four

Marks and Masks

Bella woke the next morning and stirs for a bit before opening her eyes

Her gaze caught the mountains beyond the tall windows which were still wrapped in darkness, their outlines barely visible beneath a veil of drifting fog that filled the sky.

The castle was quiet in the way she couldn't describe as she lay still, listening.

Andre was not beside her. She notices at first.

Matter of fact the bed was untouched on his side, the sheets cold, as if he had never been there all through the night.

That alone was enough to tighten as her mind went back to those brief moments. Her body remembered even if her mind didn't want to.

The warmth of hands that had not bruised her like she had thought it would.

The slow certainty of a voice that had been gentle rather than barked orders.

The scent of the man and cedar clung to her skin like a memory she could not scrub away…

“Stop it, Bella." She gritted through her teeth as she sat up, pulling the duvet closer around herself.

Again, her eyes went immediately to the nightstand. The cufflink rested where she had left it. Untouched.

Gingerly, she picked it up, closing her fingers around the cool metal. It was as though the engraved wolf’s eye pressed into her palm, as she let out a sigh.

One thing was certain wearing it would be a provocation. At the same time not wearing it would be another different situation too.

She exhaled slowly for the umpteenth time, pressing her thumb to the engraved symbol as if it might burn her.

One thing was certain amidst all the drama in her chest…He had not asked. He had not threatened. He had simply stated a fact.

‘Wear it tomorrow.’

Bella swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. The stone floor was cold beneath her feet, as she felt all wobbly but she braced her hand as she crossed to the wardrobe and pulled on a simple ivory dress meant for morning appearances.

She paused before fastening the final clasp, the cufflink heavy in her hand as if giving one last thought.

Staring at the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, a total difference from her pale but composed self, she applied a liner to her eyes that were sharper than they had been yesterday before standing akimbo.

If she was going to be trapped in this world, she would not pretend ignorance was protection.

Bella turned the cufflink over once more, then slid it into place where the small ceremonial clasp should have been at her shoulder.

It blended seamlessly, invisible unless you knew exactly what to look for.

The moment it clicked into place, the room seemed to change.

She felt it then…

First it was that hyper awareness and the sense of being watched. Her stomach tightened just as she was about to run her finger over the cufflinks again a knock sounded at the door.

Bella startled, then smoothed her hands down the front of her dress. “Enter.” she said in a calm voice.

The door opened, and Andre stepped inside.

He was already dressed in dark trousers and a crisp shirt, the sleeves rolled to his forearms.

His hair was slicked back, his expression restless, like a man who had not slept but did not feel the lack.

His gaze flicked to her instantly.

“You’re awake early,” he said.

“So are you,” Bella replied carefully.

He shrugged, moving toward the window. “The pack does not pause for weddings.”

She watched him from the corner of her eye, waiting for his gaze to land on the cufflink.

It did not.

“Breakfast in fifteen minutes,” Andre continued. “The council will be present.”

Her pulse quickened. “I was not told that...”

He cuts her off. “You are now.” He turned, studying her in a way that made her skin prickle. “Do not embarrass me.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Bella said under her breath.

Andre’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he sensed something he could not name. Then he dismissed and walked out of the room.

As the door shut behind him Bella released a breath she had not realized she was holding.

She braces her hands on the table close to the window for leverage.

“Breath Bella, it is going to be fine." She muttered to herself.

Her hands briefly grazed the cufflinks again as if to ascertain herself it was there.

Looking around one last time. She shut the door and walked into the hallway.

******************************

Breakfast was held in the eastern part of the hall, a long chamber made of carved stone and tall arched windows that flooded the space with pale morning light.

The table stretched nearly the length of the room, already filled with men and women whose names she couldn't remember but knew for a fact were important to be invited.

Bella entered beside Andre.

"Keep your eyes up." He said cautiously.

She kept her posture straight, her expression carefully neutral of whatever tension she was feeling as a light stillness filled the room

It was so quiet that one would hear a pebble drop.

Bella felt the tension in her bones with each step she took

Andre took his seat at the head of the table, immediately commanding attention with his presence.

Bella on the other hand sat to his right with her hands folded neatly in her lap.

Across the table, Elinora watched her. The older woman’s gaze dropped, just briefly, to Bella’s shoulder then back up.

A flicker of something that felt like approval crossed her sharp features before her face smoothed once more into polite disinterest.

“Interesting choice,” a man farther down the table murmured, not quite under his breath.

“Symbolism matters in this house,” Another replied softly.

Andre frowned. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” the man said quickly. “Merely commenting on tradition.”

Andre grunted, clearly uninterested, already launching into a discussion.

Bella swallowed as she continued with playing the edge of the table cloth while absorbing the tension curling tighter with every passing minute.

Then it happened.

A guard entered the hall and leaned toward Andre, whispering something urgently into his ear. Andre’s expression darkened.

“What do you mean reassigned?” he snapped.

“It came from above,” the guard replied, uneasy. “Orders were changed this morning.”

Andre’s jaw clenched. “By whom?”

The guard hesitated. “It was signed off through the old channels.”

Elinora sipped her tea without looking up.

Andre waved the guard away with an irritated flick of his hand, though his eyes had taken on a dangerous gleam. “We will discuss this later.”

The rest of breakfast passed in a blur of conversation. When the gathering finally dispersed, Andre stood abruptly.

“Bella,” he said. “Come with me.”

He did not offer his arm but merely walked towards the door and she followed suit.

They walked in silence through the corridors until he pushed open the door to a smaller sitting room and shut it behind them.

Andre turned to face her, his expression controlled, his voice calm.

“Something is happening,” he said.

Bella met his gaze. “I don't understand.”

“Do not be clever, don't play dumb.” Andre snapped. Then he stopped, studying her again. “You spoke with Elinora yesterday.”

“Yes.”

“What did she say to you?”

Bella stared down at her feet. She could beat her heart racing.