Chapter 3

Ravynna’s POV

Kael looked like he was about to say something else, before Alpha Jarrett’s sudden cough cut him off.

We turned to see him stumble into his wife’s arms, clutching his chest tightly as the violent cough tore through him.

It was bad.

I sat frozen as I saw blood splatter all over his shaking hands, whilst his body trembled under the strain.

The tension in the room turned into worry as my parents rushed to his side before Dad helped him towards the couch whilst Luna Elara hurriedly cleaned up the blood.

“Father…” Kael’s voice broke through, stepping forward as Alpha Jarrett let out another violent cough, his expression still held malice but this time fear had slipped in.

My heart ached as I wondered what Kael was currently feeling right now, they had always been a close bunch but now this marriage… and his hatred for me seemed to have torn them apart.

As though he could sense my thoughts, his gaze slowly turned to hold mine, right now all I wished the ground could open and swallow me whole to shy away from the intensity of his hatred.

Where had it all gone sour?

Alpha Jareth coughed again, this time more softly and despite the glaring weakness of his body, he flashed Kael a cold smile, “I’m fine,” the older man managed hoarsely.

“I don’t need your concern, not when you’ve made it my death wish to go against everything I say!” He added and from the wince that tore through Kael’s throat, his words had cut deep.

But rather than cowering to him, Kael's jaw tightened, and I could see worry, anger and pride flash across his face … the same pride that had once made me admire him now hardened into something so cold and distant.

“I have made my choice and it’s a pity that you have refused to accept it even on your death bed,” he coldly said, ignoring his mothers mortified gasp, he continued, “I will never get married to Ravynna and if you have ever loved me, you won’t be asking me to do this!”

My heart thumped hard against my chest, I shouldn’t be here.

My presence was causing more harm than good.

Luna Elara’s face crumpled, her eyes glistening as she reached out to him but he took a step back.

Kael wasn’t done with his blow, “If marrying Ravy, means forfeiting my right to this pack, then so be it, and everyone would know that being Alpha of this pack demands I abandon the one the goddess chose for me.”

A small smile filled his face as he drew Rose closer to his side, “Rose and I will find a place where we belong… somewhere that doesn’t demand sacrifice.”

Then, without another glance at me, he wrapped his fingers around hers and brought it to his lips before leaving without looking back.

As the door shut behind them, I found myself unable to blink the tears that had somehow trailed out.

I didn’t want this anymore.

Not when he had looked at her with so much love in his eyes.

No one moved for a long time.

“I’m so sorry that my presence has caused this meeting to be so upsetting.” I started, hastily wiping the tears from my eyes before anyone made comments about them.

Luna Elara then sank back into her seat and covered her face with her hands whilst mom wrapped her arms around her.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and found my voice again, “Please don’t be upset, Luna… he didn’t mean what he had said.” I said quietly, not sure who I was trying to comfort… her or myself.

“That woman,” Alpha Jareth muttered bitterly glaring at the door, “that omega… she’s not worthy to stand beside my son.”

His hand clenched against the armrest, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he continued, “She is no Luna and I refuse to let a wolfless weakling lead this pack in my absence, she’s nothing more than a fragile human… she can neither protect him, nor this pack.”

Mom exchanged a worried look with Luna Elara, but no one dared interrupt.

It shouldn’t matter if she didn’t have a wolf but Kael had called her his mate over and over again, “How could she be wolfless? And be his mate?” I asked softly, unable to stop myself.

Alpha Jareth’s frown deepened.

“She claims her wolf was injured during the rogue attack and has been asleep ever since yet Kael’s wolf recognized her as his mate,” Luna Elara answered in his place, lowering her head firm her face.

I frowned, my mind racing. “But if she can’t shift… how can the bond exist at all?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Luna Elara murmured bitterly, wiping her wet face. “We cannot even read her scent. For all we know, she could be from anywhere, or anything.”

I couldn’t help wondering if Kael had truly thought this through perhaps he was simply drowning in his need to protect the woman he loved… or can’t fathom the idea of being with me.

“Kael is being selfish, forgetting that it was our request that had made you come back home…”

I shook my head, not wanting her to continue what she was going to say. As much as what I was doing might seem selfless, I knew I had agreed to come back home because I wanted him, caring less if he wanted me.

My eyes met my parents and I knew my face was an open book as their facial expressions mirrored mine… coming back was a mistake.

Luna Elara must have sensed it because she then cried out, “You had left your life there to help save our shame but now he’s just going to throw it all away talking about some damn sacrifice as if you aren’t sacrificing anything for nothing…”

I wanted to assure her that I didn’t feel used and would have done this in the blink of an eye but chose not to.

Alpha Jareth then chipped in, “Our pack has lost our place in the hierarchy… I’ve led so many battles lately that have resulted in many lives lost and if we fail to turn the tide against the rogues soon, the Alpha King will send his own envoy to take over.”

My chest tightened at the truth in his words… he was right. I hadn’t even thought about that.

