IVORY: The age of Gloarian

Chapter 20

    How is one supposed to react when faced with the woman who in a month's time has become your close friend, and you’ve just become aware that your partners rejected her, his soul mate, for you, and you’re fully on board with this matter? Do you feel guilt? For separating a pair that was meant to be. Do you feel happy? For finally having found joy in someone else after the death of your own soulmate. Do you feel jealous? Because you’re never going to have that connection with your partner that someone else can. Do you feel angry? For having been lied to and left completely unaware of the entirety of the situation. What exactly are you supposed to do or say to the woman who has sacrificed so much for you? On top of that, what do you say to a woman who has taken the weight of the world on her shoulders after getting involved in a war that she wished not to be a part of because of the idiocracy of your proclaimed mate? WIth so many concerns of her own being the leader of an entire species of people, what would be the correct way to approach a woman who has been, rejected, kidn*pped, controlled and taken full advantage of? 

    It hadn’t hit Eiva just how difficult the task would be until she visualised the doors of the guest room open to reveal the leader who in her eyes, held the burdens that the flame had unleashed upon her. In her fragile state and with a petite stance, stood the proclaimed Luna of Gloarian, wondering just how to address the rather complicated situation these members of the bottom tier of the hierarchy were facing. It was a minor matter compared to the extremities of the complications with Balthazar, yet a major issue for the long term wellbeing of Gloarian, or so the flame had planned to make it.

    The Hybrid leader invited the small woman into her room, noticing the lack of eye contact the shy woman was making, and readied herself for the awkward conversation to come. 

    ‘As much as both of us want to avoid this conversation, I think we both need to talk this out once and for all’ mentioned Eiva, taking a seat on the bed, patting the spot next to her for Eliana to proceed with getting comfortable for the long conversation that lay ahead. The leader nodded, making her way to the suggested spot and waiting for the proclaimed mate of her mate to continue ‘I want to know the story from your point of view. Everything. From the day of the rejection up to now. I want to know everything, what you did, how you felt, from top to bottom. And please, be honest with me, I don’t think I can take any more dishonesty at this point’ she requested, wanting to ensure that she was making the right decision by accepting the big headed Alpha who simply was not changing his mind about being with his true mate. Throughout her excitement, the woman completely disregarded the feelings of the woman she was bound to hurt, yet doing so with her permission would definitely make it easier for Eiva to carry through with her plans. 

    Eliana had been taken aback with the question. She had assumed that their conversation would consist of the short odd pauses in between asking for her blessing for the couple to date openly. This, however, she had not expected. The expression on Eiva’s face had made it transparent that no lies would be allowed, and so the leader released a chuckle of nervousness as she thought of where to begin her story. 

    ‘Well, seven years ago, I was going to compete at the Grontica, I ran into Razaar, he rejected me without even asking me my name. He said I quote ”This can’t be happening, you can’t tell anyone” and then ran off. I believe it was Enzo who had come looking for him and told him that you were looking for him. I thought initially that it was because of you that he rejected me, and while the thought had not been flattering , I accepted it. That’s just the way I grew up, Syllia and my father were the closest people to me, so I’ve built a certain tolerance for hardships. When I got back, a few weeks later my parents were murdered by Rogue Lycans and so I was forced into leadership with no experience or knowledge whatsoever. By then the pain of my rejection had lessened and was replaced by the pain of my parents passing. Once I had to take on the responsibilities and the role of being an individual leader, things changed. You don’t really get the time to stop and think about these things, you just have a busy routine and you stick to it. For moments when I did feel alone and unsatisfied, I had a number of nightly companions. At that point, life just kind of goes on’ she initiated, looking briefly at Eiva -who had been soaked into the story- before she continued. ‘When Razaar showed up at my territory with you I wasn’t surprised because that’s why I originally thought he rejected me, and by then I had built up my walls, I knew having him around would make no difference to me, and it didn’t. It was only when I found out that your mate passed away, that I realised that he hadn’t initially rejected me for you, and I began wondering why he rejected me in the first place. When he explained to me that it was because he didn’t want to end up being like his father, I understood that Razaar isn’t for me. He has a mentality that needs a lot of maturing, and perhaps you’re the only that can give that to him. So to conclude my point, I didn’t, don’t and will not ever have an issue with you being with him. If I had, I think you might have noticed sooner’ she concluded, releasing a deep breath and a small smile as she faced the woman who had taken in the version of the story she wished to hear. Though, was it the true story? For several reasons Eiva found herself bubbling up with more and more questions to gain the leaders approval. 

