Kiara's POV.
"I'd rather remain mateless, than have you as a mate," he spat, his eyes bloodshot as he stared deep into my eyes. His cold voice jolting through my spine. Devin Peoria, Beta Asher's son was my fated mate, I had expected it to be the best episode of my life, and looked forward to our mating ceremony but of course, misfortune will always find a way to knock me down a second before I could escape it. "You are wolfless, you mean nothing, the moon goddess must be mistaken to pair us together " he spat. My stomach churned in despair as I feared hearing his next words, which were pretty obvious now. I could hear the faint giggles from the crowd that was starting to gather around us. "I, Devin Peoria, hereby reject you, Kiara Ezra as my mate and future Luna," he finally let the dreadful words out, sending stabs of pain through my already torn heart, slicing it into a million tiny pieces. Instantly, I felt a sharp pain shot through me, nibbling through my skin. I tried so desperately to bottle the pain inside me but hearing my wolf let out a loud yelp of agony, I shamefully surrendered to the pain, the mate bond slowly and painfully snapped into two. I couldn't believe my mate bond was over before I got any chance to fully embrace it. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I stared pitifully at his huge figure standing over me, the fury in his eyes boring holes in my skin, his palms hurled up in a tight fist. "Devin please...I..." He quickly cut me off before I went any further with a wave of his hand in the air. It was the end for me, the sad realization suddenly hit me as my gaze brushed against his, his eyes were filled with disgust and terror. It was evident that no amount of plea could change his mind. He stood tall over me with no sympathy, all I could see was a heartless man glaring down at me with so much hatred and disgust. Suddenly, he turned swiftly to face the crowd. "Let it be known that Kiara and I are no longer mated together, and I will be forced to take personal actions if she desperately tries to cling onto me, regardless of the fact that her father is the Alpha of this pack " he affirmed with a tone of finality. My ears were filled with distinct voices of the pack members cursing at me and rejoicing at my cruel verdict. I tried so hard to shut the traumatizing voices of mockery out of my head but the more I tried, the more pronounced it became, my hands flew desperately to my head clutching tightly as the pain of his rejection coupled with the mocking voices in my head coursed through me. My legs couldn't carry me anymore as my knees became weary, I felt the whole place spinning in different directions, leaving me as miserable as never before. I gave in to the misery and crumpled to the floor pathetically. The pain that shot through me as my knees crashed hard against the floor was nothing compared to the pain digging a deep hole in my chest. I felt my breath slowly leaving my body, the pain was unbearable, I've totally lost all will to live. I remained sprawled on the floor until I could no longer hear the snickering noise from the crowd indicating that they had all left. Slowly, I ambled to my feet and dragged my heavy feet towards my house. "There she is," I halted abruptly on the spot as my father's cold voice sounded through my head. Despite being the kindest Alpha in the history of the Blue Moon pack, he was my worst nightmare, most times I couldn't help but wonder if he was truly my father. And worse, I didn't have a mother to cry to just like every other child would, she died while giving birth to me. Most times, I wondered if that could be the reason why he hated me so much, or could there be more to his hatred towards me? I grew up to him finding fault in everything I did, it felt like he was always lurking at the corner waiting for me to make the wrong move. And to crown his efforts, the Moon goddess decided to deny me of a wolf. "You reek of disappointment," he had spat to my face the day my wolfless nature was exposed, leaving me behind to be mocked by the rest of the pack members. I was the Alpha's daughter only by title, every other pack member, including the slaves held more respect and importance than me. "I heard about your embarrassing rejection," he chuckled under his breath. Well, how fast rumors travel. "But it's a good thing, now I have to carry on with the preparations quite swiftly," I raised my head to stare at him in confusion. "Preparation for what, father?" He chuckled dryly. "Many months ago, I requested a marriage partnership from the Kings and Alphas nearby and faraway," My heart was beginning to beat hard against my chest as I fearfully awaited the completion of his sentence. "I only got a response from King Montero, and he's agreed to pair you with his second son, Hyde," his words hit me hard across the ear. Hyde? The name resounded horrifically through my head. The most ruthless being considered to ever walk the earth. He was called the Demon King. Everyone was terrified of him including his father, I could tell it was pretty much the reason he wanted to trap him into marriage. Suddenly, my painful rejection that had taken place a few minutes ago felt like a lightweight compared to the bomb that had just been dropped on me. "Hyde is a ruthless Demon, father! no one wants to breathe the same air as him let alone marrying him, I can't!" I managed to protest but the mocking laughter that fled his mouth was enough to tell that I had no choice. "Funny how you think you have a choice," I swallowed hard, tears beginning to well up in my eyes as his harsh words filtered into my ears. "No one wants you Kiara, not even your fated mate, that's because you are wolfless and as such, useless, Hyde is your only ticket out of shame, we could only hope that he doesn't reject you too." "Please father, I will do anything," my voice trembled as the tears finally escaped my eyes, streaming freely down my cheeks "There's nothing left for you here except humiliations and