“Have you forgotten you were the one who denied

her in front of the entire pack? Took a new mate and had her banished from the

pack!” a

voice countered.

“It

was for the pack! I did it for the unity of the pack!” he argued, trying to

convince himself.

“Deal with it then!”-The voice disappeared.

Alexa

got up and started pacing the room. “She’s hiding in that small village.” She

muttered.

“We

will have to smoke her out then.” She said, the idea igniting a smile

conclusively that as her final decision on this matter.

Thane

was quiet but he didn’t like the idea. “Did you have the book in sight?” he

asked the soldiers instead.

“No

Alpha, but we believe she’s still in custody of it.” They responded.

“Good.

Until we decide on what next to do, don’t breath a word of these to anyone!” He

instructed.

Alexa

turned to him, her jaw dropped slightly at his pronouncement. What could be his

reason for keeping this a secret?

The

soldiers bowed once more and saluted, making their way out. The metal doors

roared shut as the guards outside pulled it’s heavy handles along until they

locked in on each other.

“Why?”

Alexa asked immediately the world was shut outside.

“Why

what?” Thane asked, unsure of what she meant.

“Why

do you want them to be discreet about her whereabouts?” She questioned. “Don’t

tell me the rumors are true.”

“What

rumors?” he asked feigning naivety.

“Was

she your mate after all?” she kept asking.

Thane

got up angrily. “I don’t know what your aiming at but I’m only concerned about

the fate of the innocent people living in that small village. They deserve a

place in the world after all. Do you not care about people?” he immediately

turned the tables.

She

could tell he was being defensive.

“Is it

really about the people Thane? Or you want to sneak into that hell hole just to

see her.” She grimaced with disgust in her tone. “She was your mate, wasn’t

she?” she questioned again.

“She

wasn’t! now stop being accusing. There’s no prove that the both of us were ever

mates!” he cut in.

Alexa

was mute. Fine. She’ll play by his rules just this one time. She still needs to

win the full acceptance of this new pack for her plans to work.

“Very

well then.” She looked away and walked out of the court room.

Thane

walked towards the window and looked down at the library just beneath him.

The

full moon shone brightly and he felt the urge to turn and let out a howl.

What

he carried inside was guilt and it was heavier than any luggage.

Thinking

about how he treated her, he made her cry, he hated himself for it.

Flash

back of the days he spent with her down there at the library consumed his mind.

The way they used to play around the library together. Her laughter flooded his

senses…

He

sighed, he missed her.

Even

though he knew he couldn’t be with her from the very beginning. The least he

wanted was to make every second of their time together unforgettable. He wished

he had the courage to tell her then about his selfish plans of giving her up…

but all that doesn’t matter now. He has a beautiful Luna who’s choice he made

to bring unity to the packs.

Satisfied

with his accomplishment, he believed he made the right choice.

Work

before pleasure—a voice chanted behind his mind.

He

closed his eyes as if bidding her memories goodbye.

Whatever

the case is, he needs the book back to show his members that he is worthy of

leading the pack but most importantly also, he needs Mirabelle alive.

*THE

HIDDEN VILLAGE*

I sat

outside just under the bright glowing moonlight, staring up at the glowing dark

sky…

There

was a time I and Thane would go missing in the library.

I had

my insecurities and had curled up to one side, searching for some kind of

assurance that he would always be with me. I was just an ordinary librarian and

he was the most feared, the head of over a hundred wolves-the Alpha.

“What

if the pack doesn’t accept me as your mate?” I had voiced out my fears one

evening after we had made love and were just laying around nude.

Thane

turned to me. The moonlight partly shone on my face as shadows took the corners

and made my tan skin dazzle.

“I

love you Mira, that’s most important.” He said caressing my hair.

“Then

why can’t the whole pack know about us? I want them to know I’m yours and

you’re mine, that we’re mates. Fated mates.” I retorted.

“There

is no need for the rush, Mira.” He said calmly. “In due time it will all be

sorted out.” He assured me. “For now, I don’t want you to be bothered about

such thoughts, come here… let’s just have our moment and enjoy what we share

while the world slips away.” He nudged on to kiss me.

“But

I’m not comfortable having to be seeing you in hideouts. Why are we hiding when

we’re old enough to make our choices?” I had pressed on.

He

exhaled deeply. Taking his face close to hers he held her chin with both his

hands and looked into her eyes.

“I

understand my love and I want nothing more than what you want but understand

that we have to be careful. Else, we may not stand a chance.”

I

nodded, I believed him. I was foolish to think since his heart was with me, his

mind was too and that one day he would grow past that phase and eventually

stand up for me—even if it meant going against the pack.

I must’ve been delusional to ever think an

Alpha would choose a low life like me.

I

didn’t meet his standards, he was sure ashamed of me. Denied me in front of the

council and made a spectacle of me in front of his new bride.

He

also agreed for me to be his new mate’s maid. What nonsense?!

I

don’t want to believe it but I’m beginning to think he never loved me.

This

wound still laid fresh in my heart… and I don’t think I would ever get to

forgive him.

I

heard heavy footsteps behind me as it pressed against the dry leaves breaking

them apart.

Who

was there?

 I turned to the direction of the sound, my

chest pounding fast as I looked long and deep into the woods.