Chapter 3. Deception

Xerina’s POV

“Is this your house? It’s beautiful.” Nothing was captivating about this place except for the fact that Papa built this for Mama because she adored nature so much. It was a two-story, cozy place where no one lived except for my parents. It was a good thing that this was away from the pack.

“It is…” I muttered as several childhood memories gushed through me. A smile crept over my lips.

“I’ll get going then.”

“Why? Meet Mama—oh, okay.” Chrissy gave me her infamous look. She’d rather skin herself alive than face Luca. God knows what’s going on between them since her last visit, but she has not been herself since then. She instantly left. Dylan pulled out both of our bags.

“I’m kind of nervous.” He chuckled, and I admitted. I would be nervous, too, if it was me instead of him. I took a deep breath. Papa had been clear several times that he didn’t like the idea of me bringing boys home.

“Don’t be, my family’s welcoming.” I grinned. Dylan’s lips instinctively raised, watching me smile. His round glasses rested nerdy at the brigade of his nose, and his sparkling eyes looked at me adoringly. I could tell he liked me enough to risk it. I could see myself in his place.

Loving someone who’s not made for us was more painful than a thousand deaths.

I didn’t realize my smile dropped at the thought. Didn’t I promise myself I wasn’t going to think about him?

Steadying myself, I motioned Dylan to follow me and walked towards the door with confidence. Or at least the appearance of being confident. Inside, I was a quivering mess. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and chanted before knocking on the door.

No more heartbreak.

My wolf hearing heightened as I heard footsteps rushing down the stairs. Mama was still as active as her youth. Dylan nervously rubbed his hands together as we both waited and waited as if I was going to get slaughtered.

I held my breath, crossing my fingers when the lock twisted, the door knob rotated, and with a creek, the door opened. I watched in horror as my mama’s smiling face greeted me, her arms flailing before I was engulfed in a bear hug.

“My baby!” she squealed as I struggled to breathe. If I’d die somehow, it’d be because of her hugs. Even though I prefer warmth and love.

“Mama…” I inhaled her scent deeply. She still smelled like jasmine and roses. When she pulled away, her eyes immediately landed on Dylan. The smile on her face finished to a polite one. Oh-oh! I instantly grabbed her hands.

“Oh, he’s Dylan. Dylan, this is my mother.” I motioned towards her as Dylan bowed slightly.

“Hi, I’m Dylan, Xerina’s boyfriend.”

Mama snapped her head to me with wide eyes. I have her a tight-lipped smile. She looked around for a second, probably looking for Papa or Luca, before acknowledging Dylan’s bow.

“Xerina’s boyfriend…I see. Come inside; it’s quite sunny outside.”

I was about to step inside when I saw a lurking figure in the hallway to the left. Since it was bright, I couldn’t miss their muscular stature with their broad shoulders and bright eyes that resembled my brother’s. Even in his old age, Papa looked no more than thirty-five with his striking body and baby-blue eyes, which suddenly narrowed and held fire.

The nervousness in my chest burned. Papa’s eyes cut towards me, a silent question that he wanted to know what this unknown man was doing in his household with his daughter. Mama sensed his presence.

I gulped and looked at Dylan. Panic engulfed me as I quickly blocked him with my body and smiled at my father, going in for a hug.

“Pa—” I opened my arms to engulf him in a hug, but I never got the chance. An icy river of fear rushed beneath my skin when a loud growl left my father’s mouth, and he lunged towards Dylan. Before I could process anything, Dylan’s panicked scream tore the silence with my terrified one.

Love makes us do things. To that extent, nothing matters more than the one. It’s blinding and disturbing, yet it manages to tame us to the point that you have no right to your own emotions.

That’s how I’d describe my parent’s relationship. Their relationship taught me that no matter how many difficulties come in way, if you have that particular person by your side, nothing is dangerous.

“XERXES!” Mama was quick to come between Papa and Dylan. His scream matched mine as he looked wide-eyed at my father. If he was scared, I was terrified. Papa’s anger was something only Mama could handle. Papa’s angry eyes still focused on Dylan but when Mama again called him, he finally looked at her. His orbs expand.

“He’s our guest,” she whispered, patting his biceps with her small hands. Papa narrowed his eyes.

“Katarina…” he warned her. His voice was deeper than the mess I created. I gulped, looking at Dylan, who looked like he’d faint any moment. I’d be scared for my life, too. To calm the situation, I stepped forward.

“Papa, please,” I whispered, grabbing his left hand and squeezing it. Papa seemed reluctant for a few minutes, but then, when Mama whispered something in his ears, he looked straight at Dylan before heaving a sigh.

“X-Xeri—” Dylan panicked as Papa sidestepped Mama and took a threatening step towards his way.

“Relax, Dylan. He’s just an…overprotective father,” Mama assured him, at which he looked unsure. Papa glared at her and then at me.

“H-hello, sir—”

“I’m going for a run,” Papa cut him off before letting out barked murderous curses as he walked out. A new flavor of fear suddenly cloaked my throat. If this was Papa’s reaction, I didn’t want to know Luc’s. An overwhelming surge of worry washed over me, not for myself. For the second time in an hour, I was worried sick about Dylan.

“He’s just…little… never mind. Come, have a seat,” I begged. After all this, Dylan wasn’t going to stay for even a second. But he shocked me when he passed a scared yet sweet smile to Mama and followed her. Was he not scared? It made me feel worse. I was right. He liked me enough to risk it all.

