The Wrong Alpha - A Twist of Fate?

Chapter 15 - LILAH

'Mama' I quickly linked. 'We popped into see Indie's Aunty as she wanted to show her some paintings, and her Aunty offered us some dinner. So don't worry about cooking for me.'

'Ok, sweetheart. Thanks for letting me know. Don't be too late though. Don't like you being that far out near the forest when it's dark...' I quickly cut her off before she starts making a fuss.

By the time we had reached Indie's Aunty's house, the sun was lower in the sky, the house was smaller than most of the houses on pack, not unlike Indie's cottage really, as it was just her that lived here alone.

She had no mate and no children. She was our pack seer, so she preferred the space and peace of a house out in the quieter woodland areas of the pack land.

As Indie knocked lightly on the door as she entered, I heard her call to us "Come in darlings". She may have had no children of her own, but she treated Indie like her own, and was like another member of my family too.

Walking in through the front door of her house, which opened straight into her small living room, I was met with a mixture of scents, a strong aroma of incense I know she loved to burn, a smell I would forever affectionally associate with her, and also the smell of something cooking too, and I had to say whatever it was smelt beautiful! I felt my stomach growling in response already...

I heard Aunty T chuckle "Oooh is someone hungry?" she smiled as she came toward us to pull us toward her in an embrace. That faint smell of sandalwood and jasmine from the incense lingering on her as she held us close was a comforting scent to me now.

"Hey Aunty T" Indie said

"Hey my angels" she smiled, "you girls want a drink?" we followed her into her larger kitchen/ dining room with a large, long breakfast-type bar along the wall with shelves above and drawers underneath too, which she used for her herbal stuff.

"Mmm please Aunty T" I said, I had called her that myself from being small, despite her not being my Auntie.

When I first met her and heard Indie call her that I thought that was her actual name, not realizing she was Indie's Auntie. I was only young at the time, so I called her the same thing. She had never corrected me, it was only as I got older I realized and apologized, and she told me I was family too and said it would hurt her now if she was anything other than Aunty T to me, so that is what she had stayed, and to be honest it wouldn't feel right calling her anything else either.

"Let me guess girlies, diet coke?" she smiled. She knew us well, and I knew she only bought in diet coke for us too, as she only drank herbal teas or water, so the fact she was sweet enough to go out of her way to make sure she had diet coke, in for us made her extra sweet I had to say.

"How did you know?!" Indie feigned surprise, then grinned.

Aunty T grabbed two cans from her fridge and walked over to us again, motioning for us to sit down at the table in the dining area of the large kitchen. " Indie says you wanted to ask me something darling?" she looked to me.

Wow, straight to the point...

I sat down opposite her at the table, not sure what to say, I began fidgeting with my nails, then with my hair...

"If you don't want to speak angel, you know you don't have to... I know I'm out on the edge of pack here, but I did hear about what happened, and I am so, so sorry sweetheart. I know you must be hurting right now" Aunty T reached for my hand with hers, like she had knew what I had wanted to talk about anyway.

I look up to her and smiled sadly, "It's hard Aunty T, I thought he would be my mate..." I feel the tears already beginning in my eyes, and Indie obviously senses that, as her arm is already around me in a hug.

We sit around the old oak table in Aunty T's dimly lit kitchen as I spill out all my feelings to her, as I cry, explain how I feel, she looks on with a softness and caring in her eyes, not once a look of judgment or criticism crosses her face and her hand never leaving mine. She frequently uses her other hand to wipe away the tears flowing down my face, while Indie has continued to keep her arm around me.

I feel able to tell her exactly how I am feeling, everything that has happened and just how much pain I am feeling without the fear of being judged. I know I am safe with these two, and know they care.

"It just hurts so much" I finish.

"I know my angel, I do" Aunty T looks to me, her big brown eyes filled with care and compassion. "Matters of the heart like this always do hurt the most, but our Moon Goddess knows what she is doing. You must know that my love, she must have known that while you and Logan were meant to have a close bond, it wasn't to be a mate bond..."

She paused as if to think. "...he wasn't meant for you in that way, my angel. I know you love him, and love can hurt, so very, very much when it cannot be received in the way it should and reciprocated as such. It will take time, but you are young, my love, you have a wonderful life ahead of you. This pain will one day be forgotten about. I can promise you that...".

She lifts my hand to her lips and kisses it with an affection a mother would have for her own child. I knew everything I had told her had been listened to, and I knew she understood the pain I was feeling. Maybe I could ask...

"Aunty T" I begin. She looked at me with a soft smile, making the lines around her eyes tighten. "Is there anything you can make me with your herbs to help with the pain in my heart?" I looked at her in hope.

