Chapter 8

My head spins with what-ifs. 

I had been worried about what it would be like to have a new baby sibling to look after but I'd also been excited. I’d hoped I was going to have at least one blood relative that loved me unconditionally. I’d imagined trips to the park and taking him or her to their first day of school. 

Niall is busy covering for his father so I spend the day alone in my room trying to process what happened. I want to go to my mum and comfort her, but I know she wouldn't take comfort in my presence. I know she will be feeling this loss deeply. 

She hasn't just lost her baby but her chance at sealing her place within the pack. Even if Alpha James and her broke up she would have remained Luna if she was the mother of his child. Now she has lost the security my sibling would have brought her.

My mum returns home the next day and an oppressive silence settles over the entire house. Alpha James locks himself away in his office and my mum refuses visitors and shuts herself in her bedroom. Nanny Gwen busies herself with house chores and Niall and I find ourselves alone again. 

The next few days pass quietly. I study with Niall in the mornings and our afternoons are spent taking walks outside.

Today Niall has taken me to watch him practice his archery. He is very talented and hits the centre of the target almost every single time.

“Come here,” he says after he fires a few shots at the target. I get up from my seat on the bench and Niall steps aside handing me his bow.

“You’re going to teach me now?” I ask hopefully.

“If your arm feels healed enough, yes,” he nods.

“It does,” I say eagarly.

“Then take a shot,” he encourages. 

I take an arrow and position it on the bowstring the way I'd watched Niall do it, then I take aim and pull the string back with a shaky arm. It's not as easy as he makes it look. I release the string and my arrow takes off slowly, falling short of the target.

“That was terrible,” I laugh and turn to look back at Niall. His eyes seem to glisten with amusement and his smile lights up his whole face. I don’t think I've ever seen him look so carefree.

“Let me help you,” he approaches me, taking position behind me. 

He places a hand on my shoulder, and another on my lower back, pressing gently to straighten my posture before pressing his chest against my back and reaching around to put his hands over mine to manipulate the position of my arms. He helps me to pull the string back and it's much easier with him lending me his strength. 

“Take aim and then on the count of three, let it go,” he whispers against my ear, so close I feel his warm breath like a warm caress against my ear. I look at the target with determination. Trying to ignore the goosebumps that Niall’s nearness is causing.

“One,” he breathes and I suck in a shaky breath.

“Two,” he purrs and I shiver at the sensation.

“Three,” his voice caresses and I let go of the string with a soft whimper. The arrow flies through the air, hitting its mark.

“Good Girl,” Niall says, his fingers gently tracing up my arms, over my shoulders and down my back before resting on my hips.

“Niall… I,” I attempt to speak, unsure what I want to say as he bombarded my mental state with just a simple touch. I should tell him to get off of me, that this is wrong, but this doesn't feel wrong. How can something that feels so right ever be wrong?

“Freya, what if I told you I don’t want to be your brother?” his tone is low and husky against my ear and one of his hands slips lower to my thigh. No one has ever touched me this way before. I’ve never wanted anyone to touch me like this, until now.

“I don’t think I want to be your sister,” I admit, my voice trembling.