CHAPTER 2: HAS ALPHA RUDIELOFF FOUND HIS LUNA YET???

He stood there in dark training clothes, A sword in his left hand, broad-shouldered, commanding, his presence filling the space like a storm cloud. He smelt like iron, earth and his scent wolf hit her all at once. She froze in place before shaking her head vigorously to reality. She dropped to her knees immediately. He could send her to the red tower, for that mere accident. He could starve her for days, give her punishment that would be too great for her to bear. She was scared to her core.

“I...I’m sorry my price, am so very sorry” she whispered. “Please forgive me. I did not mean to…”

“Stop.” His voice was low when he interrupted.

Vivienne froze, heart pounding violently. Her eyes became misty. This was wrong. Meeting him in the morning meant bad luck for the whole day, or even the whole week.

She had grown up in the palace. She had seen him her whole life. If cruel was a person, it would be called Alpha Almond Rudieloff. He hated her to the core of his bones. He had bullied her so bad and had once sent her to the red tower. That alone showed how much he wanted her dead. Many times he had tried to kill her himself. She had scars on her back from the lashes he had given her several times. She always prayed he died but unfortunately, the more she prayed, the stronger and healthier he became.

A few months after his transformation, he had stopped summoning her. She was relieved for some good years but recently, she had started seeing him again. In places where he did not belong. In corners where he was not supposed to be. He hunted a lot, showed up in the kitchen so frequently. But each time he showed up, he was colder than the last. Something with him seemed off and this was good, it made her feel good.

“Stand,” he ordered his voice colder than she remembered. With no trace of warmth in it.

Slowly, she obeyed, eyes fixed onto the floor. Her heart hammering in her chest. He studied her in silence. Too long that she started to tremble.

“You’re shaking, stop shaking” he said roughly.

“I’m cold, my lord.” she said and it came out like a whisper.

A lie or half of one. He thought

“When do you transform?” he asked suddenly.

Vivienne’s breath caught. “Tomorrow Night. My lord.”

His jaw tightened. He stared at her for another moment, then turned away without another word.

Vivienne stood there long after he left, heart racing, fear and confusion dancing inside her chest. What an encounter. She hurried inside the kitchen, the familiar heat and noise washing over her. Pots clanged, steam rose,  as voices shouted orders.

“Careful!” a sharp voice snapped. “Watch where you’re standing, pale one. We don't know how you will become if the hot water burned off that white thing you call skin”

Vivienne stiffened.

Cordelia.

​The older slave stood with her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed. “You look like a ghost. Makes my skin crawl.”

“I’m sorry,” Vivienne said automatically.

Cordelia opened her mouth to say more, then stopped. A woman entered the kitchen.

Monera. Vivienne’s mother.

She was tall and strong, her presence quiet but intelligent. Her hair contained grey not from age but many years and long hours of hard work that had started to wear her out. Her eyes steady and protective. She glanced between them and then turned to Cordelia.

"You can try kindness you know, it is cheaper than you creating enemies."

Cordelia cleared her throat. “ She was being clumsy."

Monera said nothing more. She simply turned to her daughter. "Get to work."

Cordelia looked away. Vivienne picked up a basket, hands shaking slightly. And she began her chores.

Lady Elizabeth Ravenhall, a sister to king Alpha Reginald Almond, had brought her daughter Evelyn Ravenhall and her son Adrian Ravenhall for his transformation into a wolf. Since they were royals, it was meant to happen in the palace. To honor tradition, to acknowledge their status. She was received by the king and queen on her arrival.

“The palace feels so alive,” Elizabeth observed when she arrived.

“It’s always like this when the Transformation Night approaches,” Eleanor said.

As they were still talking in the hall way, a certain slave had caught Lady Elizabeth's attention. She obviously looked different from the others. She was so pale and her eyes were haunting. She is strange. Lady Elizabeth had thought. Immediately, the slave had shifted and looked at lady Elizabeth as if she had heard her thoughts. It was not inorder for the slaves to look into the faces of the royals for no reason but she did. The slave quickly bowed her head as if she wasn't in control of her own body. Lady Elizabeth brushed it off when they entered a hall to sit.

King Reginald summoned a guard." Take them to meet the princes and the princess."

After they had sent the children away Evelyn and Adrian, Lady Elizabeth turned to Eleanor “And Rudieloff?” she asked gently. “Has he… found his Luna yet? Am sure everyone in the palace is waiting on that. People want to meet their future queen.”

The warmth in the hall dimmed immediately. Worry was written all over the queen and king's faces as they exchanged a knowing look.

“No.”Eleanor sighed.

"NO?, how so? The latest should be 5 years before a wolf finds a mate! Remind me brother. How..." She was interrupted

“Seven years since his transformation.” Eleanor pointed looking directly at Reginald who turned his face to the ceiling instead.

“That is… concerning.” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“It is dangerous,” Reginald said quietly. “A future king, an Alpha without a mate weakens the bloodline. I worry for my son.”

“He has grown cold,” Eleanor said. “Withdrawn. He hunts alone sometimes. Rarely speaks. Seems to be living alone despite sorounded by all of us here ” she added

Elizabeth frowned. " What do you think .” she looked at Reginald.

Reginald stopped walking. “I fear, I don't know why. I fear for my son,” Reginald admitted. “I fear he is losing himself.”

Before Eleanor could respond, Boots echoed behind them. They turned. Alpha Almond Rudieloff stood at the end of the hall, his cloak damp with water. Drops of fresh blood were on his Boots. His dark hair messed up by the wind, his expression as if carved from stone. He forced a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

“Father,” he said calmly. "Mother, Aunt Elizabeth.' he moved forward and bowed his head to great them. " Nice to see you again aunt Elizabeth. How is Evelyn and Adrian. Hope Adrian is ready for his big day." He said.

"Nice to see you too my son. It has been long since I last saw you. You have grown so big.” There was a pause. “Adrian is more than ready for his day." She added.

Rudieloff went to clean up before meeting the family for dinner.