BETA's LOVER

Chapter- Sixteen

MACKENZIE

Alistair grabbed my hands in his warm ones, I could feel the bundles of tension in my body after all the flirty yet quite truthful exchange of sentiments happened between us. I looked up into his hazel eyes, and I saw it: a storm brewing in them—regret, fear, something unspoken that tugged at his soul. His eyes told the story his lips couldn't, a silent confession that there was something wrong, something eating him from the inside.

"Mackenzie..."His voice was shaky, unsteady, a side of him I wasn't used to. "There's something I need to tell you."

He stepped closer, but not too close, keeping a distance as he reached up to hold my face gently, almost reverently—as if I were fragile, something that needed careful handling. The gesture should've been comforting, but instead, it sparked a chaotic swirl of emotions in me, too many to process at once. I was afraid my nervous system might shut down having experienced too many sensations in just one today.

Remember, I'm not used to being loved or cared for.

"I'm not like the other guys here," He whispered, his words hanging in the air. "And neither are they."

Frowning, I pulled back slightly to look up at him and tried to understand the words that he just said that sounded nonsense to me,"

What-"

Suddenly, frantic screams pierced the air, and everything went still. Eyes darted around, searching for the source of the chaos, the tension in the room rising. Then came the growls, deep and menacing, followed by more screams. I spun around, my pulse quickening, and felt Alistair go rigid beside me. His body pressed protectively against mine, as though he were shielding me, but I didn't know from what

Without warning, I was being dragged towards where Jazmine and Cylon stood.

"Alistair! what's wrong?"I shouted, but he didn't answer. He just kept moving, his steps quick and aggressive, like a man with a purpose—like he'd just spotted a threat and wasn't going to stop until it was dealt with.

"Take care of her," Making me stand beside Jazmine who nodded her head, Alistair and Cylon started walking away.

"Girls, please keep moving, we need to"

After Alistair hazels eyes met my curious ones, he gave a quick, almost imperceptible nod to Cylon, and then—

Then I saw wolves.

Before my brain could fully register what was happening, the figures of Alistair and Cylon were no longer standing before me. In their place, two massive wolves—one with a dark brown coat, the other jet black—stood, their eyes glowing in the dim light. They didn't waste a second, and within moments, they vanished, disappearing into the distance, leaving me frozen in shock.

I staggered back, barely able to catch my breath, my mind reeling.

"Quinn!" Dazed and confused, I followed the voice and found Quinn lying down on the ground a few feet away from me and Jazmine by her side.

"Sweet dear, follow me inside and sit down," An old woman spoke softly, grabbing my hand and leading me inside without waiting for my response, for which I was grateful.

I need time to think. What I witnessed was something impossible.

Inside, I sank into a chair, my hands trembling as the image kept playing in my mind like torture.

"Drink some water," I made eye contact with Jazmine who held the glass near my face, she wouldn't meet my eyes. Grabbing the glass, she quietly sat on the chair which was across from me-keeping a safe distance, a wise choice. Near her sat an old couple who only seemed to be smiling at us.

"Sweet child," the old woman began, her voice warm but serious. "You must be struggling to separate what is real from what is impossible. But what you saw today, what you witnessed, is real. And it's very possible."

I blinked, trying to absorb her words, my mind spinning. She smiled gently as if reading the confusion on our faces.

"Let me explain," she continued, her voice softening as she began her tale.

"The ability we have—it's not something we choose, it's something that's been passed down for centuries. It all started with a curse, way back in ancient times. There was a warrior named Lycaon who angered the gods, especially Zeus. He did something unforgivable, and as punishment, Zeus didn't kill him. Instead, he cursed him to become something... different. A man, but also a wolf. And over time, that curse passed down through bloodlines, eventually leading to what we are now-werewolves."

Her words blurred as my mind went back to the research I had just for passing time in my summer vacation- Mythical creature-The majestic of all-WEREWOLF.

...............

Flashback:

I remember finding an old book, buried between books in Aunt Susan's collection. The old book was heavy in my hands, its cracked leather binding exuding the musty scent of time. The pages-yellowed and brittle had been painstakingly transcribed by an unknown hand, their ink faded but still legible in the dim candlelight. It was written in another language that I did not know of and as I turned the pages, I stumbled across various images or I would rather say- drawings which had its description written in English and the other language beside it.

One of the papers had Werewolf written in the top left corner, with a cycle of the moon- from crescent-shaped to half-moon to full moon. Paw shapes and paw prints are drawn onto it along with its description. A few old writing was present that I couldn't comprehend what it was. Below it was a cycle of transformation- werewolf shifts into human and visa versa. A large wolf head was drawn where its skull was explained along with a human skull and its description. On turning the next page, a piece of paper slipped out of the book that seemed to be folded and kept to stay safe- hidden among the folds of papers.

