"Thank the Goddess that you're okay," Matt breathed as he and I enjoyed a semblance of the afternoon meal the hospital provided for the two of us. "When I heard what the girls did to you nearly had me dying my damn self, Thierry. I want you to never scare me like that again, even if it's unintentional."

"I won't," I promised him. "I'm actually glad that I've been healed by the Moon Goddess, you know?"

That caught my mate's attention, him giving me a look of surprise as he set aside his container of the bland tapioca. "I had a feeling she did, given the fact that the witches told me about who you really are," he began. "What did she tell you exactly?

I nodded. "She told me everything who I am regarding my status as a dormant werewolf and being her direct descendant," I answered. "She introduced me to my werewolf half named Sirion before warning me of the dangers ahead regarding the war against the rogue supernaturals and rebel hunters, not to mention how my sisters and Mi'Chelle will play a role in the middle of it all. I wasn't liking that part, but She told me to trust fully in her plan and all will be made clear when the time comes."

Matt patted my head, placing a kiss on my cheek. "I know," he assured me. "Thierry, I really can't tell you what will happen when the time to defend our status and protect the other supernaturals alongside the loyal hunters arrives. If anything, neither one of us might be able to make it out unscathed. But all I do know is that we have to rely on each other and make sure that our mating bond is firmly established without reservation. And with the mating ceremony coming up during Homecoming week, you and I will need to fully trust each other and be thorough without any pretense. I believe in the two of us, Thierry Lemieux. Do you believe in what we share? Do you believe in our love?"

I took a deep breath, already knowing the answer right before he asked me. "I do," I replied. "I believe in the two of us, Matthieux Rosseaux-Yanez. The day our paths crossed was the day when life would never be the same. Time means nothing as no one can stop it even if one dares to try. As for you and I, I know that Kristoff believes in Sirion as I believe in you."

"Thank you, my mate," Matt purred, letting a bit of his wolf show through via his voice. "I plan to make sure that nothing ever comes between the two of us."

"I'll hold you to that," I reminded him.

"We will, too," came the voice of Aquilla as she, Velvet, and Ariana came into the room dressed impeccably as usual. "And you know that the Moon Goddess is making sure that the both of you stay true to each other and Her."

"That's right," agreed Velvet as she came to the right side of my bed with some freshly-baked cupcakes. "Anyway, your family's settled into a hotel downtown, Thierry, with your grandmother touching down in Logan International Airport not too long ago. And yes, she did bring the Gruesome Threesome with her. Your grandma reminds me so much like my late grandmama Josie, may she rest in peace. While those girls?"

Aquilla shook her head. "Those twin sisters of yours have no shame with their flirting every guy in the room, but thankfully they got detained by the police," she replied.

"Why?" I wanted to know.

"They had guns and other ammunition with them," Ariana replied curtly, a frown marring her face. "And if I know any better, they're up to no good and will soon plan an attack. I had Electrique beef up security with the guards in the state prison near Boston."

"Thank you," I breathed. "And Grandma Dru?"

The door swung open to reveal the older woman in question, looking demure in a simple red dress and black heels. "Hello, my grandson," she smiled. "I see that you're on the mend after what those she-wolves did you you and your mate."

"That I am," I replied as Matt stood up straight. "Grandma, this is my boyfriend and destined soulmate as well as my roommate known as-"

"I know who he is," Grandma interrupted, stepping closer to Matt, who looked as if he was about to wet himself. "Matthieux Rosseaux-Yanez, we meet at last."

The girls snickered as my boyfriend took a deep breath to compose himself. "It's a pleasure and an honor to meet you, ma'am," he said formally. "I promise to take good care of your grandson. And that's by the powers invested by the Moon Goddess."

"I bet you will," Grandma replied formally, narrowing her eyes. "And if you don't, then prepare to be neutered."

Go ahead, Grandma Druscilla! She never plays around regarding my welfare.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in," hollered Velvet. "We've been expecting you, anyhow."

The door slowly opened to reveal a chastened Kylie and Crystal, both of them no longer dressed in their gaudy outfits and now wearing jeans and long-sleeved shirts. They wore no makeup, and it looked as if their glamorous glows flew out of the window.

Still, I didn't like having these two attackers in the same room one bit. "What are you doing here?" I asked sharply. "Came to finish me off?"

"No," replied Kylie. "And if we did, let's just say that all of Sammons Falls and the supernatural communities will be after our heads."

"We came to talk and eat crow," Crystal added. "And we've been assigned to make sure that nothing happens to you and become your ladies in waiting since you're one of the Moon Goddess' selected children."

"Really?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

"That's right," Matt replied, his voice sharp as he turned to me. "I demoted them to Omega status and their families rightly punished them by revoking their privileges and allowances. And since you're close to being royalty, you might as well have a few ladies-in-waiting to serve you."

I nodded. "Matt. Grandma. Ariana. Can you and the others give us some privacy?" I asked, sending a glare to the two ladies. "I need to let some things out and-"

"I prefer to stay," Grandma replied, glaring at the girls. "I have some things to say for myself."

