The Forgotten Daughter

-7- Perfectly unperfect

LANDON'S P.O.V -

I'd never told anyone about Josiah before, but Aurora just sat there and listened, she didn't judge like I thought she would.

Josiah was just a baby when he died, so there was no real sibling relationship between us but it still hurt. It hurt to know that I should have an annoying little brother, my parents a second child, but instead the moon goddess took him back. She needed him more than we did.

The pain of losing him really did take its tolls on us all.

I never heard my father curse the way he did back then, nor had I ever been so thankful that he had Alpha Nico to share his pain. They spoke often about Josiah, I guess it helped that Alpha Nico had too lost a child of such a young age.

Or at least that was what they had the pack believe. I'd over heard the truth when I was just 13 years old, they'd been discussing Aurora joining warrior training, I couldn't understand their reasoning at the time. She was just a 10 year old girl, how could she possibly train with the packs warriors? But it wasn't my place to question the Alpha.

Over the years I'd spent many days watching her from afar, taking in every detail of her being. I was in awe of her beauty.

As the years went on I quickly became the top warrior of the pack, being the son of the Beta I too had taken part in warrior training from a younger age than most. I never intended to become the best of them but somehow I had.

I hated when Alpha Nico tried to discipline Rory by pairing her with one of our best warriors. Knox would grow agitated at the sight of her being punched and pinned by any man. I wasn't sure if it was a mate bond or protectiveness over the future Luna of the pack but it would take every ounce of my strength to keep Knox from pushing forward.

I tried so hard to gain her attention in the best ways but no matter what I did she insisted on calling me 'fuckface' and ignoring every kind gesture I sent her way.

I even went so far as refusing to fight her properly during training, instead letting her beat me every time. I'm positive Alpha Nico noticed but he didn't say a thing.

She was a remarkable fighter, her skills and knowledge second to none. And for someone who was currently unable to shift, she had bonded with her wolf Alma amazingly. She certainly knew how to tap into Almas strength when she threw a punch, I had X-rays of my jaw to prove it.

Although I'd known the truth of Aurora identity since I was 13, I'd never managed to find out why they'd kept her existence a secret for all of these years or what happened to her mother.

So when my father linked to inform me there'd been an incident and she'd passed out I instantly offered my room for her to rest.

"What happened?" I asked my father as Alpha Nico lay her on my bed. "I've trained with her everyday for seven years and never once have I even seen her wobble" I stated while looking at them both demanding an answer.

"That is none of your concern young Landon, though I appreciate you offering your room while she recovers" Alpha Nico shows no emotion in his voice as they both simply turn to leave.

Knox sends a warning growl through my chest gaining both of their attention.

"None of my concern?" I scoff "The future Luna is laid unconscious on my bed and you have the nerve to tell me it's none of my concern?!" My voice raising slightly before remembering who it is I'm addressing.

Before I can correct myself Alpha Nico grabs me by the throat pinning me to the wall with his eye flashing from blue to black. "What do you know? And for how long?" He demanded through gritted teeth

My father quickly by his side willing him to release his hold.

Once my father had calmed the Alpha enough I openly told him all that I knew, which admittedly wasn't a lot other than the fact that Talia was very much alive. They seemed worried at first but thankful that I'd kept such knowledge to myself after all these years and assured them I would continue to do so.

When she finally awoke she was beyond furious that she was in my bed, it didn't seem to matter that I myself had taken to napping on the sofa instead of simply laying down beside her.

When she left my room, I hadn't planned on following her but the sound of angry wolves got Knox's attention and we sprang into action. She refused when I told her to go to the safe room inside my walk-in, I knew she was stubborn but she was choosing to put herself in the line of action.

I guess her instincts and Alpha training kicked in, she would be the perfect Luna, but I couldn't just leave her to it, neither could Knox. He took over completely, throwing me to the back of my mind as he shifted, standing slightly ahead of Rory in order to protect her.

I'd never taken a life before but as my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood and I let my opponents body drop to the ground, a wave of pride and satisfaction swept over me.

'Our future Luna is safe for now' Knox proudly stated in my head, like I hadn't just watched the whole scenario unfold. 'But we must keep her safe Landon, this is not over' he says before allowing me to shift back to my human form

I couldn't believe it when Alpha Nico agreed to allow me to be Rorys personal guard. Knox was over the moon, he'd do anything just to keep her close, at least now I didn't have to sneak about stalking her.

