Chapter 18
Lola’s POV
I was still shaking on the floor of the office looking at the door through which Adrian stormed out. Am I that disgusting? Am I that unlovable? I kept thinking as more tears poured down my cheeks.
I was happy that Grayson was out of the picture but the look I saw in Adrian’s eyes when I entered broke me. He wanted me to be at fault, he wanted me to be the bad person so he can have a good reason to throw me out of the pack.
I was crying so much that it was hard to breathe. I knew Jasmine was having it worse because she’s been silent since Adrian stormed out of the room.
“Jasmine, I’m sorry I put us through this. If only I hadn’t been born, if only I hadn’t been so weak, we’d not have to go through these pain and rejection“, I said to her tearily and I could almost feel her shake her wolfish head.
“Lola, it is not your fault that they can’t look past the exterior and see that you’re someone worth fighting for. You do not have to take responsibility for their stupid decisions“, she said and fresh tears fell down my cheeks.
I wish I could be as strong as Jasmine was. I was always crying and showing weakness and that’s why I keep getting rejected.
About an hour later, I felt Lyla come into the room but I still laid down on the floor where I was when Adrian left the room.
“Hey, Lola. I know you’re not asleep, I can hear your uneven breathing.
Why don’t you get up and let’s get out of here?” She asked calmly as she came near me, almost like she was expecting me to lash out at her with my claws.
“But I do not want to leave this place. No one wants to see me
anyways, I’d always be unwanted“, I said tiredly, hoping she’s going to leave me alone but that was a wishful thinking.
“Bullshit! It’s like you’ve forgotten that I said we are best friends now. Just because Adrian decided to be a shithead and reject a sweet soul like you doesn’t mean everyone is like him. I don’t know what you’ve been through, Lola, but I promise you that you can rely on me from here on. That’s what friends do“, she said as she sat down on the floor beside me.
I took in what she said and tears welled up in my eyes buy I refused to let them fall. She was right. I might not find my mate but I’m not stuck being a slave anymore. I now have people that care about me even though they do not know about my past.
I sat up and surprised myself by hugging Lyla. She seemed to be surprised too because she took a moment before she hugged me back.
She pulled back and looked me in the eye. “Enough of the emotional moment, let’s get out of here“, she stood up and took my hands in hers, pulling me up with her.
She talked my ears off as we walked towards the kitchen and I was happy for the distraction. I think I even smiled a little whenever she’d say something funny.
Juliana was waiting for us when we got to the kitchen and she pulled me into a hug when she saw me. “Oh, child. Your eyes looks so puffy and swollen. You poor thing“, she said in a motherly voice and I felt myself tearing up again before Lyla stepped in.
“You’d better not let me see any tears stain your fine, porcelain skin again“, she said to me sternly before facing Julie. “Julie, I just barely managed to stop her tears and you want to make her cry again? You’re supposed to feed her, not make her cry“, she scolded Juliana and I watched how the woman smiled sweetly at her words.
“Of course, Lyla. Forgive me, madam“, she said to her jokingly and Lyla puffed out her chest in response, making them burst into laughter.
“Sit down, Lola. I’ll whip up something for you in no time“, Juliana said as Lyla pulled out a seat and forced me into it.
“I just ate before I came here, Julie. I’m sorry but I can’t stomach…….“, I was saying when she looked at me with a scary look in her eyes, shutting me up.
“Luna Rose ordered you be fed and I won’t go against my Luna’s wishes. I’m going to make you a sandwich, it’s not going to take long at all“, she said and faced the cooker again.
“You should never reject food from Juliana, she can be scary when you don’t accept her offer to feed you. I once made that mistake and I had a bloated stomach for days, she made me eat 3 extra portions for refusing her. You need to see how I looked like a balloon that was about to pop for days“, she whispered to me and I smiled a little.
“You do know I can hear you right? If you do not shut your mouth. I’m going to make you eat 6 portions next time“, Juliana threatened and Lyla instantly shut her mouth. She gave me a look that says ‘see, I told you so‘ and I surpressed the urge to giggle, lest she gives me 3 extra sandwiches.
“Oh, that reminds me. Luna Rose said you can stay at the pack house if you want. She figured you might not want to run into Adrian“. Lyla said just as Juliana placed the sandwich in front of me.
Rather than replying Lyla, I decided that stuffing my face with food is a better idea. I looked up and saw Lyla looking at me expectantly.
“Lyla, you do not mind me sharing your room for tonight, right?” I asked and her face lit up and she nodded her head aggressively as she did a happy dance.
I felt myself getting a warm feeling in my chest and I sent a prayer up to the moon goddess for bringing me into this pack. I might not be wanted by my mate but I suddenly have people that want me around and I couldn’t be more grateful for them.
After eating, Lyla and I went into her room and she gave me her clothes to change into. I noticed that while she seemed to be wearing less clothing, she gave me clothes that were long enough to cover my whole b*dy, which I was grateful for. As we laid in bed, waiting for sleep to take over us, I asked a question that had been nagging me since I left the office floor.
“Lyla, do you think the whole pack knows that Adrian doesn’t want me even though I’m his mate?” I asked, dreading the answer that was going to follow.
“It’s a small pack, Lola. Words travel fast, I’m sorry“, I nodded my head after I heard her speak. It’s not her fault I have a shitty fate.
With the possibility of being a laughing stock in the pack and never getting someone to spend the rest of my life with on my mind, I fell asleep restlessly.