Chapter Three

THE WOMAN IN HIS ARMS

I almost fell to my knees the moment I saw it was Seraphina, but I controlled myself so the guards wouldn’t have any reason to laugh at me.

She stood there smiling at someone hidden behind the pillars. Suddenly, a man stretched out his hand and reached for her waist, pulling her to himself.

I recognized the masculine hand immediately, because of the royal signet ring on his middle finger and that hand belonged to Rowan.

For a few minutes, I couldn’t hear or see properly again and I blinked repeatedly, even cleaning my sights with my dress but it was still blurry.

The way he wrapped his hand on her waist and pulled her to himself pierced me so hard because Rowan has never looked at me without feeling irritated before.

The air around me suddenly felt too heavy for me to inhale, so I parted my lips slightly and I felt an invisible hand pressing my chest tightly such that I was unable to breathe.

Meanwhile, the silver mating mark on my wrist began to burn till the extent that the pain radiated from my wrist and settled in my chest.

Slowly, all the things I heard about Rowan from the servants started lingering on my mind. All the things I heard about Rowan belonging to another to someone else are real.

Seraphina, my own sister decided to hurt me this way because she sees me as a weak wolf?

Curiosity made me take a step backwards to watch them carefully, but a dry branch pierced my foot and Rowan’s head shifted from where it hid behind the pillars to catch my gaze.

For the first time, I saw surprise and guilt in his eyes but it vanished within a twinkle of an eye. Seraphina turned and saw me, a crooked grin tugged across her lips.

“Hey sweetie, how long have you been standing there to watch us?” She smirked and even drew herself closer Rowan.

I gulped hard and responded “I just arrived, but I’ll leave now”.

I turned to leave and she commanded “stop right there, Lyra” in a very loud voice.

My heartbeat pounded faster and harder like it wanted to escape from my chest. Seraphina slipped out of his arms gently and walked up to me briskly.

She pointed her sharp and long nail at me, “I want you to pretend like you never saw anything that happened between Rowan and I”.

I looked at her and Rowan carefully, none of them denied or even explained anything.

My heart knew the answer already, but I chose not to believe it at all.

“Your Highness, is she the reason why you said you don’t feel anything for me?” I asked him in a shaky voice.

Rowan folded his arms gently and barked, “you should have left here immediately I instructed you to, so you won’t question me unreasonably”.

The harsh and cold response he gave to me stabbed my heart deeply. I refused to believe what my instincts told me at first and I decided to hear from him instead. I just wish I didn’t ask him that question.

A thick and suffocating silence stretched between us and none of us could move an inch. Seraphina rolled her eyes at me and sighed dramatically.

“I don’t even know why you came here, because I didn’t want you to actually find out about us like this”, she whispered into my ears.

My eyes were filled with tears and I blinked repeatedly so it wouldn't drop in their presence. She slowly reached for my hands but I shoved it away quickly.

The smiley face she had on vanished for a moment and returned again. She looked at me, then looked at Rowan and she shook her head, like we aren’t compatible.

She began to fake an advice, “look little sister, life isn’t fair sometimes but you just have to accept your fate that he doesn’t feel anything for you”.

I faked a dry laugh, “oh, so you knew” I responded calmly.

Seraphina tilted her head in shock, “knew about what exactly?”

“You knew the Moon Goddess chose me as his destined mate right?” I questioned her.

She rolled her eyes and responded “yes I do and is there any problem with that?”

The last few words she spoke lingered on my mind even after she was done speaking and it pierced me deeply, leaving me to just stare at her.

“Then why are you still seeing him, Seraphina?” I demanded angrily in a shaky voice.

Her name tasted bitter in my mouth and I quickly spat on the ground.

Rowan finally stepped forward and yelled “that’s enough, Lyra… you have no right to question Seraphina”.

I stared at him in disbelief and my lips parted unconsciously. “I have no right?”

Rowan looked directly into my eyes and said, “I never loved you, Lyra so maintain your boundaries”.

Every word he spoke landed hard on my chest like I was being hit with a hammer. Even to gulp, I couldn’t because of how dry my throat became.

He continued, “I’ve always loved Seraphina and my feelings for her existed long before the mating ceremony”.

Strength seeped out of me immediately, causing my legs to tremble like they are about to collapse.

