"It's all my fault!" I sobbed with Ryan running his hand behind my back as I cried helplessly in his Mate's arms.

"No it isn't." She whispered back in a motherly tone. "You were going to be marked one day and we all shouldve known that day was coming. We just weren't expecting it that soon, that's all."

"Didn't know?" I exclaim, "Angel! I have Alpha Damon has my Mate! Alpha Damon Romano of the RedBlood Pack and what do you mean by weren't expecting it?" I accused.

"I won't be surprised if I'm pregnant by the end of this month because of him!" A loud noise between a gasp and cough chokes Ryan severely.

"Calm down Nora. You can't change the inevitable either," she shot an eyebrow, ignoring the last part. Unlike her, Ryan seemed to have tensed up from the last part. "Xavier was going react like this one day. You couldn't have possibly changed that." She stated as a matter-of-fact, dismissed Ryan's burning glare.

"Unbelievable Angel," I hiss, pulling away from her and rising up while slow clapping. Ryan hand grew still as he watched observingly and kept silent.

"First, you weren't expecting me being marked so soon and now you're blaming me for Xavier's outburst?" My voice and anger rising.

"To be honest Angel, I'm tired! I'm tired of being treated like a kid and scolded like one too! I'm a Luna God damnnit, not a pup. It's not my fault Xavier couldn't handle it rationally, and he overreacted." I felt like screaming which I knew I mostly likely was. "You said Xavier's reaction was bound to happen; it was inevitable. You know what's truly inevitable?" My voice cracks, mixing with my tears but despite them I stare dead into her brown eyes.

"That one day, I'll be forgotten. I'll be forgotten, and dying in a bed of an old hospital and I won't be able to catch a single glimpse of my Mate before I die because-e, he'll be too busy screwing with hoes in our bed. T-That's inevitable! Very soon when Damon does see me again, instead of talking and asking about how my day went, he'll be too busy raping me to hear my screams. That's also inevitable! But what's the most inevitable thing that could happen?" I ask, laughing wearily with them both staring at me wide eyes like I'd gone mad.

"That I'll be pregnant with his child eventually and he won't give a damn about me and neither the child. That's sad -I know- but that's the truth. I'll be rotting with my child in a cell and he'll be too arrogant to notice the pain he's inflicting on either of us. That's inevitable." I whisper softly with tear stained eyes, before storming out of the room and back to the main hallway, jolting up the stairs to my old bedroom.

My heart cries tears of blood but yet, I'm grateful they don't follow. My footstep echoed throughout the hollow house and creaked against the old floor boards, as I slam the door shut to my room and collapsed down against the door, pouring out all my feelings.

Betrayal constricted in my chest and disgust churched my stomach. Pain gnawed my insides making them raw, while my throat dried up.

What would he be doing now right, at this moment while his Mates away? Would he busy screwing his sluts or would he be busy raping innocent prisoners? Would he be torturing his servants, beating Leila into a pulp or would he be busying flirting with girls like Stephanie?

I cry, and cry and cry and cry and cry and cry, for what seems like hours but when I check, only 2 hours had passed.

No one came nor did anyone knock at the door durning those 2 hours but I felt Ryan's wolf down the corridor a couple of times, but just like I predicted his presence returned back to where he came, silently.

I snuffle into my sleeve and snuggle my stuff toy Nemo closer to my chest. If you guessed it was a gift from Xavier, then you're bang on correct. He won it on me in a spring fair that the local school had set up for fundraising.

I look into its large fixed eyes and I swear I could have see memory vividly. Xavier, in his favorite worn out leather jacket and washed jeans with his strong masculine cologne clinging onto him and then there was me, in my summer aqua dress and a single side braid and matte flip flops.

Took him 20 bucks, 4 attempts and one angry screaming wolf just to get the basketball in, but luckily 10 minutes later I was hugging Nemo against my chest just like I was right now. I remember clinging on to arm, and squeezing him while hearing the cheers around us from the younger kids, wishing for a brother as him.

I smile wearily, afraid I might end up crying instead of laughing. A low double knock at the door gets my attention drawing me away from memory lane.

"Nora, I know you're crying against the door, so open up before I crush the door down and use those torn pieces to stake your ass of a Mate in the crotc-," I swing open the door before she could continue on with her remark. She trailed off and squeezed me tightly, her cold metal necklace stabbing my neck.

