Chapter 19

XAVIE

I appreciated Kian's absence more after he left. As it turned out, even though I have never hosted any event before, I really handled everything well, approved by both Drake and Tint. 

The guests had started to arrive but I was more interested in two particular guests I had invited, Alec and Annika. The two were among the last people to show up, knowing Annika, she had a knack for attention and the displeased expression that crossed her face as soon as she saw me, made me smile inwardly. 

Who did she think they were coming here to meet? Raising my dress a little, I approached them, keeping my face as emotionless as I could muster. 

“Lady Nyxia.” Alec reached for my hand, placing a kiss at the back of it. 

Once upon a time, I found that mouth pleasurable but now? The skin where his mouth touched made my skin crawl with disgust. Withdrawing my hand from his when he still lingered, what a shameless man! Annika was basically standing next to him, not that I feel sorry for her. 

She must be used to seeing her mate use other women by now. “Welcome, I’m so glad you could make it.” 

Annika looked around as if she was searching for something. “And where is Alpha Kian? I thought he would be here to welcome us.” 

“Oh? My husband is away attending some private business, so I'm hosting this event.” I responded, as sweetly as I could. 

“A Luna hosting a Beta challenge?” She scoffed. “This isn’t a dress up party because if you mess it up, you and your husband will never recover from the shame.” 

“I’m sorry if your husband made you feel you’re only capable of hosting dress up parties. Mine trust and believe I could do things regardless of what gender I am.” With a deep sense of satisfaction, I turned to a silently fuming Alec. 

“This way please, I have a special seat reserved for you. Kian speaks highly of you Alpha Alec, therefore I have made sure the best seat in the house is reserved for you.” Plan or no plan, if Kian hears me say that, he will lose his shit. 

I could imagine him silently glaring at me with his fist clenched which makes me wonder if he’s even aware he does that when he’s angry. His feline eyes would narrow even more, bringing his eyebrows lower, giving the illusion of a very large predatory cat. 

Once my guest was seated, I took my own seat and that was the announcer cue to call the contestant to the arena ground. I recognized Shade because I have often seen him train with Kian. Even though I know I’m not supposed to be rooting for anyone, I kind of feel that Kian wants him to be his Beta… what happened to the old one anyway? 

When I suggested a heartfelt speech, honouring the formal Beta because I assumed he died in battle, Tint had panicked, begging me not to. As much as I wanted to know more, I accepted that it was not my place to know as Kian and I have made it a point to stir clear to each other’s personal business. 

The first two contestants step into the arena and as soon as the whistle blows, the fight commences between the two. I looked at the judges table which consisted of Drake and the entire council. If they can’t decide on a verdict then the decision would fall on me. 

I hope it doesn’t come to that, I want no part of it but a part of me wants the power, the control. I snapped out of my thought, flinching away when Alec leaned into me. 

“Dare I ask who your favourite is?” He asked, his eyes staying a bit longer on my chest. 

Well, guess the push up bra works then. I hated that he still scares me, his unpredictable self that I only manage to glimpse moments before going unconscious will be forever imprinted in my mind. Alec wears a facade so strong that you’d question your sanity where he’s concerned, maybe that’s why I missed all the red flags…that and because I was blindly in love. 

“I have no favourite contestant Alpha Alec, I’m the final verdict, it will be wrong for me to.” 

“I didn’t take you as someone who breaks the rule—” 

I stopped paying attention to him when Annika excused herself. Not wanting to make it obvious, I waited for several minutes before I also stood up even though I’m not allowed to. With her earlier comment, I didn’t trust her not to do anything to sabotage the event. 

“No! As long as I’m the leader then it’s forbidden. She will not be part of us and this is Alpha Kian we are talking about, that marriage isn’t probably going to last as soon as she realises how much of a burden he is.” I heard Annika hissed into her phone. 

There was a pause as she listened to the other person before speaking again. “I mean it’s obvious she’s only with him for his wealth and status. She might look like Xavie but they are nothing alike, Xavie was a foolish girl who believed in love, rainbows and happy endings. Xavie is nothing like that, but she’s still beneath me. You know what? I’ll invite her just to put her in her place.” 

I duck when she looks over her shoulder, probably sensing my presence. Hearing enough from the conversation, I made my way to where Tint sat among the lower ranking members of the court. 

I pulled her aside. “I need you to do something for me, find out this group that Annika was talking about. She’s the leader and I want to be in that group.” 

“She must be talking about the Luna councils. Luna from allies packs get together to hang out, just think of it as a rich women's golf club.” She laughs a little. 

“They should have sent me an invitation, apparently Annika doesn’t want me there which is why I want to be there. Find out if she’s close to any member from the group, that’s who I’ll use to make my way in.” 

I returned to my seat after that, another contestant had now taken their place in the arena and things were going smoothly until it was Shade’s turn. Tension was in the air even before he started fighting with the opponent. 

From what I’ve gathered from my two maids, who seem very eager to tell me everything I want to know. They told me Shade once contested in the Beta challenge but was defeated by the previous Beta by a slim chance. 

Hours passed by until it came to the last two contestants, Shade and some unknown fellow, Drake announced a break before the final battle started. 

Good! I was starting to fear the challenge will never end which made me wonder if Kian purposely pushed me into hosting this event because of how boring it is. There’s no fun in watching people fight, not to mention the violence, it just seems very raw and there’s absolutely nothing funny about that. 

“Nyx…right?” I turned around at the mention of my name. 

“Right, careful… people will think you don’t like me since you can’t even remember my name.” 

“Probably because you don’t seem sure of your name too. Remember that wasn’t the name you introduced yourself to me as when you first arrived. And the hair…why do I feel like something is going on here?” Drake inquired, his eyes searching my face. 

“I’m sure Kian will address whatever concerns you have about me.” I tried to leave then but he cut in front of me. 

“I have nothing against you Nyx, I’m happy he is able to find love again but if you hurt him…” 

“Kian is an adult, I’m sure he’s capable of taking care of himself—” he cut me off before I could finish. 

“He looks tough and acts tough but I know the young man I raised, if I find out you’re harbouring any secrets from your past that could hurt him, you and this old man are going to have a very serious problem. By the way, good job on hosting the event. Kian finds it boring that he pushed you into doing it and you seem better at this than him anyway.” He winked, walking away like he didn’t just threaten and give me a compliment at the same time. 

I knew it! The idea that Kian pushed me to host this event when he’s out there trying to negotiate peace with someone he very much wants to murder makes me laugh. Maybe he was hoping to get the chance to murder him there. 

We returned for the final battle, it was tougher and frankly more disturbing. The two men end up fighting the rest of the battle in their wolf form and just as Shade gives the final blow, the war sound goes off. 

What? Kian isn’t back… which meant that  Alpha Thane decided to attack when he was away! The whole peace thing has been nothing but a trap!