Chapter 6: Moonray Pack

DEVA LOREN/LANA ALVAREZ.

I had no single moment spared, except for when I had to rest for the past three days as I had to immediately prepare to depart for Aaron's pack, as the wedding would be held there according to tradition.

Alpha Cain had only come to speak with me the previous night. "Be ready as early as you can for departure."

Eager to send me off, aren't you, Father?

A few maids who pretended to care and Anna, the only one who truly did, came crying to embrace me before I left.

Anna didn't leave with me; my father, I mean Deva's father, did not want me to get too comfortable at the Moonray pack and sent two new maids I barely knew to accompany me on my journey.

We spent three days and two nights getting to Moonray, stopping at cottages and nearby guest homes to rest in between the journey. I could barely stomach anything as my body refused to process my situation. The closer we got, the more my heart beat accelerated.

The reason was far from excitement or dread. I kept asking, would things be different now that I was with a new identity? Will I be alright?

It was scary.

The emerald fabric of my dress clung to me like a second skin, heavy with gold-threaded embroidery that glints with every step I take. The corset bites into my ribs, forcing my posture into something regal. Layers of satin and tulle rustle around my legs, the weight dragging slightly at my hips, and the golden heels, too high, too perfect.

My hair was swept up into a high twist, pinned tight with gold combs shaped like ivy leaves. A few soft curls are left loose to frame my face, brushing my cheekbones and neck like whispers. It looked elegant, delicate, even, but I could feel every pin digging into my scalp, holding the beauty in place like a cage. I missed Anna. She'd defy my father's orders for me.

As a child, I always waited for the day I became a lady so I could be just as fashionable, but it all became a silly dream once I became a slave.

Were the dresses actually heavy, or was it the burden on my shoulders that made it all unbearable?

"My lady! We have arrived at Moonray pack borders!" The Coachman handling my carriage announced.

"Thank you, Hemdal," I said from within.

He had a kind habit of informing me where we were. Several swordsmen and a part of our army were at my front and back, lined up like a parade. The first time I was brought to Moonray, I was a prisoner turned slave in sack clothing bound by chains to my wrists and legs as my people rained curses at my parents for failing to protect our pack, spitting at me and nudging me to move faster with my shackles. I wiped my tears with my palm, careful not to ruin my makeup that made me look doll-like and as feminine as possible, as if I wasn't already by gender.

I tore my eyes away from the road until we'd reach the Royal House of the pack. I didn't want to waste my tears on this place.

The first thing I noticed as we entered the gates of the pack house was the silence. It was hard to choose between cold, cruel, or just measured for how it made me feel, but the wind held its breath in respect for the grandeur. The pack house sat ahead of me, towering yet wide, sprawling like a resting glittering beast draped in silver-veined ivy. Its stone walls shimmered pale blue under the sun, as if the sky had left a piece of itself behind. Banners fluttered above the arched entrance, marked with a wolf crowned by stars and moonlight.

The scent of pine and lavender lingered in the air, not from flowers but from the very structure of the place. Glass domes crowned the towers, catching sunlight and scattering it like water on stone. The guards stood poised yet calm, their eyes not harsh but observant.

A pack of dignitaries stood out waiting for me, along with the woman who killed me. I sucked in a deep breath, realizing that I was subconsciously pinching the back of my neck. I was hurting Deva's body. I had to stop. My legs became jelly as my Coachman opened the door to my carriage. I did not want to get down.

Get it together, Lana!

"Welcome, Princess Deva!" The dignitaries chorused.

A man in posh clothing, I recognized as noble styling, approached me. Though his dark hair and eyes made his features sharp, he seemed more genuine than the people there, and that was because I knew him. Beta Henry.

He took my hands and kissed them through my gloves as a gesture. "We are pleased to have you at Moonray, Princess Deva."

"Thank you, Beta Henry."

His eyes widened with surprise.

"It seems you know me already."

I shook off my anxiety with awkward laughter. "It is not hard to tell who you are; you are quite popular. It is an honor to meet you in person."

It wasn't a lie; he was. I didn't know if he pretended he wasn't, or chose to be humble. My eyes searched the dignitaries for the man I was to be married to. He was nowhere to be seen.

"I see you're searching for Alpha Aaron," Henry noticed. What a mind-reader. "I'm sorry, but he is not here for important reasons."

I swallowed the indirect insult. He was to be married to me, and yet could not be here to welcome me? Is Sophie the only one you care about? Anyone knows him not showing up shows my lack of importance without him mentioning it. The least he could do is to show up for a brief moment. Yet, he left me like I didn't matter. How typical.

With me as Lana and me as Deva.

I looked up to the woman in a dress as deep wine red, darker than blood even. The bodice fit her tightly, with black stitching running through it like symbols. A sheer layer covered the skirt, patterned with roses and thorns that shifted as she moved. The sleeves flared at the ends, slit open from the elbows to show flashes of skin. Her velvet heels peeked from underneath the gown like she wanted them to show, quiet but firm. Her brown hair was pulled into a low twisted bun, neat but strong. A thin braid wrapped around her head like a crown. A few loose strands framed her face, softening the sharpness of her eyes.

The closer I got to her, the more she grinned. I knew better than anyone that she hated me already. She saw me as competition whether Aaron pays any attention to me or not. Hence, her new rival and target.

The way everyone seemed to watch me, it felt like it was waiting for something more. And I swear to you, I know by my heart it is not good.