* * * * * Crystal’s POV * * * * *
It was Friday, a hot Friday afternoon. I had just returned from college with Aidan, we had lectures in the early hours of the day so I had enough time to go and pick up Aidan, it was his second day at school since he recovered.
My previous plans of leaving the city had changed completely, there were so many reasons for that.
The first is my step parents, they will not let me leave and even if they would, I do not have enough money to do so.
Then Logan, as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think I can leave him behind in this city, he is still in the dark about my real identity and the relationship we share.
I do not know if I still have feelings for him or not but I can’t deny that he is still my destined soulmate, at least he deserves to know that.
As for Michael, his behavior has changed in the past few days, things always end up looking awkward between us when we are together.
I am afraid that he has developed feelings for me but he is too scared to say it to avoid ruining our friendship. I can only say that I like him but love? Not too sure about that.
The only man I have ever loved is Alpha Logan Stewart and I guess it was due to the mate pull. That was not one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
“Mum! I am hungry,” Aidan screamed from the dining-room.
Silly me! I went to the kitchen to get some food and here I ended up thinking about my messed up life.
“Sorry hun, I will be there before you can say the word,” I replied loudly
“I think I already said the word mum,” he yelled and I chuckled.
My son cannot deal with hunger, if he was in his father’s house where he belongs then that wouldn’t have been a problem.
I quickly put some dry bread on a tray, got some butter and honey then a bottle of juice from the fridge.
I carried it and headed to the dining, I crossed through the sitting room and saw where Aidan and I had dropped our bags carelessly on the sofa.
I chuckled. It’s quite funny that both mum and son still attend school.
I got to the dining room and served the food on his table.
“Okay Aidan, you can eat this while I make something else for dinner.”
He stared at the food and frowned. I find his face hilarious when he pouts like that.
“What’s wrong hun? Don’t you want to eat this?” I queried.
“Mum…. This won’t do, I am super hungry,” he whined
“Oh I see, that’s why I said you can eat this while I make dinner, when it’s dinner time I will fill the plate for you okay?” I replied
He stared at me with scrutinizing eyes and I chuckled. He’s just too cute.
“Are you sure Mummy?” He queried, his lips still pouted.
“Yes dear, pinky promise,” I smiled.
“Okay Mum, one more thing… My teacher said I would be playing the role of a prince in the next school audition,” he informed me.
“Wow really? Well that is good, I’m sure it would suit you,” I replied
“Yes mum, I am telling you so that you can start addressing me as a prince henceforth.”
“Hahaha.” I laughed. okay my prince, your orders would be followed.”
He smiled, revealing those dimples. I noticed his canines have become a bit longer than normal, it seems like I wouldn’t be able to hide his identity for long, his werewolf gene was developing stronger with every new day.
I went back to the sitting room to have a little rest before I will start cooking, just then my step parents walked in.
They must have come back from their business place.
“Good afternoon Mum-two and Dad-two.” I forced a smile
For the sake of Aidan, I have to live a life of pretense.
“Afternoon Crystal, you are back,” my stepmom replied and I nodded.
They took a seat on the couch opposite mine, it seems like they were stressed out.
Well, the hot sun alone is enough to drain you of energy. Since they were here now, I think I should ask them about Mary again.
I doubt that she had just traveled to see her parents, if that was the case then she would have returned by now and why are they not worried about her? They have not even mentioned her ever since I moved back into the house
“Um… Mum, I was just wondering, why has Mary not returned yet? Is everything alright?”
She looked at me for a while then shifted her gaze to my stepdad.
“Mary is not coming back, she fled from here and we don’t know why,” my step dad replied
Mary fled? But why?
“I don’t understand, were there any issues before she left and have you tried contacting her?” I queried.
“No Crystal, perhaps she has got tired of the work, whatever her reason was, we don’t care. She was not much of a help to us anyway,” my step mum said.
I was perplexed. Why would Mary suddenly leave and my step parents don’t even seem to care about it? That girl had worked in this house for the past six years. I was just fifteen when she was hired as a maid at the age of twelve, although she looked almost the same age as me then.
I was still thinking about the issue when my phone vibrated, then started ringing. I checked the caller ID but it was not familiar.
Strange, I wonder who it could be.
I clicked the green button after the third ring.
“Hello Crystal.”
I recognised that voice instantly, it was Lucy and I should probably hang up as she would have nothing important to say.
“Don’t hang up, please!” I heard her say from the other end.
Okay, does she read minds? I’m surprised she said please, I thought those words don’t exist in her dictionary.
“What do you want, Lucy?” I asked bluntly.
My step parents now had their gaze fixed on me at the mention of that name. Damn it! I should have taken the call upstairs.
“I want us to meet, come to the castle tomorrow let’s discuss,” she said
“Discuss about what? I’m not interested so I will not be coming,” I replied
“Listen carefully Crystal, this meeting is for your own good, it will favor you so you should come,” she said, trying to convince me.
I wonder what she has to tell me and why she can’t say it over the phone. Did something happen to Logan? He is supposed to be fully healed by now, it’s been four days already since the accident.
“Alright, I will think about it but I can’t assure you that I will be there so don’t be expectant.”
Without waiting for her reply, I hung up the call and sighed.
“Who is that? Logan’s soon to be Luna?” My stepmom asked almost immediately.
She had that look of curiosity etched on her face. What evil plans could she have in mind now?
“Yes Mum, she wants us to meet in the castle but I do not want to go, I despise her and anyway she is the one who fired me in the first place and asked me never to come back there, so why does she want me to come now?” I said in a sputter of words.
“Well that’s a good thing, you should accept the invitation and go to the castle, that way you will get the opportunity to meet Logan and then convince him about the sword,” my step-mum advised.
Of course, she was only thinking about herself again. My thoughts, feelings and safety don’t matter to her.
“Your mum is right dear, this is the opportunity we have been waiting for, you should use her invitation to your advantage,” my step dad said in support.
Gosh! These people are so selfish, I have no intentions of making Logan awaken the sword but I guess I have to go to the castle, just to assure them that I would not go back on my word.
I have to do this for the sake of Aidan, until I confirm Logan’s true feelings and intentions, I can’t risk him finding out about Aidan.
“Alright Mum, I will do as you have said, I would go to the castle to see Lucy tomorrow and if I see Logan then I would convince him to awaken the wolf clan’s sword. I will certainly keep to my own side of the deal,” I promised with a reassuring smile.
“That’s a good decision,” my step dad said.
Hmm… They are so wrong if they think I would hurt my mate, even if he was the devil himself I would not cause him such pain.
If I go there tomorrow, I will tell them that I did not see Logan, I would lie to them that he went on a business trip.
If they want to play games, then I’m also ready!
To be continued!!