My Fated One

10. WHY ME?

ABELIA (POV)

The soothing sounds of the cicadas, or were they crickets, chirped out a lullaby of the night as I tried to keep my eyes open. While my jumbled mind struggled to put the pieces together. Yet, like a mirage, each time I felt like I was close to understanding and making that needed connection, it would quickly vanish inside a sea of my own exhaustion. Leaving me once again adrift between reality and fantasy. However, as I squirmed in my little cocoon, I could tell the one that held me tightly was a child, and that the lover I had once yearned for had been nothing more than an illusion crafted by my lonesome mind.

“Oh, did I wake you?” Thomas said, as he looked down at me with worry and concern. When was the last time someone gazed at me in such a way? Even if he was a child, maybe the fact that I was now one too, was why I could not keep my emotions in check. "Wait, are you crying?” He said alarmed, as I clung to him saying the only thing that made sense.

“Why me?” I sobbed.

“What?” He gasped, as tears streamed down my face, while my heart screamed out the same question over and over again.

“Why me? Why me?” I repeated, causing Thomas to stop as I shook my head in anger and heartache. Why me? Why had he picked me and then chosen to break and shatter my tender heart and mind? What did I do to deserve to be left with so many regrets and words of frustration that I could only yell to the heavens? Since his ears could no longer be reached.

"Abelia, I'm...I'm so sorry." Thomas said, with a shaky voice that made me feel even worse. Because that was all I had ever wanted him to say. To admit his fault and try to win be back. But now, it was impossible, and I was instead causing a child less then half his age to misunderstand and take ownership of the suffering he caused.

“Shhh... It's okay.” Thomas muttered into my ear, trying to calm me down as I buried my face in his chest. While a horrible realization began to dawn on me, one that I had very much been trying to ignore. The notion that if I did not let this go, if I did not move on, I was destined to face a lifetime of denial and pain. Thus, was he worth it? Was his love worth me living out the rest of my days pinning for something that could never be?

No! Absolutely not! I was better then that, I deserved more then a loveless relationship that had been twisted up with misunderstand and sacrifice. Which meant it was over, I could now finally end it cleanly and confidently. So, with the last of my strength, I squeezed out what remained of my tears, and said my goodbyes. Goodbye to the old me, my first love, and any desire to ever find either of them again.

THOMAS (POV)

I could feel her small body stop shaking as her breathing finally steadied, causing her to begin to drift in and out of consciousness in my arms. What was that? Why had she cried so sorrowfully and sounded so lost? She was only six, a tiny little thing. How could her voice have sounded so heartbroken? Was it really just because Lucas left her behind?

“It’s ok Abelia. It’s going to be okay.” I said, trying to convince not just her but myself that it was going to be alright. For it had to be. There was no one else here that could protect, comfort and nurture her but me. Which meant, no matter how nervous and uncertain I was of the situation, I needed to make sure she did not see it. Yet, as we edged closer towards my childhood home, I could feel my stomach twisting up in knots. The kind of knots you get when you know you have broken a cardinal rule and no apology can right that wrong.

"Young Master!" I guard shouted in suprise, as he opened the gate for me and tried to get a look at the bundle in my arms. Her white silver hair was slipping out between my dark cloak making it look like I was carrying a sword. He let out a whistle of alarm, causing an another guard to appear, just as my nanny came racing out of the house. She was a stout woman with coffee brown colored hair and hard dark eyes that took one look at me and melted into worry.

"Master Thomas, where on earth have you been? Do you have any idea the trouble you have...." Yet, she stopped. For Abelia had twisted her head around and was now gazing at her with those big golden eyes, causing my nanny to take a step back and cover her mouth in shock. "So it is true, there are two of ...." Quickly, she reached for my arm and tried to pulled me towards her but I moved out of the way.

"Don't touch her." I growled.

"But Master Thomas, she is not suppose to be seen." My nanny said, in a quivering voice that I chose to completely ignore.

"I see you are awake again. Do you want me to put you down?" I said calmly, as I turned my attention to Abelia, hoping she would agree to my request. Since it would send a clear message that she belonged to me and was under my families protection, if she walked into the Alpha's house on her own instead of being carried in.

"Yes, please." She said softly, causing everyone to pause as I carefully placed her feet on the ground. Instantly her body straightened and in doing so, the hood covering her head fell back revealing her long silver locks. No one spoke, let alone breathed. It was as if we were all under a spell and the only thing we were allowed to do was watch. Watch as she took small sure steps, almost proclaiming ownership of the land with each subtle movement, as her eyes scanned her new surroundings with a questioning but arrogant look. Was she really a child, no older then my baby sister? If so, how could she act and display a nature that made me feel like she was sizing us up and judging if we were worthy of being in her precense? Suddenly, the clouds parted causing the moonlight to bath my cloak draped about her shoulders and transform it into a mantel of dark glistening sliver.

"Kneel before your Queen!"

I could feel my knees starting to buckle, as a voice echoed inside my head, demanding my obedience. I could not tell from wince it came, just that it was powerful, primal and causing a part of my instincs to stir. It only took a second for the the guards to be at its mercy. I watched as one by one they hit the ground, heads lowered, and their right hand's bunched in a tight fist as they hit the spot above their heart's three times. No, it couldn't be, were they giving Abelia the royal families salute? How could this be happening? However, I was unable to make sense of the situtation, for I had to make sure that no matter what I did not follow suit. For the ramifications would be disatorous, since the sole reason I was still standing upright was due to my Alpha blood refusing to bend. Yet, as sweat dripped into my eyes and my body fought my mind, I knew it would not be long before I would be kneeling before her too.

