CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER NINE

CASEY'S P.O.V

"Whoa! You mean she—"

"Yeah. She wanted to see Tanner. I wonder if they both know each other." Lia muttered.

"Tanner had never made mention about having a sister, or perhaps losing a sister ever since I got to know him."

"He hasn't made mention about such a thing to me either." Lia added.

"Hmmmph. I guess it's just her being inquisitive." I pondered.

"Well erm, you better be on your way already, Casey."

I stretched my lips to the corners, carefully tiptoeing to reach for my bag.

"That silence proves you're still home, Casey. You don't have to pretend." Lia laughed.

"I'm sorry, Lia. I promise, I'm on my way now."

"Alright. See you soon."

"Bye."

I settled for a simple cotton sweater and a rumpled denim shorts. I was about leaving the house when I remembered I haven't done the most important thing—inform my Mom about my whereabouts.

LEO'S P.O.V

I decided to skip playing video games today and revisit reading the books and notes Tanner had dropped with me before leaving. It was hard trying not to think about the daily challenge I was supposed to take on in PUBg, but I couldn't help it—I just had to read.

I had texted Tan several times to see if we could chit chat for a while. To my surprise, Tan had dismissed me, scolding me to return to my books just like I had vowed to. Lia's eyes kept portraying that of a doubting Thomas's whenever she walks past my back, peeping to see what I was reading.

It was 2 a.m. in the morning, and I could feel my eyes fighting a fierce battle against the call of nature—sleep. For a moment, I was stuck with deciding on what to do - either stay up to play video games till whenever, or just go to bed. I closed my notepad and dropped it lazily on the center table.

Just then, Astoria walks past me and towards the kitchen. I could bet that Lia was fast asleep, so why was she awake? Alert, I stood up to investigate what Astoria was doing in the kitchen. She stepped out of the kitchen almost immediately, making me jerk backwards. For the first time since I've seen her, she smiled at me.

Stuttering, I decided to ask, "Do you need anything?"

"No." she replied.

"Erm, okay. Goodnight." I said, pretending to be walking upstairs towards my room.

I heard her footsteps behind me, and I realised she was also going to take the steps. I retreated and gestured for her to take the stairs first.

"After you," I whispered, feigning a smile.

She seemed to understand and proceeded for the stairs. I followed, but I ensured to give a reasonable distance between us two. That was when my eyes caught it. I noticed a dark and curvy line behind her back, and a million memories flooded my Brian in an instant. I was forced to halt and stare at Astoria approach Lia's room and enter.

I called myself back to reality when I realised I was only getting myself worked up. I proceeded up the stairs, but I remembered leaving my books in the living room.

"Err, I'd just fetch them tomorrow." I procrastinated, yawning whilst dragging my feet lazily towards my room.

*******

It was 4 a.m. in the morning, and I still couldn't get any ounce of sleep. I have been keeping Astoria at the back of my mind, and this prompted me to keep checking up on Lia's room to see if everything was alright with her. Although smart, Lia could be really comfortable with whatever she chooses to be with, and that could be dangerous sometimes.

Was I already thinking of Astoria as a threat? Why wouldn't I? I mean, this is a stranger that has been with us for just two nights, with no memories of her past and her attitude giving off a weird aura. I slumped back into bed, wondering why I couldn't get Astoria's name off my mind. My thoughts began drifting to my past life—a life that I had decided to throw away and forced my sister to do the same.

But if this is where I could get the clues to understanding why Astoria's name was really daunting, I just had to. I closed my eyes and slimes through the pages of memories in my past—my past life as a werewolf.

***5 years ago***

"Mother, what are these?" I asked, staring at the stone slabs at the centre of the field.

Sighing, my mother turned her back on me, scolding me to go back home. I didn't listen to her, instead, I beckoned on Lia to come over. Lia was a hybrid werewolf, unlike I, but alongside this anomaly, she was gifted with immense powers. One of them was being able to suck out memories from anything.

"Do it," I urged her. Mother tried to drag the two of us away, but I immediately thwacked her with my paws, my crimson red eyes glowing with rage.

Surprised, she retreated, saying, "It's alright. I believe it's high time you found out the truth yourself." she dabbed her face with her frontal paw, watching Lia trying to ooze out whatever memory was attached to the dead.

Seconds later, a undescribable force pushed Lia away from the stone slab, and she in turn, gasped in shock. I ran over to her, catching her just in time.

"Lia, what is it?"

