I cry pathetically against him, desperately wanting to leave this torturous place. Finn is shushing me comfortingly as I sort through my reeling thoughts while petting my hair. The loss of my parents is hitting me especially hard in this moment. I wish I could run to my mom and cry in her lap. With that single thought, my body slumps into Finn’s lap. I cry harder, sobs filling the silent room. A couple of hours pass as I lay there, crying twelve years of pain into his lap. I’m not sure why Finn stayed with me, but I’m glad he did. He only left for about ten minutes shortly after I began crying.

   Chanting is heard on the bottom floor. I can tell it’s outside, but I’m too emotionally weak to make out the words they’re saying. Finn shakes me lightly, trying to catch my attention. “The pack is already petitioning their leave,” he informs me, pointing towards the window. “What?” I mumble, pushing myself up to take a look at the crowd below us.

   “Exile! Exile!” The crowd is chanting, their arms pumping a fist at the estate entry door. “I told you, our people won’t stand for this.” He’s running my back now as I peer out of the window. I scan the crowd to see a face I recognize and gasp. Alpha Uroso’s Beta is in the very front. A small group of five people are seen approaching the horde, parting them like a sea. In the lead is a fragile looking woman, she walks with more grace and dignity than the rest of them. Her gown is embellished in glittery stones among the velvet fabric, the tail flowing elegantly behind her. “That’s the Council of Elders,” he states, pulling me from the window, “come with me.”

   I follow warily behind him, his hand never releasing mine. We make our way to the front door, bowing to the seemingly feeble elderly who shockingly radiate power and vigor energy. “Future Alpha Finn Uroso, it is an honor to be in your presence. I am Elder Adele Montuados. Standing with me are elders Beatrice Lennox, Camilla DuPont, Sebastian Margill, and Reginald Fairchild. Might this timid young beauty behind you be the presumed fallen Mila Ambersy of the disassembled Mainland Pack?” The elegant woman tastefully asks as we take our bow again. “The honor is ours, your majesty. Indeed, she is the lost Alpha of the Mainland Pack. Daughter of the respected Alpha Gideon Ambersy.” Finn answers before I can so I step further into their view. “My, you sure have grown into your beauty, young Luna. What a replica you are of your dear mother.” She holds my hand tenderly; her eyes seem to be searching my soul.

   “Per our prior conversation...” she begins, “may we speak privately of this notably urgent matter amongst the presence of your current Alpha and Luna in question?” She asks, motioning towards them behind us. An involuntary shake rattles my body as their glares pierce through me. I quickly avert my eyes to the floor. “Dear, the fear is emitting from you from a simple meeting of eyes.” Adele points out with a concerned tone of voice. I can’t bring myself to lift my head, let alone respond. “Shall we?” Alpha Uroso says bitterly.

   We file into Alpha Uroso’s oversized office, each of us taking a seat aside from Finn. He planted himself directly behind my chair. The woman I remembered to be Camilla clears her throat. She sets a file down on the desk and slides it to Alpha Uroso. He picks it up, flipping through the documents. “The Mainland Pack was claimed to be dismantled by rogues with no documented survivors, Alpha Uroso. Are you aware that you stated this information after sifting through the wreckage yourself?” The man named Reginald asks. He has a thick English accent. His thin white hair is wispy, swooped to the left of his head. “I personally witnessed, with my Luna, the rogues leaving the territory before we approached the shambles of their land.” He answers, his eyes darting to me. “Mila?” I can tell Reginald is asking for my side of the story now.

