Chapter 4

Rayne's Pov

"We're from Oceanpearl Pack," I said. For some odd reason, I don't feel intimidated by his presence one bit. "Here's our invitation card."

The guard outside stared at the invitation card for a second before signaling for another guard to let us in.

"Who does he think he is?!" Reynold fumed, as soon as we were out of earshot. "Once I become allies with the Lycan I'm going to demand for his head!" He gloated.

A snort escaped my lips, as I tried so hard not to laugh out loud. Seeing Reynold being brought down from his high horse by some guard felt so good.

"Are you laughing at me?" Reynold asked with creased brows.

"No, of course not," I faked a cough. "I have an itchy throat," I lied.

Reynold mumbled some words that I couldn't quite catch and I couldn't care less.

We arrived in front of the Packhouse and were escorted to the hall where the party was being held.

"Wait here, let me go in first," Reynold mindlinked me. "You're not to be seen around me unless necessary. I can't afford to be seen standing beside an ugly person like you."

I nodded in response and did as instructed. I stood outside the party hall, and Reynold went in first. After about three minutes, I went in also.

There was a brief hushed silence as soon as I walked in, then it was accompanied by whispers among the party invitee's.

"Who is she?" A lady standing beside Reynold asked, her voice filled with so much maliciousness.

Reynold shrugged in response like he didn't know me. I wonder how his brain even works. He's acting like I'm a total nobody instead of his wife and Luna.

"Does she have a death wish?" Another added. "She's not dressed appropriately."

"She sure has a death wish. I heard the new Lycan king, hates the color red," another said.

"This was a huge mistake," I linked my wolf, Lisa, who had been silent since we passed through the gate of the Packhouse.

"There's so much maliciousness in the air," Lisa linked back. "Why don't we get some fresh air outside," Lisa suggested. "The party is yet to start anyway."

I don't know about getting fresh air, but I can't afford to be in the same room as everyone here. I chose not to ponder about triggering the Lycan King, so it would be best to stay out of sight, if possible till the entire party is over.

I didn't know where to go from here, and leaving the Packhouse and wandering around the Lycan's territory didn't seem like a good idea, so I just decided to walk within the Packhouse. There was really nothing much to see and admire, I was basically surrounded by walls, and luckily for me, I didn't come across any guards.

Still wandering around the Packhouse, I came across a beautiful garden. My first reaction was to turn around and leave as going in there smelt like trouble, but there was something about the garden that drew me in like a moth to a flame, maybe it was because the garden sort of reminded me of my garden back at Oceanpearl Pack.

Unable to resist the urge, I stepped into the garden. The scent of blooming flowers mixed into the air wafted into my nose, filling me with an intense sense of peace I hadn't felt in a very long time.

I walked deeper into the garden which didn't seem to have an end, and the more I was in the more peaceful I felt internally.

A stray tear ran down my cheeks, at the thought of me forgetting what it feels like to be at peace. Ever since I got married to Reynold, my life has been anything but peaceful.

"What are you doing here?!" A voice thundered from behind, making an unexpected shiver run down my spine.

"I-I was just... I needed some fresh air," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to intrude… I'll leave right away."

"Do you have a death wish?" The voice echoed from every corner of the garden.

"N– no, I," my words came out in a rush, as I turned to the direction of the voice.

I gulped, as my eyes landed on a huge man, his expression hardened with every passing second.

"I– I lost my way," I managed to say. I felt like a mouse caught in the gaze of a hungry predator, helpless and vulnerable.

"You–"

"Let her be," a voice so melodious came from behind me. The tone was commanding yet soothing.

Curiosity took the best of me, and I turned around to see whose voice it was. My eye landed on a man, unlike anyone I had seen before. His presence seemed to radiate authority that surrounded him like a cloak.

But it was his eyes that drew me in, there was a certain wisdom and kindness in the depths of his gray eyes that seemed to be at odds with his intimidating appearance. The intensity in his gaze as he stared at me made me feel naked and vulnerable. It felt like my flaws and Insecurities were bare for him to see.

"I'm sorry your majesty," the first man apologized. "I'll handle the intruder."

"Go," he said, his voice firm yet strangely gentle, and his eyes not leaving me for a second. "I'll handle it from here."

I stood there in stunned silence, my heart still racing in my chest as I watched the gray-eyed man approach me.

As the gray-eyed man grew closer, I couldn't help but notice his finer appearance. He has tousled dark brown hair, framing a strong jawline and chiseled features. His lips were set in a firm line, with a hint of a certain softness. His shoulders were broad and powerful, and those eyes, I couldn't tear my gaze from them no matter how hard I tried. It felt like the peace I felt when I stepped into the garden was all in his eyes.

"Sorry about my Beta's behavior," he said, his voice sounding like music to my ears. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus.

"Y-yes, I-I'm fine," I stuttered, taking a step back. "Thank you."

He smiled a smile that reached his eyes and lit up his entire face.

"Good to know," he said, his smile growing wider.

He closed in on me, so much that I could feel his warm breath on my skin. I buried my eyes to the ground, too scared of getting lost in his gaze again.

Gently, he grabbed my chin, and turned me to face him, as he caressed my cheeks. Waves of sparks shot through my body, at his touch

"Mate!" Lisa squealed in my head, loud and clear. It took all my willpower to not act on the sudden surge of emotions flooding through me.

His gray eyes turned into a bright shade of red. "Mine!" He whispered in a low growl.

The sound of his voice and the intensity in his gaze as he called me 'mine' sent a shiver down my spine. Not a shiver of fear, but one of a deep longing, a longing for a connection I hadn't realized I was missing.

As if my hands had a mind of his own, I felt this great urge to caress his face. Slowly, my hand began making its way to his face–

"Bitch! Where are you?!" Reynold's voice echoed in my head, snapping me back to reality.

I quickly pulled away, taking a step back as I was suddenly filled with guilt. This was wrong, totally wrong. I'm married to Reynold, he's my fated mate, we've been destined for each other right from the beginning.

"I– I need to go," I managed to say, and without waiting for a response, I turned around and fled out of the garden, my heart pounding in my chest at every step.

"Lisa, what was that all about?" I linked Lisa for clarification because I couldn't understand how Lisa could call him mate when Reynold was our fated mate.

"I have no idea, Rayne," Lisa linked back. It was obvious she was finding it hard to believe. "Maybe–"

"Rayne!" Reynold's voice thundered in my head again, causing a split headache.

I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart, before walking into the party hall.

"Where the hell did you go?!" Reynold mindlinked me, there was a smile on his face as he nodded in greeting to one of the guests but the anger in his voice as he mindlinked couldn't be masked.

"I went out for some fresh air," I mindlinked back.

Reynold sighed. "I don't want to look for you again," he warned through the link. "The Lycan King is about to come in."

"His Majesty, the Lycan King, Kaiden Alvaro has arrived!" A guard announced, and everyone stood up, their attention at the door. I stood just like everyone else, eyes fixed on the door, then my handkerchief suddenly slipped out of my hand.

I bent down to pick it up.

"Rayne, get up!" Reynold hissed, as he nudged me to stand up straight. "The Lycan King is here."

I quickly stood up, and my eyes immediately roamed towards the door, and they met those familiar gray eyes again.

My heart skipped a beat, as reality came crashing down on me, the gray-eyed man was none other than Kaiden Alvaro, the Lycan King himself!