Chapter 11: "My name has been changed..."

Serenity’s expression was one of confusion and worry. “Darien…?” Her soft voice didn’t finish her question. Serenity wanted to ask him what was happening, but it was obvious, even if she didn’t want to believe it.

Pain flashed in Darien’s eyes, his arm curled Serenity closer, like he needed to hold onto her tight for comfort. Serenity didn’t blame him, especially when he asked in a pain filled voice, “Why couldn’t the Goddess have blessed her to my brother?”

Her heart ached for her mate, and Alora. Serenity turned her gaze to Alora and Matt. “Maybe he won’t do as Sarah says.” she offered up, trying to sound more hopeful than she was.

Darien shook his head sadly, his eyes pain filled. “Even if Matt doesn't reject her, Alora will reject him.” His voice, hoarse with emotion.

At first Serenity was surprised, she wanted to ask why Alora would reject Matt, but discarded the question a second later. The answer was so obvious. It would be too much to ask Alora to accept a mate, who had been tormenting her right along with own sister. Especially when said mate had been in a sexually intimate relationship with said sister for years now.

Instead, Serenity only said, “I see.” in a soft sorrow filled voice.

Serenity looked at the female she had admired for years from afar. Serenity had always wanted to be friends with Alora, she knew none of the rumors were true. Sarah was a consummate liar, nearly everything out of her filth spewing mouth, was a lie.

It still made Serenity smile the one time she punched Sarah in the face. She had broken a cheekbone, knocked her nose sideways and both dislocated and broke her jaw. It had been a very satisfying action, especially after Serenity caught Sarah lying about her brothers that time.

It had been at a school function, Sarah was boasting loudly she had slept with both her brothers at the same time, to a group of her Clan members. Serenity had been coming from the school building and had passed them on her way to the stadium arena when she had heard Sarah.

Sadly, Serenity had only gotten one punch in before her brother’s had shown up to keep her from tearing Sarah to pieces. Serenity had a temper, it didn’t show very often, but when it did, watch out. Serenity looked in the direction of her brothers.

The expressions on their faces spoke volumes, as their gazes continued to watch what was happening between Matt and Alora. Matt and Alora had come to stand a car length away from each other. Matt’s face looked angry, his eyes flat, like no one was home.

Alora looked calm and composed, her eyes the only thing showing the host of complicated emotions she was feeling. Sarah, her face twisted in anger, was red as she continued to scream. Her words and causing a commotion. Others who were already here, and those just arriving were quickly attracted to the situation.

A crowd of inherently curious Werewolves, sprinkled with a few hybrids and a dash of other supernaturals, was gathering. There were a few humans who attended the school, but not many. Humans, although welcomed, didn’t like to be in areas that were heavily populated with supernaturals. Because the rules were different, a lot different in some cases.

The humans that settled in mostly supernatural populated towns, cities and whole territories, were usually as wild as the supernaturals. They were usually either directly, or distantly, related to a human who was mated to a super.

No secret was kept safe for long, once you strike a Werewolf’s curiosity, it was really hard to break. They kept going till they found out everything. A pack was like a small town, only more invasive. Every single Pack member would know about this within the next thirty minutes. The beauty of the mind link, cell phones, and although they were ancient, communication mirrors…in their newer compact forms.

Texting was so easy, and when you had things like group messaging, streaming social media, and a public Pack forum, news of current events spread faster than it could ever be contained. As fast as if you soaked a field with several acres of grass in gasoline, and then dropped a lit match in the middle of it.

At this moment, Matt finally spoke. “You, how can it be you? It should have been Sarah.” Matt practically snarled, his face angry.

“If only that had been so.” Alora said, her tone was calm, her voice steady, but everyone felt as if their heart was being squeezed in pain.

It was the pain Alora was refusing to allow herself to fully feel. Alora and Xena had been through worse since the moment of their birth, so this pain didn’t bother them like it would others. As it did the others, tears were running down more than one being’s face.

Anger, frustration, and helplessness was reflected in Darien's eyes, tears were gathered there, but with a gritted jaw, didn’t fall. Serenity’s tears, though, were flowing silently down her cheeks. When Matt finally spoke, Serenity turned and buried her face in Darien’s chest.

“Goddess.” Serenity sobbed out, her whole body tensing up, bracing herself for what was to come.

Darien wrapped both arms around her and crushed her tightly to him, tucking half his face in the curls of her high tail. Only his eyes were clearly visible as he kept watching the train wreck happening in front of him.

Sarah was seething but had finally shut up when Matt started to say what she wanted to hear. ‘Good’ she thought haughtily, ‘he’s still under my control.’ Then glaring at Alora, she frowned, ‘Why is she so calm?’ Sarah asked internally, frustrated at the lack of pain filled emotion from Alora.

Sarah thought Alora should be crying and begging Matt not to reject her. That was not happening, and this displeased Sarah greatly. Sarah liked Alora’s pain, got off on it, so naturally would revel in any situation that brought it.

Being rejected by your fated mate should be the worst pain imaginable, but Alora was acting like this was an everyday meeting. Stomping her foot and snarling, Sarah promised herself she would teach Alora a lesson as soon as Matt rejected her.

“I, Matthew Frost Stonemaker, reject you, Alora Frost Northmountain, as my mate!” Matt snarled out. As soon as he did, a flicker of life shot through his eyes, something was moving inside.

Nothing seemed to happen to Alora though, everyone, except Darien and Alora, was shocked. The braking of a mate bond was nearly visible, so everyone was wondering why nothing was happening.

Sarah felt a taste of fear when nothing happened. Alora and Darien both knew why nothing happened. *“Well, the proverbial cat is out of the bag now.”* Alora said to Xena, using her peripherals to glance around at the crowd.

Everyone there, looking at Alora, started to think Alora looked eerily similar to someone they knew, they just couldn’t figure out who at the moment. Their minds were occupied too much by what was happening in front of them.

Sarah looked harder at Alora and realized something was wrong. Alora wasn't wearing clothes that covered her from her neck to her toes, as she always did. Sarah was immediately horrified seeing so much of Alora’s darker colored skin being exposed. Not only that, but Alora was revealing her figure to everyone. Alora’s hair was also pulled back, exposing her face and eyes clearly to everyone too.

This increased Sarah’s horror and her rage. ‘The whore actually came to school dressed like this!’ Sarah ranted internally.

The confused look on Matt’s face, prompted Alora to explain why his rejection wasn’t working. “My name has been changed with a blood oath to the Pack Alpha.” she said calmly.

There were gasps of surprise from the crowd. In Darien’s arms, Serenity jumped and whipped her tear stained face back in the direction of Alora, eyes wide. Darien didn’t react, he had already known. It had been a birthday gift from his father to Alora.

Kain and Galen looked at each other with shocked expressions, before turning back to face the action. Sarah stood stock still with a blank expression on her face, shocked speechless. ‘Thank the Goddess for small favors.’ Alora thought.

Matt’s confused expression went back to being angry. Alora didn’t want to drag this out and said “My name is now Alora Luna Heartsong, you will have to use that to reject me.” her tone remained calm the entire time she spoke.

Out of everyone, Sarah was the most shocked, and angry. ‘How the hell did that whore find out we’re related to those hybrid loving freaks?!’

“I, Matthew Frost Stonemaker, reject you, Alora Luna Heartsong, as my mate.” Matt yelled, and the sky cracked with the sound of a lightning strike.

The pain of the broken bond burns through Alora and Xena like a fire storm, but they weather it calmly, the pain truly nothing to them. This shocked the crowd into silence and had Sarah wondering why Alora wasn’t screaming in agony.