“I’m all right, Mrs. Knight…just a little shook.” His voice was reed thin, pushing past the knot in his throat as I saw across him with my shaky limbs. My hands were sweating by now. It was the first time I ever brought a boy home. And the experience was insane. I took several slow, deep breaths to calm myself.

Mama nodded, awkwardly passing some snake that she had prepared for us toward Dylan. Concern itched in the creases of her brows. Papa had always been protective when it came to his family; I was no exception, but even Mama thought he was too much sometimes.

Dylan, with shaky hands, licked up the glass. A flush warmed his cheeks as he adjusted his round glasses on his angular face. I fidgeted with my fingers as I shared a look with Mama.

“Feel at home. I’ll prepare a room for you. Xerina, can you help me?” Mama stood with me. I noticed the urgency in her gaze as I followed her.

“I’ll be back.” I smiled at him as Mama led us to the hallway. When we crossed the living room, none of us mumbled a word. Just as we turned the corner, she turned around with hands on her waist.

“You—”

“Don’t ask, please. Just handle Papa for two days, and we’ll be gone before that. I’ll never ever bring a boy home, I promise!” I rambled before she could start. My hands joined together as I looked at her with puppy eyes. Mama sighed.

“You know your father, Xerina. He cares for you,” she breathed out, flaring her hands in the air.

“But Dylan is a good man—” I reasoned.

“And a human. You know you have a matter out there, right? Wolves cannot associate themselves with humans. Luca’s going to be home any moment, for god’s sake, Rasmus is also coming—”

“So, he can bring a woman home, but I cannot? What favoritism is this, Mama? Why do you always favor him and not me?”

Why was it always Rasmus and his likes but not mine? My parents favored him more than us and that just made me furious. This was what I always feared. He was not family; he could never be ‘cause if he was, why would I’ve fallen for him? I shook my head, contradicting her.

“He’s a…adult, Xerina—”

“I’m twenty-one years old, for hell’s sake! Why do you commend him when he’s not your own blood!” My eyes widened when I realized I just yelled at Mama. Her eyes matched mine, wide with shock. I never talked back to my parents. My heart clenched. I was not only a terrible person but a more terrible daughter, too.

“Xerina!” she called.

“Please, Mama,” I exasperated. “We both know Rasmus is not our family—” I bit down my lips to suppress myself from letting out a sob as I quickly turned around and ran off.

“This is the last time I’m hearing this. Rasmus is part of this family; if you like it or not, he’ll always have a place in this house.”

“Then don’t bother calling me your daughter!” I yelled, wiping away my tears as I ran down the hallway.

“Xerina!” she called out.

“XERINA!” I heard her booming voice, but I couldn’t bear it. I didn’t know where I was running off to, but I knew that I needed to be far away. My mind and body weren’t the same. It had been only an hour. How was I supposed to survive for two more days? I ran to the backside, where the forest was. Without looking back, I stride in. The dark, tall trees hindered any sunlight from penetrating.

When my feet stopped, I realized I was near the bank of the river. When memories last a lifetime, and all people want to hold are memories to hold within their minds, this river holds those. I wanted to be his forever, but now he was in my memories. Leaning down, I crouched at the edge and swirled my fingers, playing with the flowing water as the water below flashed distinct shadows, reminiscing over the time Rasmus and I spent here.

If I were a painter, I would paint him when the stars align, giving him the perfect outshine with every stroke sweeping like a feather. I briefly held myself back to let out a sob. So, it was true Rasmus was bringing a woman home. It hurt like hell.

I backed against the tree trunk and folded my legs closer to my chest as I stared at the sky. A clear blue, indigo sky stretched to the infinity. Dull yet calm, indicating it was going to be night soon. A dull ache pierced through my gut. I shouldn’t have yelled at Mama.

Sighing to myself, I pondered over all the memories Rasmus and I shared together. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I replenished myself in his memories, hurting myself more. I wanted to move on, knowing very well we would never work. Even if we did, there was no acceptance of our relationship.

But I couldn’t forget him. Why did my heart always flutter thinking about him? Why do my thoughts return to him regularly? I feel…safe with him. It felt more exciting to me that I wanted to spend more and more time with him. I could even…die for him.

I closed my eyes for his shining bright eyes flashed before my eyes, his words when he rejected me.

‘Why not me? What do I lack? Please don’t abandon me like this, Rasmus.’

‘Whatever weird fantasy you’ve got in your head, erase it.’

‘Please, Ramus! Just…once.’

‘We’re not meant for each other. I do not feel the same for you.’

As heart-wrenching as his last words were, it was as embarrassing he rejected me before leaving for the city the next day. I never saw him after that or heard of him. I refused to, but all these years, I could only imagine if Rasmus would’ve accepted me.

I consoled my mind and heart into accepting that we were not meant to be, but when I heard he was bringing a woman home as his moon-blessed, the pain returned with tenfold more intensity. I wanted to pull my hair and scream. To cry and bang my fists on his chest, asking why it could never be me.

My lids felt heavy after crying I felt myself slipping into a peaceful slumber. The soft waves of water calmed me down the sound of crickets and birds soothed my wounded heart. My thoughts were branded by Rasmus.

But I knew he was my mate. He would come back to me soon and beg for my love. I was right about his return.