AYARU

CHAPTER TWO: In Which She Is Rejected for Her Weakness.

“s**t!!” I freeze, knowing who exactly is behind me. I turn around quickly.

“Hi Bellona” I greet my sister who was behind me.

“Hi Aya, what exactly are you trying to hide?” she eyes me suspiciously. I gulp.

“She was telling us how she had been training extra hard with my Dad, to become a better fighter” Aife quickly covers up for me, making my sister tilt her head to one side.

“She didn’t want anyone, so she could take everyone by surprise” Tyra adds. I thank the goddess in my head, for giving me good friends. Bellona still stares at us suspiciously.

“Hmmm, that’s good to know actually, it will reduce the rate at which we worry for her” She smiles at me, then kisses my head, and waves to us as she leaves.

“That’s good to know, bye, see you guys at the party,” She says as she leaves.

We all let out deep breaths.

“That was close,” I say as I turn back to look at my saviours. I see Aife staring at my sister weirdly. She snaps out of it and smiles at me, I look at her weirdly and she just smiles.

“Let’s put up the remaining decorations” Tyra states as she finally climbs the ladder herself.

“See, totally safe” She turns to look at Aife. Aife rolls her eyes. And I laugh at them both. We finish decorating and move inside to freshen up.

Aife makes some funny jokes, we laugh as step back into the house, and we see Tyra’s Parents, The Alpha and Luna.

“Good evening Alpha, good evening Luna” Aife and I greet simultaneously.

“Hey Mum and Dad, how are you doing” Tyra greets her parents, I look around and I don’t see Dustin anywhere. I turn to see the Luna, giving me a soft smile, she looks happy, probably because Dustin told her. I smile back.

“Ayaru, Aife, how are you both doing, your dads just left to get dressed” we nod in acknowledgment.

“We just finished the rest of the decorations” I inform both of them.

“And I’m sure you did a really good job with the decorations,” Luna asks and we nod.

“Thank you for your hard work” She hugs both Aife and me, my hug lasts longer than Aife’s.

“I know you will make a great Luna” she whispers in my ear. She smiles from ear to ear. I smile back at her, then we follow Tyra to her room.

“Ayaru, can we see you quickly” The Alpha requests. I tell my friends to go ahead.

“Yes sir, ma’am” I politely respond.

“We want to talk to you about your wolf” I freeze a bit, and I slowly nod in response. The Alpha’s statement makes me wonder why they want to talk about my wolf.

“We were researching and we discovered that you could find a solution at the Lunae Temple” Luna speaks calmly. The Lunae Temple is located in the capital city of Meropis Continent. Brittia City. Our pack is far from it.

“It is believed that the Lunae Temple has the overflowing blessings of the Goddess and that one could find a solution to all problems” The Alpha states, my eyes widen, and he gives me an envelope.

“This is a recommendation for you to start working with the Chief Priest, this will give you access to start working closely with him, so he can find spells that could help you awaken your wolf” The Alpha completes his statement.

“We contacted him over a year ago, to see if he could find a solution, we received a response this year and he is expecting you. He would love to help you, only if you want” The alpha speaks to me calmly, holding my hand.

“We know how the absence of your wolf has affected you both physically and mentally, we believe this is a solution to it, if and only if you want to go ahead with it” She holds my hands, and a tear drops slowly from my eye, after three years of pain and mockery, a solution right before my eyes.

“Thank you so much for your help, thanks for caring for me, I know I'm different from everyone else, but you both don’t let the difference show. You are the best leaders one could ask for” I cry as I thank them for their help.

“I will go, after the welcoming ceremony, is it fine if Aife and Tyra come along?” I ask politely.

“We found an apartment for you guys to stay in already, you can leave on Monday” Luna informs me, I hug her impulsively and she hugs me back. She holds my face as she smiles at me.

“Here, these are the documents you will need to present at the temple” The Alpha gives me a brown envelope, which contains a letter of recommendation and the approval for me to see the Chief Priest

“Thank you” I leave to go freshen up for the party. I smile, feeling grateful for those who surround me. I walk upstairs and enter Tyra’s room. Today can only get better.

“You’re finally here” Aife exclaims, they both drag me into the room and help me dress up for the party.

5 minutes later

We are all dressed for the party. Tyra has her long red hair arranged in an elegant bun, she is wearing an emerald green off-shoulder gown that reaches mid-thigh with silver heels, simple makeup and silver earrings. Aife has a ruffle one-shoulder gown that reaches mid-thigh with nude heels and her curly hair slickly packed to the back in a ponytail. I am wearing a shining white, off-the-shoulder with a single side split, silver stilettos, silver earrings and simple makeup. I straightened my wavy hair, giving the hair a smooth, silky look. I love my wavy hair, but I decided to touch it up a little tonight to look good for Dustin.

We get downstairs to meet the party in full swing. Everyone looks simple yet elegant in their outfits. I spot my sister in a beautiful deep red mini dress with black heels and neatly packed hair. I spot my parents beside her.

