Chase and I walk back to the Alpha's Manor together. Wolves are everywhere in sight and many are watching with interested eyes. They want to see how we are together and hope to catch the slightest error that will spur gossip around the pack. We maintain and once we reach the Manor and at his room door; he shoves it open and lets me in after him.
My coronation is over now. I'm in a new year of my life and the alpha and I must consummate our mate bond, just as the moon goddess has deemed it so. I'm excited and scared as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. Chase takes off his white tunic and leaves his pants on. He turns to the wine cabinet in the room and drowns his sorrows in the glass of bourbon.
This isn't what I want. I'm his Luna now. We've bonded with each other forever and no one can come between us. I want him to drown his sorrows in me. I want to be the one he turns to whenever he's sad or needs help.
"Chase." I call as I walk over to him and place my palm on his bare back. My heart is aching in its cage. I feel his hard breathing and I'm sad because I do not want to be the cause of his pain. "Chase, please listen to me—"
"Get out."
His voice is low at first, and I ask. "What did you say?"
He suddenly spins around and flings my hand away. The look I see on his face makes my knees wobbly. I step back from him because of the rage I can visibly discern.
"Get out, Marelyn!" He shouts, and I jump, pressing a hand over my heart.
My hands are shaking. Another wave of tears is threatening to burst out, but I've cried enough in one night and because of one man. So I purse my lips and swallow the fear his shout caused.
"Are you really doing this to me?"
Chase reconsiders his past reaction and is more calm this time, but his face still holds that granite look.
He says, "I prepared a separate room for you. In this union, we have rules, and the first on my list is that I want nothing to do with you."
"But that goes against everything the moon goddess has defined as mate laws." I stand my ground and tip my chin. "You will not disrespect me and ruin this special moment for me, Chase."
He comes forward and grips the back of my neck in a stronghold. "Check again because it's not me that will live with you or lie with you in the same bed. Over my dead body."
We stare hard at each other for a moment. Sea blues against ink black. The fire in our gazes attracts and detonates as ire. I can see that he's as serious as a heart attack and nothing will change his mind from hating me the way he does.
"Why don't you make this easier for both of us? Just leave me, Mare."
"No! Let me go." I can't hold it in anymore. A single tear trickles down my cheek.
Chase doesn't listen. He manhandles me and shoves me out of his room. The door shuts in my face and the wind it gathers blows my hair out of my face.
He says from behind the door and I hear him clearly, "The next room on your right. I just hope I won't see much of you. Do me a favour and make yourself scarce."
I can tell when he leaves the door post and sinks deeper into his wide room. I crouch low on the floor and pull my knees to my chest. My long dress pools around me and I feel nothing like a princess at this point. It's the exact opposite.
I don't know how long I sit here sobbing, but I hear footsteps approaching a while later. I raise my tear-filled gaze to see who it is. My eyes make out Ruby's figure and I can't feel more like a fool.
She unlocks his door and slips inside immediately. I shoot to my feet and still meet the door banging closed in my face. Ruby had the key to my Alpha's room. Rage kicks in. I knock and knock. I do not use my wolf's strength, but I'm screaming at the top of my lungs for someone to answer me. When I can't find my voice any longer, I withdraw my bruised knuckles and sob quietly.
I realize too late that there's nothing left for me here. A part of me had hoped he would reconsider into the night and that was why I stayed. With slumped shoulders, I walk over to the second room on my right and turn the handle. It budges and I enter. The busted skin of my knuckles heals within seconds, but then the room I'm inside feels so empty and cold. I miss home immediately.
I cry myself to sleep because I do not want to hear the sounds of Ruby giggling and moaning across from me. Jealousy would have killed me by morning. But when I wake, Chase's voice is still the first thing on my mind. Make yourself scarce. How on earth am I supposed to do that?
Maids come that morning and suit me up for the day. It's my first day as Luna of Red Valley and the sound of it all makes my skin crawl. My lungs feel tight and I'm yearning for an escape. I feel trapped and I need saving.
I'm staring at my reflection in the mirror and I can't recognise myself. The dress I'm wearing was made from the Carodian pearls my father brought yesterday. They'd been cut down into tiny fragments and, like always, my attire is blue because I will never forget where I come from.
