Tuesday 15th September, 2020.
My dream had been real! What if Jonah and Noah had been telling the truth?! Was the curse real? It was supposed to claim people surrounding the intended Luna, but Damocles wasn’t close to me? I had disliked him and he had disliked me. Any on-looker could have seen that unless…
…Jonah and Noah’s weird plan was already working? And the curse was mistaking Angelique for their Luna? Angelique had certainly liked Damocles and she had been his favourite! Could a curse be fooled? My heart was racing. Eli kept me in his arms, holding me close to him. His warmth was so comforting. I was trying not to fall apart. If curses could be fooled, how come I had still been the recipient of the premonition? I wished Angelique and I were cool enough with each other that I could ask her if she’d had any nightmares recently. I sighed, trying to relax in Eli’s arms.
I spotted Angelique! She was with Jonah and Noah! Ugh. My stomach did a somersault. Were they really going to pretend to be with her? I didn’t think my heart could survive the Quads marrying her even if it were under some guise to protect me. That was cruel towards Angelique also. Maybe Jonah would tell me if Angelique had had any nightmares recently.
I had to try! I took a deep breath and went over to their table! It was recess.
“Star! Wait!” Cried Eli.
“I believe you! We’ll talk more about it soon!” I said to Eli giving him a peck on the lips just as Noah looked up from his seat. I could feel Noah glaring daggers at me. Eli insisted on holding my hand, fingers interlaced, as we walked over to their table.
“Do you have a problem, Moon?” Noah snapped as I got to them.
Wow. We were back to calling me the wrong name and being rude. He wanted to confuse the curse by making it seem as though the bond with me wasn’t unanimous so I wouldn’t seem like the true fated mate. What better way to play along than to totally ignore Jonah and Noah’s very existence and to not even tell them about it so their reactions would be legit? I felt like an evil genius a bit with that plan. It helped me get a little revenge on the elder two while playing it safe and not hurting the younger two. If I was pretending to not be their mate, I couldn’t act jealous of Angelique. I took another deep breath because she was in Jonah’s arms.
“Angelique, I wanted to talk to you,” I said as cheerfully as I could.
She looked at me like I was nuts which is exactly what I had been expecting.
“Um, no thanks, Cloud,” she snarled.
“I deserve that,” I lied, keeping my tone even.
Angelique reacted to my even tone as though I had slapped her. Jonah looked dumbfounded and even Noah seemed upset.
“I’m really sorry about what happened in the bathroom! That was wrong of me! I overstepped a boundary and I don’t expect forgiveness but hopefully we can be civil. We are related after all!” I reminded her, ignoring the bad taste that fake apology left in my mouth.
Jonah’s grip slackened around Angelique. She didn’t seem to notice. She had assumed a smug expression.
“Perhaps,” she said haughtily.
Eli was staring at me, mouth agape.
Jonah looked really worried and Noah seemed confused. I decided to lay it on thick.
“Jonah and Noah are all yours,” I said, feeling sick.
Angelique looked at me in disbelief, her eyes wide.
Jonah flinched and removed his arms from around her entirely but she still didn’t notice. His eyes pleaded with me.
Noah was taking slow measured breaths as though fending off a panic attack. My wolf was upset. She wanted to comfort and reassure her mates but I knew they sorta deserved this.
“But Eli and Zaya are mine!” I said, making that clear. I wasn’t going to pretend to have no connection to all of the Quads. My wolf couldn’t handle that. She relaxed a little but she felt incomplete.
Angelique shrugged. “Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“So can we talk?” I reiterated.
“We just did!” She snapped.
I sighed. “About something else? Something private!”
“Not right now,” she said with a gloating smile.
I reined in my snarling she-wolf.
“Cool. Later then?” I asked.
“Don’t think we’re friends now!” She scoffed. “You’re still a broke fat looser!” She said.
I saw Jonah’s eyes turn black but he quickly regained his composure turning them back to green. Wow. Angelique’s hatred for me ran so deep! Why?! Was there something I was missing? Had our parents who had been siblings hated each other too? Her parents never helped out my Granny despite being loaded while Granny and I were on food stamps half the time but I had always assumed that was because she was my maternal grandmother whereas my father was the one related to Angelique’s mom. Eli was glaring at Angelique. He put his arms around me protectively. I tried to recover from the insult. I really needed Angelique to cooperate.
