Chapter 2

Ravynna's POV

The room was suffocating.

I smoothed my dress for what must have been the tenth time in a few minutes, trying to hide my trembling hands.

There was a part of me that wished Mom had just kept those rumors to herself that night because all her concerns seemed to do was ruin my fantasy and bring me back to reality.

This union mattered and I had to keep reminding myself that it was more than a simple childhood promise or even a reunion.

It was a political lifeline.

With our pack struggling with drought and an outbreak of famine, our marriage was going to give my pack access to Bloodmoon resources while my fathers soldiers would join the war front giving Bloodmoon time to heal.

Despite how messy everything was, now Kael had a mate, both his parents and mine had insisted that we sit down and talk.

I owed giving our meeting a selfless thought after everything they had done for us.

As though she could sense the turmoil in my mind, Mom turned to look at me before flashing me a sad smile, one which I reciprocated trying my best to show her that I was strong and ready to face whatever heads on.

My hair had taken me nearly an hour to

tame and look somewhat different from what he used to know.

It wasn’t just a meeting and I had been briefed.

My eyes trailed to Kael's father's fragile figure… This was more to their benefit than it was to mine.

And all I could think about was whether Kael would remember as I kept on telling myself that the rumors couldn’t be true.

But the longer I waited, the more fragile that hope became.

Mom nudged me slowly and I raised my eyes to meet Alpha Jareth and Luna Elara's expressions… It was a mix of pride and happiness.

They must have said something to me so I smiled back and nodded slowly causing Luna Elara to let out a soft chuckle.

“You don't have been nervous around us, Ravynna, I have known you since you were a child and I know for a fact that this union is perfect,” Luna Elara said warmly, her hand resting over mine in reassurance.

Alpha Jareth nodded before adding, “You and Kael… you’ve known each other since childhood and we all know how much you meant to him, no bond could be stronger than that.”

I knew what they were trying to do… give me hope and also a glimpse of the battle I might fight with Kael's mate, one I could sense myself losing.

“Yes,” my father agreed. “Surely Kael hasn't forgotten that this arrangement would favour our packs well too.”

I tried to smile, but their words and constant reassurance made unease creep through me like cold water.

Because Kael wasn’t here and it's been more than two hours since we stepped into Bloodmoon pack.

He was late and Kael had never been late even as a child, punctuality had been one of the things he prided himself on.

And now, in the one meeting that mattered most, he was absent.

I swallowed hard and forced myself to sit straighter, ignoring the urge to bite my fingers.

“Ravynna, you are yet to tell us…” the door opened interrupting Alpha Jareth and as I poked up, my breath hitched.

Kael?

He looked nothing like I had remembered but I just knew it was him, his once boyish features were now sharpened.

He was taller, broader, and his eyes… cold.

Another sweet scent pulled me back to reality, he wasn’t alone. Trailing behind him was a woman with her arms wrapped around his.

His parents didn't seem shocked but rather annoyed… they knew.

I cowered under his gaze, I didn't blame him for picking her… she was beautiful with her golden waves dancing down her spine.

Her skin was pale and flawless despite the faint scar along her cheekbone. Her beauty was the type that would make people instinctively want to protect her.

My stomach twisted more as realization struck.

“Rose…” Alpha Jareth coughed out.

She was the mysterious omega who had stumbled into Kael’s pack, claiming her family had been slaughtered by Lycans.

But she has somehow found herself at Kael’s side and judging from the way he shielded her from his parents, he cared for her.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from the duo and watched as he helped her gently in the chair beside him, his arm lingering as though reluctant to let go.

He acknowledged my parents before once again, his cold eyes finally found mine, sweeping over me.

For a moment, I thought I saw something, recognition, perhaps, or memory but then it was gone, leaving me with the ice in his eyes that pierced through me.

“I had acknowledged this meeting out of respect to make something clear to everyone.” Kael started before anyone could say anything.

“I will marry Rose, not only because she is my mate but because I love her.”

The silence that followed was deafening but I was dying slowly inside… my heart was thundering so loudly I was sure they could all hear it.

Whatever we shared… was just a fantasy.

His mother was the first to break it. “Kael, please, this isn't the time… ” Luna Elara said softly.

But Kael’s gaze never left me almost as though he was telling me that those words were for me alone.

“Ravy,” he said and I almost let out a cry… he was the only one that called me Ravy and right now, he was about to shatter me.

“We were friends and prior to what you may have thought, that’s all we ever were, and all we ever will be.”

He wasn't done with his blow, “Whatever promises we made as children, they were just that.”

“You can’t expect me to throw away my mate for you, I'm sure you understand that, don’t you?” His tone was almost sharp and almost threatening, as though daring me to argue.

But I couldn’t stop myself anymore as the words tumbled out, “You had promised.”

Something flickered in his expression…pain? anger? I couldn’t tell because it was gone almost immediately I saw it.

“That was foolishness. I was just eighteen and you know as well as I do that the bond of a true mate is undeniable…”

He shook his head, “Just because you couldn't find a mate doesn't mean you would push this on me.”

“I can never love you, Ravynna and in case I didn't make it clear before I never did and I never will.”

The blow landed harder than I thought possible.

For six years, I had carried those words he had whispered under the starlight in my heart and remained untouched by anyone else, because I was saving myself for a man who now looked at me as though I were nothing more than his childhood past.

This was a mistake!

I shouldn't have ever returned home, my throat burned and I was too stunned to speak.

It was Rose who did instead.

She leaned forward, her voice soft as she pleases, “Please, Ravynna. He’s mine and even though you don't know how it feels, I can tell you that I can feel it in every part of me.”

She looked so fragile as she continued, a tear sliding out of her eyes, “I lost everything, my family, my home, Kael is all I have now.”

“Please… please don’t take him from me.”

Her words twisted my insides like a knife.

I lowered my gaze, as I tore to control my emotions… I didn't even understand what I felt, anger that I let myself believe in a promise? and now, I still couldn't let go?

Luna Elara’s hand closed gently over mine, as if to comfort and she said, “Kael, please, don’t be cruel. Ravynna deserves your respect, she has left her life behind to come save…”

“Respect?” Kael snapped, looking bewildered at his mother's words. “She deserves honesty and eyes opening from this delusion she has bathed herself in. She had been nothing more than a friend and I won’t be forced into marrying her.”

I bit my lip and forced back tears.

In the blink of an eye, Alpha Jareth had risen, and slapped Kael so hard that he staggered backwards.

“You will not speak to your mother that way,” Alpha Jareth growled, his authority slowly filling the room.

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Alpha Jareth turned then, giving no more for negotiation he said, “The wedding will proceed in a few days.”

“You will stand before everyone and swear yourself to Ravynna as your Luna only then will you be sworn in as Alpha.”

Kael’s face went pale.

I didn't know what to feel but the hatred in his eyes as he turned to meet mine made me sink more into my seat.

This wasn't what I wanted.