I see a look of surprise on her face, then I see her look toward her worksurface-type-breakfast-bar to the side of the dining area, which she had set up for herbal medicine work area.

I can see her thinking, and I am hoping, almost desperately, for her to say there could be.

She looks back to me, a sadness in her eyes. "My angel, as much as I wish I could help, and I hope you know just how much I wish I could help you my sweet Lilah, seeing you in pain hurts me as much it would as if my own family are hurting, I never gave birth to my own children, Indie became like my own child once her mother had her, and when you became so close you were like another daughter to me my lovely and I would do all that I could in my powers to make sure you are both happy and both safe, but on this occasion my sweet, sweet girl I think that this is out of my powers... my herbal medicinal knowledge is basic I think and certainly wouldn't cover something like this."

She paused as if to think. "Although..." I could see her thinking again "...no I don't think so, my love, I am so sorry".

Ah well, I guessed it had been a long shot.

"Aunty T, it is fine, I guessed it would be unlikely. I just need to find a way to stop loving him, that way I might not feel the pain so bad" I smile at her. She squeezes my hand again.

"Time is a great healer, my love, and you will heal. You have your family, and you have Indie and myself. I sense you will go on to greater things, things the Moon Goddess thought Logan was not a suitable mate for perhaps my angel" she spoke, all the while looking into my eyes.

I felt almost mesmerized by her intense gaze, though I am sure she was doing all she could to be kind and thinking of ways to make me feel better. For that I was grateful.

I knew many people in our pack considered her creepy and weird with her being a seer, and the fact she lived on her own and didn't mix so much with the rest of the pack, but through being friends with Indie and getting to know her I had got to see what a kind and caring woman she was, and what an amazing mother she would have been had she gone on to have children.

I loved the time I got to spend with her. My Mum and Dad trusted her greatly with me too, and were happy for me to spend time here with Indie when we were younger. She had easily become part of my extended family, Indie and I were blessed to have her care so much about us.

"Thanks Aunty T" I said and as I spoke Indie's stomach growled, she uncomfortably pushed her hand to her belly and awkwardly smiled and Aunty T began to chuckle.

"It sounds like I best get to feeding my hungry girls" she stood from the table and walked to the Aga.

Indie smiled at me "You ok?" she asked, probably fully aware that I was likely a little disappointed that Aunty T couldn't help.

"One of them things Ind, I knew it was unlikely. Not really a medical condition is it, heartbreak... or how to cut off love, not like chopping off an arm now is it?" I said.

Indie giggled. “Maybe we could chop something of his off, he'd be no use to her as a mate then" she winked at me with a grin. I knew exactly what she meant and began to giggle too, she was crazy.

"I'd rather no castration attempts, please Indie, my love. They already think I'm a bad influence on you. Don't make it any worse" Aunty T spoke up. We forget sometimes just how enhanced our hearing can be with being werewolves, and Aunty had clearly heard our conversation from the kitchen.

Indie and I both whipped our heads round to look at her but saw she had a massive grin on her face, she had a wicked sense of humor too, something else I think Indie had inherited.

Indie stuck her tongue out at her Aunty. "It was just a potential idea, Aunty T" she smiled sweetly.

"Hmm, very messy though, lots of blood too..." Aunty T grinned at the looks of shock on both of our faces, Indie and I both now wondering if she had actually done it.

Or was she teasing us? I searched her face to try to work it out and couldn't tell, she was good at keeping a poker face... Then she smiled again, "Anyway, dinner is served, and don't worry, I haven't been hacking at any male genitalia" she winked at us.

Indie and I laughed again as Aunty T set our plates down in front of us. She had cooked us homemade Lasagna, and it smelt divine.

I swear this woman could open her own café. I'd eat there every day if given the chance! Aunty T brought herself a plateful of lasagna to the table, then went back to the fridge to bring over some more drinks too.

"So you girls been painting more?" she asked, full of enthusiasm. It was her who had first got Indie into painting, and she did nothing but encourage us both within our artwork.

"Oh yeah Aunty T, so much..." the conversation easily flowed over dinner, about our artwork, her wanting a detailed description of each painting we'd done, adding suggestions for potential future work. She had an amazing eye for artwork, so we loved to hear her ideas.

We spoke about the herbal medicines Aunty T was working on, and the spiritual things she was studying. She asked after my parents, and asked me to tell them she passed on her best wishes and good thoughts. We happily sat chatting for a good couple of hours, like the old friends and family we were.

This is one of the places I felt truly comfortable and at home. The sky outside the kitchen window was now a deep purply black, speckled with silver stars. From up here it was beautiful and so peaceful. I totally get why Aunty T liked to live up here.

