TBMA [Complete ✔️]

13. Exhaustion

Rosalie's P.O.V

I woke up early the next day, feeling completely drained. I felt as if I hadn't slept for a couple of days in a row, even though, by now, waking up early was a normal routine. Perhaps it was the emotional side of it all, or maybe the fact that I had snuck out late into the night, but I could barely open my eyes even as I stumbled out of bed.

I shut the light off and made sure to make my bed, then headed to the bathroom to get ready for yet another event I was meant to look the part of an Alpha's daughter. Zane would be leaving in less than an hour, and most of the pack members were there to send him off since he was quite friendly to all.

I sighed as I looked into the mirror, tired and unhappy eyes staring back at me, begging me for a speck of hope that things won't always be this way, that one day I'd wake up refreshed and fulfilled, actually excited about starting a new day.

Breakfast today was to be had in the pack dining room, so after I got dressed and covered my still, unfortunately, freshly split lip with a bit of makeup, I made my way outside where the crowd was already forming.

Father, Knox, Zane, and aunt Zaria were all talking amongst themselves, though my brother, as usual, seem uninterested in what they were saying. Zane's head whipped around, gaze finding mine as soon as I was close. I saw his throat bob up and down, trying to fight the mate bond in front of my father.

My heart leaped at the gesture, having heard what the bond did to mates before they marked. Teachers said that when mates found one another they were meant to mark each other right away, so their wolves won't feel threatened that someone else would take what was theirs.

In other words, Zane was fighting every instinct he had to not run straight over, sniff my scent, or whatever else mates did before they turned against each other.

The intensity of his stare burned a hole into my face, my cheeks becoming crimson red.

"Good morning, Alpha!" I greeted father, following his rule of not addressing him with anything other than his title in front of others. He nodded, acknowledging me, and the rest, while he started collecting the pack.

"Morning!" I said to everyone else with a slight smile on my face. Knox looked away without a word, while Zane and his mom both smiled back, my best friend's face only a little less red than mine.

Father's voice soon boomed In the distance as he stood in front of us, not allowing us to share more words, which I was actually grateful for.

He began his speech by calling Zane to him, continuing with basic information, which I skipped out on. All I could focus on was Zane's stare on me and what he told me last night.

By the looks of it, it was clear as day that unless someone else got his attention, which was highly unlikely, knowing with how much adoration he spoke about his mate before he knew who she was, he wouldn't give up on trying to make me his. The thought sent a wave of anxiety and nausea to my stomach, almost making me wince.

I knew then, that I had to leave before he came back. I had three years to plan the hows and whats and what I was going to say in front of father, but I couldn't stay here. I couldn't stay anywhere where there was a chance he'd try and trap me with a bond I wanted nothing to do with.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a sniffle beside me, my head whirling to find where the sound was coming from, finding aunt Zaria barely holding back her tears.

After her own mate died, or rather, was killed, Zane was her anchor, the one thing keeping her from drowning in her sorrows. I feared that with him gone, she would let herself slip beneath a surface I wasn't sure he'd be able to pull her back from once he comes home.

I secretly ran a hand down her arm, making sure father wouldn't see me. I did not need him to know how close she and I were, nor did I need her to get scolded for not being able to hold her ground.

She sent me a small, grateful smile before her gaze went back to her son, who was trying his hardest not to look at her. He had always been close to his parents, often causing jealousy to spike within me when I was younger, so I knew it would break him to see his mother barely able to hold back tears and hide her trembling hands.

When father's speech was over, a black car I knew he was unable to afford and was just trying to flex with, appeared, a warrior tasked to escort Zane moving his luggage into the trunk.

His mom was finally allowed to say goodbye, a lone tear escaping her eyes before she could compose herself. Zane whispered something soothing into her ear, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. What he said seemed to make her a little less sad because the state of her hands seemed to improve significantly.

