The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 123

Authors POV…

Becca sat still in the dark, her thoughts hovering around the room. She had been woken up by her message notification. Checking the message, it turned out to be from Carlos, apologizing for not checking on her. He explained he had been very busy and asked how her day had gone.

It felt good to have someone not so familiar check up on you. It had been a long while since she had such attention to herself. Since the death of her husband, her life had been built around the packhouse and Caleb.

It makes her feel bad for herself; she wanted to be free from the feelings of constantly thinking about him and wallowing in self-pity. If things were different, she would definitely love to mingle with other people outside her circle.

Lifting up her curtain, she stared outside. It was almost daybreak, and she didn’t feel like getting out of bed just yet.

Still facing the window, she wished she could be as brave as Edwina by admitting her feelings and looking for a way to free herself from its clutches.

Caleb was obviously happy with Ramona in his life now, and she would be left behind again to pick up her broken pieces.

She didn’t want to be seen as weak; she wanted to stand on her feet and live freely. However, thinking it was always easy. Acting on it just makes her cower back into her shell.

She noticed some form of movement outside her room. She looked out again, unable to decipher the figure; she wondered where all of the guards were.

When she looked again, it turned out to be Edwina. She was dressed in joggers and a sweatshirt and had her hair packed up in a ponytail. She kept jogging around the garden like her life depended on it.

“This early?” Becca mused to herself. Getting up from the bed, she changed into a comfy sweatshirt to keep the morning cold from biting into her skin.

“I didn’t know you had a thing for fitness,” Becca noted behind Edwina, making her whip her head around too fast.

She missed a footing, landing herself on the wet grass. Becca gasped, holding her up.

“I’m so sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” She said.

Edwina laughed out softly, “you really thought I was running the mile?”

“Are you hurt?” She asked, concern on her face.

“I’m fine, Becca. It’s just me landing my butt on the grass.” Then, picking herself up immediately, she complained, “it’s so cold.”

“Would you like some hot tea then?” Becca offered.

Edwina smacked her lips, “tea sounds delicious. Let’s go.”

They both went back into the house, passing by some guards who were amongst themselves of how witty their Luna was.

“Why were you up so early?” Becca asked with her back turned as she brewed the water for the tea.

Edwina shrugged, distracting herself by running her hands on the kitchen island.

Becca observed her; she had bags underneath her eyes which meant she hadn’t slept a wink.

Pouring out the water into the teacup, Becca mixed up lavender tea and honey. The sweet smell surrounded the whole kitchen.

“Hmmn, that would surely taste heavenly,” Edwina muttered.

“It helps to calm your nerves.”

“Wouldn’t doubt it. Just the smell alone brings relief to me.”

Handing her a cup, Becca sat opposite her, sipping gently on her own cup.

Edwina looked up at her, “you were thinking too?”

“I was woken up by a text, and I couldn’t get any sleep after that.”

“A text?”

“Yes, a text from Carlos.”

Edwina let out a dramatic gasp, “that young man does know how to make a woman feel good.” She whispered to avoid alerting others. How funny of her. It’s a wolf-filled house; they had audible ears.

“Stop it, Luna.” Becca cooed, shying away. “He is just being nice.”

“Yeah, whatever you say. I would advise you to let yourself loose and hang around him more to get your mind off you know who.” She glared.

“I can’t seem to detach myself.”

“Now, that’s funny. You, of all people, told me how to detach myself from the shackles of my feelings, and here you are, not following your own advice.”

“It was easy to say to you; saying it to myself sounds more like a joke. No offense, please.”

Edwina laughed loudly, covering her mouth when she remembered the room they were in. “I am not in the least offended. I guess it’s like that for everyone. Here I’m still holding onto the one who messed with my life so much. Isn’t that pathetic?”

“Yes, it is,” Becca admitted with a slumped shoulder. “Where exactly did we go wrong? Is it so wrong to wish for love? Why do the good ones fall into the hands of the uncaring and unbothered ones?”

Running her hands through the edge of her cup, Edwina sighed. “I wish I have an answer to that question. You can never be too sure of the bad things that will happen to you just because you have a good heart. Most pure-hearted people are the ones who get tortured by life the most. There were days I wished I was never created; I just wanted it all to end. I seemed perfect that way, but I couldn’t bring myself to hate or feed on anger. I get called a fool for being an unrelenting lover, but I can’t change my nature just to avoid being hurt. We all get hurt at one point. What I do believe is we deserve happiness, and it will come to us in due time.”

After a long pause, Becca chuckled, “we should have some more lavender and honey tea.”

Edwina laughed in agreement, “definitely! Can’t believe I went all philosophical just now.”

Raising her cup to cheer, “it’s the best encouragement I have heard in years.”

Clicking her cup with Becca’s, “me too.”

They smiled as they stared out the kitchen window, watching the sun rise slowly; their hearts felt light. Each of them hoped they would get to see such beautiful rays of light more often in their lives.