Chapter 2 Taking My Place

Amanda’s POV Our gazes met, and I swallowed hard. He stood tall, dressed in a simple wear of black jeans and a black T-shirt. His black hair was gelled backward, while his green eyes were captivating. He was the young man I had saved in the woods. Although his face was still pale and weak, he looked markedly better than in his critical state in the woods. “Is she the one?” He asked, despite being a young man; his voice carried authority. “No, Alpha,” the man beside him responded, and I immediately recognized him. I recognized him as one of the men who took him just now in the woods. “Are you sure we are in the right place?” The green-eyed man asked, his piercing gaze not leaving mine. “How long does it take you to answer the door?” I heard Aunt Ana's voice behind me. “Who is there?” She said as she pushed me aside and stood before the visitor. I noticed my stepmother was silent for a moment, and immediately she bowed. “It's an honor to have you, Alpha Edward, in my home.” Her words confused me, and I had to look at the young man, whose blank expression hadn’t left his face. He looked at me again, then quickly looked away, as if he didn’t want to hold my gaze for too long. "It's her!" A nearby man peered in and suddenly pointed at Elisa on the sofa, his voice tinged with urgency. "Is she the one who saved me?" the man in front of me asked to confirm. "Yes, I'm sure." "It’s Elisa, my daughter." My stepmother instantly understood what was going on, took them into the living room. Elisa recognized them at once and stared at them nervously, a flash of horror in her eyes. "I'm sorry for my offense in the woods, and I hope you can forgive me. And thank you for saving our Alpha. The leaves you used stopped his bleeding," a subordinate next to the young man spoke up to explain. I opened my eyes wide and looked at my stepmother who looked menacingly at me and put her finger to her lips, gesturing for me to be quiet. “Do you remember me?” His voice sounded tender. “Yes, you were the man in the woods,” Elisa responded shyly. “You saved me,” the young man said to Elisa, and I thought Elisa would decline and say it was me, but surprisingly, she didn’t; instead, she smiled and nodded. “No,” I whispered in disbelief. “I am Alpha Edward Parker,” he introduced himself. “I’m Elisa.” Elisa bowed with respect. Stunned and confused, I looked at Aunt Ana, who gave me a threatening look, and I gulped. “Let's have a seat,” he led Elisa to sit beside him while I stood there like an outcast. In fact, I became invisible. My heart clenched, and I wished to speak; I wanted to scream that I was the one who saved him. It was me and not Elisa, but somehow, I realized my mouth was sealed. “I am here to make a proposal,” Alpha Edward spoke, which got my attention. “I am just twenty-one and was made the alpha after the death of my father…” he announced, and Mother nodded. She seemed so excited. “I will be leaving for other packs for my training, which might take four to five years, so I won’t be around…” he paused and looked at Elisa, who smiled shyly at him. He looked at Elisa briefly and then at me, but he quickly looked away and then back to Aunt Ana. “I want to swear my betrothal to your daughter, Elisa. I wish to mark her as my Luna when I'm done with my training,” he announced, and Mother jumped up on her feet with excitement. “Really?” Mother asked, not able to control her excitement. “I am not a man of many words; I have thought of this before coming here. If not for the help of Elisa, then I wouldn’t be alive, and besides, my seer had told me that the young lady who saved me is destined to be my second chance mate in the future,” he revealed, and my eyes widened. I wanted to open my mouth to say something, but fear and panic couldn’t let me. I just remained numb where I stood. He turned to Elisa, who was smiling widely. “Do you agree to wait for me?” he asked. Without thinking, Elisa nodded, saying, “Yes, I will wait for you,” with a shy smile, looking away. The air in the room was charged with excitement, but my heart sank as I realized the depth of the misunderstanding. Everything in me was compelling me to speak, to say the truth, but I just couldn’t; I was so scared. “Go to prepare tonight's dinner,” Aunt Ana ordered, and I gulped. “Now!” she commanded, and my feet moved. Slowly and with heavy steps, I made my way to the kitchen. When I reached the kitchen door, I turned and looked at them, but none of them were looking my way. Edward was glancing at Elisa while Mother was smiling at them. He looked at Elisa with so much love and admiration in his eyes; it felt like Elisa was the most precious thing on earth to him. Tears gathered in my eyes, and I quickly walked into the kitchen, letting the tears fall on my cheek. I couldn't tell why I was crying or why my heart was aching so badly. It felt like my world was crumbling right before me. More tears fell freely on my cheek, and I didn't bother to wipe them away. I continued crying until I heard the sound of a car, and I had to peep through the window and realize they were leaving. My breath seized in my chest, and I ran out of the kitchen to the living room. I needed to speak to him; I had to tell him the truth. Reaching the living room, I met Aunt Ana, who glared at me. “We have to talk,” she demanded. I positioned myself in front of Aunt, meeting her stern gaze. “Henceforth, Elisa is the one who saved Alpha Edward’s life. You're never to disclose the truth to anyone. Understand?” she insisted, her threat lingering in the air as confusion and shock gripped me. “But, Aunt, why…” “Silence!” She interrupted sharply, and I nervously swallowed. “If you breathe a word to anyone, I won't only kill you, but your father will cease paying your mother’s hospital bills. And you know what that means.” She threatened.