Chapter 3: The Secret Deal

‎"I want to thank you for all that you do for  this pack, Eliana" I have heard so much about you and I genuinely look forward to knowing you better. Thank you for the helping hand you've been in ensuring that things run smoothly in the packhouse while I'm away. Your service has not gone unnoticed.

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‎And to you all; thank you for paying such keen attention. Please enjoy all that is set before you..."

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‎The applauses and cheers erupted again as the Luna made her way down the stairs of the stage with the help of the Alpha.

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‎Azra could hear Eliana exhale sharply, as though she had just escaped a sharp arrow.

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‎" So, do you feel good about yourself?" Azra sneered at her sister Eliana.

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‎" It must feel so refreshing betraying a woman this harmless, doesn't it? What did she ever do, open her doors to us?"

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‎Eliana could feel the tears swelling in her eyes, but she had to summoned the courage to respond.

‎"Not right now, please Azra. Someone might hear you. And let's not corrupt the joyous atmosphere of the celebration. I promise we will talk about this, I promise" Eliana whispered desperately.

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‎"Yeah right. Says the corruption herself" Azra responded, stomping away.

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‎"You did so well up there, Honey. That's why I married you. I'm so proud" The alpha whispered to Caroline.

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‎"Stop it, you're making me blush. Well,  I thank the mood goddess for finding me worthy to be your Luna. I love you"

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‎"And I love you much more. To the moon and back!" Smack. She shyly withdrew her lips. Giggling uncontrollably.

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‎"Not here? everyone's watching!"

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‎They both laughed as they approached the entrance door. Both stood bidding as many guests as they could farewell.

‎Meanwhile, Eliana had been relieved to for the night. She walks into her room and finds her sister packing up her bag.

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‎"Where are you going Azra?"

‎"Anywhere away from you" She responded still focused on packing so Eliana approached her and grabbed her hand.

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‎"Azra, everything I've done has been for us. For you"

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‎Azra snapped. "For me?  Eliana, you are the Alpha's backup Luna for the goddess sake. I expected you to be a role model to me, how could you?"

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‎  Eliana broke down in a fetus position on the floor and began to cry.

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‎  "Azra, I don't have a choice. Can't you see that we need protection? This is the safest we've been in the last twelve moons of running. The Alpha promised he would secure a slot for you at the Academy so you could finally achieve your dreams. The moment we go through those gates, Sage will find us."

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‎Azra stooped to comfort her sister. " I don't understand Eli. Didn't the Alpha say that he was adopting us? Please tell me. Look, I'm sorry for what I said, don't cry?"

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‎  "Azra I just don't want you caught up in all of this. You were barely twenty when we finally escaped and I have watched you go through hell in the hands of Sage knowing I couldn't even protect my own self let alone you. I'm sorry you had to grow up so fast and I'm sorry that you're not proud of my current decision but I would rather belong to Alpha Denparlio than have us go through that again."

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‎  "But we can run away, Eliana"

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‎  "Where would we go? How long can we keep up? Sage's locator spell tracks us every single time. You know she's going to find us the minute we step out of those gates. Then we would be severely punished for running away, who knows what she might do?. Remember she would lock us up in the dungeon to starve for days and whipped with dry animal skins, for failing to meet our quota on Papa's field? Even in extreme weather conditions, how you'd fall sick?

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‎What do you think she would do too us if we leave fortress cave? Papa didn't intervene before, what makes you think he would now, Azra?"

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‎"Doesn't Sage know where we are?"

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‎Eliana sat up on the floor... "Azra we are safe here. I'm sure Sage already knows where we are but everyone including she knows better than to pick a fight with Alpha Denparlio, she knows we now belong to his pack, she wouldn't dare. As long as we stick with Fortress Cave we can build a future for ourselves and you can get an education like you have always dreamed and like mother has always wanted. It's a win-win Azra.

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‎  "Eli, I understand, but Luna Caroline is tender harmless. You cannot possibly be having an affair with the Alpha in exchange for our protection. We need it but if she finds out and she will, it could break her. Then opening her doors to us would would have been a mistake..."

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‎  "Azra, the Alpha and his Luna have been trying for a pub with no success for almost a decade. All I have to do is help them carry one, I'll go away for a while after she returns to the academy, then the pack will be informed that the Luna is with Pub after which I will hand over the Pub to her and the Alpha. That's the deal I made."

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‎"Eli, is the Luna aware of this deal?"

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‎"Not yet. But Alpha Denparlio said he would inform her at the right time. I just have to trust him. He promised that you and I will both be safe from Sage and completely catered for, for the rest of our lives. it's a good deal, Azra."

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‎ "So, what about your mate, Cornelius?"

‎"Azra he wouldn't even look at me, but maybe it's for the best".

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‎  "Eli, who wouldn't be heartbroken? He just lost his sister and now his fated mate too? Of course he'll hurt. Of course he'll feel betrayed. I'm so sorry but I dont know how to help."

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‎  "Well for starters you can stop crying, and please don't move out of our room it would really break my heart.

‎You can also start by loving me again, and studying as hard as you can when you get to the Academy. I'm counting on you Azra, can you do that?"

‎Azra wrapped her sister in her embrace, while she whispered:

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‎  "I won't let you down, sister. I promise".

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