Legends of Lost Love

Chapter 3

The clearing is always breathtaking. When coming out of the trees, along the path, it goes from being just dirt to a sand-like soil that is gold in color. It’s the softest thing I have ever felt in my life. If I were ever able to feel the sand of the ocean, I know it wouldn’t even be this soft. Further into the clearing is a water fall which turns into a river that runs down the mountain and into Lycan’s territory. Specifically, the Lycan King.

Near the waterfall is the statue of the Moon Goddess, well. Well, what is left now? It is said the statue was broken by her when she ripped open the earth after the betrayal of our Alpha.

I do not know as to whether or not I believe this tale. Because of being mother of all, she has turned her back on even the most innocent of us.

I kneel before the broken statue and then sit to meditate. My thoughts are cleared and I am here to listen to nature surrounding me. In the distance I can hear the mother bear playing with her cubs, the hummingbird singing it song of happiness, the axes of some of the pack cutting down dead trees for timber to burn at the young alphas celebration, and I can hear the song of nature. It is a very quiet song, but its beauty can be compared to no other. You cannot hear it if you are not listening. Ever once in a while I feel as though it is singing a song of life to me. The spirits know my heart. They see the pain and try to provide comfort, but no comfort can be found for me.

I opened my eyes and realized it was dark. Which is a very bad sign. Nearing falling back down, I got up very quickly grabbed my things and ran down the path with all of my might.

Madam is surely going to have my head for this.

As I got closer to the pack house, I could see the house was busy with activity. Jace’s arrival must be approaching. As quietly as possible, I slipped into the window of my room. As I went out the door into the kitchen, I am hit by one of the cast iron pans.

“Where have you been slave? Do you wish to die today? How dare you be late to preparing Alpha Jace’s meal! He will be here soon!” She keeps screaming at me. I don’t even have time to respond. My head is swimming with stars and ringing. Madam should have played a sport at some point. She could have gone pro!

“I will deal with you later. Get to work!” She slammed the cabinet door. I could hear the wood crack.

We served Green Chile smothered chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice and refried beans and stuffed sopas. It is a favorite of Jace’s. The whole packed house smelled heavenly. It was making my stomach grumble. One of the omegas heard. She looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

Once dinner was ready, I was sent to my room. Madam didn’t want me to ruin Jace’s appetite. However, before I left the kitchen, the omega from earlier snuck me quite a bit of food since we had made so much.

As I sat on my bed, I looked about my room. I had a window that looked toward the forest. Luckily enough, it closes to keep out the cold. I have a sink under the window. The counter is stained by use and abuse. I was able to find a broken shelf to keep what few belongings I have. Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, and one towel and one washcloth. They were in really bad shape, but I am not paid so I do not have the funds to replace them.

The walls were an almond color, but the paint was peeling from the walls. It smelled of mildew and something else sour.

The mattress is actually a crib mattress that I found one day. My blankets were old shirts, pants, and other blankets I had found. I sewed them together to make my very warm blanket. It wasn’t much but I was proud of what I had. The room was more of the size of a pantry closet. There was only about 3 feet between the end of the bed and the sink. The mattress was laid against the wall on one side and from the bed to my room door it was maybe another 3 feet.

When I had to use the bathroom, I had to go through the kitchen to the full bathroom on the main floor. This packed house had 5 floors. The top floor is the Alpha and Luna’s living quarters. Once Jace takes over Alpha, Leo and Luna Jennica will move to a house not far from here. It wasn’t traditional, but they wanted their own space.

I laid my head back on my bed and curled up under the blanket. I stared at my water-damaged ceiling and thought about day dreams. My mate found me and whisked me away to be loved by him.

The music got much louder and was impeding day-dreaming. I covered my ears and closed my eyes.

At some point I had fallen asleep. I woke to the mouth upgrading smell of sandalwood. Nix perked up her ears as she too noticed the smell. The party sounded to be over. Which means I need to clean up before anyone gets up and still sees the mess.

I quietly exited my room and headed over to the sink. Ah, yes, lots and lots of dishes. This will take me a while. I begin scrubbing away at the food and getting it sanitized. Each time the dish rack gets full, I stop and dry them and they are put away.

The greatest feature about this kitchen was the amazing view of the sunrise. Although, sometimes, I felt like the sun was too free and often mocked me when it would peak around the horizon to find me awake. It mocked my life. The sun was so bright and full of life and I was the shell of what I should have been. Nix tells me all the time I am strong and I need to show them. To me that just sounds like the date they should write on my grave. If they even grace me with such an item. No, when I die, they will bury me and leave my grave unmarked. I am just a slave, remember?

Nix starts yelping and jumping around a new wolf pup. Very odd behavior if you ask me.

There is was that smell again. I tried so hard to keep busy and not think about Nix’s behavior and that mysterious smell. After a few minutes of her prancing around, I decided I might as well figure out what her problem was.

As we walked past the dining room and towards the stairs to the other floor, Nix slowly went quiet.

“Nix you okay? You’re being really odd,” I was beginning to think she had officially lost it.

“Rayne, something isn’t right.” I could feel it. The sandalwood smell intensified as I walked through the house. Something was wrong. My wolf senses were heightening. Nix was on full alert.

The hair on my neck stood up on end the further I went into the house. The only time I had ever been this far was to clean the pack rooms.

As I got closer to the guest room, I found it peculiar the door was closed. This room was not being actively used. At least not to my knowledge. The closer I got, the more noise I could hear and the stronger the sandalwood smell got.

I was wrong. The door was not completely shut. It was cracked just enough for me to see a woman on her hands and knees on the bed. The man with her was holding her hair and slamming in and out of her. They were both not being very quiet.

Nix let out a deep growl and I could feel her preparing to attack.

“What the hell is your problem?” I yelled at her in my mind.

“That is mate.”

I swear my heart stopped. All of my dreams came crashing down around me. I had to get away from here before he figured out it was me.

As quietly as I could, I moved back to the kitchen. Nix was still and quiet. My heart broke for her and I. She had to endure being my wolf. The wolf of a slave. I am nothing. Deserve nothing, as the Moon Goddess had just made me clearly aware of. I cursed her. I cursed ever believing in the fairy tales of a loving Goddess who blessed those who were faithful.

My skin began to burn everywhere. “Hold on my love,” Nix whispered to me. She sounded so broken.

If I thought wolfsbane was torture, it was a thousand times that. I was trying so hard to keep quiet. Screaming would wake the house and cause a scene. No one needs to know about my pain. It is my pain to endure.

The pain lasted another half an hour or so. I wouldn’t know if it was not for the clock on the kitchen wall.

Once the pain subsided, I got up and started breakfast. I felt myself losing the last piece of me. Rayne was gone, a slave was all that was left. Nix laid down and I wasn’t going to bother her to keep on when now our fate was sealed.

We will die in 2 days.