"I missed you so much Lia," I cry into her shoulder, pulling her closer.

"Okay okay. H-Havingg dif-ficulties breathinggg here-e-e," she breathed hardly from against my neck and I instantly withdrew. She staggered back but held onto the door. "Jesus woman! Want to kill me before I find my Mate?"

"Sorry," I wipe my eyes carefully. "Come on in."

She strode in confidently, her heels clicking off the floor and her bag swinging off her shoulder, landing directly onto my bed. "Here. You look as if you need one, or about twenty." She placed the tissue box in front of me.

"Thanks." I mumble taking a handful for my nose. I sat down besides her, feeling her gaze soften.

"Better?" She asked gently, placing the box back on my table and I nodded. She parted her lips to say something but ended up sealing them shut again.

"How's Jordan?" I ask, wiping my nose before she could ask about anything I didn't want to bring up. She studied me briefly before starting.

"He's good but just had a lot of pressure upon him at the moment," she started. "I've barely seen him since the wedding. He's either in the Office, going through mountains of paperwork or in the Pack houses going through new security arrangement."

"Security arrangement? Since when, the attack from church?" I gape, my eyes rising, and drying up smoothly.

She shook her head. "Since the bodies started turning up. Haven't you heard?"

"How could've I? Was I in this Pack before this day?" I remark, making her mouth widen. "Or do you think my brothers would've told me?"

"Sorry, I forgot." She whispered, remorse filling her tone. "There's been bodies turning up from throughout the SilverRise area. Nasty, burned up bodies, and some say they were experimented upon. But you know whats more sickening? They're our Pack members." I suck in my breath, feeling my heart pound beneath my skin.

"How..?" I couldn't make the words out anymore. I suddenly felt nauseated by just simply imagining the scent of burnt flesh.

"They were children, elderly and even orphaned new borns," she exclaimed. "Like what kind of monster would do that?!"

"A Heartless one," I add, feeling the words tighten my throat. I felt faint-ish too along with nauseated now.

"What's wrong? You don't look so great," she pointed out, sticking her index finger into my cheeks playfully.

I laugh softly. "Just tired. Had an IV poked into the same hand I tattooed on, in the same day. Not my definition of fun you can say."

"Can I see the tattoo?" I prop my hand up for her to gaze at. Her lips parted, her fingers tracing the feather pattern with awe.

"Is it...?" Lia asked with wide eyes, making me nod silently. "She'd be proud of you. No doubt she would. At all of you."

She brought me into her embrace, being mindful of my hand as she curved her hands around me. "Can you help me remove the bandaging?"

"Why not?" She pulled away and took my tattoo wrist, placing it delicately in her palm. "Do I just pull it off?"

"Yup," I squeak, remembering Maya's cat like words.

She didn't need to be reminded a second time. Her fingers immediately rushed to start working on the bandaging, prying the stickiness off my skin, agonizingly slow with her extended talon type nails. Feeling my scream hidden in the back of my throat, I knew this was going to take some time...

.....

15 minutes and one stinging wrist later, Lia finally managed it peel if off. It had become yellow-ish, the clear bandage filled with my dead skin cells and -with no surprise- had become like a second skin in such a short period of time.

"Done!" She chirped triumphantly, holding the clear plastic in her hand like a trophy.

"Thanks a lot," I hiss, remembering not to rub but I couldn't help it. I wrapped my other hand around the tattoo. Lia strode to the washroom and came out seconds later with wet hands.

"Where's Christina's and Zayn's bedroom?" I ask, hoping she'd tell me without a fight.

"You sure you can see them in this condition?" She wondered, her arms crossed each other strictly, giving the illusion of my mean grade 2 teacher which Ryan had fired afterward.

She was even dressed as her! A similar white, tight, high collar halter dress with black striping going down by her sides and ending at her knees with classic, black polished, 7 inch heels and a metal necklace dangling on her neck.

"I am," I stand, hugging myself. "I need to see them.

She sighs heavily, deep in thought considering. "Whose first?"

"Zayn," I reply quickly without a thought. She nodded and strode out the room to her right, to the second last room down the hallway. "In here," she gestured with a flick of her head, with her hands still crossed. Her eyes burned behind my head as I entered the room.

