Chapter 41: Chapter 41

"Who's there?" The soft high pitched voice of my Grandma asked while I stood behind her closed door.

I tried to open my mouth to respond or at least say something to let her know that I was the one outside but no matter how hard I tried, nothing seemed to escape from my mouth as I gave up and waited for her to open the door.

The minute she opened the door to see me, a broad smile appeared on her face as she shone her teeth at me but those smiles soon turned bitter when she noticed my expression.

"What happened to you, my dear?" She brought her hands to cup my cheek as her whole face was suddenly filled with worries and her body tensed.

I hate to make her feel this way or bother her but at this moment she was the only one I could run to outside the pack house. To me, she was my real mother, she has always been.

The look alone on her face showed that she was really worried about me that I almost regretted coming to see her. She's old already and any shock or stress could really put her in danger and I wouldn't want that for her.

"Come on in my love and sit,  tell me what Is wrong with you" she cooed with her furrowed brows as her old wrinkled hands snaked its way around my waist and led me In.

The familiar smell and warmth of her little house hit me and made me feel a little bit relaxed.

"Now tell me what's wrong with you sweetie" She softly asked with her hands on my chin.

"I need you to be honest with me Grandma, does the moon goddess hate me?" I asked but before I could finish the sentence, I was already breaking down as my voice started to crack and my throat burned.

"Of course not! Don't say that Nora"

"Then why is she being so unfair to me Grandma? She obviously hates me so bad and now I also hate my life."

"Firstly, she had to make me the weakest wolf in the pack and then she had to make my mate reject me. Just when I thought I was finally gaining my sanity she decided that I would never be happy or sane. And you were saying she doesn't hate me?" I cried as my Grandma stared at me with pity eyes while stroking my hair gently.

"Honey what happened?" She asked with a calm tone as I tried to gather myself up so I wouldn't burst out in tears halfway through explaining my life crisis.

"Remember the man who came to fetch me the other day?" I asked as she tilted her head in an attempt to remember what happened on my last visit.

"Oh yeah, I remember him now but what is it about him?"

"He claimed to be my mate Grandma but how is that even possible when he's a lycan. A fucking lycan prince Grandma!" I sobbed as I buried my head in my palms.

The thought of being mated with him haunts me so much. I don't think I would have a better life if he marks me. I might as well be his slave while he kills off anyone that comes an inch closer to me.

On raising my head, I saw the shocked face of my Grandma as her face fell pale while her eyes were still on me.

"Lenora, are you truly mated to him?" She asked.

"I don't fucking know Grandma but it can't be!" I yelled but slightly bit my lips when I realized I had cursed in her presence.

"Does your wolf feel anything?" She asked but the answer was obvious. Lora behaves strangely around Alaric and somehow felt relieved when he announced me as his mate.

"I don't know how she feels, she's been distancing herself from me all these while" I said but some drops of tears immediately rolled down my cheeks as my grandma immediately wiped them off with her palms.

"She definitely feels something, Lenora and maybe to her you're trying to keep her away from her mate. That's why she has been acting strange, she was also going through the process of denial and acceptance but I don't think you were making it any easier for her '' she said while looking at me with a smile on her face.

"Why didn't she tell me?"

"I don't think you were giving her the chance to express herself.  That's why she's mad at you" she responded as I buried my head in my palms. I can't believe this is actually real and I'm mated to a devil I prayed to get rid of.

"Let me tell you something dear, you're a really lucky girl and the moon goddess definitely loves you. Lycans are known to be possessive over their mates. They never let them leave their sights and some as well even take them to battle grounds."

"You said he isn't just a lycan but a lycan prince yet he lets you visit me on your own without him holding your hands really tight. If I remember correctly,  it's been quite a long time since you last visited and he followed you. I bet he knew about you being his mate all those while but never claimed you immediately,  Lycans are definitely impatient and other lycans would have marked you right oh the spot" she chuckled.

"He's making you heal from what had happened to and that's the kindest thing any lycan could do. You're really a lucky girl and the moon goddess favorite" she cupped my cheek in her hands.

