*****Erika''s POV*****


    "How did I do, girls?" We were in our room, I was pulling off my dress. "You were fantastic." Pa said.


    "That was very sassy, I loved it." Kat seemed to be the happier one.


    "Right?" I smiled widely, and went to my closet. I was d in just my matching ck undies, I rummaged for something simple to wear. I saw a casual short sleeved chiffon A-line mini gown that was usuallyfortable, and I threw it on.


    I joined my friends who had changed into casual wears too on Pa''s bed in my room. I took note of Pa''s countenance, she was trying to be happy. Mate and troubles. First, it was I and Alex. Then Kat and Jace. Now it is Pa and Gage.


    I sighed. Why did mates exist if they were going to be lots of troubles? The Moon Goddess was yet to allow me understand why she would make mate bonds so difficult. I had no idea what had really transpired between Pa and Gage but I knew it was not going to be something minor if it had Pa looking like that.


    "Yes, I''m sure he would not mess with you again." Kat put in.


    "Yeah, I''m sure too." Pa said rather distractedly.


    She had been the one caring for us both when it was Kat and I, she needed us to be there for her just as she had been there for us. She did not need to tell us. As though on cue, I and Kat went closer to her. I put my hands around her in aforting manner.


    As soon as Kat and I crowded her, her face scrunched into a very sad one and soon, tears fell from her eyes. "He prefers his duty to me. I''m not saying he should not do his duty but I''m his mate. I missed and I was expecting a hug from him, a kiss too. Just to have a nice time with my mate but this is what I get. A cold attitude and an argument. I''ve lost sleep because of him."


    "I''m sorry." My voice was low and sympathetic.


    "You''ll be fine, honey." Kat''s tone was equallyforting and reassuring.


    "How? When? When he was sick, I was sleepless. Because of him, I had a huge fight with you girls. I was ready to leave the pack despite the danger it posed to my life. But just because he saw me here and I had not told him, he refused to even acknowledge the fact that we''ve been too far apart." She sobbed.


    Kat and I kept consoling her. There was nothing else Kat and I could do except seat with her and console her. Though I would love to know how the conversation between them had gone, I felt I should not intrude. Unless she was ready to tell us, that was fine.


    "What have I done to deserve this?" Pa looked at me, I shook my head. She turned to Kat who also shook her head. "Then if I did nothing, howe things are going this way? Howe I can not even have a decent conversation with my mate?"


    Again, Kat and I had no answer to those questions, we only kept quiet and held her hand, squeezing infort. She kept crying andmenting, we only held her hand.


    It had hurt like this when It was Alex and I. Now seeing him after a while, I had not believed I would still react that way towards him. It had taken all of my will not to hit him and break down before him. I was still angry at him, so very angry. And it was this anger I would use as a weapon to fight back.


    He had fought me when I was weak and could not fight back. Now it was my turn to fight back when he was weak, this was his weak moment and I would use it against him. I would use this help he hade to ask me as a leverage to pay him back.


    A knock sounded on the door and I went to answer it. It was... "Gage."


    “Hello, Erika. I''ve not had time to greet you, Alpha." He bowed.


    I waved a dismissive hand. "Oh


    it, Gage." I wrapped h


    e up with my girl or let


    you."


    He chuckled, and whispered back. "That''s what I''m here for."


    I withdrew from the embrace and smiled. "Good."


    He walked to where Pa was, Kat stood from the bed and came to stand with


    me. We both watched the event unfold before us.


    He stooped before her. "I''m sorry babe. I did wrong, I should have told


    w much I missed you bold


    you he


    whatever. I''m sorry, I love you."


    She wept more and leaned in to him for a hug. He hugged her, joining her on the bed. He lifted her chin and captured her lips in his. A happy smile spread my lips. They both locked lips for what seemeddike eternity.


    Pa pulled back from the kiss. "Go away, both of you."


    Both of us chuckling, we left those two mates in the room.


    "Is the event still holding?" Kat asked.


    "It should have ended by now." I replied. We were walking down the hallway. "Do


    you think we should check on them?"


    "We should not take the front, we''re not properly dressed." Kat pointed out.


    I took in Kat''s simple mini dress like mine. “You''re probably right."


    We went round the back of the mansion to see what was happening in the events


    hall. People rarely knew this ce existed.


    "The ceremony''s being done for your sake, yet you''re missing. How very Alpha of you." Kat teased.


    "I was tired, I''m allowed to rest as Alpha." I elbowed Kat yfully.


    A figure jumped out from the corner we were about to take. "Mother of the Moon!"


    I panicked a little.


    "Oh my goodness!" Kat was holding her chest.


    It was...Melisse?