These maids stay on my trail as I walk into the throne room minutes later. A gathering has already formed within the space and my Alpha already sits on his throne. He avoids my stare immediately and doesn't even acknowledge my presence.
Loki says, "Luna Marelyn, you're most welcome!"
The small crowd cheers. "Welcome, Luna Marelyn!"
It should spur me on and give me the courage I need to face this, but no, it does nothing to me as I reach the stairs, climb up and take my seat. I feel indifferent. Chase does not even spare me a glance or say a word to me, and my father catches on quickly. He glances at me with a question in his gaze.
He knows all is not well and I discern it immediately, even though his mouth did not speak it. Blue Silver wolves do not have mind links as an ability, but there are many other things we are capable of.
My father says, "My pack and I will set out today. Alpha Chase, thank you for choosing my daughter as your Luna. I know she's in safe hands."
"Of course she is, Alpha Ivan." Chase smiles at me and it baffles me how much he can fake it till he makes it. "In fact, Luna Marelyn and I have come to an agreement."
I frown. "Have we?"
He nods and I'm wide-eyed with shock as he rolls on.
"Mare complained all night about how she'll miss her family and her people, and we all know how generous I can be. I've decided to grant my Luna's wish." He stands on his feet. "Alpha Ivan of the Blue Silver pack, my wolves and I demand your second daughter."
The crowd is thrown into chaos. Murmurings arise as everyone awaits my father's response. I do not know what Chase is talking about, but I can see his plans now are to get Ruby to stay behind with Red Valley and at his side in place of me. I put on my best saccharine smile and say to him, "Alpha Chase, let's not cause a scene with my worrying." He cuts me off. "My dear, it pleases me to grant your request, and I will do it with all gladness." "My daughter, Ruby, has no concern with the Red Valley pack. I believe one child is enough." My father spits because this news is something he doesn't like. "What can I do? Marelyn wishes for her sister to be near, and I can’t ignore my Luna. So, I will offer Ruby Everdeen a spot on the Alpha's courtesan train." He quickly adds. "Mind you. This is not up for debate." Ruby speaks up at once, placing a deceitful hand on my father's arm. "Father, I will go. If my sister, the Luna of Red Valley, wants me near, who am I to refuse?" My father do
Carodia is a country hidden on the globe. The rest of the world thinks it does not exist, but it does. It is very real. Carodia is a kingdom made up of wolf packs, co-existing on common ground. Wars happen. Misunderstandings have claimed many packs over the centuries, but this Kingdom is what the moon goddess has provided for us. The maids are here again. It's been three days since my coronation and trouble looms near. I'm wearing battle clothes instead of a pretty gown to the throne room today. The red Valley pack is fighting a war and I am Luna. I must lead by example. The doors of the throne room open for me and I walk inside, making all heads turn. I see the way Chase looks at me from his seat. His eyes rake over my attire. The pure leather pants and black corset top hug every curve in my body and my blonde hair I always have in a messy bun drapes over my shoulders. His eyes fix on the way my small breasts perk up inside my top, but I ignore his scrutiny and make way to my th
My eyes crack open, and I find myself inside a room I've never seen before. It's fancy, with paintings on its walls, two sofas and a centre table, and the bed at the head of the room. I raise my eyes to the ceiling and I see the chains binding my wrists to the loops on it. Fear grips me again. I remember my last moments at Red Valley and I begin to struggle. Chase was far away. My father and my people can not help me now. I don't even know where I am—Immediately, my ears catch the sloshing sound of sea waves and breaking tides. The wheels in my head turn like fiery chariots. I'm currently at sea and my captors aren't planning on keeping me in Carodia. They are taking me out of it. But it's not only my captors that I fear. It is the waters we cross now that make me antsy. I struggle until I'm wet with sweat and feel the little energy in my bones leave me. "Do not fight it." I hear the low-pitched, deep voice as footsteps bound down the short stairs leading to where I am. A man in a