"And also my favorite, don't ever forget that I love you" she said and I didn't realize the moment I pulled her into a hug until she winced in pain.

"Too tight," she winced.

"I'm sorry grandma" I chuckled and gave her a lighter hug and I truly felt better as I felt a weight being lifted off of my chest.

The only thing bothering me was on how I would accept him after everything I've seen him do. My wolf might have accepted him but she needs my consent because we're both one.

"I made cookies honey, let me quickly grab some for you and your mate." She said and gently stood up from the couch as she walked to her kitchen while I stared at her in admiration.

She returned with about a lot of cookies in a big transparent container as she placed them in my hands and winked. Seeing her this goofy made me burst into laughter.

"You should go now, don't keep him waiting" she said and I sighed.  I had to return afterwards but even though I wish to spend some days with her, she wouldn't let me do that after finding out I'm now mated to a lycan prince that might knock on her door anytime soon.

"Bye grandma" I kissed her and walked out of the door. I wasn't sure I was ready for this type of journey in my life.

I stopped a Taxi to take me back to the pack house, I had no money on me but I had asked my grandma for some. I would definitely return it in folds to her but I can't bring myself to walk in this mess I was in.

I had twisted thoughts in my mind as everything hadn't settled yet but were more confusing the more I tried to think of it, that I had no option but to shut my mind off completely by thinking of some other things  and looking out the window.

Sometimes when I get overwhelmed and try to get my mind off things, I think of the wonders of nature because I simply just love it and it calms me down.

The driver was passing a different route but would still lead me to the pack house. We passed my parent's house and I felt another wave of sadness hitting me.

I've not been in that house for some weeks, yet they weren't bothered about my absence. Perhaps I was just a burden to them.

"I'm sorry" Lora apologized in a low tone. I was shocked because it has truly been long since I last heard her voice but right now might be a bad time because I wasn't also happy with her.

My grandma might have said I hadn't given her much chance to express herself but completely shutting me off was on a whole new level.

"I also wasn't sure" she said again while I instantly brought out my phone and blasted some music on it. I wasn't with my ear pod but at least the music was loud enough to let her know I didn't want to talk to her.

ALARIC'S POV

It was hard for me and wasn't the way I expected it to turn out but it happened.

I had wanted to tell her that she was my mate in a better time, hell I've been waiting for a long time so I would tell at the tight time yet I ended up screwing everything up and my hard work went down the drain.

I wanted her so badly but she wasn't giving me much options than to tell her at that instance. I know she has no choice but to accept the fact that she's my mate but I didn't want it to be a forced one but a genuine relationship.

I crave for love so badly and I saw the potential in her immediately, but it was really hard as she wasn't making it any easier for me.

The moment she walked out on me, I knew I fucked up for saying it to her, I should have tried my possible best to hide my feelings for her and our bond but then there was nothing much I could do anymore since the deed has already been done and overthinking can't solve any problem.

I watched as she kept on walking around the premises like her soul had left her until she finally walked towards the gates. I knew she would have wanted to go out all these while but knew she would be sent away.

She probably needs fresh air to breathe in and get her mind off of some things or probably go to her grandma's house so I had to let her go outside.

Of course I was watching her closely but I hadn't made it obvious, rather than personally going after her, I had sent Josh. I couldn't just let her scurry away like the last time again. My beast isn't ready to have her out of our sight.

But on the bright side, her wolf's suspicions should have been cleared and in no time she would finally accept me, but I'll make her accept me because she loves me and not because of the mate bond.

As I was getting tired of checking the gates from the balcony and was about to go inside, I heard the metal gates opening and Lenora walked in with a box of cookies in her hands. She definitely was with her grandma.

I watched how she heaved a deep breath the moment she got into the pack house until her eyes caught me staring at her as she slowly blinked away.

For some reason, my heart started to race really fast the moment I noticed she caught me watching her. I am already so in love with her and the treatments I'm getting are eating me up but then all of these are happening because of my search for true love.