Having worked in the King's command for six long years. I had seen what his rule looked like. Mercy was a sin and he held onto the belief that in order to build an undefeated army, they should never see his teeth nor feel so comfortable to laugh with him.

He was not cruel for cruelty’s sake but his rule left no room for weakness, and no space for love.

If he took over the Blood Moon Pack, everything that made this place home would be stripped away and in order to instill his fear which he thought was discipline, he’d hang Jareth and Elara for being weak.

The laughter and warmth here would leave with them.

“We have lost too much, and our failure should cost our people the cruelty that came with the Alpha king” Luna Elara whispered, as if reading my thoughts.

Alpha Jareth’s gaze found mine again, “Ravynna,” he said, “you’ve always had influence over Kael. If anyone can bring him to his senses, it’s you.”

My heart stuttered painfully in my chest. “You… you want me to try and convince him to marry me?”

He nodded. “Convince him to do what’s right, for his people, if not for us.”

I hesitated, and whispered more to myself than to him, “He hates me now, and had made that clear.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” Luna Elara said gently, interrupting my raging thoughts.

“He’s blinded by his bond… the reason we had asked for you wasn’t only because of your influence but because before he met Rose, you had been on his lips..”

I wanted to believe her, but all I could see was the way he had looked at me… like a stranger he wished had never come back.

“He kept up with your success in the King’s command and when the rumors of you being the King's favorite broke out… we watched him crash out.” She added and they all shared a soft sad laugh… my parents included.

She was probably saying this so I could help but I didn’t mind… “I’ll try.”

They slowly left and before mom joined them, she whispered as she pulled me into his arms, “You don’t have to do this if it breaks your heart.”

I stared at Luna Elara and Alpha Jareth retreating figures… my heart could handle Kael’s blow if it meant repaying them for what they had done for me.

“I’m okay mama.”

Hours later, I stirred in bed unable to go to sleep.

The memories of the walls of this pack haunted me.

Whenever I closed my eyes, I could hear our faint laughter echoing through the hallways as we had Luna Elara chasing after us alongside her maids…

When I opened them, my eyes always found the old oak trees that danced in the moonlight… the very place Kael had carved our initials before placing a chaste shy kiss on my cheek.

And now, all of it felt distant, like something from another lifetime.

I pressed my fingers against the silver necklace resting on my collarbone… I had held on to fragments of the past… his last words to me was that I shouldn’t forget him but he hasn’t wasted any time to throw away everything we shared.

A soft sob escaped my lips before the tears slipped out and this time I didn’t stop them as I kept on reminiscing on the hatred on his face when he had stared at me.

I was such a fool.

I don’t know how long I let my emotions flow but a soft knock at the door caused me to hurriedly wipe them off.

When I opened it, Luna Elara stood there, her expression weary but kind, “May I come in?”

I stepped aside silently, and she entered, closing the door behind her.

For a moment, she simply looked at me, her eyes trailing down the faint shimmer of tears I hadn’t been able to hide down to the necklace around my neck.

“You have been crying…” she murmured, her fingers leaning in to wipe my face.

I didn’t trust my voice, so I said nothing rather I leaned into the warmth I felt from her hands.

She moved closer, “Ravynna, you’ve always been dear to this family and even though you shield your emotions I know, you love my son in a way no one else ever will… I knew that when I saw that necklace.”

“Please don’t…” I whispered, shaking my head, stopping her. “He made his choice and the pressure to force him doesn’t suit me well but I’ll do my best to help.”

“Sometimes, choices are made from pain, not truth.”

My eyes met hers and I caught an emotion I couldn’t recognize in them.

What did she mean?

Did she know something no one else did?

“Why are you here…” I asked as she met my gaze.

For a minute, she hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of her shawl then, slowly, she said the words that made my heart still.

“I know I’m being selfish but the king's convoy will arrive in a few days and regardless of what Kael feels, I would like you to go through with the wedding and the coronation ceremony with Kael.”

I shook my head, slowly withdrawing from her warmth, “With you as Kael’s wife, the Alpha King would grant them a little more time and Kael wouldn’t have to watch us get hanged for our mistakes.”

She knew she had me there.

Her eyes brimmed with guilt as she placed another object in my palm.

My throat tightened painfully as I stared down at the glistening object in awe, “You can’t be serious,” I whispered.

I’d seen the red jewel on Kael's grandmother's hand when I was a child.

I turned away, pressing a trembling hand against my mouth. “And after? What happens after the ceremony?”

Her silence was enough.

Kael will go back to her.

Tears welled in my eyes once again and she pulled me closer from behind, “I know this isn’t fair to you and I would never ask this if there were any other way without losing my son.”

“Please,” she whispered. “For the sake of this pack… for Kael.”

Accepting this meant hurting myself more and living in a lie of delusion.

I knew I shouldn’t but the thought of bearing the burden of the blood that would spill if the Alpha king was to come here filled my head and I found myself wrapping my fingers around the ring.

Another tear slipped out of my reddened eyes at the thought of what awaited me.

I was going to regret this and withstanding that, I whispered okay.