“Then you shouldn’t consider me a threat,” I tried. I instantly realized that was the wrong thing to say.
“I don’t!” She said, turning red and standing up. “You? A threat? To me? As if! You’re nothing compared to me. The Quads all refused to even be caught dead with you before the supposed mate bond!” She snarled putting air quotes around the words “mate bond” as though it was ridiculous for me to be fated to the Quads.
She had a distinct sort of voice that carried so everyone in the dining hall stopped eating, laughing and talking to listen and stare especially since this drama involved the Quads, their future alphas and current school heartthrobs. Angelique continued her verbal attack on me.
“Even with the mate bond, two of them still don’t want anything to do with you. And the younger two only care about you cause you’re a pathetic virgin and they love deflowering naive girls like you!” She spat.
Eli growled, his eyes black. Ok, that really stung.
“The same Eli who told you to fuck off before the mate bond brainwashed him into feeling sorry for your poor handout-needy ass is defending you now?” Scoffed Angelique.
Technically it was Zaya who had told me to fuck off but Eli had been mean too. She laughed coldly.
The old me would have cried hands down like I wanted to cry when the Quads were so mean to me at the party but the new me had a very important agenda.
“If you’re done, I’ll just ask you what I came here to ask you since you clearly don’t care to have any privacy. Did you have any nightmares last night?” I asked.
She looked at me with wide eyes.
“You’re such a freak!” She said her voice rising in pitch somewhat hysterically which made me think she had had nightmares. I’d known her my whole life. She was deflecting from something. She was scared!
“Were they realistic?” I enquired furrowing my brow.
“Fuck off! You stupid bitch!” She screeched.
There were gasps.
“Angelique!” Bellowed Zaya who had just walked into the dining hall.
Angelique was seething. Zaya came over and glared at her with black eyes. He put me behind him but I peaked out at Angelique.
She spoke through gritted teeth. “Keep your crazy mate away from me!”
Zaya and Eli both snarled.
“Don’t feel flattered by these two defending you. They laughed at you behind your back saying you asked for grocery money for your birthday and that you live in a shack and will probably give it up to them soon!” She said snidely with a coldhearted laugh.
I exhaled sharply. How had she known about the groceries? She could have guessed about the state of my house and my lack of experience because of past knowledge but the grocery shopping trip on my birthday was specific. They must have told her something or at least told their elder brothers and perhaps Jonah told her. I felt my eyes burn a little as they got teary. Maybe I was way out of my league here if they all discussed me behind my back.
All the Quads were staring at me now with wide frightened eyes. Practically the whole school was looking at me. I was tired. So tired. I composed myself enough to answer her.
“Ok, Angelique, you win. I hope you’re happy,” I said softly so that only Angelique herself and the Quads heard. Everyone else was craning their necks and straining their ears, their curiosity piqued.
I extricated myself from Zaya and Eli and left the dining hall. I could hear footsteps behind me. Probably Zaya and Eli. I couldn’t stop myself from glancing back. I was startled seeing all four Quads following me. I broke into a run. I just didn’t want to play this game anymore. It was cruel on all sides. The Quads chased me. I knew I couldn’t outrun one alpha let alone four. I still tried though.
Zaya was the fastest actually. He grabbed me and pinned me to the wall, putting his hand behind my head so it wouldn’t hit the wall. I screamed in a his face startling him but he didn’t let go. His other brothers surrounded me. I kept very still. When they were sure I wouldn’t run, Zaya released me, backing away to join the semi circle of Quads cornering me. I folded my arms, hugging myself tightly. I fought back the tears and refused to make eye contact with any of them. They were all quiet for a few moments.
“Talk to us, Baby,” pleaded Zaya. “Please!”
“About what?” I whispered.
“About anything, Princess…just talk,” said Eli softly.
“I can’t do this anymore,” I admitted.
“What are you saying?” Asked Noah, his tone tense.
I shrugged.
“Star! Just tell us what you want!” Specified Jonah exasperatedly.