Aurora on the other hand, well she wasn't happy about it at all. She hardly spoke on the drive to her house and it had me feeling a little guilty, but not as guilty as I'd feel if anything did happen to her. Although I knew Kane and his brothers would forever keep her safe.

I also knew Kane would be spitting feathers about this whole situation. He'd been my closest friend growing up, we even shared a birthday but all that changed when we turned 18. I'd visited him the following day and instead of greeting him, I'd stupidly sniffed the air as he opened the door in hopes of Aurora being my mate.

Beyond stupid really as I knew with her being younger than us that even if she was my mate, the mate bond wouldn't have come into effect until she turned 18. A few days later Kane left to travel to world on his own mate hunt and I hadn't spoken to him since.

Joining them for dinner was a completely new experience, at home it was only ever myself and my parents at meal times and even then my father would often have work to attend to.

I couldn't hide my shock at the site of the mountain of food piled upon Auroras plate, I was actually amazed she finished three helpings full with minimal effort. I'd also noticed that she opted for the more peculiar choices of food that were on the table, stuffing balls, pigs in blankets and cauliflower cheese, rather than just piling up with meat and potatoes.

And the way she shoved that little piggy in her mouth, I could tell it was supposed to be a threatening gesture, but the only thing threatening about it was how tight my boxers suddenly felt.

'Hey get your head outta ya pants. You can't keep her safe if you're busy dreaming of being balls deep' Knox snaps at me.

Of course he was right but oh goddess she was beautiful, even when she tried so hard to be anythingbut.

After we'd eaten I decided to give her some space and join the boys playing computer games, this couldn't be easy for her having me around 24/7 when I knew she was far from my biggest fan.

Then I went and made it a whole load worse. After losing epically against all three boys I admitted defeat and agreed to Kash's dumb idea of a losers forfeit.

'She's gonna kill you, you know that right?' Knox was less than impressed by the idea but eager to lay his eyes on the sight just beyond the door.

Kash threw me a small tube of fart spray as the three of them stood eagerly awaiting her reaction and my return as I quietly entered the en-suite. Thankfully she didn't notice me as I took a seat of top of the toilet lid but after a few squirts I heard her retch at the stench, I was trying my hardest not to puke myself, this stuff was vile!

I tried my hardest not to look in her direction, as much as I'd love to see her perfect body naked and dripping with water this was not how I'd planned on it happening.

"GET THE f**k OUT!!" she screamed pulling her earphones from her ears, that explains why she didn't hear me come in.

I turn my head to respond but instead burst out laughing at the sight of her. Oh goddess no, she's going to think I'm the biggest tool going.

She's naked, in the bath and all i did is laugh. It wasn't that she didn't have an amazing body because frankly I couldn't see anything but the tops of her shoulder through all the bubbles. But her face.. the bright green face mask she had on had started melting with some brown goo dripping from her hair down her forehead, mixing into the green, leaving her looking like Shreks wife.

"OUT!" She growl at me this time, clearly growing angrier by the second.

I quickly stand and leave the en-suite still unable to stop my laughing.

'You can't just leave her with that stink!' Knox scolds me. I roll my eyes at him, a gesture I'd grown used to seeing from Rory.

I grab my aftershave from on top of the bedroom draw,popping my head back through the door and giving it a few squirts, before winking at her and closing the door. Her eyes almost glowing as I know Alma is pushing forward in frustration.

I didn't mean to upset her or make her angry but if I was going to protect her then I needed to get back on the boys good side. After our little prank the boys chose to watch a horror film while I gave in and took myself off to bed.

Just as I close the bedroom door, I hear footsteps walk past towards the games room, I sneakily open the door just a crack to take a peak. I can't hide the amused smile that appears on my face, she was actually going to try and get pay back by scaring the s**t out of me while in the middle of a horror.

As she pushes the door open slightly ready to pounce I gently sneak up behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist and my other hand gently over her mouth to prevent her from screaming too loud. I'm glad I did as she physically jumps and tried to scream, doing all she can to escape my grip.

I just pull her closer to me, enjoying the warmth of her body heat against my own "Nice try beautiful" I gently laugh and place a cheeky kiss upon her cheek with a wink, before letting her go and leaving her there with a shocked expression while I make my way back to my room.

