Accused

The confused smile left her face, and my mouth refused to close. What was Reid doing rejecting his mate? Did she wrong him? I doubted that even explained it.

Kali looked like someone had thrown her a sucker punch. I didn't blame her. If my mate rejected me out of the blue, I'd do worse. Why was I even asked to stay in this awkward situation?

"Reid, you can't possibly mean what you say," she tried hoping it was a joke "it's taking too long. Please call off the joke. You're frightening me."

I, too, waited for the prank. It had to be a prank. Where was the *Tada*? He couldn't possibly throw her away like she was nothing.

He held her shoulders with both palms "it's not a joke, Kali. I can't play with something as serious as this; I don't want you as my mate."

Then he left her and approached me, wrapping his hands around my waist. He looked into my eyes and announced, "if the goddess doesn't give me Iris, then I don't want anyone else."

Kali and I gasped at the same time, 'what the hell is going on?!'

"Iris," he said my name with so much affection, "it's you I want. Just you"

This was going all wrong. Everything about it: firstly, you reject your destined mate without reason, and now the person he wants to replace is the cursed wolfless girl?! This couldn't get any worse.

"Reid, please, Think this over again," I whispered fiercely at him" this isn't acceptable. You can't reject the goddesses ..."

He cut me short, "I've done it, and I will do it again" he placed his hand gently on my cheek "you are my only wish from the goddess."

Kali began to cry. Not soft and broken-hearted. More like a wail following a massive downpour of tears. She fell to the ground screaming.

Before long, we were surrounded by everyone in the Packhouse. Even the Alpha. My heart began to beat when I saw the Luna sway out, now fully dressed and proper. No one would know she was just fucking.

She stood beside Alpha Talon, a big gigantic-looking man, just like Reid. Callum was lanky. Speaking of Callum. He came out a few minutes after the Luna did. 'clever.'

Ximena was comforting her sister, trying to find out what was happening, but she was still crying hysterically.

Meanwhile, I was, trying to sneak out of Reid's hold, far away from all the attention and drama. But his grip was firm. I didn't stop trying anyway.

"What is going on here?! Can somebody tell me?!" The Luna said, impatient and irritated.

Kali sobbed, pointing at Reid "he rejected me for Iris. Reid rejected me to share in her curse."

Everyone gasped; there were mutters and a whole lot of surprising glares. It got Luna's full-blown attention. 'you said what??" She turned to Reid and me. "Did I just hear her correctly?"

"Yes, you did" Reid's tone held no apologies. "I don't want Kali. It's not her," he looked at me affectionately "it's me; my heart belongs to Iris."

The Luna looked petrified, and so did everyone else. Callum looked like he had known all along.

"Reid, please stop this madness," I pleaded, trying to escape his grip. When he let me go, I moved backward, bumping into a body. Was I so relieved when I turned and saw my father?

His eyes bored into mine "stay strong," he whispered, so only I heard.

The Luna stood before her son, who looked like nothing on Earth could change his mind. Not even the goddess who had sent him a mate.

"Reid come back to your sense," she snapped "what did she do to you?"

His bold voice came up unflinching, "nothing, Luna. I made a choice, and I'm not going back on it. Kali will find another Mate."

"What nonsense!" The queen uttered, making me cringe.

'This is not good

Her beautiful, daring grey eyes turned to me, and she spat, "how dare you use dark magic on my son."

"I didn't...." I tried to defend myself, but in a twinkle of an eye, she slapped me so hard my neck almost snapped. My cheeks burned so severely that I felt the tears sting my eyes, but I pushed them back in.

She wrapped her fingers around my hair and pulled it back so hard I felt my eyes pop. "Take back the spell you cast on my son!"

I sobbed at the full-blown pain surrounding my scalp, "I swear, I didn't do anything; please let me go, Luna."

"Luna! ..." Reid tried to get her off me, but she warned him, her eyes blazing

”Do not even think of laying your hands on me."