He made me the most furious of all.
“I, Hannah Star, rej-,” I began but Noah and Eli launched themselves at me with Noah reaching first. He covered my mouth with his hand cutting me off mid-declaration. Zaya and Jonah had made sudden jerking movements too but stopped when they saw I’d already been successfully silenced.
“You promised!” Said Eli, his tone accusatory. “You said you wouldn’t reject Zaya and me. You said you’d give us a chance despite our douchebag elder brothers!”
Eli sniffled. I felt so guilty. It had been a knee jerk reaction.
“Didn’t you hear anything Jonah and I said? We explained it all to you!” Said Noah, his voice strained.
“Explained what?” Asked the youngest Quad, Zaya, sharply.
“Nothing!” Snapped the eldest Quad, Jonah.
I sighed against Noah’s hand. He uncovered my mouth and stepped back.
“I’m sorry, Eli and Zaya. I did say I wouldn’t reject you,” I said softly. “But I never agreed to being humiliated like that.”
“Didn’t I tell you Angelique would take any opportunity she got to humiliate you!” Retorted Noah.
“She wouldn’t have any opportunity if my mates were all on one page!” I cried. It was so hard to hold it all in. The tears streamed down my face. I was trembling. All four of them tried to hold me but I shrank against the wall and put my palms up.
“Don’t touch me!” I insisted. “Please!”
“Ok,” mumbled Jonah.
“Did you guys really make fun of me for being poor behind my back?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“No, Baby, of course not,” cooed Zaya.
“Princess, we would never betray your trust like that,” insisted Eli.
“How did she know about the groceries then?” I asked pointedly, my voice thick with tears.
Jonah sighed. “That’s my fault. I overheard Eli and Zaya telling Chet that you were really humble and hadn’t had any demands on your birthday. You just wanted to go grocery shopping for your Granny. I thought it was sweet. I mentioned it to Noah in front of Angelique which was short-sighted of me,” admitted Jonah.
“Is there gonna be a sorry in there cause I didn’t hear one?!” Growled Eli.
Jonah sighed again. “Star, I’m sorry, truly, I am. I don’t like seeing you hurt not one bit,” he said. He sounded sincere but I really didn’t trust him.
“Ok,” I said softly.
“And where’s the apology to me and Zaya?! You almost made our mate reject us!” Snapped Eli.
“Zaya, Eli, I’m sorry,” muttered Jonah.
The younger two rolled their eyes.
“So are we all good now?” Asked Noah.
Of course not.
“No! What the hell is going on? Why’d you call Star by the wrong name just now in the dining room. By being mean to Star, you’re encouraging Angelique to mistreat her too,” retorted Eli.
Noah was silent.
Why were the two elder Quads keeping their plan regarding the curse a secret from the younger ones. If their Mom had really been affected by the curse like Jonah and Noah had said, wouldn’t Eli and Zaya already believe in the curse. I was too emotionally drained right now to cross-examine anyone just yet.
“Are you gonna answer?!” Demanded Zaya, looking back and forth between Jonah and Noah. “What’s with the two of you? You clearly don’t want Star to reject us so why are you being jerks to her? It makes no sense!”
“Now is not a good time to reveal our true fated mate,” stated Jonah.
“That’s a bullshit excuse,” muttered Eli.
“We don’t want Star making a ton of enemies,” lied Noah. “You know what a target the intended Luna always is…jealous girls, disapproving servants, scheming pack leaders and warriors…”
Eli and Zaya wore blank expressions, their eyebrows slightly raised. They weren’t buying it. They both folded their arms, their jaws set, their eyes narrowed.
Jonah and Noah sighed in unison.
“The curse…” began Noah.
“Oh Fuck, Noah!” Exclaimed Zaya. “Not this again!”
Eli groaned exasperately.
The younger two knew about the curse!
“You two knew?!” I asked, looking at Zaya and Eli. “So you're not the least bit worried?!”
“We would never let anything happen to you, Princess,” purred Eli. “But the curse is an old wives’ tale in our family.”
“It’s not!” Protested Noah.
“Ugh, yes it is!” Grumbled Zaya.
