Chapter 6 Weakling

Nyra's Pov

"Thank the Goddess you are back, my mate."

Did I hear that correctly? Did he just call me his mate... and hug me?

What is happening?

The Alpha who rejected me, who called me weak, is hugging me.

The moment I heard the word mate from inside, something stirred deep within me. I wanted to embrace him too... but his words from that night still echo in my ears.

For a second, I felt his warmth.

And then, he pulled away.

"Where the hell have you been? Do you know how worried your mom and brother were?"

That soft tone he greeted me with? Gone.

Now he was using the same harsh voice from that night.

"Nyra, what were you thinking? You know Oakland is not safe. You can't be roaming around as you like when you don't even have the abilities to protect yourself."

He just won't shut up.

Why does he keep reminding me of that night?

Why him, of all people, as my mate?

I'm glad he rejected me.

I can feel the wolf inside me now.

When the next full moon comes, I'm going to show him exactly what he gave up.

I didn't say a word to him.

I just walked past and headed straight inside.

I have a lot to deal with-and he can't be one of them.

The moment I entered the house, it felt like a mourning home-the silence.

I saw my two best friends consoling my mom on the sofa. She looked so worried, holding my favorite teddy, Purry, while my brother leaned on the wall beside them.

He saw me the moment I walked in.

"Nyra," he called, and everyone looked at me.

Their worries seemed to ease instantly.

"Oh, my little baby, where have you been?"

She quickly stood and embraced me.

"Mommy, I'm so sorry. I must have caused you pain. I didn't mean to leave for so long."

I cried my eyes out the moment she hugged me.

"I'm so sorry, Mom," I repeated.

Then Naria and Jade hugged me.

I was feeling better when the three of them embraced me at the same time.

It felt like home.

And then I noticed Aran's eyes tearing up; he was trying so hard to hold it in.

When everyone had stopped embracing me and the tension settled, my mom still asked me,

"Nyra, where were you for two days? Did someone hurt you?"

She asked, and her eyes said it all; she needed an answer.

I really didn't know where to start.

Honestly, I've never kept anything from her, but I had to-if I ever wanted to learn the truth about myself.

"I don't remember, Mom. I found myself in the woods when I woke up. I don't know what really happened," I lied.

"Oh, my poor baby."

She hugged me again.

Lately, people have been hugging me a lot.

For a moment, I thought about the one I left standing outside.

Was he also worried about me?

"Mom, Nyra must be tired. Please let her go upstairs and rest. Naria and Jade, please take her to her room," Aran instructed them.

I followed them to my room.

I saw the guilt in his eyes.

He wouldn't approach me.

He must be feeling guilty.

For a week I watched my intake, studied the people around me, but I couldn't find any clues, and I did not tell anyone that I met my wolf.

But I had to tell Jade because he noticed it, and I had no choice-I confirmed his doubt.

I told him not to tell anyone, but he told his mate.

Those two don't know how to lie to each other.

I just watched them feeding each other at the school canteen.

They are really made for each other.

Speaking of mates, the one the Moon Goddess chose for me-I have been avoiding him lately.

Before my sixteenth birthday, I used to admire him. Whenever he came around the school with his mom, our current Luna, to discuss raising and training warriors to protect our land, I used to secretly follow them around the school.

I had always looked up to him.

But now, I don't know what I'm feeling.

"Hey Nyra, I think we should join the warriors this year since this is our last year in high school," Naria suggested.

"Yes, that's right. Since we all have our wolves and we are sixteen, let's sign up. My brother is the captain of the warriors, and he has been pressuring me to join," Jade added.

"I don't know, guys. I haven't shifted yet. I don't think I will be accepted. And I don't want to see Alpha Jackson," I said while playing with the food in front of me.

"You know you can't hide from the Alpha-he is always around. And I know what he did that night was foolish of him, but he is still the Alpha. Plus, you need to prove to him that you're not weak," Naria tried to reason with me.

But she was right.

I need to prove, not just to him but to myself, that I am strong.

I want him to regret rejecting me.

He should be begging.

"Okay guys, let's do it-let's put our names on the notice board," I said, smiling at them.

"Okay, let's go," Naria said as we all headed to the school hallway.

"Wow, isn't it the weakest werewolf in Oakland?"

Bethany, the most popular girl in school and our worst nightmare.

She has always tried to pick on us at every single moment.

She's always hanging out with Shelly, her sidekick.

"Bethany, not today. Don't try any tricks here," Naria, who has always been the one defending us from bullies like her, snapped.

"You know you guys are blocking our way," Bethany said, pointing her hand toward the notice board.

We gave her way, and then she and Shelly signed.

Then she started laughing.

"Wow, you really think-you, Nyra-could be a warrior? You can't even shift, and you think you can be accepted as a warrior?" Bethany said as she continued laughing.

"Stop it, Bethany. That's enough. Guys, let's go back to class," Naria said.

Then Bethany moved closer to me.

"You were rejected by the Alpha, and you'll be rejected as a warrior, weakling."

The moment I heard those words, my wolf inside-whom I had been trying to calm-didn't even wait to hear another word.

This time, I let her take control, and I punched Bethany hard to the ground.

"Nyra!" Jade and Naria called me at the same

time.

"What? She deserves it," I said to them.

"Your eyes... they're glowing," Naria said.