    ‘Eliana, when my mate died, I locked myself up in a room for a month. I believe for an entire whole month, I didn’t let a single soul into my bedroom, I didn’t interact with anyone. I ate one meal a day out of the three that my maid would force into my room on a daily basis, and quite frankly, I was mute for the whole month. I just looked out the window and cried. I hated the flame, despised it, because my mate and I had just started to get to know each other and get closer, and next thing I know, the person who was meant for me, whose children I was supposed to carry, was taken away from my life, and the ground was sweeped away from right under my feet. Had it not been for Razaar, I would have died in that room, but he broke the door open and forced me outside. He held me as I cried and he talked me out of ruining the rest of my life. When he accepted me as his mate, I didn’t think about his mate or his life. I was selfish, and I wanted to hang on to the comfort that the great Alpha of Gloarian had provided me with. When I became Luna, I immersed myself into the pack life, becoming the best version of myself that I could, not because my job entailed for me to, but because I didn’t want to disappoint Razaar. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I understand the pain of loss, and what you’re going through is worse than what I went through. I didn’t get a chance with my mate because he passed away, but you, you’re watching your mate well and alive everyday, kissing and dating someone else right in front of your eyes. If I saw you with Razaar now I know for a fact that I will be heartbroken, so what I’m trying to say is, I’m not sure you mean it when you say that you’re ok with Razaar and I being together. How could you when he’s your one true mate, and he’s alive and well and so close to you?’ she ended, shocking the Hybrid leader to the core. In the month that she had known Eiva, this had been the first time she had spoken this much, and so boldly. What was she supposed to respond to that? The truth was that she had no issue with the matter because she knew it was Razaar’s loss, but how was she to convey a point this harsh to a woman so frail?

    ‘Eiva, we may differ from humans in the fact that we have soul mates, but just like in the human world, we still get to make the decision of whether or not we want to be with the person you’re destined to be with. At the end of the day, the idea of soul mates was created to push away human concepts such as jealousy and hate, but that hasn’t stopped it from existing. I guess what I’m trying to say is that mates may exist, but they don’t necessarily have to make you happy. Razaar’s parents were mates, I don’t think Edith Solonov was content with her mate. I know that Balthazar has a mate, but he still mistreats her. On this planet, relationships are kind of forced, there’s no liberty of choice, and while I understand that is done for a reason, I also feel like it’s a system that at some point was bound to crash. That’s all that's happened, a little reality check for the flame that not all soul mates are meant to be together. I can’t force Razaar to be with me solely based on the fact that he’s my soulmate. I think that’s why he’s so comfortable choosing you over me, because we’ve both come to see this whole thing for what it really is: a charade. Razaar and I are so different from each other, yet we’re the same. He’s controlling and I don’t like people who control me. For some reason the flame paired us up, but I can’t help but wonder why? We’re so incompatible! That is why I genuinely don’t have an issue with the idea of you and him together’ she stated, concealing the lies in her statement. Eliana knew for sure that there were several things she would have said differently, but for the time being the woman stuck to her answer, and pushed the conversation forward to get it over with. Eiva nodded, coming to terms with the justification the leader had provided, yet found herself thinking of a few more questions that penetrated her mind at the previous response of Eliana. 