She continued yanking my hair, "you good for nothing; you made my son a pawn in your witchery. Reid doesn't have a mind of his own anymore! He doesn't even call me mother because of what you did to him."

She sounded like she was tearing up. Everyone knew Reid was her favorite, and she was too protective of him. She made more sense.

I tried to avoid this. I refrained from cursing Reid in my head. In truth, he couldn't do anything. She was Luna first before his mother.

She slapped me hard again, sending me sprawling on the ground.

"That's enough, Dema," the Alpha roared, making her stop the assault she was about to continue instilling on me.

My father helped me up from the grassy ground. I felt dizzy as my ears rang so loud I could have sworn that the ringing came from nearby.

The Alpha stared at me, now in front of his face. His eyes looked gentle and calm "go home child," he ordered.

I bowed and slowly left the pack house with my father, who supported me with his big strong hands.

********************************

"Owwwww," I yelled when the water mixed with spirit landed on my hurting cheeks "you're doing it all wrong, father."

He ignored me and placed the cloth on my face again, "Alright, fine! I'll rather walk into a volcano than get touched again with this water."

He didn't even smile, just watching me as I walked to the window of our house.

We were back home. The home was a small cozy box with a fireplace, an animal skin rug, stairs that led to the top of my room, and numerous windows.

That was father for you; he had a specific style to everything. If it wasn't a little bit dim, it wasn't worth having or staying in.

I looked out the window with my hand placed on the pane. The sky was pretty dark outside, and nothing could be seen. I couldn't even make out the outline of the trees I was sure were there.

"How should I have known? I thought we were just friends. How can he even like me?"

"You're beautiful, interesting, and strong, so why not?" My dad's voice was calm enough to be soothing.

I shot him a glare. "Tell that to the Luna. He just put me in so much trouble. The Luna wanted to kill me today" I pointed to my cheeks "see this?"

He approached me and stood beside me by the window; he pointed to the sky "you see those clouds?"

I looked up, searching, "do you see things, Mr father? You're not too old to lose sight, are you?"

He smiled, "look up, Iris, it's right there?"

I searched and searched. Seeing nothing, I turned to him "seriously, father?"

"But you know it's there?"

"Everyone knows it's there, duh."

His voice was low. He began, "this is the greatest lesson I'll ever teach you, Iris. Yes, I taught about the hunt, the fist, and everything, but this is more important."

"Yes, father"

"Be like the clouds on a night; keep your weakness hidden so no one knows what to expect next from you. The world isn't a good place, and it won't be for you."

"What do you mean, father?"

He kissed my forehead "nothing; I'm going for a little nap, don't make much noise."

I watched him go upstairs till he was out of sight, and I continued sky-gazing at the invisible clouds that signified a weakness. I smiled. So like a dad, turn everything into a lesson.

There was a knock on the door. I frowned. It was almost midnight; who wanted to see anyone when it was almost midnight?

Then I remembered Silver Mystic had a war just close by. So father would be needed every second of the time.

I groaned. I left the window to the door, pulled the latch, and opened it. The Alpha's warriors came into view; they were about five of them. I recognized Callum behind them.

"Let me just go call father," I said, about to turn

When one held my wrist, "Iris, you're coming with us!" He ordered a tanned face with full lashes. That was the Gamma Aroid,

"Why?" I froze "why do I have to come with you? What did I do?"

"I advise you don't ask questions."

I began to struggle and scream so loud, hoping my dad would wake, but I never heard footsteps. Deciding to help myself, my feet met with his crotch, and he winced. "Get her"

I ran behind a table, holding a chair up, daring the next person who would touch me to receive a smash on the back.

"You animals fucking leave me alone" I screamed, flinging the table at them, watching them all duck in different directions before I made my run toward dad's room

Before I could make two stops, a hand caught me by my neck, holding me by my neck, choking me, "you stupid bitch" Callum's voice spat venom.

His hand moved to my mouth, and I bit it.

"Bitch, Bitch!!" He yelped.

Before I could make another run for the stairs, I felt the fist land on my neck and slowly drift into the unconscious.