Part seven: Her insecurities rearing it's ugly head
1346 Words
Mate! Stark and Ciara screamed silently at each other, their eyes wide in shock and excitement but that quickly disappeared when they remembered their best friend.
Finding one's mate is supposed to be a thing of joy. It is the most longed-for in the life of almost every wolf. The most excitable moment. That magical moment where everything stops and you realize with a pounding heart and racing blood that the eyes you are staring into are supposed to be the love of your life, your mate, the other half of your soul.
For Stark and Ciara, that moment was upon them but they couldn't in good conscience take joy in this magical moment even though their heart seemed to be pounding over the roof in exhilaration.
It was taking everything in Stark not to rush towards his mate and take her in his arms and he wasn't the only one suffering this restraint torture.
Ciara was in the same boat.
She felt so excited at the person the moon goddess has chosen to be her mate. If she had had to make the choice he would have been the perfect mate and it was killing her not to express the happiness overflowing like a river in her heart.
They broke the magical eye contact with each other swallowing their emotions and turning to concentrate on the most important person in their life.
Fiona was still lost in the fog of despair brought on by yet another encounter with Trace___though none of this could be seen in her face___ that she didn't realize what was happening right in front of her.
Her best friends have found their mates.
They were being considerate of her feelings that they didn't reveal this, preferring to defer their happiness to be their for their best friend.
" So what now? " Ciara asked Fiona softly staring at her blonde best friend with worry still glowing in her eyes.
Stark drew closer as if trying to form a protective wall against whatever was hurting the princess.
Right now all Fiona wanted was to be alone but she couldn't leave. Leaving the party will start the wagging tongues and will give Trace a certain power she wasn't comfortable with having him have.
She sighed deeply in her chest before giving her response to her friends.
She tried to sound upbeat for their sake when she responded.
" Guys you don't have to babysit me, go have some fun is a party after all and I am sure you guys are itching to find your mates. "
She was grateful to her friends for their loyalty but she wouldn't have it at the cost of their happiness. She wasn't going to be the reason why they wouldn't find their mates.
She was touched by them curbing their excitement at finding their mates because of her but she was ready to set them free.
The feeling of being a burden to anyone wasn't something she enjoyed.
Ciara and Stark opened their mouth to protest but Fiona was already walking away from them.
She knew if she lingered their sense of loyalty and friendship will keep them by her side and she couldn't do that to them.
With her cane, she began gentle navigation of the party. It would have been easy with a guide but what can she do?
People cleared her path instead of engaging her in a discussion which made Fiona wry.
She wished for once that people will look past her blindness and treat her like a person, and not someone to be pitied, mocked, or altogether ignored.
" Nice try chica, " Stark said in a low voice very close to Fiona's ear as he came up on her right side.
" Did you think you could ditch us that easily, " Ciara scolded from the left?
Fiona rolled her eyes as her two best friends flanked her.
" Don't blame me for trying, hate to be a drag, " she said with a slightly skewed smile.
Her words struck her friends right in the middle of their chest making them falter in their steps. They turned as one to look at Fiona shock written all over their faces.
Does she really think that?
They both wondered unable to respond.
Stark was the first to jug out of his immobility and immediately crossed in front of Fiona to stop her movement.
" Hold on Princess, " he used his hand in front of him to stop her.
Fiona paused with a clueless frown on her face wondering why Stark wanted her to stop and what is with his tone.
He sounded as if pained by something she had said, and he rarely addresses her as Princess.
When others call her Princess she can never get out the feeling that they are mocking her. She might be blind but that doesn't mean she was blind or deaf to people's thoughts about her.
Most of them hated that she was the only heir to the Wolf King. After her birth, the doctors told her parents that they couldn't have more children because her birth had been a difficult one for her mother. She nearly cost her life.
When the news was broadcasted all over the pack many considered her to be cursed and those who oppose her father's rule deemed her unworthy to be the heir.
But her friends, Princess was a sign of respect from them and when they wanted to say something serious.
Like now.
" What is it Stark? " she asked a little unease.
Stark relaxed a little when he realized that he was alarming his best friend. He had been disturbed in his soul hearing her think that she was a burden to them. Which is far from the truth.
Fiona was the second most decent person he has ever met. She was kind, tolerant, and humble, has never lorded her status over them, and had defended them on numerous occasions when someone tries to bully them in the pack because of their low family status.
It pained him to hear her say she didn't want to be a burden.
" You don't believe that do you? " he asked in a low voice.
Ciara caught on to what was troubling her mate and turned to look at their best friend waiting for her answer.
It also shocked and pained her when the blonde beside her had considered herself a burden to them.
She was friends with them because they were the two most amazing people she has ever met and she can't think of a life without them.
Fiona wasn't following up with the discussion. She got lost from the moment Stark stopped her.
" What are you talking about? " she asked in a low voice staring up even though she couldn't actually see his face.
Stark held the white eyes with his grey ones, a serious expression in their depth.
" I am talking about the nonsense of you believing you are a burden to us, " Stark growled deeply doing his best not to sound annoyed. He hated it when the Princess put herself down.
" Oh, that, " Fiona looked down, her voice low and pained.
Having heard all her life being referred to as a burden to her parents by most of the pack members she couldn't help feeling like one even with the people that loves her.
" Yes, that! " Ciara chipped in. " You don't believe that, do you? "
Fiona shook her head as her eyes filled.
She knows how much the two people in front of her love her but tonight has caused her insecurities to rear their ugly heads up.
" Good because we love you and you will never be a burden to us, " Stark assured her, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
Ciara did the same on her other hand.
Their action brought a pleased smile to Fiona's face.
" And I love you guys, " she returned squeezing their hands back.
- Writer
