14. The Shift Under The Full Moon
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The pack was buzzing by the time I woke up, and howls can be heard everywhere, everyone must be anticipating for the full moon that was coming this night but I only thought of the pain I was going to endure and the pain Kaden would endure as well.

I woke up early today, I had not done much sleeping, I had taken my showers at around five a.m and when I had gotten ready, I made my way with slight difficulty with the directions to the pack kitchen to help those that were preparing breakfast, they were a bit surprised to see me but they allow me help them but they made sure I was given minimal work despite my protest. Where they afraid to overwork me fearing the Alpha's wrath?, they should know by now where I stood in Kaden's life and that was nowhere.

The breakfast was ready as much as I would have wanted to eat in the kitchen, the head of the kitchen, Nathaniel has informed me that it was against the Alpha orders to not eat in the dining halls, he explained that, that was Kaden's way of strengthening the relationship with pack members, "pack members that eat together stay together", those were the exact words of Nathaniel.

I held a plate of food in my hand as walked into the dining halls, my head lowered down, I know Kaden is aware of my presence, the perks of the bond, I feel his confusion seep through for a moment before his walls are back up, I know he feels everything that I feel, I am not good in putting up a wall completely in my mind while I am not yet fully connected to my wolf.

He watches my movements, while Ciara was trying to gain his attention, I almost laugh at her attempts but I didn't, why was Ciara mateless even at her age, she looked twenty five or six, I had no idea how old Kaden was

I ignore the stares and find the farthest and empty table at the corner of the halls to sat on, their gazes still followed me, wondering what I am doing, they must be mind linking each other trying to decipher my behavior but there wasn't really much to decipher , I am not welcomed here and I know my place.

"What are you doing?" I hear his voice for the first time in my head, it sent a frenzy down my spine as I feel the bond between us resonating, this must be the first time effect, the first time in each others mind, well the first time I am able to be in his mind, it means the wall has been let down, I feel his anger as well at my decision to sit here, but what did he want me to do, did he not want me to sit here, did he not want me to eat with them.

That was it right, then I will leave . I picked up my plate as I stood up, the pack members were watching me like a hawk, like I was the most interesting thing in the universe right now but I don't blame them, I would have done the same if I were to be in their shoes.

I carefully made my way through the tables and I was almost out of the door before Kaden's voice resonated in the halls "Stop right there!" He says ever loudly.

I freeze on the spot and I turn back immediately away from the door, I was utterly puzzled was he going to embarrass me again in front of the pack, that would be heartbreaking and too much to bare if my wolf do not decide to force shift and die, the shame might just kill me faster, what had I done wrong exactly, I was not causing anyone harm, did my presence really irritated him that much that I am not supposed to eat with the pack, was he really making me an outcast in this lands.

Please, I will leave in peace, I apologize for the intrusion. I said through the mind link

Don't move . He responded back through the mind link, he was angry I knew it, this was a big mistake, I shouldn't have listened to Nathaniel and just eat in the kitchen

Please Alpha . I pleaded again in the mind link, my eyes were already glistening with tears.

Kaden did not respond back, instead he descended from the table slightly pushing Ciara away, the pack members eyes were flicking back and forth between I and Kaden. Kaden marched right up to me and before I could say another word, he lips descended on mine.

My brain ceased to function properly, Kaden was kissing me in front of the pack, in front of everyone like it was the most normal thing in the entire world, he bit my lips seeking access that was when my brain was able to fully recover from the shock and as I opened my mouth to let the moan of pain out , it gave him the access he needed to explore my mouth, and weirdly this time I was able to keep up with him.

When he finally lets go, I was completely breathless but I am still stunned

Come with me, he said and he takes my hand in his before I had the time to respond , the pack is just as stunned as I am, a few mouth were hanging low, James and Serena were smiling but Ciara had a scowl on her face that made her look rather unattractive though she was a beautiful woman.

