Chapter 6

"Ahhh..." I let out a loud scream as the mansion shook. My ankle twisted and I could already see myself falling down the stairs. Everything was like a dream to me. Though I wanted the birthday party canceled but I didn't want to end up with an injured body.

I closed my eyes in order to brace for the fall but then I didn't feel anything for a minute. I opened my eyes to see that I was in Xander's arms while screams and shouts echoed through the hall. I was quick to release myself from his arms knowing it would cause complications if anyone saw us.

"T-thanks..." I said shyly. I realized that I was starting to get flustered in his presence. With a snap of my head, I ran down the stairs to go stand by my father. Erik who I had seen standing at the foot of the steps was no where to be found.

Every pack member had moved toward a particular spot because of the unexpected storm. They started to think that it was an earthquake.

"Are you okay, baby?" My father asked with worry dancing in his eyes. I nodded my head quickly and turned around to see Xander a few steps from me. His eyes were locked somewhere else, and I followed his gaze.

I could see Erik and Shannon descending the stairs. It was obvious that while I was trying to gain a stable footing on the staircase, he had rushed toward Shannon. Taking my eyes away, I turned toward my father and asked, "Can the birthday party be canceled?"

I really wanted to be up in my room away from all these shenanigans. My father however was looking at both Erik and Shannon with a frown on his face. For a fleeting moment, I saw that he had a suspicious look in his eyes but it was gone as quickly as it came.

He then turned to me and answered, "No, dear. We have to announce that Erik is your mate. You're 18 now, so you need to start building your relationship with him. The pack wants a united future Alpha and Luna." My father explained slowly and I could feel my heart breaking.

I realized that I still couldn't get away from the so-called party. I looked behind me to see that Xander had a deep frown on his face. He had heard what my father said to him. I could see the hurt in his eyes. Seeing that, I felt a strong ache in my chest and I felt like ending everything completely.

I turned to look out of the window. There was a strong wish for a raging storm and it happened. There was another loud thunderclap and I gasped in shock. My legs shook and it was starting to dawn on me what just happened. Heavy rain started to fall, creating a loud noise.

"Are you okay?" I heard Xander say behind me. I couldn't form any words as I heard my father dishing out orders to the guards. Instructing them to secure every entrance of the mansion, so it wouldn't be flooded.

"Let's go up. You need to be safe." I heard Xander say and then I nodded sheepishly. There is nothing I would want more than to get out. But then there was a bugging thought in the back of my mind about what just happened.

As I ascended the stairs with Xander, we came face to face with Erik and Shannon.

"Avery, are you okay?" I saw Erik give Xander a disgusting glare before saying those words to me. In a few seconds, Shannon was beside me, trying to take Xander's place.

"I'm perfectly okay, Erik." I said defiantly, surprising myself. I couldn't form words a few minutes ago but I was able to refute Erik effortlessly. I was that irritated by the sight of him.

"Xander, let's go." I said, turning toward Xander who had taken a step back. An action I didn't like.

"No, you can't go up there with Xander. Erik will help you." Shannon tried to insist. She expected I would go back on my words and accept hers like always.

I snorted and then said, "Erik could always help you. I don't need his help." With that, I grabbed Xander's arm and then pulled him up the stairs. I could see him smiling widely due to what just happened.

On the other hand, I could feel Erik's gaze boring into me and it was a whole lot different when Xander's eyes were on me.

Now hidden from the eyes of the public, "You should stop smiling like a fool, Xander." I teased and Xander's smile grew.

"You should go rest, it's been a long night. Happy birthday, once again." Xander wished and stepped forward to hug her. In the process, he hung a necklace around her neck, over her hair.

"Goodnight." Xander said again and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. I couldn't form any words as I watched Xander walk away.

****

As I stood before the mirror admiring the necklace Xander had gifted me, I started to feel an overwhelming feeling of likeness toward him. I didn't want to think it was because of the necklace but then I knew it was because of the mate pull.

Also, how could I dare to think about loving Xander after all the atrocities I had committed against him? Different thoughts and feelings started to whirl in my mind.

The one that took prominence was my feeling of guilt. I felt guilty because I had left the common hall abruptly when I knew in the back of my mind that I might have caused the storm.

However, nothing made sense to me. With a sigh, I started to walk toward the door, but then I heard a knock coming from the same door.

From the scent I could detect, I realized it was Shannon. Her annoyingly cheap perfume wafted in the air. She then placed another frantic knock on the door and I couldn't help but groan.

"Why wouldn't she let me be?" I said to myself, while still staring at the door and also not making any effort to open it.

The knocks on the door turned frantic and hurried.

"What is it, Shannon?" I asked with a slight grimace. I wanted her to say whatever she wanted and then get lost.

"Oh, you have been in there..." I heard her snort quickly. No little sound could go past me, I have more amplified abilities than she would ever have because I had the genes of an Alpha.

"What is it that you want?" I snapped at her.

"I needed to... Oh, why do you keep snapping at me?" She started to say in an angry tone but suddenly switched to a meek one. A frown started to mar on my face, guessing that she was up to something.

"What are you trying to do here, Shannon?" I asked hurriedly, my eyes glued on the door.

"Can you open the door? Father has asked me to tell something to you." I heard Shannon say, in her annoyingly meek tone. I could even detect that she was crying but then there was a weird scent in the air which was incredibly familiar.

"What is it, Shannon?" I heard Erik ask.

"Ahh, you're here." I heard Shannon say to Erik, surprise filling her voice. I was quick to catch unto what she was trying to do.

"Little white lotus..." I said to myself, a phrase I learned in my past life. I then snorted loudly enough for anyone out there to hear.

"Why are you crying? I heard Erik ask again. "What has Avery done to you, huh?" I heard the indignation in his voice and I cringed.

But then I didn't care to reply to them as I walked back to my bed to lie on it.

"Do you think she is in there?" I heard Erik ask Shannon and she only replied with some incoherent words.

"Step aside..." I heard Erik say and I was already anticipating what he would do.

"...Avery, I know you're in there. You should step out now. The Alpha wants to have a discussion with you." He ordered in an overly harsh tone.

I was a bit guilty about what had happened and I wanted to talk to my father about it. But then I didn't want to see the faces of those people at the door. I didn't want too irritated at this point.

I stood up to go into my bathroom, I needed to get their voices out of my earshot. A few seconds after I stood up, I heard frantic banging and knockings on the door. Erik was obviously trying to break into the bedroom.

"What impudence!" I said out loud, enough for Erik to hear so he would stop. He wasn't the calm person he used to be before I declared him as my mate in my past life. I guess he was getting increasingly restless with my defiance.

I took a step forward and saw that the door was about to burst open, I stretched my hand in reflex in order to attempt to hold the door while I was still far away. But the impossible happened, the door slammed shot!