disgrace, Kiara, and it's only going to rub off on me, it's time you found your own will."Kiara's POV.I thought I had prepared myself.I had given permission, after all. I’d told myself that it was just a dance. That it meant nothing. That I wasn’t going to be the jealous wife standing in the corner, fuming while her husband danced with another woman. No. That wasn’t me. I wasn’t going to let Valerie get under my skin.But as I stood there, watching Valerie lead him to the center of the floor, my stomach churned with a rage that I couldn’t even begin to explain.The way Valerie smiled at him, the way she placed her hand on his arm as if she owned him, God, I could feel the heat in my chest rise. Her fingers brushed against his skin, and I nearly choked on the knot forming in my throat. And that smile, so smug, so full of knowing.I had allowed it.No, I let it happen. But I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that I had been played, that I was just a pawn in some ridiculous game. She was using me.Her eyes flicked over her shoulder at me as they reached the dance floor, that
Kiara's POV.The maids had done their work well. Too well, I almost thought. I stood before the mirror, The gown was perfect. Elegant. Far too beautiful, perhaps. The bodice, a delicate lace embroidered with gold, hugged me tightly, extending softly to the floor.But it wasn’t the dress that held my attention.It was me. Or rather, how I looked.My skin had a radiant glow and my dark hair flowed in soft waves over my shoulders, a few strands left loose to frame my face. The makeup was subtle, just enough to emphasize the sharpness of my features, the natural flush of my cheeks, the slight upturn of my lips. But it was all... too much. Too perfect.a knock suddenly came on the door.“My lady?”It was one of the maids. “His Highness is waiting for you,” she said."I'll be with him shortly." I replied. As I made my way to the door, I paused, catching a glimpse of myself once more. What would Hyde think when he saw me?But I had no time to dwell on it. I took a deep breath, straighten
Kiara's POV.I’d been awake for a while.Not wide eyed and alert, just… existing. Eyes half open, staring at the carvings in the ceiling, following the curves of the wood like they might reveal some answer to the question still crawling under my skin.Valerie.I hated how her name sat in my mind like a splinter. Not even a sharp one. Just dull and persistent.Who was she really to Hyde? Could she truly be just the past? A closed chapter, no bookmarks left behind?Or was she a pause in a sentence waiting to finish?The thought alone made my stomach turn.And yet, here I was, still laid across the bed, pretending like I wasn’t still playing every moment from the garden over and over in my head.The way she had looked at him, and the way she absolutely didn't spare me a second glance. A knock suddenly snapped me out of it.“My lady?” came a gentle voice, Elsin, one of the quieter maids. “His highness requests your presence in the dining room. Breakfast is served.”My heart gave a traito
Kiara's POV.The night breeze relaxed my mind comfortably.I sat on a stone bench mounted on several parts of the garden, pulling my robe tighter around me, but not because I was cold. The garden had always been my place of calm, a corner of quiet. I could almost convince myself I wasn’t waiting for him.Almost.But my eyes stayed open.Hyde had left a while ago, long enough for the worry to start its slow creep in my chest. I hadn’t asked where he was going. He hadn’t offered the information. I told myself he just needed to feel the outside breeze just like I wanted as well.I ran my fingers through the petals of a moonlit lily beside me, trying to distract myself. The night was beautiful. Quiet. Peaceful. But all I could feel was the tightening in my gut.Then I saw him.A shadow at first, moving with the fluid pressure only Hyde ever had. He stepped into the the clearer light, and my breath caught in my throat.He looked like he’d been dragged through a war.His shirt clung to hi
The woods had always been a place for thinking.Hyde didn’t come to the forest for peace, he came for space. The kind of space that let thoughts stretch and unravel, wild and aimless. Although the quietness presently wasn’t comforting, not exactly. It was too alive, too watchful. Every creak of tree trunks, felt like he was been observed. But he pushed the thoughts away and and continued walking. His thought was centered on Kiara.She wasn’t the same girl he had first found trying to run away from her pack just so she doesn't have to marry him, and she was too scared of her father to stand up to him about it. There was so much fear and uncertainty in her eyes that day. She looked too naive. Too weak, bruised. But she’d changed. Bit by bit. Hardened and honed.He had seen the changes in her, more clearly than she saw it in herself. The quiet strength building behind her words. The way she didn't flinched when he told her his story... everything, no half truths, no softening, she h
Kiara's POV.The heavy steel door creaked open on a slow groan, and I stepped in.Hyde stood at the far end of the hall, shirtless, skin gleaming with sweat, knuckles bloodied from the heavy bag he’d been working like it owed him a life.His back was to me.“Didn’t I give an order?” he said, voice low and flat.“You did,” I said, stepping closer. “And I’m ignoring it.”He froze. I watched the muscles in his shoulders tense, then slowly relax.“I’m not in the mood, Kiara.”“Well, too bad,” I said, folding my arms. “Because I didn’t come here for your mood. I came here for you. And I’m not leaving without answers.”He turned to face me then.And when he did… his eyes were still normal. But everything else about him looked hollow. Torn.“You shouldn’t be here.”“I need to be here.”Our stares locked. For a moment, neither of us moved. The weight of everything unsaid crackled between us like electricity.Then he looked away.“What do you want to hear?” he said bitterly. “That I’m not who