"We best get going Del" Indie said "Your Mama be wanting you back soon."

As much as I have enjoyed my night, I can see by the shade of the sky it is getting late, and we still have to walk back through pack to get to our houses. I nod.

"Thanks for tonight, Aunty T, it really helped" I went to hug her as she stood from the table.

"Anytime, my angel, you know I am always here for you as I am for my Indie. I am just sorry I couldn't help more" she embraced me again, the scent of sandalwood and jasmine filling my senses.

"Just talking to you helped Aunty T, it really did." I smiled as I pulled away from her embrace to say goodbye. She smiled in return, like she was somewhat reassured she had helped in someway.

As I walked to the door, she gave Indie a big hug. "Take care of her Indie, she will need her friend at the moment" Indie nodded in response.

We were waved off at the door by Aunty T. She stood there in the doorway until we were well out of her sight, like she always did. Indie and I walked through the now dark and quiet pack toward my house. It was getting late. Near eleven, I guessed looking at the sky.

Though I knew my Mum and Dad would have expected me home late when I had told Mum we were staying for dinner with Aunty T, whenever we were there we always lost track of time.

The pack streets were a lot quieter now than we had walked through them earlier in the day, everyone no doubt settled at home, the kids definitely in bed, where I'd be headed once I got in. I was shattered! And that generous portion of delicious lasagna Aunty T had served me had finished me off for sure! A full belly when I was tired made me even more sleepy.

Looking to Indie, I could see she was the same, as she let out a massive yawn. I grinned at her. "Yep was just thinking how tired I was and how Aunty T's lasagna finished me off."

"Aww tell me about it! Always makes me feel like I don't need to eat for about a month when I eat with her , but I am not complaining it was goooood!" Indie smiled.

I was not going to disagree!

“I'm sorry she couldn't help you, Del" Indie looked at me with regret in her eyes.

"Honestly, it's fine Indie. I didn't think she would be able to, was just me and wishful thinking, I think." I smiled. "Like she said, I just need time, right?"

Indie nodded as we continued the walk toward my house in silence.

Time, yeah, time is going to help... I got to keep telling myself that right... I reassure myself, just stay away from him for a while, I don't need him, he certainly doesn't need me...

He doesn't need me... the pain in my chest, my heart was back. How can he not need me? He had needed me since we were small? How can I so easily be replaced? I am not so sure time will help this.

'You nearly home, Lilah?' My Mum linked me, quickly interrupting my thoughts, as we were just down the street from our house. 'It's really late now. Heading towards midnight.'

'Really? Sorry Mum. Just on the street now. Can Dad drive Indie home so she doesn't have to walk up there on her own this late please?' I link her back

'Already planned, sweetheart. I had no intention of having her walk up there alone at this time of night. And figured she would be unlikely to want to stay here, though the offer is here if she wanted' Mum was right. As close as we were, Indie liked to go back to her own house. She didn't like sleeping here.

She was a lot like her auntie in that she liked the peacefulness of the pack borders, probably from staying with her so much as a child, and where we lived was busy with it being so central to the pack.

"Dad is waiting to drive you home Indie" I smiled to her.

"He really doesn't need to you know" she looks at me, shaking her head as we approached my house.

"You know he wouldn't be happy you walking up there at this time on your own" I explained.

"No I wouldn't" my Dad's voice interrupted our conversation. "You ready for home Indie, love?"

"Yeah, thanks Beta Trent." she smiled at him.

He shook his head, giving her a hug, "You know when it's just us lot, it's Trent, Uncle Trent, or if you want to be formal, Mr Patterson would do." he teased her.

I had to smile as she was always calling him by his official name, despite him being like family to her.

"See you later Indie, it has been fun today" I give her a hug as my Dad gets into the car. She climbs into the passenger seat, and I head into the house, knowing I will be going straight to bed.

"Hey sweetheart, you have fun?"my mum asked, she was curled up on the sofa in some pjs with a blanket over her.

"Yeah, we painted, then went to Aunty T's, she made some gorgeous lasagna, then we lost track of time chatting like always" I smiled. "I'm going to go bed though, sooo tired."

"Ok love, night, night. " My mum calls as I walked up the stairs.

I took a quick shower, threw on some cosy pjs, and climbed into my cozy bed, the softness of my blankets so inviting to me when I was as tired as I felt right now.

I heard my phone buzz on my bedside table. I reached for it from where I had laid it down, it was a message from Aunty T. I didn't bother opening it, guessing it was the usual message to check we got home okay. I'd read it tomorrow. Right now, I needed sleep...