   “I was young when my people were attacked. I was only six years of age. Alpha Uroso and my father, Alpha Gideon Ambersy, were arguing just outside of our home two days prior to the attack. I don’t recall what exactly was said word for word, but I know the argument was because of my father’s Beta, Kendrick Holch, being murdered by Alpha Uroso himself. I heard him saying the Beta in fact did not cross the border to the Uroso’s territory, that Alpha Uroso deliberately sought after him and assassinated him without probable reason. He came in several minutes later and told my mother, Luna Raine Ambersy, to prepare for battle. He claimed Alpha Uroso declared war against our pack. My father took me to his Beta’s vacant cottage where she hid me in a small space below the foundation. It was a hideaway of some sort, big enough to only fit three wolves in their human form. I stayed there for a couple of nights, there was food and water stashed beneath a floorboard inside of the bunker that I could survive on for nearly a week. The third night, I heard the war begin. I remained hidden inside of the bunker until the silence fell. Once I crawled out of the space, the scene before me was... it was...” I started choking up attempting to describe my fallen pack.

   “We understand without words, my dear. Please continue.” Adele reassures with a sad voice. Gaining my composure, I continued. “I went to look for my mom and dad. Above my deceased father was Alpha Uroso. He spotted me and I attempted to run but being a young pup, I wasn’t fast enough to escape. He and Luna Janice captured me and transported me to their land. Initially, Alpha Uroso took pity on me. He was kind and offered me food, drinks, shelter, a decently sized bedroom. Luna Janice objected. I was forced into a small room that they cleared cleaning supplies out of. A mattress on the floor with a small chest of three drawers beside it was provided for me. I had nothing but the clothes on my back. Alpha Finn is a year older than me. He gave me some of his clothes and brought me toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap to bathe. Luna Janice saw this and forbid him from even speaking to me. From there, the Alpha had a change of heart towards me. I was forced to learn how to cook for the pack, clean up after them, do their laundry, and other tasks they saw fit for a servant. If I didn’t immediately comply or my chores weren’t completed in their timely manner, I was whipped and/or beaten–“

   “I never!” Alpha Uroso piped up, interrupting my truth. I pointed my gaze directly at him. Without words, I slowly rose to my feet and turned my back to the Elders. I lifted my shirt, revealing my tattered back. They all gasped, rising to their feet as well. “I have seen and heard enough. I am sure we all agree, correct?” The man they called Sebastian ushered to his group. They all nodded in agreement. Adele is blotting tears with a handkerchief. “Excuse my rudeness, I must leave. It was an honor to meet you all.” I say, hastily exiting the room. I can’t believe I bared my back in front of the Elders. I feel humiliated as I run down the stairs to my room, slamming and locking the door behind me. I sit on my bed, wiping my own tears that are now falling.

   A knock on my door sounded and I opened it just slightly. There stood Elder Adele and Finn. “May I?” She gestured into my room. I shamefully opened the door wider to allow her inside. “Oh, my...” she breathlessly sweeps over the tiny room as she entered. I stood in the corner silently, trying to allow her some space. She repeated those words a few more times, shaking her head sadly at the state of my living conditions. Finn grasped my hand, pulling me close to him. “I am pleased to inform you that we all agreed on the instant retirement of Alpha Uroso and Luna Janice. They will be taken into our custody to withstand trial in a few weeks for their crimes against you, dear child. I am appalled at the suffering you endured under their bloody hands. I am so sorry for your tortuous life and the loss of your parents. I knew your lovely mother personally and it pains me to see you, her daughter, subjected to a life of pain. If I only knew of your survival... if I had only trusted my instincts... I could’ve saved you sooner from this hell. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, do not hesitate to ask me. My personal home is open you as a safe haven, dear daughter.” Adele says shakily. I can see the hurt in her expression as she speaks.

   “Thank you for your hospitality and genuine kindness, your majesty. Words cannot explain the depth of my gratitude. Although I feel guilty for tearing apart a family and pack—“

“Stop.” Finn cuts me off, pulling me into his chest. “Stop thinking that way. Please.” He whispers into my hair, kissing the top of my head. I couldn’t stop the blush that crossed my cheeks as he did that. “I will leave my personal number and address for you. Please check in with me tomorrow.” Adele brushes her hand on the back of my cheek before leaving.