I glance back to mutter my gratitude but unfortunately, Lia had already left. Sighing I return back to my brother, laying in his round bed with sheets drawn to his waist and with Mia on his right, fast asleep. There he laid, his skin utterly pale as if he were drained of blood and his hair glistening. Not from sweat I knew.

Besides the beeps of the machines hooked up onto him, his low breathing was the next sound I could hear. Every breath his chest inhaled my heart sprang with hope but with every exhaling breath, it froze every inch of me.

I wanted to hug him but he was asleep and with Mia besides him, it wasn't the best idea. Nonetheless, I stalk up to him silently, and bend down to leave a gentle trace of my love; a kiss on his icy forehead, along with my muttering prayers to any listening Angel by his ear.

I heard many times as a child, when someone you care about is either sick, dying or is leaving, you should mutter prayers in your native language by their ears for good luck or as a blessing for their future ahead however it might be.

I haven't done it many times to others but have to my brothers numerous times, just as doing they've to me whenever I'm sick. I murmur the blissful words in French by his ears, trying to keep my voice firm but soft, trying not to awaken him.

I was done quickly and shortly after I slipped out, shutting the door slowly. Attempting to fight the urge of tearing up, I was about to make my way to the living room when I heard a glass shatter from the room in front.

Scurrying to open the knob, I accidentally swing the door open to much, making it slam the wall behind. "Are you okay-?" I say, "Christina!"

Christina was propped up against the head door, wearing a loose mint dress with three quarter sleeves, swearing as her eyes snapped to me.

"Oh sssshhhhhhh," she rolled her eyes. A similar IV which I had this morning was now attached to her forearm. "You don't want Xavier to rush in here like a maniac, do you?"

"Christina. You have to be more careful," I scold her, eyeing the glass shard and pool of water. She merely scoffs in return. "Me careful? Do you even know me? I can walk in 10 inch stiletto heels for entire day non-stop with breaking a sweat and you're telling me to be careful?"

"Well, I can't recall anyone with that sort of talent but regardless of that, you can't do that now because me and Xavier, both forbidding you from wearing heels till after the baby." I say, but regret it instantly. "I'm sorry. I-"

"Oh, don't apologize. We're both fine, can't you see?" She laid a hand on her stomach, smiling tentatively.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you," I blurt out, feeling slightly ashamed saying so.

"It wasn't your fault," she gestured with her hand. "Come sit."

I gladly make my way over, propping next to her. "So...?"

"Why are you here Nora" Christina asked without a moments hesitation. "Did Damon do something? Did you have a fight with Damon, cause if that's the case then I swear I'll turn his dick into a pincushi-" "NO NO NO. There's no need for that," I cut in sharply. "Jesus! What's with you people and his family jewels?"

She rose an eye. "You weren't the only person who threaten his family jewels," I add, making her go ohh as if a light bulb went off.

"Who was the last?" She wondered and I without hesitation reply, "Lia."

Christina was some of those people who I could be normal with, no formalities whatsoever. "Figures. I taught her well didn't I?" Christina wiggled her eyebrows.

"Ewww. For the love of god and for the sake of your unborn child, just shut up," I exclaim, making her grin widen. "You're such a child," she teased.

"Whatever and back to the your original question, no I didn't just leave," spitting the sad truth out. "It's a tradition where the Luna has to go back for a day to her Pack without her Mate. It's for making "their affection for each other grow" and for them to learn each other's valve."

"Sounds incredible," she stated without a hint of sarcasm. "Maybe his love for you will increase."

"Oh please. All he needs me for is a showpiece that's he has a Mate and hes not one of those sad loner types of guys who can't even hold a girl for 5 minutes," I bark, making her laugh. "It's true!"

"When did I say it's not?" She sneered. "For what I know, he's an ass but sadly that ass is your Mate, so I can't really say comment on anything but from what I can see, he's dead serious about you."

"What..?" I pause, giving her time to join her words. "I mean, remember when you first met him?"

I bite my lip, not ready with a reply. Without me speaking, she figured my answer. "You fainted in his arms shortly after he kissed you and that's when he threaten us, he'd torture the shit out of you."