    ‘Have you and Razaar ever had a moment, where the both of you have been vulnerable around each other? Or something has...happened?’ she barely whispered. Eiva certainly didn’t want to know the answer to her own questions, yet she forced them out, attempting to clear the air before she proceeded to steal Razaar away from her. Eliana struggled to come up with an answer as images of Razaar trying to mark her flashed back to her mind. What was she to do? Be honest or lie more than she probably already should have? The exhausted woman took a deep breath, deciding it would be best to play the diplomatic card for the time being.

    ‘I think that’s something you need to ask Razaar, not me’ she responded, evading a lie yet not revealing the complete truth. 

    ‘Oh come on Eliana, you and I both know that Razaar would never tell me the truth. Besides, I asked for your honesty and I would appreciate it. I’m not here to judge or snap at anybody, in fact, I think I’m the last person to be getting angry at something like this since I am the one disobeying the flame and stealing your mate from you’ she terminated, feeling confidence splurge within her at her determination to seek answers. It has amazed the Hybrid leader, and so she found herself giving into the woman’s requests for once. 

    ‘I don’t think it was Razaar’s decision, exactly, more like his wolf’s’ she began, to which Eiva nodded, encouraging the woman to keep going. ‘I don’t think he always had control over his wolf, being so close to me would have been driving his wolf mad, and at the end of the day I think it was just driving his animal instincts mad’ she eased, brushing lightly on the matter yet reluctant to proceed. Noticing this, the brave Eiva decided to do something about it while she still carried a brave attitude. 

    ‘You don’t have to beat around the bush Eliana, you can just tell me’ she gently spoke, placing a soft hand on top of the leaders. The pressure had increased for the Hybrid leader, who in that moment saw a new side of the Luna of Gloarian and had yet to decide if she liked it or not. A deep breath later, Eliana decided to empty the contents of the scandalous event. 

   ‘One night Razaar saw me with one of my nightly companions, and the next day when he confronted me, we got into an argument and he kind of just... lost it. I think his wolf took over and he tried to mark me, but I knocked him out. Like I said, this is all just his animal instincts, had it not been for his wolf he would’ve never even thought about it’ she commented, attempting her best to avoid hurting the woman who at that moment was braver than ever.

    ‘But he probably still would have felt uncomfortable’ she commented, not expecting a response in return. Though Eliana found herself forced to respond with sympathy, the woman cut her off before she could ‘did you not ever feel a moment of jealousy when Razaar and I were together around you?’ she asked, intending to end the interrogation soon. A sense of deja vu hit the leader as she remembered the similar conversation she had had with her mate. 

    ‘My snake side is more dominant than my wolf side, so it’s not the same for me. If anything I would be feeling more hate or pity, but to answer your question, no, I don’t feel a thing because my wolf side is more dormant, unlike Razaar’s’ she responded, trying to hit two birds with one stone and make up for her previous discomforting statement. Eiva had opened her mouth to speak, though was silenced when a blasting noise shook both women away from their conversation. 

    Rushing towards the window, Eliana cursed to herself as she turned back to meet the back to normal frightened Eiva, who stood motionless where she stood. 

    ‘s**t, Balthazar. Stay here, don’t go anywhere’ she instructed the woman whose bravery had been flushed down the drain in a matter of seconds. As she approached the door, they burst open as the one and only great Alpha Solonov barged in, eyes on alert for any intruders. ‘Balthazar-’

    ‘I know, he’s sent another attack’ he interrupted ‘I need you get the women and children into the bunker in the basement and stay with them there’ he demanded, angering Eliana more than she already was at the thought of Balthazar’s relentless attacks. 

    ‘You can’t make me do that Razaar, I’m going out there to fight-’

    ‘Listen to me Eliana, I know you can fight those Lycans off, I know you’re strong, but right now I have no one to stand guard with the women and children. All my men are out on the field fighting and as their Alpha I’m inclined to join them, so I ask you please, to escort Eiva and the rest of the panicking women and children into the bunker and protect them incase any Lycan gets into the packhouse’ he requested once more, this time with a tone that Eliana decided not to question. She bobbed her head up and down, taking Eiva with her before quickly disappearing through the doors. 