Slowly, memories of all the smiles I let out anytime I see him, all the times I thought he noticed me, and all the dreams I had built if we finally get to be together all became futile in just a day.

Seraphina looked at me and offered a smile, while softly wrapping her hands around his shoulders, then she said “we didn’t mean to hurt you”.

I let out a humorless laughter and folded my arms while shaking my head slowly.

“Well, it doesn’t look like you are trying very hard," I responded.

Her lips pressed into a thin line and the smile on it faltered, slowly fading away.

“You need to know your place and stay in it”, Serphina said lividly.

“Really? My place?” I gasped.

She cut in quickly and yelled, “yes, you’re an omega”.

She looked at me from my head to toe and a faint smile tugged on her lips.

Before I could respond to her, Rowan interrupted and muttered calmly “the engagement preparations will still continue”.

The tightness I felt in my chest eased up a little and I saw the possibility that things might still work out between us.

Just as if he wanted to ruin the little hope that flickered in me, he added “that’s only because of the royal law”.

He added without an atom of pity, “nothing will ever exist or be real between us”.

I stood still watching him carefully, meanwhile the little ray of hope that flickered in me a few seconds ago shattered totally.

I lowered my head and sobbed “It’s fine, I understand you”.

Without waiting for permission to leave from Rowan, I turned and left because I did want them to see my tears.

The flowers in the palace garden looked very beautiful, and it felt endless. Just then I knew that the world hasn’t changed except for mine.

The moment I got to the servants quarters, hot burning tears blurred my vision, but I quickly wiped them away with my dry palms. I encouraged myself to stay strong and not cry because it won’t solve anything.

Immediately I entered Blackwood manor, my mother called me “Lyra”.

A cold wave rushed through my body and stopped at my legs, causing me to stand still.

My mother stood beside my father and Seraphina had already arrived home even before I got home.

“You’ve embarrassed yourself today again right?” my father asked in a very cold and hostile tone.

I responded quickly while slightly bending my face to look at my torn shoes, “I didn’t mean to”.

He studied me carefully before asking again, “ oh really? Then, give me a valid reason why you were wandering around the prince’s private garden?”

A chill crawled seeped into my spines, my heart pounded heavily against my chest and that’s when it dawned on me that either Seraphina or Rowan had reported me.

I responded in a very shaky voice, “I wasn’t spying”.

My whole body began shaking tremendously, like I’m about to be punished severely.

My mother folded her arms tightly across my chest and looked at me sternly. “If you weren’t spying, what were you doing there?”

“The prince requested for my presence, that’s why I went there”, I responded softly.

Seraphina rolled her eyes at me and hissed loudly. I raised my head a little to look at my father, his facial expression became dangerous and cold. At this point, I wish the earth would just open up to swallow me.

My mother turned to my father and held his arm to take a deep breath. “Please don’t be angry with her”, she pleaded on my behalf and it startled me because of how nice she sounded.

She continued, “Lyra was so curious to meet him since he decided not to see her”.

My father’s expression was still cold and he took a few steps close to, pointing directly into my eye like he wanted to burst it. “I want you to understand one thing, your sole responsibility is to obey whether he chooses to spend his time with someone else or not, you have to remain silent”.

My heart slammed against my chest the more and I couldn’t help but nod immediately so you’ll step backwards a little.

“Crystal clear, I’ll always remain silent”, I nodded and responded swiftly.

So everyone knows about what just happened a few hours ago. I wonder what Seraphina even said that’s made my parents this cold and harsh, not like they’ve ever been nice to me though.

With the way my parents yelled at me, they knew that Rowan preferred my sister to me. I have been so blind and daft all this while to think that he just needs time to change, so we can work things out between us.

A week to the Grand Royal Banquet, I decided to surprise him with ceremonial robes just so he can soften his mind towards me.

The guards took me to his room and left at the entrance. I knocked and opened the door only to find him in bed with my sister.

I screamed immediately and the wooden plates in my hand fell to the ground unconsciously.

“What are you doing here?” Rowan asked lividly.

Their faces blurred into nothing, and my breath stiffened in my throat. I felt an icy stillness in me that made me freeze for a few seconds.

Seraphina jerked up from the bed, walked up to me angrily and snapped “what brought you here omega?”

I stood still and stared at them, my mind went blank not knowing what to say. Is this the reason why he said he loves her instead of me?

