Fated to try again

CHAPTER 2

The full moon festival approached so fast. Everyone was getting ready for the annual festival. Odessa was not left out in this preparation. She got herself some new clothes and jewelry.

" Which one should I wear, Lyra?" Odessa asked, showing off different necklaces.

" The one with the wolf pendant is always beautiful"

" Are you sure he would like it."

" Dessa, we are not talking about this guy again please."

" Am I perceiving jealousy?"

" Jealousy?? Why would I? Even if I am, not for an imaginary mate"

" Lyra, please stop it. You won't call my mate imaginary."

" Oh, seems someone is angry now."

" Just stop"

" Hope mummy is aware that he is coming back?"

" She is not aware."

"Aware of what?, Ama asked from the sitting room.

" About nothing, Mom!! "

"Lyra!!!" Ama called

" Yes, mom"

" Come here, my girl."

Lyra knew exactly what Ama was going to ask her. She ran off immediately to Ama’s room, thinking of the right answer to give her. “ Should I tell her the truth or not”. Ama, being a beta too, knew what was going through her mind.

“ Odessa's mate is coming back for the Full Moon festival”

“ Mom but…”

" I know he will be coming back this year, because it's time to be the Alpha of the sunrise pack.”

"His father,” she continued. “......made them to be so close to each other from little. He thought I would give him a son. So he wanted Odessa to be Ryder's beta.”

"A beta to a male Alpha?”

" Yes baby, he wants to keep the relationship between the Windstrong pack and the sunrise pack.”

" But mom, Odessa is…..”

“... obsessed with an imaginary mate". I've heard you say it a couple of times now.”

" What if he doesn't feel the same way for her?"

" Lyra baby!"

" Yes, mom"

" Let's leave that for our ancestors to decide."

" I hope I can find my own mate, mom."

“ You will surely find it, my love."

" I need to help her and choose her attire for the festival. She is nervous " She said, laughing, standing up to leave.

" Go ahead. I need to gather the women for a meeting”.

Ama, being the wife of the pack Alpha, was the women leader of the pack. She was the youngest widow among them.

****

Lyra was in her room reading her storybook when her stepbrother came in with a note in his hand.

She recognized his footsteps and covered herself with her blanket, pretending to be asleep. She loves seeing her stepbrothers, Rogan and Martin, around her even though she hates their mom. She spends little of her time with them and spends more time with Odessa and Am.

" Someone is pretending...." Martin said, tiptoeing.

"Martin, please, I’m sleeping. Come back later ".

"We both know you hate staying here. And I want to spend a little time with you" he said, giving a pitiful face.

She sighed "What is it?" She asked, trying to sit up.

"Just want to show you my painting. This is me, as the alpha, this is you, this is Rogan and this is Dad" he said, pointing at the drawings.

"Seriously, Martin? You woke me up to show me this?"

" Yes, sis. Because I know you will like it."

"Well, I don't like it. Can you go now?"

" Sis, we both know that you are not sleeping. The position of the storybook says it all. So stop acting up, big sis".

" Where's Rogan?"

“ He is asleep.”

“ And those eyes of yours are too tiny to sleep too.”

" I love you so much, big sis. I'm keeping the drawing for you”, he said, running towards the door. He hit his feet at the door, trying to give his sister a blow kiss.

“ Ouch!!!...” He screamed.

“ Next time don't bother me with your drawing” she said, walking towards where he was. She bent to take a look at his feet, but he gave her a kiss on her cheek.”

Lyra wasn't sure of what to do more than to smile and shake her head. She picked the drawing from her bed and looked at it again. The drawing was showing her at the waterfront while Martin and his brother were at the back. She laughed and dropped the drawing on her bed.

***

The full moon festival started with women dancing around the pack with their daughters behind them. Odessa and Lyra were dancing with the women too. Odessa was beautifully dressed with her gold hair hanging on her shoulder. She wasn't outstandingly beautiful.

"You are beautiful, my lady” a young man said, trying to shake her hands. She tried to ignore it but Lyra mind-linked her. “ Cooperate,Dessa”. She took his hands instead and smiled at him.

“ Thank you” she said.

“ Our pack friends are here!!!” they announced.

Odessa's heart skipped two minds. She became more nervous. She looked through the crowd matching towards them. Lyra noticed a familiar figure in their midst.

“ The guy with the sun and flower wrist?, what is he doing here” she asked , raising her eyebrows.

“ Who?” Odessa asked

“ The guy I told you about at school”

“ The one that threw my snacks?”

“ Yes. What is he doing here?”

He approached them, smiling. “ We are meeting again, short girl” he said, still smiling. Lyra looked away. Pretending not to see anyone in front of her. He extended his hand for a handshake. “ I know we started from the wrong angle. Can we at least be friends?” he said softly. Lyra shoots his hands, still not looking at him. Odessa was standing beside her. She mind-linked her immediately. “ Can you act gentle for once?”. Lyra turned to him, looking straight into his eyes.