Before I could, a hand grabbed the paper, looking up I found Aunt Susan staring at the book in my hand and then at me. She looked somewhat surprised and relieved but soon recovered and sat down beside me on the sofa.

Caressing my head gently, "What is my sunshine up to today?", she asked me lovingly.

"I was so bored, so decided to explore your mini library and found this suspicious book lying in there. What have you been hiding? Who are you?"I asked, playing it up with a mock detective's tone and acting out like I was investigating her with fingers pointed at her like a gun with narrowed eyes.

Soon we both bursted out laughing with her arms quickly encircling me in their warmth and soon I was screaming as she tickled me.

"You brat," Aunt Susan commented as I placed a kiss on her cheek, making her stop her assault on me.

I knew her weakness, that was- me.

"Aunt, tell me about this book. Why are there drawings and sketches of wolves?" I asked her, once we both settled down. Curiosity burning like a fire within me.

"This here," she said, pointing to the worn pages, "is an ancient copy of a book about mythical creatures, things like vampires and werewolves, just like the movies you've seen. This title right here says The Moon's Wrath: The Birth of the Lycanthrope. It's a story much older than anything we know today.

Long before men and wolves shared stories, before the first howl split the silence of a moonlit night, there was a curse. A curse older than the stars themselves. It came from a battle between the gods and the spirits of the earth. Those who dared challenge the gods—well, they got more than they bargained for. The lycanthrope, or werewolf as you'd call them, wasn't just a creature that went wild on the full moon like people think. No, it was a being tied to the very earth, touched by both the divine and the damned," she said, her finger tracing the words with ease while my eyes stayed locked on her.

"Once a man, a warrior full of honor, the curse took hold. Each month, when the full moon rose, his body would change. Muscles would swell, bones would shift, and skin would tear as he became a creature of raw power and instinct. No longer a man, but a beast, driven by hunger and rage, and an unbreakable connection to the wild. Though his human mind fought to stay in control, the wolf—an ancient force—was too strong. Over time, the curse spread. Those who were bitten or cursed by the original werewolf became part of the pack. Each new transformation made the curse stronger, chaining more souls to the moon's influence.

So, these creatures, the werewolves, they weren't just the victims of some divine grudge. They were the result of a war between the gods and the earth itself," she finished, her eyes meeting mine as she closed the book.

I stayed silent processing this new information while my hands played with her fingers-a habit of mine whenever I was in deep thought.

"Did you understand, Mackenzie dear?" Her voice pulled me out of my daydreaming and I nodded my head.

"Yes. May I borrow the book? This is interesting though I don't understand the language I could interpret the drawings from what you have told me," Smiling, I asked her,

"Of course my sunshine. You can come over to me whenever you have a question," Laying a kiss on my head, she handed the book to me.

.............

I blinked, pulling myself out of the memory. The old woman was still speaking, telling us about the curse and the spread of lycanthropy, about how the werewolves' bond with the moon had become something that couldn't be ignored.

Now thinking back, I could link the recent event and what the old lady was explaining, to the mythical werewolves I had read about.

So it wasn't a myth after all.

All humans will die from fear or half which were obsessed with reading or watching mythical creatures books or movies, might jump with excitement- like me.

But it was hard to jump into this situation as I still couldn't believe my eyes.

The man I have-might have- feelings for was a -werewolf.

Not sure how and where to start, I drank the water and looked at Quinn beside me, who sat still since the lady was done talking ages ago.

"Are you okay?" Gently squeezed her hand to give her some comfort.

"I am just.. unable to comprehend all this situation. Mack, this werewolf thing, you always used to tell me about them that you read in books..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes dazed with confusion,

"Yes, Quinn. They are not myths as we used to think," I answered her unspoken question, shaking her a little, to bring her back to her senses.

"Mack, the wolf we saw that day......" Quinn trying to find an answer in my calm eyes while her hazel eyes held fear in them.

"Yes, Quinn. We were not hallucinating at all, the wolf did transform back to his human form. What we saw was real and so was today," I answered for her in case she can't connect the dots. My voice was almost a whisper at the mention of today's surprise

event.

"So you did see him transform that day," We all looked up at the new voice that rang against the dead silent room. It was Arthur, who simply raised an eyebrow as realization dawned on him, who was standing alongside Alistair and Cylon. They were facing away from our questioning gaze.

"Arthur, please. They are already shocked about the reveal, don't upset them more. And they had the right to hide this from us, after all, we are strangers to them," Eyebrows raised in surprise, I looked over at Jazmine, who now stood beside Arthur, a sensible woman for sure.

