Chapter 7

Ravynna’s POV

For the umpteenth time, I stretched across the bed… the king sized bed that laid in the middle of this impossibly large room.

I was yet to style it to my taste… I didn’t even know what Kael might like or perhaps I was flattering myself by believing he’d ever see the inside of this room.

“The more you lay in here, the more the reality that we had married ourselves sinks in” Lyra commented but I ignored her, my fingers curling into the sheet as my eyes trailed around the extravagant empty space except for the bed and the balcony that overlooked the training grounds.

I lost track of time, lost in my wandering thoughts until my eyes met the Luna’s crest placed beside my solo picture…memories of last night replayed in my head and I couldn’t tell which part hurt more…Kael’s betrayal or his humiliation, or the pitying looks from the pack and visitors.

Yesterday’s bonding ceremony had turned into a complete farce, and Kael just couldn’t stop himself from making me a laughingstock.

News traveled fast and gossip like this traveled faster.

I turned to his empty side of the bed and pulled my knees close to my chest… the weight of everything almost seemed to press me more.

And of course, Kael didn’t come back.

“Why would he? When he had his true mate with him… his Rose, with her doe-eyed innocence and timid voice and that ridiculous flower wreath she dared to wear beside me yesterday.” Lyra fawned, almost mockingly.

My jaw clenched involuntarily.

I hated myself for the bitterness I could feel slowly growing inside me, hated the fact that despite the fact that I knew my place yet I couldn’t stop comparing myself to her.

She was beautiful and I was certain I looked like a scrawny rat next to her.

“You shouldn’t let her innocence make you feel insecure, you are beautiful and you know it!” Mom had said it over and over again last night.

It was almost as though everyone knew he wasn’t going to be back because just after I was out of my dress, Luna Elara had kept me company until mom.

They came with different messages though, Luna Elara was sorry and still wanted me to push through while mom had promised me to take back home even if I wanted to go back that night.

She didn’t judge when I had bursted into tears, calling myself stupid for going ahead with this.

Earlier this morning, she had asked that just like Kael wasn’t taking this marriage seriously, I didn't need to… I just had to hold out until the Alpha's emissaries completed their inspection in three days.

This was their final favor for Kael's parents, and even without being told I knew I owed it to them.

If I stood at Kael’s side for the inspection, it would buy the pack enough time and protection to survive the next moon cycle.

I knew the only reason Mom wanted to leave my side was because our pack couldn’t remain unguarded for long.

With silverfang weakened by rogue attacks and our packs standing as allies in the war, any shift in leadership made us both vulnerable…if they stayed too long here, the rogues attacking Blood moon might easily turn their eyes toward us as well now we are allies bound by marriage.

It didn’t make any sense for me to continue letting Kael match over me… she had even added that if I refused and wanted to give him another opportunity to rub dirt all over my dignity then she and dad would personally come to escort me back to home.

At the early hours of this morning, she had left alongside dad and the entourage of people that had sent me off.

So three days from yesterday was the new deal… Today was day one.

A knock pulled me out of my head for a minute, “Luna Ravynna, would you be joining us downstairs for lunch?” The maid's voice called out shortly after.

Maybe if I ignored, she’d get the message and just leave me to my thoughts.

She didn’t.

Her knocks grew louder until I softly said, “Maybe later?”

She stood there as though unsure of the message she was to pass before the sound of her footsteps receded.

“Are we going to spend your three days in this room moping around?”

I shook my head, ‘Right now, I am not in the mood to watch everyone pity me.’

‘Moreover it’s only three days,’ I told her weakly.

‘Just three days and this will be over. If the king’s emissaries approve the arrangement, and Blood moon proves its stability, then I can return home.’ I said, trying to convince her and myself.

‘Who knows when the time comes… I might even become the first female Alpha.’

I didn’t need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes.

“Ravynna,” she drawled and I could already sense the scolding I was going to receive.

“You can delude everyone else but not me.” She started causing me to frown.

‘I’m not,’ I knew trying to convince Lyra wasn’t going to work but I could only try.

“You are, just like you lie to yourself that you are doing this pit of duty forgetting I felt your heart thump like crazy when Kael stood before important people and bound his eternity to yours.”

I wanted to argue when she chirped in, “He didn’t say temporary Luna… he claimed you.”

She didn’t stop there, “You would excuse any act of that man, must of the people there are allies and wouldn’t rat this out so he could have added the minor detail that your arrangement was temper but as always he decided then and there that he decided that you’ll be his tool for life?”

“A convenient wife, a silent but useful Luna that s disposable when it suits him.”

‘You know that’s not what he meant,’ I said quickly, too quickly. “Kael isn’t that cruel.”

Lyra laughed humorlessly, “Yes, you’re just dumb because despite his insults did your face soften at his vows?”