“ Why is his face looking a bit familiar to me too,” Odessa asked through the mind-link.

“Familiar to you?” Lyra asked, turning in her direction.

“ I'm Ryder, Ryder Morgan” Ryder said, smiling at the girls.

“ Ryder??!!” They both asked , widening their eyes.

Odessa felt a lump in her throat. Her heart skipped two times again. “ I didn't even recognize him” she said in her mind.

“ Talk to him, I need to leave now” Lyra said through the mind-link, trying to leave.

The full moon festival approached so fast. Everyone was getting ready for the annual festival. Odessa was not left out in this preparation. She got herself some new clothes and jewelry.

" Which one should I wear, Lyra?" Odessa asked, showing off different necklaces.

" The one with the wolf pendant is always beautiful"

" Are you sure he would like it?"

" Dessa, we are not talking about this guy again please."

" Am I perceiving jealousy?"

" Jealousy?? Why would I? Even if I am, not for an imaginary mate"

" Lyra, please stop it. You won't call my mate imaginary."

" Oh, seems someone is angry now."

" Just stop"

" Hope mummy is aware that he is coming back?"

" She is not aware."

"Aware of what?, Ama asked from the sitting room.

" About nothing, Mom!! "

"Lyra!!!" Ama called

" Yes, mom"

" Come here, my girl."

Lyra knew exactly what Ama was going to ask her. She ran off immediately to Ama’s room, thinking of the right answer to give her. “ Should I tell her the truth or not”. Ama, being a beta too, knew what was going through her mind.

“ Odessa's mate is coming back for the Full Moon festival”

“ Mom but…”

" I know he will be coming back this year, because it's time to be the Alpha of the sunrise pack.”

"His father..” she continued. “......made them to be so close to each other from little. He thought I would give him a son. So he wanted Odessa to be Ryder's beta.”

"A beta to a male Alpha?”

" Yes baby, he wants to keep the relationship between the Windstrong pack and the sunrise pack.”

" But mom, Odessa is…..”

“... obsessed with an imaginary mate". I've heard you say it a couple of times now.”

" What if he doesn't feel the same way for her?"

" Lyra baby!"

" Yes, mom"

" Let's leave that for our ancestors to decide."

" I hope I can find my own mate, mom."

“ You will surely find it, my love."

" I need to help her and choose her attire for the festival. She is nervous " She said, laughing, standing up to leave.

" Go ahead. I need to gather the women for a meeting”.

Ama, being the wife of the pack Alpha, was the women leader of the pack. She was the youngest widow among them.

****

Lyra was in her room reading her storybook when her stepbrother came in with a note in his hand.

She recognized his footsteps and covered herself with her blanket, pretending to be asleep. She loves seeing her stepbrothers, Rogan and Martin, around her even though she hates their mom. She spends little of her time with them and spends more time with Odessa and Am.

" Someone is pretending...." Martin said, tiptoeing.

"Martin, please, I’m sleeping. Come back later ".

"We both know you hate staying here. And I want to spend a little time with you" he said, giving a pitiful face.

She sighed" What is it?" She asked, trying to sit up.

"Just want to show you my painting. This is me, as the alpha, this is you, this is Rogan and this is Dad" he said, pointing at the drawings.

"Seriously, Martin? You woke me up to show me this?"

" Yes, sis. Because I know you will like it."

"Well, I don't like it. Can you go now?"

" Sis, we both know that you are not sleeping. The position of the storybook says it all. So stop acting up, big sis".

" Where's Rogan?"

“ He is asleep.”

“ And those eyes of yours are too tiny to sleep too.”

" I love you so much, big sis. I'm keeping the drawing for you”, he said, running towards the door. He hit his feet at door, trying to give his sister a blow kiss.

“ Ouch!!!...” He screamed.

“ Next time don't bother me with your drawing” she said, walking towards where he was. She bent to take a look at his feet but he gave her a kiss on her cheek.”

Lyra wasn't sure of what to do more than to smile and shake her head. She picked the drawing from her bed and looked at it again. The drawing was showing her at the waterfront while Martin and his brother were at the back. She laughed and dropped the drawing on her bed.

***

The full moon festival started with women dancing around the pack with their daughters behind them. Odessa and Lyra were dancing with the women too. Odessa was beautifully dressed with her gold hair hanging on her shoulder. She wasn't outstandingly beautiful.

"You are beautiful, my lady” a young man said, trying to shake her hands. She tried to ignore it but Lyra mind-linked her. “ Cooperate, Dessa”. She took his hands instead and smiled at him.

“ Thank you” she said.

“ Our pack friends are here!!!” they announced.

Odessa's heart skipped two minds. She became more nervous. She looked through the crowd matching towards them. Lyra noticed a familiar figure in their midst.

“ The guy with the sun and flower wrist?, what is he doing here” she asked , raising her eyebrows.