I just kissed her and she didn't rip my throat out! Ok it was just a little peck on the cheek but still I was expecting a slap.

Stepping back in my room I smile one of those teenage love struck girlie grins and head into the en-suite. Before I even had time to register what was going on, Aurora was stood at the other en-suite door her face full of shock an embarrassment as she takes in the sight of my manhood.

I just turn my head sending her another of my signature cocky grins. "Like what you see? Or would you rather take a photo?" I give it a quick two shakes before fixing my boxers, flushing and washing my hands.

"No, actually I don't like what I see! And I definitely don't want a photo! What I want is for you to stay the f**k away from me! It's hard enough being the only girl in a house with three brothers I don't need you adding to the moron mix!" She angrily spit at me, instantly making me feel bad for my earlier actions.

"Yano.. you should really lighten up. Maybe instead of dinner I should be offering to take you for a drink, relax a little" I smirk once more, while drying my hands before taking a step towards her.

She instinctively steps back but that doesn't stop me. Each step she take, I take another mirroring her movements until we're in her room with her legs pressing against the side of her bed. Our eyes locked on each other's, neither of us saying a word.

A genuine smile begins to form on my face at just how beautiful she looks, before I once again lean down kissing her cheek. "Night beautiful" I whisper, as I leave her there and return to my room.

I knew tonight would be different but I wasn't expecting something as simple as skipping hot chocolate before bed with my mum would have me feeling so.. home sick.

'Night mum' I link her as I lay staring at the ceiling.

'Good night my brave boy, sleep well' she responded immediately, I could almost hear her smiling.

I often wondered if my mum knew the truth about Aurora or if she too had been lied to about her best friend and goddaughter.

She used to speak of Luna Talia often, telling me stories of them growing up skipping pebbles in the lake, picking wild flowers from the edge of the clearing, how kind and beautiful she was. But as the years went on and she too suffered the fate of losing a child, her pain grew and with my father constantly distracted by his duties as Beta, I found myself becoming her main support. I let her cry, scream, laugh whatever it was she needed and that hot chocolate before bed became our time.

I can't stand it anymore, I need hot chocolate.

I hop from the bed and make my way downstairs as quietly as possibly, tiptoeing my way into the kitchen and silently raiding the cupboards on the hunt for some hot chocolate.

Coffee, decaf coffee, tea bags, tea leaves, green teas, detox teas, decaf teas, bovril.. every hot drink I could think of and a million types of tea but no hot chocolate!

I reach the last cupboard and sigh as I slowly open the door, secretly praying that it would be here.

Clang! Crash! Ting!

Random metal baking utensils fall from the cupboard all around me followed by "BOO!" Aurora jumps onto my back laughing.

When did she come in here?

"s**t, Rory you scared the life outta me!" I grab my chest as I almost have a heart attack

"Good! I think that's the least you deserve, don't you?" She asks with a raised brow while folding her arms over her chest. I just wanted to kiss her but I knew she really would kill me if I did, so instead I just fill her in on what really happened before she grabs the hot chocolate she'd clearly hidden.

I couldn't help but look at her arse as we walked back up the stairs, how could I not when she had the most ridiculously short pyjama shorts on the planet, I could literally see the bottom of those sweet cheeks.

To say I was speechless when she invited me onto her balcony to enjoy our hot chocolate together would be an understatement, I think my body actually froze at her door before I could move my feet to walk into her bedroom.

We sat for a while just watching the stars and staring at the moon, it was nice to be able to just sit comfortably around her without her biting my head off for even being there.

I decided to tell her the reason behind the hot chocolate and about Josiah, I thought maybe by opening up to her about something as personal as this she'd trust me a little.

I couldn't believe it when I finished talking and she leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, I was definitely not expecting that!

"I don't think any less of you Landon. To be honest I didn't think too highly of you in the first place" she chuckled that cute little chuckle that made her lip twitch when she was being a little too cocky, I loved it. "but I do appreciate you're honesty and openness. Guess I'm going to have to get to know you at some point if I'm going to be stuck with you all day every day right?" She smiles at me nudging me in the ribs m as we both let out a little laugh.

She had no idea the effects she has on me, I just prayed that in a few months time she would truly be mine.

Sitting here drinking hot chocolate, just watching the night sky beside her was possibly the most perfect end, to a not so perfect day.