Luke spent the whole day locked up in his office. Michelle and Samson tried to coax him out, but he had shut everyone out. Everyone tried to make him come out, but he was not ready to face everyone, especially with his red and puffy eyes.

He was so embarrassed that the whole Pack heard him cry. He wasn't the type to cry. If he stepped out the door, all he would see would be either confused eyes or pitiful ones.

He didn't want to see anyone. So, he secluded himself in his office, lying on the floor. He was upset, and the Pack could feel it. He was making everyone uneasy. They could somehow feel his pain and suffering, but they didn't know what he was suffering from. His silence was his downfall, his demise and eventually his killer. This silence was poison, not golden.

If his mother managed to walk into his office, her heart would break, seeing his boy breaking down. Worst of all, he was one with the floor now.

Luke did wonder what life would be like if his sister was still around. If Rolus wasn't her mate. Would she still have found her mate? Or she would be suffering, taking each day as it passes, enduring the pain? He didn't know what was worse, his sister being alive right now, suffering, awaiting her fated day; or dead, but resting in peace. Sometimes he was relieved that she was no longer feeling pain and was at peace, he hoped she was at peace. But sometimes he was angry that she was dead. He wanted to be selfish and hoped that she would still be alive, enduring the pain, even though she was tired of always living her life in pain.

It was that damned Alpha's fault!

Luke felt like he could tell his parents what happened the night their daughter died, but he didn't have the heart to. Something was holding him back. He felt like it was their little secret, a secret that would come in handy one day because in their Packs, it was a serious offense to reject your mate. It was a lethal offense if an Alpha committed the act themselves.

Would everyone believe him if he told them what happened? The secret was eating him, especially now that the talk about mates was going to be his daily bread.

He wanted to meet his mate, really badly, but the problem was that he was not ready. He was never going to be ready because there was always that speck of doubt that he might get rejected, or not reciprocate their feelings. He was told he wouldn't be able to feel the mate bond, or all the love at first sight feelings mates had. How would he even confirm that someone was telling the truth about being his mate? He's been approached by so many wolves trying to take advantage of his situation, which left him with trust issues concerning his mate.

Everyone knew about the Clonmel twins' case. Everyone knew and some shunned them, some pitied them and some tried to take advantage.

Some of the most powerful Healers in the faraway Packs tried to help them, cure them of their illness, but nothing worked. When they failed to cure them, they labeled their illness as a curse, then shaming them after.

Luke and Lucia were still young that time, but not dumb. Their parents didn't hide anything from them. Their mother was crazed, hiring anyone she could find. She thought she was trying to help, as a mother and a Luna, but her help brought sick and deranged wolves that brought more harm than good because when they failed to do their jobs, they started spewing nonsense. Since Michelle was not the kind to take shit lying down, she hit back with just as much force.

Luke had a normal childhood, but Lucia did not have it easy because she's always been a sick girl, attracting deranged Healers all over, claiming that they've come across such an illness and could make her shift. Michelle was too desperate in Luke's mind, allowing Lucia to participate in sacred rituals, all in the name of trying to help her find her wolf, to shift because it was better to try than to not try at all. She didn't want to live with the guilt of what ifs, what if they had tried this and that. She wanted to try everything, so when everything failed, she could say she tried.

He felt the tears fall for his sister and the pain she endured, the endless consultations and participations she partook in when she was younger and the rejection from her mate. He cried for her because she did not deserve what happened to her. If he could have taken the pain, he would have. If he could have taken her place in that grave, he would have. If it was all possible that they would trade places, he would gladly trade places with her.

The problem was that if he was in her place, she would feel the exact same way, making it impossible to have peace.

All Luke needed to do was wash the secret away, drink it down with something strong to get rid of it. He couldn't tell anyone because at the same time that Rolus was at fault, Luke was at fault too. He failed to protect his sister, all he did was become a pathetic little thing and cry over his sister instead of helping her. Why didn't he get up, and ask for help? Maybe someone could've helped prevent the inevitable.

It was later in the day when Luke managed to sneak into the confines of his bedroom, his body too tired and aching. That floor did things to him, including causing him body aches.

"Can you at least tell me what's eating you? Talk to me," Michelle tried to coax Luke into speaking with her, but to no avail.

She was seated beside his bed, watching him look at the ceiling with the covers on him, even though it was scorching hot.

"Tamera told me that there's something bothering you. And what happened in your office? The whole Pack could feel your distress. The Pack's anxious," she said, brushing Luke's head.

He felt like a little child the way his mother was treating him. He cried too much in his office to the point that his eyes felt dry, like there was nothing left. Days like that came and went over the years.

"One of those days," he spoke for the first time since his mother came into his room.