“Two of Mom’s best friends died! Her maid of honour and her bridesmaid. Her parents are also dead!” Snapped Jonah.
“Mom’s parents died before she even met Dad!” Retorted Zaya.
“What about the two best friends?” Reiterated Noah.
Eli shrugged. “Coincidence.”
I thought of Jillian and Tobias. I couldn’t risk them like that if there were any merit to this.
“Isn’t it better to be safe rather than sorry?” I mumbled, feeling moronic for siding with Jonah and Noah a little.
“So what do you suggest, Princess? That we just go our separate ways?!” Growled Eli.
“No!” I cried. “I just… I don’t want to be the reason anyone gets hurt…”
“I gave you that ring for a reason,” said Zaya. “It really is enchanted to cast a protection circle around you.”
I glanced at the shimmering opal on the yellow gold band on my left ring finger. My heart warmed even more to Zaya.
“What about my family and friends? What or who will protect them? My grandmother lives all alone!” I said.
“I don’t believe in this stupid curse but I did station warriors to do patrols outside your grandmother’s house!” Said Eli to my surprise. “She’s your only real family and I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
My heart was so full.
“What about Jillian and Tobias?!” I asked.
“Well, Jillian has Chet to protect her. He’s our intended Beta, you know. He’s really tough, trust me!” Said Jonah.
“And Tobias stays in one of the private suites like ours where there’s great security!” Said Noah.
I nodded.
“So this same old curse nonsense is why you’re making our mate miserable?” Yelled Eli.
“Believe what you want! But Noah and I are going ahead with our plan!” Jonah said firmly.
“Which is what exactly?” Zaya asked, rolling his eyes.
“We’re going to trick the witch who put the curse on our bloodline into thinking Angelique is our Luna and not Star. We won’t let Angelique get killed, don’t worry!” Explained Noah.
“I wasn’t worried,” said Eli.
Jonah growled.
I felt a sharp pang at that. He really did care for Angie. He saw me wince and he quickly said, “We’ve been together a year. I consider her a friend…” said Jonah.
“…with benefits,” scoffed Eli.
“You guys broke up almost every other month during this year!” Said Zaya.
“I never said we were compatible! We’re not!” Said Jonah simply.
“Right…so Angelique will be the bait and we’ll get a powerful good witch to nullify the curse put on our lineage,” continued Noah as if he hadn’t been interrupted.
“What’s the point of involving Angelique? Can’t we just hire the good witch to try to take the curse off without bait?” Asked Zaya.
“We need to draw the witch out,” said Jonah.
“It seems a bit cruel to use Angelique even though she’s a huge bitch,” said Zaya.
Jonah snarled and folded his arms. I flinched. He didn’t say anything in response to my reaction this time.
“Would you rather use Star?” Asked Noah.
“NO!” Chorused Eli and Zaya.
“Exactly! That’s what I thought!” Said Noah with a smug look on his face.
Eli sighed. “Let’s say we believe you…” he began. The school bell rang to signify the end of recess and the beginning of fourth period. At Viper Moon Academy, each class was usually one period. A period lasted one hour. We started the day promptly at seven in the morning followed by three classes or periods, recess at ten in the morning for half an hour, two more periods, lunch at half-past noon for one and a half hours and then three afternoon periods so that the school day ended at five in the evening. Students were scurrying off to class now, many of them pausing to blatantly stare at us. The Quads were like celebrities at this school. Eli lowered his voice.
“Let’s pretend Zaya and I believe you, can a curse even be fooled? And how are you gonna make sure Angelique doesn’t…die?”
“I think the curse can select the wrong target if we pretend she's fated to be our Luna. Also, the curse won’t be able to claim the life of the wrong target or at least that was what the witch we want to hire explained to me,” said Noah. “By the time the witch’s ghost or remnant of her energy or whatever it is that carries out the curse realises that Angelique is the wrong target, it’ll be too late, we’ll trap and purify it.”
“You’re forgetting one thing!” Said Zaya.
“Which is?” Asked Noah.
“The curse can claim Angie’s life,” said Zaya.
“No, she’s not really our…” began Jonah.
“Based on the fact that she’s the real fated Luna’s relative!” Said Zaya.