Cycle

Astrid’s Point of View

Leo’s eyes were radiating desperation as he tried to get close to me. We were both standing up inside an empty warehouse where he chose for us to talk. Walking near me with his pair of amber eyes looking at me intently, it felt as though he would likely want to kiss me at this point.

Only if he could…

I held my breath. Based on his body language, it totally indicated that he desired me so much… Perhaps this was the very reason why he preferred for us to talk and to be alone inside an empty warehouse, ensuring that no one would be able to see and interfere with us.

"Leo, I know you are absolutely obsessed with me right now, but I want to remind you that I already have my mate,” I said as I pouted my lips, though I could feel from inside that the butterflies in my stomach were feeling so giddy at the moment.

His brow furrowed. A chuckle escaped my throat as I watched the expression on his face. He seemed shocked that I was aware of such truth and his feelings toward me were already exposed.

“Please don’t look at me that way, Leo. I figured out your secret,” I uttered sweetly.

Without breaking our eye contact, I walked closer to him, caressed his cheek and tiptoed to kiss it. Then I reached for his ear and whispered, “There you have it. Treat it as a small token of appreciation from me since you took the initiative to approach me even though Alexander is always around. I am currently happy with my mate, and giving you some credits for your efforts is the least thing I can do…”

I grinned. There you go, Leo. I hoped you would not lose your mind just because I rejected you. I was not an easy girl like my twin sister, Atasha. I was not a sweetheart. I was better than that…

He stepped back and stared at me in confusion. He then shook his head and said, “Astrid, what were you saying? I wanted us to talk in secret because of a delicate subject.”

“What?” My forehead creased.

He inhaled heavily. “Everyone is already speculating about Atasha's disappearance, which will become a huge issue. It’s been a month since she disappeared. I would like to know what really happened to her.”

The disappointment rushed through my veins and I sighed in frustration.

“Whatever it is that happened to my sister, it’s clearly not part of your business anymore, Leo.” I clicked my tongue and offered him a glare. “So you wanted to talk to me about Atasha?”

I could not hide my displeasure and it dripped off from every word I said.

“Astrid, please I need—”

“No!” I let out a yell, my voice boomed across a warehouse full of broken chairs and empty boxes, all of which had been delivered from our school's university the day before.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind. In the event that my plan failed, I might as well put an end to Atasha’s life… I wouldn’t let her be happy!

“What is it about Atasha that you despise so much, Astrid? Is it because of me? I am curious to know where your anger is coming from,” he asked.

His question knocked me off. I gasped as I didn’t expect it from him. I walked past him but he followed me.

“Astrid.” I felt both of his hands seizing the back of my shoulders. He then spun me around, and I could see the evident rage right through his eyes.

“Be honest with me. What do you intend to do with her? What is the reason why she’s trapped in your home?”

I shook my head and pressed my lips together.

“I am certain that she’s at your house. I can feel that you and your parents are hiding her. You’re keeping her from us! People are already speculating that she’s—” He wasn't able to finish his remarks as his voice cracked as he spoke, and his eyes were teary as he expressed himself.

I waited for him to continue talking but then, he finally let go of my shoulders. His hands dropped down and all I heard was his sobs. My eyes widened, bewildered that this man who was supposed to show power and strength was crying in front of me… simply because he wanted to find out what happened to Atasha!

How ridiculous!

"You're such a whiny little baby. Make a man of yourself, Leo!" I yelled at him, upset that he acted this way for a nonsense reason.

Who cares if he cried a river? Did he think that his tears would make a great impact on me? Hell, no!

“If Atasha is in trouble, I swear I know who will be to blame!”

I couldn't help but chuckle and give him a broad grin.

“I have no intention to harm her, Leo. She’s my sister, after all, so you better stop accusing me!” I yelled on the top of my lungs and then I continued, “You don’t even have any evidence that we imprisoned her at home. You’re accusing me based on your irrelevant emotions! My goodness, I have high expectations from you, Leo.”

I could feel my entire nerves pulsing widely. I snarled and in the end, left him in the warehouse. I didn’t even bother to listen to any of his rambing.

***

I didn’t dwell much on my rage after that conversation I had with Leo. After clearing my head a bit, I felt more relaxed as I walked my way home.

I recalled that Alexander gave me a letter and I looked forward to reading it once I got home. Deep within me was hoping that he had already made up his mind and would help me throughout the entire process of putting my plan into action.

When I got home, the first thing I did was go upstairs. I took a quick peak in the attic where Atasha was being held. I attempted to talk to her but the urge to read Alex’s letter got me more excited than seeing Atasha’s pathetic life. I descended downstairs and entered my room right away.

“So, what do we have here?” I asked myself while opening my bag to get the letter.

As soon as I got the letter, I opened it. It had a picture of a lady, then a note.

“We can use frame her up as the cursed werewolf in the Silver MoonPack…”

I smirked. Great job, Alex!

Based on the note, Alex would also have to tell me about a critical fact regarding my mother that I should be aware of.

“What is it about my mother that you want to tell me, Alex?” I wondered out loud.