Michelle's hand on his head became still. Luke knew she understood what he meant.

She got over her shock and continued brushing his head. The silence was too much because Luke could hear his thoughts, and afraid his mother could hear them too.

The silence continued on, with Michelle still brushing his head. There was nothing to say because this happened every year. Luke preferred the silence over anything because he cried too much for one day.

______

The next day, Luke was much better. He was in the Pack's training grounds, watching his warriors train.

Head Warrior Shanell was monitoring the grounds, walking with her second in command, Ronald.

Some were training in their wolf forms, whilst others in their human forms. They always trained hard and smart, but the problem was that they could never surpass Creek Pack. Every Pack knew Creek Pack had the strongest and smartest warriors.

He was sitting on the grass, leaning against the oak tree that provided shade to him. He could see some pups trying to imitate the training warriors, and that brought a smile to his face, but it quickly vanished when he saw Macey running in his direction. Her skin had reddened due to the glaring sun.

He stood, coming to meet with her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, letting her catch her breath before she replied.

"We received a call from Creek Pack. They are seeking an alliance."

He frowned, putting his hand on Macey's back as he ushered her with him. "What alliance? Who called?"

"Their Beta. She called to arrange a meeting with you. She wants you two to meet at Hallow Town."

"Isn't she that disrespectful mosquito?"

Macey laughed, shaking her head. "I've never met her. I'm sure she's not that bad. Plus, she sounded so kind on the phone."

"Kind? She's a monster. Don't trust her voice. She even insulted you guys," he informed her.

"Who? The Pack?"

"No. The women here. Said you're all helpless housewives," Luke laughed when Macey stopped, glaring at him. "What?" He raised his arms in surrender.

"Take that back."

"But it wasn't me. It was the lady whose voice sounded kind," he mocked.

Macey slapped his shoulder lightly, making Luke laugh even harder.

"But she had a nice voice. She wouldn't say that, you're just bitter," she argued, continuing her walk with Luke.

"I'm not, I swear. And don't you even dare think of approaching her. Tamera told me how you were back to your... I don't want to say it, but I'm going to say it anyway. You're back to your slutty ways. With Liesle of all people?"

"What? What's wrong with her?"

"Thought you could do better. She's too clingy, too flashy."

No wonder the whole Pack knew of her hooking up with Macey. The girl couldn't keep her mouth shut, especially if she slept with the Gamma. She would make sure everyone knew, and she made sure.

"Well, she was good in bed, does that count as her being valuable?" she asked, cracking Luke up.

"Just don't meddle in Creek Pack affairs... and it's members. Too conniving those people," he warned, entering the Pack House with Macey following suit.

"I'll do as you say, Alpha," she mocked, laughing when Luke glared at her.

"She's mated by the way, you never stood a chance."

Macey gasped, placing her hand on her chest in mock offense. "Excuse me? Have you seen me? This motherfucker," she pointed to herself, smirking, "can make anyone, anyone hungry."

"Am I in the list?" he mocked, opening his office door.

Macey ran his eyes down his body, as if analyzing him. She pursed her lips, then shook her head. "I'd rather go for Peter."

"Too bad he's got a mate and I don't have. Oh, and you don't have a mate too. Isn't it a coincidence?" He opened the door, then they entered.

"Okay, you made your point. Anyway, she called on your personal phone, don't even know where she got your number from. You can call back the last number that called," She grabbed Luke's smartphone on the table, then called the number instead of giving it to Luke. She even put it on loudspeaker to Luke's dismay.

The Beta picked on the fifth ring. "This is Sierra Miles speaking. How may I help you?" she answered.

Luke had to admit that she sounded kind, and nice. Macey had that 'I told you so' look.

Luke rolled his eyes, then replied to Sierra. "This is Alpha Luke. Heard you called."

"Oh, yes. Will it be possible for us to meet at Hallow Town?"

Luke looked at Macey, who nodded her head enthusiastically. She had Luke rolling his eyes yet again.

"Alright. Is that all?"

"Yes. I'll forward you the rest of the details. See you then." She then hung up.

"I'm going with you," Macey announced, crossing her arms over her chest.

Luke just shook his head in amusement and went to sit down on his chair, with Macey sitting on the table.

A message then came through, with the details of the meeting. They were supposed to meet in three hours, which was going to be late.

"Fine, you can come, but please behave. She's a mated wolf and an enemy. Remember that," he warned, remembering when he blew up in Tamera's face when she was communicating with Zayn.

It was just anger, Zayn is and will always remain family, Pack or not.

Macey clapped her hands, then got off the table to hug Luke, saying, "You're the best Alpha ever, did you know?"

"Only if it benefits you," he retorted, to which he received a slap from Macey on his shoulder. The woman was violent.