The Brutal Alpha's Tender Daughter novel Chapter 28

I could see the guilt in Levin's eyes, but there was also hope and a yearning so great it stole my breath. This was how you were supposed to look at your mate. Satisfied, but also sad, because I had never felt more lonely I turned to leave only to have Oliver stop me with his intense gaze.

Just one look at him and I recognized him as the person who had hugged Levin when he had returned from the Alpha training camp. Levin had looked confused after their embrace and I finally knew why.

Oliver had olive skin and was very muscular. His short dark brown hair matched his crystal blue eyes perfectly and gave him a ruggish look.

His intense gaze captured mine and I could feel how thankful he was.

"Thank you.", his raspy voice told me sincerely and I smilingly nodded my head.

It was hard to feel anything else than happy for them, because they definitely deserved their happily ever after.

As I was leaving the garden I tried to not feel heartbroken, but in a sense I was. Levin had chosen Oliver and although I knew they were mates, I battled with the feeling of worthlessness.

My wolf howled in my mind and instantly I remembered the black wolf in my dream. Could he really be my mate? And if so, how could I find him?

Suddenly something that Levin had said before struck me. He had talked about that he was not supposed to become Alpha, so who was?

I shrugged my shoulders, reminding myself that I should ask him later about it.

Shortly in front of the house I suddenly stopped walking.

Where was I supposed to go now? I was not their future Luna anymore, maybe just a guest, but I probably had to leave soon.

A cold shiver ran down my spine when I thought about returning home. I felt the panic rising inside me. No, I could not return to the Mercy pack.

"Hey, do you want to play with me?", a child's voice forced me back to the present and managed to interrupt the negative circle my mind was prepared to go.

A little boy not older than 5 was standing in front of me. He had brown eyes and reddish hair. Freckles covered his nose and cheeks and he looked so hopeful at me that I could not deny him.

"Sure, what's your name?", I asked him gently and saw his eyes brighten.

"These are my last months of freedom, before I have to start school, so I made a list.", he told me cheerily.

"What's on it?", I curiously asked and let myself get infected by Noah's joyful aura.

"Everything that's fun!"

His eyes sparkled with a happiness I had rarely seen or felt in anyone. Suddenly I felt very protective of Noah because I never wanted him to lose his optimistic attitude. My wolf agreed with me, Noah had already touched her heart as well.

"What happens when school starts?", I continued to ask him and briefly wondered if the school here was similiar to the one back in the Mercy pack.

He shrugged his shoulders, but his grin never left his lips.

"I'll probably have less time for fun things, but I heard from the older kids that they actually like going to school, so I'm not that worried about it."

My brows furrowed, because in the Mercy pack nobody liked going to school as it meant less time training, which everybody was always keen on, and the teachers there were very strict, punishing you for every tiny mistake you made. I could still feel the sting in my palms where they had used to hit me with a wooden ruler.