"As you now already know about our real identity and who we are. Tell me what else you are hiding from me," Arthur asked, after the men or I would say the wolves were settled down. Jazmine let out a frustrated sigh and shook her head at his stupid husband.

"That's what I-we should be asking you. What more you have been hiding from us? Or are you going keep up the act of faithful leader or whatever you are," I said, my voice stern and eyes locked with his. I know I was being rude but I can't deal with more lies.

I hate being lied to. And that's what they have been doing for the past three weeks.

I heard a growl and saw Arthur's eyes darken with anger, "Alpha! Please" Alistair and Cylon pleaded voice reached my ears. Jazmine immediately grabbed his hand and he seemed to calm down a little.

"Alpha, try to understand the poor girls. Don't misunderstand their judgement as if they are challenging you," the Old man, spoke for the first time, his voice soft as if he cared for Arthur.

And the same time, Alistair was by my side, standing in front of me, shielding me from Arthur. Somehow, my body reacted to see his protective side, wanted him to be close to me but I got rid of unwanted emotions right now.

"Mackenzie, please. Calm down, I promise you this time we are not lying, we did plan to tell you sooner-"

"Sooner? Were three weeks not enough?" This time it was Quinn, her question was obvious for whom it was directed- Cylon, who wore a guilty and pained expression on his face. But my mind was on what they had called Arthur a few seconds ago,

Alpha? Alpha- as in the leader of the wolf pack.

This time, the wheels turned in my brain as I took in the situation, I have read the books and now know enough to understand what was happening. Unable to control the adrenaline rush, I stood up facing them.

"You are the Alpha"I spoke, pointing at Arthur and my eyes swiped to Jazmine, who was slowly blinking as if taking in the question I threw at them,"-and you are his mate- The Luna," I didn't ask them, I told them as if confirming my thoughts.

Based on all of their expression, it means I was undoubtedly right.

Turning around, I found Alistair a few feet away from me, standing astounded. His hazel eyes darted between my eyes as if he was finding it difficult to believe my words.

"What is your rank?" I asked him, without beating around the bush. My heart beating wildly trying to escape my chest.

This time he sharply inhaled and ran his fingers through his hair before glancing at me, "I-I am the Beta of the pack and-,"

His eyes held an emotion that I couldn't translate into words but what I could understand was that he can't lose me.

Dead silence.

"Mackenzie. Mack! What the hell are you talking about? What is this Alpha and Beta?" Quinn grabbed my hand from behind but the intensity of Alistair's gaze held me hostage and I kept looking at him.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at me defeated and afraid, "And you are my mate, Mackenzie,"

I froze, my hands instinctively covering my mouth as I inhaled sharply, the weight of his words sinking in. Staggering backwards, I lowered myself into a chair, gesturing for him to stay where he was as if I could make sense of this all if I just sat still long enough.

"Can anyone explain to me, what is happening? Mackenzie?" Quinn's voice was shaky with panic. I only sat with my head down and hands covering my face.

"Quinn, please listen to me. I will explain to you, just stop crying," Cylon's pained voice reached my ears,

I wanted to wake up. Wasn't this the part where I snapped out of it? Like in the movies, where the protagonist wakes up and it's all just a bad dream?

But no. This was no movie. No cliché plot twist was going to save me from this nightmare that felt all too real.

Well, Mackenzie, you're acting like one of those female leads who can't handle the truth.

"Please, everyone settle down. It must be hard for them to take this all in. Quinn,I will explain everything okay?" Jazmine cooed probably to Quinn,

I heard a faint okay and sniffing from beside me. Exhaling, I turned to face Alistair, who had his eyes on me and I just knew he

hadn't looked away for a second. His hazel eyes pleading with mine, making me look away as my heart ached painfully. I found Jazmine right beside Cylon and Quinn. Cylon's eyes held the same intense, life-or-death determination that Alistair's had just moments before.

And I can guess what was coming.

"In the world of werewolves, a mate—whether a soulmate or a life partner—is someone chosen by fate or the moon. The bond or you can say the connection between mates is incredibly strong, going beyond mere attraction. It's believed that when werewolves find their mate, they've found their other half—someone who completes them, balancing both their human and wolf natures. This connection is more than just romantic; it's spiritual, built on loyalty, protection, and devotion. In many legends, the bond between werewolf mates is unbreakable, lasting for a lifetime." Jazmine spoke softly, as though her words were delicate things, meant to cushion the blow.

"I know this is hard, trying to process all new information. But you need to know one last thing," She spoke, looking at Cylon, who was on his knees in front of Quinn, with his hands placed over Quinn's.

"Quinn," he began, his voice full of raw emotion, "You are my mate. Or my wife. Whatever you want to call it... it's you. It's always been you."

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