Filed To Story: In the Shadow of the Past Luna (Lily & James)
“Shut up, Wolf. Go back to your moping session,”
I scold Luke. I feel a little bad for scolding him -we generally have a very good relationship- but his obsession with the Little-Brat is getting tiring, and it is not logical or appropriate. Luke simply needs to get over it. 2
“Are you sure, James? Nick questions. “I know you have never experienced the mate bond, but it is something else. I would hate to have you miss out on the sparks, and the sexual tension, and
“I said I DO NOT CARE about my second chance mate,”
I interrupt angrily. “What I care about is not being forced to marry your sister.”
“Huh? My sister? I do not understand. Stephanie is dead. And I thought you loved her?”
“Not that sister. Your other one.”
ick takes a step back. “You don’t mean… Lily?”
“Yes, Lily. I think your father came up with this whole idea of forcing me to take a chosen mate so that he can force me to marry the Little Brat.”
Nick immediately breaks down in laughter. He doubles over and holds on to a wall, trying to avoid falling down.
“Wow,”
he says as he tries to control himself. “I did not think it was possible to get me to laugh on a day like this, but you managed to do it.
“I am serious, Nick. I think your parents want to force me to marry the Little Brat.”
Nick laughs again. “Man, I do not know what has gotten into you this morning, but I can guarantee you that my parents do NOT want you to marry Lily. We hardly see or talk to her anymore. If anything, I think my parents would be disgusted if you were to marry her.”
“Then why do they want the authority to choose my chosen mate?”
“Because they do not trust you to pick someone on your own unless you are forced to do so. Your parents cannot do it; it is well known that they spoil you rotten. Your parents can talk big, but when push comes to shove, they believe strongly in fated mates and they would never force you to marry someone you do not love. My father, on the other hand, sees this as a safety issue, and he has no problem shoving a luna down your throat if need be. And, like they told you this morning, there is the added benefit that if my parents pick your mate, it will be harder for anyone in the pack to say that the mating is disrespectful to Stephanie’s memory.”
I sigh. “Okay, fine. I am not sure that I am convinced, but ultimately it does not matter. Please do me a favor. Please inform both of our fathers that I am willing to go along with this crazy plan of theirs, but with a couple of tweaks and a couple of conditions.”
I quickly explain to Nick what I want. I do not explain to him why I want what I want, but he tells me that nothing I am requesting seems unreasonable. He hurries off to tell our fathers.
After he leaves, I put on my silver cufflinks and glance at my watch. In 30 minutes, part one of my new revenge plan will go into effect. I cannot wait to see the look on the Little Brat’s face.
(James POV)
It is 10:58 am.
My parents, Stephanie’s parents, Nick, Jenny, and I are gathered at the back of the event hall. An Omega informs us that everyone has been seated. It is time to begin Stephanie’s first remembrance event of the day.
“Are you ready to go, Son?”
my father asks.
“I think so,”
I respond as I stare into the largest of Stephanie’s displayed portraits. “Who prepared this portrait?”
“This large one? I am not sure,”
my father responds. “One of the Omegas. Why?”
“It does not flatter Stephanie at all. She looks… plain. It does nothing to highlight how beautiful she was.”
My father furrows his eyebrows. “Son, this is same portrait that we have used for every single one of Stephanie’s memorials.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Huh. That is odd. If my father is correct, that means that I have stared at this portrait at every one of Stephanie’s prior memorials. Why have I never noticed how unflattering it is?
I dismiss the thought. I must just be tired.
“Is everything that I asked for done?”
I ask.
“Yes.”
“Is everyone here?”
“Sheila is sitting in the front row, next to where Beta Robert and Margie will sit,”
my father confirms.
“What about the Little Brat?”
“She had a bit of an accident this morning.”
Stephanie’s mother, Margie, jumps in. “She will not be able to come today.”
I spin on my heel so that I can glare at Margle. “What kind of an accident?”
I demand.
“She fell down the stairs while sneaking plates of food upstairs.”
“And?”
“And now she is in bed, recovering.”
“NOT ACCEPTABLE. Nick, go to the packhouse and get her here. Now.”
My father looks at me puzzled. “Son, no one is going to care whether Lily is here or not. Let’s just get started without her.”
“Father, I am going along with this crazy plan of yours. I did not ask for very much in exchange. You told me this morning that one of the reasons for this plan was to show pack unity. How can we do that without Stephanie’s sister in attendance?”
My father does not look convinced, so I continue. “We are all in, or we are all out. If you want me to cooperate, I want the Little Brat here, NOW!”
My father still seems unsure, but he nods at Nick Nick hurriedly leaves the hall to go and retrieve the
Little Brat.
If the Little Brat thinks she is going to outsmart me and avoid my revenge, she has another thing coming.
(15 minutes later)
Stephanie’s first memorial event of the day was supposed to start 13 minutes ago. Because of my father’s obsession with timeliness, we have never started a pack meeting event late, much less a memorial. Pack members are becoming more and more restless, and we are getting reports that pack members are beginning to whisper and speculate about what is going on.
I do not care.
Both of my parents have tried to convince me to move forward with the memorial without the Little Brat, as have both of Stephanie’s parents. Their efforts are in vain; I am not budging.
Finally, I receive a mind-link from Nick.
“James, I am here at the packhouse and in Lily’s room. She is in really bad shape. I have tried everything I can, but she is not moving. I think she is unconscious. I think we need to call the pack doctor to come and see her.”
“She is faking.”
I respond back viciously. “Bring her here, now.”
“Man, James, I do not know if I can. I know you cannot see what I am seeing, but I promise you…. it is really bad. I do not know how she could fake being this bad off.”
“Impossible. It was a flight of stairs. She is a werewolf. A wolfless werewolf, but still a werewolf. I want the Little Brat here, NOW.”
“Why do you care so much about Lily all of sudden?”
he asks.
“Pack unity, Nick. Pack unity,”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?