12

GEMMA

It was night the following day before I decided I wanted to go do anything. I walked around for a while until I heard some maids discussing amongst themselves.

For some reason, I stopped to listen. Maybe it would be interesting.

"...heard she's a whore." One of them said.

I quirked my brow. I wondered who they were talking about.

"She came from a no-name family." Another said.

"I heard he found her on the streets. I don't know why he didn't just bother marrying one of the other ladies as his Luna. At least that way, I'm serving a noble and not a nobody."

I scoffed. They were talking about me.

"I don't know. I don't think we should be talking about this. The moon goddess doesn't make mistakes. She chose him to be her lady's mate." Another maid spoke.

I recognized that voice. She was the maid who was usually coming to my room to clean or give me breakfast.

"You're just saying that because you serve her." The other replied.

"She's not that bad. She's not bratty, throws tantrums, or stuck up and she cleans after herself. We can't say the same about the other ladies." She defended me.

They went silent. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter," the first girl said, "we're still maids."

They sighed deeply as I left. I needed to find Nate. He had to explain why I was even here.

If I was going to stomach all these insults, he had to tell me why I was so important to his position as the Alpha King.

I found George in his study and he told me where to find him. Nate was indeed in his office when I knocked.

"Come in," he said.

I opened the door and walked in to find him sitting behind his desk, reading a book. He merely glanced above his book at me before taking his eyes back to it.

"Why am I here?" I asked.

"Look for something else to do, Gemma. Kill a bird, ride a horse, get an air balloon. I don't care. I don't have your time right now." Nate replied.

"Just answer the question. I deserve an explanation from you." I said gruffly. "Why is it important that you have a Luna?"

"You should have something better to do with your time." He said.

I had no idea why he was being so cold to me. This was his reputation. He was cold and ruthless.

But after last night, I thought that maybe I could get him to trust me. That way, he would let me in and I could have my revenge.

"You just think you're great and you can say whatever it is you want to," I said to him.

And I also didn't have the time to act dignified. If he barked at me, I was barking back.

He looked up at me above the book he was reading and snapped it shut loudly. "Do you have a problem with me?"

"You're my problem!" I snapped. "You bring me to your palace because I'm your mate and you don't even bother explaining things to me."

Nate sighed and massaged his brows. "You're not a fcking child, Gemma. Am I supposed to hold your hand and point out every single thing to you? You're better than that."

"You don't know me," I growled. "And you sure as hell don't own me."

"Seeing that I got you out of your slave bond with Madam Margaret, I think I do." He replied, his eyes darkening.

How did we get here? I came to ask him a question and now, we were exchanging words, anger getting the best of me.

I couldn't control myself.

"You are such a shitty person," I said.

"What if I reject you, right now?" He threatened. "Think about that. Think about how it felt when Elias rejected you. Tell me, do you want to go back?"

My heart falls. When Elias had rejected me, my heart had shattered. Aside from the embarrassment, it was painful.

Despite how short it had been, the bond between Elias and I wasn't as strong as the bond between me and Nate. If he rejected me, I'm not sure my heart could take it.

I couldn't let him know that.

"Do whatever the fck it is you want." I snapped as I stormed out of his office and slammed the door hard.

I needed to get fresh air. I suddenly heard the door opening and I realized that he was coming after me.

I began to walk fast. I made it out of the palace before he grabbed my wrist.

"Gemma, wait!" He said.

I pulled my hand free from his and kept walking.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Nate yelled as he followed after me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back again, forcing me to face him.

"Why do you care? You're going to reject me." Once again, I wrenched my hand free.

For some reason, he wasn't holding on tightly to me. Almost like he didn't want to hurt me but I could be mistaken.

"Do you think this is a joke? Do you know what could happen to you if you're on your own out there? Where do you think you're going?" Nate asked.

"The woods, the mountains, Madam Margaret! Anywhere that isn't with you!" I snapped. I was feeling so many emotions at once. I was overwhelmed, angry, sad and something was bubbling in me.

I wanted to scream. I don't know what was wrong with me.

I began to run. Nate chased after me and he caught me quickly. He planted his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

Nate furrowed his brow and I saw a flash of worry in his eyes. "Gemma, are you okay?" He asked, his tone suddenly gentle.

I was still panting and I wasn't even running anymore. I stared at him and somehow there was this blue glow everywhere.

"Your eyes…" Nate began but I couldn't hear him.

I was suddenly overcome with incredible pain. I screamed, doubling over. Nate tried to grab hold of me but I screamed at him, "Don't touch me!"

He paused, his hand outstretched. "Gemma, you need to calm down." He began.

"Calm down?" I asked. My bones were aching, my head was pounding.

I hear my bones start to crack and I look at Nate with fear. "What's happening to me?" I asked.

He looked as bewildered as I was. "Your wolf… She's emerging." He said.