"She…"

I stared at her, puzzled. "She? Who?"

She pointed at the stone slab, her hands trembling. "She's our real mother."

The statement Lia made almost made go unconscious. I turned to face the woman whom Lia and I have referred to as mother all our lives, wandering whom to doubt first.

"Lia has never told a lie ever before, Mother. She has never. So tell me, is she saying the truth?"

Silence enveloped the field, becoming one with the whistling sound of the cruising wind. Mother sighed, nodding her head in response. I trotted backwards, and so did Lia.

"You lied to us," I gnarled in a low but cold tone, and even when I sighted tears flowing down the corners of Mother's eyes, the anger welling in me made me oblivious to them. "This is why you never brought Lia and I here, claiming that we were too young to work in a farm."

"Leo,"

"Enough!" I shot back. "Let's go, Lia." I beckoned on my twin sister, who created a portal for us to reach home.

*******

Mother got back home hours later, and it was evident she was too weak to look at me in the eye. After patting Lia to sleep, I went to meet her outside. She was standing on the weathered boulder, looking out into the unknown. Whenever Lia and I question her, asking what she was looking at, she says she's looking into the future. Naive and young, we'd try to climb the boulder, trying to see what future she was speaking about.
We'd then return to her, accusing her of lying about the future. She truly might have been wandering about the future then, but she did lie about our real mother now.

I realised the irrelevance behind my outburst at the field, and if I needed to know more about my real mother, then I needed to be calm with Mother.

"Why didn't you tell us about her?" I asked.

Once again, silence erupted between us, lasting for what felt like an eternity.

"I made a promise to myself when I found you two lying beside your dead mother, and that was to take care of you two like I was your real mother."

"Really? How did you discover us? Who are you to my mother?"

"I am your mother's younger sister. Your Aunt." she smiled, jumping off the boulder and walking up to me.

"There's a lot you need to know, Leo."

"That's exactly why I came to you. I want to know all that happened with my mother and father."

She sighed heavily. "As far back as sixteen years, I was just as young as you, I believe. That was when your parents met. What made it more beautiful, was that they met each other the day my sister celebrated her coming of age. Love birds, they were and everyone admired them. Lucas was your father's name, and Lia, your mother's." my eyes widened at the mention of Lia.

My Aunt smiled at me, nodding her head. "Yes. Your mother's name was Lia." she paused before continuing, "Astria, the current pack's Alpha has an uncle, named Ragner. He is a renowned rogue wolf, but he operates under the ruling of a neighbouring pack now."

"Astria? She never mentioned having an uncle to me." I murmured.

My Aunt chuckles a bit. "Se might be the pack's Alpha now, but that doesn't change her age. She obviously cannot know everything."

"Oh… but I asked about my father and mother. Why are you mentioning Astria's uncle?" I queried.

"That's because he plays a major role in your parent's story, my boy. Ragner got to know Lucas through Astria's late parents, as Lucas was a personal guard to the Alpha as at that time. On meeting your mother at an annual feast, Ragner fell head over heels for your mother. He tried to cajole your mother into becoming his mate on multiple occasions, but your mother declined his request, surprised at his sauciness to make such a request, knowing fully well that she was courted to Lucas." she paused, beckoning on me to step inside our home.

After settling in, she continued, "Ragner remained unyielding. He subjected your father to the Forbidden Ring, and the news about your father's death spreadt like wildfire."

"Aunt, are you saying Ragner killed my father?" I asked, tears threatening to meander down my cheeks.

"Yes, Leonardo."

I paused for a moment, trying to let it all sink in. I held back my tears forcefully, and my Aunt drew me into a warm embrace.

"What then happened to my mother? You mentioned that you saw Lia and I laying beside her when we were newly born. Does that mean she died whilst giving birth to us?" I asked my Aunt as soon a I regained composure.

She sighed, her expression showing that she was hesitant to answer my questions. I placed my paws on hers and stared at her. "Aunt, you have hidden more than enough from us. Please, tell me everything."

She sighed heavily. "It is true that your mother had died during childbirth, but an occurance lead to her death." she took a long pause. "Ragner had come visiting when your mother was heavy with you and Lia. He brought the same proposal—he wanted your mother to become his mate. Just s expected, she refused him. He made mention of Lucas and how he's no longer alive, advising your mother to take him in and let her see the true definition of happiness. Your mother was persistent. She really was. She rejected him, and he left quietly. We thought that was going to be all of Ragner, but he returned one day to attack our household. I remembered being pinned and my fangs puncturing through my fur and deep into my neck. Right there and then, Ragner…" she trailed off, tears clouding her eyes.