Rowan snapped again, don’t you dare stand there like a monument and ignore my question”.

I finally gathered the courage to speak, I swallowed hard like there’s a lump on my throat that needs to vanish before I speak. “I’m sorry your Highness, I thought you’d be hungry so I decided to bring you food”.

Rowan’s eyes met with hers and a smile spread across their faces, suddenly they bursted into laughter.

“Have I ever told you I’m hungry? Or does it look like I’m starving?” Rowan yelled.

The air in the room became very very suffocating and heavy that I could barely breathe.

Seraphina added, “don’t you know your place? Or should I put you there?”

“I’m not surprised that you aren’t remorseful for  what just happened”, I muttered in a barely audible voice.

Seraphina cleared her throat and continued, “why should I be remorseful? How well do you want him to tell you that he feels irritated anytime he sets his eyes on me and he doesn’t feel anything for you at all?”

Just so you know, “Rowan felt irritated the moment the Moon Goddess chose you as his mate during the mating ceremony”.

My breath hitched and the weight in my chest became so heavy that it felt impossible to carry. Out of pain and anger, I walked out of the room and slammed the door. I wish I never went to surprise him, and just allow him to see me the way I am.

A few minutes later, I got home and my father requested my presence immediately. “Didn’t I warn you not to act concerned if the prince chooses to spend his time with someone else, so why did you disobey me?”

My heart pounded so loud and fast, and I wanted to ask him how he knew about what just happened.

“I’m sorry, and I won’t repeat it again”, I apologized immediately.

My father looked at me and hissed “get out of my sight”.

I hurried to the corridor and the moment the door clicked shut behind me, I pressed my hands on my mouth while my knees weakened. The tears I’ve been saving finally gushed out uncontrollably.

A few days later, servants brought expensive fabrics, Jewelries, and ceremonial scrolls.

One of them added, “you’re urged to appear neatly and beautifully”.

My heart pounded terribly against my chest, so fast that I couldn’t feel myself again.

Another servant added, “the Grand Royal Banquet will be held in three days' time, and the prince will officially present his future consort before the whole kingdom”.

My lips curved into a thin, beautiful smile and I couldn’t help but to smile uncontrollably regardless of everything that happened. Finally he is ready to accept the Goddess’s choice, and maybe apologize for what happened the last time.

Before I could ask if it was sent by the Prince Rowan, the servants dropped it heavily on the wooden table beside my bed and stormed out of my room.

I touched the silver mark on my wrist gently and said a prayer, “Moon Goddess if this bond came from you truly, please don’t allow all my hope to be futile”.

Meanwhile, far away in the royal palace, Rowan stood in front of the large window of his chamber. His adviser came in and bowed before him respectfully.

“Your Highness, the nobles want to know if Lady Lyra will stand beside you in the Grand Banquet”, his adviser whispered calmly.

The warmth on his face vanished instantly and his jaw clenched tightly, while his brows furrowed.

“No, I won’t”, he responded rudely without thinking if he just made the right decision.

His adviser tilted his head slightly and frowned, studying his countenance carefully. He added “but the kingdom expects you both to stand together”.

Rowan didn’t even wait for him to drop the last word, he responded rudely again “I said I won't, is that difficult for you to understand?”

His adviser bowed again, “I’m sorry your Highness”.

He looked at Blackwood manor from a distance, and a furious and dangerous expression flickered in his eyes.

He still looked firmly at Blackwood manor and whispered beneath his breath, “I’ve already decided what will happen at the royal banquet”.

His adviser took a few steps close to him and asked, “I didn’t hear you clearly, your Highness. What do you mean?”

He turned to look at his adviser sternly, “I’ll end this mistake in front of the entire kingdom today”.

Rowan’s lips curved into a thin line and a hint of a cold smile flickered across his face.

******

From the moment I opened my eyes this morning, I felt an invisible pressure settle inside me and I couldn’t understand what was going on. My wolf was restless since I got up from bed this morning, but my instincts didn’t allow me to relax.

A strange heaviness and tightness throbbed my chest, which made me very restless. It was as if the Moon Goddess was trying to warn me concerning something.

My room door creaked open and a maid walked in briskly, carrying a large wooden box. My heart beats the more, like I knew what was inside the box already.

“Lady Lyra, the royal palace sent you a gown for the banquet tonight”, the maid muttered softly.