Barely Breathing

"What is it, Ehren?" I asked her calmly.
Elony was to retort but I held up my hand silencing everyone who seemed to hate Ehren for disrespecting me. At the corner of
my eyes, I saw Xyrus seating in his chair, eating the desert as if there's no commotion going on in front of him.
"You don't deserve him!" Ehren spat venomously at me. "He does not deserve a mate like you!"
That angered me. How dare she blame me for all of these.
"I was right after all!" She chuckled while she shook her head as if I was a joke. She pushed me on the shoulder and I stumbled
a few steps.
Tash hissed, but I stopped her. I can handle myself perfectly.
"You should have died." She said bitterly.
I narrowed my eyes at her, hands clenched. She moved nearer me until our noses were almost touching. "He should have let
you die that day."
She repeated softly yet her words were like a knife. I felt a pang in my chest at her vulgarity. How dare she say that when she
doesn't know even the slightest hint of what I had gone through since I could remember, nor the pain I had endured.
I don't despise Xyrus, it was only that it would not work between us. I can't.
"And you do better with him? " I managed to sound calm, perfectly hiding the storm I am having within.
Ehren was taken aback by my question. She might hide it, yet all of us know the true feelings she has for Xyrus.
Xyrus and Ehren were best friends since they were little, Ehren, being the beta's daughter. They used to hang out a lot, however,
everything changed when Xyrus and his brother, Gabbiel, found me almost dying near the pack's boundary.
I was nearly sixteen then, covered with dirt and my hair was matted with leaves and blood from the cuts I had after a rogue
slammed my head at a boulder repeatedly. I was nearly dying with all the injuries I got from the fight and not shifting yet made it
impossible for me to heal faster.
I shook my head to discard the memories. Surely, Ehren despises me.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She taunted. "A former rogue with no home and been living in the streets for years. If it was
not for my pack, you might have not survived that long."
"You do not know anything about me." I snapped, emphasizing each word.
"What I know is enough to conclude you are a bitch and an ungrateful whore." She was breathing hard and shaking.
I blinked, weighing the severity of her rudeness. "I do pay my keep, and what is between Xyrus and me...it doesn't involve you.
Stay out of things you are not supposed to meddle with."
And I'm not done yet with this woman, I crossed my arms, glaring at her. "And how dare you have the audacity to speak to your
Luna like that? I could banish you from my pack if I want to."
Her face turned pale, but it was too late to turn her back now. She relaxed and took deep breaths. "You are hurting him and that
is what I cannot tolerate."
"I could say the same with Carter." I frowned. She doesn't deserve Carter either.
She suddenly fell speechless. Guilt crossed her features but didn't talk back. Serves her right.
"We are merely the same Ehren," I spoke meaningfully. "Now I dare you, tell me what you want."
"I challenge you to a fight Willow Ellis, do you accept?" Something sparked in her eyes.
Carter loosened his hold on her arm and without a word, walked out the dining hall. He was a very nice guy, always with Xyrus
and Gabbiel. Seeing your chosen fight over for someone else, he must have a good amount of self-control to endure this.
Ehren might have a mate now but she still certainly cares for Xyrus.
I just don't have the guts to step down so I nodded in agreement. "A fight it will be Ehren. "