Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 54 **

Patricia

Two weeks later.

Five minutes ago, I held a speech in front of the entire Winterbite pack, telling them that June and the Summerburst pack had threatened to unleash war upon us. I also informed them that William, the other pack's former alpha, is now on our side and my new bodyguard.

Not that the news about William surprises anybody since the werewolf has been fighting with us against the zombie creatures every night since they started appearing more frequently.

I take a deep breath and change back into a human to let the chilly rain land on my burning skin. We are out in a flower field, where most Winterbite members joined in howling at the moon and officially accepted me as their new luna.

But while there are primarily smiles and people loving the idea of letting me lead, there are also those who are unhappy.

For example, Riley and Brad are standing under a tree together with a group of young werewolves from school. They are all former bullies who used to call me names, such as crybaby, the pathetic omega, and fat Patty. And what they all have in common is that they deem me too weak to be their leader and luna.

"How is she going to protect us?" Riley questions, making the other people laugh and throw me menacing stares. "Whenever there is a threat, she calls for Finn."

Juula snorts, smiling at me in the most feral way. "Right? Patricia can't even defend herself."

"Yes, she truly is a weakling," Riley agrees. "Without that fairy by her side, she is more worthless than a pile of dung."

Larissa and Brad fall into a fit of laughter, causing Elijah and Finn to clench their fists behind me, but I lift my hand, signaling for them to stand back. I've just held a speech, and most people are leaving or discussing among themselves, but it seems my job isn't done here today.

I step forward, too tired to smile or pretend to be friendly. Riley has been tolerated for long enough. It's time I shut her mouth. In an empty bed and a house without parents, I've had two long sleepless weeks.

Luckily, I've found comfort in beating up the punching bag in the basement. Alice spends all her time with William. Elijah has his beloved Wesley, but Patricia? I'm all alone.

I guess there is Finn, but the fairy isn't someone I deep talk with; we usually bond through training together.

"Patricia?" Finn places a big hand on my shoulder, eyeing me with a worried expression. "Where are you going?"

I turn around, smiling. "To settle the score." My eyes search his concerned face, and I laugh. "You're the one who trained me, remember? Trust in my instincts. I got this!"

Finn smiles. "Fine—give them hell."

With a nod, I remove his hand from my shoulder and then approach the group of teenagers. They all see me coming, yet they don't stop laughing and throwing insults.

"Oh, look!" Juula examines me, up and down, while smirking, and the others snickers when she speaks again. "Here she comes, our powerful luna, Patricia!"

Riley feigns fright and pouts. "She looks angry guys, hide!"

My eyes narrow. Riley is making faces and is by far the loudest in the group, but she turns silent once my knuckles connect with her cheek. Shock seeps into her features, and the female werewolf takes a stance to punch back, but I'm faster than her.

I'm also angrier and sleep-deprived. Stepping up as luna hasn't been an effortless task. My mind is constantly spinning with questions revolving around the pack's best interest, and Finn told me I needed physical training, too, so I've been boxing and punching away every night.

Let's see if it pays off.

I jab Riley once, twice, and then I duck and hit her straight in the face, causing her to kiss the ground. My fists are burning, and my chest is holding back inner lightning—that's how fast my heart is beating.

"What the hell—Riley, are you alright?" Juula falls to her knees, scanning her hyperventilating friend.

Riley is heaving, watching me entirely wide-eyed. She doesn't utter a single intelligent sentence, and I let my gaze wander to the other werewolves—Brad immediately bows down to show me his respect, and so does Larissa. Riley eventually closes her eyes, and Juula joins the others in bowing.

I smile. "That's what I thought."

I brush invisible dirt from my clothes and then turn around without smiling to join Finn and the others. Wesley is beaming at me, and Elijah looks proud, but Alice doesn't seem impressed by my actions.

"You did great!" Wesley is jumping up and down. "You were like pow-pow, and Riley didn't stand a chance!"

Elijah nods. "Yes, it was an excellent battle. You move with marvelous grace, luna Patricia."

Alice sneers. "The fight was rather violent, wasn't it?"

Sighing, I ignore her pout and let my other friends deliver me high fives before Alice's voice turns impossible to ignore.

"Was that last punch even necessary?" Alice questions and glares at me while Finn is ruffling my dark hair. "Violence is never the answer, Patricia, and you should know that better than anyone!"

Sometimes, I fucking hate Alice's innocence and sense of justice. She isn't a werewolf, so why has she spent this entire week trying to lecture me about the ways I lead?

I sigh. "Oh, please! Spare me from the right and wrong talk! Riley deserved to be punched—she should respect her luna, and since she didn't, I had to teach her a lesson."

Alice widens her eyes, but then they narrow with resolution. She clenches her fists and talks louder. "You never smile anymore, Patricia, and you don't sleep! All you do is train, and it scares me—you're turning into someone who I can't recognize!"

Now it's my turn to glare. I take a step forward, signaling for Elijah, Wesley, and Finn to leave us alone. Once they are gone, I give Alice a tight-lipped smile. How can my supposed best friend be the only one who doesn't support me?

"My parents are dead, Alice, and I don't know where Dior is right now, but one thing is for certain—June is readying herself for war, and the Winterbite pack needs to be ready."

"I know that, but..." Alice stares down at the ground, hesitating before continuing her talk. "Do you have to change your entire personality to achieve victory over the rival pack? I mean, you don't even look the same way anymore!"

I lift an eyebrow. "Are you speaking of my newly developed muscles or the new tribal hairstyle Finn gave me? Because I'm pretty sure you told me to embrace what and who I am, and I'm a werewolf, Alice. We are physically superior to humans, and the reason our bodies grow muscles so fast is because we are meant to have them. And I like my tight stomach, thank you very much."

"But you're going too far!" Alice exclaims. "You're not yourself!"

I take a deep breath. "How so?" I back Alice into a nearby tree with slow steps and my intense glare. I'm taller than her and using it for my benefit. "Because I'm angry all the time? Well, guess what?! Angry Patricia gets shit done! Yesterday we were attacked by zombie wolves and leopards, and the day before that, June's spies were on our grounds—I have to be mean and strong to lead my pack!"

"Well, then maybe I don't want to be in your pack anymore!"

"Fine!" I throw up my hands in the air, beyond frustrated. "Then leave—see how long it takes before June finds you!"

Alice's eyes are glistening, and a single tear runs down her cheek. "You used to be so kind and bake cupcakes, cookies, and fool around inside the kitchen every day, but now you're merely a shadow of the person that you used to be!"

My heart squeezes. "I love baking, and I'm still the Patricia you love and care about, but there is a war going on, Alice! Not everyone is privileged enough to run around on pink clouds—someone got to do the dirty work for others to be happy, and I'm that person! I have to fight!"

"But you shouldn't forget about your friends!"

"For the time being, I have to!"

Alice scans my face with quivering lips, and then she takes off into the woods, leaving me in the rain.

I yell after her. "Real mature! Flee and cry when the conversation turns way too real and hard to handle!"

There isn't a reply, and I kick a rock, swearing under my breath. I'm breaking apart every day, a little further every night. My heart is lonely, and my brain is wrecked, but I can't show that to anyone—crying is a weakness, and I have to be strong right now.

Therefore, the only time I feel emotions is in the shower, pretending Dior and my mother can hear me. If anyone found out I talked to myself inside the bathroom, they would probably call me insane. And while I realize I should stop with that habit, it's the only way I cope with stress and grief.