NEILLA'S POV
I stared at him, the intensity of my gaze boring holes into his back as he followed closely behind Venn, the strange woman with eyes capable of digging into the soul of anyone she had in her grip.It infuriated me the more that there was no protest coming from him at the position of her hands on his body. Soon they arrived the altar.I cast another furtive glance at the processions in the center of the crowd of werewolves who'd gathered to watch in silent anticipation. The Oracle continued the ritual rounds around the couple, the lone chime of the bell in his grasp resounding in slow succession.The first chime seemed to increase the pace of my troubled heart. It rose ever so slowly and by the seventh time the chime sounded, echoing throughout the deafening silence, my poor heart slammed ceaselessly against my ribcage. Even though I had renounced Rylan as my mate, he hadn't accepted not rejected it.He said nothing in response even when the rejection had sawed through his insides and pain flashed in his eyes.My wolf howled softly within me and I settled a hand against my chest to ease the ache in there. We were one. She is me as much as I am her. Once again, out eyes riveted back, misty as we took in the image.One that would be stuck in our head forever.That could have been me, I thought as I once more seared my burning gaze into the woman by Rylan's side.Us. My wolf reminded. "That could have been us. He thinks us some sort of weakling and it's all because of you." With that, she retreated into the back of my mind and went a step further to block our communication line.Her accusatory words aggravated me, no doubt. Still, I managed to draw an evasive face, pretending for all who cared like I wasn't affected by the sight of my mate -my goddess given mate- about to be bound to some other person.That could have been us receiving the blessings of the goddess. That could have been us basking under the glow of the blue lit moon, the silent murmurings of the Oracle, who by now has taken on the form of the goddess, descending over us.If it wasn't the stupid law surrounding this goddess-forsaken process, I should be on my way home. The law forbids any werewolf, old or young, from keeping indoors instead of witnessing the goddess bless royal mates. They deemed it punishable, only I didn't know what punishment awaited whoever broke that law.I was too chicken to find out so I stayed put.However, irrespective of the threats, people often wanted to attend this event. It was a once-in-four-years occurrence. The sight of the blue moon and it's effect afterwards was enough to send the people running out of their houses to witness nature in it's true ethereal beauty.There were rumours of the people also being fortunate to partake of the blessings that descended upon the couple involved.So why was I here feeling like the goddess pulled an unfair one on me?As I stared at Rylan, I wondered if it was still possible for him to have unrestricted access to my thoughts as before.Unrestricted because I still couldn't find it in me to keep him away from my privacy. I wanted myself bared to him in all pathetic honesty. Look where it dumped me, watching the procession happen from within the curious crowd.After a while, I turned to look beside me. Matteo's hooded glare was hooked onto my 'supposed' mate and his intended Luna. I looked away, turning back to the altar.He was my best friend whom I grew up together with, running throughout the woods, scaring humans who dared to venture into the wild for the search of the unknown. Point of correction; He. I wanted nothing to do with frightening people whose lifespans were so feeble and smelled like death everytime they were within range.All that was before I discovered the scent tha lulled me in for life. For no longer than a century, that is. We'd chosen this very blue moon cycle for a particular reason and it seemed he was willing to throw it away.Time seemed to slow down to a halt as Rylan looked up from his bleeding palm, looking through the crowd with urgency. Those opal green eyes darting nervously throughout the crowd like he was searching for someone.I became hopeful. Hopeful that he'd realize he was not doing the right thing, stop the ceremony midway and come for me. After he'd encircle me, he'd reject my rejection and claim me in front of the crowd.All of my wistful thinking wasn't to be because as soon as his hypnotic eyes rested on me, he stopped. The worry that was etched on his face disappeared immediately as he spotted me.Relief? It didn't seem so.Quicker than he froze, he looked away to join his bleeding gash with his 'lady'. Moisture formed around my eyes, temporarily blurring my view. I blinked a couple times in order to focus even as the dull ache in my chest intensified. What could be more painful than the view before me? Not even when I discovered the truth of my existence. Not even when Mana Sylveon revealed to me, on one