Chapter 8 Slava - Part lll

• “You have to go with me, Nesta! It would be amazing and we would have so much fun!” Delila pleads, and for the hundredth time this week, I shake my head. Just like every year, a wolf party is hosted for the wolves to mingle, and as always, I don't want to go, but Delila is adamant about dragging me there.
• “I don’t wish to go, Delila. I don’t like these parties. You should go.”
• “I will go but I want you to come with me! This party only happens once a year!” Delila exclaims, and I completely ignore her very presence and focus my attention on the pups surrounding me.
• "You shouldn't mix with such speed; you will end up ruining the batter," I tenderly say, and the pup nods and mixes the better for cake slower. Delila rolls her eyes and groans.
• “You forgot how to be fun!” Delila grumbles, and I chuckle as I focus my attention on the pups.
• It has been a few weeks since the ceremony, and I am in the packhouse kitchen, teaching several eager pups how to make a cake. It's another tranquil day, and the elders and mated females are sitting around the adjoined living room, talking amongst themselves. My head shots up towards the stairs when Ciro's booming voice echoed down the corridor. Every eye in the room is drawn to the stairs, just like mine. It isn't long before Ciro storms out of his room and down the stairs. When I notice that he is furious, the veins on his neck and arms bulge out, and his eyes are blood red, I stiffen. Goddess, I hope he didn't harm the Luna! My gaze follows him as he storms out of the manor.
• "Emilja!" I call one of the females in the room and quickly rinse my hand.
• "Please go and check on the Luna." As I remove my apron and dash out the door behind Ciro, I say hurriedly. I look about, but he is nowhere to be seen! But I know just where I would find him.
• "I knew you would be here," I say as I walk out of the woods and walk to the place where I and Ciro used to play and hide when we were little pups. Ciro glances at me with a frown and returns his gaze to the field of wildflowers. He truly is upset. I sigh and move forward to sit beside him.
• "What happened?" I question after a few moments of stillness, but he remains mute.
• "Something has happened, and I'm aware of it. And I'm sure it will make you feel better if you share. And perhaps I can help." Ciro sighs as I continue to talk and offer my air.
• "Milena attempted to force herself on me." Did I just hear that correctly?
• "What?" Ciro shakes his head as I exclaim, surprise seeping through my voice.
• "You heard it right. She tried to force herself on me despite my protests that I needed time and desired to wait."
• I try hard not to laugh, but my efforts are futile, and he rolls his eyes.
• "Don't laugh! She is young. Very young and I don't think she is ready yet."
• "But you may be mistaken. She might be ready for you and to bear your mark." I compose myself and say and all he does is sigh.
• "She may be. However, I am not. I intended to give her at least a few months before bringing her here. I just took over the position and there is a lot that is needed to be done. A relationship, on the other hand, necessitates a significant amount of effort. Furthermore, she is eighteen, whereas I am twenty-four. I'm not even sure how well I know her. I'm just not ready to mate just yet."
• "Then speak with her. Tell her about your intentions and concerns."
• "Yes, I have! We have had this conversation but she wouldn't just listen. I try to distance myself from her but still I lose my mind around her and it is hard for me and all she does is provoke me. But today, she literally tried to force herself on me! I respect her and her wishes but she disrespected me this way!"
• "And you lost your temper?"
• "Yes. I raised my voice at her." Ciro shakes his head, full of remorse, and I give him a sad smile.
• "Don't push her away, Ciro. She might feel rejected and explain to her about your concerns. Maybe give her a taste. That might satisfy her hunger a little. Just make sure you don't push her away from you." Ciro nods as I make my recommendation. "Talk to her and be gentle."
• "I will do that."
• "Let's go back now. Milena and the wolves are going to be worried." Ciro nods as I speak up. He stands up first and offers me his hand. I gratefully take his hand in mine, and he helps me to my feet as we walk toward the packhouse.
