Rise of the Luna (completed)

16-Initiation Ceremony

- Finn’s POV -

I followed behind Leyton’s car, desperate to talk to him but at the same time, I didn’t know what to say to him. A bad feeling crept up my gut as he didn’t drive to the pack house. Instead, he drove to the house where they lived with their mum before she died in the car accident.

I saw Leyton carry Kayla into the house and struggled to decide if I should give them some time or follow them. Finally, I gathered my courage and followed them. If I’ve let them down, then I’d admit it and make it up to them. The door was unlocked so I let myself in. I was surprised to find that the house was cleaned and photos of Kayla and Leyton when they were kids hung on the walls. It was almost as if they have always been living there.

I could hear someone coming down the stairs and prepared myself to face Leyton’s wrath. A pair of tired eyes looked up at me and I could see tears welling up in them. Completely taken off guard, I didn’t know what to say. I’ve never seen Leyton like this before.

“Leyton, I’m sorry, alright. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t,”

“No, Finn, stop. It’s fine. Thank you for bringing her to the hospital. She’s the only family I’ve left now and I promised Mum that I’d always care for her. But I left her alone for ten years because I couldn’t deal with the past. And when I came back, hoping that things would go back to the way they were, I found out she became mute because of me. She had bruises on her thighs that she wouldn’t explain to me. And then the accident happened and now this. I feel like the Moon Goddess is trying to punish me for breaking my promise by hurting her but why her?! She’s innocent in all of this! I don’t know, Finn. I don’t know what to think anymore. I just want her back and I’d do anything to get her back. Your family has done enough for us and it had always been my intention to move back to our own house once I came of age. I started to prepare this place since I came back and it was supposed to be a surprise for Kayla on her eighteenth birthday in two months time. But now it’s too late. I don’t know if she will ever see this, see that we have a home again. I’m sorry, Finn, I don’t want to sound ungrateful or disloyal but I don’t think I can do the ceremony this evening. Hell, I don’t know if I can be your Beta. All I want to do right now is find out who hurt her and kill them. And then I’ll care for her for as long as I shall live.”

“I.. I’m sorry,” those were the only words that I could mumble before I left. I was at a complete loss. My mate is barely alive because of me and now I’ve lost my Beta and best friend too. Pain gripped my heart as I ran towards the forest, trying to shift into my wolf. I needed to run and let the pain out but to my horror, I couldn’t shift.

“I can’t, Finn. I feel like a part of us is gone. It hurts too much,” my wolf whimpered. I knew what he meant and I felt the pain too. Even though I had rejected her, but I also felt the immense pain of a part of my soul being broken and taken away. Suddenly, I realized that I might have made the biggest mistake of my life. By rejecting my mate, I had lost her, my Beta and now even my wolf. How can I become an Alpha without them?

Defeated, I headed to my father’s office to seek his advice. When he heard of what I had done, he frowned and sighed. Then he looked at me and said, “I don’t know if what you did was right or wrong. If I had know that Kayla was your mate, I wouldn’t have let you accept her anyway, not because she is wolfless but because there’s something not right with that girl. There are some things that only a few of us know and everyone who knew, has been sworn to bring the secret with them to their graves. But without your wolf and your Beta, I cannot pass my title on to you. We would just have to postpone the ceremony until we figure out a solution. I need to discuss this with your mother now. Leave and let us take care of this.”

Confused and taken aback, I didn’t know what to say. This was too much for me within a day. What did he mean by something is not right with Kayla? What secrets are they hiding from us? Before I could ask any further, Mother opened the door and gave me a hug, and then gestured for me to leave.

I left dejectedly and went to my room to think things through. I needed to find out what happened in the past but my parents didn’t seem eager to tell me much. At the same time, I need to confront Nate. If he was the one who had hurt her, I’ll ripped his head off with my bare hands.