"Thomas."

Damnit! Who was that? Who was calling out to me and trying to break my concentration?

"Thomas?"

No, stop! If I bow to her now and my father sees, he will surly kill her to regain my honor. Since the only one an Alpha, or a holder of alpha blood, could bow to was the Lycan King. Which meant no matter how I felt, bending a knee to a child without a drop of lycan blood in her would be viewed as treason. So, please. Please don't make me...

"Thomas! Thomas!"

Suddenly, my mind cleared as I felt a small hand in my own guiding me to look down. Her head was craned up as she stared at me with confusion and slight impatience, but it was gone. The overwhelming desire that had consumed everything in the vanity to bend to its will, was no where to be found. Had it been a trick of the light? A strange manifestation from our tired stressed out minds? Or something else entirely.

"Trust me, you’ll understand my warning the moment you really see her. But by then it will be too late! And you will forever be caught in her web.”

"Thomas, are you coming." Abelia said, waking me and the guards from whatever spell we had been under. As Abelia's nanny's warning began to resound in my head.

"Of course, did you think I would let you go alone." I laughed, trying to cover up the swirling mess of thoughts racing through my brain. Yet, as we walked past the guards I knew things were different. Though they were no longer planted on the ground, their eyes dare not look at her. Was it fear? Respect? Whatever it was I needed to make certain it never happened again, or at least away from the prying eyes of my father. Who I knew, would not take kindly to seeing his own men bewitched by a mere kindergartner.

Hurriedly I pulled up the hood on Abelia's cloak covering her hair from view, while I sent an aggressive mindlinked to the guards ordering them to keep their mouths shut.

"Not a word!" I hissed, causing them to nod their heads, as the delicious scent of tonight's dinner began to waft through the cool crisp air. Energizing and calming my rattled mind into thinking only one thought. When was the last time I ate?

“Are you hungry?” I said to her, as both our stomach's grumbled out in unison. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, as I hoped the mouth watering scents were distracting enough for her ears to not hear the irate voices of my parents, that were getting ready to serenad us at the door.

"HE DID WHAT?" My mother shouted, causing Abelia to jump, as we stood outside my house. Quickly, I squeeze her hand trying to reassure her, but I was also starting to worry. After everything that had transpired today, would my parent's be open to welcoming their son and his "future bride" with open arms? From what I was hearing, it sounded like a no.

"Cathrine, just accept it. We have no choice!" My father shouted back to my mother, as one of the servants began to meticulously place tonights dinner in front of the fussy couple. His calm gestures were such a juxtaposition to the hell that was breaking around him, that I was starting to view my parents as a pair of toddlers at meal time, instead of the Alpha and Luna of one of the most powerful packs in the land.

"Absolutely not! Over my dead body!" My mother screamed, as a hail storm of greasy meat and rooted vegetables splattered on the wall right next to my Father's seat. Just barely missing a second servant, who had been pouring some golden liquid into a crystal goblet for him.

"Damn it woman! Are you trying to kill me?!"

"You tell me what my intentions are, Alpha Rodin!" My mother barked in a pompous sarcastic tone, as she began to pick up anything her hands could get in contact with and hurl it right at him. Leaving Abelia and myself fully entertained as we stood there wide-eyed watching this so called display of marratial bliss.

"Your not going to do that to me right." I whispered down to Abelia, who rolled her eyes.

"Are you going to give me a reason that I need to?" She said with a smirk. However, just as I was about to answer her, a tiny mouse squeaked out near by.

"Brother?" A frightened little voice called out, as I spotted Annabella huddled in a corner of the room beside her nanny, who was quivering with such fear that I was unsure who was the child and the adult in this situtation.

"Here Bella." I said softly, causing her to race, or waddle, over to me with her arms out stretched. Begging me to whisk her away from this nightmare. Yet, the moment she spotted Abelia, she stopped and began to chew on her thumb and tetter back and forth on her feet like a toddler. Was she afraid, or just wary of someone new?

"Its okay. Come here." Abelia said, in a comforting tone as she motioned for my baby sister, who looked to my parents and then back to us. But once Abelia smiled at Annabella, all her fears subsided and she ran into the little girl's arms. Allowing Abelia to sooth her and pet her head. Unfortunately, my parents were so busy making their disgust known, that neither noticed the two girls cuddled up on the floor next to each other or the terror that had been in their youngest's eyes.

"Catherine, he declared in front of over half the town. I am sure you know what that implies."

"I don't care if he proclaimed it to the King himself. Thomas is the future Alpha of the MoonLight Pack and the future Lord of the House of Greyworth. I refuse for his intended to be anything less than that of royal blood!!!"

"Then what would you have me do, kill her?"

"THAT IS NOT AN OPTION!" I roared, as I stood there in the doorway to my parents debate about my future. Knowing full well that this next arduous battle was going to decide Abelia's place in the Greyworth Manor. So losing, or backing down, was not an option.