• For dinner that night, we gathered around the packhouse's dining table. The food is set on the table, and we eagerly await the arrival of the Luna. Ciro took the chair at the head of the table, leaving the chair next to him empty. Demir is seated to his left, while I am seated on his right.
• "Did you not talk to her?" Ciro nods his head when I question him in reverent whispers.
• "Yes, I did. I even consented to her requests, but I'm not sure why she's so obstinate."
• "Maybe you should go and bring her downstairs. The pups are starving." I suggest and Ciro nods. He is about to stand up but he sits back down when we hear footsteps pounding against the wooden floor and Milena walks in. Ciro smiles as Milena takes the empty chair and sits beside him.
• "What took you so long, love? The pups are starving." Ciro softly says and my eyes widen when Milena scowls.
• "Who asked you to wait?" She hisses, causing the wolves within hearing distance to gasp, but Ciro does not react. He picks a steak and places it on Milena's plate. I could see Ciro's jaw twitching when she pushes the plate away. That's a blatant display of disrespect, and no Alpha would tolerate it, even if it came from their female. But, Ciro being the gentleman that he is, does not respond.
• "Do you not wish to have a steak? Do you want some sarma?" Sarma is a ground beef and rice wrap wrapped in cabbage leaves that I helped prepare for dinner. Ciro serves her some sarma, but she pushes the dish away once more.
• "Milena, stop acting like a child. Begin eating." Ciro says through gritted teeth trying not to lash out and she snarls.
• "Maybe you should have asked the Goddess for a mature female rather than a child like me!"
• "I merely begged the Goddess for my other half, and she delivered it to me in the form of you. I have no regrets and am not dissatisfied. Please eat now." Ciro replies as he slides the platter closer to her.
• "I'm not going to eat what you provided!" She snarls again, making me gasp. Even if she is his female, she must not disrespect him in front of his wolves this way!
• "You shouldn't talk to him like that, Luna Milena," I say softly, and Milena's head snaps towards me.
• "Who asked for your opinions?" She snarls baring her war teeth.
• "I was merely asking you not to speak to the Alpha in that manner."
• "I get to decide how I want to speak with my male! Mind your own business you whore!" Milena hisses making the wolves in the room gasp, and my breath catches in my throat.
• "Watch your language, Milena!" Ciro leaps to his feet, and Milena turns to face him.
• "You're snarling at me because of her!" As she rises to her feet, Milena hisses. Ciro's chest reverberates with growls, and all I can do is stand there. "You are growling at your female for a whore like her!" Milena growls, and Demir leaps to his feet, much to my dismay.
• "Don't you dare refer to my sister with such a derogatory term!" Demir snarls
• “Demir!” I gasp and stare at him with pleading eyes but pays heed to me.
• "You dare to speak to your Luna in this manner! You disgusting piece of vermin!" Milena shrieks and moves her gaze to Ciro. But Ciro doesn’t utter a word and that is when Milena truly loses it.
• "You're meant to stand by me and support me, but you're letting them say whatever they want! Maybe they were right when they said you two had been madly in love for all these years. I saw you two together that day as well! You're always running to her! Ciro, do you go to her at night as well? Is this the reason you won't touch me? Did you satisfy your appetite with that whore?" Everyone gasps as Milena shout at the top of her lungs. As my nails sink into the flesh of my palm, my eyes close shut. What on earth did I ever do to deserve this?
• "Milena!" Ciro roars and my eyes shot open. His hand rises in the air but I am quick to seize his arm before it can land. I don't wish him to regret his actions later looking back at these days.
• “Don’t raise your hand on your female, Ciro!” With frightened eyes, I exclaim.
• Ciro's flaming, enraged eyes soften somewhat as they fall on me, and he pulls his hand away. His fury, on the other hand, does not lessen, and he rushes out of the packhouse.
• "I hope you are content, you leech!" Milena yells and storms out of the room, throwing a glass of wine in my face.