Shyla's POV
I gathered the flowers in my arm and walk towards the pack. Today is a special day, for my mate and also for me. Alpha wanted to organised the Throne ceremony a month ago but the master priest didn't found the good day to complete so it's delayed for so many days. But a week ago master priest has told today is the best day, today there will be a pink moon night which is a fortunate one.
Smiling brightly I walk towards the door. Everyone in the pack are busy in decorating to celebrate the ceremony. Starting from man to woman even including the kids. I couldn't express how happy I am today. After my mate get the alpha title officially he will choose his luna to rule the pack by his side and as his mate I have to prepare myself for it. It has been two years that I found my mate but still not everyone in the pack knows about it. Why? Because my mate wanted it to keep secret so he can give a surprise to everyone on the throne ceremony day. It's sad that I can't tell anyone about it. I have to watch him silently from distance before everyone but all my waiting will come to an end today. Because today he will tell this whole world that we are mate.
A roars of laughter reached my ear and I turned to look at the group of girl standing by the stairs. One of them was the most skilled woman in the pack who loves to taunt me in everyway possible.
"Shyla? Where are you coming from? Oh....so you again went to grab those bells?" She laughed. There was a mockery flashing in her eyes as she smiled brightly.
"Come on Tina, don't you know she wants to impress the young alpha with this?" Another girl who was standing at side said.
"Yeah, yeah" Tina smiled "but you should know young Alpha is not someone who will be impressed by those tiny little bells. You should think of bigger plan if you are planning to jump into his bed"
Again there was another series of laughter. It's not a uncommon for me because they are always like this. Mocking me to death leaving no chance to slip.
"Come on Tina, don't trouble the poor girl. You know even if she plans to seduce young alpha she couldn't. She has already passed her shifting age and couldn't even awaken her wolf, such a poor little girl, how can our Alpha desire her?"
My fingers around the flowers clenched tightly. So what if I couldn't shift? Don't I have heart? Don't I have mind? Just because I couldn't awaken my wolf inside me that doesn't mean I am worse. I still belong to wolf family. But I never had the courage to retort it. What I can do was curse it inside but my voice never went out to stop them to defend myself.
They laughed like there's some joke they are cracking. They were about to say again when another voice stopped them "what are you all doing there?"
I looked up to see Ben, the young beta of the pack walked in "go and perform your job instead of fooling around" his cold voice stopped all those mouths before they retreated.
"Are you okay?" He asked coming towards me.
I smiled "I am good don't worry. It's nothing unusual anyway"
He frowned "you should have complained about it to alpha or young alpha so that they can stop abusing you like this. This is going too much" he shook his head.
Ben knows the truth so he always appears to help me. I always find his behaviour so warm and protective. Except my mate's parents and my family Ben also know that Avan, the young alpha is my mate.
"Don't worry, after the ceremony no one will be able to mock me again. He said he will tell everyone about us tonight" I replied.
"He did?" Ben frowned.
I nodded "yeah, oh, I have to decorate this flowers for tonight so I need to leave" I suddenly remembered my flowers.
He looked at the flowers then smiled "you again went to the valley to pluck this bells?"
I laughed "it's his favourite one" I rubbed the flowers gently. The bells they are referring is the Lily-of-the-valley flowers which grows beautifully at the river side of our Bright Shine Pack. It's also the symbol of our pack. When people saw this flowers they knew it's our pack.
"Fine then see you tonight" he nodded then jogged away.
I looked up and found it's about to sun set. So I ran inside the pack house. The ceremony will be starting shortly. And before that I needed to clean myself then get ready. I can't help my smile like an idiot. After tonight I will be able to call him my mate before everyone without any hesitation. I was passing through the rooms when I suddenly heard someone moaning. It's quite loud which made me stop on my track. I frowned and looked around. At the corner side there was a room where the door was opened a bit. And the sound was coming from there.
Tightening my fingers around the flowers I walk towards it. The sounds started to become louder and wilder. Then I can hear the sounds of skin slapping which made my face turned red completely. I should not be doing this. But I don't know why my heart urging me to go and see. Calming down myself I slowly reached towards the door and tilting my head I peeked inside.
The bed inside the room was violently shaking as two people entangled with eachother totally naked. The man above pushing so hard that the girl moaned ever loudly. Shaking my head I turned my head to leave. Why did I come here to see this. I wanted to slap myself for this. Gosh, cursing I was about to leave when I heard the girl shouted a familiar name.
"Ah ..oh god Avan I am coming...ah.."
My heartbeat stopped for a second and I stood there rooted on the ground. Avan? How.....
"Yes baby cum for me...cum for your Alpha" then the man's voice echoed in my ear.
No....how can this be? Why..... I couldn't help but barged inside the room stopping the couple in their movement. They turned around and their eyes widened with shock.
