Chapter 3

Maeve’s POV

I did all of what was expected of me but I didn't think I could make it to the gala.

Apart from the fact that my heart was hurting, my body was also hurting and I honestly thought I was going to vomit. Even my wolf was starting to act weird, whining and growling inside of me and occasionally snapping her teeth in the direction of where I was headed. 

I had nothing to wear, nothing at all.

I was Luna yet I couldn't afford a single dress, not even the cheapest.

I had no money, and no access to anything, Alphonso made sure I was solely dependent on him and his pack for everything. According to him, there was no money, no clothes, I couldn't buy anything, I couldn't even afford the basics of living.

I was in no state to attend the gala.

“Don't embarrass me tonight” Alphonso had whispered to me, sending goosebumps down my spine and causing the hair on my arms to stand due to fear. If it weren't for the fact that it was hot outside, it would've sent chills through my body.

I nodded and bowed as deeply to him as I could, trying to contain the tears threatening to spill over.

From my window I watched him leave with Avery, they didn't feel ashamed of their little act, they knew I had seen and heard them.

They were both dressed as royalties. Alphonso was in a tuxedo with his black hair slicked back and a smile that was so sweet and innocent, so pure and innocent that it made me sick. The black dress Avery wore complimented her red hair perfectly, it flowed around her like flames, her dress clinging to her curves in all the right places. They had both chosen very elegant and expensive clothing. I wondered how much they paid for it.

They looked perfect together. Perfect to have. Perfect for each other. But they weren't. Their happiness was probably tainted by me.

I felt jealousy creep through me as I stared at them, I should hate them. Hate Avery for stealing mine and Alphonso for bringing such disgrace upon me. Hate them for being together after what they had done.

But I couldn't hate him. Even as he hurt me, I was still pathetically in love with him.

It made me nauseous to think that it was possible that he truly loved me as well but there was always the fact that I'd been reading too many romance novels and that my mind was playing tricks on me.

Or maybe I was insane.

I was insane! The looks he always gave me made it crystal clear that he was disgusted by me.

So why did he even marry me?

I went to the kitchen to get my food and I overheard the maids talking.“He doesn't even treat her right.” One of them said, “She doesn't deserve that.”

A woman I didn't recognize replied. “Of course she does! She goes around dressing worse than we even do. She doesn't take proper care of herself and makes him look weak! How does someone like that even end up marrying Alpha Alphonso? He's far better suited!”

The maid who was cleaning the table nodded and wiped away a lone sweat running down her cheek as if saying "Yeah" to herself.

I felt a lump begin to form in my throat. Why did they all think of me this way? I shook my head, trying to shake the feeling of pain and sadness from my mind. It didn't matter. They still judged me because I was different.

When they finally noticed my presence, they quickly apologized and turned their backs on me as they hurried towards the stairs while holding back giggles as they spoke amongst themselves. They couldn't help laughing when they saw me and I wanted to slap them all to make them shut up so I wouldn't have to hear their stupid laughter anymore but I knew that wouldn't be appropriate.

All I could do was sit silently as some maids and footmen left the room with dishes of food and drinks.

After everyone left, I grabbed a spoon that was sitting on the side and brought it down hard against the bowl. A small piece of porcelain broke off and I picked the rest up carefully so as not to touch my skin and tossed them away.

It was then I made up my mind, I was going to the gala and maybe I didn't give a fuck about how Alphonso would feel.

I returned to my room and pulled out the only decent dress I had.

By descent I meant it barely had any patches but it was worn out still from years of repeating and washing.

But it was clean and still fitted me like a glove and that was all that mattered.

I pulled my long blonde hair into a 

loose bun and slipped on a pair of earrings that had belonged to my mother before she passed away and put on my necklace, it belonged to her family and was handed down from generation to generation. 

From my grandmother whom I had never met to my mom. It reminded me so much of her and how much I missed her, the old her before the chaos came.

When I looked back at my reflection in the mirror, I looked bare, pretty bare, like someone who had forgotten they even existed. So pale and so thin.

But there was no use crying over spilled milk. Instead, I just hopped on the old heels that had been used for a while.

And if you were wondering, I trekked down there.

The little confidence I had managed to gain from before slowly disappeared once I arrived.

What could I say? I was nervous. Not scared as hell, because I had never been scared of people or situations but I just wasn't sure how Alphonso would react. What if I got on his nerves? What if he didn't want me there? Or worse.

The garden was decorated with Fairy lights and rose bushes lined the pathway leading to the door. It was beautiful, it was breathtakingly beautiful and I felt almost breathless at the sight of it all. It reminded me so much of some sort of enchanted room.

As I stepped inside, the sights of expensive-looking people in tuxedos and dresses that cost millions greeted me.

Everything sparkles under the light and I smiled softly. This place seemed so beautiful and luxurious.

I continued walking forward, admiring the artwork on the walls along the way, smiling slightly whenever someone walked close enough that our bodies touched briefly and I could catch a whiff of their delicious scent and hear their warm chuckle as they looked down on me.

This was definitely a bad idea. I had to leave.

It was only when I turned to leave that I collided into something - someone.