Chapter 0143

"Zachary is a decent man. He carries darkness within him, just like all of us Lycans. It's almost amusing how it seems we could only become Lycans if we had traumatic pasts." She offers a half-smile. "Messed up, isn't it?"

"You truly believe that?"

"I saw the girl's arms. What's her name again? Sophia? Kids don't cut themselves like that without some serious trauma happening."

"What about you?"

"I witnessed my father stabbing my mother repeatedly in a frenzied rage. After I attacked your friend, all I could see was my father in myself. I had become exactly like him. That's precisely what Victoria wanted, what she hoped to achieve."

She runs fingers through her blonde hair. "Victoria never selected normal, happy individuals. She always targeted people with deep issues. Those who would commit the most cruel acts."

My stomach dropped. What was Zachary's past? Why had she chosen him?

"And Zachary?" I asked, almost afraid of the answer.

"It's something he never discusses."

"Never?"

"Never. I'm sorry, that's not the answer you wanted."

I stood to leave and glanced back at her. "You should tell Alexander and Athena what you just told me."

She snorted. "You think that would make Athena view me differently?"

"She has a dark past too. The only difference is she's a pure blood. The last living one. She struggles to trust people after her history was built on lies."

'Well that was unexpected!' Midnight commented as we walked toward the pack house.

Athena and Alexander were no longer arguing outside and were probably making up when she should be resting, but Julian sat out front. Perhaps he could offer some advice.

"What were you doing at Brianna's?" he asked as I dropped into the seat beside him.

"I'm mated to a Lycan too."

I didn't need to look at him to know he was staring.

"Brianna? I didn't think you were into girls?"

"No, not Brianna. Some guy called Zachary. His scent was all over her. You met him, right?"

He nodded.

"And?"

'I don't know what you want me to say, Sis. He's tall, maybe taller than Alexander. Covered in tattoos. A bit abrupt, but he seems to care about Brianna. Are you sure you're mated to him? I could have sworn those two were together."

"Yes."

"Then I feel sorry for you. To know about your mate but never get to meet him."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence!" I snapped. "How's Sophia?"

He glared back at me.

"Don't pretend you don't care about her. The moment you heard she was missing, you went after her."

"She's okay, locked herself in her bedroom. Do you think the Moon Goddess is playing some joke on us?"

"On you, maybe." I laughed.

"It's weird, right? All three of us being mated to Lycans?" He continued, ignoring my comment.

"The funny thing is, I said the same thing to Athena. If Sophia and Zachary had never been turned, we would never have been mated to them. Does that mean we were destined to be mateless forever? Were we always meant to be mated to Lycans?"

Julian shrugged. "You know me, I would have been perfectly happy without a mate."

I rolled my eyes at my brother. "How you're still alive is beyond me!"

He rose to his feet, patting my back. "Love you too, sis!"

Julian strolled off, leaving me sitting alone. Sometimes I envied my twin's carefree attitude. Rarely did anything bother him. Even when he got kicked out, he took it all in stride.

I sat watching the pack move around for some time. They were completely oblivious to my presence. I was fairly certain that if Alexander wasn't my brother, they probably wouldn't even know I existed.