"Leave!" Kaden tells Ciara authoritatively as we got to the table, she flinches

"Are you tossing me aside for this whore" Ciara whined, murmuring gathered in the crowd while I just stared at Kaden like he was possessed or he was under the influence of a spell, why the sudden change, a two weeks ago he had declared me as a mistake of the goddess now this

"Be mindful of your words" Kaden warned

"But Kaden" Ciara whined the more

"I am your Alpha!" Kaden boomed in his Alpha tone and I am sure everyone felt the intensity of his power from that shout. The hall immediately fall silent

"A–alpha, I rejected my mate for you" Ciara was almost crying, I could see the fear in her eyes "I allow you have any another female in the pack. I comforted you when Freya died, I have given a lot to you"

"I did not ask this things of you, though I took advantage of the situation" Kaden explained, not many Alphas admitted their faults in front of anyone but Kaden was doing so in front of the pack.

"Alpha I am better than her!" Ciara spat staring at me in disgust

"But my wolf wants this female!" Kaden yells and I finally understand everything, this was his wolf desire but it was not his desire, I knew something was wrong, his sudden change of heart. The bond was working to pull us together, the wolves in us wanted us to be together.

My heart sank and I suddenly wanted to leave this place, and run far away never to be seen again, Kaden confession just proved to everyone in this hall that it was just his wolf that desired me and not him but I couldn't leave, my wrist were firmly in between Kaden's grasp, where could I go to if I managed to run out of this halls, I was still trapped in this pack.

"Leave now!" Kaden ordered Ciara, his voice was more calm and with the stomping of her feet, Ciara matched out of the halls.

Kaden sat me down beside him " continue your meals" he ordered the pack and just like that the wolves went back to their food.

Kaden discarded my plate and gave me his, I should rejoice that my mate wants to care for me but I am not happy, Kaden was only doing this to satisfy the other half of himself that wanted me.

James and Serena smiled at me weakly and I know they pity me, they know why Kaden is doing this, everyone in the pack knew even Ciara, this was all about his wolf needs,but I do not want their pity, I do not want anyone's pity, this was just my fate and I had to handle it on my own.

I immediately exited the halls when the pack members had given to exit as well, I needed the fresh air, Kaden wanted to follow me but he stopped himself, I guess he has finally regained his senses.

I made my way to the clinic, James had sent words while I was in the kitchen that Hannah had accepted my assistance, at least I would have something doing that would divert my attention from the incident that just occurred in the dining halls.

Kaden walls were back up again, I don't feel him when I reach out to him in his mind just as I had expected of him, it is better this way, he was telling me where we both stood in our relationship and there was no need to get my hopes up not that I was going to in the first place.

Ciara should rejoice Kaden was back to his senses and he would come running after her to beg for her forgiveness at the end Kaden had managed to partially embarrass me in front of the pack members, I am the mate whose mate would not fully accept, but I cannot believe that Ciara had rejected her true mate to prance around the Alpha and claim him as her own, she had not expected him to have a second mate that was for sure, Ciara was not in love with Kaden, she was attracted to his power and Kaden had to be foolish to not see it. What of his other lovers like the blonde that was on his laps the first time he embarrassed me in the halls, I had not seen her again since that day, did he not also have a mate or she had also followed in the footsteps of Ciara.

The clinic was indeed busy but as occupied as I was, Kaden managed to slip into my mind a couple of times, I always envisioned myself in his arms and it cause me to heat up which time, the bond was working its magic and the full moon coming was a catalyst.

Times when Kaden was not on my mind, my change took over, I was thinking about the pain that was to come. The one that I had to face in the dining halls were excruciating and what if this method does not work and Kaden is not able to take part of the pain away, does this mean that I die this night, would this shift under the full moon be my last time on this earth?.

"You should get going" Hannah said just as the last patient exited the clinic

"I want to help you close up the clinic".

"I am good Anna, there are others here that could help me. The moon would be full in one hour time and you would soon start to feel the effects of the moon" she reasoned

"Oh" I muttered, I had not realized how much time had gone by

"Yes, I have already linked the Alpha, he is waiting outside" she revealed

"Oh" I muttered again, I was not ready to face him but it was inevitable, I had to go to him, I gathered my things and I waved a goodbye at Hannah, she wished me luck as I proceeded to exit her office, I thanked her and I left.

Alpha was standing outside just like Hannah said, I avoided his eyes as I walked up to him, he lifted my chin up so I stare at him in the face, he had worry lines creased in his forehead "we can do this" he said and I nodded back, Kaden eyes were turning red indicating that the moon was beginning to ripen and I could feel the energy of the moon as well, the night was just about to begin and I am not sure if I would be ready for what is to come.