stormy night, that I wasn't her daughter."No daughter of mine would let a man treat her like trash for acceptance and it's a good thing that you're not mine!"She had spat the unwelcome news out to me, a look of disgust marring her face for a fleeting second before she recoiled in shock at what she'd said. And for the first time that night since I'd come to know her, I'd never experienced anything like it.And it was all because of him. All because of the man who was now unashamedly getting tied to someone who wasn't me. It was obvious to only me that he was accepting to do all of that with his tail tucked in. He was as unfit to be Alpha just as I was.A tanned hand curled itself around my shoulder, offering nothing but comfort for the unease I felt, succor to my anguish. Thankfully, the hand steered me away from the shame, leading me towards the exit. As soon as I stepped out, fresh breeze whipped against my face and hair, causing me to wheeze loudly like one being pulled out from drowning. I doubled over, tears once again blurring my view of the grass that had taken on a yellow glow due to the moon's illumination.My wolf made her presence known again. "We're being tossed to the side because you have refused to stand your ground. I wonder why the goddess' so called good intentions for me was to pair me with a spineless, pathetic human. You couldn't even avert your eyes to spare us this humiliation. We do not match. If anything, you only seem to draw me back."With those words slapped against my face, she took off again, severing our communication line. She blocked me out once more.Her words stung. Badly. I wanted to say something to counter her words. I couldn't because as they sunk in, everything turned out to be true. She was great at assessing situations and character, great at guessing the end result of an action before the first move. She wasn't a beast for no reason after all.And she was not wrong. I, indeed, was a spineless human.RYLAN'S POVThe long process was rounding to a close sooner than anticipated. I couldn't wait to get out of the view of everyone else and lock myself in my study, reveling in the pain I'd caused my mate.I betrayed her. Openly humiliated her before the eyes of the kingdom, even though I didn't attempt that actively, I passively brought her name to mud with my actions. I'd branded her a shameful name.My thoughts were interrupted with shouts of "All hail the King and Queen. All Hail the King and Queen" filling the air suddenly. The procession was finally over."Zadik. Come with me to my office. Now." I mindlinked to my most trusted aide. He was my Beta and the only person I could trust with my life. Even though he wasn't so pleased when he found out about Venn, he swallowed his disapproval, placing rational thoughts forward rather than emotions.He'd fought bravely by my side during the unfortunate events that took my mother's life. Despite her bold front as she took the enemy head on
RYLAN'S POV Soon after they'd discarded the dead body, we got into the zone of business. I stepped briefly into the bathroom to wash my bloody hand. Under the water gushing from the tap, I watched the water turn red as they flowed down to my fingers and through the drain in the basin. Soon, I was done. I reentered the office again, to meet the presence of older wolves.Zadik then proceeded to notify me of the arrival of a few notable personalities sent by Commander Vladimir, who was the Alpha of the Bloodtrail pack."Bloodtrail pack?" I echoed after him, surprised at such peculiar name. Never heard of them. "Is it a new pack that just got birthed or have they been existing for ages?""Your majesty, I would have you know that while you were making plans to make Venn your... Luna," I could tell how he fought the urge to whack me upside the head with the laptop in his grip. "I'd been making my own findings and turned out they've been around for plenty centuries. Just not into public exp
NEILLA'S POVThe following morning breezed in with the skyline illuminated by the rising sun which infiltrated through the sheer curtains that hung on the window facing my bed. My eyelids were heavy, swollen from the bitter years I'd cried from the previous night.Throwing the blanket over my tired form, I turned away from the light, feeling very reluctant to rise up to start the day. Matteo had taken me home, breaking the law for my sake in order not to have me witness the rites coming to an end.There came a knock on the door. I flinched at first, then burrowed further into the bed as shame washed over me again.The knock came once more and I turned deaf ears to it. Soon, it grew insistent, the short raps turning into loud bangs against the wooden door."I know you're in there right now, Neilla. Pretend all you want, it won't change the fact that what happened yesterday was in fact a reality. Fucking get over it bitch."I sprung up from the bed in shock. That was Mirald, Matteo's gi