"Shyla..?" Avan got up and immediately wrapped a towel around his waist.
"Why are you here?" He asked. But my eyes was not on him but on the woman who was pulling the sheet on her body.
"Why?" This was the only thing I could utter. Looking at the two people before me my eyes brimmed with tears...
Why it is like this? One is my mate and other one is my sister?
"Look this is not what it looks like" Avan tried to explain.
It's not what it looks like? If not then what it is?
"Shyla please don't misunderstand it's just .." Neesha who was on bed pulled a shirt and quickly wear it and I believe it was Avan's shirt she was wearing.
"What happened?" The door behind me flung open suddenly and I didn't need to look back to see who they are.
"Avan you..." I heard Alpha Deven voice behind me.
"Dad, please listen to me first. Please close the door" Avan replied calmly. Everyone is calm in this room except me who is burning with pain and betrayal.
"What's happening here?" Alpha asked again.
"Avan you slept with Neesha?" I heard Luna gasped.
"Mom please hear me out first, I can explain" Avan walk towards me "Shyla I am sorry, I was distracted and couldn't think clearly into the seduction but there's nothing to be worried about it"
I looked at him closely, my heart is burning yet he is saying there's nothing to be worried about? He said it so casually that he was talking about a normal matter like he didn't felt any guilt of cheating behind my back.
"Shyla, I am sorry but please don't be mad at Avan. We were little distracted at that time but we are not guilty because we love eachother" Neesha's voice ran in my ear but it only added oil in the fire burning inside me.
"Love?" I looked at her pitiful teary face then to Avan who was still looking so calm "you love her?"
Avan looked at Neesha who was crying silently then to me "Shyla please try to understand the situation, it's true that I love her. And whatever happened was our own willingness but you-"
"So you were keeping me in secret because you are with her?" My voice broke "but she is not your mate" I almost screamed.
He looked sad "I know that. I also know that you are my destined mate and of course I will take care of you like a mate do"
Take care? Should I feel happy after hearing that? Take care? Is he joking with me?
"Avan are you even in sense? What are you talking about?" Alpha asked his son "you are alpha to be of our pack even if you mingle with other woman you couldn't neglect your mate. You should know that only your real mate can give you strength and power"
Is he scolding his son or reminding him about me? For him a mate is just a source of strength and power and she means nothing else? Just like that.
"Shyla..." I turned to mom who was looking worried.
"Why she is having affair with my mate even after knowing the truth mom? As my sister she should be the one supporting me but look how she is cheating behind with someone else's mate" I pointed towards Neesha who was weeping.
"Shyla calm down dear. After all she is your sister. Be a little open minded" mom said then looked at Neesha.
My mouth wide opened as I looked at her. Is she my real mother? Be a open minded? Does being open minded mean I need to accept my mate having sex with another woman and specially if that woman is my sister?
"Mom I am also your daughter, how could you be so partial towards me? I have obeyed everything you said all these years but still she is the only one you can see?" I couldn't believe. What's happening around me?I feel like they are not even my family. They feel too stranger to me now.
"Shyla how could you talk like that with your mother?" Dad walked forward angrily "for raising you all these years you are giving us such attitude?" Suddenly a hard slap landed on my cheek and I fell on ground.
I held my cheek and looked at him tearfully "dad...."
"Don't call me that. We are raising you all these years, giving you everything you need but you still not satisfied?" Dad rebuked angrily.
"Was I wrong dad? I was just asking for justice for myself. Neesha had-"
"Shut up. What qualification you have to accuse your Neesha. If we had not picked you up and brought back here you would have died long ago" dad shouted at me. His eyes are dark showing how angry he is.
"Honey stop that what are you talking about?" Mom held his arm.
Picked me up? I...am not their daughter? I was adopted? So finally I can understand why they are so partial even if I was true, they are siding their own daughter and who I am? An adopted one?
"Shyla dear, don't take your dad's word seriously. He is just angry and concerned about your sister" mom said immediately. Oh, my adoptive mom in truth.
I am just an orphan? Then what right do I have to middle in? They are showing me my value and my right here.
"Dad please don't scold her" Neesha stepped forward and squatted down before me "she is my sister after all" then she leaned towards me "do you think a man like him will ever take a woman like you as his mate?you should know your place and don't fool yourself more. Besides let me tell you the real truth....you never had his heart, not as a woman...nor as a mate" she whispered in my ear then moved away.
"Dad please don't be angry we are at fault today. She is just a victim here" Neesha stand up and wept again.
"This matter is serious but Avan even if you love Neesha, Shyla is your mate" Alpha said again.
Mate? I wanted laugh so loudly until my stomach hurts. I am just a mate that he needed to fulfill mate bond. I turned to look at my mate.