Before I could say anything, she continued on. "And of course he challenged your brothers like the assface he is but he clearly said would've tortured you before marking you but you seem in tact, unless he-"

"No I didn't let him," I sigh, my chest heavy from the memory of last night. "He marked me only. I'm not Mated yet."

"Well congratulations for your mark," she nudged my arm.

"Oh shut up Christina. Why'd you got to be so nasty?"

"I don't know, but I'd be delighted to pass it on to my future daughter," she beamed happily from the thought.

"How do you know the child's going to be a girl?"

She scoffed. "Honey. Have you seen these charms? Only my girl can inherit them, but with a fusion of Xavier's hair obviously. Good hair seems to run in the family."

"Did you get it checked?" I asked ignoring her comment about family genetics. "To reconfirm."

"Darling, I don't need to reconfirm nothing. I have faith on our sex cells, especially Xavier's," she beamed again, with a wink.

"I'm done here," I say disgustly, standing up. "You," I point, "are spoiling your unborn child already," I say, turning away.

"Oh shut up! It's not like you're saint either. Even you know where babies come from but just as a refresher. When a guy takes a girl to the bedroom or -anywhere basically, - and inserts his di-"

"Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala," I hum loudly, covering my ears, while flipping around to face her. "I'm too young to know that.!"

"No you're not! You have a Mate for the love of god and even I have expectations set for you and that assface to have babies soon!" She defended, crossing her hands -covering her IV hand against her chest leaving me speechless.

"Christina!" I holler, putting a finger in the air. "Im seriously done here."

I step away out the doors, closing the door shut behind. Just when I was shaking my head and laughing silently while walking past the stairway, I collided into another figure.

"Ohh!" I prepare myself for a hard fall, pinching my eyes shut in advance but the fall never comes. Warm hands clasp around my waist, drawing me closer to the individual's body. My eyes slowly tear open to catch Xavier's face harden. My hands land on his shoulders as he agonizingly slow, releases me but I hold on. "Xavier, I-" my words disappeared into the mist.

"Don't Nora," he flashed his eyes up. "I'm sorry for acting like that to you in the kitchen. You didn't deserve it." My eyes grew numb but I resisted the urge to cry.

"It's okay," I smile sadly. "I'm sorry too."

"For?" He rose an eyebrow in curiosity.

"For everything. For not being here when you needed me.," he tried to interrupt by saying my name but I kept on going. "-and for not being there when my family needed me the most. I probably don't deserve yours or anyone's forgiveness but I wish you could despite all that's happened. I hope you know I don't intend on breaking anyone's heart or playing with anyone's emotions. I just couldn't handle the circumstances like a true Luna should have." I sigh. "Maybe I'm not fit to be one even."

"Don't you ever say that again as long as I live Mrs.Nora Romano," he threatened playfully but yet dangerously.

"You're Mrs.Nora Faith Romano; the only Luna of the RedBlood Pack. No one could've handled that position better than you. I know that and so do Ryan, Zayn, Mia, Angel, Christina, Lia and even the Moon Goddess herself! Why, she placed you as the Luna because she had just the same amount of faith on you as we all do." His checks pinching up, and drawing me close into his embrace with my head resting on his shoulder and my fingers tracing his shoulder blades.

"With time you'll understand everything, I promise and never forget this Nora. As long as we all live, The SilverRose Pack will always your back; for better or worse." He concluded, stroking my hair softly like a father would've when comforting his daughter durning a thunderstorm, or more suitably, how our father would've if he were alive durning this crisis.

And that's what I what worry for the most, I wanted to add but the moment felt to perfect to ruin and god's above knew, when would've I receive another moment like this again...? .....

Hey my owls!

Firstly I'd like to make this clear, I'm not totally back on Wattpad, just yet. I just wanted to post another update in spite of Easter. So...

Happy Easter's Day (or even late, cause of the time differences around the world)

Anyway, just so you guys know I did alright on my biology test, I'm scared for my report card - which is also coming soon, so again. I might/ might not update depending on my circumstances.

I know my book might be getting boring with all the dialogue and with no Nora-Damon interactions. Please just hold on. I have a special thing planned for their appearance, so I'm working on the rough outline for it now.

Till then, please read and try to enjoy my book (it'll mean a lot) and thxs for all your support and understanding!

Comment on favorite parts & Vote if the Chapter was good enough to read.!

The Author; xbookgirlx15