3

ANDRONIKOS released a low rumble, his gaze steadily on Draekon. His lair was strangely a homely sanctuary, carved into the rocky lands of the House of Veylor.

That was Draekon's favourite place to be, especially when he was disturbed or just needed some space. Last night, it was both.

The past couple of days had been rough.

The DragonBorns had returned to their kingdom without performing the power surge ritual, because Draekon could no longer fulfill his part of the treaty agreement.

He couldn't marry any of the DragonBorns ladies because he had found his mate.

Just then, Alpha Noir appeared at the entrance of the lair. He paused, gaze flicking cautiously toward Andronikos, ensuring the dragon did not perceive him as a threat.

Even after all these years, no one had grown truly comfortable in the beast’s presence. Only Draekon could truly command the dragon.

At his son’s slight nod of reassurance, Alpha Noir stepped inside.

"I'm so sorry about Dione's outburst yesterday." He sighed in exhaustion.

Dione had started a massive fight with Draekon the previous night, blaming him for Vaelora's rejection.

"Thank you for stepping away when you did," Alpha Noir continued.

"It is beneath me to stoop to the level of fighting my younger brother," Draekon replied, a hint of irritation in his voice.

He was at loss how Dione could actually throw such tantrums, after cheating on the same woman.

And factually speaking, Vaelora got mated to him AFTER she had rejected Dione.

There was a brief moment of silence between them, before Alpha Noir spoke again.

"Vaelora doesn't want the bond," he muttered, shivering in profound shock when Andronikos released a low, angry growl behind him.

"Wow..." He stared at Draekon in disbelief. "He is clearly not having that."

"She has become his soulbound too. Of course, he wouldn't take too lightly to anything that implies otherwise."

"So does that mean you wouldn't sever your bond with her?" Alpha Noir asked, sounding hopeful.

"I never had the plans of doing so, father." Draekon paused shortly. "We are clearly not the best match the moon goddess has made, but I have an obligation to my kingdom. And that is to give them a goddess appointed Luna."

*******************

"No!"

That had been the most repeated word in, Vaelora's dictionary of late.

"Vaelora, you can't say no." Om'zaar, the head of the council chiefs pleaded, making the helpless scowl on her face deepen.

"If he has a choice, then why don't I?!" she lashed out, not caring it was highly disrespectful towards the chiefs and other high lords present.

Her eyes locked with that of Draekon's.

He looked calm and unperturbed, giving her that deep stare that had her feeling so powerless for a split second.

How could he sit there looking at her like that, after all he had done to her? After all he was still doing!

He knew she was never going to subject herself to the psychological and emotional slavery of being his mate, so why?

Why wasn't he willing to let her reject their mate bond?!

Turns out things were much complicated with DragonBorns. To sever the bond with their soulbound, they had to perform a ritual. The Sundering Rite.

She couldn't just dish out the usual 'I, Vaelora Hugo, rejects you...' phrase. Factually speaking, she had tried it that day but it didn't work.

In order to perform the sundering rite, it took two to make it work. But how was it going to work when Draekon had made it abundantly clear he wouldn't sever their bond?

He was still so cruel. This was all political to him, and he didn't care if it 'killed' her.

"Draekon has the option of marrying one of the noble DragonBorn females, doesn't he?" she asked, her resolve strengthening.

Her question seemed to have hit one of the council chiefs in a wrong way, and he reflexly hit his hand on the council table.

"How dare you insinuate we make a DragonBorn our Luna, when one of our kind has been appointed by the moon goddess?!"

His tone had been quite harsh. Brusque. But above all, Vaelora had confirmed that this was all completely political. No one really cared how she felt.

"Chief Toi'fah," Draekon spoke for the first time since the meeting began, his gaze quite steely. "I suggest you carefully consider your choice of words when speaking to your Luna."

The entire table fell silent as chief Toi'fah tried to mask his embarrassment. He felt insulted, even though he had no right feeling so.

He always had his reservations about Draekon's rule, but dared not say those thoughts out loudly.

To him and a select few chiefs like him, Draekon wasn't worthy to rule the werewolf kingdom because his blood was 'tainted' by that of the DragonBorns.

"Vaelora, we all know how the treaty ended," Om'zaar began. "King Draekon's beast had claimed you in the presence of everyone, so it is no longer possible for him to take any of the DragonBorns as his chosen mate."

"No," she quietly snapped, no other word in mind.

"But I do believe this is predestined." Om'zaar continued, making Vaelora shut her eyes tightly, willing herself to not lash out again. "If not, why now of all times, did the moon goddess decide to break your bond with prince Dione, and..."

"It. is. not. predestined," she firmly interjected. "I rejected Dione because he was unfaithful, and I'm sure as hell the moon goddess didn't make him cheat. My destiny is to be Royal Beta, not mated to the man who killed my father."

The place fell silent again, as some of the chiefs and lords exchanged pregnant gazes.

Draekon wasn't sure how he felt hearing her say those words. He knew Vaelora was never going to forgive him, but she seldomly mentioned that incident and it sort of relieved him from the inescapable feeling of guilt.

He could never really escape the guilt, but atleast, it hurt less when she never mentioned it.

"Which brings us to a conclusion, Vaelora," Om'zaar calmly stated amidst the silent tension.

"What conclusion?" Her brows furrowed.

"That you wish to 'serve' as royal Beta. That you only want what's best for your kingdom, same as your late father, would have wanted."

Om'zaar knew he was treading on a minefield, but he was wise to do so with caution. He had discovered just where to tackle her.

"Exactly," she muttered, feeling appeased.

"Now, you have been assigned an even better position to help you achieve your goals. It would be a great disfavor to your kingdom, to refuse it."

"What are you saying..?" Her voice broke slightly in confusion, the feeling of fear she had tried to keep in check, leaking through the crack in her voice.

"As a true Beta, you should step up to your new role as Luna. That is except, you have never truly wished to serve this kingdom like your father did."

"You can't say that!"

"It is best we start deliberating on the perfect date for your wedding to the king. It is important that you get coronated as Luna, as soon as possible. That can only be achieved when you both wed."

There was such finality to his tone, that made Vaelora realize deep within her... that she was fighting a lost battle.

They had won.