NEILLA'S POVThis is not good, I thought, dashing straight into the bathroom to throw up whatever I had left in my stomach. Mirald followed closely behind me, holding up my hair as I retched nothing but bile into the washing hand basin.When nothing more climbed up my throat, I sank back down on the cold tiles, leaning my back against the wall for strength. It felt like life was drained out of me at that moment. An invasion could be happening in the next room at that point, and I wouldn't even have the strength to bat an eyelid. I was that drained."What's up? Spill." I managed to look up at Mirald with a confused expression. "What do you mean spill?"She dropped down to her knees next to me. "I know you're pregnant, baby girl. Even if you choose to hide it from me. I'm a special wolf, dog. Don't miss out that important fun fact."Pregnant? How?I'm sure my face mirrored my inner turmoil as I turned to look at her slowly. I couldn't be pregnant. "I'm not pregnant. I really am not. W
NEILLA'S POVI arrived at the orphanage feeling in a worse mood than I'd been, feeling betrayed and played for a fool. Ever since my wolf relayed the truth to me, nothing felt the same anymore. I refused to speak nor listen to her, blocking our communication line and ignoring Mirald all through our run on the way here. I was being a petty wolf but I needed somewhere to channel all of my anger. She didn't deserve to receive the cold shoulder for mistakes which my wolf made. If only she opened up early enough on being pregnant. Now I needed to think sanely without the urge to kill somebody getting in the way. "You good?" A cool voice brought me back from my reverie. Why on earth was I always zoning out?"Yes, I am. Thanks, Stella." I mustered up a pathetic excuse for a smile but even a blind person could tell through my façade. "You look extremely pale and very unlike your usual self." She commented again, placing it upon herself once more to lay a hand on my forehead to feel me up
RYLAN'S POVIt's been three days, three fucking days since we signed the treaty with the Bloodtrail pack. I've had no time to rest for three hours straight. Shuffling between meetings and whatnot, attempting to ease the increasing tension amongst the families around the borderlands. A lot of them were relocating while most had settled in the town's central for the time being. If that wasn't enough trouble for the first inhabitants, they now had to squabble for space, food amongst other things and I'd be a pathetic liar if I said I had this under wraps.I didn't. Hell, I couldn't even wrap me a present if I was handed a bow and some tape, talk more of the situation at hand.How did my father cope? I wondered as I kneaded my temple with both fingers, wincing at the gradual crescendo of the council's voice. Here they were again, arguing shamelessly and ignorant to the fact that their voices could be heard from miles away. Every now and then when we thought we'd dealt with an issue at h
RYLAN'S POV"I'm afraid it's not something we think we can handle. It's your mate, your majesty. It's Neilla." The guard hashed out as he struggled to gain composure over his stuttering. "She's here and she's fuming."Before I had a chance to respond to the guard or issue a command, the door to the conference room opened and out came the entire entourage of the hags. For no reason, my eyes sought out the head of the council only to find he already had a mutinous expression on his face. I gave him a hardened look that promised 'he'd soon have his head rolling down a river before he'd take that action of mutiny'. As though he read the murderous intent through the smoldering ember in my eyes, he looked away from me, replacing his comment with the a gentle head shake. He exited the large hallway before anyone of us did. The remaining council members stood there in place patiently waiting for my next line of action.Ignoring them, I turned to the guard. "Where is she now?"He stretched h
NEILLA'S POV His eyes closed briefly for a second and we charged in for the kill. My hand swung high in the air...a sharp slap to his handsome face as the end result. Another beautiful chorus of gasps filled the air again to my satisfaction."Outrageous!" A miserly looking old man dressed in a pretty expensive attire shot out.I watched his eyes fly open with resentment, blazing a deep orange that bordered on red. If that was the color of his other side, it meant that the ancient Alpha was withering away faster than we all thought. One look in those terrifying eyes was enough to have me shaking in my boots but I didn't want to back down like a coward.After all, I didn't ruffle up the guards for no reason.I looked at his raised hand that stopped midair as he fully settled his eyes on me. He closed his eyes again for a brief second, battling to control the demon he had for a wolf. When he opened them for the second time, they were back to his usual opal green irises. "How dare you,