"I'm staying behind to keep you two safe," Ariana answered. "But Matt will take off to get you some clothes and my girls will get some edible food as the ones here aren't very appealing."

"Right," Matt replied, nodding slowly with the other two witches. To me, "I'll be back later, my love. By tomorrow, we'll be back in our dorms getting ready to finish our midterms and preparing for the dinner party with our families."

To Kylie and Crystal, "Try anything or make my mate and his grandmother feel unwelcome, and you'll face my wrath."

With that, Matt walked out of the hospital with Aquilla and Velvet following behind him and shutting the door.

"Take a seat and sit closer to either side of me," I ordered the two newly-minted Omega wolves.

They did so quickly, Crystal and Ariana at my left while Grandma and Kylie were on my right. "I'll cut straight to the chase since I want to get through this without going on a tyrannical rampage," I began. "Kylie Ambrose and Crystal Lincoln, you two are the two biggest headaches of all Sammons Falls Academy and the town itself. I'm actually surprised that I lasted this long to put up with your threats, condescensions, and nearly endangering my life as well as my Alpha mate's life. I can see why no one likes either of you since y'all are just jealous that I have Matt's heart and you don't."

"But-" Kylie began.

"SILENCE!" I roared, showing a bit of Kristoff in my voice. I took a deep breath before I continued. "Can't you two see that I'm not the real threat that you both need to worry about? Can't you accept that I'm now going to be your Luna of the pack once we deal with this incoming war? Do the both of you really hate that much to want me out of your lives and out of this town? I can see the reason regarding my old classmates back at Andrews-Carter High in Texas as well as my sisters and their respective schools. They have every reason to hate me because I was everything that I wasn't supposed to be: academically gifted, sensible, no-nonsensical, respectable, responsible- practically every value that my grandmother instilled in me since my parents didn't want anything to do with me before all of this.

"Can you imagine walking a mile in my shoes for a day and dealing with spiteful siblings, parents who were domineering at worst and complacent at best, callous classmates and arrogant teachers who demanded so much of you yet thought that you weren't worthy of life itself? Can you imagine having to be forced to remain silent to let your bullies win, giving them your hard-earned cash and rightfully-paid-for meals before being beaten senseless? Can you even imagine having to dream of your funeral where you're just thrown in a shallow grave without a proper last goodbye while everyone defecated, urinated, and even spat on your grave before partying their lives away?" I went on, steeling away the memories of my utmost torment by my flesh and blood as well as their friends while the tears were threatening to fall. "Can either of you girls live a day in my life before coming here and undergoing through the same hell that I am right now?"

"No," Kylie answered weakly, a few tears falling from her eyes.

"Then why?" I asked. "Why did you two she-wolves make me feel like I don't belong here in the first place?"

"It's like you said," Crystal replied hoarsely. "We were jealous of you. You seemed so well-put-together with your life goals and ambitions. And when we learned that Matt claimed you as his, we were lost in our bitterness and ready to take you out at all costs. But when Ariana told us off and we learned that you're a direct descendant of the Moon Goddess, well...I guess you know the gist."

I nodded, keeping my face yet while I felt Kristoff smiling widely when I saw her taste the stringy morsel of crow. "So where do we go from here, ladies?" I asked. "There's the threat of war coming up against us with the rogue supernaturals and the rebel hunters plotting the first move. And with my sisters and cousin, AKA the Gruesome Threesome, set to join them; you know that this is the time to put all the pettiness away and to swallow our pride to defend ourselves. This is the time to stop all the drama and take up arms to support one another. So, I ask you this as the direct heir of the Moon Goddess Herself: are you going to move forward with me or let yourself stay behind?"

The girls looked at each other briefly. "We're willing to swallow our pride," Kylie answered. "We're sorry for all the grief we caused you, Thierry."

"If we'd know what you went through back in Texas, then we might have never planned our road for revenge in the first place," Crystal added. "We were brats to you. Can you forgive us?"

I looked at Grandma and Ariana, who nodded.

SLAP! SLAP!

The she-wolves reeled away from my backhands. "That's for being bitches from hell," I said sharply.

"We deserved that," Kylie muttered.

"That you did," I replied, letting my eyes glow gold. "And now...all is forgiven."

"Well put," Ariana agreed.

"Thank you," both she-wolves breathed.

"Well, ladies, I do believe that you have earned my son's trust as well as mine," Grandma said, smiling softly yet her eyes were all business. "But just so you know, I will not be lenient if you dare betray my grandson again."

"No need to worry about that, Druscilla," Ariana chirped. "My girls and I magically bound them to their oaths to remain faithful. They'll feel intense pain if they plan to turn sour. And I plan to do that to Thierry's parents and uncle as soon as he confronts them at the dinner party tomorrow."

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was a mission that was going to sound easier said than done. But I knew that I had to get all my emotions out on the table and finally put things to bed.

Ooh, child! Thierry is showing everyone that he's not going to back down! At least Crystal and Kylie have repented of their sins.

The next chapter involves getting ready for the fateful dinner party, so hold on to your hats!

Dedication: ainikambo and alexadonne.

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