11| The Hatred

CEDAR BLAKE 

“This land turned its back on me when I most needed it. You all condemned me for the sins of my father, a sin that all could see was a set-up! Everyone of you was also here, watching and laughing when even the lowest-ranked Omegas made me feed their dogs!” I stood up, letting Dominus' hand fall off my shoulder.

“As if that wasn't enough, I was turned into a pawn in every one of your games. I was going to be killed by your own hands!” I sneered at Adonai who put a hand on Adonis' chest to pull him back as he stood gnarling at me. “Would you all have gathered here to say those words if I had been declared dead?”

“We understand the reason for your lamentations, but we also have reasons to believe that it was the will of the moon goddess for you to stay alive and fulfil your destiny. This way, your father's legacy would be restored and you will become the daughter of the powerful beta again and the future Luna.” Elder Darryl, the council advisor replied, regarding me with tender eyes.

Dominus was growing impatient, I could feel it because he sat as if his seat might chop off his bum. And so was Adonis, he started shuffling cards quicker than any gambler in the pack. 

Adonai, who was by far the most resentful of the twin alphas, sat quietly, his eyes never distracted from me. That is who he is, a predator, always waiting for the right time to pounce when the prey least expects. He reminds me of just one man, Deklan. 

“You cannot disobey the council!” Elder Dakoma said in a commanding voice. “Even your father…”

“Yes, my father!” I cut him off, seething in anger as I turned to him. “He was innocent, and I know that you all made Luna give the order for his execution without finding him guilty of that crime!” 

“Your father took the life of the former alpha, my father! Do you think he's free now because you're being pardoned and allowed to make amends? Do you think you have been forgiven? Don't delude yourself, Cedar!” Adonis threw at me, pocketing the cards he was shuffling.

My wolf started grumbling inside me as I glared at him. Who was she excited to meet? Now she's disappointed. She can feel their hatred for me now. Let Charlene see why she was running away and what she had been trying to protect them from. 

“Did we forget something here?” Dominus stood up at once, blocking Adonis from making further reckless moves towards me. “She is mine. Cedar was accepted by my pack, and she was announced as Luna a few days before the full moon. Don't you think the person who needs to be convinced is me? Or does anyone wish to go into war with Oakwood Pack?” 

“We don't have such intentions, Alpha Dominus. Apologies.” Elder Harold turned to Dominus with a slight bow. “But you already know the customs and traditions of the Crystal Moon Pack. Do you wish to go into war with the moon goddess and our ancestors?” 

“I don't care about the customs and traditions of your land, and the moon goddess can always give your alphas another mate. My Luna will not be taken from me by force or persuasion, except you have what it takes to win my heart.” He said as he grabbed my hand and started towards his convoy.

“I can walk, you know!” I jerked my hand away and brushed past him without looking back again.

He has to know that I only wanted to use him to get the council off my neck and make the twin alphas give me a breathing space, not that I wish to be with him after he deceived me. I guess he already knows all of that since he could read my mind.

“I know that you didn't save me that night, so you can stop lying now and just state what your deal is,” I said once we were in the car, headed to his estate. 

“My deal? It is that you belong to me and I choose what happens in your life and how you end up!” That was harsh.

But his voice was so soft as he spoke into my ear, air from his nostrils brushed my earlobe. He put a hand on my cheek and pulled my face towards him so that our eyes met against my will. 

“We had a deal. All of these would be over in one hundred days, that was what you told me. You said I was safe with you, that you'd protect me and I could find the man who was responsible for what happened to my family. I never thought you were a man who would go back on your words.” I asked calmly although my breath came unevenly.

Maybe I am afraid of him, but what scares me more is the fact that I have powers that I have no idea how to manifest. He wants to use me, to steal these powers and I think that is also what the council wants. They can't just call me back because of customs and traditions that were as good as death. 

I still can't believe my parents never told me about my betrothal to those monsters that almost killed me for fun. My father had all the time to tell me about the council elders, his innocence and the need for me to stay alive, but he never mentioned that I was betrothed to them! What are those evil men playing at?

“I'm not going back on my words, Cedar. I just haven't gotten what I needed from you. It's simple, we can make another deal. You've the key, you decide when the door of freedom opens.” He said, brushed his lips on my cheek and pulled away from me.

They all want me for something. Everyone wants to use me. Before, they all wanted me dead and gone forever; now, they want me to be in shackles, controlled by them.

I ran into my room and locked myself in immediately after the car stopped in front of the mansion. I wanted to yell, to scream and disappear, but it is already too late because I won't get too far. Dominus Maruto won't let me get away. The twin alphas need me to prove their worth. The council elders are playing with my intelligence, I don't see a way out except learning how to use my powers. 

I have discovered them, woken up my wolf, concealed my thoughts from the dangerous man, and I will definitely figure out how to harness them. I've got this…

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I untied my scarf, pulled off the leather jacket I wore and was pushing down the pants when I saw the man leaning against my bathroom door, watching me.

“What the heck?” I frowned at him, surprised that I wasn't as shaken as I ought to be. 

Deklan looks scary, but I'm not afraid of him. In fact, he's the only person who hasn't shown any form of interest in me and that must be the reason why I feel safe around him and find him interesting instead. 

“Great body. Too bad Dominus doesn't even admire it. I mean, Sammy Porter has a killer body too.” He pushed himself off the door and stepped towards me.

“You're a jerk! Asshole!” I pushed my pants back on and grabbed the duvet on my bed to cover my upper body. “You know things about him, that is why he hates you. You've come for a reason.” 

“Nice guess, but you won't hear anything from me.” He stopped in front of me, so close that I could not breathe properly. “I didn't mean to sniff around, I was just curious about you. I will be on my way, Bubble.” 

“Can you stop making up names to call me each time? Such things don't suit you.” I sighed, letting the chat relieve me of my confusion and anger. I know that I will survive, I just don't know how. Yet.

He shrugged, almost smiling. Well, that wasn't even funny. I thought he was going to leave, I mean, he said so. But he stood there, staring back at me. My eyes lingered on his lips.

“Can I kiss you?”