Zeke is gone. He disappears up the stairs and the beta brings me to a group settled on sofa sets lining the deck railings. I hear people laughing ahead. It's a party down there and I'm wondering why the rogue has gone in the opposite direction. As I walk, I take in my surroundings, gauging their numbers and trying to understand just what it would take for an escape. I am out of those horrible chains now and I'm not planning on returning. My eyes scan the endless blues around me. We are at sea, and I can tell just how far gone this sailing boat is. Daybreak is near. I can taste the impending sunset in the air. We've sailed for five hours, which means we've claimed half of the journey's worth. I know all of this because before the mark and before my destiny changed; I had taken an interest in Raven studies. "The name's Jai-Blynn." The beta officially introduces himself to me. He does so right before the group of five now focused on us. "Mar—" I start, thinking it is the right thing t
A pound of slimy flesh slaps down on the deck, and I dodge by a near miss. The boat rocks violently as the tentacles seize every corner. We are going down and the world around me goes blur. I can't find my strength. I'm losing blood just as the rogue had predicted and the worst part is I can't heal. The crew shifts into battle mode. Everyone's fangs and claws are out in defence, but my wolf is buried underneath the surface and weak. I struggle to crawl away from the edge and find safety as chaos plays out. I hear screams, but it's a fair fight. It reaches a point where I cannot even see what is ahead. Now I'm at the entrance to the deckhouse, steadying myself on the wall. Drusila yells from behind me and a hand reaches out suddenly and shoves me out of the way. I stumble and fall. There's a piercing pain in my head as my skull collides with the floor of the deck. It's stinging my ears too, and the world slows. The war around me finds its voice. I roll over onto my back, breathing he
Drusila comes many hours later, and she looks different. I do not know how long I've stayed in this dark room, but I survived. My wolf did not desert me as Jai-Blynn expected, and I can't wait to throw it in his face. The old lady opens the cage and sets me free. I was shivering with fear when she found me. The dark is somewhere I dislike, even with my wolf's vision because a part of my history is dark enough to suffice. Since I woke up here, Drusila is the only one who's shown me kindness, so I save the bite of my tongue for those who need it. The fabric of her clothes is different now. She's dressed in a finely cut purple maxi skirt and jacket. Her age doesn't deceive me as it did when I first saw her in that tunic and knee-length boots. "We've reached land." I strain my ears, but I do not hear birds chirping. "How long has it been?" I ask as she leads me through a narrow passage I'm not familiar with. "Fourteen hours." Drusila stops before a small door and turns to me. "You ca
"Leave us." His deep voice demands, and Drusila obeys. He walks past me after that and I don't know where my mind is, thinking he would've helped me up. I stand on my own and turn to him with my hands crossed over my chest. Zeke's staff is not with him, and you can only tell his need for one if only you look closely. He's dressed casually in a grey cotton jacket and a black button-down shirt and pants. His brown hair looks different and longer. It's curled at his nape. He says unexpectedly, "Must be nice being a bloodline silver wolf. You heal faster than we all do." I'm lost for a moment, then I access my body and sight the bruise on my ankle. It's clearing up like magic and in a second, it doesn't hurt anymore. I spare a tight-lipped smile. "Yes, but it must be nice as well. You're a waterlink. A legacy. Now that was a shocker." Zeke rolls his gaze over his feet, bobbing his head. He juts his chin as he says, "We need to talk." I avert my eyes, looking anywhere else but at him
After the plane ride, Drusila hands me a pair of sunglasses and I don't understand what they are for until we leave the airport. Throngs of people rush towards us in this cold late afternoon. They're all asking questions and flashing their cameras our way. The lights blind me even with the dark glasses covering my eyes, and no one but me seems affected by it. Jai-Blynn is in a single-breasted suit, leading Zeke ahead, who's also wearing shades. Drusila falls in step with me and I can tell this is a normal occurrence for all of them. Zeke suddenly stops at the hearing of a particular question. "Is the owner of Vanver studios willing to try again?" The lady repeats, holding out her mic. She's tall and classy in a black suit jacket and tailored pants. Zeke takes off his shades and doesn't even break a smile, but his expression is far from a grimace. "Only time will tell, Maggie," he says. They murmur at his vague answer. After Zeke throws the reporters off balance, he continues o