Once the two were content with their goodbyes, a bunch of his friends circled around him, taking turns to give him a fist bump, or hug. Some lingered more than others, I noticed, but in the end, he remained alone, gaze settled on me.

Father watched as I took timid steps toward him, most of the pack members now gone, leaving only aunt Zaria, his friends, and my family behind.

"So," I began as I approached him, an awkward silence stretching between us.

Zane wrapped his arms tightly around me, discreetly taking a sniff of my scent.

"Don't forget my promise to you." He whispered in my ear as I pulled away, my face heating up at both his words and father's glare.

With one last hug from his mom, he got in the car and we all watched as it drove away, Zane waving at us the whole time.

Knox's P.O.V

It's been about five months since Zane left to study and train for his future duties, though judging by the number of phone calls and messages he's left, one would say it's been five years.

I had to switch my phone off multiple times, his suffocating idea of a friendship annoying to the point I would throw the device across the room if it wouldn't lead to extra training.

Esteban's idea of punishment no longer worked on me as punches and hits healed in an hour or less based on how severe they were, so he came up with a new idea to satisfy his need to cause pain.

He would now spar with me in front of everyone, the twist being that he would force my wolf locked within my mind. That way, I would fight, and heal, like a human, leaving me defenseless in front of his reigning Alpha wolf.

His punishments towards Rose had increased as well, seeing that I no longer stepped in for her. And even if I tried, he'd only double it, so she quickly learned to deal with it herself.

She was now forced to heal much more wolves a day than before, forcing all the energy out of her body. She had passed out quite a few times and I'd heard Omegas have had to feed her as she would be too tired to do it herself.

On Sunday she'd mostly avoid everyone and try to get schoolwork done as fast as possible, so she could get some extra sleep.

My sister was vanishing in front of my eyes and I had no idea what to do. The pack I was one day meant to lead was doing worse by the day and no one seemed to be doing anything to stop their Alpha's ways, which obviously didn't work.

Instead of rioting against him, they started to hate me more, blaming the absence of their Luna for the state we were all in. They'd scream and throw things, only backing down when I'd growl at them, though I'd mostly let them talk.

I didn't have to prove myself to anyone, nor did I care to do so. Wolves' opinion of me was the least of my priorities.

It was already late in the evening and I had just finished training for the day. As I walked up to my room, the scent of my sister hit my nose, mixed with that of blood. I turned to see what was going on only to find a warrior carrying her to her room, blood streaming from her nose, a worried pack doctor running after them.

I went into my room and took a shower, waiting until everyone left to question the doctor.

"What's wrong with her?" I growled lowly, knowing she wouldn't tell me unless she feared for her life.

"She's exhausted herself. Her-her body needs a few days rest and she'll be back to-to normal." She gulped as she waited for me to speak, fear oozing off of her in waves.

"Go!" I snapped, barely reigning in my wolf, who, for once, felt something other than the need to protect his pack members or run around.

"Go see her!" He growled, making me roll my eyes.

"As if that'd do her any good," I replied, shutting him off so I could gather my thoughts.

I switched the light off and lay in bed, mom's pleading face engraving itself into my memory the second I closed my eyes. My failed promises to her rung in my ears, making me groan.

My eyes shot open, staring at the ceiling in the dark, while my hands ran through my hair in frustration. All I knew was that things couldn't go on like this, not for the ungrateful wolves, not for the sister I had, barely breathing from exhaustion, and for my mom, whom I'd promised I'd keep her daughter safe.

All I knew was that soon, things would change and they would change drastically.

A/N

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! I wanted to give you all a heads-up regarding the new update schedule, I'm extremely sorry for this, but unfortunately, I have no choice, but to reduce updates to Friday only. School has been incredibly draining and between studying and attending I have no time for anything, including writing. This change is temporary and I hope that by the time the holidays come around, I'd be updating twice a week again. Thank you for understanding and sticking by me, and again, I'm very sorry! That aside, prepare for chaos!