“ Who?” Odessa asked

“ The guy I told you about at school”

“ The one that threw my snacks?”

“ Yes. What is he doing here?”

He approached them, smiling. “ We are meeting again, short girl” he said, still smiling. Lyra looked away. Pretending not to see anyone in front of her. He extended his hand for a handshake. “ I know we started from the wrong angle. Can we at least be friends?” he said softly. Lyra shoots his hands, still not looking at him. Odessa was standing beside her. She mind-linked her immediately. “ Can you act gentle for once?”. Lyra turned to him, looking straight into his eyes.

“ Why is his face looking a bit familiar to me too,” Odessa asked through the mind-link.

“Familiar to you?” Lyra asked, turning in her direction.

“ I'm Ryder, Ryder Morgan” Ryder said, smiling at the girls.

“ Ryder??!!” They both asked , widening their eyes.

Odessa felt a lump in her throat. Her heart skipped two times again. “ I didn't even recognize him” she said in her mind.

“ Talk to him, I need to leave now” Lyra said through the mind-link, trying to leave.

“ You haven't told me your own name, or should I still call you, short girl?” He said, laughing.

“ I'm not short, Mr Ryder. And I think I have something to do for my mom. I'll be back” she said and,.

“ Hi!, I..I.. I'm….” Odessa stammered. She was too nervous to tell him that he was her supposed mate. She wished Lyra was still there to help her. She had mind-linked her again.

“ Girl, I don't know how to start.”

“What do you mean? This is the opportunity you've been longing for.”

“ Lyra, I can't. Can you come back please?” She pleaded.

" I'm not coming?"

" Please, Lyra. Just help your sister."

"Odessa!. I don't like this".

"Thank you "

Lyra walked slowly towards them. She noticed they hadn't been talking even after she left them. She fixed her gaze at Odessa. Odessa signaled her to walk faster.

“ You're still here, Ryder.”

“ Yeah, I thought you would help me.”

“ Help you with?”

“ I'm looking for someone. My best friend”. Odessa's heart skipped again. She was happy he still remembered their friendship but sad he didn't recognize her.

“ Your best friend?” Lyra asked, shifting her gaze to Odessa.

“Yes, we have been friends from little. She is chocolate. I think that is all I can remember about her.”

“ Her name?”

“Odessa”

“Oww!, Odessa!”

“ Yes, she is an alpha.”

“ Well, to cut the long process and questions. Odessa is here just by your side” she said, pointing at Odessa. Odessa covered her eyes with her hands. She felt like disappearing into thin air.

“ Hi, I'm Odessa”she finally said.

“ Is this you? You changed. You are fairer, you are taller, and your hair has grown longer”. He said, walking around her. “ How come we didn't recognize ourselves and, as fate may have it, you were the first person i met. Oh my goodness.”

Odessa was speechless She kept smiling till Lyra tapped her. She wasn't sure it was real. She pinched her skin and widened her eyes. “Finally, Odessa, he is here in your front”, Lyra said through their mind-link.

“ You haven't told me your own name, or should I still call you, short girl?” He said, laughing.

“ I'm not short, Mr Ryder. And I think I have something to do for my mom. I'll be back” she said and,.

“ Hi!, I..I.. I'm….” Odessa stammered. She was too nervous to tell him that he was her supposed mate. She wished Lyra was still there to help her. She had mind-linked her again.

“ Girl, I don't know how to start.”

“What do you mean? This is the opportunity you've been longing for.”

“ Lyra, I can't. Can you come back please?” She pleaded.

" I'm not coming?"

" Please, Lyra. Just help a sister."

"Odessa!. I don't like this".

"Thank you "

Lyra walked slowly towards them. She noticed they hadn't been talking even after she left them. She fixed her gaze at Odessa. Odessa signaled her to walk faster.

“ You're still here, Ryder.”

“ Yeah, I thought you would help me.”

“ Help you with?”

“ I'm looking for someone. My best friend”. Odessa's heart skipped again. She was happy he still remembered their friendship, but sad he didn't recognize her.

“ Your best friend?” Lyra asked, shifting her gaze to Odessa.

“Yes, we have been friends from little. She is chocolate. I think that is all I can remember about her.”

“ Her name?”

“Odessa”

“Oww!, Odessa!”

“ Yes, she is an alpha.”

“ Well, to cut the long process and questions. Odessa is here just by your side” she said, pointing at Odessa. Odessa covered her eyes with her hands. She felt like disappearing into thin air.

“ Hi, I'm Odessa”she finally said.

“ Is this you? You changed. You are fairer, you are taller, and your hair has grown longer”. He said, walking around her. “ How come we didn't recognize ourselves and, as fate may have it, you were the first person i met. Oh my goodness.”

Odessa was speechless She kept smiling till Lyra tapped her. She wasn't sure it was real. She pinched her skin and widened her eyes. “Finally, Odessa, he is here in your front”, Lyra said through their mind-link.