Chapter 5 Morning

• ~Xyana~
• Two days later, I wake up feeling better than I did a couple of days ago. The memory of my first day here is still fresh in my mind.
• 'Is any of this really happening or is this just the Moon goddess trying to play tricks on me?'
• Alpha Kedar denied me almost a week ago and now I have three men fighting over me. The only word to describe any of this is 'surreal.'
• 'You think you're special now?' Juno laughs at me, 'keep being stupid.'
• "Whatever did I do to you, Juno? I'm not the reason Alpha Kedar refused to acknowledge us. He just didn't want to."
• 'He told you why.' Juno insists.
• "He said I'm worthless, and I'm not!" I yell. "It's okay if he chooses Oksana as his real mate. But I'm not worthless, neither am I spineless."
• 'But you're an Elephant, a Pig, fat...'
• "Don't say those words to me, please." I plead with my wolf.
• She snorts and starts sinking back inside, 'suit yourself, Pig.'
• I shut my eyes as the pain of her words hit me. She's waiting, watching, hoping that I'll counter her words. That way she'll hurt me with more painful words. But instead, I ignore her and walk to the bathroom to take a shower.
• When one of the pack maids came in to invite me to the dining room for breakfast, I was already dressed in one of the dresses I found in the wardrobe.
• The dress isn't exactly my size as it's too big for me. But I do feel free and comfortable in it.
• The dining room is all set with Gaston and his brothers seated. When they see me approaching, Dion stands up and moves to another seat, offering me the one he was previously sitting on.
• "Slept well, Sunshine?" He asks as I thank him and take a seat.
• "Yes thank you," I reply. "Good morning," I say to no one in particular, but everyone at the table hums to my greeting. I grab a glass of water from the table and listen while Gaston speaks.
• "I believe you haven't been officially introduced to the family." Pointing to Mr. Solid-man, he says, "this is Clifton. He's the Beta of the pack and my second sibling. And over there is Declan, the head of the pack Warriors, my third sibling. We have Dion right there. He's the Gamma of the pack, my last sibling and finally, that's Oona, my daughter."
• My glass nearly slip out of my fingers. 'He has a daughter?'
• 'Bold of you to think he doesn't. You think you're special or a man as powerful as he is would pay attention to you?' Juno commences her torment. 'Be for real, if Alpha Kedar rejected you, then no one will ever want you, Pig.'
• I roll my eyes and ignore her. "It's nice to meet all of you," I tell them, and turn to Oona. "Especially you, Oona. You're so pretty dear."
• Oona blushes sweetly and shakes her head happily, "Thank you," she tells me before turning to Gaston, "She's very, very, very pretty, and she has chubby cheeks like Stephanie. I love chubby cheeks."
• I turn to Gaston for an explanation, a smile still plastered on my face. "Stephanie is her doll." Declan offers an explanation instead. "She thinks she's the most beautiful doll in the whole world. So that means Oona is giving you a sweet compliment."
• "Oh, that's so sweet of you, Oona," I tell her, my smile almost tearing my cheeks. It's been a while anyone ever complimented me or call me pretty. Juno hisses while sulking inside. But I ignore her as usual. "Do you think I can meet Stephanie later?"
• The little girl nods, "she'll be thrilled to meet you." She points a finger at Declan, and asks me, "are you Uncle Declan's girlfriend?"
• I shake my head, about to tell her no, but Declan is faster. "No Oona, she's my mate. I'm going to marry her."
• "She's my mate too." Dion rushes in.
• Oona turns to Clifton and waits for a few seconds. When he doesn't say a word, she shrugs and smiles at me. "That's super cool. You must be thrilled, Miss..."
• "Xyana. Call me Xyana." I tell her, and she nods and stares at me for a while like I'm some sort of discovery she recently made.
• "They talk about your wife-to-be in school. They say she's going to be the strongest female in the pack because she'll be the Beta, Gamma, and Warrior Female." Oona tells Declan. "Does that mean she's going to be your wife too, Uncle Cliff?"
• "How the fuck does news spread in this crazy pack. Do the helps eavesdrop on our conversations now?" Clifton whines.
• "Language, Uncle Cliff. Language please." Oona cautions him and draws out laughter from everyone except Alpha Gaston, who is frowning at his phone while typing out something.
• "Yes ma'am," Cliff replies to her.
• "Xyana is really gorgeous. Aren't you thrilled that she'll be your wife?" Oona asks Clif.
• He shrugs and spares a glance at me. "I don't know her well enough to want to spend the rest of my life with her. But the Moon goddess chose her as my mate. So, I don't think I have much option here."
• His reply dampens my mood a bit. I've been feeling so wanted for days now. Seeing them fighting just because none of them wanted me to be with the other person, made me feel loved, wanted, and longed for.
• It banished the thoughts of my feeling of inadequacy. It made me change my train of thought, and I began to believe that I'm indeed beautiful. Even if my love handles are overlapping my sides and my thigh is as big as a plantain stump, I'm wanted by these men, so that can only mean that I'm desirable and beautiful. No one else's opinion matters.
• "So does that mean she'll be staying with us?" Oona's voice draws me out of my thoughts. "She's pretty and I like hanging out with pretty girls. You know I'm pretty too." I suppress a chuckle. Oona definitely has a smart mouth. If only life were that simple.
• "I hope she'll agree to stay." Dion offers a reply.
• "She has no choice but to stay." Cliff cuts in.
• "Yes, Oona. She will stay." Declan finalizes and I glare at the brothers.
• "Goddess! You're such a pretty princess, even when you're mad at Cliff and Bones," Oona says.
• I arced a brow and looked down to her. "Who's Bones?" I ask.
• She points at Declan. "He's one of the strongest men in this pack. His fellow warriors call him Bones. I don't know why, but I think it may be because he's so strong. Now that you're going to be his wife. You have nothing to worry about because he's going to protect you forever." Little Oona says before dabbing her mouth with a towel.
• "Thank you for my meal everyone." She announces and step closer to me. "Will you come find me when I'm back from school?" She whispers.
• "Of course," I whisper back and watch her walk away, bouncing as she heads to school.
• A chill envelops the table. Alpha Gaston is still frowning at his phone. Declan and Dion are eating their food, Clifton is staring at me.
• Suddenly he taps the table and ask in a raised voice, "Why the fuck can't my wolf reach yours?"
• Startled, I stare at him, "I... I... Maybe she's heartbroken." I blurt out and regret instantly as the words come out.
• "Why, why would she be heartbroken?" Declan rushes in.
• I chew on my lips, thinking of what to say. When I couldn't come up with anything, I shrug and tell him; "I don't know."
• "You told the doctor you don't remember a thing from before you were rescued by Alpha. It's quite surprising that you believe your wolf is heartbroken but don't know why." Declan adds.
• "Why the fuck can't my wolf get through to yours!" Clifton yells, jerking out of his seat, rushing at me, and pinning me to my seat with one of his hands.
• "Get away from her, Clifton!" Gaston orders.
• I note Cliff struggling not to listen to his brother, but in the end, the Alpha's command wins. He stalks away from me.
• "Sit down and eat your food. And if you're done eating, get out." Gaston commands.
• Cliff stands beside his seat, staring at me. After a moment, he shakes his head. "I'm going to fuckin find out and you'll be sorry if you're lying to me." He says and storms out of the room.