embers and claws

Chapter Four

"No" a feminine voice shrieked. The door yanked open and Caroline ran in, her eyes widened in panic and breath came in pants

Five pairs of eyes darted her way. She shrank back, but the thought of the secret she had heard made her straighten her shoulders. If anyone would be mating with a Lycan it would be her.

An abandoned woman was not worthy of becoming the Lycan's Luna. This was her chance, and she would be a fool not to grab it.

"What are you doing, Caroline" Jacob berated as he grabbed his daughter's arm. Caroline jerked her arm out of his hold.

"You are", Lorenzo turned to her in feigned interest.

"Carolina, Beta Jacob's daughter, sir", she bowed her head in respect, but the pounding of her heart was louder than the words escaping her mouth.

"Oh, just the Beta's daughter", he turned to face my father. "I didn't know just about everyone had free assess to your office, Alpha", although soft, he wasn't pleased. His voice was strained and his eyes were not smiling.

It was the second time he would be interrupted.

"I apologize", the sight of my father bowing to him pulled at the strings in my heart.

My father should not be apologizing, it wasn't his fault. I had brought shame to him.

"Lycan Lorenzo", Caroline called out " You shouldn't let yourself be deceived",

"Oh",

"I'm sorry Nataia, although you are my best friend, I can not allow you to walk into the pit you dug. What if he finds out", Her face ladened with distress as if she could not bring herself to think of the consequences.

I knew, she had heard something. My mouth opened, but I was unable to get anything out.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as I stared at the woman before me. I had left home barely three months ago, how had she changed so much.

My eyes glistened , and my throat dried.

"Caroline", beta Jacob yelled, startling her.

No matter how much my father's aura became murderous or my brother fearful, they could not safe me. Caroline had caught the attention of the Lycan before us.

"What! Are we supposed to watch her bring us all to doom", her self justification was appalling.

She didn't give her father another chance to stop her "Nataia have violated the number one of the mating rules" her feigned strength could not hide the desperation underneath as if she was begging to be believed.

"Which is" Lycan Lorenzo's brow curled in slightly, his curiosity a catalyst fueling her confidence.

"Betrayal of laying with another",

How could she?

My hands curled in fists, there seemed to be something in my chest burning like a molten.

"Oh", Lorenzo's eyes darted my way, and my brother was quick to stand before me. His trembling slender body hiding me.

"She does not smell like it", he pointed out, his index finger pressed against his lips as if in deep thought. If I had laid with another, I would have a distinct smell like I had been mated with.

"Don't be fooled, she must have masked it", Her voice trembled, full of indignation.

"How dare you", Alexie jaw ticked, his body taut.

She sighed dramatically as if she could not help herself "she carries his child"

She knew. How

My head jerked in her direction. A tear trailed down my cheek just as the resounding sound of a hand against a skin bounced against the walls.

"Dad, you hit me" Caroline's eyes glistened and her face contorted in disbelief.

"I would do it again" Beta Jacob's hand that had hit her trembled, but his voice was resolute.

"Dad! Caroline turned in my direction, the amount of hatred her eyes revealed was not of a day, it was something that had accumulated over years.

My eyes widened in disbelief. I had been blind. For how long had she been hating me.

The murderous intent in her eyes was enough to bury me alive. All of this is happening because of something I myself do not understand.

Would he not have enough until I was left with nothing but destruction.

What had I done wrong. Was my life a joke, a thing of amusement.

Whether there was really a child or not, I have had enough. By the time I was done, there would not be a child even if it would cost my life.

A gush of resolution flow through my veins steeling my resolve.

I felt a nudge from him, a sign of him trying to invade my thoughts.

He was always the one threatening me, the one holding the control over me.

Wasn't there wolves-bane, although my wolf was unresponsive, it wouldn't stop it from hurting.

Even if the child wasn't of werewolf origin, its mother is, was there a way I would be hurt and the child would not?

The motive of doing something bad grip me like a vice and I find myself enjoying it. This time I would hurt him, even if it meant hurting myself to do it.

The noise around me became background as my thoughts wage war against one another.

No

he protested, and for the first time I sensed fear from him. So, he could be afraid. He had something he was afraid of losing.

What about me, he made me watch my life slip from my fingers while his deed pulled me under like quicksand.

If I would be losing the life I had built, he had to lose something too. We have to be even, shouldn't we?

"Listen to the foetal heartbeat", I heard Caroline bellow, I didn't turn, I let my legs lead me away.

In the office, the drama continued.

For Caroline she had staked her bet, she could not back off.

Two of them, the same age, gender but their status made them different. Nataia the love of everyone in the pack, the gem in their palm. She had taken up the role of the pack's Luna effortlessly, and she had to stay in her shadow. Without her light, her Caroline would not be seen.

Why? The only difference was Nataia's Alpha blood.

They had both been searching for their mate, but Nataia was the one sent to mate with an Alpha of another powerful pack. Why not her?

Now, she has been given the chance to shine, would she have to watch Nataia take the opportunity from her?

The world was not fair, why should she. She had been given a cheat, why shouldn't she use it?

"I don't hear any foetal heartbeat, how could you? she watch Lorenzo's lips move. Her attraction to him something she could hardly contain.

Being a Lycan's mate was not bad, she would bask in that glory.

Her eyes trailed the curves and contour of his face, her mind absent. His green eyes the color of nature and wildlife. She wanted to get lost in them.

"Impossible ", she replied weakly.

"Are you saying I was wrong", his tone dared her to say so.

"No, no, but", she stammered

"If you have nothing to say, take your leave", With a wave of his hand he dismissed her.

Lorenzo was no fool, he understood what was going on. For power even her childhood friend would betray her.

"But you can't be with her, you deserve better", she tried to convince him. Her legs carried her toward him. His power attracting her like bees to honey.

"By better, you mean yourself? He tilted his head to the left in mockery. If the girl came any closer, Lorenzo was not sure he would not pulled her limbs from their joints.

"I...I ", a deep red spread from her neck to her cheeks. "I'm not bad either", her teeth gnawed at her bottom lips.

"Do not disgrace yourself further", Beta Jacob advised, his voice hard.

"But why her, the rejected. There have to be reasons for being rejected, are you not curious at all ", Caroline shrieked. Her shout gritting their sensitive ears.

"You can not want her", her hands flailed. she was maddened by jealousy.

"Are you_", Lorenzo drawled and paused for dramatic effect. He watched her squirmed

"_going to blame your lack of charm on me",

"On account of you being my future Luna childhood friend I'll let you live", his pupil thinned and he watched her stumble back in fright.

If it was not going to be Nataia, it definitely would not be her. With a Luna such as her, the pack was in for destruction.

The Lycan pack would rather not have a Luna.

"If I hear any new of my mate carrying another male child, I'll have your tongue", Lorenzo added for measures.

Caroline's face blanched.

Speaking of future mate, Lorenzo turned to the spot Nataia stood. She hadn't utter anything since her so called friend came in. She must have been traumatized.

"Nataia", Alexie turned, but she was gone. His pulse raced as fear gripped his heart.