I urged her to continue talking. "Aunt, what did he do to my mother???" I asked furiously, unable to contain the rush of emotions bubbling inside of me.

"He had his way with your mother." she said, bursting into tears.

"In shame and embarrassment he left us that day, and the news spreadt like wildfire. Your mother became an object of ridicule, and she was forced to remain indoors till she birthed you and Lia. I remembered her cursing Ragner at the top of her voice whilst birthing you two till she breathed her last."

I couldn't contain it anymore. The tears came flowing down from my eyes, its warm feel losing my skin. A sudden bubbling of hatred and revenge welled in my chest, and I inquired about Ragner.

"Was that why he was banished?"

"Sadly, no. The Alpha was too ignorant to believe his brother would have done such a thing."

"I always regarded Astria's father as wise. Why couldn't he—"

"Say no more, Leo. You shall only refer to the late Alpha in honour of his years of service, not by insults." she scolded me.

I hesitated in silence, and the anger in me began to attenuate.

"He was only banished after he was found responsible for the death of Astria's parents." she added.

My eyes widened in surprise. "He killed Astria's parents?" I asked, and my Aunt nodded in response. "Are you saying he was responsible for the fire that broke out in the palace which ended up claiming the lives of Astria's family?"

"Yes, Leo. He was responsible." she affirmed.

We both sat there in silence, either one of us buried deep in our thoughts. I craned my neck to my right, and I noticed Lia standing by the doorway. I suddenly deciphered she had been listening to all we've been saying ever since.

*******

Tears clouded my eyes as I reminisced that evening. Other memories came rushing in, and I became more disturbed. I thought about getting up to check on Lia once more, but I gave up on the idea.

Astoria wasn't a threat, I assumed.

"She definitely cannot be our Alpha. She cannot be our Astria." I muttered, eventually drifting off to sleep.

TANNER'S P.O.V

I rolled on to the other side of the bed, wandering back to what had transpired earlier today. I was about leaving Leo's home when Lia offered to take the bag from me.

"Can we talk for a while, Lia?" I had asked.

She seemed to hesitate for a while before nodding he head in response. She retrieved the bag from me and went to drop it in the house before stepping out. The walk was definitely slower than that of a tortoise's, if I'm not exaggerating. The atmosphere got weirdly silent,band I realised I was the one who had something to say, so I should be breaking the ice.

"Erm, I was guessing the reason why we haven't been talking is because… well, I moved to town." I started off, looking at her face to see if I'd catch a glimpse of any emotion.

She seemed to remain mundane, probably expecting me to continue talking.

"Am I right, Lia?" I asked.

She stopped walking and turned to face me, her expressions difficult to fathom. "What do you think the reason is, Tan?"

"I…I believe that's the reason why?" I said, sounding more like I was throwing another question at her.

"Then believe that," she said and continued to walk. I held her hand and pulled her slightly.

"I don't know what I did wrong, Lia. Honestly. But whatever it is, I am sorry. I really didn't wanna move out of town, but mother insisted. I also made sure I informed you and Leo that I was leaving—"

"Don't you just get it, Tan??? Why do you always act oblivious to things?"

"Lia? What are you talking about?"

"You want me to point it out to you, huh? Fine. I will. Why do you act oblivious to us? Something happens between us, and in the next minute, we are back to acting as just friends and nothing more. What defines what we share, Tan? What?" she retorted, and I took notice of tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.

I was taken aback by Lia's utterances. I have always seen Lia and Leo as my two best friends whilst growing up with them. I wouldn't deny the fact when I had lone moments with Lia, anm trust me, I can never forget them all. Void I say that I was in love with Lia? I can't take tell.

And now, I'm in between being forced to pacify Lia and feeling guilty for breaking her.

"Lia," I reached for her hands, but she swat them away.

"Bye, Tan." she said curtly, turning and storming back into her home.

Does that mean that Lia had been in love with me all this while? Was I at fault for not loving her back? These questions plagued my head as I stared at the photo displaying on my phone.

We had taken that oicuire on my 20th birthday. She got into my house through the garage, and together we had escaped into the bushes. Leo was there waiting, and they presented to me a beautiful picnic scenery setting.

I thought of texting her, but I remembered I already left twenty-eight calls and texts unreplied since I got home, so I decided to sleep instead.