“Hey Mum, Hi Dad, you look dashing this evening” I compliment their looks as I hug them. Dad ruffles my hair, I groan and arrange my hair back, causing them to laugh.

“Hey big sis, you look ravishing this evening” I wink at her and she laughs

“It looks like someone has been working on their rizz skills” She kisses my forehead as she laughs. She scans my outfit and gives me an approving look.

“You look beautiful fawn” A fawn is a baby deer, Dad is the only one who calls me that. Mum nods approving my outfit.

“Thank you” I smile back, and we continue talking and joking. Till we hear the mic being turned on.

“Testing, testing, 1, 2, can we all hear me?” The alpha speaks with a very funny tone making everyone laugh.

“Good evening Alfheim Pack!!!” There are cheers everywhere

“How are we all doing” More cheers erupt in response.

“Tonight we are welcoming back the future Alpha of this great pack, he has been away for training for a few years now, so we are using this party to welcome him back, as well as introduce the future Luna to the pack” The Luna announces. There are gasps in the crowd. They are introducing me tonight. I start searching for Dustin in the crowd, but I don’t spot him anywhere. I find him and our eyes finally meet, but he is quick to look away, Weird.

“Introducing Dustin Gunner, the Future Alpha of the Alfheim Pack” He walks onto the stage, looking dashing in his suit. There are applauds and cheers everywhere.

“Good evening everyone, it is lovely to see all your faces; I am happy everyone is safe. I have been away for Alpha training for the past 2 years and I’m glad to be back home. I hope the skills I have acquired will be useful in leading this great pack. It is one thing to acquire knowledge and another to apply it; I hope everyone guides me each step of the way. Thank you” He ends his speech, there are cheers and applauses everywhere. I smile proudly at my mate, who smiles back weakly. Okay… What’s going on?

“I have two announcements to make, there has been an increase in the rise of rogue attacks recently, and this will lead to more strict security rules and measures. We have to protect one another as a pack” There are shocked expressions but everyone agrees with him

“Two, I will be introducing my mate and future Luna of the pack, this evening, I want us all to be welcoming towards her, Thank you all, and let the feast begin” Everyone looks expectant of the future Luna. I wonder how they will feel when they see it’s me, Wolfless Ayaru.

“I wonder who it’s gonna be” Bellona states while sipping her drink.

“Yooo girl, we’ve been looking for you forever” Aife exaggerates. I leave my family to meet my friends.

“How do you feel, Luna Ayaru?” Tyra whispers, and I laugh out loud

“shhh, let’s keep it on the low” We all laugh, and then I feel my dress get wet, I look down to see wine on my dress and an empty cup in Stacy. Stacy again.

“oops, didn’t see you there” she laughs, mocking me. Irritated I don’t say a word, I carry a glass of chilled water and pour it all over her.

“There, that should have cleared your eyes out a bit, good evening” I snarl

“You, you b***h” she lunges to attack me but she is blocked by none other than Dustin.

“What is going on here?” Stacy freezes, shocked that Dustin would come to my rescue.

“Ddddustin, she started it, she poured water all over me, my makeup and dress are ruined” She fakes her tears. He turns to me

“Is that true Ayaru?” he asks with an accusing tone. I’m surprised he asked me, but I will answer because I didn’t do anything.

“She poured her drink on my gown first, stating she didn’t see me, then I poured water on her eyes so she could see better” I calmly respond, there are snickers as everyone laughs at Stacy and agrees with me.

“Stacy, apologize to Ayaru” he states

“Bbbbut Dustinn” she whines

“Do it right now, are you defying my order” he growls lowly, she shivers in fear

“I’m very sorry, Ayaru” I nod as she apologizes, then she leaves.

“Thanks, Dustin” he nods

“Can we talk now?” he asks calmly. I look at Aife and Tyra and they both give me thumbs up.

“Good luck” they whisper, I smile back. Dustin stretches his hand for me to hold, we walk hand-in-hand to the edge of the pond at the back of his house. We sit on the grass and stare at the moon. After a few minutes of awkward silence.

“I have something to tell you,” we say at the same time.

“You go first,” he says, I nod.

“Your parents recommended me to the Chief Priest of the Lunae Temple, so he could help me find a way to awaken my wolf that means I can finally have my wolf, isn’t that exciting?” I say with excitement.

“That’s nice to know Ayaru, I’m so happy for you” He pats my head, he says he’s happy but he doesn’t look like he is.

“I am so glad that we are mates” I start. I turn and smile at him only to meet a blank look on his face.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask, he suddenly stands up, and I stand up too, the serene environment forgotten. Dustin starts mumbling.

“What are you saying, Dustin? You can tell me anything, we’re mates” I try to touch him, but he moves back avoiding my touch, okay?

“Dustin, what’s wrong with you?” I ask worried, he continues to mumble incoherent words.

“Dustin!” I shout, he continues to mumble

“Dustin, speak to me!” I shout again

“We can’t be mates, you are weak!!!” he shouts back. I freeze, shock taking over me.

“What do you mean?”