"You knew that I was adopted?" I asked him.
"Shyla, I am sorry but you also know as a alpha I need a mate who can rule beside me. To take responsibility of the whole pack. But you already passed the shifting age and you couldn't help me in future. But even though you are weak you are still my mate and we have special bond between us which can not be broken. So I hope you can understand my problem too and can corporate with me. I promise I will give you everything that you need in your life and make you happy. But I can't give you the title of Luna. Neesha can help me in ruling and since both of you are sisters I believe you can get along with each other" Avan said. He did not replied my question but avoided it another one. So he knew all along. Isn't it?
What did he said get along? Does he think I want to live my whole life in shadow while watching them having good life? He can give me anything I need? But he already took everything from me.
"Shyla dear, I know you are hurt. Take time and think about it. After tonight Neesha will be declared as luna but only for name because you are Avan's real mate. So I think it will br good too besides we all can agree to this point. It will make everyone's life easier" I heard Alpha taking decision.
Am I a tool for them that they can decide about my life. I am weak because I couldn't shift. I should be broad minded because my half sister and my mate love eachother. I should help him because I am his mate and it's my responsibility? Suddenly my chest started to burn like something is raising inside me but I don't know what?
"Avan we should not have done that" Neesha walked towards Avan and grabbed his arm.
"Don't worry Shyla is matured. She will help us and understand the situation" Avan patted her shoulder gently.
Mate should make you feel warm and protected but I couldn't feel anything than EMPTY inside me. Staring at the person in front of me holding another woman who is accidentally happened to be my half sister? If this is being called as mate bond then I refuse to accept such mate bond. I would rather die without mate than being a shadow in the dark.
I get up from the floor holding my chest. They don't have any feelings or concern for me but just wanted to use me as a tool for their benefits. But I am also a living being who want to be free.
"Is that what you want me to do?" I asked Avan. He looked at me then smiled.
"I knew you will understand me clearly. No one can know me better than you. Shyla I know you love me and I am so happy. I promise I will do everything for you"
To live as a substitute for my mate?this is not what I expected nor did I ever imagined. He wanted me to give him mate bond while he enjoyes the warmth of another woman in his arm. Is this what we call as mate?if yes, then I refuse to have such mate.
"I never agreed with you" I replied blankly.
The smile on Avan's face froze "what are you saying Shyla? If you don't agree then what will you do? Who will take care of you? Think about it again. I promised you, I will give you everything you need. Even after Neesha become my Luna, you will not lose anything, you will also enjoy a life of luna in the backyard that's it"
I looked at Neesha "have you ever thought, someday when you find your real mate what will you do then?" Neesha looked shocked.
"Shyla what are talking about. Say yes to the young Alpha" I heard my adoptive father. But I am careless now. I don't even care about what he thinks or say. I am not related to him but all these years of helping me I wanted to be grateful but with the slap he gave me I have retuned all the kindness of them.
"You are my mate but you are never satisfied with me yet you hooked up with my half sister because she can shift? And adding to that you want me to accept your proposal and become a shadow of your strength?" I asked.
"Shyla it's not like that you-" Avan started.
"I don't need that. Save it for yourself"
"Shyla don't be like that. Besides Neesha is your sister afterall. You can get along so that we can make peace for our pack" Mom smiled.
I thew a look at her then looked at Avan "I am not qualified enough to be your mate. It will be better if you find the qualified one for yourself"
I wanted him to be mine, he is my mate by all means but he never wanted me to be his mate just because I couldn't transform myself. Is it my fault?
"Look Shyla even though I love Neesha but I will never abandon you. You are my mate and of course you have all right on me. I will take your responsibility and you don't have to worry about it" Avan smiled.
Responsibility? If I don't know him better I would have believedhis words. I shook my head. I lost everything today. Everything come to light now. I am an outsider who don't have any right, who is weak and pathetic.
But if I have to choose between my mate and myself then I will choose me. Even if I am weak I won't let them ruin my life and deciding my fate.
"I wanted your love but you never had any feelings for me. And now I don't want anything from you not even the bond" I gritted my teeth. He cheated behind my back but he is not guilty at all.
"Shyla what are you-"
Since you don't want me, I won't bother you anymore. I looked at him closely and my heart only felt pain. There's no love anymore except coldness.
"I refuse to live under the same roof of a cheating couple. So this is why I Shyla Thachil reject you Avan Sethi as my mate forever. Our bond is over from now on"
I heard gasps from behind. Neesha's eyes widened with shock.
"Shyla what did you-"
I didn't heard what they said as I gathered my will and run away from there. I want to go so far away from this place. I did not look back as I run without looking back. I could hear the their voice calling my name.
But now I really don't care about anything. Not anymore.