I could not help but ponder as to what Alex had found out about my mother that he had to tell me. It seemed too serious as he wrote that we would have to discuss it behind closed doors.

And in exchange of this important details regarding my mother, he would want to have me come to his place and have sex with him all day. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and let out a loud sigh. Alexander… knowing him, he would, of course, take advantage of the situation.

I shoved those thoughts away. I changed clothes and went to the living room. There I saw my mother and even from a sideway glance, I noticed that her face had become so thin. Her body slimmed down to such a severe extent. She continuously coughed which led me to believe that she was extremely sick.

“Are you alright, Mama?” I walked toward her and rubbed her back to soothe her.

The strong odor emanating from her body was noticeable. I fought the urge to vomit and held my breath instead.

“I’m fine, Astrid,” she replied but seeing her expression, I could really tell that it was different from the lively face she had before. Hers right now screamed melancholy and hatred.

I couldn’t help but think about Alexander’s letter. He clearly mentioned on the note that I needed to know something regarding my mother. Seeing my mother in this state right now, I admitted that my interest was piqued enough that I’d really do whatever it was Alexander wanted for me to know what he’d learned about my mother.

***

Loud scream for mercy and agony echoed in my head that made me woke up from my deep slumber. I thought it was all just a terrible nightmare but the noise were so loud that made me realize it was far from just a nightmare.

I rushed to the window and opened it to take a peek of the situation and was bewildered when I saw my mother lying on the cold ground, covered with her blood. It was as if my heart was being hammered into pieces that I could no longer make any move. My eyes were directed to my lifeless mother and hers on mine…

My father kept checking the pulse on her wrist. In the middle of chaos, the next thing I heard was his loud cries. The crowd gathered around them, humiliating eyes were pinned on my mother’s rotting body.

“Ma-Mama…” I called her as tears started streaming down my face.

This couldn’t be…

“Mama!” I cried, fists clenching as I looked at her from the second storey of our house. “No… No… Mama!”

That night, I witnessed my father's complete devastation. I learned that a random group of rogues launched an attack on our pack land to hunt for unmated female werewolves and my mother was one of the unfortunate people who they killed without a single mercy.

“She had sacrificed herself to help a young shewolf from the hands of the rogues. It was a good thing that Alex instantly communicated with his troop and helped the officials to fight against the rogues…” one of the neighbors stated.

I was completely lost of words about what had happened. I knew that I looked forward into getting this entire land to be ruined by the Crimson Moon but I didn’t expect some intruders to kill my mother… right away! I still hoped to spend more time with her before I accomplished my plan and the rogues had stole that chance away from me.

Since then, I witnessed my father became so distant on me. He changed. He became alcoholic and grumpy. When he was drunk, he would go to the attic and would beat Atasha for him to do a release.

“It is entirely your fault!” he shouted one night, as he hit Atasha on her face.

Even though I enjoyed watching our father beating her up, I kept a neutral expression. But whenever I felt that he was about to kill her, that was the only time I would interfere.

“Papa, stop it! It is not Atasha’s fault!” I screamed and snatched my father's arm from behind.

My father came to a halt when I drew his arm away from Atasha and cast a glance at his spiteful expression. Atasha wasn’t aware of what occurred and I thought that it was about time for her to know…

“Atasha, I’m sorry to break the bad news to you but our mother was slaughtered by rogues the other night. She’s dead…”

Atasha cried in despair upon learning what happened to our mother. She couldn’t believe it at all.

“No! It’s not true! Mama isn’t dead! You’re lying!” She clung to our father and urged him to tell the truth but he only shoved her to the floor.

Eyes smoldering, he said, "You are the primary reason your mother is dead right now! This is because you are cursed! You harmed our family and the entire pack! You’re a disgrace!”

“Pa, Atasha didn’t wish to be cursed!”

“Stay out of this, Astrid! This mutt will only bring us danger!”

I shook my head and held his arm. “Alex and I have already planned a strategy to keep us safe. I don't want any harm to come to us as well. I will discuss it with you in private.” Then I glanced at Atasha who was weeping. “Don’t worry, Atasha. Everything will be alright. And please, let us not all fight and point fingers at one another. If this continues, Mama would be really disappointed."

Our father stormed out of the attic. It didn’t take a while before we heard a loud crash downstairs, plates and glasses shattering, tables being smashed… Papa did it again. His booming voice caused Atasha to sob more and more.

I engulfed her in a tight hug. “I am going to leave you here for the time being. Please don’t blame yourself for what happened to our mother. It’s not your fault.”

I wiped her tears away and rubbed her back.

“I am begging you, Astrid. Please help me in this situation. Pray to the Moon Goddess to free me from this sorrow.”

I nodded, but deep inside I was already grinning from ear to ear.

“You don’t need to ask. I keep praying to the Moon Goddess to keep us safe and for her to soothe you. She won’t ignore our prayers. I love you dearly, Atasha….”

She hugged me once again, and all I could do was roll my eyes.

“I'm sorry, Atasha, but I have to leave now," I told her. I pushed myself to my feet and shut the door.

As soon as the door closed behind me, I burst out a chuckle.

"Serves you right, Atasha," I stated to myself as I descended downstairs.