    As predicted, the women and children had been rushing down the stairs hurriedly, desperate to reach the bunker with screams etched at the back of their throats. Kids cried and mothers struggled to carry their numerous pups into the basement to safety. For once Eiva had shaken into action, and aided several mothers down the stairs, ensuring a complete number of women and children had been brought down before sealing the door of the bunker shut. As she turned around, she counted through the number in the room, and once satisfied, turned around to face the Hybrid leader, who was their only source of protection down there. 

    ‘They’re all here’ she stated, sighing with relief.

    ‘How do you know? There must be over a thousand women here’ she  commented in complete amusement. Eiva had chuckled, finding her worth a scenario of war for once. 

    ‘I am their Luna, it’s my job to know every single person in this pack, including wives, children, grandmothers, everyone’ she responded, pride swelling within her. Eliana nodded, impressed by the woman who till then had seemed just a frail woman to the Hybrid leader, before she turned around to face the large audience ahead of her that had been whispering with panic and worry. 

    ‘Can I have your attention please?’ she yelled, successfully silencing everyone in the room. ‘I understand that you’re all worried, but I need you all to stay calm and just take a seat. The more silence we keep in this room the harder it is to be spotted, in case any Lycan bypasses the border and makes their way into the pack house’ she announced, getting nothing but shady looks and a sheer abundance of disrespect. 

    ‘Why should we listen to you, Hybrid?’ snickered a woman, clearly intending to push Eliana's buttons. Before she could respond, however, Eiva decided to step in. 

    ‘You will listen to her because I instructed you to, Sefina’ spoke Eiva, with a tone of intimidation that the Hybrid leader was unaware existed within the tiny woman.

    ‘Yes Luna’ the woman, Sefina responded, bowing her head down. 

    ‘Franky I don’t care if you like me or not. I’ve been sent in here to protect you women when I could be out there fighting with the men. I understand that this pack works in a different way to other lands, and while I don’t think it’s best to tuck away women and children from a fight, I’m honouring my word to your Alpha. So understand this: if a Lycan strides in here and tries to attack your defenseless ass, I’ll be the only one there to save it. So I don’t care what you think of me, right now I expect the utmost respect from you. And that goes to all you women here’ retorted the Hybrid leader, intimidating all women present in the room in a matter of seconds. As always, Eliana chose not to take bullshit from anyone, much less an ungrateful old woman who clearly had a prejudice against other species on Zaleon. Eiva remained silent, unable to say anything against the woman who had also terrified the tender woman.

    Suddenly, the door shook, a loud roar coming from the outside as the creature viciously banged it’s claws against the door panels. The alert leader turned her attention to the door, quickly commanding the women to get back as she walked towards the door, ready to attack. Within a minute, the door had been broken off its hinges, and a large, hideous Lycan tentatively approached the lot of scared women and children that scattered behind the only woman brave enough to face the beast. It’s eyes dropped on the woman that radiated power, and intended to attack the woman that dared go against the Lycan. Before it could, however, the woman disappeared from sight as she shifted into her snake form, and slithered rapidly up the back of the Lycan, without it’’s realisation, before biting into its neck to knock it dead. She shifted back, racing outside to ensure no other Lycans remained as she pushed the body out and returned the heavy door onto it’s position, despite the broken pieces. Turning around to face the crowd, she sighed at the bunch of faces that looked absolutely terrified of the woman, deciding to focus on the mission instead and leaving the Luna duties for Eiva to carry out. 

    The woman had paced around for a good while before a noise returned from the door, causing panic to return to the room as she readied herself for battle. The sound of relief instantly flooded inside the room as the door opened, and the beloved Alpha of Gloarian stepped in, being the hero of every woman on Werewolf territory. 

    ‘Is everyone alright?’